GPA or SAT/ACT score? We’re asked this question a lot by parents and students. Let’s take a quick look at why one of these metrics is definitely more important to college admissions boards that the other. [sat_one] Which One Do You Think Is More Important? Your child’s GPA or SAT/ACT score? Well, most people think that a high school grade point average is more important than a standardized test score.…

[sat_one] While many college admissions officers will tell you that your test score is “only one part” of the application process, it’s no coincidence that the best colleges have very high average SAT scores. Here is the average SAT score at some of the top colleges in the country: 1. Princeton University – 2260 2. Harvard University – 2260 3. Yale University – 2260 4. Columbia University – 2220 5.…

[sat_one] Many colleges such as George Washington University and Temple University have recently made the decision to go test-optional. This policy allows students to skip having to take the SAT or ACT in order to apply to college. Hampshire College went one step further and stopped accepting standardized test scores altogether. Jonathan Lash, President of Hampshire College, recently wrote an editorial in the Washington Post about how the decision to…

The quality of college near you can vary widely depending on where you live. Below is a list of the best colleges and universities in each state. U.S. News rankings are in parenthesis (data collected from www.usnews.com). 1. Alabama – University of Alabama (#88) 2. Alaska – University of Alaska Anchorage (Not Ranked) 3. Arizona – Arizona State University (#129) 4. Arkansas – University of Arkansas (#135) 5. California – Stanford University (#4) 6. Colorado…

Below is the second application essay that I wrote to get into the Yale School of Management to pursue my MBA. See the first one here. Topic:What motivates you to apply to the Yale School of Management for your MBA? What will you contribute to Yale and Yale SOM? Essay: I hope to contribute diversity and initiative to the Yale community. I grew up in a cramped two-bed, one-bath living…

[sat_one] This article was originally published on Business Insider. Shaan Patel, 25, an entrepreneur from Las Vegas, Nevada, has never quite followed the expected path. He spent his formative years growing up in the Sky Ranch Motel, a self-proclaimed budget motel that his family-owned and operated as well as called their family home. “At a young age I saw, like, drug deals and prostitutes,” Patel told Business Insider. The motel…

Below is the application essay that I wrote to get into the Yale School of Management to pursue my MBA. Topic: What motivates your decision to pursue an MBA? Essay: Business education in medical school is lacking. Fortunately, our school piloted a Business of Medicine (BOM) course to introduce health care business concepts such as Medicare reimbursement. As a BOM Research Associate and President of the Medical Business Association, I’ve…

The secret to winning college scholarships is to apply for local scholarships. This means your child should apply for scholarships that are open only to students in your community, city, or state. Students have a much higher chance of wining these college scholarships because the applicant pool is much smaller compared to scholarships that are open to the entire nation. Many students, including me, waste their time in high school…