Shift - College admissions in a changing world

Test preferred is the new test optional: a deep dive into admissions trends in the top 100 colleges

If you're applying to top 100 colleges, should you submit your ACT or SAT score? David Blobaum is one of the co-owners of Summit Prep and a nationally recognized expert on the SAT, ACT, and college admissions. In this episode, David shares the recent studies and data that are shifting admissions officers' preferences away from test optional at the top 100 colleges.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

DEEP dive on how to get an academic research project published as a high school student

Looking to stand out in your college application? Getting a peer reviewed academic research project published can be a huge leg up over other applicants. Sasha Chada is founder and CEO of Ivy Scholars, whose students have 7X the admission rate to Stanford, Columbia, MIT, and other top schools. In this mega-episode, Sasha shares his playbook for finding, setting up, completing, and publishing an academic research project in a peer reviewed publication.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Data insights: cultural differences between colleges and how understanding them can improve your application

Steph Shyu is the founder of Admitsee - a crowdsourced database of college applications, including college applications, essays, and reviews from thousands of students. In this episode, Steph shares insights from Admitsee's platform data on the cultural differences between colleges, and then talks about how you can highlight any cultural alignment in your application to improve your chances for admission.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Mega episode: How to get impactful letters of recommendation - a complete walkthrough

There is a big different between a good letter of recommendation and a great one that will actually get you into your top target school. Hamada Zahawi is the CEO and founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consultancy with a 93% success rate. In this episode, Hamada shares his step-by-step plan for getting impactful letters of recommendation.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

TikTok college admissions essay trends: what you should and shouldn’t take away from them

TikTok has a lot of college admissions essay advice lately, but how much of it is actually good advice? Robert Franklin is a writer and admissions consultant at Admissionado, a full service college admissions firm that guides students through the whole process. In this episode, Robert breaks down the different TikTok college essay trends that are going viral on the platform, including which ideas are good and which ideas are bad for your application. 
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Five core principles for effective preparation for the ACT or SAT

Your time spent preparing for the SAT and ACT can be a lot more effective if you follow good study practices. Travis Minor is the founder of Open Door Education, which has been helping students prepare for the SAT and ACT for over 10 years. In this episode, Travis shares his five core principles for SAT and ACT prep, with actionable implementation strategies for each one.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

What students don’t know going into college that they need to know to succeed academically

Going to college is exciting, but there's no tip sheet - that's why we made this episode. Louis Newman is former Dean of Academic Advising at Stanford University and now the author of the new book "Thinking Critically in College: The Essential Handbook for Student Success." In this episode, Louis shares advice that all high school students should hear before going to college, with a focus on the skills and strategies they need to handle the toughest challenges of their academic career.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

How to maximize your college application for CS, STEM, and other majors

Applying to CS or STEM undergraduate programs? Or just looking to maximize your application in general? Stephen Friedfeld is the cofounder of AcceptU, an admissions consulting firm since 2010 that only employs former admissions officers. In this episode, Stephen shares his tips on how to make the most of every part of your college application, with specific tips for computer science (CS) and STEM applicants.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

The SCOTUS affirmative action ruling and its impact on college admissions

How will the SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action change college admissions? Robert Franklin is a writer and admissions consultant at Admissionado, a full service college admissions firm that guides students through the whole process. In this episode, Robert shares his thoughts on the recent US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling that struck down most of affirmative action, including what affirmative action was, why the court made the ruling, how the ruling affects applicants from all backgrounds, and what students from underrepresented backgrounds can do now.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Mega episode - How to research and evaluate colleges, and then build your college list

Getting ready for the college admissions process? This is a great place to start! Hamada Zahawi is the CEO and founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consultancy with a 93% success rate. In this episode, Hamada walks us through the process of creating your college list, including what and how to research, key culture fit things to look for, and how to structure your final list.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.