Update June 2020: The ACT has decided to add 3 new test dates to Fall 2020. Registration opens the last week of July. Mark your calendars! September Saturday, September 12 Sunday, September 13 Saturday, September 19 (new test date) October Saturday, October 10 (new test date)Saturday, October 17 (new test date)Saturday, October 24Sunday, October 25 … [Read more...]
College Acceptances for Class of 2020
Every year, we have students who are accepted to popular Texas colleges, including UT, UT Dallas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and UH. Congrats to our students who are headed off to some awesome colleges! We had 25 seniors who were accepted to: Arizona State UniversityBoston UniversityCase WesternColorado State UniversityColorado School of MinesCornellDuke UniversityEmory UniversityGeorgia TechHunter Honors College at CUNYJohns … [Read more...]
How Students Can Be Productive From Home
Many high school students use their summer break from high school to participate in activities that may boost their resumes or applications for college. Some of these activities include summer camp programs on college campuses and community service that may all be canceled now. First, students should consider their own interests and passions. Do you sew? Then start an Etsy store. If you’re interested in computers, teach yourself how to … [Read more...]
College Resources
College is an expensive investment that requires teenagers to make very important decisions. Want more information or resources? Two books I've personally read and highly recommend are: How to College: What to Know Before You Go (And When You're There) The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us BestColleges.com partnered with CampusPride.org to share resources that will benefit students who identify as LGBTQ+. These … [Read more...]
Update about AP Exams
Update: April 3, 20202 AP Exam Schedule released Update from College Board regarding AP Exams For the 2019–20 exam administration only, students can take a 45-minute online exam at home. Beginning on Wednesday, March 25, students and teachers can attend free, live AP review courses, delivered by AP teachers from across the country. It appears that AP Art exams will consist of 3 submitted works (instead of 5). Computer … [Read more...]
I got offered Blinn TEAM at A&M but what does that mean?
Texas A&M is releasing final admissions decisions soon for students who applied for Fall 2018. If you got accepted, congratulations! There are also several other pathways that might be offered: Aggie Gateway to Success is a summer provisional admission program that gives students a unique chance to gain full admission to the university the following fall semester. This is a rare offer in which Gateway students who successfully complete … [Read more...]
Top 14 Law Schools
The top 14 law schools are often abbreviated as the T14. Each year, individual schools usually shift up or down the law school rankings, and there can be significant differences in a school’s ranking from one year to the next. But in general, the colleges within the T14 remain the same. The top 14 law schools share a number of common characteristics; notably, they have the most competitive admissions standards, offer the most reputable … [Read more...]
Great Options for an Online MBA
Recent college grads and young professionals often wonder whether earning a graduate degree will set them up for career success. An MBA degree is a popular stepping stone to C-suite jobs at large corporations, and it is also an asset for budding entrepreneurs, especially for students with an undergraduate degree in a field other than business. Adding a Master's in Business Administration degree (MBA) can be very rewarding professionally but … [Read more...]
High School Seniors College Checklist for Spring
The last two years have been spent getting students ready for college admissions. Applications, essays, financial aid documents all done. Your child got college acceptance letters and after careful evaluation, finally picked the college he or she will be attending! Yay! But wait, the work is not done yet, here is our college checklist for seniors: The college application process is a long and arduous one. Once the final acceptance … [Read more...]
Five Things to Know About Scholarships
As the cost of attending some the nation’s colleges exceed $60,000 a year, many families start looking for scholarships to help cover the cost. However, too many people don’t understand the basics of college scholarships including the source and average amounts. Fortunately, educating yourself about these facts will help you find scholarships that can significantly reduce the cost of a college education. 1. The largest source of scholarships … [Read more...]
Is your high school counselor an expert on college admissions?
Is your teenager’s high school counselor an expert on college? Probably not. In fact, the odds are high that your high school counselor’s knowledge about college admission strategies, standardized testing and scholarships, and financial aid is limited. Ironically, during this period of increasing college costs, financial aid is often the subject that high school counselors know the least about. Many high school counselors are unfortunately … [Read more...]
Conversations for Families with College Kids
For most families with a kid away at college, Thanksgiving is the first time they will return home. This can be a great time to relax, see family and friends, and a great opportunity to have some important conversations. After letting your college kid catch up on sleep and get in touch with old friends, here are some topics to bring up before the whole family arrives for Thanksgiving dinner: 1. Academics By this time into the semester, students … [Read more...]
Do I have to include the essay on the SAT or ACT?
The essay portion on the SAT and ACT is confusing for many students and families. It is optional and can be added while registering for a test date. So the question I hear a lot is: Do I have to do the essay on the SAT or ACT? Unfortunately, the answer is 'it depends'. Only a small number of colleges require or recommend the writing score from the SAT or ACT test, so most students do not need to include the optional writing on the tests. The … [Read more...]
7 Tips to Start the High School Year Off Right
All high school students, from anxious new freshman to confident seniors, set their minds to making the most of the year. Four years may sound like a lot, but it's a short time considering you're setting the groundwork for the rest of your life. Goal: College! Here are 7 ways to ensure this school year provides the best support for your future choices and opportunities: 1. School course choices Consider your courses and teachers and decide … [Read more...]
Connecting Naviance to Common App
If your high school uses Naviance, you can connect your account to your Common App account. First, make sure you've added your high school to the Education Section under the Common App tab. Next, under the Colleges tab, select one college and click the "Recommenders and FERPA" section. Here's a useful video: … [Read more...]
