If college is the foundation for the career path of your child’s choice, high school is the soft skills training for success in college and beyond. Though filled with academic challenges, these four years help your child develop healthy habits, a sense of responsibility, and networking skills. Every course they take and extracurricular they participate in builds a stronger college profile that tells college admissions teams why your child is a good fit for their school.
What Does High School Experience Tell Colleges?
The courses your child takes throughout high school can show a student’s academic strengths, interests, and passions. They should work with their school guidance counselor or a college counselor to create a schedule that plays to their strengths. If your child already knows what major they want to pursue in undergrad, their guidance counselor can recommend courses that will prepare them for that path.
During the application process, when your child’s guidance counselor sends transcripts to your child’s chosen schools, they’ll include a note or letter explaining the high school’s grading scale, available course offerings, and other information to provide context for your child’s course choices.
Colleges seek students who challenged themselves academically by taking rigorous courses. At most high schools, the most rigorous courses available are Advanced Placement (AP®) courses. While it’s well known that these courses are attractive to admissions teams, most aren’t sure why. The answer is what they represent.
Because AP courses are more challenging than regular or honors level high school courses, your child has to be more engaged in their education. They show your child is willing to go above and beyond the minimum while demonstrating they can handle more coursework. Taking courses in a specific subject area also speaks to their interests which can be helpful if they’re applying to colleges with major requirements.
For example, Howard University has major specific requirements for those applying to their Studio Art, Theatre Arts, Music and Architecture and Design programs. Taking an AP Art and Design course can add to your child’s profile and build their creative portfolio.
Depending on where your child goes to school, they may have International Baccalaureate (IB) programs instead of AP courses. The challenges posed by IB courses are similar to those of AP courses but on a global scale. These programs promote critical thinking, accountability, respect, and independence. With an intercultural approach to education, their goal is to foster a more peaceful and compassionate world. Colleges recognize both IB and AP courses as evidence of academic rigor.
Why Are Humanities Required in High School?
Many of the nation’s top colleges, including the Ivy league colleges, are liberal arts colleges. They offer a broad curriculum to encourage intellectual curiosity, foster free thinking, and produce well-rounded graduates with a broad base of knowledge.
Humanities classes — like history, foreign languages, literature, etc. — give your child general knowledge of the world around them while developing soft skills like critical thinking, research, and creativity. These classes teach students to make connections and draw parallels between seemingly unrelated information. They make students think critically and form their own opinions on complex issues rather than accepting a singular viewpoint.
One of the main reasons for including humanities in the high school curriculum is to produce well rounded individuals. While math and science are important, they offer a more practical approach to education. Humanities courses give a more holistic approach to learning by exposing students to different subjects, theoretical concepts, voices, and perspectives. These traits are valued even at colleges that specialize in science- and math-based fields.
Studying humanities also helps students develop empathy and understanding towards different cultures and perspectives. Studying different languages and literature from around the world gives a much deeper appreciation for different cultures, beliefs and ways of life. Colleges value a background in the humanities as they seek to build diverse and cooperative campus communities.
Do Extracurriculars Matter to Admissions Teams?
Yes they do.
While your child’s academic performance is of the utmost importance in college admissions decisions, colleges aren’t just admitting students: they are admitting people. Extracurriculars show who your child is outside of the classroom and what matters to them. Volunteering at a homeless shelter or an animal shelter shows they care about giving back to their community. Creating or joining a photography club shows they have passion for art and are willing to take their professional development into their own hands. All of these activities give admissions teams a look into the person behind the application.
Being in multiple extracurriculars while keeping good grades shows your child can manage their commitments. Plus, they can differentiate your child from other applicants who may have similar academic backgrounds. Admissions teams look for students who can bring diverse and unique perspectives to their campus community.
Extracurriculars also give students an opportunity to develop important life skills like time management, teamwork, and problem solving. These are highly valued by admissions teams as it shows the student can juggle multiple responsibilities and adapt to new situations.
What Does It Mean When Colleges Admit by Major, College, or Division?
When a college admits by major, they are looking for applicants who have strong performance in courses, extracurriculars, or activities related to it. They do this to gauge your child’s preparedness for what could be a high demand major including but not limited to:
- Nursing
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Biology
- Business
- Communication
- Psychology
These majors can give your child more career flexibility and higher earning potential in the future. By admitting by major, colleges are looking for students who are genuinely passionate and committed to their chosen field of study. This can improve student performance and increase their chances of actually completing the program.
Others may be admitted by college or division, meaning they will consider applicants based on the specific school or department they are applying to within the university. For example, instead of applying to a specific engineering major at Cornell, your child would need to apply to their College of Engineering when filling out the application. Schools like Cornell may have additional requirements for each school or department so it’s best to check the school’s policy before submitting the application.
Just because some majors are more popular than others doesn’t mean your child shouldn’t apply if they are genuinely passionate about the subject. If your child is considering an alternative major, they should choose one based on their interests and not because they think their application isn’t strong enough. At 宝博体育, we can help them build a competitive college application based on both their academic and career goals.
Build Your College Profile With 宝博体育 Education
We know the college application process can be overwhelming for students and parents. That’s why we have a comprehensive program to help students build their college profile.
Our tutors will work with your child to develop their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Our guidance counselors will also help build a well-rounded profile by guiding your child to choose extracurriculars and leadership positions that match their interests and goals. Additionally, our AP, SAT®, and ACT® prep programs can help increase your child’s test scores to make them an even more competitive applicant.
Don’t let fear of not being good enough stop your child from applying to their dream major. With 宝博体育 Education’s support, your child can apply to their top choice colleges and get in.
Start building your child’s college profile today with 宝博体育 Education.
College Textbooks Cost WHAT?
MISCELLANEOUS864%. That’s how much the cost of college textbooks has increased since 1978.
According to the College Board, the average student spends $1,200 per year on textbooks. Note the word “average,” suggesting that about half of students will spend more (sometimes significantly more) than that. That’s about 14% of the tuition and fees at a public four year college. That’s a sizable chunk of change.
This isn’t exactly news. Almost a decade ago, the Government Accountability Office released a report stating that “college textbook prices have risen at double the rate of inflation.” The report was apparently ignored by most, as college textbook prices have continued to rise at an insane rate.
Part of the problem with college textbook prices is a lack of competition, which is also felt in the K-12 textbook market. Just as “The Big Three” (Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) control the K-12 publishing industry, the college textbook industry is also dominated by a small handful of giant publishers (including The Big Three).
But another part of the problem is that the students who purchase these books have no choice in the matter. If the professor says, “Buy this book,” you sort of have to buy that particular book. Students don’t get to shop around to see if maybe textbook A is better than textbook B. They are a captive market.
No, when it comes to college textbooks, the purchaser doesn’t actually get to make a choice. The person making the choice is the professor, who doesn’t have to pay for the textbook and therefore doesn’t have to care how much it costs. Unless, of course, that professor is the author of a textbook, in which case he cares very much how much it costs because he gets a nice little royalty from every student who buys it. (And most professors are not nearly as nice as this New York Times Op/Ed contributor, who reimbursed his students for the royalties he earned by assigning his own textbook for class.)
Thus we have a situation in which prices keep rising, and students keep buying. What can you do about it?
Do not buy your books at the campus bookstore.
Yes, it’s convenient. It’s also incredibly over-priced. You may need to buy some smaller items at the campus bookstore – like packets printed by professors for specific classes – but most textbooks can be purchased far cheaper elsewhere. Don’t waste your money.
Do not buy brand new books.
Guess what? Books don’t generally expire. They don’t get stinky (in fact, I rather enjoy “old book smell”). Unless your professor absolutely insists that you have to have the newest edition that JUST CAME OUT THIS YEAR, buy a used copy of the book. (And even when the professor does insist, you can often get away with using a slightly older edition with little inconvenience. They don’t generally change that much.) Get the ISBN for the book and search on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, book.ly, or half.com.
Rent the book.
Face it – your textbook will not be such a page turner that you return to it again and again to reread its beloved dog-eared pages. You’ll never look at the thing again. So why not rent your textbooks? Business Insider has a list of 7 sites that provide textbook rental or swapping services. It’s definitely an option worth checking out.
Price compare.
You do research and compare prices when you’re buying a computer, a car, or other big purchases. Why wouldn’t you do the same for textbooks? Shop around. Compare prices. And if you find that too onerous, use a comparison tool like SlugBooks or BIGWORDS to do the legwork for you.
Go digital.
Thanks to the internet, textbooks can also be found online. Taking an English Lit course? Lots of those classic pieces of literature are available for free at Project Gutenberg. And for other courses, check out a service like CourseSmart, created by five big textbook publishers to provide less expensive e-book formats of popular textbooks.
The library is your friend.
Many colleges provide copies of textbooks at the library. City and county libraries also often carry copies of some textbooks. A caveat: Those copies go fast, so you have to be the first one through the door to take advantage of this freebie.
Borrow or swap textbooks.
Students who took the course last semester will be more than happy to lend, sell (cheaply), or swap textbooks. Like you, they don’t need that bulky overpriced book hanging out in their dorm room. Check campus bulletins, Craigslist, and online marketplaces to find other students willing to lend, sell, or swap their books.
Sell those books back.
I love books. I love owning books. I have shelves and shelves and shelves of books. So I get the impulse to hang onto any book you’ve spent money on. But when it comes to college textbooks, unless it’s a book related to your major that you think you’ll need to reference again and again, don’t cling to the book. Sell it. And don’t sell it to the campus bookstore, where they’ll give you a tiny fraction of what you paid. Sell it through some of the used book vendors mentioned above.
When Can You Take the SAT in 2025?
HIGH SCHOOL, SAT, TEST PREP, Test PrepStaying on top of the 2025 SAT® test dates helps your child create an ideal timeline for the upcoming school year. Once they know when they should finalize their scores, they can work backwards to determine the best SAT test date for their needs. They can go back even further to decide when they should begin SAT prep to further maximize their time on test day.
The SAT is typically offered in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December for a total of seven test dates throughout the year. While, generally, the spring is the most popular time to take this exam, your child may find a summer date better suits their needs.
Before delving too deeply into factors your child should consider before choosing their test date, let’s first examine the anticipated 2025 and 2026 test dates.
Confirmed 2025-26 SAT Test Dates
As of January 2025, not all of the upcoming test dates have been listed, but you can find a chart of the released dates below.
Aug. 23, 2025*TBDTBD
*Anticipated test dates
While not all of the dates are confirmed, there is generally a 16-day window between the registration date and the actual test date. There’s also a 4-day window between the regular registration date and the late registration date. If your child applies during late registration or has to cancel during the change deadline, there will be a small fee.
If your child plans on borrowing a device from the College Board, they must register and request their device at least 30 days before their test date. If your child is testing with accommodations such as extended time, you’ll need College Board approval before you register. Since it can take up to seven weeks to receive approval, submit a request early to make the registration process as smooth as possible.
When Is the Best Time to Take the SAT?
The best time to take the SAT depends on when your child plans to finalize their test scores.
At 宝博体育 Education, we generally recommend taking the SAT in the spring of your child’s junior year as it gives your child enough time to learn the material they’ll need to do well on the exam at a comfortable pace. If your child wants to dedicate time solely on their SAT prep with minimal school-related obligations, we also recommend taking the SAT in the summer between their junior and senior years.
Although those are our general recommendations, we understand each child has their own timeline for when they want to finalize their scores and apply for college.
Many students begin SAT preparation before junior year, giving them ample time to meet their score goals. However, official test scores earned before junior year are generally less helpful in bolstering students’ college applications. Colleges prefer to see more recent scores as an indicator of the student’s present abilities. For example, Carnegie Mellon University specifically encourages scores from 11th or 12th grade since they better demonstrate the student’s skills upon entering college.
Some students may find themselves on the opposite end of that spectrum, and don’t take the SAT until fall of their senior year. Waiting this late leaves little room for mistakes if they plan to submit their college applications in the spring.
When Should You Take the SAT for the First Time?
If your child hasn’t taken the PSAT™ 10 or PSAT/NMSQT®, we generally recommend taking the SAT for the first time in the fall or winter of junior year. Taking the exam at least once before the spring gives your child time to adjust to testing conditions and material. They can use this time to work through their nerves, see their strengths, and form a plan to help them earn their target score the next time.
There’s a chance they can earn their desired score the first time they take the exam. If so, they can spend the spring working on their college essays and applications.
How Many Times Should You Take the SAT?
Generally, we recommend taking the SAT at least twice because it gives your child space to work through their nerves and adjust to the digital test without stressing about earning a perfect score the first time. If your child has taken the PSAT or an SAT prep program that works practice in testing environments into its curricula, they may be able to earn their desired score the first time around.
How Late Can You Take the SAT?
The latest your child can take the SAT is the fall of their senior year, but we don’t recommend waiting this late. Their senior year is already jam-packed with finalizing college essays, submitting college applications, coursework, extracurricular activities, and making time for friends they may not see after graduation. Adding SAT prep and the stress of doing well basically on the first try could negatively impact their performance.
When Should You Start Studying for the SAT?
The amount of time students need to prepare for the SAT depends largely on their starting skill level. Students who have broad knowledge gaps will need longer to reach their goals than students who begin SAT prep with a firm foundation in place.
Students should plan to spend a minimum of three months focused on intensive SAT prep, though many benefit from longer-term preparation. This provides the time needed to adjust to the digital SAT’s adaptive format, skills being tested, testing conditions, and more.
At 宝博体育 Education, we adjust our curricula to your child’s current needs and long-term goals. We teach them invaluable test-taking strategies to help them quickly increase their chances of choosing the right answer when facing higher level material. We immerse them in the same testing conditions they’ll experience on test day, so they know exactly what to expect when taking the SAT.
Plan Ahead with 宝博体育 Education
From our summer boot camp to our Digital SAT Prep program, we have a program that can help your child earn their ideal score on their preferred timeline. Ready to help your child feel confident on test day?
Visit a 宝博体育 center near you or call us at 888-312-3814 to learn more.
Does High School Prepare You for the ACT and SAT?
ACT, HIGH SCHOOL, SAT, TEST PREP, Test PrepPreparing for the ACT® and SAT® can be overwhelming for students and parents. These tests are a chance for your child to show they’re ready for higher education. But understanding what these tests measure and how to prepare can be tough, especially with the switch to digital formats.
High school does lay the foundation, but it often doesn’t provide the individualized support and targeted practice many students need to excel. That’s where ACT and SAT prep programs come in – they offer customized solutions to help students fill gaps, build confidence and develop the strategies to succeed.
What Do the ACT and SAT Measure?
The ACT and SAT measure your child’s readiness for higher ed by testing their adaptability. Rather than memorization, they test how well your child can apply their knowledge to familiar and unfamiliar content. Each section of the ACT and SAT tests your child’s foundational knowledge so college admissions teams can get a better sense of how they’d perform in college.
If we step back and look at the sections of the ACT and SAT objectively, we’ll see they’re targeting soft skills we use every day. Essentially, the English section of both tests measures your child’s mastery of the English language by testing their:
These sections test your child’s written communication skills and how well they can think. The reading and writing sections are designed to test your child’s critical thinking, logical reasoning, and comprehension. They also test your child’s ability to make inferences across genres and subjects to form their own opinion. The math section requires your child to draw conclusions and to solve problems using mathematical formulas.
The science section isn’t required for the digital ACT, but if your child is planning to major in STEM, we highly recommend they take it since it tests their scientific reasoning and ability to analyze data sets.
In short, both the ACT and SAT test how well your child can adapt to familiar and unfamiliar situations using the knowledge and skills they have now.
What Does High School Do for ACT and SAT Prep?
Although the ACT and SAT test soft skills, they also require some level of academic knowledge. This is where high school comes in. During their freshman and sophomore years your child will likely take:
Some schools may go a step further and include ACT and SAT prep in their curriculum, but this alone isn’t enough to fully prepare your child for the tests. High school teachers have limited time to teach 20, or even 30 students, at once. They can’t always provide the individualized support and attention your child needs to reach their full potential, especially if they’re applying to more competitive schools.
Enrolling your child in an outside ACT prep or SAT prep program can help fill the gaps high school leaves.
How Do ACT and SAT Prep Programs Fill in the Gaps?
ACT and SAT prep programs are designed to prepare your child for the test of their choice. With smaller class sizes and, in some cases one-on-one sessions, your child can progress towards their goals at their own pace. These programs can be tailored to their strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
Your child can ask questions and get feedback in real-time from subject matter experts without worrying about holding up the rest of the class. These low-stakes, focused learning environments give your child the space to practice different test taking strategies, learn from their mistakes in a stress-free environment, and spend more time on their weaknesses.
Their tutors can also offer emotional support on days when your child feels lost, stuck, or just having a bad day. They can tailor each session to your child’s needs so they’re always making the most of each session. They also know what scores will give your child an edge when applying to competitive colleges.
This extra support will help your child blossom and improve both their confidence and scores.
Reduce Test Day Anxiety with ACT and SAT Prep
The mental and emotional impact of the ACT and SAT on your child shouldn’t be underestimated.
At 宝博体育 Education, our ACT and SAT prep programs can remove the unknown from test day. This can be a big relief on what’s already a stressful day that tests your child’s endurance, problem solving under pressure, and adaptability. Even high achieving students can crack under the pressure of these tests without enough practice.
While, yes, both the digital ACT and SAT have been shortened from their paper versions but this can introduce new stressors. The shorter format helps students stay focused, but fewer questions means every question counts even more. At 宝博体育, we’ll help your child tackle each question with ease.
By simulating test conditions during our practice sessions, your child can get used to the digital format, pacing, and question types. They’ll get experience with the timer while still focusing on accuracy and leveraging test-taking strategies to perform their best on test day.
As your child works through full length practice tests they’ll learn strategies to handle tough questions, manage their time wisely, and stay calm under pressure. This consistent exposure will turn the test into a familiar challenge rather than an unknown monster.
Regular practice with 宝博体育 can help turn any uncertainty your child may feel into confidence. Give your child the confidence and skill to perform their best with 宝博体育! Call us at 844-349-4853 or find a center near you to get started.
15 Top Summer Programs Still Accepting Applications in 2025
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSTop Summer Programs for High School Students
Leadership Initiatives
Leadership Initiatives partners with outstanding high school students to gain real-world experience, explore future careers, and develop critical skills to create the next generation of leaders worldwide. Summer internships impact the lives of students and the individuals they are partnered with. Start an internship with a business in the developing world, work with an attorney on an impending court case of national importance, develop anti-terrorism security strategies, or partner with a doctor to diagnose patients in sub-Saharan Africa.
West Point’s Summer Leaders Experience
A week-long immersion in academic, military, and social life ideal for those students considering applying to West Point, the Summer Leaders Experience program is highly competitive. Applications are open to high school juniors.
Brown University’s Pre-College Summer Programs
Brown University offers a wide variety of programs, including both online and on-campus courses in many subject areas. Additionally, other Brown programs provide both domestic and international travel opportunities. Although some programs are open to students in 10th grade and below, most are limited to juniors.
Columbia University’s Summer Programs for High School Students
Columbia University offers domestic and international immersion programs that are ideal for exceptional high school students seeking intensive summer programs. Additionally, the university offers the opportunity for students to take credit-bearing classes alongside undergraduate students.
Cornell University’s Summer College
Cornell offers programs ranging from three to six weeks in length in a wide variety of subject areas. These programs offer college credit, and many of them are open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Washington University in St. Louis’s Summer Experiences
Washington University in St. Louis offers summer experiences for middle and high school students. The High School Scholars Program offers college credit while the High School Institutes and the Middle School Challenge programs do not.
University of Southern California’s Summer Programs
USC offers non-credit-bearing 2-week classes and credit-bearing 4-week programs in a wide variety of subject areas. Many class options are already full, so be sure to apply soon.
Harvard University’s Secondary School Program
Harvard offers highly competitive 7-week programs that can be taken online or on-campus. These programs offer college credit and the opportunity to experience life as a Harvard student.
Carnegie Mellon University’s Summer Pre-College
Open to rising juniors and seniors, Carnegie Mellon’s pre-college programs offer programs in the arts and credit-bearing Advanced Placement/Early Admission courses.
SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) Pre-College Summer Programs
SCAD offers weeklong seminars for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors and the opportunity for rising seniors to enroll in two college courses while experiencing life as a SCAD student.
Marist Summer Institutes
This program is geared toward rising juniors and seniors. Students earn college credits in one of several academic areas. Marist offers programs in New York and Italy.
PROMYS (Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists)
Boston University offers this six-week residential program for gifted high school math students who want to explore the creative side of math.
University of Chicago’s Summer Programs for High School Students
The University of Chicago offers several 3- and 4-week immersion programs open only to high school students. These programs are offered at the University of Chicago campus and at campuses in Beijing, Bengaluru, and Hong Kong. The University of Chicago also offers the opportunity to enroll in summer courses or to explore partnership programs.
George Washington University’s Pre-College Program
GWU offers credit-bearing college intensive programs for rising juniors and seniors and noncredit immersive programs for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. They are available in a wide variety of subject areas, ranging from the arts to STEM.
Barnard College
Barnard offers 1- to 4-week programs in a wide variety of program areas ranging from entrepreneurship to dance, allowing students to experience life in New York City.
Smith College
Students who enroll in these intensive learning programs not only get an invaluable immersive learning experience but also get a faculty recommendation to bolster their college applications.
What Summer Program Is Right For Me?
If you’re having trouble figuring out which program will best fit your needs, 宝博体育 can help.
Second Semester Reset: You Ask, We Answer
Resources, School, STUDY SKILLSA second-semester reset is the perfect opportunity to build habits that will help you finish the school year even stronger. Parents and students often ask about the best strategies, so we’ve compiled answers to a few of the most common questions. Take a look!
Is an A in a regular class better than a B in an AP® class?
While this may not be the answer you were looking for, an A in an AP® class is the right answer! It’s important to understand your limitations with schoolwork and extracurricular activities. When creating your class schedule, be realistic about what you can handle. Since a strong GPA is imperative to admission to top colleges, it’s better to ace a few AP® classes than to struggle through many.
When should I start preparing for AP® exams?
Many students wait to start preparing for AP® exams until April, but don’t let that be you! Students getting 4s and 5s on their exams put in the work all year long and really start prepping for the exams in February or March. It’s especially important to start exam prep early if there is a specific class you’re struggling in. When it comes to test prep, the earlier the better!
What are ways that students can cope with too much homework from school?
This is a great question. While it’s not possible to reduce the amount of schoolwork, the best option is to implement study strategies that increase efficiency. 宝博体育 can help by working with students to create a personalized study plan based on the student’s needs and academic timeline.
Start preparing for a successful semester with 宝博体育!
Whether you’re aiming to boost your GPA, tackle AP® exams, or master time management, 宝博体育 Education is here to help. Contact your local 宝博体育 center today to get started on a personalized plan designed for your unique needs and academic goals. Don’t wait—your strongest semester yet starts here!
Click here to find a 宝博体育 center near you.
Does High School Prepare Your Child for College?
MISCELLANEOUSIf college is the foundation for the career path of your child’s choice, high school is the soft skills training for success in college and beyond. Though filled with academic challenges, these four years help your child develop healthy habits, a sense of responsibility, and networking skills. Every course they take and extracurricular they participate in builds a stronger college profile that tells college admissions teams why your child is a good fit for their school.
What Does High School Experience Tell Colleges?
The courses your child takes throughout high school can show a student’s academic strengths, interests, and passions. They should work with their school guidance counselor or a college counselor to create a schedule that plays to their strengths. If your child already knows what major they want to pursue in undergrad, their guidance counselor can recommend courses that will prepare them for that path.
During the application process, when your child’s guidance counselor sends transcripts to your child’s chosen schools, they’ll include a note or letter explaining the high school’s grading scale, available course offerings, and other information to provide context for your child’s course choices.
Colleges seek students who challenged themselves academically by taking rigorous courses. At most high schools, the most rigorous courses available are Advanced Placement (AP®) courses. While it’s well known that these courses are attractive to admissions teams, most aren’t sure why. The answer is what they represent.
Because AP courses are more challenging than regular or honors level high school courses, your child has to be more engaged in their education. They show your child is willing to go above and beyond the minimum while demonstrating they can handle more coursework. Taking courses in a specific subject area also speaks to their interests which can be helpful if they’re applying to colleges with major requirements.
For example, Howard University has major specific requirements for those applying to their Studio Art, Theatre Arts, Music and Architecture and Design programs. Taking an AP Art and Design course can add to your child’s profile and build their creative portfolio.
Depending on where your child goes to school, they may have International Baccalaureate (IB) programs instead of AP courses. The challenges posed by IB courses are similar to those of AP courses but on a global scale. These programs promote critical thinking, accountability, respect, and independence. With an intercultural approach to education, their goal is to foster a more peaceful and compassionate world. Colleges recognize both IB and AP courses as evidence of academic rigor.
Why Are Humanities Required in High School?
Many of the nation’s top colleges, including the Ivy league colleges, are liberal arts colleges. They offer a broad curriculum to encourage intellectual curiosity, foster free thinking, and produce well-rounded graduates with a broad base of knowledge.
Humanities classes — like history, foreign languages, literature, etc. — give your child general knowledge of the world around them while developing soft skills like critical thinking, research, and creativity. These classes teach students to make connections and draw parallels between seemingly unrelated information. They make students think critically and form their own opinions on complex issues rather than accepting a singular viewpoint.
One of the main reasons for including humanities in the high school curriculum is to produce well rounded individuals. While math and science are important, they offer a more practical approach to education. Humanities courses give a more holistic approach to learning by exposing students to different subjects, theoretical concepts, voices, and perspectives. These traits are valued even at colleges that specialize in science- and math-based fields.
Studying humanities also helps students develop empathy and understanding towards different cultures and perspectives. Studying different languages and literature from around the world gives a much deeper appreciation for different cultures, beliefs and ways of life. Colleges value a background in the humanities as they seek to build diverse and cooperative campus communities.
Do Extracurriculars Matter to Admissions Teams?
Yes they do.
While your child’s academic performance is of the utmost importance in college admissions decisions, colleges aren’t just admitting students: they are admitting people. Extracurriculars show who your child is outside of the classroom and what matters to them. Volunteering at a homeless shelter or an animal shelter shows they care about giving back to their community. Creating or joining a photography club shows they have passion for art and are willing to take their professional development into their own hands. All of these activities give admissions teams a look into the person behind the application.
Being in multiple extracurriculars while keeping good grades shows your child can manage their commitments. Plus, they can differentiate your child from other applicants who may have similar academic backgrounds. Admissions teams look for students who can bring diverse and unique perspectives to their campus community.
Extracurriculars also give students an opportunity to develop important life skills like time management, teamwork, and problem solving. These are highly valued by admissions teams as it shows the student can juggle multiple responsibilities and adapt to new situations.
What Does It Mean When Colleges Admit by Major, College, or Division?
When a college admits by major, they are looking for applicants who have strong performance in courses, extracurriculars, or activities related to it. They do this to gauge your child’s preparedness for what could be a high demand major including but not limited to:
These majors can give your child more career flexibility and higher earning potential in the future. By admitting by major, colleges are looking for students who are genuinely passionate and committed to their chosen field of study. This can improve student performance and increase their chances of actually completing the program.
Others may be admitted by college or division, meaning they will consider applicants based on the specific school or department they are applying to within the university. For example, instead of applying to a specific engineering major at Cornell, your child would need to apply to their College of Engineering when filling out the application. Schools like Cornell may have additional requirements for each school or department so it’s best to check the school’s policy before submitting the application.
Just because some majors are more popular than others doesn’t mean your child shouldn’t apply if they are genuinely passionate about the subject. If your child is considering an alternative major, they should choose one based on their interests and not because they think their application isn’t strong enough. At 宝博体育, we can help them build a competitive college application based on both their academic and career goals.
Build Your College Profile With 宝博体育 Education
We know the college application process can be overwhelming for students and parents. That’s why we have a comprehensive program to help students build their college profile.
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Your 2024 Best of the Year: A Self-Reflection
HIGH SCHOOLAs the year draws to a close, your feeds are likely filled with “Best ____ of 2024” headlines. You’ve read about the best books, best movies, best apps, best new products, and best “best of the year” lists.
Why are these lists so popular? Reflection feels good. It’s the palate cleanse that lets us face what’s to come with new purpose and new hope. We think about what worked and what didn’t; what was fun and what wasn’t; what we learned and what we should forget. And then we resolve to do better next year. (Or at least to go to the gym more often.)
Use Your “Best of the Year” to Plan Ahead
In January, it’s not only a new year but also a new semester — a great time to hit reset and make some academic improvements. The best place to start is with a little reflection — what were your best of the year?
Here are some questions to jump start your self-reflection engine as you start to think about your goals for next year:
This isn’t a homework assignment. You don’t need to get out a sheet of paper and write down your answers (although some studies have found that self-reflective journaling improves self-awareness and future performance, hint, hint, nudge, nudge).
Just think about your answers. Truly reflect on the year, the things you did well, and the things you could do better on.
Is It Too Late to Take the SAT in Senior Year?
SAT, TEST PREPTaking the SAT can be a stressful time for students. To help minimize stress, students are often told to finalize their scores by the end of junior year of high school. However, sometimes things don’t always go as planned.
Luckily, your child still has time to finalize their SAT scores in their senior year. Just know waiting this late comes with risks, which could be mitigated by taking the test earlier.
Are SAT Scores Still Important in Test Optional Admissions?
SAT scores are still important even with test-blind and test-optional policies. High SAT scores can qualify students for full-ride and partial scholarships at their college of choice, which can eliminate or reduce the need for student loans to pay for their education.
More importantly, SAT scores give your child’s application an edge if they apply to test-optional schools.
About 50% of the Class of 2027 submitted test scores with their applications to test-optional schools. While submitting test scores is optional, a good test score can make an applicant more competitive.
For the Class of 2027:
While test-optional policies remain common among colleges, an increasing number of top schools have returned to requiring standardized test scores. Some schools requiring SAT or ACT scores include:
Colleges can and do change test policies, sometimes with little notice. Students should always review the testing policies of each school on their list prior to applying.
What are the SAT Test Dates for 2024-25?
As of November 2024, these are the SAT test dates for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year:
Below are the anticipated test dates for 2025 and 2026:
*Students planning to borrow a device from the College Board should request their device at least 30 days before their test day.
SAT scores are typically released less than two weeks after the test is taken. Your child will have until December of their senior year to finalize their test scores, so they can be released in time for most regular decision application deadlines. However, we recommend finalizing their test scores before then to help relieve some of the stress they may feel when taking the exam. This can help improve their performance and offers them more time to prepare.
We strongly encourage your child to finalize their test scores no later than the summer after their junior year. The earlier test scores are finalized, the smoother the application process will be.
The SAT is administered on specific test dates throughout the year, providing multiple opportunities for students to take the exam. Registering for the SAT is a straightforward process that can be completed online or by mail.
How To Register for the SAT
To register for the SAT, your child should:
It’s important to stay aware of registration deadlines, as registering after the regular deadline can incur additional fees. If your child qualifies for fee waivers, they can register for the SAT at no cost.
Is It Too Late for High School Seniors To Take the SAT in Senior Year?
While your child can finalize their scores in senior year, we strongly recommend doing so before then. If for some reason they’re unable to earn their target score during junior year, encourage them to finalize scores the summer between junior and senior year.
Incoming seniors already juggle a lot: personal statements, college applications, extracurriculars, and school work. Waiting until fall of senior year to test increases the number of tasks already on a senior’s plate and adds to what can already be a stressful time. Plus, it gives your child a much narrower room for error, which can increase the stress students are under during the exam.
While students can take the SAT during their senior year, students must have a clear plan to optimize their time. Enrolling in an SAT prep program can help seniors earn their dream test score the first time.
Do Colleges Look at Senior Year SAT?
Each college has its own policies regarding SAT scores. Some schools only view the highest scores while others want to see all test scores. Your child should review the standardized test score policy for each of their dream schools ahead of time. This gives them an ideal range to aim for prior to taking their first exam.
When Should You Send Official SAT Scores to the College Board?
Your child can submit their test score any time prior to their application deadline. The College Board sends your child’s SAT scores to their selected schools within 10 days after the scores are available. We recommend your child submit their scores alongside their college application, so everything is received at the same time.
Increase Your Child’s Chances of Earning Their Ideal Score
Performing well on the SAT could increase your child’s chances of being accepted into their dream school and help them earn money for their tuition. Many universities offer merit-based scholarships based on standardized test scores which can reduce the financial burden of higher education.
Planning ahead for the SAT gives your child ample time to prepare for and retake the test, if necessary. By finalizing their test scores by the fall of junior year, your child can also reduce the stress tied to the exam.
While there are more benefits to taking the SAT sooner, finalizing scores in December of senior year isn’t the end of the world. Your child will need to use their time effectively and stay on top of upcoming deadlines to ensure their scores are submitted before college applications close.
Ready to start preparing for the SAT? Visit our website to get started!
4 Tips to Help You Study for Finals (Like an Astro Bot Pro!)
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