Top Tier Admissions
Every fall, our families often ask some version of the same question: “Should my student take the SAT or the ACT?” Colleges do not award extra credit for choosing the ‘harder’ test, and institutions such as Penn, Yale, and Stanford explicitly say they do not prefer one exam over the other. The real question is […]
In late May 2026, Yale University Admissions announced an update to its standardized testing policy. Starting in the 2026-2027 application cycle, all first-year applicants will be required to submit either an ACT or SAT score, and AP/IB scores cannot be substituted to meet this testing requirement. This policy change reverses the test-optional and test-flexible policies […]
The College Board has announced that AP scores will begin rolling out on July 6, 2026. If you haven’t already, log in to your account now to test your credentials — the last thing you want is to be locked out when your scores finally appear. Once you’re in, opening that score portal can bring […]
With AP exams starting, families are asking the same question I often heard during my years in the admissions office at Pomona College: do AP scores actually matter? The short answer is yes, but not in the way most families think. Here’s what admissions officers are really looking for in applications, and how to make […]
Choosing your AP classes is one thing—navigating the AP exam calendar is another. Every year, students focus on what to study, but far fewer think strategically about when their exams fall and how that timing can impact performance. The reality? The AP schedule can either set you up for success or quietly work against you […]
The Senior Year Roadmap
Every deadline from August to May – test dates, applications. decisions – in one place. Signup to download the full 9-page Senior Year Roadmap (PDF)