Top Tier Admissions

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

What is a “good” PSAT score? What is the point of the PSAT? And are there other merit scholarships out there? The College Board PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), taken October of sophomore or junior year, is more than just a warm up for the SAT or the ACT. What is the monetary value?

PSAT 59

PSAT Scholarships Academic Tutors Standardized Testing 59

CTK College Coach

DECEMBER 6, 2022

Updated December 2022 Did Your Student Just Receive PSAT Scores? This One’s for You: Everyone has questions about PSAT scores when they come out each December, and I am here with answers for you. What Is the PSAT? Most high schools offer the PSAT to juniors as part of the National Merit Scholar (NMS) search process.

PSAT 52

PSAT Ivy League SAT Out-of-State 52

CTK College Coach

DECEMBER 10, 2021

What is the National Merit Scholar Competition/Test (NMSQT) and How Does it Relate to the PSAT? Junior year PSAT test takers are automatically considered for the National Merit Scholar competition, so the PSAT for juniors is officially known as the NMSQT/PSAT. I Scored Below the PSAT Cutoff for Class of 2023.

PSAT 52

PSAT Scholarships Letters of Recommendation Out-of-State 52

Admissions Village

FEBRUARY 25, 2024

Yale and Dartmouth both stated their belief, backed up by studies they have done, that scores are more predictive of academic success at college than high school GPA. Duke also came out with an announcement this week that said they will no longer assign a numerical score to standardized test scores, SAT or ACT or students’ essays.

Testing 180

Testing SAT Standardized Testing ACT 180

Ruffaloni

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Those assessments include: PSAT/NMSQTP SAT 10 SAT School Day The College Board estimates that these student populations will represent about 1/3 of students in the College Board network in the 2023-2024 subscription year. And while we don’t subscribe to that belief, our team at RNL agrees that student search is evolving. What is Connections?

Enrollment 130

Enrollment PSAT SAT Out-of-State 130

AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

As a high school student, you’re probably no stranger to big tests like AP exams, the PSAT, or the SAT and ACT. The rise of the best test optional colleges is changing the game, giving students new ways to stand out in the admissions process. For fall 2025 admissions, over 2,000 four-year colleges in the U.S.

Testing 52

Testing Standardized Testing SAT Policies 52

StandOut College Prep

MARCH 8, 2023

If you’re not quite sure if you should apply for scholarships in the first place, check out this article on why you should apply for scholarships in the first place. National Merit Scholarships are awarded to a select group of students among the top 1% of PSAT scores. Table of Contents What are Merit Scholarships? Let’s get into it.

Scholarships 96

Scholarships PSAT Tuition Public School 96

CTK College Coach

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

What Is the National Merit Scholar Competition/Test (NMSQT) and How Does It Relate to the PSAT? Junior year PSAT test takers are automatically considered for the National Merit Scholar competition , so the PSAT for juniors is officially known as the NMSQT/PSAT. This represents roughly the top 2-3% of PSAT takers.

PSAT 52

PSAT Scholarships Out-of-State Study Abroad 52

Parry College Counseling: College Admissions Blog

JANUARY 6, 2022

Here in Washington state, PSAT results came out a few weeks ago, and since then I have received a steady stream of new junior inquiries. (It It happens like clockwork each year.) Usually the biggest stressor for families is what to do with these scores and how to move forward with a testing plan for the next year.

PSAT 40

PSAT Transition Out-of-State GPA 40

College Essay Guy

MARCH 30, 2023

If you’ve heard of the PSAT, thought about the PSAT, or taken the PSAT, chances are you’ve also heard of the National Merit Scholarship. I thought I just had to worry about the PSAT!” PSAT Selection Index Types of National Merit Scholarships How do you become a National Merit Semifinalist?

Scholarships 52

Scholarships PSAT Out-of-State Letters of Recommendation 52

College Essay Guy

JUNE 15, 2023

How can students find out what a “good score” is? How do the PSAT and the National Merit Scholarship play into all of this? How can students find out what a “good score” is? For example, those seeking to receive a National Merit Scholarship will have to earn a competitive score on the PSAT. Here are some answers.

Standardized Testing 52

Standardized Testing PSAT Testing SAT 52

College Essay Guy

JULY 26, 2024

About two-thirds of applicants come from the United States, with the remaining applicants coming from outside the country. About two-thirds of applicants come from the United States, with the remaining applicants coming from outside the country. TABLE OF CONTENTS (click to skip ahead) What is the Research Science Institute?

PSAT 52

PSAT Letters of Recommendation Programs Transcripts 52

CTK College Coach

MAY 24, 2023

Will the PSAT Be Digital this Fall? Yes, the PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit qualifying exam) will be digital for October 2024 test takers (Class of 2025). Read more about the PSAT here. It’s True: the SAT Is Going Digital. Hey there, high schoolers! When Does the New SAT Format Take Effect? Will I Take the SAT Digitally or on Paper?

SAT 52

SAT PSAT Ivy League ACT 52

HelloCollege

JUNE 21, 2024

Following an announcement by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) , the ACT will replace the SAT as the state’s high school accountability assessment. PSAT/NMSQT is no longer required. The ACT will be digital. All of the testing administered through the new contract will be done online. You can still take the SAT.

ACT 52

ACT SAT PSAT Accommodations 52

Ivy College Essay

AUGUST 3, 2023

The highly selective nature of the school means that you will need to stand out with your grades and scores to make it past the first round. Harvard states that there isn’t a single path of academics that all applicants are expected to follow in high school. and across the world. or above, and 18% had GPAs from 3.78

GPA 63

GPA PSAT Ivy League SAT 63

CTK College Coach

OCTOBER 8, 2023

Testing Tips and Timeline for High School Juniors (Class of 2025) October - Taking the PSAT Most high school juniors in the US will take the PSAT on or around October 11. The PSAT will still be the qualifying exam for the National Merit scholarship (the NMSQT). It is meant to be a warm-up to the real test, and it is!

Test Prep 52

Test Prep Testing PSAT SAT 52

DC College Counseling

DECEMBER 5, 2023

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK While you should take some of this with a grain of salt—schools like Vanderbilt, Wash U, and Emory are not exactly "Plan B" for even the most qualified applicants out there—maybe Plan A-Part 2?— Every year our students tell us how happy they are to be done well in advance of the winter break and January deadlines!

Early Decision 59

Early Decision Ivy League PSAT Test Prep 59

Discovery College Consulting

MAY 10, 2023

Additionally, the PSAT will go digital in October of this year. Discovery College Consulting has always encouraged students to take a practice SAT (or PSAT) and a practice ACT, and that advice won’t change with the introduction of the digital SAT. Starting in March 2024, students in the U.S. Math problems will be less wordy.

SAT 52

SAT PSAT Test Prep College Consulting 52

CTK College Coach

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

A March 2024 Update As we head deep into the middle of the school year, many juniors are taking the ACT or SAT– or wondering whether they should in this largely test-optional world. Sophomores looking ahead to fall testing are starting to prep. Does Kelley Business School at Indiana University require Test Scores?

Testing 52

Testing PSAT SAT Ivy League 52

CTK College Coach

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

As we round the bend on the middle of the year, many juniors are taking the ACT or SAT– or wondering whether they should in this largely test-optional world. Sophomores looking ahead to fall testing are starting to prep. I can’t say in the abstract whether any one student should prep and test. You can see my fulsome update on the digital SAT here.

Testing 52

Testing PSAT Ivy League SAT 52

CTK College Coach

AUGUST 31, 2022

You can prep on your own– you can sync your PSAT score to Khan Academy for adaptive learning– with a private tutor, or through a group course. Don’t forget about the October PSAT ! Read more about the National Merit scholarship and the NMSQT/PSAT here. Plan to prep for 12-16 weeks ahead of your first test.

High School 52

High School PSAT Letters of Recommendation National Honor Society 52

DC College Counseling

NOVEMBER 21, 2023

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS PSAT SCORES (AND NATIONAL MERIT CUTOFF ESTIMATES) RELEASED PSAT scores were released on November 6 or 16, depending on the date students took the test (if your student hasn’t received their score reports, have them go see their school counselor!).

PSAT 59

PSAT Out-of-State Early Decision Standardized Testing 59

CTK College Coach

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Last year its acceptance rate plummeted to 33% for out-of-state students , less than half of what it was the year before. Other schools, like Clemson and the University of South Carolina , are deferring high percentages of out-of-state students as their application numbers soar.

Acceptance 52

Acceptance PSAT Financial Aid SAT 52

The Thoughtful College Search

JUNE 1, 2022

The last ECA post commented on some issues arising out of the brief filed with the United States Supreme Court on May 2 by Students For Fair Admissions (SFFA) in its case alleging discrimination against Asian-American applicants to Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill. That includes recruiting students differently based on race.

PSAT 40

PSAT Minor Out-of-State In-State 40

The Thoughtful College Search

JANUARY 30, 2023

(Originally published in Inside Higher Ed ’s “Admissions Insider” January 30, 2023) In case you missed it, there was a bizarre news story coming out of the D.C. Students who score in the top one-half of one percent on the PSAT taken in the junior year, the qualifying test for National Merit. area a couple of weeks ago. “So

PSAT 40

PSAT Out-of-State Test Prep SAT 40

Marks Education

APRIL 18, 2023

For more information on the new version of the test, check out our blog on the new digital SAT ( LINK ). What does this mean for test takers in the United States? Note that if you took the sophomore PSAT in October 2023, that score is likely too old for this determination). Don’t worry– we’re here to help!

SAT 52

SAT Test Prep PSAT Standardized Testing 52

College Essay Guy

JULY 6, 2023

This means that the competition for these scholarships can be fierce (8,500 students receive the National Merit Scholarship out of the 1.5 million high school students who take the PSAT). This means that the competition for these scholarships can be fierce (8,500 students receive the National Merit Scholarship out of the 1.5

Scholarships 52

Scholarships Financial Aid Transfer Honor Society 52

Tex Admissions

FEBRUARY 1, 2025

Can I qualify as an in-state student for residency or tuition purposes? The State of Texas accommodates students born outside the state or country yet reside there full-time. You could be eligible for in-state tuition and need-based financial aid awarded by the state. We provided the minimum amount of information.

Applications 52

Applications Out-of-State Waitlist Financial Aid 52

DC College Counseling

JANUARY 18, 2023

Instead of waiting for official notification, we just compare the student’s selection index on their 11th grade PSAT with the score cutoffs online. BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK CYBER ATTACK SHUTS DOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT Students in Des Moines, Iowa, received two unexpected days off of school last week.

PSAT 52

PSAT Out-of-State Private School Tuition 52

The Thoughtful College Search

JULY 21, 2024

Department of Education is turning to two executives at the College Board to fix the problems that have plagued the launch of the “simplified” Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a launch that turned out to be anything but simple. The word “loan” implies a payback. What does the College Board get in return?

Financial Aid 45

Financial Aid PSAT Loans SAT 45

Great College Advice

AUGUST 23, 2023

Figures are from the State of College Admissions 2019 – which came out before the pandemic). These tests loom large in the college admissions process. And yet, every student seems to be asking these days, “do my test scores matter?” On the one hand, you should not tress too much about your scores.

Testing 10

Testing Ivy League Financial Aid Standardized Testing 10

CTK College Coach

OCTOBER 29, 2023

Juniors: What to Do and When As I launch our high school seniors out the door with their early college applications this month, I have one eye on the kids queuing up to begin the college application process: your juniors. Nothing, yes, nothing, matters as much to a college admissions officer as your transcript. Specialize if it makes sense.

Letters of Recommendation 52

Letters of Recommendation Ivy League Test Prep Out-of-State 52

Tex Admissions

MARCH 20, 2022

Check out my new book Surviving the College Admissions Madness and Youtube Channel There is a related prompt for Transfer students only called Essay C special circumstances that you can opt to submit in substitute for the Essay E Issue of Importance. Some students used this as an opportunity to present special circumstances.

High School 52

High School Accommodations SAT PSAT 52

Marks Education

APRIL 19, 2023

The digital SAT will be offered for the first time in the United States in March 2024, but international SAT students took the digital SAT for the first time in March 2023. will become familiar with digital testing this fall when the PSAT will be offered in the digital format. When is the SAT Changing? Most students in the U.S.

SAT 40

SAT PSAT Standardized Testing Test Prep 40

College Essay Guy

JULY 21, 2023

Notably, this aid comes from the institutions themselves, making it distinct from the federal aid that students can apply for by filling out the FAFSA online. You may need to create a CSS login and password, but if you already have a College Board sign-in for AP tests , the PSAT , or the SAT , you can use that to log in.

Financial Aid 52

Financial Aid Out-of-State Loans PSAT 52

College Essay Guy

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

So if you're applying to highly selective schools as a junior, it might be harder for you to beat out a senior with more depth in their application. Maybe if you have an outstanding academic record, near-perfect test scores, and a resume that's beaming with extracurricular achievements. Still, it may not be the best idea. Here's why.

Standardized Testing 52

Standardized Testing Early Decision Transcripts Financial Aid 52

AdmissionSight

DECEMBER 14, 2024

These institutions are swamped with applications, and a detailed resume not only makes their job easier but also gives you a chance to stand out beyond just grades and test scores. A resume lets you go deeper, stretch out, and paint a fuller picture of your story. Do You Need a Resume for College Applications? Not really!

Applications 40

Applications Ivy League Extracurricular GPA 40