High School Students FAQ
Q. What do colleges mean by a holistic process?
A. Ultimately, universities want to see that you are a smart individual with genuine interests and your portfolio should reflect such. Unless you are a prodigy who spikes in one dimension, such as sports of music, we typically recommend students build a well-rounded application that includes strong grades, high test scores, challenging courseload, compelling extracurricular activities and leadership positions, descriptive essays, and telling recommendations.
Q. What matters most in my college portfolio? How do I prioritize?
A. Academics come first. You are at school to learn and therefore, education should be number one. In a college application setting, your GPA, courseload (honors and APs), and test scores are the means in which you get your foot in the door. Without hitting certain quotas, it is hard for you to have the rest of your portfolio shine. Next comes leadership positions and respectable extracurricular activities (e.g. sports, clubs, volunteer experience, internships, and inventions). Your extracurricular interests, awards, and achievements outside the classroom are what make you whole and what gets you through the door. Essays are crucial when an admissions officer sees you on the fence. A strong essay in these sort of situations can propel you forward.
Q. What is the "right" score? How many exams should I take?
A. Every school has a different set of requirements for standardized test scores. Some schools don't require any exams at all. However, most of the top institutions expect you to take either the SAT I or ACT and at least two to three SAT IIs. While trying multiple times to get your best score is recommended, universities don't want to see you as someone who just spends all of his/her time on standardized tests. Study hard and get these tests out of the way as soon as you can. For example, don't wait until senior year to start taking all of your subject tests.
Q. What type of college applications are there?
A. Questbridge: This is an accelerated application in which students rank their desired participating schools. Upon admission to one of the schools on the list, you gain a full-ride but are committing to go. Website: https://www.questbridge.org/
Common App: This is the most frequently used platform and has been the trademark vehicle for college admissions. Website: http://www.commonapp.org/
Coalition App: Similar to the Common App, the Coalition App is a free platform. However, it is newer and has fewer participating schools, although every institution on this application serves to assist low-income, undeserved students. Website: http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/
Q. When are all of the standardized exams?
A. SAT I, SAT II, and ACT exams all occur on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Information for these exams can be found in our schedule and on their websites: https://www.collegeboard.org/ for SATs and https://www.act.org/ for ACT.
AP and IB exams fall at the end of the academic year during the first few weeks of June.
Q. What are ways to make college more affordable?
A. Many universities and colleges are now costing over $70,000 a year to attend, making it harder for the average American to go to school. Luckily, there are multiple ways to lessen this financial burden. There are programs, such as Questbridge, that provide top-performing individuals with a way to gain a full-ride. Some of the top institutions, such as the Ivy League, Stanford, University of Chicago, and M.I.T., have need-blind admissions processes and need-based, loan-free financial initiatives. Federal programs provide students with a way to take out loans with a very low interest rate (~4% annually). Lastly, applying to scholarships, doing work-study, and picking up a part-time job are all great ways to pay for your way through school.