Visiting colleges is one of the most exciting parts of the application process; it is your chance to step onto campus, observe, and imagine yourself there for the next four years. But amid the tours, info sessions, and stops to grab coffee, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Essential College Coaches have helped hundreds of students navigate this journey. We know that a well-planned tour can turn a campus visit into a goldmine of insights.

When families start building a college list, a few buzzwords almost always pop up: Ivy League, flagship, honors college, and lately, Public Ivy. The term sounds impressive, and it is, but it’s also widely misunderstood. So, let’s break down what “Public Ivy” means, where the idea came from, and whether these schools are better than other public research universities.

If you have had a bumpy high school year or consistently struggled in one subject, here is the best approach to addressing it on your college application. First, you need to be honest with yourself and admissions. Describe your situation concisely, focusing your how you have grown from the setback, improved your study habits, and displayed resilience by overcoming the circumstances.

Essential College Coaches has created a 4-year high school plan to prepare you. This plan will show you how to build a strong academic record, participate in meaningful extracurriculars, find real-world shadowing/internships, and enriching summer programs to build a strong college application for acceptance to competitive undergraduate business programs.

For decades, Early Decision  has been the secret weapon of America’s most selective colleges to lock in applicants before they see other...

Want to raise your SAT Reading score? Start by doing something simple but powerful: read more. Here’s the truth: the SAT and ACT Reading...

Myth vs. Reality Myth #1: Admissions is purely numbers-driven. Reality:  Numbers DO matter; they open the door. But once the door opens,...

Tell us your story. This is the most common advice high school seniors are given as to how to craft their college essay. The internet is...

Understanding the role of guidance counselors in writing college recommendations is crucial for students who are applying to colleges....

VUCA, a term originally created by the US Army, has gained popularity in the business world and aptly describes the new world our...

During the recent pandemic, the “test optional” choice for college admissions became popular very quickly. For a short time, it was not...

Congratulations! College Decision Day on May 1st is right around the corner and your student has multiple Acceptance Offers. Here are...

As the college admissions process for the class of 2023 winds down, it’s clear to see that the landscape of college admissions has...

At Essential College Coaches we help our students identify their academic strengths and extracurricular interests and “play to those”...

Early this year College Board announced that it plans to introduce a new digital SAT in the United States in 2024. So, no more filling in...

During the early pandemic panic, colleges moved to a test optional policy during the to keep application numbers strong, but this had...

The Common Application provides ten spaces for you to list all your activities including sports, clubs, music, volunteer service, jobs,...

If you are considering applying to a college test-optional by not submitting the SAT or ACT, you will be more heavily evaluated on your...

Every January we look back over the last year’s college application season to review our student’s results and plan for the future. While...

What a question! And, how as a parent, do you decide if your student is “College Ready” after more than a year of interrupted, remote...