When approaching the ACT, it is important to consider the Essay section’s structure. This portion of the ACT asks students to consider multiple points of view. Thus, it is important to enter the ACT Essay section knowing what will be asked of you, in order to save time and jump directly into the task at hand. When preparing for the ACT Essay, be sure to understand the rubric, use concrete details as evidence, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of your position. First, let's talk about the prompt itself. Here is a sample prompt on the topic of intelligent machines. Read on to learn how to prepare for this particular ACT Ess ...Read More About How to Prepare for the ACT Essay

Navigating financial aid options can be one of the most daunting parts of applying to college. Yet, it’s often a necessary part of the application process, whether or not you need help paying for college through financial aid. Some financial aid tips for students include understanding how you apply for aid and identifying what kinds of loans are offered, as well as making sure you are educated on all financial aid opportunities available to you. The various financial aid options for students include: Loans - money that must be paid back Scholarships - money that must be earned through some kind of qualifying factor Work-s ...Read More About 4 Financial Aid Tips for Students

It’s common for students to jump into four years of college immediately following their high school graduation. In contrast, however, a growing number of recent high school grads are choosing to take a “gap year,” otherwise known as a year off from their formal education before college. After being accepted into college, students might ask themselves, “Should I take a gap year?” Scenarios where a student perhaps should take a gap year include wanting time off to get volunteering experience, search for a job or an internship, or travel to see the world. It is important to make sure if you do take a gap year for on ...Read More About Should I Take a Gap Year?

As you prepare to take the PSAT, it is good to have a broader context in which you may view your PSAT score. First, it’s important to be aware that you’ll get your PSAT score back in a few different ways. An average PSAT score is made up of several different scores, such as your total score, section scores for Math, Reading, and Writing and Language sections, and your Selection Index. Looking at the combination of scores, it may initially be difficult to determine how well you did on the PSAT. Once you understand how the PSAT is scored, you’ll have an easier time determining an average PSAT score, and seeing where you fall o ...Read More About What is an Average PSAT Score?

Wondering how you can save both time and money when it comes to getting a college degree? All it takes is a little extra effort during your high school years—this effort includes the CLEP exam. The College Board administers the CLEP, or “College Level Examination Program,” exams, most of which correspond with one-semester college courses. For $80, high school students may sign up to take one or more of the 33 available 90- to 120-minute CLEP exams at a testing center. If they earn a qualifying score on an exam and end up studying at one of the 2,900 colleges that accept CLEP exams, they will receive college credit. While th ...Read More About How to Prepare for CLEP Exams