College Planning — Test Prep Tutor Blog

Second Thoughts on Early Decision? How to Help Your Students Back Out Gracefully

Have a client facing second thoughts about their Early Decision college commitment? Learn how to help them navigate the withdrawal process and understand the potential repercussions.

Matt McCorkleOctober 21, 2024Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), Early Decision Commitment, ED Commitment, College Decision, College Acceptance, College Applications, College Counseling, College Planning, College Prep, Advice for Clients, Advice for Students

How to Help Your Students Craft a Strong College Application Strategy

Create tailored college application strategies with ED, EA, and RD options to boost your clients' admissions success.

Matt McCorkleOctober 7, 2024College Applications, College Acceptance, College Decision, College Counseling, College Selection, College Portfolio, College Planning, College Prep, College Essay, College, Tutoring Strategies, Test-Prep Strategies, Advice for Students, Advice for Clients, Early Action (EA), Early Decision (ED), Regular Decision (RD), College Search

Welcome to the Ivy League: Key Prep Strategies for Students and Tutors

Support ambitious students in their college journey with tailored test prep and strategic academic guidance. Enhance their prospects for top-tier admissions success.

Top Fall 2024 Scholarships for College-Bound Students: Apply Now!

Don't miss out on Fall 2024 scholarships for college-bound high school students. Students who apply now can take advantage of financial aid opportunities and lessen tuition expenses!

Matt McCorkleAugust 27, 2024Scholarships, College Scholarships, College Planning, College Prep, High School Seniors, High School Students, College-Bound Students, Advice for Students, Advice for Clients, Financial Aid, Merit Awards, Grants

Get College Ready: Summer Strategies for Rising High School Seniors

Get a head start on college applications this summer with our essential strategies for rising high school seniors. Help your clients stay ahead of the competition and alleviate the pressure of senior year by taking advantage of these summer months.

How High School Students Can Make the Most of Spring Break

Spring Break is the perfect opportunity for high school students to get ahead. Use this time to focus on test prep, college planning, and ticking off those to-do lists. Being proactive now will make managing springtime challenges a breeze!

College Readiness in 2024: Are Your High School Seniors Prepared?

2023 standardized test score data has made it abundantly clear that getting our 2024 high school seniors ready for college is a big task—are your students prepared?

Matt McCorkleJanuary 30, 2024Test Scores, Test Score Reports, ACT News, College Board News, College Prep, College Planning, Learning Gap, Supporting Students, Supporting Clients, Tutoring Support, Test-Prep Support

Unlocking Financial Aid Opportunities: What's New in the 2024-25 FAFSA Form

Simplified and streamlined, the 2024-25 FAFSA form brings exciting changes and enhanced accessibility to unlock financial aid opportunities.

Matt McCorkleJanuary 16, 2024FAFSA®, Financial Aid, Student Aid, College Planning

Building A College Portfolio: Tips for High-Quality Letters of Recommendation

High-quality letters of recommendation can enhance a student’s college portfolio and elevate their chances of getting accepted to their dream school. Find out more about what admissions officers are looking for.

Matt McCorkleNovember 27, 2023College Portfolio, College Planning, College Prep, College Applications, Supporting Students, Supporting Clients

Building A College Portfolio: Traditional and Nontraditional College Essays That Get Applicants Noticed

A college essay is a student’s chance to show the admissions committee what they will add to the academic community. Taking the time to create a memorable essay will undoubtedly make their application catch the eye of the admissions panel of their dream school.

Matt McCorkleNovember 20, 2023College Portfolio, College Planning, College Prep, College Applications, College Essay, Advice for Students, Advice for Clients, Supporting Students, Supporting Clients

Building A College Portfolio: How Students Can Display Creative Works

Achievements shouldn’t just be listed. Students can create a multidimensional representation of themselves with a college portfolio that showcases their creativity and ingenuity through a variety of creative works.

Matt McCorkleNovember 13, 2023College Portfolio, College Applications, College Admissions, Creative Works, Supporting Students, Supporting Clients, College Planning, College Prep

Building A College Portfolio: Helping Clients Create a Top College Résumé

Help your students gain a competitive edge in the college application process by creating a well-crafted résumé and cover letter that highlights their high school career and potential for future success.

Matt McCorkleNovember 6, 2023College Portfolio, Supporting Students, Supporting Clients, College Prep, College Planning, College Résumé, College Résumé Cover Letter, Advice for Students, Advice for Clients, College Readiness, Higher Education

Building a College Portfolio: How to Help Your Clients Get Started

A college portfolio can help students impress college admissions committees with a holistic view of their personal accomplishments—both academic and extracurricular.

Matt McCorkleOctober 30, 2023College Portfolio, College Planning, College Applications, College Application Resumes, College Prep, College, Supporting Clients, Advice for Students, Advice for Clients

Fall Season ACT® and SAT® Prep: A Step Closer to Dream School Admission

Discover why fall is the opportune time for students to achieve their target scores on the ACT® and SAT®, maximizing their chances of college admission.

Matt McCorkleOctober 16, 2023Target Score, Test Prep, Fall Test Prep, College Planning, College Admissions, Test Taking, Fall Test Dates, ACT® Scores, SAT® Scores, College Prep

The Importance of Good College Fit: How to Make the Right Choice

A crucial part of our students’ future academic success is in finding the right college fit.

Matt McCorkleJuly 31, 2023College Planning, College Prep, College Search, Supporting Students, Supporting Clients, Test-Prep Advice, Tutoring Advice, College Counseling, Higher Education, Academic Goals, Career Path

How the Pandemic Affected College and Career Choices of the COVID Cohort

ACT Research’s recently published survey emphasizes the crucial role of tutors in continuing to provide support to high school students whose academic careers have been deeply impacted by the pandemic.

Matt McCorkleJuly 19, 2023ACT Research, Tutor Advice, Tutoring Advice, Test-Prep Advice, Pandemic Learning, COVID-19, College Planning, College Prep, College Search, Supporting Students, Supporting Clients, Tutoring Support, Test-Prep Support

Boosting Your College Application: A Rising Junior's Summer Bucket List

With summer break upon us, rising juniors have plenty of time to find ways to relax and recharge while also getting involved in some beneficial activities that will unquestionably give their college applications a boost!