​In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, both the ACT and College Board (SAT) were forced to adapt to rapidly changing dynamics like school closures and enhanced safety measures that made offering their paper-based tests more difficult. As a result, both have pushed forward with efforts to offer a digital, computer-based test going forward. The companies are taking different approaches to the rollout and test formats, so students in the Class of 2025 and later need to understand the new offerings, their scheduled rollouts, and how they will affect college admissions testing for this class and future classes. Class of 2024: none of this will affect you.

​Summer is the kickoff for many college admissions essay attempts, as rising seniors finally break free from the academic rigors of junior year with space to let their mind wander and develop a compelling piece.
 
After working with hundreds of students on their admissions essays, we have some suggestions to share for developing and refining an effective college admissions essay this summer.

Advanced Placement (AP) exams begin in May at high schools across the country. Exam weeks for 2023 are May 1-5 and May 8-12.
 
Like 2022, all AP exams have returned to full-length, multi-part tests taken at school. For 2023, students can expect a potential mix of paper and digital AP exam formats, depending on their classes and school preference.

Juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT test in October 2022 received their scores back on December 5 or 6. Consider this the starting gun for your test preparation and planning efforts over the next 12 months. Not sure what else the test and its many scores mean?
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​Despite the prevailing headlines that most schools have gone test optional and college admissions tests are no longer required, the truth is that taking a college admissions test, whether an ACT or SAT, and submitting the results with their applications will probably help most students who are considering applying to a school with any selectivity.

While visiting every college on a student’s list of schools would be ideal, the truth is most students do not or cannot visit every (or even any) schools before they decide where to apply and attend. Fortunately, college admissions staffs have worked diligently to help expand access to their schools in recent years because of pandemic travel restrictions.

​Students for whom traveling is problematic can also benefit from an array of online and in-person options to fill in the details that an in-person visit would provide. While never a complete substitute for smelling the cafeteria and walking the pavement of a quad, the multitude of resources available to today’s applicants can certainly get every student close to the action and able to learn deeply about most schools of interest without ever leaving home.

With the start of Spring Break, many families of high school juniors will be swapping or combining vacation travel with college visits in the weeks and months ahead, especially since this spring marks the first return to regular touring and visiting opportunities at most colleges in several years.
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Whether you are headed on a focused trip or just planning to hit a few campuses along the way, it helps to go prepared. We have compiled our favorite tips for making the most of your time and some questions for you to consider and ask on your tours.