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 have good news and bad news for you!

The good news:

You still have a few hours left to grab one of the last seats in the College Application Edge Bootcamp at the $3,495 discounted price.

The bad news?

This offer slinks out of the room in a few short hours.

If you wait any longer, you’ll have two choices:
Pay full price later ($5,995) like the families who missed this deal.
Try to “DIY” this process… and hope for the best.

Personally, I wouldn’t gamble my kid’s future on hope.

And I KNOW you don’t want to be sitting in the kitchen in August, September, October and maybe all the way through December, screaming at your kid to finish their applications before the Early Decision, Early Action and Regular Decision deadlines.

Do yourself and your kid a favor, preserve your relationship during the most stressful, high-stakes period of their young lives. Make the smart move today.

 Head on over here to get all the details and grab your seat before the promo disappears.

Learn m...

Are you rolling the dice on your child’s college future?

Be honest.

Because right now, some parents are making the fatal mistake of “waiting to see how things go.” They think:

"We’ll just see how junior year plays out…”

"Maybe we’ll get our guidance counselor to help in the fall…”

"We’ll worry about scholarships later…”

And then suddenly, it’s October. Deadlines are weeks away. Their child’s essays are a disaster.  Or, worse: unwritten.

And by then? It’s too late.

Every year, I get panicked emails from parents BEGGING me to step in at the last minute.

"Andy, is there ANY way we can get help now?? I should have called you last spring."

And I have to say no—because at that point, there’s only so much we can do: we're maxed out with students, unable to squeeze anyone else in, at any price (oh, the stories I could tell.  Such entitlement out there! :)

You can prevent this easily avoidable, self-sabotaging situation RIGHT NOW.. And pat yourself on the back for taking care of this...

Every year, parents come out of the word work and call the office in full-blown panic mode, after their child gets rejected from every single college they dreamed of.

They're stunned, because at the time they applied, hey thought: "Our kid has great grades! Wonderful extracurriculars! Leadership! They’ll be fine!"

They weren’t fine.

Because good grades, good scores and being secretary of National Honor Society aren’t enough, these days.

The game has changed since you and I applied to college. The college admissions process is barely recognizable, compared to the way things were in ancient times (the Eighties and Nineties). Unrecognizable and ridiculous.

If you want your child to:

Get into a top-tier and "best fit" school, not just settle for any college that takes her

Unlock massive amounts of merit scholarships that other families never even hear about

Avoid the stress, the scrambling, the last-minute disasters in the college application process

…then they need a bulletpro...

Let’s cut to the quick.

Admissions officers barely read your child’s application.

I know, that sounds harsh. But let’s get real:

Your child is just one of maybe 50,000 applicants—all with great grades, strong test scores, and leadership positions.  And “Passion Projects” (possibly the most annoying term in college admissions today – yuck!)

Admissions officers are drowning. They have thousands of essays and applications to get through on an aggressive timeline.

They spend an average of six minutes on each application before making a decision.

Six. Freaking. Minutes.

That’s how long they’ll spend analyzIng:
The transcript
Recommendation letters
The personal statement
The supplemental essays
Extracurriculars

And if your child’s application doesn’t immediately stand out, and telegraph the VALUE that she will bring to the college community...

It’s GAME OVER.

So, let me ask you…

If I sat your child down right now and asked, “Why should a college choose YOU?”...

…Could the...

Admissions "Cheat Code" Webinar

Whoopsies.

I meant to tell you about the webinar I'm running tomorrow (Wednesday 2/5), not the one in November (also scheduled but too early for registrations).

The sign up page is correct, but this morning's email mentioned the future, November event instead of tomorrow's.

My mistake!

But you can sign up for tomorrow's webinar here:

Admissions "Cheat Code"

- Andy "2nd Time's The Charm" Lockwood

P.S.   Topics for tomorrow's presentation include:

 The shocking percentage of families who pay full price for college—and how to avoid becoming one of them
 Why students with weaker GPAs and lower SAT scores STILL get into elite schools
 The hidden factors that REALLY matter in admissions (it’s not what they tell you and they’re not all politically correct)
 How financial aid is designed to punish families who saved—and how to fight back and beat the colleges at their own game
 How to negotiate for MORE money after your so-called “Final Offer” (yes, it...

If you’re relying on your school’s guidance counselor to help your son or daughter get into a top college and figure out how to get financial aid… you’re making a BIG mistake.

I’m not bashing school counselors.  They’re well-intentioned. But they’re undertrained and overworked, juggling hundreds of students.

They don’t have the time or the wherewithal to give you the "hidden," real playbook.

But I’ve got great news for you…

In tomorrow afternoon’s brand new free webinar, The College Admissions “Cheat Code”, you will discover rarely-disclosed tips and strategies to multiply your child’s odds of acceptance to her Dream School…

…and five plus “hacks” and “loopholes” that will help you SLASH college costs, even if you (mistakenly) think you’d get BUPKIS if you applied for aid!

Here are some of the “burning” questions and topics on tap tomorrow afternoon:

The shocking percentage of families who pay full price for college—and how to avoid becoming one of them
Why students with weake...