Score At The Top Blog
The latest tips, tricks, and education to help you get into your top college.
Colleges Dropping Supplemental Essays: Why SAT/ACT Scores Now Matter More
As colleges drop supplemental essays for 2026–27, admissions offices have fewer data points to judge applicants. Here's why SAT/ACT scores now matter more.
Colleges That Require the SAT or ACT: The Full List for Classes of 2027, 2028
The full list of colleges that require the SAT or ACT for the Classes of 2027 and 2028, including every Ivy for 2028, plus the fine print that families miss.
Digital SAT Updates for 2026: What the College Board Told a Room Full of Test-Prep Experts
Digital SAT updates for 2026: new test-center capacity, 12 Bluebook practice tests, registration changes, and the one feature test-prep pros want back.
ACT Changes in 2026: What the New Roadmap Means for Your Student
A guide to the ACT changes in 2026: free practice tests, section retesting, remote proctoring, and more. Here's what's real and how to plan ACT prep.
APUSH or Honors? How to Make the Course-Rigor Call
Should a top student take APUSH or Honors U.S. History? See how selective colleges weigh course rigor and strength of curriculum, and how to choose.
The Vanderbilt Case Study: What "Test-Optional" Actually Did to Admit Rates (2025–26)
Vanderbilt applications jumped 54% under test-optional while admits dropped 46%. What that means for SAT and ACT strategy.