If you want to be an expert at anything, you need to know your subject inside and out. If you want to be a doctor, you have to know everything about human anatomy, from the Achilles tendon to the zygomatic arch. A chef doesn’t just follow recipes; they understand flavor profiles, ingredient interactions, and cooking techniques. No matter the field, deep knowledge is what transforms someone from a beginner into…

Taking the SAT is a rite of passage for high school students– and it’s a rite you get to prepare for. However, the timing of that preparation can be really important. Start too early, and it’s a long, drawn out, painful process that ultimately isn’t that helpful. Start too late, and you don’t have time to develop strategies or learn how to take the test. Whether you’re a student just…

For students starting the college search, thinking about where to go to school can be a truly daunting task. After a while, every brochure looks the same: smiling faces, a sunny day on the quad, engaged students, and promises upon promises of extracurriculars and opportunities. Sometimes it feels like everything just starts to blur together, and eventually, many start wondering about whether or not it really matters where you go.…

One of the most important things to understand about the SAT is that it doesn’t just give schools an additional opportunity to see your academic performance; it also gives them a way to compare you to other students. What makes you a better choice over another student? Colleges have to ask themselves this question every time they choose someone to admit, and an SAT score in the top percentiles provides…

When it comes to standardized test scoring, it can be hard to tell what a good score really is. With the SAT, the numbers are big– the lowest you can get is a 400, after all. But with the ACT, it often feels like you have less wiggle room, since the highest possible score is a 36. Does that mean there’s a bigger difference between the numbers? Is a 36…

A piece of advice that high-achieving students often hear is that they should take AP classes. And that’s completely correct– you should be taking AP classes if your school offers them! AP, short for Advanced Placement, is an international program administered by the College Board, the same organization that administers the SAT. AP classes are more demanding than typical high school courses, but the benefits are immense.  One of the…

What do you need to prepare for college? You might think you need things for your dorm, your textbooks, your class materials. And you do need those things, but before any of that– before you take any tests, before you submit a single application, you need to have goals. And what’s more, these goals need to be specific. You need to know your why. On its own, getting into a…

When you take the ACT, there are two language arts sections: Reading and English. While the Reading section tests your ability to synthesize new information, make inferences about the text and the author’s intent, and interpret statements, the English section is more about the mechanics of grammar and writing. It requires you to have a good understanding of the rules of written English, and the questions can be challenging and…

Hoya saxa! Georgetown University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. The first federally chartered university, it boasts a 235-year history of excellence and is the alma mater of 2 US presidents (Lyndon B Johnson and Bill Clinton), 25 state governors, more than 450 members of Congress, and even international royalty. In short, if you have political ambitions, this might just be your dream…

The average GPA for high school students in the United States is at an all-time high. However, research indicates that this average might not be on the rise for the right reasons. Students don’t seem to be learning more as their grades increase. Rather, as shifts in grading, curriculum, and learning scales occur, students’ grades are artificially increasing, meaning that transcripts no longer reflect true academic ability. This phenomenon is…