--- title: College Admissions News and ACT / SAT Strategy | college freshman advice description: college freshman advice | Stay current with the latest college application and admission news, as well as proven ACT and SAT strategies. --- # COllege Admissions News and ACT / SAT Strategy Stay current with the latest undergraduate college admissions news and proven ACT and Digital SAT strategies. Browse by All ACT ACT/SAT sat prep ACT/SAT study skills college tips college advice sat tutoring ACT prep sat tutors college student College Admissions High School Test Taking SAT college education college questions study skills ACT test SAT study plan college freshman advice SAT test College Applications SAT online tutoring college entrance college timeline ACT overview SAT math digital sat sat online studying for the SATs undergraduate student common questions ACT study plan ACT-Math practice SAT study help SAT study tips college tips for studying for the SATs ACT Science ACT math Reading Comprehension SAT practice tests SAT self-study admissions essays applying to college college admissions process college tuition sat reading test taking strategies ACT concepts ACT study help ACT tutoring AP tutoring Choosing a College Digital ACT SAT reading comprehension SAT writing act online act reading ap classes ap test prep college admissions essay cost of sat tutoring math skills sat help sat tutor cost sat tutor hourly rate studying for the ACT ACT english COVID sat Campus bound College Rankings GMAT Managing Stress Online Reputation Management PSAT SAT classes SAT redesign Standardized exams Study plans Uncategorized Writing Section act coronavirus admissions data chemistry chemistry subject test college ROI college athletics college coach college essay writing advice college essays college freshman questions college prep college recruiting college resume collegebound admissions cost of college desmos extracurriculars improve academic performance interview preparation logs in ACT-Math math new student FAQs process of elimination sat chemistry test standardized tests study abroad study tips studying for standardized exams submitting test scores test anxiety test optional test prep strategies tips for studying for the ACT writing an essay This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ## Posts about college freshman advice: [ACT/SAT](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/actsat) [High School Test Taking](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/high-school-test-taking) [study skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/study-skills) [college education](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-education) [college tips](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-tips) [college freshman advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-freshman-advice) [college questions](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-questions) [college advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-advice) [ACT prep](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/act-prep) [sat reading](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/sat-reading) [sat prep](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/sat-prep) [college student](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-student) [SAT reading comprehension](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/sat-reading-comprehension) ## In the first post of our SAT review video series, we approach working through a standard reading comprehension question. The SAT reading comprehension section can often be a time crunch for many students. This video demonstrates a systematic approach to quickly reading and analyzing a passage in order to answer questions. [ACT/SAT](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/actsat) [High School Test Taking](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/high-school-test-taking) [study skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/study-skills) [college education](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-education) [college tips](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-tips) [college freshman advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-freshman-advice) [college questions](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-questions) [college advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-advice) [ACT prep](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/act-prep) [sat prep](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/sat-prep) [college student](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-student) ![ThinkstockPhotos-sb10069478bd-001](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ThinkstockPhotos-sb10069478bd-001.jpg?width=300&name=ThinkstockPhotos-sb10069478bd-001.jpg)No matter how many times your parents have repeated it to you, it never quite sinks in – If you fail to plan you plan to fail. While this feels a bit dramatic, in a test like the SAT or ACT it is important to realize that preparation can have a significant benefit on your score and on opportunities that stem from this such as college admission and scholarships. While many students have performed well in high school, standardized admissions tests can be a limiting factor because students often fall into a few common traps, such as the idea that being a good student translates directly into a high performing standardized test taker. While this may be true for some students, it often is not the case. College admissions exams often require knowledge on how to study for and take a standardized exam. The best way to overcome this hurdle is by creating a study schedule and planning for test day ahead of time. [High School Test Taking](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/high-school-test-taking) [study skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/study-skills) [ap test prep](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/ap-test-prep) [ap classes](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/ap-classes) [college education](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-education) [college tips](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-tips) [college freshman advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-freshman-advice) [college questions](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-questions) [college advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-advice) [chemistry](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/chemistry) [college student](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-student) [AP tutoring](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/ap-tutoring) [sat chemistry test](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/sat-chemistry-test) [chemistry subject test](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/chemistry-subject-test) ![ThinkstockPhotos-658148844](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ThinkstockPhotos-658148844.jpg?width=300&name=ThinkstockPhotos-658148844.jpg)Students who decide to take the SAT Chemistry subject test generally feel that they are well suited for the test because they are doing well in the high school chemistry course they are taking at their high school. What I have found though is that they may not be aware of the specialized preparation that is needed in order to get a top score on the exam beyond their study for the course they are taking at school. There are several reasons for the need for specialized preparation for the exam. This article explains what those are and what the student can do to be better prepared for the test. [High School Test Taking](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/high-school-test-taking) [study skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/study-skills) [ap test prep](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/ap-test-prep) [ap classes](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/ap-classes) [college education](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-education) [college tips](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-tips) [college freshman advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-freshman-advice) [college questions](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-questions) [college advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-advice) [college student](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-student) [AP tutoring](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/ap-tutoring) [study abroad](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/study-abroad) ![study abroad](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/study%20abroad.jpeg?width=300&name=study%20abroad.jpeg)Plenty of students take AP courses as a way to prove to colleges that they are capable of handling exactly the sort of work that universities demand of students.  However, while taking the courses themselves is often quite important in admissions decisions at American universities, the scores often matter more for the purpose of getting advanced credit.  Therefore, for many students, the difference between a 4 and a 5, depending on the university that he or she ultimately ends up attending, is not that vast. [study skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/study-skills) [college education](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-education) [college tips](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-tips) [undergraduate student common questions](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/undergraduate-student-common-questions) [college freshman advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-freshman-advice) [college questions](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-questions) [college advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-advice) [college student](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-student) ![Image result for productivity](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/23/posts/25894/image/productivity.jpg) In our[ last blog post](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/the-art-of-being-productive-in-high-school-to-be-a-more-attractive-college-applicant-1) on this topic, we explored why today’s high school students must be so productive in high school. Getting good grades isn’t quite enough anymore. You need to show a variety of interests and ideally achieve leadership positions outside the classroom to maximize your chances of admission to a top college. We offered a six-step process to being more productive in high school: [study skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/study-skills) [college education](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-education) [college tips](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-tips) [undergraduate student common questions](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/undergraduate-student-common-questions) [college freshman advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-freshman-advice) [college questions](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-questions) [college advice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-advice) [college student](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/actsat-and-applying-to-college/topic/college-student) ![Image result for productivity](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/2000/1*kauBinmv1CygIXKfE8eVYg.png) Most students know they need to be productive, because getting into an excellent college requires much more than good grades nowadays. It now requires a well written application highlighting many interests and accomplishments, including a high GPA. ### Follow this blog