Shift - College admissions in a changing world

The ACT Writing section is not talked about as much, but if you're taking it, it's still important. 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 need to ace the ACT Writing section. Achievable is a modern test prep platform for t...

Colleges already have an ideal candidate in mind, so how do you become that candidate? Hamada Zahawi is the CEO and founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consultancy with a 93% success rate. In this episode, Hamada shares what colleges want and how to adapt your application to give them what they want without sacrificing authenticity. Hamada shared a generous 25% off code with our...

Everyone seems to want to take AP classes and exams now, but many aren't taking the right approach. 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 things that those considering AP classes and exams should be thinking about, including why taking "off-major" AP classes can be...

ACT released its annual score report recently, and the numbers are not good. 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 why she thinks ACT scores have declined nationwide for the second straight year and what you can do to buck the trend.  Achievable is a modern test prep platform...

Preparing for tests with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning disabilities can make an already difficult task even more challenging. Linus Law, a high school student who has studied these disabilities, and Mollie Book, a special education teacher from New York, join forces to talk through the current experience for high school students with learning differences, and give practical advice for prepari...

Getting an interview request from a college can be nerve wracking for high school students. Hamada Zahawi is the CEO and founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consultancy with a 93% success rate. In this episode, Hamada walks you through his strategies for preparing for the college admissions interview to ensure that you nail the interview and get admitted. Hamada shared a generou...

Preparing for the ACT or SAT is hard enough, but it's even more difficult if you have ADHD or other learning differences. 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 for preparing for the ACT and SAT as a person with ADHD or other learning challenge...

If you're not taking your ACT practice tests correctly, you're not getting the most value for your time or improving your ACT score as much as you could be. In this episode, Mary Johnson, ACT English and Reading lead at Odyssey College Prep and the author of the English and Reading sections of Achievable's ACT course, shares her tips for taking an effective ACT practice test that gives you an accu...

Now that the SCOTUS has struck down affirmative action in all forms -except in your essay - how are essays going to change? And how does this affect the essay approach for those from underrepresented backgrounds? Steph Shyu is the founder of Admitsee - a crowdsourced database of college applications, including college applications, essays, and reviews from thousands of students. In this episode, S...

Colleges don't just pick the best academic applicants for their schools - they have athletes, legacy, and other admissions needs to fill. Shane Bybee has run Bybee College Prep for almost a decade and has helped thousands of students get into college. In this episode, Shane explains how college admissions works behind the scenes, why your admissions chances are lower than you think, and what you c...

Applying to US colleges is tough enough, and if you're from Latin America, you can face additional challenges. 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 uses his expertise in getting Latin American students into US universities to share actionable tips and strategies for parents and s...

If you're applying to top 100 colleges, should you submit your ACT or SAT score? 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 shares the recent studies and data that are shifting admissions officers' preferences away from test optional at the top 100 colleges. Achievable is a modern test prep...

Looking to stand out in your college application? Getting a peer reviewed academic research project published can be a huge leg up over other applicants. 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 shares his playbook for finding, setting up, completing, and publishing an ac...

Steph Shyu is the founder of Admitsee - a crowdsourced database of college applications, including college applications, essays, and reviews from thousands of students. In this episode, Steph shares insights from Admitsee's platform data on the cultural differences between colleges, and then talks about how you can highlight any cultural alignment in your application to improve your chances for ad...

There is a big different between a good letter of recommendation and a great one that will actually get you into your top target school. Hamada Zahawi is the CEO and founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consultancy with a 93% success rate. In this episode, Hamada shares his step-by-step plan for getting impactful letters of recommendation. Achievable is a modern test prep platfor...

TikTok has a lot of college admissions essay advice lately, but how much of it is actually good advice? Robert Franklin is a writer and admissions consultant at Admissionado, a full service college admissions firm that guides students through the whole process. In this episode, Robert breaks down the different TikTok college essay trends that are going viral on the platform, including which ideas...

Your time spent preparing for the SAT and ACT can be a lot more effective if you follow good study practices. Travis Minor is the founder of Open Door Education, which has been helping students prepare for the SAT and ACT for over 10 years. In this episode, Travis shares his five core principles for SAT and ACT prep, with actionable implementation strategies for each one. Achievable is a modern te...

Going to college is exciting, but there's no tip sheet - that's why we made this episode. 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 that all high school students should hear before going to college, with a focus on the s...

Applying to CS or STEM undergraduate programs? Or just looking to maximize your application in general? 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 on how to make the most of every part of your college application, with specific tips for computer science (CS) and STEM...

How will the SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action change college admissions? Robert Franklin is a writer and admissions consultant at Admissionado, a full service college admissions firm that guides students through the whole process. In this episode, Robert shares his thoughts on the recent US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling that struck down most of affirmative action, including what affirmative act...

Getting ready for the college admissions process? This is a great place to start! Hamada Zahawi is the CEO and founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consultancy with a 93% success rate. In this episode, Hamada walks us through the process of creating your college list, including what and how to research, key culture fit things to look for, and how to structure your final list. Ach...

The new digital SAT is coming soon. Now that we've gotten more information from the College Board, we can answer some of your frequently asked questions. Travis Minor is the founder of Open Door Education, which has been helping students prepare for the SAT and ACT for over 10 years. In this episode, Travis walks you through the new digital SAT's format, content, adaptive nature, and more. Achieva...

People think about and apply to colleges primarily based on name brand, location, and legacy - but there's a lot more data out there that can help you make the right choice. 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 his concern...

With grade inflation, everyone taking a million extracurriculars, and more, how can students stand out from the crowd when applying to top STEM programs? Wes Carroll is the founder of Wes Carroll Tutoring, a top AMC tutoring firm in the US, and the author of Achievable's AMC 8 and AMC 10/12 courses. In this episode, Wes explains the landscape of admissions to today's top 10 STEM colleges (Stanford...

The college admissions landscape has changed dramatically in the past few years. Stephen Friedfeld is the cofounder of AcceptU, an admissions consulting firm since 2010 that only employes former admissions officers. In this mega-episode, Stephen talks us through many of the major changes in the college admissions landscape, specifically the spread of the Common App and test-optional policies, and...