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…
Applying to college is one of the most important milestones in a student’s academic journey. While it may seem strategic to apply to as many colleges as possible to increase acceptance chances, submitting too many applications may actually work against…
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, I’d like to let you know why taking the SAT or ACT is still an important part of the college application process. Many colleges are test-optional these days; this fact has led many high school students and guidance counselors…
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…
Today we're talking about why community service is such an important part of your college applications. Top colleges aren't just looking to educate young minds; they're looking to change the world. They want to make the world a better place,…
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…
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 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…
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'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…
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:…
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…
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…
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. 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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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 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…
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 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 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 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 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…
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…
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…