Getting ready to apply for college can be nerve-racking at best, terrifying at worst. Perhaps one of the most daunting obstacles between you and your dream school is the dreaded standardized test. There are two standardized tests that are accepted by almost every university: the SAT and the ACT. Choosing which of these two tests […]

Writing an off-topic essay Students must focus like a laser on the quote in the box and the essay prompt that follows it. Those words must determine the topic of the essay. Spending too long on the intro paragraph and shortchanging the meat of the essay This pitfall can be avoided by starting with the […]

There are 20 SAT Subject Tests, also known as SAT II’s, available for students to take in five general subject areas. Most colleges will recommend or require prospective students to take one of the Subject Tests that correspond with their area or program of study. If the college, or colleges, you are applying to don’t […]

Whether your target test date is 2 months, 6 months or even a year away, the amount of time you have leading up to an exam heavily dictates your weekly commitment and strategy for preparation to achieve the scores you desire.   Cramming for the SAT is definitely not ideal, but here are some useful ideas and […]

What do you consider the most significant parts of an admission application, the parts which applicants should prepare the most carefully? While the most critical component of the application is the academic rigor, courses taken, and grades, all parts of the application are important in a holistic admissions process, as we have at Vanderbilt. The […]