So you know you need an Organizing Principle to show your dream school who you are…but how do you find yours? Especially on your own? I’m giving you a road map to articulating the hidden sense of self that will help you show colleges who you are.
How to Use Your Summer Vacation to Get into College
Worried about how to make the most of those crucial summers during the college process, sophomore through junior year? Worry no more—this post lays out a road map to what you need to keep your eye on.
When Should I Schedule My First ACT? 2022 Edition
Timing is KEY when it comes to the ACT: take it too soon and you might not have completed all the high school coursework you need for the test—but take it too late and you might be risking a low score with no chance to re-take it. Plus, the way the ACT is administered has changed recently, so the scheduling calculus is different in 2022 from previous years. Don’t worry, though: I’ve got your back with this step-by-step guide to figuring out what test dates are right for YOU.
When to Take Your First SAT in 2022
Figuring out when exactly you need to take your first SAT (and the second, and….) can be a real headache. The timing question is made even thornier by the fact that the SAT has changed quite a bit over the past few years—and many of those changes impact testing timelines. This post gets you up to date on all of those factors that impact SAT scheduling, and then helps you figure out what that means for YOUR SAT schedule in 2022.
Should I Take the ACT or the SAT in 2022?
When it comes to choosing between taking the SAT and the ACT, you obviously want to pick the one that’s going to help you shine the most on your college applications. But how do you figure THAT out?! This post clarifies the ways that this question has changed in recent years, AND the three key steps you should take to decide which test is right for you.
Your Step-by-Step Common App Guide, 2021-2022
The Common App is a crucial but complex part of the college application process for many students. Luckily for you, I’ve written a LOT of articles breaking down each and every element of the Common App, from how to find a killer essay topic to how to ace the Activities List! This meta-post collects all of my relevant Common App articles so that you can have them in one place as you begin your application for the 2021-22 application season.
How to Improve Your College Application by Showing "Demonstrated Interest"
If a low-effort task might just push your college application over the edge from “rejected” to “admitted,” you want to be on it YESTERDAY, right? Well, “Demonstrated Interest” is exactly that task! This post gives you the scoop on what Demonstrated Interest is in college admissions—AND lists out the nine ways (big and small) that you can go about showing that interest to the schools on your list.
New Changes to the Common App for 2021-2022!
The Common App is changing in some important ways for the 2021-2022 college application season. In this post, I break down every one of those changes for you. If you're a class of '22 high schooler (or beyond), this is your one-stop guide to the coming year's Common App.
How to Choose Which College to Attend After You're Accepted
College Decision Day is just around the corner. If you’re a high school senior who got into more than one of your dream schools, committing to just one of them in early May might be a stressful prospect! But I’m here to take the pressure off. In this post, I spell out exactly what your next steps are for making this crucial choice.
Are APs the New SAT IIs?
So now that the SAT II Subject Tests have been permanently discontinued by the College Board…what takes their place? How does this change your college application and your test-prep planning? Concerned parents asked me these questions over and over again at a recent speaking gig, and I’m sharing my answers with you.
How to go from deferred to accepted in five easy steps: COVID Edition
If you’ve been deferred from your early decision dream school, it can feel like you’re just waiting. But actually, there’s a LOT you can do to go from deferred to accepted…yes, even with most travel and face-to-face contact ruled out by Covid-19! Here’s what you need to know NOW to go from deferred to accepted in five easy steps.
Avoid These Three Common Mistakes For a Winning Testing Timeline—And Winning Test Scores
Avoid these top three mistakes I see all the time in my work as an elite test-prep expert and your road to the doors of that dream school will run a LOT more smoothly.
Do you have to write the essay on the SAT or ACT?
Do you have to write the essay on the ACT or SAT? I’m usually here to tell you that skipping something you COULD use as an opportunity to shine is a mistake…but maybe not this time. Read on to find out if you’re one of the lucky ones who really CAN forget about writing the SAT Essay section or the ACT Writing component.
What's New on the Common App, 2020-2021
The 2020-2021 Common App has some important changes, and being aware of them will help you put your best foot forward in your college applications! This post is your COMPLETE resource guide to acing the Common App and opening the door to that dream school.
The Testing Timeline: The SUREST Path to the ACT and SAT Scores That Open Doors
So you want the best possible SAT or ACT scores you can get, huh? AND you’d like to stay sane while achieving them, so you can enjoy that dream school when you get there? Your road map to navigating the overwhelming, stressful testing and college processes needs the SUREST tool to success: a Testing Timeline.
ACT Section Retesting: What You Need To Know
The rules for ACT retesting have changed—and it’s major! Let me walk you through what’s changing and when—and what it means for your testing timeline and strategy.
Adversity Score No More: Meet the SAT "Landscape"!
Worried about the new SAT Adversity Score and how it affects your testing strategy? Well, here’s an update you need: it’s been replaced by a new College Board innovation that affects your college applications, but differently. Meet the Landscape…and let me brief you on what it is and what it means for you.
Summer's Over: It's Time to Get Serious About Studying Again
No matter what year you are in high school, if you're anything like my students, now is the time for a wake-up call: summer vacation is over...it's time to get serious about testing and the college process again! I'm breaking down the year ahead for every grade level!
What's the SAT Adversity Score?
If you follow testing and college-process news, you may have heard of the SAT’s new “Adversity Score.” But what is it, really? And how will it affect YOUR testing strategy? I’m breaking it down for you.
Kristina's Complete Guide To Subject Tests: How To Ace Your SAT IIs
This post is a complete guide to all of the resources I’ve got to help you ace your SAT II Subject Tests—from strategy to crucial content!
