SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

In 2005, I applied to college and got into every school I applied to, including Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT. I decided to attend Harvard.

In this guide, I'll show you the entire college application that got me into Harvard—page by page, word for word.

In my complete analysis, I'll take you through my Common Application, Harvard supplemental application, personal statements and essays, extracurricular activities, teachers' letters of recommendation, counselor recommendation, complete high school transcript, and more. I'll also give you in-depth commentary on every part of my application.

To my knowledge, a college application analysis like this has never been done before. This is the application guide I wished I had when I was in high school.

If you're applying to top schools like the Ivy Leagues, you'll see firsthand what a successful application to Harvard and Princeton looks like. You'll learn the strategies I used to build a compelling application. You'll see what items were critical in getting me admitted, and what didn't end up helping much at all.

Reading this guide from beginning to end will be well worth your time—you might completely change your college application strategy as a result.

Are you getting ready to apply to nursing school? Then you’ll probably want to take a TEAS practice test to make sure you’ll get the best score possible on your TEAS exam.

This article contains a comprehensive list of free TEAS practice tests. Let’s dig in!

Thinking of attending a private elementary, middle, or high school in the United States? Then you'll need to take an entrance exam called the ISEE. But what exactly does this test entail? In this article, we'll go over what the ISEE test is, how it's structured and scored, what a good score on the ISEE exam looks like, and how to study effectively for it.

It can be difficult to improve your GPA quickly, especially if you're in the latter half of high school already. With your previous grades working against you, you'll have to put in even more effort to overcome lower averages.

However, there are some measures you can take to have a better chance of raising your GPA quickly and effectively. In this article, I'll give you different strategies that may help you raise your GPA even if you don't have much time left in high school.

High schools may record students' GPAs as weighted or unweighted. But which type of GPA is taken more seriously in the college admissions process?

In this article, I'll provide an overview of the differences between weighted and unweighted GPAs and tell you which type is more important.

One of the words that comes up most commonly in various types of writing, from fiction to academic writing, is the word “said.” Any time a writer is referencing the words or thoughts expressed by another person, whether that be thoughts expressed verbally or in writing, an appropriate way to introduce--or attribute--that person’s thoughts is with the phrase “said.” 

But if you’re incorporating a lot of quotations in your writing, you might find yourself repeating  the word “said” a lot. Repeating the same phrase in a piece of writing can start to feel monotonous, which is why incorporating synonyms or an oft-used word or phrase can make your writing more interesting and accurate. But here’s some good news: there are tons of other words for “said” out there for you to use! 

To help you build a repertoire of words to replace “said,” we’re going to do the following in this article: 

• Explain the importance of using word variety and avoiding repetition of the same word in your writing
• Explain when to use “said” and when not to use “said” 
• Provide a comprehensive list of alternative words for “said,” organized into categories based on emotion and intention

Ready to check out some synonyms for “said”? Then let’s get going!

Whether you're brushing up on your trigonometry for the SAT or ACT or learning how to calculate angles for the first time, SOHCAHTOA is a useful mnemonic device to know. In this article, we'll explain what SOHCAHTOA is, how to use SOHCAHTOA, and give SOH CAH TOA examples.

It’s important for you to do well on the ACT, but doing well can involve additional ACT prep costs. But the truth is that additional ACT test prep—whether it’s in the form of study guidebooks, ACT prep courses, or one-on-one ACT tutoring—can raise your score quite a bit. If you’re trying to get into a competitive school, having a high ACT score is a critical part of your application.

Answering the question “how much does ACT prep cost” can be pretty tricky...but we’re here to help. In this article, we’re going to answer that question and give you an ACT prep cost comparison. Then we’ll walk you through the different types of prep and how much ACT prep classes cost, explain the positives and negatives of each, then give you some tips for choosing the right type of ACT prep for you.

So let’s jump in!

A huge number of books exist out there, ready and waiting for you to read them. Whether you prefer manga or ancient, epic poems, reading is great for all sorts of reasons.

What follows is a list of highly beneficial books to read in high school (or after!). These are remarkable books—books that made history, books that challenge societal perceptions of the world, and books that are quite simply interesting and moving. The books are presented in alphabetical order, and a short description is given for each book, as well an explanation of why it is worth reading.

Many students applying to private schools need to submit ISEE scores. The ISEE is known for being a tough exam, and preparing for it can help you reach the score you're aiming for. But where can you find the best ISEE practice tests? And how can you make the most of them? We've collected the absolutely best ISEE test prep resources, both free and paid, in this guide to help you with your ISEE studying.

Standard deviation is a way to calculate how spread out data is. You can use the standard deviation formula to find the average of the averages of multiple sets of data.

Confused by what that means? How do you calculate standard deviation? Don't worry! In this article, we'll break down exactly what standard deviation is and how to find standard deviation.

Do you know when to use a semicolon? Do you know how to use a semicolon? If not, don't worry! In this article, we break down exactly what semicolons are and how to use this unique (but often frustrating!) punctuation mark. We also go over what semicolon examples look like and give you tips for when to use and not use them.

"I have no idea what to expect" is not a sentence you want running through your mind on your way to take the SAT or ACT. If you take control of your test prep and schedule, then you shouldn't have any surprises on test day.

Besides studying, part of your preparation should be strategically planning out your SAT/ACT test dates. Instead of closing your eyes and pointing randomly at a calendar, you can ask yourself some key questions to figure out when the best SAT/ACT test dates are for you.

The first question that every student should ask herself, of course, is, When are my college deadlines?

Figuring out which classes you should take in high school is complicated! Not only do you have to navigate your school's requirements and college expectations, but you also have to take your own interests, abilities, and life into account. Because there are so many different questions you have to answer and decisions you have to make, it helps to start the planning process early.

We'll help you get a big picture perspective of what you are high school classes will look like with this guide. We'll also break down the details of the various high school course requirements, the kinds of choices you will have to make, and the exciting possibilities you will get to explore! If you're wondering what classes to take in high school, this guide should be a great launching point to figuring out your own personal plan.

In the increasingly competitive atmosphere of high school, you may be wondering how you can best all your classmates with a 5.0 GPA. It's a lofty goal, to be sure. In this article, we'll discuss why that goal is often impossible, or at least impractical, to meet, ways in which it may be possible to earn a 5.0, and what's really more important than a 5.0 GPA.