Don’t Take It Cold Yesterday I had a phone call from the mom of a rising-junior. “I just want him to take the SAT to see how he does. Then we’ll decide how much study he needs.” Hey, while you’re at it, have him submit a rough draft of his essay with his college application? […]
Paying for College 101: The CSS Curve Ball
The last post in the “Paying for College 101” series goes over the importance of properly positioning your assets when you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We recommend reading them first! They’ll provide understanding of how a student and parent’s income(s) and assets affect the FAFSA calculation and how these calculations […]
Paying for College 101: When Your Hard Work Works Against You
The point of working hard and saving for college shouldn’t be having your efforts work against you, yet that is exactly what can happen when you diligently work and save without understanding how the FAFSA works. In a previous post, I described how the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is impacted by your income and where […]
Using SAT Books for PSAT Prep
I had a call from a parent of a sophomore last week who was worried about the lack of PSAT materials available at his local book store. “Why are there so many SAT books and so few PSAT books?” he asked. As far as I’m concerned, there shouldn’t be any PSAT manuals on the book […]
Deciphering Your Financial Aid Award Letter with an Infographic
I stumbled across this excellent infographic breaking down the big (and small) points of a financial aid award letter, and thought it was definitely worth sharing. With college decision and financial aid letters looming on the horizon, it’s a good idea to get familiar with exactly what will be on that letter, and what it […]
Using College to Help You Figure Out a Career Path
Even if you already have a good idea about the career path you want to follow after you graduate from college, deciding which steps you need take to make it happen can be a pretty intense experience. There are so many things to consider: Which classes you should take, the major you should declare, the […]
ACT and SAT Tips and Tricks: Incomplete Comparisons
Comparisons errors occur on both the ACT English Test and the SAT Writing and Language Test. When you find a comparison in a passage on one of these tests, ensure that the two items being compared are alike; it’s acceptable to compare an apple to an orange but it’s likely questionable to compare a green […]
How is the SAT Essay Scored?
Although most SAT test-takers have a good grasp of how the overall test is scored (you get a score out of 2400 points, with each of the three sections earning a score between 200 and 800), many don’t really know how the SAT essay is scored. Here’s the deal.
What You Need to Know About the SAT Experimental Section
On Saturday, I will have taken the SAT for the umpteenth time. I’m taking the January administration for a couple of reasons: first, so I can buy this test. Three times a year the test makers allow you to purchase a copy of the test through their Question and Answer service, and January is one […]
4 ACT & SAT Prep Goals for Juniors
You can procrastinate no longer, Juniors. If you haven’t already starting to think about ACT and SAT prep, it’s time. We recommend that all juniors take the test at least once in the spring of their junior year, and that they spend two to four months preparing for said test. If you’re running out of […]