College Bound
Aug 14, 2026
SAT & PSAT Practice Just Got an Update: What Parents Should Know
If your student is preparing for the SAT or PSAT, there are some important updates to the College Board’s digital practice resources—including hundreds of newly released SAT questions, updated difficulty ratings for existing questions, and a brand-new PSAT practice test now available in the Bluebook App. For families, these changes are a good reminder that effective test preparation isn’t simply about completing as many practice questions as possible. Which questions students practice—and what they learn from them—matters.
Aug 9, 2026
Can You Really Be A Bad Test Taker?
It’s a phrase parents and educators hear all the time: “I’m just a bad test taker.” Often, the student saying it has plenty of evidence to back up the claim. But in reality, “bad test taker” is often less a diagnosis and more a catch-all phrase for a number of specific challenges—many of which can be identified and improved with the right preparation.
Aug 4, 2026
The Common App Is Live: What Every Parent of a High School Senior Should Know
While senior year may still feel a little distant for some families, August often signals the unofficial beginning of the college application season. If your student plans to apply through the Common App, now is the time to move from thinking about college to actively preparing applications. Starting early can make the entire process less stressful and lead to stronger, more thoughtful applications.
Jul 26, 2026
SAT vs. ACT Reading: Understanding the Differences Can Help Your Student Choose the Right Test
The SAT and ACT seem almost interchangeable. Both are accepted equally by colleges, both assess reading comprehension, and both can play a significant role in college admissions and merit scholarship opportunities. However, while the two exams measure many of the same underlying reading skills, they do so in very different ways. Those differences affect not only which test may be a better fit for your student, but also how they should prepare.
Jul 21, 2026
Why Today's Best Tutoring Happens Online
For many parents, the idea of online tutoring can initially feel unfamiliar. Will my student stay engaged? Will the tutor be able to explain difficult concepts? Is it really as effective as meeting face-to-face?
Jul 14, 2026
Grade Inflation: What Every Parent Should Know
Grades are higher than ever—but are they telling the whole story? For many parents, a report card filled with A's feels like reassurance that their student is on the path to college success. But over the past two decades, an important trend has changed how colleges interpret transcripts: grade inflation.
Jul 6, 2026
The Common App Essay: Helping Your Senior Write with Confidence
For many families, the Common Application essay feels like the most intimidating part of the college application process. Parents often ask us: "What should my student write about?", "How personal is too personal?", and "Should I edit it?"
Jun 30, 2026
Test-Optional Doesn't Mean Test-Irrelevant
Whether your child is entering high school this fall or preparing to submit college applications as a senior, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: standardized testing is playing a larger role in college admissions once again.
Jun 18, 2026
Why Does the Enhanced ACT Math Feel So Much Harder?
Over the past week, we've heard from several students who walked out of the June Enhanced ACT feeling surprised by the Math section. If your student felt that way, they were not alone.
Jun 16, 2026
Summer Test Prep: The Smartest Time to Prepare for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT
Summer is here, and many families are thinking about vacations, summer jobs, sports, camps, and college visits. While those experiences are important, summer is also the single best time for rising juniors and seniors to prepare for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. Students who use the summer wisely often enter the fall testing season with a significant advantage over their peers.
Jun 8, 2026
Train Your Nervous System: Using Yoga, Breathing, and Stress Management to Improve Test Performance
When preparing for the ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP exams, HSPT, ISEE, GRE, or any high-stakes test, most students focus on studying content, learning strategies, and taking practice tests. Those things matter. But there is another critical part of preparation that often gets overlooked: training your nervous system.
May 31, 2026
Curating Your Common App Activities and Honors List: Telling Your Story Beyond Grades and Test Scores
When students think about the college application process, they often focus on grades, test scores, and essays. However, one of the most important sections of the Common Application is frequently overlooked: the Activities and Honors sections. These sections provide colleges with a snapshot of a student's identity outside the classroom. They help admissions officers understand how students spend their time, what they value, and how they contribute to their schools and communities.