Free resources
Tools worth having, whether or not you work with us
Reference material we maintain for our own families, published openly. No email required.
Testing
Test strategy
Which test, whether to submit, and what a given score is actually worth.
Test-optional collegesWhich universities are test-optional, test-blind, or quietly still expect a score.
SAT / ACT concordanceConvert between SAT and ACT scores to see which test your student should sit.
GPA and test scoresWhat GPA and score ranges actually look like at the universities on your list.
Study tipsStudy strategy that holds up under an AP/IB course load and a testing calendar.
Applying
Applications & deadlines
Timing decisions that change admit rates more than most families realize.
Application deadlinesEarly Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision and rolling — laid out on one calendar.
Early Decision IIThe second-round binding option most families never hear about — and when it's the right play.
Foreign studentsApplying to U.S. universities from abroad: credentials, visas, and the aid rules that differ.
Paying for collegeFAFSA, CSS Profile, merit aid, and how to read an award letter for what it actually costs.
A note on these tools
They tell you what the rules are. They can't tell you what to do about your student in particular — that's the part that requires knowing their transcript, their list, and your family's finances. If you want that conversation, book a consultation.
Questions these pages don't answer?
Most of them are covered in the FAQ. The rest are worth a conversation.