Have you ever wondered to yourself, “What do college applications look like?” You’re not alone! 

For many students, the college application process can feel overwhelming, especially when they see all the different forms, sections, and essay prompts. 

But here’s the good news: most college apps have a similar structure. Once you understand the basics, the entire process of applying for college becomes much easier!

In this article, we’ll break down each part of a typical college application to give you a better idea of what to expect when you begin writing your own. Think of this as your personal roadmap through the application process—by the end, you’ll know exactly what colleges are looking for and how to complete each section with confidence.

Let’s get started!

College admission is growing more competitive every year. That means high school students need to seize every opportunity to make their college applications stand out. 

One of the smartest moves? Summer test prep! 

Summer test prep isn't just about filling those long days when you're not in school. It also gives you a competitive advantage,  which matters when you're trying to get into your dream school! 

In this guide, we’ll give you the top 5 reasons you should start your SAT and ACT prep over the summer, as well as give you a few tips to help you make the most of your time.

When it comes to crafting a strong college application, it’s easy to focus on numbers: GPA, test scores, number of AP courses, etc. And all of those factors can be important! However, what really sets applicants apart often comes down to less measurable, but equally important, qualities. Colleges want students who will have a positive impact on campus and beyond. That means they care about who you are as a person, too. The admissions team is aiming to build communities, not just collect transcripts. 

How can you show colleges you're the type of applicant they're looking for? Read this article to learn the top 10 qualities colleges are looking for and how you can show them in your application.

There are many reasons you may want to email a college admissions office. You might have questions about deadlines, application requirements, financial aid, or getting off the waitlist, among other topics. Whenever you interact with a college, it's important to showcase your best self. This means you'll want to be thoughtful about any email you send them. 

But how do you write an email that’s professional, respectful, and gets your questions answered? In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to write an email to a college admissions office, with examples, tips, and mistakes to avoid.

African American Studies is one of the newest Advanced Placement offerings, launched in Fall 2024. It's designed to give students a deep understanding of African American history, culture, and experiences. Because it's such a new offering, it can be difficult to know what to expect from the course and AP exam. You'll need to be prepared to understand a variety of historical documents, make connections between different time periods, and analyze major themes. 

We're here to help you feel confident in class on and test day. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the AP African American Studies test structure, content, scoring, and study strategies to help you succeed.

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.