Test-Optional Archives

Choosing Reach, Target, and Safer Schools

Advice for building your college list.

This Week in College Admissions – 5/8/26

Get caught up on the latest news in college admissions.

Planning Ahead: Maximizing Academic and Extracurricular Impact

Expert Admissions hosted a webinar with former Princeton admissions officer Tova Meyer and former Harvard admissions officer Jacob Hansen. We answered questions about what classes to take, making a testing plan, showing impact through extracurriculars, and more.

This Week in College Admissions – 3/20/26

Get caught up on the latest news in college admissions.

Admissions and Testing Update: Winter 2026

Expert Admissions hosted a webinar with Dr. Bari Norman, our Co-founder and Head Counselor, and Sasha DeWind, Executive Director of Tutor Associates. We discussed recent admissions trends, testing strategy and pacing, expectations for extracurricular involvement, and more.

First Look: College Admissions and Testing 2025-2026

Expert Admissions hosted a webinar with Dr. Bari Norman, our Co-founder and Head Counselor, and Sasha DeWind, Executive Director of Tutor Associates. We discussed preliminary trends for the 2025-2026 cycle, SAT and ACT strategy, the biggest factors in admissions decisions, and more.

The Differences Between UChicago and Northwestern

The difference between BUChicago and Northwestern, two highly ranked universities in Illinois.

College List Building Strategies

With thousands of colleges and universities in the US alone, deciding where to apply can be overwhelming. We have some advice that can help you make these important choices.