One question I get asked a lot is what's the difference between a personal statement versus a college essay. And the fact is they're generally the same thing most of the time. Kind of. Let me explain. Your Common App…
Summer break often means relaxation, beaches, and barbecues. But for ambitious high school students in New Jersey, summer is also the perfect time to get ahead academically, especially when it comes to college admissions testing. Utilizing the summer months wisely…
When students ask me for college admissions essay tips, what they're actually asking is: what do colleges really care about? What are they looking for in my essay? And the answer, in a word, is passion. Colleges want to see…
Choosing the right ACT tutor can make all the difference when preparing for one of the most critical exams in a high school student's life. But with so many tutoring options available in New Jersey, how do you select the…
Today, I want to explore an important question many families face during the college planning process: "Should I take out a student loan if I don't need it?" Surprisingly, the answer might not always be straightforward. Even if you can…
When students ask me for Common App essay tips, the number one question I get asked is: Which prompt should you pick? So in today's video, we're going to break down all seven of the Common App essay prompts and…
The ACT is one of the most important tests a high school student will take. With college admissions becoming increasingly competitive, securing a strong ACT score can significantly enhance a student's college application. But preparing for this exam can feel…
Hey guys, it’s Eric at Solution Prep. The first digital SAT has officially debuted in America, and scores have finally arrived! After fielding endless questions from students, parents, and educators alike about whether the digital SAT would be easier, we…
When students are looking for college essay help, they often ask: what's the best way to start their application essay? So today we're going to talk about five foolproof ways to start your college application essay. The first is a…
The new student loan rates are out for the 2025-2026 school year, and it’s a mixed bag. This week, I’ll break down both what we’re sure of for this coming year and what may be changing for the years ahead.…
I am literally begging families to please stop focusing exclusively on Ivy League colleges. Everywhere I look, it's Ivy this and Ivy that. Even other SAT and college admission services like ours, they advertise themselves as, "We get this percent…
Today we're talking about guarantees. Everybody wants one, but there are no guarantees in life. A college's graduation rate is no guarantee your student will graduate on time or at all. Their average six-months-out-of-college employment rate is no guarantee your…
For students across New Jersey, the ACT can be a pivotal piece of the college admissions puzzle. A strong score doesn’t just demonstrate academic readiness: it can also open doors to competitive schools and merit-based scholarships. With so much riding…
Today we're talking about how colleges view your grades. Grades may be the most important thing a college considers in deciding whether or not to accept you. But included in that is your level of academic rigor. Meaning if you…
Today's video is, to be honest, a little self-serving because one question I get asked a lot is: why should we hire a college admissions coach? And that's my job. That's what I do. And people ask, well, can't we…
When preparing for the SAT, having the right tutor can profoundly impact a student's success. But with numerous options available across New Jersey, choosing the best tutor might seem overwhelming. At Solution Prep, we've guided countless NJ families through this…
The SAT plays a significant role in the college admissions journey, impacting everything from acceptance letters to scholarship opportunities. As New Jersey students face growing competition for college spots, achieving strong SAT scores has never been more critical. One proven…
The ACT is a key component of the college admissions process. For students in New Jersey, proper preparation can make all the difference. Whether you're aiming for a top-tier school, looking to qualify for scholarships, or just trying to boost…
Today I'm answering the question: what's the best day to take the SAT? Is it the December SAT? Is it the June SAT? Which one's easiest? Or, because the SAT is curved and not based on how many questions you…
Today we're talking about college graduation rates. Did you know that when the federal government publishes those at CollegeScorecard.ed.gov, they're actually showing you the 8-year graduation rate? And I don't think most students want to take eight years to get…
Selecting the ideal ACT prep course can significantly impact your student’s college admissions journey. With numerous options across New Jersey, finding the right course can seem overwhelming. At Solution Prep, we've guided thousands of NJ families through this important decision,…
Today we're answering the question: What if you're admitted to a college off their waitlist? When colleges accept students, there may be more applicants they like than they can fit into their college. So what they do is they accept…
Preparing effectively for the ACT is a critical step toward college success. With many ACT prep courses available across New Jersey, families often wonder how to choose the best one to ensure their student’s success. At Solution Prep, we've directly…
We just survived Ivy Decision Day, where six of America's eight colleges in the athletic conference known as the Ivy League—that’s correct, it is an athletic conference—released their decisions for the class of 2029. That’s the high school class of…
We need to talk about the problem with the September SAT. First of all, yes, you heard that right. There's going to be a September SAT this year on September 13th, which, other than during the pandemic when the College…
Today we're talking about how to make a profit with your student loans. Student loans are a helpful way for families who can't afford the college's entire bill to cover the gap between that and what they can afford. Certainly,…
Today we're talking about why you should go to college open houses. Every college has open houses, a couple in the fall, a couple in the spring, and they are a great opportunity when there are so many people on…
Today, I want to tell you why you shouldn't apply to too many colleges. You may have heard me say before that the sweet spot is to apply to between 5 and 10 colleges. You need at least 5 on…
Today we're talking about why some colleges may offer you scholarship dollars while other colleges may not. When you apply to a college, they're considering you for admission, but they're also considering you for merit scholarships based on the strength…
Today we're talking about which colleges you should add to your FAFSA. When you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at FAFSA.gov, it’s going to ask you which colleges you want to receive the information. And you’re…
Today we're talking about some of the common questions you should be ready to answer if you have a college admissions interview. Some colleges offer and some colleges require an interview as part of their admissions process, and if you…
It's the time of year when guidance counselors are sending home class selections for next school year. And that leaves high school students and their parents wondering which are the right classes to take next school year. Middle school is…
There's a new president in the Oval Office. So in today's video, I'm going to break down what we do and don't expect to change about college and financial aid for the next four years. I'm not going to dip…
Today we're talking about an extra way to talk about activities in your college applications. In the Common App there's a section devoted to activities where you can list up to 10 of your extracurricular activities that you've already done.…
It's the beginning of the new year, and I want to talk to you about what 2025 is going to look like for the Class of 2026. You got a big year ahead of you, so let's make a timeline…
It's right around New Year's, so you've probably heard back from most of the colleges you applied to early, whether that was Early Decision, Early Action, or just rolling admissions. And if you were accepted to those colleges, congratulations! That's…
Today we're talking about your testing timeline. You should plan to take the SAT at least 2 times, 3 times is also totally fine, and that's because most colleges will put together your best reading/writing score and your best math…
Today we're talking about how the ACT is changing. Last July the makers of the ACT announced they would change the test effective this April. Which is pretty fast, but important to note the changes don't go into effect for…
It's December, and that means Early Decision acceptances are starting to come in. And today we're going to answer the question: Is Early Decision really binding? When you apply to colleges you'll see a variety of deadlines including early deadlines…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep and the FAFSA is open. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it's your first step for getting things like loans, grants, scholarships, and work study to help you afford…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep and college acceptances are starting to come in. If you applied early through rolling admissions, Early Action, or even Early Decision, we're starting to see a trickle of those acceptances. That's going to…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep and today we're talking about what to do before and after any college visit. Visiting colleges is a great way to learn more about the schools you're interested in and see if you'd…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep and PSAT scores are starting to come out. This year, earlier than ever. As soon as October 24th if you took the PSAT from October 1st through 11th. For those of you who…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep, and today I'm answering the question: Should you fill out the CSS profile? The CSS profile is the College Scholarship Service, and it's like the FAFSA (the free application for Federal Student Aid),…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep, and today we're answering the question: When will I get my SAT or ACT scores? If you take the SAT on one of the seven national test dates throughout the year, scores typically…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep, and today we're talking about why you might get rejected to your safety schools and what you can do about it. When you apply to colleges you should build a balanced list of…
Today we're talking about two optional essays in the Common App. If you click on the Common App tab and click on the writing section, you're going to see an area that says “Additional Information.” In there, there are two…
Today we have to talk about college acceptance rates and how they can often be misleading. When you see a college with an acceptance rate of 50% or 20% or 5% of the students who've applied it doesn't mean it's…
Today we're talking about letters of recommendation for your college applications. Specifically, we're talking about the other recommenders that some colleges are willing to look at. Most schools want to see letters from two teachers plus your guidance counselor. But…
Today I am talking to parents about 5 right ways and 5 wrong ways to help your students apply to college. Parents should help students build and winnow down a list of best fit colleges. This is a family decision…
Today I'm talking directly to students who just took their first SAT after having completed a course, answering the question: What do you do between now and your next SAT? Everyone should plan to take the SAT at least 2…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep, and today we're talking about the most important rule of writing your college application essays. It's also the most important rule of public speaking or telling jokes, and that's: Know Your Audience. Think:…
Today we're talking about the different resources you can look forward to at college. Moving away to college is a big transition: you have to be responsible for yourself and maybe independent in a way you've never been before. Colleges…
College applications are open and now you have to answer the tough question: should you submit your SAT or ACT scores to the colleges you're applying to? Well, that depends on whether or not the colleges you're applying to are…
Today we're talking about your activities. In the Common Application, and many other applications, there's space for you to list up to 10 activities. And what is it colleges are looking for exactly? Well, they're looking for your passion and…
The ACT is changing. They just announced earlier this week that effective spring of 2025 (so we expect that to be the April ACT coming up), they're going to be making some changes. Maybe big, maybe small. We're going to…
AP scores are in. If you took an Advanced Placement class in the last school year, it likely ended with a great big AP exam scored on a scale of 1-5. And your teacher probably told you that if you…
We have to talk about your grades. High school grades are the number 1 qualifier most colleges consider in determining which students to accept and which to decline. But it's important for you to understand how the colleges you're applying…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep, and today we're talking about four ways students fail the assignment of writing their college application essays. One is by writing about their grades, trying to explain away bad grades, or say why…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep, and today we're talking about why some colleges that accept the Common App also request or require their own school specific application essays. They want to get to know the applicants who are…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep. Today, we're talking about five things to avoid in writing a “Why This College” essay. A lot of colleges in their application ask, “Why do you want to go to our college?” This…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep, and today we're talking about the three step process to writing a winning college application essay. And that's: written first, good next, and length last. In your first step, you just have to…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep and today I want to tell you a little story about why qualified students might still get rejected from their top choice colleges. I visit a lot of colleges, and one day I…
Hi guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep, and today we’re discussing whether you should consider religiously affiliated colleges; even if it’s not your religion, or if you’re not religious at all. Some colleges have their faith at the center of…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep, and if you know me, you know that making college affordable for students and families is something I focus a lot of my time on. But today I want to dispel a myth…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep. Today we’re talking about how the reading and writing questions are different now — on the new digital SAT — compared to how they were on the old paper and pencil test. The…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep. Today we’re talking about summer programs at colleges for high school students. These can be a great opportunity for you to learn more about topics you’re passionate about, or to look more into…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep. And as we get closer to decision deadlines the number one question I’m getting from parents and students is how do I get a little more money out of the colleges I’m considering…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep and today we’re discussing how sports culture impacts your college selection. Yes, it’s fun to go to a big rah-rah sports school and have that culture on campus, and have games to go…
Hey guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep. We talk a lot about what to do in preparation for your SAT or ACT, and especially during the test. Today, we’re discussing what to do directly after you take the SAT or…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep and today I want to talk to you about things that really don’t matter on a college visit. I have visited hundreds of colleges, and there are things I hear all the time,…
Hey guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep and now that college acceptances are in its time to answer the tough question: what if you were rejected by your top choice college? Well, fear not because there are some steps you…
Hey guys, it’s Eric at Solution Prep. Today we’re discussing how to graduate college on time. Here are three ways to ensure timely graduation. in America graduate public universities on time — which means in four years or fewer. Those…
Today, we're discussing what if you're accepted to your top college but not as expected. Let's explore three ways to navigate this situation. are three ways we're gonna talk about today. One is, but not for your preferred starting term.…
Hi, it's Eric at Solution Prep! Let's discuss letters of continued interest. They're crucial if you've been deferred or waitlisted! from the regular round, you may still be able to get accepted. And one thing that could help is a…
Today I want to talk about the four-month journey that will be your college application project. Yes, it will take four months. Underestimate it and procrastinate about it at your peril. I have done this for so many years, and…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep, and today we’re talking about how to apply to college for free. Submitting a college application can cost anywhere from $35 all the way up to $95 for a single college. So if…
Hey guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep. And today we’re talking about the Digital SAT timeline. Junior year is testing year and you want to get all your SATs done by the end of it. That way you can move…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep; and we have a problem. Typically the FAFSA — that’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — opens on October 1st, and I spend all of October helping families fill out their…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep. Today we’re talking about sending SAT and ACT scores to colleges. If you’ll be submitting your scores — either because the college requires them or because they reflect your best academic abilities —…
Hey guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep. Today we’re talking about the two most important — and toughest — parts to write of any college application essay — that’s the beginning and the end. For the beginning, so many students…
October is College Fair season! Twice a year — once in the fall, and once in the spring — college reps make the rounds to college fairs for your state, your county, your district, or even your high school. And…
Today we're talking about what changes are coming to the PSAT. This year, high schools will have from October 2nd to October 31st to administer the PSAT on whatever day or days they choose. This PSAT will be a totally…
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep, and today we’re talking about that massive pain in the butt that is manually entering all of your courses and grades in college apps when looking to apply to college. Yes… your guidance…
The college reps are coming! Fall is travel season for college admissions reps; so in addition to attending college fairs in the evening, they might also be visiting high schools during the daytime to meet students, and they might be…
We’re back with five more words to avoid in your college application essays. The first is “we”. So often students write “we” did this, or “we” did that; but “we” are not applying to college — you are. So focus…
Today we’re talking about major-specific college visits. When you take a general college visit you’re going to learn a lot about amenities like the food, and the dorms, and the sports facilities. Your tour guide might even tell you about…
Today we’re talking about short college application essays. Everyone knows the Common App will allow you to submit an essay of up to 650 words; then each college might have their own school specific supplemental essays that are just for…
A question I get a lot is whether it’s better to submit SAT or ACT scores to colleges. Right now, a lot of colleges have "test optional" policies, where if you don’t submit scores, it’s not supposed to hurt your…
Today we’re talking about the changing PSAT and your testing timeline. Historically, high schools have had three dates in October to choose from to administer the PSAT. Either the second Wednesday in October, the most common one. The Saturday after…
Hey guys. It’s Eric at Solution Prep. And today we’re talking about applying “undeclared“ for your major. Some colleges consider applicants by major or the school within a school to which they apply. There are only so many seats. But…
With a lot of our students heading off to college this month, today I’ve got 6 great ways to save money off the cost of college textbooks. Students spend up to $2,000 a year on these according to the College…
Today we’re talking about the non-calculator math section on the SAT. A lot of students hear about that and they get very nervous; they’re like, “oh no! The calculator is where my brain exists!” Well let me assure you, the…
One of the biggest mistakes students fail to avoid when they write their college application essays is writing someone else’s story. If you’re writing an essay about your background — or your gratitude — it’s very common to write about…
Today we’re talking about building your best college list. Getting into top colleges has gotten tougher each year. There are a lot of reasons, but here are two of the biggest culprits: First, students are just applying to so many…
Today we’re talking about hooks: a hook is a reason why a college might notice and pick you over other qualified candidates. Now there are some hooks you can control but other hooks you can’t. You can’t control if you’re…
This week we’re talking about how to take self-guided tours of college campuses during your visit. Sometimes your availability doesn’t fit the college’s calendar but you can still go on your own and see a lot of things. Find the…
We’re back today to discuss how another Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling is affecting college students, both present and past, in regard to student debt. President Biden made a campaign promise of reducing student loan debt for borrowers. And in 2022,…
Today I want to give you five reasons not to use ChatGPT to write your college application essays. AI writing tools are more accessible than ever and the temptation is real to just copy and paste that prompt in, let…
Today we’re talking about the recent Supreme Court decision that effectively bans colleges from considering race as one factor in a holistic review of students’ college admissions applications. For decades, colleges have endeavored to create diverse student bodies, including “people…