SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

Ultimate Guide to the University of California Schools

The University of California schools are widely regarded as some of the best public universities in the nation. Because I have provided college counseling to hundreds of students in California and chaperoned college visits to UC campuses, I'm very familiar with these colleges and know people who have attended each of the nine UC schools that offer undergraduate education.

In this article, I will describe the UC system, profile each of the University of California colleges, and explain how to choose which UC school to attend.

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Colleges With Late Application Deadlines: Complete List

If you're wondering whether there are any colleges with late application deadlines, you're in luck! Lots of colleges have application deadlines in February or later, and many more keep rolling admissions open until all their spots have been filled.

Here, we give you a full list of colleges with late application deadlines. But before diving into this list, let's consider an important question: what exactly is considered a normal deadline?

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Is Stanford an Ivy League School? Is Duke? MIT?

Most people have at least heard of the Ivy League, but not everyone knows which schools belong to the venerable group. Is Stanford Ivy League? Is Duke Ivy League? Is MIT Ivy League?

In this article, we'll answer these questions and more as we take a look at which schools comprise the world-renowned Ivy League and which schools are most often mistaken for Ivy League institutions. We'll also explore what being in the Ivy League means for schools and how Ivy League schools compare with those not in the Ivy League in terms of national rankings and selectivity.

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The 25 Best Engineering Schools in the US (and How to Get In)

Do you dream of building driverless cars or a space elevator? You should check out the best engineering schools in the US!

But with so many different engineering schools out there and intense competition for the top programs, how can you figure out where you should apply? To help you decide, we've compiled a list of the best engineering schools in the US. We'll explain a little bit about each school on the list as well as provide rankings within specific subfields of engineering.

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Should You Attend Yale Young Global Scholars?

Have you heard of the Yale Young Global Scholars program but aren't sure if it's worth attending? YYGS is a summer program for high school students run by Yale University. Some attendees love their experience, while others don't feel the program is worth its high price tag. So, should you apply?

This article will explain exactly what the benefits and drawbacks of YYGS are, as well as the questions you need to ask yourself before you make a decision to attend.

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Should You Do the Columbia University Science Honors Program?

If you're a high school student who lives near Columbia University and wants to participate in an extracurricular honors program, you can't do much better than the Columbia University Science Honors Program (Columbia SHP).

This honors program experience can give students a big leg-up on college and scholarship applications...but unfortunately, it's really hard to get accepted to the Columbia SHP.

But don't worry: we're here to help. In this article, we'll walk you through the Columbia SHP application process, including:

  • Introducing you to the Columbia University Science Honors Program
  • Explaining what the honors program is like
  • Describing the application process for the program
  • Providing information about the honors program's entrance examination
  • Giving you three tips for succeeding on the entrance exam

Now, let's get started!

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How to Get Into Columbia: 3 Key Tips

Columbia University is a prestigious school, not just because of its low acceptance rate or high starting salary for graduates. It's one of the oldest colleges in the US, and has had huge numbers of well-known graduates, including Founding Fathers, famous directors, and politicians.

Like any Ivy League, Columbia is a place for both education and networking, creating a solid foundation and social circle for your future career. But first, you have to know how to get into Columbia. And with a school and selective as Columbia, that's going to be difficult—but not impossible.

Follow this guide to get your college application in shape for a Columbia acceptance!

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Why You Shouldn't Trust US News College Rankings

US News is probably the most popular source out there for college rankings. While US News rankings of colleges purport to be highly accurate, they can be misleading in certain important respects. If you make decisions based purely on the US News college rankings, you might end up being miserable.

In this article, I'll go over why you shouldn't make judgments about colleges solely based on their rankings in US News.

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15 Top NYC Colleges: How to Decide If They're Right for You

New York is the most populous US city, and there are dozens of colleges in New York City. Should you go to college in NYC? If you want to be close to Gray's Papaya, Madison Square Garden, Broadway, and Wall Street, then going to school in New York City might be a good option.

In this article, I'll provide you with a list of top-ranked colleges in NYC. Furthermore, I'll explain the benefits and disadvantages of attending college in New York City and offer some advice on deciding if you should attend college in NYC.

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Which States Require the SAT? Complete List

The College Board offers a program called SAT School Day, which, as the name suggests, allows schools to offer the SAT to students during the week, generally for free.

In some states, all high school juniors are required to take the SAT under this program, while in others only some are. Read on to learn more about this program and what it means for you.

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Should I Go to One of the Big 10 Schools?

The Big Ten is one of the most prestigious intercollegiate athletic conferences in the country. It has 14 member schools, most of which are located in the Midwest. While they're all unique, Big 10 schools have many commonalities and are known for emphasizing both athletics and academics.

In this article, I'll do the following:

  • Give you the names of all of the Big Ten universities and provide information about each school
  • Describe the attributes of Big Ten colleges
  • Detail possible advantages and disadvantages of attending a Big Ten school
  • Explain how to decide if you should attend one of the Big Ten schools
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The Best SAT and ACT Test Dates for Senior Fall

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ACT, SAT

Senior year is coming up, and you're ready to take a last shot at the SAT or ACT before applying to college. But when should you take the test? And how can you ensure that your scores make it to colleges on time?

Read on to see a list of the fall and winter test dates as well as a detailed guide on how to choose the best date for your situation.

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Penn State vs UPenn: Which Is Ivy League?

The University of Pennsylvania vs Penn State University: you've likely heard of these schools (and maybe even thought they were the same thing!). But do you know the basic differences between them? In addition, many people are aware that one of these schools is part of the Ivy League, but which one is it? Is Penn State Ivy League? Or is Penn Ivy League?

We answer all these questions here in our complete UPenn vs Penn State guide. We'll then go over the pros and cons of attending each university and provide you with key tips for figuring out which school is a better match for you.

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The 10 Best Computer Science Competitions for Teens

Are you a coder or computer science lover and want to show off your skills? Computer science competitions are a great way to do that! We've gathered information on 10 of the best computer science and coding competitions high school students can participate in. Look over the descriptions that seem most interesting to you, then keep reading to learn everything you need to do to make participating in these competitions stand out on your college applications.

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Does Your PSAT Score Qualify for National Merit?

Are you gearing up to rock the PSAT this fall and wondering what score you need to qualify for National Merit? This guide will give you 51 different answers to that question.

Don't worry, it's not a complicated response. It's just that the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) compares test takers on a state-by-state basis. To become a National Merit Semifinalist, you have to score in the top 1% of students in your state.

This guide will fill you in on all qualifying cutoff scores from coast to coast (plus Alaska and Hawaii) for the PSAT. But first, let's review exactly who qualifies for National Merit.

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