College applications can feel like a numbers game, but don’t count yourself out if things aren’t adding up! When it comes to the SAT, the test is definitely greater than the sum of its parts… but understanding how those parts work is important. Like all standardized tests, getting a top score on the SAT is about more than just basic knowledge; it’s about strategy! And no strategy is complete without…

If you’re taking the ACT for the first time in 2026, you’re walking into a test that looks a lot different from the version older siblings may remember. The ACT is shorter than it used to be, Science is optional now, as is the essay, and students may test on paper or online depending on registration and test center. Still, the purpose is familiar. Your job is to know the…

You  may have heard that the ACT isn’t like a subject test in school; it’s a standardized test that asks you about things you’re already supposed to know. So long as you’ve got a handle on what the average high schooler should know, you’re good to go, right? Do you really need to spend weeks studying? After all, you’ve got so much going on. There’s your classes, your sports, your…

If you’re a high school student, the odds are good that you’ve used AI– a new report from the Center for Democracy and Technology finds that 86% of students and 85% of teachers used AI for classroom work during the 2024-2025 school year. AI is everywhere, and there are a lot of concerns about its use. But the thing to remember is that AI is a tool. Use it well,…

Almost 85% of high school students have used AI for coursework– a statistic that has a lot of educators deeply concerned, because not every student (and realistically, probably most students) are not using it to further their learning. When you ask ChatGPT to generate an essay, it certainly generates an essay… but you didn’t write it. You didn’t get anything out of it, you didn’t learn the mechanics of English,…

Every year, tens of thousands of students apply to Ivy League schools. Only a small fraction receive an offer of admission. The difference between those who are admitted and those who are denied often comes down to strategy. Few application processes are as intense as the Ivy League. You might be your high school valedictorian– but so is your competition. On average, Ivy League schools have an acceptance rate of…

As more colleges remain test optional, students often assume standardized test scores no longer matter for scholarships– but that’s a dangerous assumption to make. While fewer schools require the SAT for admission than in the past, many still use submitted scores to award merit aid. In 2026, a strong SAT score can continue to make a real difference in how much you pay for college. And that means a lot–…

In the USA, outstanding student loan debt totals almost $145 billion. To put that in perspective, if American student loan debt was a global economy, it would be the 62nd largest in the world. The average student loan debt varies based on how you estimate it, but for most people, it’s between $30,000 and $40,000. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather that number be as close to 0…

The SAT was introduced 100 years ago, in 1926. By the 1960s, the G.I. Bill meant that more people were attending college than ever before, and the SAT was almost universally adopted by schools in the United States. But in 1969, we saw the first school to go test-optional, Bowdoin College, drop the test. Since then, test-optional admissions slowly gained ground– mostly at small liberal arts colleges. In 2019, there…

Preparing for the SAT may feel like an extra stressor in an already packed high school schedule, but the exam offers meaningful advantages that can shape both your college path and your long-term goals. The fact is, there are a lot of benefits to taking this exam, beyond the ones you might expect! Even as many colleges maintain score-optional admissions policies, the SAT remains a powerful tool for students who…