Reading & Writing on the Digital SAT
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…
Making the Most of Summer Programs
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…
How to Negotiate More Scholarships
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…
Do College Sports Really Matter? And How Much?
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…
What to do After Taking the SAT & ACT
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…
9 Things to Ignore on College Visits
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,…
Getting to “Yes” from Rejected: Top-Choice College Hacks
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…
3 Ways to Make Sure You’ll Graduate College ON TIME
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…
Navigating Atypical Admission Offers
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.…
4-Part Letter of Continued Interest
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 great letter of continued interest. Some…
Your 4-Month College Application Journey (Backwards!)
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…
How to Apply to College for Free
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…
10th & 11th Grade Digital SAT Timeline
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…
Filing Your CSS Profile Before FAFSA!?
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…
How to Send SAT & ACT Scores to Colleges
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 —…
How to Begin & End Any College Essay
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…
Why Go to a College Fair
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…
28 PSAT Changes in 3 Minutes
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…
Where College Apps Hide Course & Grade Questions
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…
Make the Most of College Reps at School
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…
Five MORE Words to Cut From Your College Essays
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…
Why Take Major-Specific College Visits
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…
The Trick to Writing Short College Essays
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…
Which Do Colleges Want: SAT or ACT?
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…
The New PSAT Timeline & What it Means for You
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…
Do Colleges Care About a Major?
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…
6 Ways to Save off College Textbooks
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…
SAT Math With NO Calculator!?
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…
Avoid this College Essay BIG MISTAKE
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…
Building Your Best College List
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…
How to Build Your College Hook
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…
30 Self-Guided College Visit Tips in 90 Seconds
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…
The SCOTUS Call on Student Debt
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,…
5 Reasons NOT to Let ChatGPT Write Your College Essays
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…
The SCOTUS Call on RACE in Admissions
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…
Why Did They CLOSE the Common App!?
The Common App is down. Oh no! What does that mean? Well, the Common Application is accepted by over 1,000 colleges, and with over 3,000 colleges in America, that makes up about one-third of our schools, though many of them…
Common College Essay: The Diversity Essay
This month we’re talking through some of the most common prompts colleges assign for those school specific supplemental essays. And one that we’ve seen a lot more lately is the diversity essay where a college asks why is diversity important…
Common College Essays: Meaningful Activities & Service
This month we’re talking through some of the most common prompts colleges assign for those school specific application essays. One that we see a lot is: tell us about an extracurricular activity, or tell us about a community service activity…
3 Parts of the “Why this College” Essay
This month we’re talking about the most common prompts colleges assign for those school-specific supplemental essays, with one of the most common being the “Why this college?” essay. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your interest and show them that…
#1 Most Common College Essay: Why This Major?
This month we’re talking through some of the most common college essay prompts colleges assign for those school-specific supplemental application essays. And probably number one on the list is the “why this major?” essay; they want to know about your…
Navigating College Ranking Lists
Today we’re talking about college ranking lists. August 1st is coming, and that’s when most college applications open. So ideally, you want to finish your college search and bring down your list to about five to ten colleges by then.…
New Digital SAT’s Biggest Change
Today we’re talking about one of the biggest changes coming to the new Digital SAT. Back in 2022, the College Board — that’s the folks that make the SAT, along with a number other products like the APs, GRE, and…
The Smart Way to Spend Work Study Money
Today we're talking about how to spend your work-study money. If you filled out the FAFSA, your award letter from college may include an amount of money labeled work-study. That's a job you can work while you're in college that…
Important 2023 Dates for the Class of ’24
It’s a new year and it’s important to talk to our juniors about important upcoming 2023 dates. First, the last SAT and ACT of the school year are the June 3 SAT and June 10 ACT. Junior year is testing…
Why Go to College in High School?
There are college opportunities for high school students that can increase their chances of getting into your top choice college. And, it’s possible you’d graduate earlier and save some money. One option is a summer program, which most colleges do.…
Do You “Qualify” for the FAFSA?
One question I get from parents is asking if they qualify for the FAFSA, and the answer is yes! Every American citizen and green card holder meets the FAFSA qualifications and can fill out the free application at FAFSA.gov. The…
When to Commit to College vs When to Wait
The exciting of process college acceptance letters has begun! With them comes the pressure from each college to get you to commit and send in that deposit. If you apply for Early Decision, you will likely have to pay that…
PSAT Scores Are In! Now What?
The October PSAT scores are finally in! You can check your results on CollegeBoard.org. You’re going to see three scores: Evidence-based Reading and Writing, Math, and the sum of those two for your overall score. These subjects are scored from…
The SAT Testing Timeline
Today we are discussing how the SAT coming in March 2024 will change the testing timeline for today’s sophomores. Generally speaking, junior year is testing year. You have all school year to take the SAT two to three times to…
4 Numbers to Ignore When Looking at Colleges
Last week we discussed the four numbers to consider when looking at colleges, and today we are talking about the four numbers to ignore when looking at colleges. The first number is their SAT and ACT score ranges. Colleges show…
4 Numbers to Consider When Looking at Colleges
Today, we are talking about the four numbers to consider when looking at colleges. The first is acceptance rate. If that number happens to be high it’s not a very selective college, and if that number is very low it’s…
Maximizing Your SAT & ACT Superscore
Today, we are discussing the Superscore. About 90% of colleges will Superscore your SAT and, if you took it more than once, got your best-evidence reading and writing on one day and your best math on another day, these colleges…
Visiting Colleges Like a Pro
Today, we are discussing college visits. Fortunately, most colleges are back to giving in-person tours and you definitely want to jump at the chance to go. But keep in mind when visiting colleges, they’re going to show you the best…
Need Blind vs Need Aware
Today I am going to tell you how Financial Aid may impact admissions at some colleges and dive into Need Blind vs Need Aware. Some schools are what’s called “Need Blind”, which means the Admissions and the Financial Aid offices…
Show Colleges Your Creativity
Today, we are discussing creativity. Some college applications specifically ask if you have an art portfolio or any curating experience you can link or upload. Sadly most students ignore this because they think it has nothing to do with their…
Early Decision vs. Early Action
Today we’re talking about Early Decision vs Early Action college admission options, which are typically due November 1 or 15, and occasionally a little earlier or later. Applying early gives you a number of advantages in terms of getting accepted…
What To Know About PSAT Week
It’s PSAT Week! Most high schools will have their 10th and 11th graders take the PSAT during school on the week of Wednesday, October 12th. However, some high schools may add a handful of freshmen and some schools will have…
Why You Need a “College Email”
Today we have to talk about email, especially for sophomores. That’s because this is when you take the PSAT, start attending college visits and fairs, and eventually sign up by email for the SAT and ACT. All of these things…
Honors Colleges: Should You Apply?
Today, we are discussing Honors Colleges. Most four-year colleges have something called: Honors College. Some colleges call it a Fellows Program, Scholar School, but most call it Honors. In most college applications they ask if you’d like to be considered…
5 Words to CUT From Your College Essay
Today we're talking about five words to cut out of your college application essay. The first is you. Students often describe their activities like, "you go to meetings and you do community service," but you is the reader, and that's…
Show Colleges Your Demonstrated Interest
Today we're talking about an important piece of the college admissions puzzle at many colleges that most students tend to overlook, and that's demonstrated interest. That's how you show a college that you are specifically interested in their school and,…
Registering for the SAT & ACT with Testing Accommodations
Today, we are discussing registering for the SAT and ACT with testing accommodations. If your student has an IEP, 504 plan, or other disabilities they may be eligible for testing accommodations. This includes extra time, extra breaks, or whatever they…
Should You Do Work Study?
Today we are discussing Work Study, a job you have in college while you’re enrolled. Federal Work Study specifically is federal dollars given to your college to employ you based on what you filled out in your FAFSA and you’ll…
Community Service Colleges Love
Today, we are discussing Community Service. That’s one of the many qualities colleges like to see in their prospective students because you’re going to be a part of campus life and that greater area. They want to know if you’re…
Why You Should Make an Admissions Résumé
Today, we are going to discuss the three reasons to make a college admissions resume. An admissions resume is different from a job resume. A job resume is typically black-printed on one white sheet of paper listing your employment and…
Subsidized vs Unsubsidized: How Student Loans Work
Now that the college bill is due, it’s time to talk about the difference between Subsidized vs Unsubsidized student loans. If you filled out the FAFSA, you’re offered $5,500 in a direct loan that is often called the “Stafford Loan”,…
Common App is Open! Now What?
August 1st means the Common App is open! This is a great time to get to work on specific parts of your school's applications for the colleges on your list. Some schools will be late, but most are right on…
Should You Apply “Test Optional”?
Today we’re talking about if you should apply to colleges “test optional,” which is an option some colleges offer but other colleges don’t—so make sure to read their requirements carefully. On most colleges’ websites, you can find their interquartile range,…
You Can USUALLY Change Your Major
One question I get asked a lot is, “What if I’m not sure about my intended major?” It’s okay if—at 16, 17, or 18 years old—you’re not sure what you want to do for the rest of your life. In…
Building a Great College Résumé
Today I want to talk to 10th graders about what they can be doing right now to build a great application resume for when college admissions time comes. One of the biggest myths is that colleges are looking for the…
Student Loan Rates Are Up HOW MUCH!?
Today we’re talking about student loans. New student loan rates are in for the ‘22-’23 school year, and like everything else these days, they’re going up. On the federal side, the Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loan, often called the…
College Essays DO’s and DON’Ts
Today I want to give you some do’s and don'ts about writing your college application essays. DO write on a topic you care about: your passions and your intellectual curiosity. DON’T write an essay on the topic you think colleges…
Bad Topics for College Essays
Today we’re talking about bad topics for college admission essays. Last week we did a video on what makes good essay topics, so if you haven’t watched that yet, do watch it next. The worst essay topic that’s gonna wind…
Good Topics for College Essays
This week we’re doing a two-parter: this week and next week. This week we're talking about good topics for college essays. We’ve talked before about how grades and scores are what qualify for college, but at the end of the…
Two Essays NOT to Send Colleges
Today I want to tell you about two essays not to submit as your Common App essay. The Common App is going to give you seven prompts from which you can choose to write about one for your essay. But…
5 Things to Know Before Starting College
Today I want to give you 5 things every rising college freshman should know before starting college. Number 1: Every college has a math lab, a writing lab, all kinds of labs where tutors are literally standing by waiting to…
10th, 11th, & 12th Grade Summer Plan
Today I want to tell you how rising 12th, 11th, and 10th graders can make the most of their summer break. Yes, you need to relax. You need a vacation. But you also need to make the most of your…
The 9 Costs of Attending College
One question I get asked a lot is, “Where do colleges come up with their cost of attendence?” That’s what they call their “COA.” There are nine categories of expenses in that “COA.” Let’s run through these costs of attending…
SAT vs ACT Reading
Today I want to tell you the biggest difference between the SAT vs ACT reading sections. Section 1 on the SAT is called “Reading Comprehension.” That’s worth 400 out of the 800 points in your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score. …
Why You Don’t Need the Ivy League
Today I want to tell you why you don't need to go to an Ivy League college. Eight colleges make up the athletic conference called The Ivy League: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth and UPenn. This year, 2022,…
The College Admissions Timeline
Today I want to talk to juniors about the college admissions timeline ahead. Summer is the best time to work on college applications and essays, which is a much bigger project than most people think, especially because more competitive colleges…
What if You Got Waitlisted?
With this week's Ivy Decision Day, that means that every college you’ve applied to has given you an answer. That means we're getting a lot of questions this week about, “What do I do if I'm waitlisted?” Here are some…
AP, IB & Dual Enrollment: 3 Benefits & 3 Cautions
Today I want to tell you 3 benefits and 3 cautions about taking AP, IB, and dual enrollment classes in high school. AP and IB—Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate—are put out by competing companies that provide college level courses to…
SAT vs ACT: Writing & English
Today I want to talk to you about one section the SAT and ACT have in common that’s a little different from one test to the next - the writing & English. On the SAT, Section 2 is the Writing…
Think You Have the Grades & Scores for Top Colleges?
Grades and scores are the two biggest criteria top colleges use to determine which students are eligible for their college. A recent study by the CollegeBoard says that in 1998, 39% of high school students graduated with an A-average, but…
How to get more FINANCIAL AID
Today I want to talk to parents of seniors about your student financial aid award letters and how to get more. You’re starting to get some of those letters, and some of them may have a lot less free money…
The SAT is CHANGING (again)
We have to talk about the big announcement that the SAT is going to change and what those changes are. It's not really a big surprise; they do change about every decade, so much so that I’m currently teaching my…
New Year, New College Admissions Timeline
Today I want to give you a longer explanation where I’m going to talk to every junior about the year ahead for college admissions. Right now it's January, and this junior year is going to be your year for college…
What to Know About PSAT Scores
PSAT scores are out now, so if you’re a 9th, 10th, or 11th grader who took the PSAT in October in school, you can get those scores today at collegeboard.org. If you don’t already have an account there, create one now…
How Many Times to Take the Tests
Today I want to answer a question I get asked a lot: How many times should I take the SAT or the ACT tests for college? About 90% of colleges will "superscore" your SAT, taking your best of each section…
Where to Look For Scholarships
Today we’re talking scholarships. Here are two places where you should look to find scholarships: One is from the college itself. Based on the strength of your application, like your essays, grades, and scores, maybe your extracurricular activities as well,…
Should You Apply “Undecided”?
One question I get asked a lot is, “What if I don’t know what I want to major in?” Applying for college when you are undecided is okay. It is totally okay to not know what you want to do…
Why EVERY Student Should Apply for Financial Aid
Today I want to tell you why parents of every incoming college student should apply for financial aid by filling out the FAFSA, which is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at FAFSA.gov. In the 2019–2020 school year, the…
What to Know About FAFSA Changes (Filing in 2021 for the 2022-2023 School Year)
Today is October 1st, which means it’s the day that the FAFSA opens at FAFSA.gov and we can get a first look at the supposed changes. That’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it’s your first step for…
Nailing College Admissions Interviews
Today I want to talk to you about college admissions interviews. Some colleges require applicants to do an interview. Some colleges offer interviews to applicants who want one. Some colleges say, "If we want to interview you, we’ll reach out…
When Are College Applications REALLY Due?
Today I want to talk to seniors working their way through the mountainous process of applying to college. You may be working on things like your essays and your applications, but you want to keep in mind that you're not…
Why take the December SAT and ACT?
Today I want to tell you why the December round of the SAT or ACT is your last best first round of testing. Junior year is testing year. Ideally you want to finish all your testing by the end of…
Hidden Supplemental Essays
Today I want to tell you about hidden supplemental college application essays. A lot of colleges, when you look at their application on the Common App, it tells you how many essays there are, how many extra writing assignments. But that…
Why You Don’t Need Perfect Scores
Today I want to tell you why you do not need perfect SAT scores or ACT scores to get into your top-choice college. The fact is that top colleges in America turn away students with perfect scores all the time.…
Which to Take: SAT or ACT
Today I want to answer a question I get asked a lot: "Should my student take the SAT or should my student take the ACT?" In some states, every high schooler takes the SAT. In some states, every high schooler…