Shift - College admissions in a changing world

16 hacks for solving SAT Reading and Writing & Language sections

Want to ace the SAT Reading and Writing & Languages section? Then look no further. Dave Lynch, founder of StudyLark, has tutored students on the SAT for almost 20 years. In this episode, Dave shares 16 hacks that will help you solve all kinds of different tricky problems on the SAT Reading and SAT Writing & Language sections. These hacks will help you solve questions more quickly and make the right answer "fall right into your lap." If you love getting into the weeds on the tests themselves, this episode is for you!
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

How to choose your Common App essay topic and crush your essay

The Common App essay is the cornerstone of your application. So how do you make the best impression? Mark Cruver, founder of Capstone Educational Consultants, has been helping students get into college for over a decade. In this episode, Mark describes his recommended approach for picking a Common App essay topic from brainstorm to submission, how to talk about themselves, and how to find great stories in your life that will be great for college admissions officers to read.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

How to make the most of your campus visits and interviews

So much gets swept up into the journey of applying to and getting into a college, but do you actually want to go there? John Baylor, founder of OnToCollege, works with over 700 high schools around the nation to help their students get into college. In this episode, John shares his tips for getting the most out of your campus visit and interviews, from making sure the school is right for you to presenting a strong case for your admission with thoughtful questions.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
OnToCollege strengthens scores, confidence, and culture so all students reach their best-fit post-high school destination with minimal debt. Visit https://www.ontocollege.com/ to learn more.

How to get green checkmarks on the Common App

The Common App is a great tool for simplifying your college application process, but how do you use it properly and make sure it's all put together correctly? Shane Bybee has run Bybee College Prep for almost a decade and has helped thousands of students get into colleges all around the country. In this episode, Shane shares how to get those coveted 'green checkmarks' on the Common App and how to make the most of each Common App section.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

How college admissions offices look at your GPA and transcript

College admissions can feel like a black box. How can someone ensure that their high school transcript is an impressive one? Lindsay Tanne, founder and CEO of Logic Prep, has helped thousands of students apply to college for the last decade. In this episode, Lindsay shares how to set up your high school studies to create the most impressive transcript possible, and how college admissions officers view different aspects of your GPA and transcript.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Managing college admissions decisions

More students have been deferred or waitlisted this year than ever before, so what do you do? Sarah Cook is the founder of College Bound Career Ready, and has 18 years of experience in education and college admissions. In this episode, Sarah goes through the different trends in college admissions related to early decision and early action, how to strategize your ED/EA process, what to do if you're deferred or waitlisted to maximize your chances of being accepted, and more.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

How one student got into Stanford with an exceptional impact project (plus two more examples)

How do you stand out when applying to Stanford when grade inflation, great test scores, and tons of extracurriculars are common for the typical applicant? For this student, the answer was an impact project. In this episode, Barbara Levanthal of ScoreAtTheTop and Annaline Dinkelmann of TeachMeWallStreet share the story of one Stanford student whose incredible impact project became the centerpiece of his successful application. They also share two additional examples of impact projects and give actionable tips for how to create your own impact project for your community and your college resume.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

What is the Common App and how to make the most of it

If you're applying to colleges nowadays, you may have heard of the Common App. But what is it, who makes it, and how does it help me? Kathy Hart from ScoreAtTheTop has worked with students all over the country to maximize their chances of getting into a great school. In this episode, Kathy walks you through the basics of the Common App before sharing her strategies for leveraging it to create the best applications possible and save time doing so. 
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

The differences between the ACT and SAT, and which students will do best on each

A key question every high school student faces is: should they take the ACT or SAT? Phil McCaffrey has been teaching the SAT and ACT for almost 30 years. In this episode, Phil explains the key differences between the two tests, and gives recommendations for which one you should take depending on your skills and preferences.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Mega Episode: Deep dive on how to shape your college applications for CS, STEM, business and finance, humanities, and more

Plenty of people offer generalized college application advice, but what about for the specific major you're applying for? We're here to help. Elton Lin, founder of Ilumin Education in California, has helped students get into top programs nationwide for over a decade, and weaves life coaching and career advice into his practice. In this hour-long episode, Elton walks through the specific things you should have on your college application and what colleges are looking for all of the main majors: Computer Science, STEM, business and finance, humanities, and art, drama, and music.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.