Each year, IvyWise welcomes a select group of high-achieving, low-income students into the IvyWise Scholars program, our pro bono college counseling initiative. The reasons each student has for applying to the program are as varied as their backgrounds.
What does strength of school mean, and how do colleges use the school profile to evaluate applicants? In this episode of the Just Admit It! podcast, IvyWise experts Tasha and Juaquin explain how admissions officers read a transcript in the context of a student’s high school and share tips for strengthening your academic profile within it.
Why do colleges use standardized tests, and how are testing policies changing? In this episode of the Just Admit It! podcast, IvyWise experts Tasha, Claire, and Carl discuss how colleges use test scores and provide tips on preparing for the SAT or ACT.
Approximately 2,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. currently have test-optional or test-free policies for first-year applicants. Other schools have since reinstated their standardized testing requirements.
Curious about the testing policies of the schools on your best-fit list? Check out our recently updated list.
Class rank has long been a key metric in college admissions, offering a snapshot of a student’s academic standing among peers at the same school. This metric can indicate consistency and achievement over time, especially when comparing students from different schools with varying high school grading systems.
When college-bound students start preparing for the SAT or ACT, it’s common for them to wonder which test is better and if the ACT and SAT are considered equally in the application review process. There’s been a long-held myth that one test is favored over the other, but U.S. colleges and universities review the SAT and ACT equally.
The SAT may have changed a lot in recent years, including going digital-only for international students in 2023 and for the U.S. in 2024. But one thing hasn’t changed — a good SAT score will help you gain acceptance into the schools on your college list, even if they’re test-optional. Of course, standardized test scores are just one component of a strong college application, but they help provide a more comprehensive picture of your college readiness. If you’re preparing to take the SAT, keep reading to learn more about how the score is broken down, what’s considered a good score, and what the score range is for the middle 50% of enrolled students at some of the top universities in the U.S.
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, standardized tests are an important part of college admissions, especially with more schools going back to requiring test scores. While test prep can certainly help you improve your score by a lot, mastering a few key skills can make all the difference when it comes to achieving your goal score on the SAT or ACT.
Standardized tests are an important part of the undergraduate and graduate admissions process. That’s why it’s crucial to have a good test prep strategy. Whether you’re gearing up for the SAT, ACT, GRE, or any other standardized test, we’ve got you covered.
ACT and SAT scores are a critical factor in college admissions for several reasons. Because grading systems can vary widely, standardized tests are a common metric colleges can use to compare students from different high schools and educational backgrounds.
