I'll cut to the quick because I respect your time:

College admissions for the Class of 2025 was a bloodbath.  So many qualified kids who "deserved" better, tossed into the Reject Pile without rhyme or reason.

Correction: APPARENT rhyme or reason.

It doesn't have to be a bloodbath for your kiddo, if he's a class of 2026, 2027 or younger.

First, you have to learn the rules of The Game.  If you don't know what it takes to get into an Ivy or other competitive college, I want you to know one thing:

It's not your fault.

You're not taught the "secrets" (a/k/a non-politically correct factors hiding in plain sight) that admissions committees look for.

Some of these considerations are out of your kid's control.  But many aren't.

Either way, college acceptance success starts with College Knowledge.  The good news is that I'm running a free webinar tomorrow night, The College Application Edge System.

At this workshop, we'll cover actual, tested and proven strategies and tips that -- if im...

The ACT is "transitioning," and the SAT just changed a few months back.

What do these changes mean for your kiddo?

Tonight we're running a free class to help you figure out Which Test is Best...

...so that your son or daughter can CRUSH the test, get into his Dream College and win an unconscionable amount of fat, juicy scholarships. :)

Here's where to go:

Learn more...

- Andy "Test Not Optional" Lockwood

P.S.  Many colleges are still Test Optional, but that number is on the decline.

The SAT and ACT still matter, because they are good -- not perfect -- predictors of how well a student will perform in college. 

P.P.S.  Questions you might have:

Is the SAT or ACT best for strong math students?

Which test is best for Sciencey kids?

For slow test takers?

For ast test takers?

For "Bad" test takers?

That's just a few snippets of what you will discover, tonight!

How do you figure out whether your kiddo should take the SAT or *new* (improved?) ACT?

Which one's best for strong math students?

Sciencey kids?

Slow test takers?

Fast test takers?

"Bad" test takers?

Tomorrow night, our Chief Standardized Test Officer Marissa U will help you figure out Which Test Is Best...

...so that your young 'un can crush the test, and get into her Dream School...

...and win bucketloads of merit scholarships!

Here's where to get more details about tomorrow's web class:

Learn more...

- Andy "Testing, Testing" Lockwood

P.S.  Many colleges are still Test Optional, but that number is on the decline.

The SAT and ACT still matter, because they are good -- not perfect -- predictors of how well a student will perform in college.  Admissions officers would rather see scores than not.

Applying Test Optional is not the same thing as GETTING IN Test Optional.

College Negotiations Help

It's not exactly a newsflash, but colleges are businesses.

That means, like every red-blooded, capitalist enterprise, they would prefer to get more money out of you than less. 

They may not be terribly forthcoming about how to "appeal" or negotiate with them, after they dole out a financial aid or merit aid offer that leaves you wondering, "Where's the beef?"  Here are my thoughts:

• Yes, you actually can negotiate your offer (many parents don't realize this)
• No, they won't rescind your acceptance or do some other dastardly, punitive thing to you just because you asked for more cashola
• The three most effective arguments you can make to a college about why it should give you more money are:
  • Severe drop in income since the Base Year of your financial aid applications (for 2025 grads, the Base Year is 2023)
  • Significant expenses that were not disclosed on the financial aid applications (But "We live in a high cost area" will not sway their opinion)
  • Bett...

We're in the throes of arguably the bumpiest college decision season in history.   

Daily, I'm witnessing joy in Mudville, as well as reports of sobbing, bedridden kids crushed by rejections (sometimes the same person).

In the midst of this emotional, chaotic time -- especially today, a/k/a "Ivy Day" -- it's important to focus on an important, overlooked truth:

Where you go is not who you are

I know, your kid may not want to hear it seconds after a rejection.  But that doesn't mean it's untrue.

I won't bore you with one of those long lists of famous successful people who didn't go to an Ivy, or who were rejected by their top choice college, but it's far from the end of the world if you don't get into your top choice college...

...but I can't help myself, so here's a short list of some really successful, non-Ivy leaguers.

Howard Schultz, the Starbucks guy - Northern Michigan University

Marc Cuban -- Indiana University

Steve Jobs -- Reed College (dropout)

Michael Dell - UT Aust...

We're moments away from shutting the door on tonight's SAT Crusher class, but we still have three (3) spots left.

If you (or your friends) are interested, here's where to get the low-down on our GUARANTEED, small group tutoring class:

<<<<<SAT Crusher Class>>>>>

Use coupon code SPRING for a nifty $125 "scholarship" (discount).

That coupon code works for all the classes listed on that page, BTW.

Bottom line:

A strong SAT or ACT score can still open doors, win money, and get your kid into a better school.

Get Started >

- Andy "Tootin' My Tutor's Horn" Lockwood

P.S. Your instructor, Marissa U, doesn't merely believe in “just getting by" or "settling" for a "decent" score.

Her client Dylan Briody started with a 1330, and was hoping for a 1450. His final score, hot off the presses:

1520!

Our test prep courses are built to help students CRUSH the SAT and ACT. Here's how:

• Raise scores fast with proven strategies (75% strategby, 25% content. If that)
• Build "game day" confide...

SAT and ACT Prep Small Group Tutoring

Admissions results are a-rollin' in, and it's proving to be the bumpiest year I can recall.

I'm always trying to sift and sort through the data to make sense of it all, but it's not easy.

But one thing seems to stand out like a sore thumb:

SAT and ACT scores matter.

The higher your scores, the better your odds of admission.   Even in today's test-optional world.  

Yes, most colleges still let you APPLY test-optional.   But there's a difference between applying test-optional and getting in test-optional.

That’s the reality no one tells you during campus tours. They want EVERYONE to apply, because more applications means more rejections, and more rejections mean higher rankings.

That's how the College Admissions Matrix manipulates you.

But here’s the good news:

We specialize in helping students crush these tests.

Not just “do okay.” Not “get by.” We’re talking real improvement. Real confidence. Real results.

Like our client Dylan Briody,...

Picture this.

It’s December. It's a dark, chilly evening.

Your kid logs into their college admissions portal. You're trying not to hover or eavesdrop. Yet, here you are.

They click “View Decision,” their hands shaking, their stomach in knots.

The page struggles to load...Then, finally, you see the words:

"We regret to inform you…"

Maybe they don’t even finish reading. Maybe they slam their laptop shut, fighting back tears...while their friends celebrate acceptance letters from their dream schools.

Now you’re the one feeling sick. Could this have been avoided?

I won't pull punches. The answer is YES.

This year’s admissions cycle has been an absolute bloodbath.

Record-low acceptance rates

An explosion of applicants (even safety schools are rejecting top students)

Families losing out on five-figure scholarships because they didn’t know how to play the College Funding Game

But still…some students somehow beat long odds, and get in.

Many, “less qualified”. 

And thousands...

I never do this, but apparently 3-4 folks had problems that prevented them from signing up for this deal that expired last night.

So we're opening the window to get in on this deal on our Financial Aid Warrior program:

What you get for $500 off:
Strategies to maximize financial aid eligibility
Flawless form filing—no mistakes, no missed deadlines
Unlimited phone/email support all the way through
Expert coaching to negotiate MORE from colleges

Hurry! Get this "Second Bite at the Apple" discount on our Financial Aid Warrior program before it’s gone (and you're filled with stinging regret for the rest of eternity).

See you on the other side of the rainbow.

1-Pay (Best Deal)

EZ-Payment Plan

- Andy "Lastest Call" Lockwood

P.S.  The world of financial aid and college applications is chock full of deadlines and opportunities that are easy to miss.

You missed this one, but you're getting another chance.  This chance expires today, 5pm EST.

We're in the final countdown for our financial aid consulting promo but I wanted to tell you a quick story about a client/friend named Rick, who I hang out every March to watch the basketball games (he's a St John's grad, I want to law school there).

Rick's daughter applied to numerous colleges, getting into most of them.

Murphy's Law being what it is, her worst financial aid offer was at her top choice college, the University of Spoiled Children in Los Angeles.

Rick told her, sorry, if we can't get any more money out of them, you'll have to go to one of the other colleges.  (It's debatable whether he meant it, since he's kind of a pushover.  But aren't we all? :)

Two tense weeks ensued.  I drafted a letter of appeal for Rick to send to USC's financial aid office.  He sent it, but forgot to cc his daughter's admissions officer.  (I have Rick on video, admitting his mistake, thank you very much.)

Once Rick realized his error, thanks to some "gentle" prodding by moi, he quickly disp...