Many elite schools saw a dramatic increase in applications, especially early applications, with Princeton up 18 percent and Columbia, Duke, Dartmouth, and Cornell reporting the largest early application pools in their histories.All Ivy League institutions and many other selective colleges have released their early admissions stats*. We've compiled them below and will continue to update the numbers applying to, and accepted by, these elite institutions.

The benefit of early SAT preparation has never been higher. Students who get down to the business of college planning well before the usual "crunch time" have a heaping advantage in the college admissions game and will likely have more educational options as they investigate college programs. Traditionally, guidance counselors meet with students in January or February of their 11th grade year (usually after the seniors have finished their January applications). By this time, a large percentage of junior year grades are in, and many students have missed out on taking courses that could burnish their college resumes.

Before a student even begins the college search, he or she will have to deal with things like taking college preparation classes in advanced mathematics and language arts, including foreign languages, visiting college fairs and college campuses, and determining a course of university study. The list offered here is the result of experience with thousands of  college-bound students and their parents who have been through the process. We hope that, as you apply to college and then bask in the joy of college acceptance, you'll see the process as a journey that is manageable -- and maybe even enjoyable -- with the right resources.  

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Though many colleges are going "optional", a student who CAN post a score that's above the college's median should test. A score that helps you is better than a "no-score", so unless you have a 4.0 (a perfect GPA) a good ACT or SAT is increasing your chances for admission and increasing your PARENTS' chances for scholarship

Children respond well to various types of incentives and encouragement and a great majority of them enjoy being creative. So, how can we use this trait of theirs to reach the result we strive for?

Since we have all been there, from a more mature point and with the experience we accumulated, we can now try to help our offspring develop a genuine interest in chemistry and consequently, have no problem dealing with their homework and tests.

From a young age, students are told how important it is to score well on the SAT and ACT. Achieving high standardized test scores can be the difference between getting into a great school or settling for a safety option. Yet test scores are not the only criteria for admissions officers. The term "well-rounded" is often used to describe the ideal candidate for a college’s incoming class. If you want to stand out among other students vying for a spot at a top school, take the following steps to look more appealing.

Students preparing to attend college can often get confused by the test-optional policies at certain college and universities. When a student takes the SAT or ACT, it becomes a question how college admission boards use those scores to determine whether a student is considered a worthy candidate.