If you've done any research into college essays and how to write a great one, you've likely come across the esteemed "Costco Essay." This essay, published publicly in 2016, has since achieved near-legendary status in the world of college admissions. The Costco essay focuses on the writer's lifelong love of Costco and helped earn her spots at multiple Ivy League schools, as well as Stanford. Since then, it's been held up as a shining example of a college admissions essay.

But is the Costco essay still good? Was it really that impressive to begin with? Would it still get an applicant into Ivy League schools today or has it become overused and outdated? How can you take what it did well and apply it to your own college essay? Learn all the answers in this expert guide.

There’s been a lot written lately about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, especially when it comes to students completing their assignments. But AI is becoming a hot topic in college admissions, both in terms of students using AI to create their applications and colleges using AI to help choose students for admission. 

Today, we’re going to bring you up to speed on how both students and universities are using AI in the admissions process and what that means for you. 

Let’s dive in. 

People are using artificial intelligence (AI) large language models, or LLMs, for everything from helping write emails to refining the lists of collegesthey’d like to apply to.

However, using artificial intelligence to help you craft your college applications can cause problems. 

Colleges want to make sure they’re admitting students who can be successful on their campuses, so they use the application as a way to assess students’ skills and preparedness. In fact, most colleges require students to attest that they have been truthful and honest on their applications when they submit them! 

That’s why some schools are starting to run students’ applications through software that checks for the use of AI and flags applications that it suspects have used AI to generate some or all of the text. In this article, we’re going to explain what you need to know about how colleges are using AI scanning software and how it can impact your admissions prospects. 

Let’s get started. 

Function questions are some of the trickiest question types you'll see on SAT Math. They can look intimidating, require higher-level math knowledge, and often take numerous steps to solve. Not to mention, a lot of students haven't had a lot of experience solving functions. 

Fortunately, there's a way to make SAT function questions much less intimidating. Learning their basic properties and the types of function questions you'll see on the SAT will go a long way to helping you tackle these questions with confidence. And that's important because you'll likely see ten or more function questions when you take the SAT. 

Read on to learn what functions are, the four types of functions SAT questions you'll see, step-by-step strategies for solving them, and tips for making any function question easier to solve.

The ACT has undergone some big changes recently, and one of the biggest is that, for many students, the Science section is now optional. With that added flexibility comes a new question: should you take the ACT Science section? In this article, we go over who the Science section is actually optional for, what to expect from the Science section, the one key factor to think about when making your decision, and other considerations that can help you make the best choice.

Extracurriculars are one of the most important parts of a college application. They help showcase your unique passions, talents, and your engagement with your community. But are some extracurriculars better than others? What are the best extracurriculars for college applications?

In this article, we’re going to break down exactly what kinds of extracurriculars colleges are looking for so you can choose activities that make your application stand out. We’ll also answer the most frequently asked questions about extracurriculars, including how to choose the right ones for you.

Let’s dive in!

Trying to decide if you should take AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, or AP Stats? Choosing which AP classes to take is a challenge for many high school students, and deciding which AP math class is best can be especially difficult. It doesn't help that AP Calc and AP Stats focus on two entirely different types of math, one of which is likely to come more naturally to you. (Having two AP Calc classes to choose between doesn't make it easier either!)

So, AP Calculus or AP Stats? How can you make the right decision? We're here to help! This guide breaks down what each math class covers and will help you decide which you may find easier and which may be more useful for your future major and career. Let's get started!

If you took the SAT between 2021 and 2024, you might be wondering what percentile you scored in. Is a 600 on Math in 2021 the same as a 600 in Math in 2024? How much do percentile scores change from year to year?

Keep reading to learn what SAT percentile scores are and how they've changed over time. I'll also provide percentiles for SAT combined and section scores for 2021 through 2024.

Whether you're currently studying to take the ACT or took it in 2021-2024, you might be curious about how your ACT percentile compares to students who took the ACT in past years.

In this article, we'll go over what percentiles are, how percentiles work on the ACT, and why ACT percentiles matter. We also lay out ACT percentile charts for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 so you can see how your score compares to historical ACT scores.

Have you taken the ACT recently or are registered to take it soon? If so, you probably want to know what a good ACT score for 2025 is. What ACT score should you aim for, and how can you know if it'll be enough to get you into your dream college?

In this guide, we'll explain three ways you can define good ACT scores for 2025. We'll also take a look at how the definition of a good ACT score has changed in recent years.

Planning to take the SAT soon? Then you're probably wondering, "What's a good SAT score for 2025?" In this in-depth guide, we break down three different ways you can define good SAT scores for 2025. Then we’ll show you how to figure out the SAT score you need to meet your goals.

Let's get started!

Ready to ace the SAT's Reading and Writing section? You're in luck! We've created the best guide to the SAT Reading and Writing section out there.

We've spent dozens of hours reading SAT prep books as well as studying the College Board’s own resources to take the most valuable parts and combine them into one magnificent Frankenstein’s monster of a guide. This guide contains every single thing you need to know to ace the SAT Reading and Writing section. 

If you're looking for a complete guide to SAT Reading and Writing and how to improve your SAT Reading and Writing score, the information provided here is invaluable. You'll get the best SAT Reading and Writing tips and strategies available, as well as information about how to get the most out of your prep and increase your SAT Reading and Writing score dramatically.

Are you wondering, "Should I take AP Stats or AP Pre-calc?" Choosing between AP Statistics and AP Pre-Calculus can be difficult for high school students trying to decide on an AP math course. The decision you make could impact your college applications, college courses, and even your career path. So how can you make the best decision for you? You'll need to understand what each course covers and the factors to consider when choosing a class. Keep reading for all the information you need to make the best choice!

For decades, students who wanted to take the ACT had to sharpen their #2 pencils, open up a paper test, and bubble in their responses. However, that's started to change!

In December 2023, the ACT launched a pilot test of a new digital ACT. Then, in early 2024, access to the digital ACT expanded so that more students in the US can choose between the online and paper versions of the ACT. (Note: all students abroad must take the online version of the ACT.) Currently, all students in the US have the option to take the online ACT or the paper ACT.

How do the paper and digital ACT differ? Which version of the ACT should you take? What are the pros and cons of each version of the test? We answer all these questions in this expert guide!

The SAT Reading and Writing section presents you with a challenge. Now that the digital SAT has been rolled out, this section contains over 50 passages you'll need to read and answer questions on! The passages will come from a wide variety of sources and test you on everything from critical reading to grammar.

How can you attack these passages to get a high SAT Reading and Writing score? This guide will discuss the best strategies for reading the SAT passages for each question type you'll see.