college admissions

How to Navigate a College Deferred Admission Decision

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on April 8, 2025

When you apply to a college under early action or early decision, you can get back three responses: accepted, rejected, or deferred. Deferred means the college wants to review your application again with the regular decision applicants. It can be stressful, as you’ll have to play the waiting game, but here are some things you …

ACT & SAT

PSA: What Your PSAT Score Tells You and What It Means For You

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022

Approximately 3.6 million high school sophomores and juniors take the PSAT (preliminary SAT) each year. In addition to qualifying students for National Merit Scholarships, the test is also an indicator for college entrance exam preparedness. The test is administered each year in mid-October and score reports come out in December. The PSAT is meant to …

college applications

Your complete guide to the college application process

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on July 21, 2026

Key takeaways The college application process includes researching schools, submitting applications, applying for financial aid, and waiting for admissions decisions. Researching colleges early can help you build a good list of reach, match, and safety schools. Staying organized can help prevent you from missing important application deadlines. Strong essays, recommendation letters, and academic achievements can …

ACT & SAT

10 Tips to Help You Score Your Best on College Entrance Exams

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 13, 2025

The ACT and SAT aren’t tests where you can memorize and regurgitate the content. College entrance exams require specific techniques and preparation if you want to earn a top score. These 10 simple tips will help you score your best on the ACT or SAT. 1. Keep your cool. With adequate preparation, you can have …

questions & answers

How Can I Improve My Class Rank?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Class rank is one of the many elements of a college application. Along with GPA, ACT / SAT test scores, extracurricular activities, achievements, and others, class rank helps paint a picture of you as a student. Admissions officers want as much information as they can about a student so they can make the most informed …

questions & answers

What is Class Rank? And Why is it So Important?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

What is class rank? College Board defines it as: “a mathematical summary of a student’s academic record as compared with other students in her class”. In essence, class rank is a ranking of academic achievement for all the students in your school. Many—if not most—high schools have some form of a ranking system, though not …

questions & answers

I was Deferred from Early Decision—Now What?

By Morgan StaubLast updated on December 22, 2022

One of the most important decisions any student can make is whether or not to apply to a school Early Decision / Early Action. In many senses, the commitment of early decision is a double-edged sword; on one hand, it can end the application process earlier through an early acceptance, but on the other hand, …

questions & answers

What Does “Need-Blind Admissions” Mean?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

“Need Blind Admission” means that a student’s financial situation will not be taken into consideration when deciding to admit, wait-list, or deny an applicant. In other words, the student’s ability to pay for a college education is not a factor in whether or not they get in. Students are only reviewed based on their merit—GPA, …

myths

Myth: I’ve Been Accepted Into College! I Don’t Have a Thing to Worry About Now!

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Receiving an acceptance letter from a college you’re really excited to go to can be a euphoric moment! All the hard work, the studying, the applications, the ACT/SAT tests, it all boils down to that one “Congratulations! You’re In” moment. And you should celebrate that you got accepted! Grab some ice cream, splurge a little on …

myths

Myth: Attending a Private High School Will Increase My College Acceptance Odds

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

There are pros and cons of attending a private high school over a public one. However, increasing your college acceptance rate is not necessarily a factor these days. Let’s talk about why. What do colleges look for? Colleges look at a few key things in applications, largely your GPA, your standardized test scores, your experience, …