As students prepare to send in their college applications for early admission deadlines, many can't help but wonder... did I do enough? Before you press the submit button, review this list of key factors to make sure your application stands out to admissions officers.

Challenging Coursework

As a student, your goal is not only to achieve the best grades you can, but also enroll in the most academically challenging courses you can. Most colleges will place greater weight on challenging courses, such as Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, or courses inside an International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. You do not need to enroll in every advanced class offered to you, however, the selections you make for your most challenging coursework should reflect your interests. For example, if you are interested in Medicine, it would be more impactful to seek out AP Biology instead of AP Literature and Composition.

General Increasing Trend (Grades)

Obviously, grades are an...

Over the last few months, a lot has changed across the academic landscape due to COVID-19. Students are attending classes online, schools are implementing new testing policies, and the national SAT was cancelled. Here is the newest information and recommendations for what to do next.

SAT

The national SAT was cancelled in April, leaving many students unsure of when and how to retest. If it is deemed safe for public health, the SAT is currently planning to schedule in-person test dates for every remaining month of 2020, beginning in August. Anticipated testing dates include: August 29, September 26, October 3, November 7, and December 5. These testing dates are all subject to change as the SAT must ensure safe accessibility for all students in all testing locations.

The College Board is also considering an online version of the test which will be available soon (allegedly). However, this solution comes with some drawbacks: additional payment fees, online proctoring, and privacy...