The biggest event of the year for middle school STEM students is happening this coming week.

Society for Science and Broadcom Foundation invite you to see research conducted by the nation’s top middle school scientists!

Join the virtual public exhibition of the Broadcom MASTERS 2021 finalists’ original research projects! The Broadcom MASTERS is the nation’s premier STEM competition for middle school students.

Click HERE to download the 2021 Finalist Book.

Head HERE for the Broadcom MASTERS Science and…

As high school students navigate the college application process, a common question that pops up for most families is whether there is a correct number of colleges that their student should be applying to? Is there such a thing as too many or too few? 

Students should ideally aim to apply to around 8 to 10 colleges. If they wish, they could push to 12 colleges. You will definitely hear about students that apply to more, and to as many as 20 colleges. This applies particularly to  students who are aiming for more selective colleges as there are no guarantees for…

Most high schools offer multiple levels in the courses they offer. Usually the courses are standard, accelerated or honors, and AP (Advanced Placement). The conventional wisdom is that academically motivated students looking to apply to highly selective schools should take the most rigorous course load that is offered by their high schools. While this is true, and this is what college admissions officers say, it could be a conundrum for students that attend schools offering honors and AP courses in every subject. Is it necessary to take 8+ AP courses and all other honors courses? Are 4 to…

There is a misperception amongst some parents that paying tuition and sending students to private schools gives their child an edge in college admissions. Is this true? Does it make a difference whether students attend a public or private high school? 

The answer is Yes and No. Historically, top independent and boarding schools were pipelines into Ivies and highly selective schools. That picture has changed significantly in recent years as colleges are seeking more diversity. But even today, the fact remains that 25-40% of students at top colleges come from private high…

By: Lloyd Nimetz, The Spike Lab

In the same way that Covid has radically transformed so much of our society, it has catalyzed major shifts in the college admissions 2021 process and beyond. The rippling aftereffects will last for years even as high schools, colleges, and society as a whole (hopefully) return to some degree of normalcy later this year. Almost without exception, every grade experienced upheaval, from pre-K to postgraduate, and observers have suggested that the Covid-19 crisis could add up to a “lost generation” of students.

College Admissions 2021…

The school that a child attends has a significant impact on the child’s academic trajectory and achievement, their social and emotional development, as well as the kinds of opportunities and resources available to them. Parents often wonder if enrolling their child in a private school makes a dramatic difference in their children’s education. Is one preferable over the other? Unfortunately, there is no standard response to this question. There are many excellent private schools as well as many weak ones, just as there are many wonderful public schools as terrible ones. Although it is not…

As students settle into school this month, with most in-person activities resuming, students will continue extracurricular activities they have already been involved in or explore new activities to pursue in the new school year. Extracurricular activities are an important part of high school as they provide an outlet for students to explore interests outside of the classroom and provide important leadership skills, as well as social and emotional benefits. It is also one of the most important criteria in how a college differentiates one applicant from another. Especially for highly…

By Lloyd Nimetz of The Spike Lab

This year, college admissions was a tough game, especially for well-rounded students. The increase in applications to top-tier schools—sparked in part by the lifting of testing requirements—led to a significant decrease in the percentage of admitted students. Harvard admitted a mere 3.4 percent of applicants, Yale a paltry 4.6 percent, and Princeton a measly 3.98 percent. Other elite colleges had similar stats. Even high achieving, well-rounded students with stellar academic records and extracurriculars didn’t get admissions offers at their desired…

Middle school is a time when students’ interests and abilities slowly start to pave the way for what classes they take in high school, what activities they engage in, and ultimately what future studies and career paths lie ahead for them. This is a great time for exploration and discovery, where students can dabble in many different things without any expectation. While grades do become more important at this stage compared to elementary school, they ultimately do not matter too much. College applications will only ask for high school grades, not those from middle school. Hence, while…

The college admissions process is an essential part of a student’s life and requires a significant amount of thought and research. However, in a frenzy to get ahead of the admissions game and do things the right way, students often give in to certain myths regarding the process. What is the essay supposed to be like? What makes a good application? While it is good to turn to others for help and scour the internet for resources, students can often be peppered by misinformation and myths that may do more harm than good. We have compiled a list of the most common myths associated with the…