At seventeen, I did not have ample experience interviewing (apart from the mock interviews that Academic Decathlon requires). In fact, my college interview was essentially my first real interview. So, I ironed out the pleats in my skirt, steamed my blazer, and put my fate in the hands of the college admissions gods. Luckily, you […]

Picture your ideal Saturday morning. No school, two full weekend days ahead of you. What would you like do Surely, your first thought was, “I would love to sit for a 3-and-a-half-hour test that determines my college readiness and subsequent future successes.” That said, if you are one of the […]

When I was sixteen, my father asked me what my passions and goals were. Taken aback by the question, I blurted out, “Helping the world.” How descriptive. Listen: most sixteen-year-olds don’t even know what they’re having for dinner. To expect them to know what they want to do in five […]

The good news: The SAT and ACT essay are both optional. The bad news: They’re not really. Although the essay is no longer included in the comprehensive score report for each test, many colleges and universities still want students to complete and submit the essay along with whichever standardized test […]