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Girl on her graduation gown with her parents.
questions & answers

A Guide to Legacy Admissions and Acceptance Odds

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on October 30, 2024
Some colleges and universities in the United States have what’s known as legacy admissions. Legacy admissions is preferential treatment for student applicants who have had a parent, sibling, or other family member attend the school in the past. Not all colleges consider legacy in their admission practices, and some states are starting to outlaw the …
questions & answers

Do Colleges Check Your Social Media?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on April 22, 2024
Are colleges truly interested in your social media presence? According to a 2020 Kaplan survey, 65% of admissions officers consider that viewing a prospective student’s social media pages is fair game. Public profiles can reveal a lot about a student, and while you can’t be certain whether colleges will check your social media, it is …
What are test optional colleges and why are some colleges not test optional?
questions & answers

Why Do Some Colleges Require the ACT/SAT and Others Don’t?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
While a majority of colleges and universities still do require students to submit their ACT/SAT test scores, there is a growing trend of schools that don’t require scores. These are known as test-optional schools.  Why Test-Optional? There is an ongoing debate about the validity of standardized testing exams. Some argue that they aren’t an accurate representation …
Do you have to take the SAT subject tests?
questions & answers

Are SAT Subject Tests Required?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
The aim of the general SAT test is to evaluate your reasoning skills and your readiness for college. The SAT Subject tests, on the other hand, is meant to assess your knowledge in a specific subject area. If you are wondering whether SAT subject tests are required, the answer is it depends. SAT Subject Tests Can …
Students gathered together and smiling for a group picture.
questions & answers

What Is Freshman Orientation?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 9, 2024
Starting college is an exciting adventure, filled with new opportunities and experiences. One of the first steps is freshman orientation. But what exactly is freshman orientation? What does it involve, and why is it important? Let’s talk about it. What is Freshman Orientation in College? Freshman orientation is essentially an introduction to college life at …
The SAT score choice lets you pick individual scores from multiple different tests.
questions & answers

What is SAT Score Choice?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
If you take the SAT multiple times, you get the option of choosing which scores to send as part of your college application and which scores remain undisclosed. This is known as SAT Score Choice. Should I Submit These Scores? Students who are not happy with their SAT scores often choose to retake the test …

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