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All About Early Decision and Early Action

Early Decision (or ED) is an early admissions process where students make a binding commitment to attend the college if accepted. This commitment includes signing an Early Decision agreement form (which your guidance counselor and parents also must sign). This is different from Early Action (or EA), which is a non-binding process that allows students […]

Getting College Credit from AP Tests

Back in high school, I knew the following about AP tests: 1. They looked good on college apps. 2. They could give college credit. It’s the latter I didn’t fully appreciate at the time. Looking back, I wish somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders, shaken me and said, “Serious, AP tests are really amazing […]

College Admissions: Extracurriculars and Volunteering

Whether you are a freshman just starting high school or a junior getting ready to apply to college, getting involved in extracurriculars and volunteering is always the way to go. It is never too early/late to get involved! Here are some helpful tips that can help you learn why, when, and how you should pursue extracurriculars at your high school:  Why? Learn […]

Why You Should Take High School Clubs Seriously

Joining high school clubs is a great way to jump start your professional and academic success. Don’t underestimate the importance of high school clubs and extracurriculars when it comes to getting experience that will help you in high school, college, and beyond.   There’s a wide range of extracurriculars available at most high schools, from sports […]

How to Learn From Your Mistakes Next Semester

It can be quite disheartening to study like crazy for finals only to receive a lower grade than you hoped for. But rather than getting discouraged, don’t let final grades have the final say. Even though you may be feeling discouraged right now, knowing how to learn from your mistakes can bring major positive change […]

5 Tips for Battling Senioritis

Seniors, this is it—your final year of high school. Except now, you’re not only focusing on managing your course load, but college admissions as well. There’s a lot to juggle, from college applications and essay-writing to collecting letters of recommendation and possibly studying for the SAT or ACT one last time. And this is on […]

Determine Your Future Path by Trusting Your Instincts

At some point in your high school development, you may have been told to follow your dreams—but it can be a challenge to know exactly how to do that. It’s easy to get lost in the ambient noise and forget how to listen to your own instincts. I’ve spent most of my academic life pursuing goals I didn’t even […]

How to Thank Your High School Teachers

We all have those one or two high school teachers who we really connect with and who are invested in our success. (By the way, if you need any letters of recommendation for applying to college, these are the high school teachers you should go to.) High school is a very long period of time […]

How to Build Your Spring Test Prep Schedule

Saying hello to the spring semester doesn’t just mean back-to-school festivities and the start of a new semester. Usually, high schools all around the country are encouraging their students to start applying for upcoming SAT and ACT test dates. This may seem intimidating at first, but with proper planning and an organized test prep schedule, […]

How to Best Utilize Your Guidance Counselor

Talking to your guidance counselor can seem unappealing at first. After all, you’ll be confiding in a complete stranger about your academic goals and concerns. Despite your reservations, you’ll quickly discover how useful a guidance counselor can be. From more immediate concerns (selecting classes and SAT prep) to long term goals (applying for college and […]