Shift - College admissions in a changing world

How to write a great college essay

Steph Shyu has seen a LOT of college essays. Steph is the founder of Admitsee - a crowdsourced database of college applications, including essays from thousands of students. In this episode, she draws from her wide range of experience reviewing student essays to share her tips for writing an essay that will give you the best chance of getting into your dream college.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Strategy for accomplishing your goals when preparing for the SAT and ACT

How do you prepare for the SAT or ACT in a way that will get you to your goal score? Scott Webster of Clayborne Education has tutored hundreds of students on the SAT and ACT. In this episode, he lays out how to prepare for either the SAT or ACT, including taking a preliminary test to gauge your score range, building a study schedule to get you from your preliminary score to your goal, and more.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

The case for studying vocab for the ACT and SAT

When preparing for the ACT or SAT, is studying vocabulary words actually a good use of your time? Claudia Chesler, a part of the Potomac Education Center for the last 17 years, says yes. In this episode, she explains why vocab is important for the SAT or ACT verbal sections, how to best study vocab to improve your score, and why having a strong vocabulary will help you in college and beyond.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

10 hacks for solving SAT Math problems

Want to ace the SAT Math sections? Both the calculator and no calculator sections? Well then we have a special episode for you. Dave Lynch, founder of StudyLark, has tutored students on the SAT for almost 20 years. In this episode, Dave shares his 10 best hacks for simplifying and solving the various problem types you'll find on the SAT Math calculator and no-calculator sections. If you want actionable tips on how to beat the test, check out this episode.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

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.