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Timeline for Taking the SAT or ACT

September 10, 2022 By Jolyn Brand

The SAT and the ACT are very different college entrance exams and most colleges are now accepting both. This has led to most students taking both the SAT and the ACT tests, although that is not required or suggested by many professionals in the college admissions field. Junior and senior year of high school are already very busy times so planning ahead really helps! When should my child take the SAT or ACT? While it looks like there are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACT and SAT, For Juniors, For Seniors Tagged With: ACT, college acceptance, college advice, SAT, scholarships

Do I have to include the essay on the SAT or ACT?

September 19, 2019 By Jolyn Brand

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...]

Filed Under: ACT and SAT Tagged With: ACT, ACT essay, college advice, SAT or ACT, SAT prep

Can my ACT score get me a scholarship?

June 22, 2019 By Jolyn Brand

Guest post by: David Recine, Magoosh The link between ACT scores and getting accepted into school is obvious. Meet a school’s expectations, and you’ll get in. But what about the connection between ACT scores and paying for school once you’re accepted? That is never quite so obvious. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at how your ACT score can translate into money in your pocket… or at least, money applied to your tuition bill. Which … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACT and SAT Tagged With: ACT, college acceptance, college advice, college financial aid, scholarships

ACT Adding New Summer Test Date

February 21, 2017 By Jolyn Brand

Beginning in 2018,  ACT will begin offering students a chance to take the ACT over the summer, starting July 2018. This new test date will increase the number of test dates from six to seven dates each year. To accommodate the new summer testing date, the test will be offered at local community colleges annd university campuses, instead of high schools that traditionally offer the tests during the school year. “Students, educators and colleges … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACT and SAT Tagged With: ACT, ACT scores, ACT test dates

How to Prepare for the ACT Test

December 10, 2016 By Jolyn Brand

The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in: English (grammar) Math Reading (passages and comprehension) Science (charts and graphs) The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute Writing Test. The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete, including a short break (or just over four hours if … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACT and SAT Tagged With: ACT, college, college advice, college applications, financial aid, SAT, scholarships

6 Questions to Ask When Selecting SAT/ACT Test Prep or Tutoring

July 29, 2015 By Jolyn Brand

Selecting a test prep method can be a daunting task. Every student is different, so there isn't one option out there that works for everyone. You know yourself better than others, so ask yourself the questions below, and make sure you do your research! When will I have time to prepare?  Consider your academic course load and extra-curricular activities. If you have a busy schedule, have a job, or are involved in many different activities, it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACT and SAT, For Juniors Tagged With: ACT, ACT tutoring, college admissions, college advice, college applications, college consultant, essays, SAT, SAT tutor, test prep

Which Colleges Superscore the SAT?

May 21, 2015 By Jolyn Brand

A student's test scores from the SAT or ACT are crucial for college admissions. But it's tricky to know when and which scores to send to which of the colleges on your list.  Most colleges will use the highest scores sent to them, either from the same test day or highest score in each section over time, called superscore. What is an SAT Superscore? According to College Board, the creators of the SAT, Score Choice is "score-reporting feature that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACT and SAT, FAQ's Tagged With: ACT, college acceptance, college admissions, college advice, college applications, college consultant, college counselor, College tests, SAT, SAT Superscore, Texas A&M, University of Texas

The New SAT Math Section

April 21, 2014 By Jolyn Brand

Explaining the New SAT Mathematics Sections The College Board, creators of the SAT, have decided to completely revamp the test for the Spring of 2016. This will affect current freshmen (class of 2017) who otherwise might have to go into a brand new test that few of us have seen and will be difficult to completely prepare for. Another option is for current freshmen to plan on taking the ACT during the spring of their junior year instead. For … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACT and SAT Tagged With: ACT, college, college acceptance, college admissions, college help, SAT

More Texas Students Take the SAT But Scores Decline

September 26, 2012 By Jolyn Brand

Students take either the SAT or the ACT during junior and senior year of high school in order to get into college. In Texas, more and more students are choosing to participate in this testing, but, unfortunately, their scores are falling. The College Board, who administers the test, released a report last Monday that show the national and state average for all test takers. Texas, just like many of the states, showed an increase in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACT and SAT Tagged With: ACT, college, college admissions, college advice, college counselor, college financial aid, College tests, SAT

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Joel Delgado
Joel Delgado
16:37 27 Sep 19
Our experience with Jolly Brand was exceptional.
Jacob Gunter
Jacob Gunter
04:27 06 Jul 19
Shannon Robbins
Shannon Robbins
16:26 14 Apr 17
Our experience with Jolyn Brand was exceptional. She was very responsive to us and offered valuable guidance throughout the college preparation and application process. My daughter got in to all of the schools in which she applied, even her stretch school. We credit Jolyn with helping us to make sure her resume, application and essays were top notch.
Marylee Olson
Marylee Olson
00:29 08 Mar 17
Brand College Consulting was GREAT for our son! We met Ms. Brand when my son was in 7th grade! We saw her for an hour consult yearly to help him select his classes, plus a little algebra tutoring in high school. He was ahead of others course-wise and we were able to get 21 hours dual credit in high school, he made the Dean's List, Phi Theta Kappa, and Natl Society of High School Scholars. We are a family of Texas State Bobcats and it's very competitive now to get in but he did and we are thrilled! I recommend Ms. Brand and her services! Marylee Olson, Silverlake, Pearland (Dawson High School)
Chaplain Forever
Chaplain Forever
23:49 05 Oct 16
My youngest daughter attended tutorial services with Ms. Brand. Due to the exemplary, SAT preparation services, my daughter was accepted into several top colleges including the University of Houston, Texas State, Lamar University, and Sam Houston. As a college student, she received scholarships and has been on the Dean's list every semester. Ms. Brand instilled confidence in my daughter. I will be forever grateful.
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Client Testimonials

avatarI was very happy with all aspects of the service, but Anna and I were especially happy with how responsive you were to requests and how quickly you returned emails.  Anna liked that if you were going away or were not going to be available that you sent e mails notifying her and gave dates to complete things before you became unavailable.

(Note: Anna was accepted to Case Western University, Boston University, University of Pittsburgh, Stony Brook, and University of Rochester. She also received scholarships totaling $58,000 a year.)

Maria Swetz
Parent, Class of 2016
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About Jolyn Brand

Jolyn is a certified teacher who holds a Doctorate in Higher Education from Northeastern University. After years of experience teaching high school and college students, she began assisting with the college process. She's the founder of Brand College Consulting and works with families across the country virtually. A note from Jolyn: I started working with low-income high school students in … More...

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