Taking Advantage of August

As back-to-school commercials have started, so have the questions about how to take advantage of August and approach the fall. Below are some tips and resources that will help you navigate the next month.

There is a New ACT!

The new ACT is now shorter with an optional science section. Jed Applerouth, the founder and president of Applerouth Tutoring, does a wonderful job of breaking down the new changes. You can read the entire article here, and we included some of their charts below.

Recently, we were lucky enough to have Jed Applerouth and his expertise on our podcast, where we discussed grade inflation and standardized testing. You can listen to it here:

NOT ALL A’S ARE EQUAL: GRADE INFLATION AND STANDARDIZED TESTING WITH DR. JED APPLEROUTH

Testing Changes in the Wind

Although most schools will remain test-optional for the upcoming application season, many Ivy Leagues along with CalTech, and University of Texas at Austin announced this past spring that they will now be requiring tests again. Additionally, schools like Vanderbilt and University of Wisconsin-Madison, will no longer be test-optional starting the fall of 2027. They are joining the likes of MIT, Georgetown, and Florida and Georgia public universities.

Although we don't know what the future holds, we imagine this will cause a ripple effect and more schools will continue to require tests again.

Click here to see a great updated list of SAT and ACT Policies and Score Ranges for over 400 Popular Colleges and Universities from Compass Education Group

Upcoming ACT and SAT Dates

Click here for the list of ACT and SAT Dates for 2024-2025

Visiting College Campuses

As students return to campuses in August and September, this is a great time to plan college visits. Tours fill up quickly, so it is important to plan accordingly and book ahead!

Why College, Why Academic Interest Essay?

Many admissions professionals say that they read the "Why School?" essay first. They want to see if you, as an applicant, truly know why you want to attend the school other than its excellent reputation, outstanding location, or world-renowned faculty.

Watch the video OR click here to read the full article.

Importance of a Clean Social Media Footprint

As social media, for better or for worse, continues to strongly impact our society, it's vital to be mindful of how you portray yourself--especially for the college, internship, job, etc. application process.

Below are two articles that emphasize this point:

6 Reasons You Should Clean Up Your Social Media Pages BEFORE College

Hey grads, clean up your social (media) life before you get to campus or your new job

Volunteer Opportunities

We are getting a lot of questions about volunteer opportunities. VolunteerCrowd is a great place to start.

And if you live in New Jersey and want to help with food insecurity, St. Joseph in Elizabeth is always looking for donations and volunteers.

Please contact Corey Wu-Jung, Food Director at St. Joseph Social Services, at cwujung@sjeliz.org

Our Visit to Yale

You can read about Lisa and Stefanie's experience at Yale in our most recent college blog here!

We are (GASP) Podcasters

You can listen here!

The College Bound Mentor Podcast is Here.

We did it. We started a podcast. And although this is a new and humbling adventure for us, we are getting the hang of it and excited to share it with all of you! If you enjoy hearing us helping others survive the college application process and beyond, please follow us, give us a review, and spread the word.

And if you have any topic ideas or would like to be a guest, please let us know because we would love to hear from you!

CBM Rising Seniors, Don't Forget to Sign up for Application Boot Camp!

We know that your time is limited, so we would like to jump-start or finalize your applications in a streamlined fashion. We will be available to answer questions and help you enter your activities into the Common Application and other apps with the goal of completing this by the end of the session. We are offering many sessions throughout August and September. Register below.

What's Happening Now

Rising Seniors:

Good luck as you work on your essays and applications. Remember, we are always here to help you.

Rising Juniors:

Take a deep breath and get ready for a challenging but hopefully exciting year. We are available to help you develop your summer plans, college list, and plans for the coming year.

Rising Sophomores and Freshmen:

Enjoy the rest of summer and the beginning of a new school year. We are ready to help you find your unique angle for success.

BOOK NOW

Now available in hardcover, paperback & Kindle versions!

Follow the journeys of eleven students as they navigate the college application process and search for the right fit schools. Getting into their heads as they make decisions about which extracurricular activities to pursue, which schools to apply to, and which topics to choose for their essays will help you think about your own process in a more strategic way. Order Here.

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