Shift - College admissions in a changing world

Everything's going digital, so naturally you should prepare for the new digital SAT.. on paper? Ed Antoine is the founder of Antoine Education, and has been tutoring SAT and ACT tutoring for over 20 years. In this episode, Ed shares why he instructs his clients to start their studying for the digital SAT on paper, and how paper-based prep can help your SAT score. Achievable's ACT prep course uses...

Debating between the SAT and ACT based on their math sections? Then this episode is perfect for you. Lori Goldstein is the founder of Circle Test Prep and has been teaching ACT and SAT prep for 14 years. In this episode, Lori shares her expert opinion on the math sections of the SAT and ACT, how they differ, and which test is ideal for which type of test taker. Achievable's ACT prep course uses AI...

Maddie and Trinity were two smart girls in their local school in Alabama. They never thought they could get into Harvard. They were both admitted through their ingenuity and hard work, along with the guidance of Olivia Jones at Impact Tutoring Services (who set up this interview). In this interview, we hear directly from Maddie and Trinity about what they did that set them apart from their classma...

How do CLT questions differ from ACT or SAT questions? Let's take a look. Clay Daniel, founder of Clayborne Test Prep and Tutoring, has spent significant time with the founders of the CLT and is one of the country's first and most prominent CLT tutors. In this podcast, Clay walks us through five CLT Quantitative Reasoning practice questions to show how the exam tests logical reasoning more than ca...

What is the CLT? And why is it becoming an upstart alternative to the ACT and SAT? Clay Daniel, founder of Clayborne Test Prep and Tutoring, has spent significant time with the founders of the CLT and is one of the country's first and most prominent CLT tutors. In this podcast, Clay gives you an overview of what the CLT is, why it was created, who it is for, and how it differs from the ACT and SAT...

Ever want a complete guide to the college admissions process from childhood through acceptance? We've got you covered. Nat Crawford is a Stanford PhD, founder of Improve Your English and college admissions counselor. In this episode, Nat shares the advice he gives high-powered Silicon Valley families about the college admissions process, starting from elementary school and walking you through ever...

ChatGPT and other tools are all the rage right now, but should you use them to help with your college admissions essays? Elton Lin, founder of Ilumin Education in California, has helped students get into top programs nationwide for over a decade. In this episode, Elton shares how schools are handling AI and how to use AI to help you with your essays while still following the essay rules for all co...

The new digital SAT is just a year old, so there aren't as many resources out there yet for people looking to practice it. How do you find the good ones? Dave Lynch, founder of StudyLark, has tutored students on the SAT for almost 20 years. In this episode, Dave shares his advice for finding good practice questions for the new digital SAT. Achievable's ACT prep course uses AI-powered adaptive lear...

Looking for an edge on the SAT Math section? Jeffrey Dalton has been a teacher and SAT tutor for 14 years, and works with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education. In this episode, Jeffrey shares his top 5 tips for acing the SAT Math section on the digital SAT. Achievable's ACT prep course uses AI-powered adaptive learning to target your weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/e...

Ready to conquer the SAT Reading and Writing section? Jeffrey Dalton has been a teacher and SAT tutor for 14 years, and works with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education. In this episode, Jeffrey shares his top 5 tips for acing the SAT Reading and Writing section on the digital SAT. Achievable's ACT prep course uses AI-powered adaptive learning to target your weak areas and boost your score - visit...

In response to the SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action, Harvard added a new essay topic asking specifically about how your background influenced you. Nat Crawford is a Stanford PhD, founder of Improve Your English and college admissions counselor. In this episode, Nat shares why Harvard added this new optional essay to their application, why you should always answer it even if you are not from an...

Getting into the top schools is tough enough, but if you make one of these key mistakes it can severely hurt your chances of getting admitted. Sam Hassell is one of the owners at Westchester Prep, and directs their college advising team. In this episode, Sam shares the 9 key mistakes he sees when students apply to the top colleges in the country and how to avoid them. Achievable's ACT prep course...

The SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action was monumental, but how did it actually affect admissions? Elton Lin, founder of Ilumin Education in California, has helped students get into top programs nationwide for over a decade, and weaves life coaching and career advice into his practice. In this hour-long episode, Elton walks through the impact of the SCOTUS ruling on admissions chances for differen...

For many, college is the pinnacle of your academic career, so how do you make the most of it? 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 for making the most of the academic part of your college experience, both to learn a...

Looking to ace the SAT Evidence-based Reading section? Dave Lynch, founder of StudyLark, has tutored students on the SAT for almost 20 years. In this episode, Dave shares his best tips for simplifying and solving the various problem types you'll find on the SAT Evidence-based Reading section. Achievable's ACT prep course uses AI-powered adaptive learning to target your weak areas and boost your sc...

The biggest challenge that students face when they go to college is being on top of everything on their own. 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 explains the fundamental importance of organizational skills and executive functioning - not just for college, but for the...

The SAT made a major shift this year to being digital and adaptive. How does that affect your college applications? Nat Crawford, Stanford PhD, founder of Improve Your English and college admissions counsellor, works with superstar high school students in the San Francisco Bay Area every year. In this episode, Nat shares how the new digital and adaptive SAT affect SAT scores and how that will impa...

With test-optional policies in retreat, how does this change whether you should submit your standardized test scores? 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 for navigating the test-optional landscape and how you should make the decision on whether to submit test s...

The SCOTUS decision to strike down affirmative action will change college admissions, but how? Shane Bybee has run Bybee College Prep for almost a decade and has helped thousands of students get into college. In this episode, Shane shares his thoughts on the SCOTUS affirmative action decision and how it's going to impact college admissions going forward. Achievable's ACT prep course uses AI-powere...

The ACT English is one of the easiest parts of the ACT to improve your score on, and we'll tell you why. Mary Johnson is the ACT English and Reading lead at Odyssey College Prep and the author of the English and Reading sections of Achievable's ACT course. In this episode, Mary shares the key tactics and strategies you can use to ace the ACT English section and raise your score. Achievable's ACT p...

Dartmouth kicked off a wave of Ivy League and other colleges reinstating their SAT or ACT requirement for applicants - a massive shift away from test-optional policies. Sam Hassell is one of the owners at Westchester Prep, and directs their college advising team. In this episode, Sam and Tyler talk through the implications of these defections from the test-optional status quo, why test-optional di...

ACT and SAT preparation are a key component of the college admissions process, so how to tackle it? Annie Tadros is the Director of My College Prep Online (formerly AM Tutoring) and has 25 years of professional tutoring experience. In this episode, Annie shares her advice on selecting an SAT or ACT test prep program, including key considerations related to your schedule and budget. Achievable's AC...

Applying to colleges as a prospective athlete can be a big boost to your candidacy, but only if you do it in the right way. Joan Casey is the founder of Educational Advocates College Consulting and has been advising students on test prep and college admissions for almost 20 years. In this episode, she shares her tips applying to college as a prospective college athlete, including specific advice f...

AP History exams are tricky, and you need to take special care studying for them. Jason Morgan has been a college admissions counsellor for 20 years, the last 10 of which have been focused on international students. In this episode, Jason shares some key lessons from years of advising clients on their AP History exams, including tips for getting a 4 or 5 on the test. Achievable is a modern test pr...

AI is here, and college admissions will never be the same. But how do you use it while still building an authentic application? Shane Bybee has run Bybee College Prep for almost a decade and has helped thousands of students get into college. In this episode, Shane shares his thoughts on AI, where it does and does not fit into your college admissions process, and how to leverage it without breaking...