One of the biggest changes in the college admissions’ process for the class of 2021 was the drastic number of colleges who adopted test-optional policies. For those of you who aren’t aware of test optional, this term means that reporting SAT or ACT scores is optional to a college application. Prior to Covid-19, 77 percent… Read more
The Uncertain Future of Testing
Twenty twenty has been a difficult year for the standardized testing industry, specifically the SAT and ACT. Over the spring and summer, the ACT and SAT cancelled tests and hundreds of colleges, including highly selective ones, joined the test optional movement, at least for the 2020-2021 season. Jeff Selingo, author of the NY Times Bestseller… Read more
FAFSA and All Things Financial Aid
It is that time of year again! The 2020-2021 FAFSA and CSS Profile are open. The FAFSA is required to be completed by any student and parent who intends to attend college in the Fall of 2021 and will need money to pay for college. Listed below are suggestions and facts that I believe will… Read more
College Admissions during a Pandemic v. 5
It is difficult, these days, to keep up with all the news about college admissions, testing, and campus visits. Parents and students have more questions than answers? Are schools opening in the fall? How are they opening? Remotely? In person? A combination? Do students have to take the SAT or ACT? What is test optional?… Read more
TO TEST OR NOT TO TEST – Advice for students in the class of 2021
As of today, July 13, 2020, there are more than 1240 colleges and universities that have joined the test optional movement for at least the next year. It has been estimated that by the end of August 2020, more than 50% of all colleges in the United States will have a test-optional policy. The tests,… Read more
College Admissions and the Coronavirus v.2
April 17, 2020 Since my last newsletter a few weeks ago, a lot has happened to impact high school and college students and their families. Students – and all of us -have never experienced anything like this 2020 pandemic. With schools closed and all events canceled, normal life has ground to a halt. The closing… Read more
Coronavirus & College
The coronavirus has certainly upended all of our lives. These past two weeks have been ones for the record books. Everyone is trying to figure out the best course of action to take to keep everyone safe. We all now know to wash our hands and stay six feet apart when going out. I know… Read more
Why You Should Take a Second Look at Test-Optional Colleges
In light of the recent Varsity Blues Scandal, which continues to be in the news four weeks after the first headlines, I thought I would revisit an article that I wrote in 2015 about options to college admissions’ testing. As you know, the two assessments used by college admissions’ counselors are the SAT or the… Read more
Upcoming 2020 SAT and ACT Test Dates
SAT Test Dates Registration Dates March 14 February 13 May 2 April 2 June 6 … Read more