A high ACT score isn’t just a personal achievement. It’s a valuable tool for your college application because it communicates a great deal of data to the admissions counselors about you as a student. Standardized tests like the ACT examine so much more than your general knowledge; they’re a way for you to tangibly demonstrate skills in problem-solving, working under pressure, making inferences and drawing conclusions from data, and solving…

Today’s high school students have more options than ever before when it comes to class choice. From IB to AP to honors classes, high schools try hard to provide the types of options that set their students up for success. And with the rise of magnet and charter schools, there’s even ways to specialize in a specific pre-college track before you start your university career.  However, this can lead to…

As a teenager growing up in my parents’ small budget motel in inner-city Las Vegas, I learned first-hand the power of meritocracy. I attended public schools in one of the nation’s most underperforming districts – a system with a staggering ~40% dropout rate. Determined to break the mold, I poured hundreds of hours into studying for the SAT. The effort paid off: I raised my score from average to a…

Preparing for the ACT can seem overwhelming, but with the right strategies, you can feel confident on test day. The ACT, an important part of many college admissions, measures skills across multiple areas. In addition to baseline academic knowledge, the ACT tests your ability to reason logically and solve problems– which means it requires a strong strategy, not just knowledge. Today, let’s talk about how you can improve your ACT…

If you’ve ever waited in a painfully long line at the DMV or spent hours on hold with a government agency, you already know something’s wrong. You’re not alone—most Americans have felt the sting of endless red tape, outdated technology, and sluggish customer service from the agencies that are supposed to help us. It’s not just frustrating; it’s disheartening. And here’s the real kicker: all these inefficiencies waste tens of…

If you’re preparing for the SAT, part of setting yourself up for success is understanding why you’re taking the test, and what you need the test to do for you. It’s not like you’re taking the SAT for fun, after all– you need a high score to help highlight how competitive of a student you are. If you put in the work to merit a place at a competitive institution,…

With January 20, 2025 fast approaching, all eyes are on former President Donald Trump’s second inauguration and the policies he plans to implement over the next four years. In Meritocracy, my monthly newsletter focused on revitalizing a culture where hard work, talent, and achievement are rightly rewarded, I’ve often discussed how the ideals of meritocratic governance can help us recalibrate our educational systems, labor markets, and immigration framework. Now, with…

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently announced an inspiring policy: the school will now provide free college tuition for families earning less than $200,000 annually. Similarly, the University of Texas system recently made a similar pledge for families making under $100,000. And these prestigious institutions are far from alone. More and more top-tier colleges and universities are eliminating financial barriers for talented students from middle- and lower-income backgrounds. This shift…

The landscape of college admissions has undergone significant shifts in recent years, particularly with the temporary suspension of standardized test requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as we approach the 2025 admissions cycle, a growing number of colleges are reinstating SAT and ACT test score requirements. This trend reflects a renewed commitment to meritocracy in education—a principle that I, Dr. Shaan Patel (Founder & CEO of Prep Expert), firmly…

The SAT is offered several times a year– but what is the best time to take the SAT? Does it really matter? The date isn’t the most important part of your SAT strategy, but it is important to think about! There are several things to consider when choosing your date to take the test.  But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves– first, let’s look at the SAT test dates…