Everyone knows that the Activities List is a super important section of the Common App…so why do so many people flub the chance to maximize its impact? Let me show you how to avoid that pitfall with these six steps to a winning Activities List.
10 Things *Not* to Do in Your College Applications
I get it: college admissions is a pressure cooker, and it’s tempting to take some shortcuts to success. But there are some supposed “hacks” that backfire big-time. Here's what NOT to do when you're applying to college.
Guide to Diagnostic Testing for the ACT & Digital SAT
You might already know that you need to take a diagnostic test in order to set up a successful test-prep process. But did you know that HOW you take it really matters? I’m explaining what to do and what NOT to do in order to get the best results from your diagnostic SAT or ACT test.
Improve Your SAT or ACT Score with the "Things to Remember" Hack
My students who make the most astounding improvements on the SAT or ACT have one thing in common. It's a simple study technique I call the "things to remember list," and I can teach it to you, too.
How to answer Big-Picture Questions on the ACT Reading
Both the SAT and ACT ask “big picture” reading questions, so lots of tutors and test prep companies try to prepare you to answer them. In this post, I’m reviewing the strategies that you’ve probably heard before…and sharing the simple and effective one that works for my students, which I bet you haven’t!
Transition Words on the ACT and Digital SAT
Transition words account for a surprisingly high number of points on the SAT and ACT! But what are they and how do they work? Here’s the most complete guide to transition words you’ll find.
How to Improve Your College Apps with an Organizing Principle
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.
Making Your College List: Factors to Consider
Before you start applying to colleges, you need to figure out which ones you’re applying TO. Sounds simple, right? But there are so many factors to consider that making a college list can seem intimidating. Don’t worry! This week I’m giving you a straightforward five-step guide to drafting your list of dream schools….so you can start working on getting INTO them.
How to get the most out of College Visits
If you approach your college visits proactively, you can come home from them WAY further along in your application process than you left. Here's how.
Common App Updates: 2025-2026
The Common App is the cornerstone of most students’ college application process. And it’s about to undergo some notable updates come August 1! Read on to find out exactly what’s changing…and what isn’t.
My Top Strategy for ACT English Add/Delete a Sentence Qs
If the ACT is your test of choice, you’ll have to navigate quite a few questions about language, grammar, and writing. In this post, I spotlight one type of question that always appears on the test—the “add/delete a sentence” question—and spell out my failsafe tactic for figuring out the right answer. If you’re hunting for a quick and easy way to rack up points, read on!
Americans Applying to Australian/New Zealander Colleges: Test Score Requirements
U.S. high schoolers considering studying outside of America for college…can find the application process confusing. This week, I’m demystifying Australian and New Zealander university admissions so you understand which tests you need to take AND which scores you need to get.
How to Cancel an ACT Score
SHOULD you cancel is one question (and I’ve written about it!), but once you’re sure you want to, there’s another question: HOW do you cancel your ACT score? This post walks you through it step by step.
Canceling Your SAT Score: Instructions and Advice
IF canceling your scores is really necessary, it can save your application! But how do you cancel your Digital SAT scores? Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough, for use in emergencies only!
The Best Way to Beat SAT and ACT Anxiety
If you’re stressed about studying for the SAT or ACT because you don’t even know where to begin, that’s understandable! And I’m here to help. In this post, I lay out a strategy that will help you find the motivation and calm you need to get started on your studying plan—no matter what kind of student you are.
The Best Digital SAT Sentence Completion Hack
One of the places on the SAT where a lot of students lose points (and/or time) is on "sentence completion" vocab questions. There's a very common mistake that most test-takers make on such problems. Today’s blog post teaches you how to avoid it…and the very effective strategy you should use instead!
The Best Strategy for Double Passages on the ACT
“Paired passages” are a type of question in the ACT Reading section that asks you about two rather than just one passage. And paired passages can take up WAY more of your precious test-day time than they should!…Unless you go in with the right strategy, that is. Click through for a breakdown of the wrong AND the right way to approach this common question type.
SAT and ACT Test Dates, 2025-26
When can you take the SAT and ACT during the school year that spans fall 2025 through spring 2026? I’ve collected all of those dates for you right here, as well as info on how to register and when scores will be released.
Sick or Out of it during the SAT or ACT?
No matter how much you've studied for the SAT or ACT, sometimes unlucky things happen when you sit down to take the test. Whether you wake up sick or distracted on test day, here's how you can best prepare yourself for the unexpected when it happens to you.
Test Anxiety: How to Beat it
What is test anxiety? How can it impact your SAT or ACT score? And most importantly…how do you get out from under its yoke and get the scores your hard work deserves? Not to worry: expert advice on how to conquer test anxiety is just a click away.
