All Questions & Answers Articles

A black and white open textbook with a red background, with text overlayed that says "what is academic rigor?"
questions & answers

What is Academic Rigor and Why is it So Important?

Simply put, rigor is the academic or intellectual challenge of a class. The more difficult the class, the more rigorous it is. More often than not, academic rigor does not refer to a single class, but a number of them within a student’s schedule. Rigor is more than just “how difficult a class is” however, …
A chalkboard with text that says "questions to ask at college freshman orientation" with two question marks on the side.
questions & answers

Questions to Ask at Orientation: A Checklist for Students and Parents (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Orientation covers a lot of information, and you may end up forgetting to ask some important questions during the session. So we’ve created a printable checklist of questions to ask at college freshman orientation to take with you–one for parents and one for students! Orientation speakers will likely cover many of these questions, but just …
Should you hire a college essay coach?
questions & answers

Should I Hire a College Essay Coach?

There aren’t many rising high school seniors who enjoy the process of writing the college essay, but, let’s face it, it is a necessary evil. Happily, you don’t need to go it alone on the journey to write your college essay. But how much help should you have? How much is too much? Should you …
How does early decision and financial aid interact with each other?
questions & answers

Should You Apply Early Decision or Early Action When Financial Aid Matters?

Many students and families make difficult decisions when choosing whether to apply Early Decision or Early Action. Particularly, what kind of financial commitment are you making by applying during one of these windows? What if the college doesn’t offer you enough financial aid to make it an affordable option? How does the relationship between early …
A pair of glasses sitting on top of a journal.
questions & answers

How Many Times Should I Take the ACT or SAT?

First: There is no magic number for how many times a student should take the ACT or SAT. For some students, taking the test once may be enough. Others may need to take the test twice or even three times. There are no penalties for taking the tests multiple times or choosing to take both …
A student writing in a notebook with an orange pen.
questions & answers

Should I Take IB Classes in High School? How to Determine if International Baccalaureate Courses Are Right For You

International Baccalaureate, or IB, classes, are a bit like AP classes, but not entirely. It depends on a lot of factors if you should take an IB class in high school. We’ll highlight those factors below. Students may be confused when they have the opportunity to choose between IB and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Here …
Students in a marching band lined up, holding their instruments.
questions & answers

How Many Extracurricular Activities Should I Be Doing? Is More, More? Or Is More, Less?

A common conversation I have with prospective students and families is related to extracurricular activities. Parents rightfully boast about their child’s involvement with this, that, and the other. Meanwhile, the student worries that they either doing too much or not enough. The latter thought from the student can become a troubling one as it causes …
This diagram shows the process of applying to a college early action and the possible outcomes.
questions & answers

Is Early Action Right for Me?

Early action is an admissions process available at some schools that allows students to apply before the general application deadline of January 1st. While it definitely has some benefits for students who choose to apply early, it’s not right for everyone. So is early action worth it for you? We help you answer that question …

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