Shift - College admissions in a changing world

How test-optional influences college rankings and how that should shape your decision to submit scores

Test-optional took the country by storm when COVID made it impossible to sit for the SAT or ACT in 2020. But now it's hard to know whether you should submit your scores or not. 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 explains how test-optional policies can benefit schools even when they prefer to receive test scores, and how that should influence your decision on whether or not to submit your scores to a particular school.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Why you should consider getting a Bachelor’s degree online and how to evaluate potential programs

Online colleges have come a long way and are a more viable option than ever before. Jaime Smith, founder of Jaime Smith IEC and an educator since 1997, has helped hundreds of students apply to colleges of all kinds. In this episode, she walks you through online college landscape, the advantages and disadvantages of an online college, and how to pick the right college for you.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Deep dive: building a successful resume when applying to top schools

Last episode, we talked about how important resumes are in the college application process. Now, let's do a deep dive on how to build a great one that will help you get into a top school. Sam Hassell is one of the owners at Westchester Prep, and directs their college advising team. In this mega-episode, Sam shares his thoughtful advice for building a resume from as early as 7th grade all the way through the admissions process.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Why developing a resume for college applications will help you develop yourself

Resumes aren't just for work any more. Many don't think of a resume as a key piece of your college application, but it is - and it can be a valuable tool for understanding your application's strengths and weaknesses. Claudine Vainrub is the founder of EduPlan, and she has been helping students apply to colleges for over 20 years. In this episode, Claudine shares her resume building tips for high school students, how your resume can help inform your application, and how your resume can provide a roadmap for what you want to do in life.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Tips for international students applying to US colleges

It's not easy being an international student applying to US colleges - the competition is fierce and you have to learn a lot about the process on your own. Erik Kolb is an independent college advisor that has worked with hundreds of international US college applications around the world. In this episode, Erik shares his top tips for international students applying to US colleges, including how to structure your application, how to expand your resume beyond great grades and test scores, and more.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

To ace the SAT or ACT, train as athletes or musicians do

Most students approach the SAT and ACT the wrong way. If they want to improve their chances of success, they need to treat these exams like a skill, not a single point in time. Valerie Erde is the founder of Veridian Prep, and loves to use data to inform the test prep process. In this episode, Valerie shares her philosophy, including how to think about the prep process and how to maximize your performance on 'game day'.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

How to find your passion and life an authentic life - that also boosts your college application

So much of college applications these days is clubs, extracurriculars, and your essay. But rather than forcing a love of robotics because you think it's what colleges want, you'll actually be happier and have a better application if you focus on what you're truly passionate about. Of course, finding this passion can be hard. That's where this episode's guest Marina Lee can help. Marina is the founder of Cogita Education and has been in the admissions world for more than 25 years. In this episode, she shares her tips for supporting students in not just building a great college application, but in finding their passion and recognizing their own strengths.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Test prep strategies for students with learning challenges (ADHD and more)

Preparing for the ACT or SAT is hard enough on its own - and it can be even more difficult for students with learning challenges. Alexis Avila is the founder and CEO of Prepped and Polished, a tutoring and test prep company with a focus on executive function coaching. In this episode, Alexis shares his tips for neurodivergent students when doing ACT or SAT prep, including how to get testing accommodations, how to overcome test anxiety, and how to improve your concentration and focus while preparing for the exam.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

How to mentally prepare in order to get the most value from your ACT and SAT practice tests

Mastering practice tests is crucial to getting a top ACT or SAT score. Dave Lynch, founder of StudyLark, has tutored students on the SAT for almost 20 years. In this episode, Dave shares his tips for making the most of your practice tests, including mental preparation, environment preparation, and how to use the test results to inform your future prep focus.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Best questions to ask before and on your campus visit

Campus visits aren't necessarily a way to suck up to to your top choice school. Instead, think of them as an opportunity to learn if that school is right for you. Mark Cruver, founder of Capstone Educational Consultants, has been helping students get into college for over a decade. In this episode, Mark shares his tips for preparing for your campus visit, including the best questions to ask both to determine if the school is the right fit for you, and, yes, to impress the admissions staff.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.