You're probably aware that most colleges have "gone test-optional" in recent years. In the next post, we'll discuss what that actually means. For now, let's talk about how the pandemic changed the way colleges use test scores and GPAs.

Colleges use test scores and GPA data to assess an applicant's "readiness" for their academic environment, not just raw "merit." This involves a process of "triangulation" using multiple data points. First, they look at your GPA - the strongest predictor of college success. They'll consider both your core academic GPA and your overall GPA to get a sense of your preparation. Next, they review your high school's profile to understand the rigor of your curriculum and how your GPA compares to peers. This contextual information helps them evaluate your readiness. Finally, your test score serves as a check on the GPA analysis. It can indicate whether you challenged yourself appropriately or if your grades don't fully reflect your abilities. By considering these factors together, rather than in isolation, colleges can make an educated guess about your likelihood of thriving on their campus. This "triangulation" is more art than science, but it's how they assess "readiness" over pure "merit."  The key takeaway is that test scores and GPA aren't just about ranking applicants. Colleges want to understand if you have the academic preparation to succeed, not just who "deserves" admission the most. As long as your scores contextualize your full application, they can be a helpful part of this evaluation.

The pandemic has radically transformed the standardized testing industry, breaking the long-standing dominance of high-stakes exams like the ACT. While testing isn't going away entirely, educators now have more flexibility to question the assumptions behind these assessments. This shift is reflected in the recent changes to the ACT itself. The test is scaling back, making the Science section optional and shortening the overall exam "to make the testing experience more manageable for students." The rationale reveals a key truth - ACT scores are largely a function of test preparation, not necessarily academic ability. Mastering the ACT is more about learning the test's idiosyncrasies than demonstrating higher-order skills. This is why colleges are increasingly moving towards "test-optional" policies. The ACT content doesn't strongly correlate with the knowledge and critical thinking needed to succeed in college. Scores have limited utility for admissions decisions beyond triangulating GPAs and high school profiles. For the ACT as a company, this presents a challenge. To stay relevant, they must prove the test provides colleges the data they need. The elimination of the Science section, for example, may be an attempt to make the exam more aligned with the curriculum. Ultimately, the evolution of the ACT signals a broader rethinking of standardized testing's role in higher ed. As the non-profit organization transitions to private ownership, the pressure to monetize and modernize the exam will only intensify. This could accelerate efforts by colleges to collectively develop "best practices" for using test scores. The goal will be ensuring these assessments genuinely reflect student readiness, not just test-taking prowess. It will be an interesting transition to watch unfold.

Gone are the days when you could simply plug your test scores and GPA into a matrix to predict college admissions odds. Post-pandemic, test data has become less reliable and colleges are questioning its value altogether. Grades, on the other hand, remain the top factor in admissions decisions. But interpreting those grades requires understanding the full context of your high school experience. There's a misconception that certain grading scales and weighting systems create inherent advantages. 4.0 vs. 4.0 weighted, letter grades vs. percentages, even "ungrading" systems - colleges know these are just different ways schools choose to evaluate student learning. The key is that grades only have meaning within the context of your particular high school. Colleges collect data on how students from your school have historically performed in college. They read your school profile closely, especially if many applicants come from there. So while grades are extremely important, colleges don't simply "rank" applicants by the numbers. They use that data, along with other application materials, to assess your overall "readiness" in a more holistic, contextual way. If there are any dips or anomalies in your transcript, you can provide that context in the Additional Information section or through your school counselor. Colleges recognize that the learning process is more important than perfection.  The bottom line is that your high school record needs to be understood in light of your unique circumstances and environment. Focus on developing your skills and knowledge, not just optimizing your GPA. That's what will truly prepare you for success in college.

With the loosening of high-stakes testing under ESSA, and the pandemic further disrupting standardized assessments, colleges are seeking new ways to evaluate applicants beyond just grades and test scores. Enter the rise of "experiential learning" - hands-on, project-based approaches that go beyond traditional classroom instruction. Things like internships, community-based research, and interdisciplinary "ungrading" programs are gaining traction. Colleges recognize these experiences develop crucial real-world skills like collaboration, independent work, and problem-solving. They signal an applicant's readiness to thrive on campus and contribute meaningfully. So if you've participated in these types of learning opportunities, be sure to highlight them in your application. Mention them in your Activities List or Additional Information section. Show how they've shaped your interests, skills, and personal growth.  Admissions teams will use this to complement your transcript and gauge your overall preparedness. And if your school district has profiled these offerings well, colleges will understand the unique value you can bring to their community. The bottom line is that experiential learning is becoming a key differentiator in a crowded applicant pool. Showcase these experiences to help admissions officers envision you as a successful, engaged student on their campus.

Colleges today aren't just looking for a long list of club memberships and positions. They want to see the real-world skills and experiences you've developed through your extracurriculars. Gone are the days of "gunning" for activities just to pad your resume. Admissions teams can spot that a mile away. Instead, they're looking for depth - how you've made a tangible impact through the things you're passionate about. On your application's Activities and Honors sections, focus on conveying your skills and accomplishments, not just titles. What did you actually do, and what did you deliver? Demonstrate your ability to organize, lead, and create change. And remember, extracurriculars aren't just school-based clubs. Anything you do outside the classroom that reveals your character, identity, and real-world responsibilities is fair game. Caring for family, creative hobbies, even a part-time job - these all speak to the qualities colleges value. The key is to show admissions officers how your experiences have shaped you as a person and prepared you for the academic and social demands of college. Don't just list your activities - let them see the impact you can have on their campus.

When writing resumes, we teach students to include a 2-3 sentence "Professional Statement" at the top. This concisely answers: Who you are What you're seeking Your key qualifications Relevant experiences Here are some examples: "I'm an aspiring medical student looking to learn medicine by mentoring with hospital professionals. I have STEM achievements and developed organizational skills in high-pressure environments."  "As an aspiring humanities scholar, I seek to mentor with professional researchers in archives. My humanities honors, STEM research skills, and independent project experience prepare me well." This framing transforms the resume from just a list to an argument for your fit. It guides what content to prioritize and how to present it strategically. In college apps, the Professional Statement can also serve as a thesis for your entire application. It succinctly conveys who you are, your goals, and your readiness. After completing your Activities and Honors, transform that information into a focused, compelling resume. This working document can then inform your college essays.

Somehow, The Supreme Court Both Abolished Affirmative Action and Gave Us a Roadmap for How to Create a Great College Application

It's the Game We Have To Play (For Now), But It Restricts a Student's Ability to Compete in the Financial Aid Marketplace

Not Submitting a Score Will Be Seen Like Pleading the Fifth

You Have to Have Experience to Get the Experience!

Test-Optional Admissions Led to Fewer Students Applying to Many More Schools, Shooting Their Shot at the Most Competitive Universities

Great College Essay Writing Needs Rich Detail and Personalized Insight To Stand Out From the Kind of Generic Essays That ChatGPT "Writes"

Storyboards Grapples with what the Supreme Court is Likely to Do to College Admissions Next June--And What It Means For Students

You're probably aware that most colleges have "gone test-optional" in recent years. In the next post, we'll discuss what that actually means. For now, let's talk about how the pandemic changed the way colleges use test scores and GPAs.

Colleges use test scores and GPA data to assess an applicant's "readiness" for their academic environment, not just raw "merit." This involves a process of "triangulation" using multiple data points. First, they look at your GPA - the strongest predictor of college success. They'll consider both your core academic GPA and your overall GPA to get a sense of your preparation. Next, they review your high school's profile to understand the rigor of your curriculum and how your GPA compares to peers. This contextual information helps them evaluate your readiness. Finally, your test score serves as a check on the GPA analysis. It can indicate whether you challenged yourself appropriately or if your grades don't fully reflect your abilities. By considering these factors together, rather than in isolation, colleges can make an educated guess about your likelihood of thriving on their campus. This "triangulation" is more art than science, but it's how they assess "readiness" over pure "merit."  The key takeaway is that test scores and GPA aren't just about ranking applicants. Colleges want to understand if you have the academic preparation to succeed, not just who "deserves" admission the most. As long as your scores contextualize your full application, they can be a helpful part of this evaluation.

The pandemic has radically transformed the standardized testing industry, breaking the long-standing dominance of high-stakes exams like the ACT. While testing isn't going away entirely, educators now have more flexibility to question the assumptions behind these assessments. This shift is reflected in the recent changes to the ACT itself. The test is scaling back, making the Science section optional and shortening the overall exam "to make the testing experience more manageable for students." The rationale reveals a key truth - ACT scores are largely a function of test preparation, not necessarily academic ability. Mastering the ACT is more about learning the test's idiosyncrasies than demonstrating higher-order skills. This is why colleges are increasingly moving towards "test-optional" policies. The ACT content doesn't strongly correlate with the knowledge and critical thinking needed to succeed in college. Scores have limited utility for admissions decisions beyond triangulating GPAs and high school profiles. For the ACT as a company, this presents a challenge. To stay relevant, they must prove the test provides colleges the data they need. The elimination of the Science section, for example, may be an attempt to make the exam more aligned with the curriculum. Ultimately, the evolution of the ACT signals a broader rethinking of standardized testing's role in higher ed. As the non-profit organization transitions to private ownership, the pressure to monetize and modernize the exam will only intensify. This could accelerate efforts by colleges to collectively develop "best practices" for using test scores. The goal will be ensuring these assessments genuinely reflect student readiness, not just test-taking prowess. It will be an interesting transition to watch unfold.

Gone are the days when you could simply plug your test scores and GPA into a matrix to predict college admissions odds. Post-pandemic, test data has become less reliable and colleges are questioning its value altogether. Grades, on the other hand, remain the top factor in admissions decisions. But interpreting those grades requires understanding the full context of your high school experience. There's a misconception that certain grading scales and weighting systems create inherent advantages. 4.0 vs. 4.0 weighted, letter grades vs. percentages, even "ungrading" systems - colleges know these are just different ways schools choose to evaluate student learning. The key is that grades only have meaning within the context of your particular high school. Colleges collect data on how students from your school have historically performed in college. They read your school profile closely, especially if many applicants come from there. So while grades are extremely important, colleges don't simply "rank" applicants by the numbers. They use that data, along with other application materials, to assess your overall "readiness" in a more holistic, contextual way. If there are any dips or anomalies in your transcript, you can provide that context in the Additional Information section or through your school counselor. Colleges recognize that the learning process is more important than perfection.  The bottom line is that your high school record needs to be understood in light of your unique circumstances and environment. Focus on developing your skills and knowledge, not just optimizing your GPA. That's what will truly prepare you for success in college.

With the loosening of high-stakes testing under ESSA, and the pandemic further disrupting standardized assessments, colleges are seeking new ways to evaluate applicants beyond just grades and test scores. Enter the rise of "experiential learning" - hands-on, project-based approaches that go beyond traditional classroom instruction. Things like internships, community-based research, and interdisciplinary "ungrading" programs are gaining traction. Colleges recognize these experiences develop crucial real-world skills like collaboration, independent work, and problem-solving. They signal an applicant's readiness to thrive on campus and contribute meaningfully. So if you've participated in these types of learning opportunities, be sure to highlight them in your application. Mention them in your Activities List or Additional Information section. Show how they've shaped your interests, skills, and personal growth.  Admissions teams will use this to complement your transcript and gauge your overall preparedness. And if your school district has profiled these offerings well, colleges will understand the unique value you can bring to their community. The bottom line is that experiential learning is becoming a key differentiator in a crowded applicant pool. Showcase these experiences to help admissions officers envision you as a successful, engaged student on their campus.

Colleges today aren't just looking for a long list of club memberships and positions. They want to see the real-world skills and experiences you've developed through your extracurriculars. Gone are the days of "gunning" for activities just to pad your resume. Admissions teams can spot that a mile away. Instead, they're looking for depth - how you've made a tangible impact through the things you're passionate about. On your application's Activities and Honors sections, focus on conveying your skills and accomplishments, not just titles. What did you actually do, and what did you deliver? Demonstrate your ability to organize, lead, and create change. And remember, extracurriculars aren't just school-based clubs. Anything you do outside the classroom that reveals your character, identity, and real-world responsibilities is fair game. Caring for family, creative hobbies, even a part-time job - these all speak to the qualities colleges value. The key is to show admissions officers how your experiences have shaped you as a person and prepared you for the academic and social demands of college. Don't just list your activities - let them see the impact you can have on their campus.

When writing resumes, we teach students to include a 2-3 sentence "Professional Statement" at the top. This concisely answers: Who you are What you're seeking Your key qualifications Relevant experiences Here are some examples: "I'm an aspiring medical student looking to learn medicine by mentoring with hospital professionals. I have STEM achievements and developed organizational skills in high-pressure environments."  "As an aspiring humanities scholar, I seek to mentor with professional researchers in archives. My humanities honors, STEM research skills, and independent project experience prepare me well." This framing transforms the resume from just a list to an argument for your fit. It guides what content to prioritize and how to present it strategically. In college apps, the Professional Statement can also serve as a thesis for your entire application. It succinctly conveys who you are, your goals, and your readiness. After completing your Activities and Honors, transform that information into a focused, compelling resume. This working document can then inform your college essays.

Somehow, The Supreme Court Both Abolished Affirmative Action and Gave Us a Roadmap for How to Create a Great College Application

It's the Game We Have To Play (For Now), But It Restricts a Student's Ability to Compete in the Financial Aid Marketplace

Not Submitting a Score Will Be Seen Like Pleading the Fifth

You Have to Have Experience to Get the Experience!

Test-Optional Admissions Led to Fewer Students Applying to Many More Schools, Shooting Their Shot at the Most Competitive Universities

Great College Essay Writing Needs Rich Detail and Personalized Insight To Stand Out From the Kind of Generic Essays That ChatGPT "Writes"

Storyboards Grapples with what the Supreme Court is Likely to Do to College Admissions Next June--And What It Means For Students