Hilary Cairns

Boost your college acceptance odds with these helpful tips.
college admissions

How to Boost Your Acceptance Odds

When you’re applying to college, you’re going to be competing against other students for a limited amount of space. If it’s a highly competitive school, your odds of being accepted go down significantly. However, there are steps you can take to boost your college acceptance odds no matter where you’re applying to. Pay Attention to …
Apply SMART goals to your college applications.
college applications

How to Create SMART Goals for College Applications

Have you heard of SMART goals before? It’s generally for project management, but it can also be a great tool when you put it towards personal development. Today, the acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Here’s how you can use each one towards your college applications. S: Specific When it comes to …
Here are some good habits to establish regardless of where you are in high school
student life

Good Habits to Start a New Semester for High Schoolers

Whether you’re a freshman or a senior in high school, there are always good habits you can take advantage of. You probably have a few good ones already (as well as bad)! However, as you head into a new semester, these are a few good habits you can add to your life and learn from. …
You should know about the types of math problems that come up on the SAT and ACT.
ACT & SAT

Different “Types” of Math Problems on the ACT / SAT

Even if math isn’t your best subject, knowing the types of math problems you’ll run into on the ACT or SAT can give you a huge boost. You can find what types of math you struggle on and focus on those before the test date. Here are the ones you’ll run into: Algebra Of course, …
It's never too early to start prepping for college, even as a high school sophomore.
college admissions

What High School Sophomores Can Do For College Prep

You may think college prep can wait another year. After all, college applications and the FAFSA don’t have to be turned in until your senior year, so you may want to wait until junior year to begin. However, it’s never too early to start. There are plenty of things you can be doing while you’re …
A college advisor talking to their student.
tips tools & advice

How Often You Should Meet With Your College Academic Advisor

Students should aim to meet with their assigned college academic advisor at least once a semester. You may need to meet them additional times for questions about your courses, major, and graduation. Before a meeting with your college advisor, always be prepared and be ready to ask questions. All colleges assign incoming students an academic …
sat act tutoring
ACT & SAT

Should You Get a Tutor for the ACT/SAT?

While the ACT and SAT scores are not the only criteria for getting selected into a college, getting high scores does boost your chances of getting accepted. Studying and prep are essential to improving your ACT or SAT score, but some students take it a step further by working with a tutor. Understanding the advantages …

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