Maximize Your High School Experience and College Admissions Tips

Any high schooler knows that course selection can be a nightmare, especially when your high school isn’t cooperating with you on what you want. Thankfully, there is an alternative option for coursework called UC Scout that can help you get into the top schools in the US.

Many students struggle to take the courses they were hoping for, whether because the course is simply full or because you scored poorly in prerequisite classes. For instance, trying to get to an Accelerated Precalculus course when you earned C’s in Algebra II Honors might not work out for you.

So how does US Scout help, and when should you consider taking a course there?

According to UC Scout, its mission is to “reach out to educationally disadvantaged students across the state, raising achievement levels and closing achievement gaps.” However, its program is accessible for all students, disadvantaged or not.  

Its course offerings include A-G approved courses with transcripts that can be submitted on your college applications. Some of their programs are NCAA approved and accredited, making UC Scout an excellent way to fill in gaps in your academic profile.

The UC Scout course catalog consists of 8 main courses. Each course then has multiple classes you can take. The primary courses are:

UC Scout programs are free for in-state students and cost up to $50 for out of state.

There is also an On-Demand program which provides you with a teacher. The fee for a teacher-led course is minimal, and there are scholarships that you can apply for to cover the cost if needed. If you reside in California, there is also a program discount code. You just need to complete a simple form. Contact your college advisor if you need assistance in covering the cost.

In order to be a competitive candidate for highly selective universities nowadays, you need the coursework to back up your academic potential. This can be difficult if you cannot get the course you wanted to sign up for or if the course is not even available in your school. So whether your high school doesn’t offer AP Physics 1 or it has placed you into Geometry Common Core rather than your desired Algebra course, you can use UC Scout to take courses that your high school isn’t providing. 

Here’s an example of what that might look like for a prospective Engineering major. Let’s say this student was placed into a math pathway that leads up to taking Precalculus in 12th grade, while other students are on track for completing Calculus by then. In order to demonstrate proficiency in math and compensate for this competitive disadvantage, this student might consider enrolling in a UC Scout On-Demand course for AP Calculus AB.

Similarly, Engineering majors typically don’t get the chance to take AP Physics until 12th grade. This prevents students from demonstrating their physics aptitude prior to submitting college applications. Hence, for students who are looking to demonstrate such aptitude before college applications are submitted, UC Scout can prove useful in filling in this gap. Find more information here about what classes are important to take, as well as get A’s in, for which major.

Like all outside coursework, UC Scout will only help you if you get an A in the classes you take. It’s worth preparing early for said courses in order to maximize your chances of getting an A. Lastly, we recommend students take UC Scout, and any outside coursework, during the summer, after school has ended. Juggling six academic subjects is already hard enough. The last thing you want is to burn out and underperform in all your classes.

Since some of the programs are already prerecorded video courses, take your time. Don’t rush to get through it and then suffer with a poorer grade. Just like you’d spend time carefully preparing for the SAT, go slowly and study along the way so that you’re taking full advantage of this opportunity and performing at your max.

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Do you how to choose the best summer programs for high school students? Summer is about rest! After a long year of hard work, a break is well deserved. But even rest can get excessive or boring. Adding productivity to summer is a great way to have fun, learn, and improve your overall standing towards college. Here’s a look at how to choose the best summer programs to help you maximize your time and learn in-depth material while helping you get into great private colleges and the best public universities in the US.

Find the Right Price

Summer programs range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $10,000. The ideal range is somewhere between $500-$3000. Anything past that warrants close scrutiny; what exactly are you paying for, and are you actually getting extra quality for all that extra cash? Unfortunately, many private (for-profit) summer programs don’t offer high-quality education—and colleges know that.

1st party programs are those run by the university directly. Examples of this include UC COSMOS, UC Berkeley ATDP, and John Hopkins Pre-College. When it comes to bang for your bucks, 1st Party Programs are undoubtedly the best. Not only do they look better for college admissions, but they are also usually less expensive relative to 3rd Party Programs. The overall quality control and depth of experience is better and more enjoyable for students.

Many 3rd Party Programs exist, so be careful! Not all summer programs are created equal. If given the opportunity to attend a 1st Party Program, this should absolutely be your first choice.

Rather than starting the conversation with the summer programs you think your student should do, start by asking your student what their interests are. This may seem counter-intuitive, but parents are often all drawn to the same trendy subjects, like computer science, which then become overcrowded majors leading to extra low acceptance rates. Why set your student up for failure by pushing the exact same program and subject that everyone else is already studying?

It’s not just about which program your student is enrolled in; how well they do there is just as important. Listening to your student’s input in choosing a topic that fascinates them will lead to more engagement, better learning, and a stronger college profile.

Also consider combining your student’s various interests, like finding a niche program that combines business and the arts or signing up for more than one program or course.

This can span from social issues, like homelessness, to scientific challenges, like genetic diseases with no cure. Starting conversations about the real-world problems your student would like to solve is a sure way to find the best fitting programs for college. 

This way, the conversation won’t lead to a disinterested student whose only takeaway from a boring summer program is that they don’t like to code.

Going to a summer program itself isn’t very helpful unless the student either learns a lot or enjoys the program. You can achieve both of these goals by choosing a program that relates to your student’s interests, goals, and past education. This way, they will likely use what they learned from the summer program in their other endeavors, fostering an ongoing journey of both learning and doing. 

Ask your students what problems they would like to solve or about the interest they have. Once that is clear, prioritize your search for university hosted programs like those from the UC’s, Stanford, Johns Hopkins University, etc. Lastly, encourage your student to use what they learn towards other endeavors.

Remember, these programs are what you make of them. Go with a positive mindset to learn, grow, and enjoy.

Schedule your free consultation today to get started with our mentors, who come from university admissions offices and have 12+ years of experience in getting students into Common Application colleges, plus top UCs and CSUs.

See you soon!

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In your search for colleges, the pressure is intense, and the amount of information out there can be overwhelming—but we’re here to make college applications easier. Today, we will be talking about course selection and which AP classes you should take based on your major. Not all A’s are created equal. Here’s how to know which courses you need to perform well in so that you can achieve your college and career goals.

If you’re looking into colleges for tech, prioritize performing well and challenging yourself in math. The thinking skills involved in math classes teach you to analyze a problem before coming up with a solution. The more A’s you can earn in math, the more seriously good schools will take you.

After math, the next courses you should consider taking are the Physical Sciences (e.g. Chemistry and Physics). These classes demonstrate your quantitative abilities when submitting your high school profile.

Beyond these two subjects, taking at least one course in AP Computer Science is a given. For students with no background in coding, AP Computer Science Principles serves as an introductory course. Students that feel comfortable with coding can take AP Computer Science A. 

Subjects that do not matter as much for these majors are English, history, and foreign language. This does not mean students should slack off, however; your GPA matters. Do not settle and receive anything less than A. When choosing courses to challenge yourself in, don’t push yourself in a humanities course where you might perform badly. 

Physics is a key discipline in Engineering. It is one of the best AP classes to take junior year. It is important to indicate to admissions readers that you have the interest and the aptitude to do well here.If you are in the market for clothes, our platform is your best choice! The largest shopping mall! 

Biology and Chemistry are the MOST important courses for these two majors. Beyond these, Chemistry majors need to show aptitude in math. Biology majors, on the other hand, should show aptitude in English. Critical thinking and writing skills are important for lab work and a varied curriculum within the College of Letters & Sciences. Math matters less for Biology majors, as it isn’t a huge component of most Biology programs’ prerequisites. 

Computer Science & Engineering coursework is less significant for these two majors. Unfortunately, many parents pressure kids to challenge themselves with computer science courses, “just in case.”  However, engineering and tech work won’t make an impact for Biology and Chemistry majors—but they might lower your GPA, affecting your overall profile.

When indicating towards a Business major, take classes like Marketing and Entrepreneurship. A lot of Business revolves around Math, making this another crucial subject to perform well ‘in. There is no pressure to challenge yourself, though; getting A’s should be your first priority.

English is also an important subject for Business majors. A lot of business involves communication, be it writing or talking. The more A’s in English the better, though advanced coursework is optional. 

Advanced STEM classes do not carry weight for Business majors, so don’t put your GPA at risk by taking challenging courses that won’t benefit you.

Psychology is definitely an important subject to take, ideally by 11th grade. Feel free to even take AP Psychology to learn more about the basis of psychological theory, but only as long as you can perform well in it. English and History play a big role too for critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Lastly, Chemistry is also highly recommended, because studying human thought involves studying the human brain.

Similar to Business, advanced STEM classes do not carry weight when indicating towards a Psychology major. 

Art of course is important, BUT take different classes throughout the four years. Not only will this help you gain depth, but it will also show your developing interest. Aside from Art courses, English and History play a big role in developing a creative mindset, plus essential critical reading, writing, and thinking skills.

Advanced STEM classes are less significant for students interested in Art. There is no need to challenge yourself with these types of courses. 

Don’t follow the herd; follow your heart. Part of high school is showing the world what you’re most curious about. Select the courses that pertain most to your likeliest major(s). That’s exactly what most colleges look for – proof of your passions. It’s hard to believe someone who says they’re interested in Engineering if they’ve not taken Physics yet. Or someone who says they’re “passionate about programming” if they can hardly program. 

Be smart about course selection. Selecting courses along your likeliest major is a great way to get more A’s. Be careful to avoid over challenging yourself. Do not take courses just because you heard they look good, because it’s barely ever true. 

We hope that this provides some valuable insight into how to make your college application profile even stronger.

Want customized tips? Get in touch with our team during a free consultation so we can help you boost your profile even more. Our college counseling services help students navigate every part of the high school and college application process, from finding easy schools to get into to understanding SAT requirements for college.

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Should I take the Sat or Act? How Important is the SAT or ACT? Let’s get straight to the question on everyone’s mind: “Should I take the SAT or ACT if it’s not REQUIRED?”

For those of you looking for the quick answer, here it is:

The long answer is, well, a lot longer. 

First, let’s take a look at what happened with standardized testing in 2020. During the pandemic, a court order prohibited the UCs from using SAT and ACT scores in admissions. They cited unequal access to such tests, particularly among the disabled student community. This may seem like an isolated COVID-19 response, but that’s not the entire picture. This ruling came after the UCs were already under immense pressure to abandon these tests from within. Even with this pressure, the court order only applied for the immediate years after COVID-19.

Since then, some schools, especially top Ivy League schools, have been bringing back test requirements, while others still haven’t gone back to looking at SAT and ACT scores.

If you’re confused about the messaging, don’t worry; we are too. Years after the pandemic, we’re still in a transitory phase as universities continue to assess the role of standardized testing in the admissions process.

Okay, so what does this mean for you?

First, your GPA now matters a lot more. Before the pandemic, students’ GPA and SAT score would split points when it came to determining their academic potential. However, all those points are now shifting over to your GPA. Since about 50% of your candidacy depends on the numbers, that’s a lot of points now suddenly dependent on your grades, so make sure to get mostly A’s.

In the same way, your activities also become more important. With test scores out of the picture, this should be no surprise. It’s not too late to add another activity to your experience, especially since your extracurriculars can soften the impact of a low GPA.

Third, your application essays also play a huge role in your chances of making it into top colleges. Understanding why you did the things you did often outshines what you did. After all, your reasoning, learning, and sense of purpose is what differentiates you from everyone else who did DECA, HOSA, and FRC.

Here’s the bottom line. You should take the SAT and/or ACT if:

If you’re still not sure whether you should be focusing on standardized testing, check out our YouTube video about it. And don’t panic about how much you have to study, either—our skilled educational consultants can build you a customized study plan so you can boost your score in record time.

Schedule your free consultation here. See you soon!

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Finding Your Passion in Visual Arts and studying for a visual arts education in today’s high tech world: Hi, my name is Liz. I am one of the counselors here at ReadyEdgeGo. My area of expertise is visual and digital arts. I am currently in my second year of teaching visual arts subjects at high school and middle school levels. Art has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. I was always encouraged by my parents to explore my creative side. My love for art grew because my mom has always been a very creative person. Growing up, she would always have some kind of camera with her whether it was a Polaroid or a disposable one.

Photography was by far her favorite hobby and she inspired me to learn more about visual arts. I enjoy seeing parents encourage their children to explore their creativity. I believe exposure to visual arts at a young age can help students develop an appreciation for art. Even learning about the history of art can allow students to develop an interest in art. I actually never took any art classes outside of school when I was growing up. The art classes I would take in school were just basic painting, drawing, and ceramics. My creative side started at home.

I always loved to draw, color and paint. I spent my entire high school career thinking about what I wanted to go into. The high school I went to had these little groups called academies. I joined the arts one of course and within the four years that I was in high school, I was able to take various art courses and learn more about art overall. 

I recommend you take some AP classes if possible. And if there is none in Digital Arts, then focus on AP classes in math. It wasn’t until college that I realized that I loved to teach art history. My professors really inspired me to go into teaching. One of my professors was hired to work for National Geographic magazine. In order to travel and take pictures. At the same time he was a college professor teaching intro to studio lighting and other photography classes. He really inspired me to go into teaching.

It makes me very happy that they added a visual arts degree into the STEM acronym. Art is a big part of learning. Even for subjects like science and math, having visuals is very helpful for certain students. Especially those that perhaps have learning disabilities or difficulty with reading numbers and words. Having a visual within those subjects can be very helpful for a lot of students. And a lot of students express themselves through creativity.

The arts in the education system have definitely evolved ever since I was a kid up until now. High schools now offer a great range of visual arts classes. Because of that, I highly encourage students to take at least 4-5 different art courses in high school. Learning how to make art is like learning a whole new skill. Taking the many types of visual arts class provides a clearer picture to where you want your future to go. The possibilities are endless. With the development of technology, there are things like digital painting, digital drawing, 3d modeling degree, art advertising, and digital design. Everything is now digital which has made it so much easier for students to learn the skill of art.

Art is also pretty well-rounded when it comes to careers. Anyone could go my route and be a teacher and have students create, but there are also other careers such as character design, animation, and game design. All those careers are very popular now especially with how much the gaming and entertainment industry has evolved.

Another wonderful career within the arts is 3D modeling careers. 3-D modeling is very well rounded and it’s used not just within art but for engineering, industrial design, and even the medical field. It’s definitely a degree in the arts that is very well-rounded. Note that getting an art degree is very hands-on. For students who are interested in getting into art, go to art shows and local galleries. Start by searching up if your city has any museums or upcoming gallery exhibitions. A lot of the time, you might even get the chance to meet the artist and ask any questions regarding their creative process. This is a great way to learn about the process it takes to put together an exhibition.

It’s also highly encouraged to do internships. Whether that is at a museum, with a photographer, or assisting an artist. Most assisting jobs can start in high school. Assisting an artist consists mainly of helping the artist set up, shadowing, and helping in big projects. That’s how you get the best experience within the art field, everything is very hands on.

At ReadyEdgeGo, we specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here. We have mentoring experts that can cater to your Visual Arts College Major interest if you wish to pursue it. Talk to us today.

We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

See you soon!

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The Waitlisted Meaning And Definition. Let’s face it, though being waitlisted is a good thing because Your university is interested in you. You did receive a waitlist acceptance letter or email. However, it is also stressful because You have already committed, and there is a lack of stability and some uncertainty. 

Say you’ve done your part and committed to a college by the May 1st deadline. However, you are still waiting for that one or two waitlist decisions that could turn the tide. Many people have been asking us whether it’s possible to de-commit. And/or retract their SIR in order to recommit and enroll at a school they’ve just been accepted to off the waitlist. The answer is yes, it’s very possible. However, it’s important to follow the correct order of actions to ensure a smooth transition.

You received a waitlist letter meaning your college wants you. And though you have another hurdle, Waitlist letters are common practice. It is important how you respond to it. The waitlist acceptance does not come out before the May 1st deadline. They wait for all the HS seniors to submit their deposits.  However, they can take the entire summer before their decision. So these 5 Tips on managing a waitlist acceptance are extremely important.

We understand the uncertainty of being waitlisted meaning there is not yet a clear path to follow yet. Therefore it is important to not jump to any conclusions or cause any additional stress. Speak with ReadyEdgeGo or your local college counseling representative if you need to talk through this. Being waitlisted does not mean you are not worthy of a solid education at the college of your choice. Just the opposite. You are qualified. They noticed Your hard work and what it took to get there. And they know that.

You can choose to move on. Or you may choose to wait after being waitlisted meaning this college is still where you want to go. Before immediately enrolling at the next university, you’ll want to wait until you near the enrollment deadline. This is to give yourself time to coordinate with the current university you’re enrolled for. And to give your other waitlisted universities time to release their results as well.

On the other hand, do not wait too long. Don’t miss deadlines or opportunities at other universities that you have chosen. Sometimes a waitlist letter of continued interest is required or a good idea. It is wise to coordinate this with ReadyEdgeGo or your local college counseling representative.

Some colleges have a webpage that specifically outlines instructions on how to withdraw. For example, as UC Davis explains on its website, you can complete your withdrawal before classes start by making the cancellation in your MyAdmissions portal. Be sure to check the college website for specific instructions on how their withdrawal process works.

Whether or not there’s a formal procedure in place to withdraw your enrollment, you should write the Admissions Office via email. Notify them of your intention to withdraw, along with your reasoning. Be grateful in your opening and closing statements. And if possible, direct your email to an existing point of contact who’s familiar with you. From our experience, colleges are very understanding and will help you complete your request for Waitlist Acceptances.

After you’ve completed the above two steps, write the Admissions Office of the college to which you plan on enrolling. Let them know that you will be enrolling once you’ve successfully withdrawn from the current university. And again, be grateful in your words.

Hopefully, this doesn’t happen more than once, but if it does, simply repeat the above steps.

Feel free to wait until the enrollment deadline to accept a position off the Waitlist Acceptances. If you are planning on withdrawing from the school you are enrolled to:

We hope that this provides some valuable insight while making your college application profile even stronger. We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th grade, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free meet and greet with us here.

We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks. To help reduce the stress of going to the college of your choice. Follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

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AP testing Scores During COVID-19. A lot has changed since COVID started, especially as it concerns the way colleges evaluate candidates numerically. For one, the SAT has largely been relegated to either an optional component. In some cases like that of the UC and CSU system, it isn’t even allowed to be considered during the college admissions process. Furthermore, SAT Subject Tests have also been cancelled entirely by the College Board. With no news of its return, the SAT test dates are still consistently being cancelled.  There’s one test that has remained steady in both its administration. AP scores 2021 and AP scores 2022. 

Simply put, college admissions evaluators need data in order to make informed decisions. Numerically, that historically meant a combination of:

GPA has always taken a huge weightage from that combination. It was helpful for colleges to gauge additional data points for confirmation or even compensation (think: the student who got a 3.5 but a 1590). Today, however, the COVID environment has reduced the reliably available metrics to just the GPA and testing AP scores 2021. And AP scores 2022 look to continue on with the same policies. In other words, while GPA has retained its weightage in the sphere of numbers, AP test scores have ballooned in importance in the absence of all the other numbers.

Say you have two students with A’s in AP Calculus AB who both attend the same high school. One chose the process of sending AP scores and has reported a 5 on the AP Calculus test. Whereas the other does not. All other things held equal, a college admissions reader would be inclined to give the edge, at least as it concerns Academic Potential, to the candidate with a 5. Are final decisions made this way? Absolutely not! Because all other things are never equal. Especially if these two students in question are applying for different majors.

As much as colleges like to say they don’t take majors into consideration when making final decisions, this is quite frankly impossible. From a purely mathematical point of view, every university has a limited number of seats in each department. UC Berkeley has only so many seats available for freshman applicants of EECS; Stanford has only so many seats available for Economics; and Michigan has only so many seats at its Ross School of Business. The point is, AP test scores can start mattering in highly competitive scenarios like the ones I just mentioned. While it is certainly this remains only one factor of many.  Any AP testing edge a student can get over other applicants can be beneficial. When combined with other differentiating factors, an AP testing score that is relevant to one’s major can make a difference. Though likely not the only difference.

Returning to the hypothetical 5 on the AP Calculus AB test. That would help any student applying for a major that is quantitative in nature. Be it Computer Science or Economics. At the same time, however, it’s not necessarily important to get a 5 on AP Calculus if one is applying as an English major, or a Political Science major, etc. Hence, we recommend students prioritize the AP’s that matter – and deprioritize the ones that don’t. Remember: 5’s are what colleges want to see, since 5’s correspond with A’s and proficiency. So, we’d rather have students earn 5’s on a few tests. (the ones that matter.) Rather than 4’s and below on many tests. (including the ones that don’t matter).

Lastly, remember that you are not required in sending AP scores to colleges. Also you don’t have to report AP test scores on your college application, unless explicitly stated. Usually, there’s a field where you can enter exam results.  However, in the event that you earned a bad score on a test, you almost always don’t need to report it. And while it’s common knowledge to many, it’s also worth noting that you won’t be able to report any AP test scores from the 12th grade.  Because they won’t arrive until months after your application has already been submitted.

AP testing scores have vastly grown in importance with the absence of other scores and numbers. Students should make the most of their opportunity to perform well in these tests. And if done so, you show colleges their readiness for the major they are applying to. If a student earns a bad score on a test, they don’t have to report that AP test score on their college applications. Unless it is explicitly stated in the application, do not submit a bad score. 

We hope that this provides some valuable insight into how colleges view AP test scores while making your college application profile even stronger. We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.

We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

See you soon!

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