Heather McCarthy

Heather McCarthy, M.Ed., M.A.T. | Founder, Holistic College Counseling When families start thinking about college, junior year often feels like the time to get serious. But much of what will eventually shape a student's application has already happened by then. The courses they have chosen. The interests they have explored. The relationships they have built. The activities they have tried. Even the way they have learned to study, manage their time, and ask for help. I don't think students...

With some colleges requiring standardized testing and others remaining test optional, families are understandably unsure about how much time and money to invest in SAT or ACT preparation. The question I encourage families to ask is not simply, “Does my student need to take the SAT or ACT?” Instead, ask: “Could a strong SAT or ACT score help my student?” The answer will be different for every student. Start With a Baseline Before committing to months of test preparation, I recommend having a...