--- title: "College Admissions and Test Prep Blog — page 4 | Elite Prep" description: "Admissions guides, test strategy and study advice from Elite Prep instructors and counselors." url: "https://eliteprep.com/blog/page/4/" image: "https://media.eliteprep.com/blog-library-gradient-webp-card.jpg" language: "en" source: "eliteprep build" --- ![Four students talking over their notes in a library](https://eliteprep.com/media/blog-library-gradient-webp-w1600.webp) # Blog Admissions guides, test strategy and study advice from Elite Prep instructors and counselors. - ![Row of red apples behind text: "6 Great Ways to Stand Out as a Student (and Get Strong Recommendation Letters)"](https://media.eliteprep.com/6%2BGREAT%2BWAYS%2BTO%2BSTAND%2BOUT-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [6 Great Ways to Stand Out as a Student (So Teachers Will Give You Strong Recommendation Letters)](https://eliteprep.com/blog/ways-to-stand-out-for-recommendation-letters/) If you’ve had great relationships with your teachers they will be more likely to write you excellent letters of recommendation… October 7, 2020 Stacy G. - ![Applying Early to College: Your Questions Answered](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BApplying%2BEarly-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Applying Early to College: Your Questions Answered](https://eliteprep.com/blog/applying-early-to-college/) But what does applying early mean exactly? We’ve answered a few of the most fundamental questions concerning early applications to help you suss out… September 23, 2020 Stacy G. - ![6 Benefits of Online Learning: A Teacher’s Perspective](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BOnline%2BLearning-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [6 Benefits of Online Learning: A Teacher’s Perspective](https://eliteprep.com/blog/6-benefits-of-online-learning/) I’ve come to believe that, when done well, there are incredible benefits to online learning, especially for certain types of learners. September 15, 2020 Stacy G. - ![7 Things Sophomores Can Do to Prepare for College](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BIMAGE%2BSOPHOMORES-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [7 Things Sophomores Can Do to Prepare for College](https://eliteprep.com/blog/sophomores-college-applictions/) Tenth grade may seem a little early to think about college, but doing so can give you a real advantage when it comes time to fill out those college… September 12, 2020 Kiley A. - ![What You Need to Know About UC's Decision to Eliminate the SAT/ACT Requirement](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BUC%2BSAT-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What You Need to Know About UC's Decision to Eliminate the SAT/ACT Requirement (Updated September 3, 2020)](https://eliteprep.com/blog/uc-admission-test-announcement/) While "UC drops the SAT and ACT" is the headline, the details are slightly more complex and worth delving into. September 3, 2020 - ![How to work on your extracurriculars from home during COVID-19](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BExtracurriculars-webp-w400.webp) [Extracurriculars](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/extracurriculars/) ### [How to Work on Your Extracurriculars from Home During COVID-19](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2020/9/7/how-to-work-on-your-extracurriculars-from-home-during-covid-19/) 6 ways that you can work on your extracurricular activities from home during the necessary social distancing of COVID-19… August 15, 2020 Stacy G. - ![Title banner over a desk with coffee mugs, a plant and notebook: "6 Great Questions to Ask a College Counselor"](https://media.eliteprep.com/6%2BGREAT%2BQUESTIONS-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [6 Great Questions to Ask a College Counselor](https://eliteprep.com/blog/questions-to-ask-a-college-counselor/) Counselors can be a tremendous resource of information and support beyond just enrolling you in classes, so if you don’t already… June 3, 2020 - ![Title graphic over a soap bubble: "Why It's Never Too Early to Start Thinking About Your College Application Essays"](https://media.eliteprep.com/WHY%2BITS%2BNEVER%2BTOO%2BEARLY-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Why It's Never Too Early to Start Thinking About Your College Application Essays](https://eliteprep.com/blog/never-too-early-college-essays/) Everyone has a compelling story to tell. When I say it’s never too early to begin thinking about your college application essays… May 4, 2020 Stephen P. - ![Stacks of SAT prep books behind the title "How Long Do I Need to Study to Be Ready for the SAT/ACT?"](https://media.eliteprep.com/HOW%2BLONG%2BDO%2BI%2BNEED%2BTO%2BSTUDY-webp-w400.webp) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [How Long Do I Need to Study to Be Ready for the SAT/ACT?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/plan-your-sat-act-study-time-frame/) Preparing for the SAT or ACT can lead to great score increases and a higher chance of getting into colleges. April 27, 2020 - ![Hanging light bulbs behind teal panel with text "12 Things Students Can Do At Home Right Now" and Elite Prep logo](https://media.eliteprep.com/12%2BTHINGS%2BSTUDENTS%2BCAN%2BDO-webp-w400.webp) [Creativity](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/creativity/) ### [12 Things Students Can Do At Home Right Now](https://eliteprep.com/blog/12-things-students-can-do/) Students are stuck at home, but they can still stay active and engaged! Here are 12 things that students can do right now to stay busy and continue improving… April 23, 2020 - ![The June SAT Has Been Canceled… Now What?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BJune%2BCanceled-webp-w400.webp) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [The June SAT Has Been Canceled… Now What?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/june-sat-cancelled/) The College Board has officially cancelled every SAT scheduled for the spring semester. What should you do now? How will college admissions be affected? April 17, 2020 - ![Virtual College Tours You Can Take From Home](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BVirtual%2BTours-webp-w400.webp) ### [Virtual College Tours You Can Take From Home](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2020/4/6/virtual-college-tours-you-can-take-from-home/) Since you cannot visit colleges and universities in person at the moment, here is a list of virtual tours you can join in lieu of an in-person visit. April 6, 2020 - ![UC Temporarily Suspends SAT Requirement in Response to COVID-19](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BPress%2BRelease%2BUC%2BSuspends%2BSAT%2BRequirement-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [UC Temporarily Suspends SAT Admission Requirement in Response to COVID-19](https://eliteprep.com/blog/uc-suspends-sat-requirement/) The University of California’s announcement that they will temporarily suspend the SAT application requirement has left many high school juniors with questions. April 1, 2020 - ![A Message to Our Students and Parents About COVID-19](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BPress%2BRelease%2BCOVID-19-webp-w400.webp) ### [A Message to Elite Families About COVID-19](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2020/3/13/a-message-to-elite-students-and-parents-about-covid-19/) We are writing to update you on the new policies that Elite Educational Institute will put into place over the next weeks in response to COVID-19… March 13, 2020 - ![25 Tips for Having a Great College Campus Visit](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2Bcampus%2Bvisit-webp-w400.webp) [Colleges & Universities](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/colleges-universities/) ### [25 Tips for Having a Great College Campus Visit](https://eliteprep.com/blog/how-to-have-a-great-college-visit/) College campus visits can help you and your family decide where you will invest your time, money, and efforts over the next four years of your life. February 5, 2020 Stacy G. - ![Is a “B” in an Honors/AP Course Better Than an “A” in a Regular Course?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BAP-regular-webp-w400.webp) [AP Classes](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/ap-classes/) ### [Is a "B" in an Honors/AP Course Better Than an "A" in a Regular Course?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/ap-vs-regular-courses/) Be honest with yourself: how many of these rigorous courses can you handle while still maintaining a high GPA? January 22, 2020 Stephen P. - ![Colleges Are Looking At Your Instagram](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BInstagram-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Colleges Are Looking At Your Instagram](https://eliteprep.com/blog/socia-media-college-admissions/) When was the last time you looked at your own online presence? Not just the latest Instagram “story” you posted… January 14, 2020 Kiley A. - ![What If I Fail a High School Course?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BFail-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [What If I Fail a High School Course?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/what-if-i-fail-a-high-school-course/) Despite how you might feel, this is not the end of the world. In fact, you have a number of possible ways to recover that F! January 8, 2020 - ![12 Tips For Getting Into Your Dream College](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BDream%2BSchool-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [12 Tips for Getting into Your Dream College](https://eliteprep.com/blog/12-tips-for-getting-into-your-dream-college/) Many of us grow up with our sights set on attending a particular “dream” school. To help you, here are 12 tips for how to get into your dream college. December 21, 2019 Stacy G. - ![You Can't Study All the Time: 6 Fun Study Break Ideas](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BStudy%2BBreaks-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [You Can't Study All the Time: 6 Fun Study Break Ideas](https://eliteprep.com/blog/6-study-break-ideas/) If you want to stay sharp throughout your study sessions, it’s crucial to occasionally step away from your studies. November 30, 2019 Jon G. - ![7 Great Ways to Develop Your Leadership Skills](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BLeadership-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [7 Great Ways to Develop Your Leadership Skills](https://eliteprep.com/blog/7-ways-to-develop-leadership-skills/) Leadership can teach you all sorts of helpful skills and result in a significant impact, sometimes on just one other person and others, on the entire world. November 26, 2019 Kiley A. - ![6 Ways to Show Genuine Interest in Your Intended College Major](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BMajor%2BInterest-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [6 Ways to Show Genuine Interest in Your Intended College Major](https://eliteprep.com/blog/show-interest-in-college-major/) In your college applications, it’s important that you demonstrate your interests… November 26, 2019 Stephen P. - ![What If I Don’t Have Any Extracurricular Activities?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BEXTRACURRICULUAR-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What if I Don't Have Any Extracurricular Activities?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/no-extracurricular-activities/) If you’re not on an athletic team, or in the band, or in student government, or involved with any school-organized clubs… November 20, 2019 Stephen P. - ![What to Do If You're Over the Word Limit on Your Admissions Essays](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2Bover%2Bword%2Blimit-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What to Do If You're Over the Word Limit on Your Admissions Essays](https://eliteprep.com/blog/over-word-limit-college-essays/) Being over the word count on your college essay is a great problem to have. All writing requires revision, and almost all revision entails condensing. November 18, 2019 Stephen P. [Browse every post by year →](https://eliteprep.com/blog/archive/) [Subscribe to the RSS feed](https://eliteprep.com/blog/rss.xml) ## Ready to Discuss Your Options? Each Elite Prep center sets its own class schedule and hours. Find the center nearest you and contact its staff for current schedules. [Find a center](https://eliteprep.com/locations/) [Browse programs](https://eliteprep.com/programs/)