The spring semester is a popular testing time for college-bound students and is often the first time that high school juniors crack open an SAT or ACT prep book. What’s important for younger students to realize, however, is that starting test prep early — even in ninth or 10th grade — can help students have the best chance of reaching their goal scores and mitigate the stress caused by too much testing at once.

Taking the ACT this fall? There are a number of formulas that students should know before sitting for the test, and many can be programmed into students’ calculators beforehand in order to save time and give students’ the best chance of completing the math section in time and to the best of their ability.

Preparing for mid-term or final exams this December can be a stressful process, as some students’ grades can depend heavily on these comprehensive tests – and grades are the most important factor in the college admissions process. There are a number of ways, however, that students can approach their exam prep in order to alleviate anxiety and perform their best on test day.

The holistic admissions process can be confusing to both college-bound students and their parents, but identifying what college admissions officers are looking for in students’ applications can actually be pretty simple.

In recent years, even as undergraduate enrollment numbers have plateaued, students enrolling in STEM majors have continued to grow rapidly. Admission rates into selective institutions are plummeting and the competition for STEM students at our nation’s top institutions is becoming increasingly competitive, so what exactly can make a great student stand out among the thousands of other good applicants to STEM programs?

Whether you’re still adjusting to your first year of high school or you’re a college-bound junior ready to hit the ground running, it’s important to set academic and college prep goals for the fall as soon as school starts back up. Goals help keep you on track with your college prep, but they also help you learn more about who you are, what you’re interested in, and how you can better pursue those interests. During a particularly busy or stressful time, goals can help you stay motivated.

Making the jump from high school to college can be exciting, but also overwhelming for some students. With college life comes more independence, but also significantly more responsibilities than students may be used to at home. It’s easy to have a smooth college transition, however, if students keep these simple tips in mind.

The Science section on the ACT will be optional starting in April 2025. For students who want to take it, the key is knowing that the ACT Science section does not necessarily test the depth of your scientific knowledge but rather analytical skills in a scientific context.

Summer “brain drain” or the “summer slide” — the theory that students stop learning over summer break and even lose some of what they have learned during the school year — is a real phenomenon that has been documented by researchers for the past several decades. However, you can keep your brain active during the summer in several ways to prevent losing any of the gains you made over the previous academic year.

Applying to graduate school is an intensive process, and whether you’re a current undergrad looking for tips for applying to graduate school or a professional looking to go back to school, the most important preparation you will do for the graduate admissions process is building a balanced grad school list.