Top Tier Admissions
In my years as a classroom teacher and school counselor, I spent a morning every October proctoring the PSAT. I passed out test booklets, answer sheets, and No. 2 pencils while reading a script of directions and reminding students to fill in bubbles completely so that scores would be accurate. In more recent years, I […]
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities suspended their requirements for applicants to submit standardized test scores. Post-pandemic, standardized testing requirements have gradually returned. As we enter the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, many of the most selective colleges in the country, including Cornell, Harvard, Dartmouth, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania, will […]
With the launch of the digital SAT in March 2024 and the more recent updates to the ACT in April 2025 (both of which introduced significant changes to test formats) the standardized testing landscape is more uncertain than ever. At Top Tier Admissions, we’ve received a steady stream of questions about these shifts, so we’re […]
Taking the PSAT (Preliminary SAT) is a great way to familiarize yourself with standardized testing, determine your strengths and weaknesses, and qualify for scholarships. The PSAT is also considered a predictive test in that it can inform how well you’ll perform on the SAT without any additional prep. If you just received your PSAT score, […]
Johns Hopkins University will reintroduce standardized testing requirements beginning with those seeking admission for the fall 2026 semester to the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences or the Whiting School of Engineering. For rising seniors (those applying for admission in fall 2025), submitting an ACT or SAT score is encouraged, but not required. JHU, considered […]
