SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

Justin Berkman

Justin has extensive experience teaching SAT prep and guiding high school students through the college admissions and selection process. He is firmly committed to improving equity in education and helping students to reach their educational goals. Justin received an athletic scholarship for gymnastics at Stanford University and graduated with a BA in American Studies.

Recent Posts

The 4 Best ACT Apps (and How to Use Them in Your Prep)

You can use apps to order food, watch sports, keep up with friends, and even study for the ACT. ACT apps are a somewhat recent phenomenon, but they're pretty appealing. After all, studying on your phone sounds like way more fun than studying from a book.

Even though apps are not enough to prepare you for the test on their own, they can be a helpful resource. In this article, I'll explain what ACT prep apps are, list the best ACT apps (most of which are free!), and offer tips on how to use them effectively.

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153 Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Students

Summer programs provide high school students with opportunities to explore their academic interests and spark new passions. They also allow high school students to get a taste of college life and meet other students from all over the world.

In this article, I'll provide a list of over 150 colleges throughout the United States that host summer programs for high school students. Furthermore, I'll give you information about what pre-college summer programs are like and how you can select the right program for you.

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Future Years' ACT Test Dates: 2024, 2025, and Beyond

Future ACT dates are only confirmed a little more than a year in advance, but at PrepScholar, we've researched patterns from previous testing years to predict future ACT test dates.

In this guide, we'll provide the confirmed and likely dates for 2024-2025, 2025-2026, and 2026-2027. From the data we've looked at, we can predict these dates with a fair degree of confidence.

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The 5 Best SAT Apps & How to Use Them Effectively

You might use apps to take photos of your food and put dog filters on your face, but did you know you can also use apps to prepare for the SAT? It's true! There are a number of apps designed to increase your familiarity with the SAT and get you closer to reaching your goal score.

In this article, I'll let you know how you can use apps in your SAT preparation, and I'll name five of the best free SAT prep apps currently available.

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Ivy League Rankings: What Do They Really Mean?

Ivy League colleges are often viewed as the gold standard of colleges in the US and worldwide. While most people know that all Ivy League schools are good, which are the best Ivy League schools? Now you can find out with PrepScholar's exclusive 2023 Ivy League rankings. Get excited!

The Ivy League schools are ranked in this article. Furthermore, the answers to what makes the Ivy League unique, how to find the Ivy League school that’s right for you, and how to decide whether you should pursue an Ivy League education are all broken down.

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How Many Colleges Should You Apply To? Expert Guide

Many students stress over the same question: "How many colleges should I apply to?" How many is too many? How few is too few? There is so much disagreement on this topic, even among experts, that many students are left confused and unsure.

In this article, I’ll clear up this confusion. I’ll give you an idea of how many schools you should apply to and explain the factors to consider when deciding how many colleges to apply to. After reading this guide, you'll feel confident about crafting your own college list and how long it will be.

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You Need to Check Out These 70 Most Liberal Colleges in America

If you're politically active, you may want to go to a college where the students, faculty, and administration share your values. You'll be more likely to find student groups that are aligned with your interests and beliefs, and you'll probably have a more enjoyable college experience.

In this article, we'll give you a list of over 70 of the most liberal colleges in the United States. Furthermore, we'll detail the traits of liberal colleges, explain possible advantages and disadvantages of attending liberal colleges, and advise you how to find liberal colleges that could be a good fit for you.

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22 Best Colleges in the South: Which One's Right for You?

If you're from a Southern state, or you just love sweet tea, hush puppies, delicious BBQ, and saying "y'all," you may want to attend college in the South. If you're considering going to college in the South, you should have an idea of which schools are the best in the region.

In this article, I'll rank the best colleges in the South and offer tips on finding the best Southern colleges for you.

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The 49 Cheapest Colleges in California

College is expensive, so it's prudent to consider how much you're going to have to pay before you decide to attend a particular school—especially if you live in California. While cost shouldn't be the sole determining factor in your college decision, it's definitely an important one.

In this article, I'll give you a list of the cheapest colleges in California. Furthermore, I'll provide you with the prices of the top public and private colleges in California, explain college costs, and go over how finances should influence your college decision.

 

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The 70 Most Conservative Colleges in America

If you hold strong political beliefs, you may want to go to a college where the students, faculty, and administration share your values. You'll be more likely to find student groups that are aligned with your interests and beliefs. Additionally, it's more likely that the values of the college will coincide with your own, which means you'll probably have a more enjoyable college experience.

In this article, I'll give you the names of over 70 of the most conservative colleges in the United States. Furthermore, I'll detail the traits of conservative colleges, explain the possible advantages and disadvantages of attending a conservative college, and advise you on how to find a conservative college that's a good fit for you.

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The 51 Most Expensive Colleges in the United States

College is a costly investment. For the 2022-2023 academic year, the College Board reported that the average annual budget was $27,940 for an in-state public college and $57,570 for a private college. These are the averages, but just how much are the most expensive colleges in the US? Which ones have the most expensive college tuition?

Here, I'll give you a list of the 51 most expensive colleges in the US. I'll first explain why they're so pricey and then go over how you can attend one regardless of your financial situation.

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The 50 Cheapest Colleges in the US

Because wages seem to be remaining stagnant and college costs continue to soar, financial concerns are weighing more heavily on families when students make their college decisions. Additionally, student loan debt is increasing and young people are worried about being saddled with astronomical debt when they graduate. That's why so many students are interested in going to one of the cheapest colleges in America.

In this article, we provide you with a list of the 50 cheapest colleges in the United States. We also explain the costs of various colleges and how finances should influence your college selection process.

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29 Great Colleges for B Students and How to Get In

Generally, the better your grades, the more college options you'll have. However, some students a re under the false impression that you need straight As in order to get into a wonderful college. Students stress and worry that a few Bs will sentence them to an inferior university.

Fortunately, getting Bs won't prevent you from being able to go to a good school. There are a number of excellent colleges that admit B students. We'll provide a list of 29 of the best colleges for B students and explain how to find a good college if you're a B student.

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All the College Ranking Lists You Should Read

People love ranking lists. There are tons of TV shows and articles ranking something, from the prettiest celebrities to the best songs of the 1980s. The fascination with college ranking lists has been around for over 30 years, ever since the U.S. News & World Report debuted its list in 1983. There are quite a few college ranking lists out there, but which ones are the best ones? Which ones should you look at?

Honestly, all overall college ranking lists are flawed, and you should spend more time researching and visiting colleges than obsessing over college rankings to determine which college you should attend. However, in this article I will detail the pros and cons of different college ranking lists and of college ranking lists in general. You can obtain some worthwhile information from these lists, so don't completely dismiss them.

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What Are the US Military Colleges? Should You Go?

For those students who aspire to get military training and earn a college degree, there are a number of colleges in the United States that are designed for you to pursue your military and educational goals simultaneously. There are three primary types of US military colleges: service academies, Senior Military Colleges, and Military Junior Colleges.

In this article, I'll describe each type of military college and explain the differences between them. Furthermore, I'll help you determine which type of college may be best for you.

 

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