Hey everybody, it's Eric at Solution Prep. One thing I hear a lot when I visit colleges is, "Well, our admissions is “holistic review."” The way the colleges say it, it’s as if they're the only ones doing it. All…
Deciding whether to retake the SAT or ACT is one of the most common questions students and parents face during the college admissions process. The short answer: it depends on your current score, target schools, and how much improvement you…
Hey everyone, it's Eric at Solution Prep. Today I want to offer a little caution about overly relying on ChatGPT and other AI tools to build your list of best-fit colleges. Most AI tools available to you are LLMs. That…
Hey everyone, it's Eric at Solution Prep, and we need to talk about why Columbia University is so important right now. Just a few weeks ago, Columbia announced that they would return to requiring SAT or ACT scores of all…
When it comes to college applications, students and parents often ask: how do colleges evaluate extracurricular activities? The good news is that admissions officers aren’t looking for a mile-long list of clubs. They care far more about depth, commitment, and…
Choosing the right topic for your college essay is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the application process. Many students search for guidance on how to choose a college essay topic because they know the personal statement…
The college essay (often called the “personal statement”) is one of the most important parts of your college application. It gives admissions officers a chance to see who you are beyond grades and test scores. Unfortunately, several persistent college essay…
Every year, thousands of high-achieving students are rejected from colleges they seemed fully qualified to attend. Strong GPAs, impressive SAT or ACT scores, leadership positions, and advanced coursework are often not enough to guarantee admission at highly selective schools. For…
Missing the May 1 college commitment deadline (also known as College Decision Day) can feel stressful, especially as a high school senior or parent finalizing plans. The good news is that you're not necessarily out of options. While when you…
The college admissions journey builds to one critical moment: deciding where to enroll. For high school seniors and their families, a common question is when do you have to commit to a college? Understanding the college commitment deadline and overall…
Today, I’m spilling the beans on how to “sneak” into the Ivy League. Maybe you’ve got big Ivy ambitions, but your high school grades or SAT/ACT scores aren’t quite cutting it for direct admission. Don’t sweat it: there are clever…
For most high school seniors, the SAT and ACT are firmly in the past: over and done with, left in the rearview mirror. But believe it or not, there are some solid reasons why a 12th grader might decide to…
Today we’re diving into a hard truth about test-optional colleges. In recent years, many colleges have adopted test-optional admission policies. What does that mean? Simply put, you can apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores and still be considered for…
Today, we're answering the question: What if you've been deferred? If you applied early to colleges—whether it’s Early Decision or Early Action—you're going to hear back from those schools, typically sometime in December, with one of three different responses: 1.…
Today I want to answer the following question: what kind of students get college admissions coaches? Most people assume they're just for high-achieving students competing for admission into top-tier colleges. While yes, that’s one kind of student who could benefit…
With college admissions becoming increasingly competitive, achieving a strong SAT score has never been more crucial for students in New Jersey. However, navigating SAT preparation can be overwhelming without the right guidance and resources. Enrolling in a reputable SAT prep…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep and this is the 200th video on our channel and I've given you videos on things like college essays and applications and college search and funding college. I've given you long walk-through videos…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep and today I want to tell you how colleges actually look at your SAT scores. It's no secret that a growing list of colleges are going back to requiring SAT or ACT scores…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep and today I'm telling you why ChatGPT keeps writing the same college application essays. It is allowed and ethical to use ChatGPT and other AI programs as tools to help you brainstorm ideas…
Hey guys, it's Eric at Solution Prep and today I want to give you four reasons why a BS/MD program might not be your best path for college. BS/MD stands for Bachelor of Science Medical Degree. And it's something you…
When students and families type "SAT prep courses near me" into Google’s search bar, they're usually focused solely on boosting test scores. While SAT scores significantly impact college admissions, the importance of your college essay shouldn't be underestimated. Together, they…
Today I want to tell you why you shouldn't use a college's acceptance rate as a metric for how good of a college it is. Colleges know that when people see a low acceptance rate, it makes them seem super…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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 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…
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…
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 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…
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.…
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…
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. 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 —…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
Today I wanted to talk with you about how many colleges you should apply to. Ideally, when thinking about how many to apply to, you want to apply to somewhere between five and ten colleges, maybe fifteen at the absolute…
Today I wanted to talk to juniors about what to do with all the college mail you’re getting. For email, first, you want to set up a separate account just for this. That way, when you’re done with the whole…
I wanted to talk to you today a little bit about what test optional means vs what test blind means. There are a lot of schools that, either prior to the pandemic or because of the pandemic, have gone “test…
Today I want to talk to juniors about college recommendation letters. Most colleges ask for three letters: one is going to come from your guidance counselor, and the other two can come technically from whomever you want, but at least…
Today I want to talk to juniors and seniors about why and how top colleges pick these students and not those students. A lot of students get great grades and great scores, but then don’t wind up getting into their…
We are nearing the decision day for most colleges, and some students are still struggling with, "What if I haven’t had a chance to visit some of the colleges I’m still weighing?" Although visiting colleges during Covid may seem impossible,…