SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

Are you considering getting tutoring for the SAT/ACT, but want to know how much it will cost? Maybe you’ve already decided on tutoring, but aren’t quite sure how much money you should put aside for it?

The question of how much to pay for tutoring is important to consider when planning your test prep budget. After all, you want to make sure that you are spending your money wisely! This means that paying $30/hr to a high school senior who took the test once, got a 1450, and has never taught before is not the right option for comprehensive tutoring.

On the other hand, just because a tutoring service is more expensive doesn’t mean it’s the best one for you. A so-called expert SAT/ACT tutor can cost you anywhere from twenty to hundreds of dollars an hour, so it can be hard to know where you should be looking.

Why is it worth spending money on tutoring, and how can you narrow in on the right budget for you? Read on to find out!

feature image credit: Save Money by 401(K) 2012, used under CC BY-SA 2.0/Cropped from original.

We know that the cost of a college education can seem out of reach for many students. Luckily, there are a number of ways you can reduce the price of your degree, from grants and work-study to student loans. Even better, if you’re an exemplary student, you’ll likely qualify for one or more merit-based scholarships, which are a great way to offset tuition, fees, room, and board.

In this post, we’ll discuss what merit scholarships are and provide a list of the top merit aid programs. We’ll also share our expert recommendations on how to apply so you can maximize your chances of graduating with minimal to no debt. Let’s get started!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Northwestern University gave its supplemental learning program for children and teens, known as NUMATs, a makeover. Now renamed the Northwestern CTD, this unique and challenging learning experience for gifted learners is back and waiting for you to apply!

The Northwestern Center for Talent Development (CTD) provides advanced tests to students to find their academic strengths and weaknesses and offers courses to help students prepare for their academic futures.

In this guide, we’ll answer all of your questions about the Northwestern CTD, including:

• What is Northwestern CTD? What do you do in the program?
• Why should you or your child participate?
• How do you apply?
• How much does it cost?

We'll also give you tips for getting in. That way, you’ll have everything you need to get your eligibility materials ready in time for Northwestern CTD Summer 2023. So, let’s get started!

In case you haven’t heard, there are some big changes happening to the SAT in 2024. As the SAT goes digital, you’ll need to adapt to the new format and structure.

But in order to adapt to the new and improved SAT, you need to know more about how the exam is changing. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all of the major SAT changes (2023-2024), including: 

• When the SAT is changing
• Why the SAT is changing
• The main changes to the SAT
  
  

Let’s begin!

Have you heard of the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC)? Maybe you've heard that participating in NSLC is a great way to impress colleges, and you're wondering if that's true. Spoiler: If you're considering NSLC because you think it's prestigious, you're in for a rude awakening. Keep reading to learn why.

This guide will go over exactly what NSLC is, what its potential benefits and drawbacks are, and how you can decide if you should participate in one of its programs.

Have you heard of the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF)? Perhaps you've heard that attending the NYLF is a great way to improve your chances of getting into top colleges, and you're wondering if that's true or not. Spoiler: If you're considering NYLF because you think it's prestigious, you'd be dead wrong. Keep reading to find out why.

This guide will explain what NYLF is, what its benefits and drawbacks are, and how you can decide whether or not you should participate in it.

As of Spring 2024, every student taking the SAT will take the College Board’s new, digital SAT. The SAT format is also changing with this new digital version of the test, and so you probably have lots of questions! Like, is the digital SAT harder? Or is the digital SAT easier? 

We’ll answer all of your questions about the new, digital SAT in this complete guide, including: 

• How has the SAT changed now that it’s gone digital? How is it different from the old pencil-and-paper SAT?
• Which changes to the exam are easier? Harder? 
• How does the the digital SAT affect your study plans? 

One of the best ways to prep for the digital SAT is to learn as much about it as possible. So, let’s get started!

There’s no denying it: higher education is pricey. As a college-bound student, you might be concerned about how you and your family can pay for tuition, fees, room, board, and textbooks. The great news is that if you’re a high-achieving student, you might qualify for one or more merit-based scholarships.

But what is a merit scholarship? And how do you qualify for this kind of award? In this article, we’ll answer your questions in detail. We’ll also cover how to find these opportunities and some tips for applying so you can put your best foot forward.

In this guide, I'll be discussing the old Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search Program, or NUMATS. NUMATS provided advanced tests to younger students to find their academic strengths and weaknesses and to suggested academic supplements to help these gifted students thrive. 

As of 2022, NUMATS is no more. Northwestern has replaced NUMATS with the Northwestern Center for Talent Development. The Northwestern CTD offers the same above-level testing for students and and lots of summer programs, and it has expanded some of its other offerings as well. You'll be able to learn more about the Northwestern CTD in our complete guide. 

But if you want to learn more about the legacy NUMATS program and get additional tips for making your Northwestern CTD application stand out...read on! 

Yale is one of the most competitive schools on the planet to get into. If you're wondering how to make your application stand out from the crowd, you're in the right place.

In this article, we'll go over everything you need to know about how to get into Yale, including how hard it really is to get into Yale, what Yale is looking for in its students, what test scores and grades you need, and how to ace your Yale application essays.

The State University of New York system of colleges—commonly known as SUNY—encompasses some 64 different campuses throughout New York. These campuses include research universities, community colleges, and even specific programs housed at other universities like Cornell.

Though this means that students who want to attend SUNY schools have plenty of choices, it also means that the SUNY application can feel something like a maze of options. Which school do you need? Which application should you fill out? Are you applying to one school or many?

If you're thinking of attending one of these 64 schools and need assistance filling out the SUNY application, this guide is here to help. We'll be covering admissions requirements, which schools require supplemental essays, and some helpful information for filling out your application.

Transferring from one school to another is a wise or even necessary choice for many students, but it's not without obstacles. College transfer acceptance rates are actually lower than freshman acceptance rates, meaning competition is higher.

This might sound like it's cause for alarm, but, like applying as a freshman, it just means you need to be prepared.

If you need or want to transfer but aren't sure where to go, check out some of the colleges with the best transfer acceptance rates.

Wondering how to get into UC Berkeley? Getting accepted to Berkeley can be tough. How hard is it to get into Berkeley? In 2022-2023, Berkeley's acceptance rate was 15%.

This makes UC Berkeley a "strongly competitive school": it's not quite as ultra-competitive as Ivy League schools, but you'll need to have a strong application across the board in order to get accepted. In the rest of this guide, we'll explain:

• The UC Berkeley admissions requirements, when and how you should apply
• Exactly what Berkeley looks at when they review your application

If the stage calls your name, and you're interested in pursuing a degree in one of the performing arts (theatre/dance/music) in California, then this article is for you. I've compiled a comprehensive list of all of the universities and conservatory programs in California that offer performing arts degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate's).

You may have heard that the College Board is getting ready to make the SAT a fully digital exam. But when will the SAT go digital? How will it affect your SAT testing plans? 

In this article, we’ll answer the question, “When is the SAT going digital?” and walk you through all the changes to the exam. We’ll explain when the digital SAT will be available, who can take the digital SAT, and upcoming SAT exam dates to help you plan your testing schedule. 

If you aren’t sure whether to take the SAT before or after it goes digital, we’ve got you covered with three factors to consider before registering for the SAT.  

Are you ready? Let’s get started!