High school students interested in learning college-level material, boosting their GPAs, and even earning college credit well before getting their acceptance letters should consider taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses or signing up for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) if their schools offer them. High scores on AP [...]
Decades of research have identified what actually predicts college success — and it's not just grades. General Academic's new framework puts numbers to what admissions offices already know: the whole student matters. Every fall, roughly 3.7 million American high school seniors begin what may be the most consequential bureaucratic process [...]
The test-optional wave that swept through higher education during the pandemic hasn't receded—more than 2,000 colleges and universities still don't require SAT or ACT scores for admission. But the tide is turning in ways that matter for Houston families planning their college strategy. MIT brought back testing requirements in 2022. [...]
What is Automatic Admission at Texas Universities? Texas high school students who excel relative to the rest of their graduating class have the opportunity for automatic acceptance into top public universities, such as the University of Texas, Texas A&M, and the University of Houston. All public universities, such as [...]
The first ever Texas Free College Application Week is October 13-19, 2025. During this week all Texas public colleges, including the University of Texas at Austin and A&M College Station, will accept applications via the ApplyTexas website at no charge. The fee waiver will save families about $75 per application, [...]
Updated Guide Available: For a deeper look at what five years of test-optional data actually show—including the latest research on outcomes, current Texas university policies, and a practical framework for deciding whether to submit scores—see our comprehensive 2026 guide: Test-Optional in 2026: What Houston Families Need to Know. Since [...]
Choosing where you will spend the next four years is a high-stakes decision that shapes your learning, finances, and future network. This guide shows you—step by step—how to choose a college by building a balanced college list that fits your academic profile and your life goals, without letting rankings or [...]
Every Texas public college, more than 30 in total, grants automatic admission to resident, high-school seniors who meet certain class rank and/or standardized test requirements. In fact, automatic admission is usually the most practical way for high achieving Texas residents to gain admission to prestigious public colleges like the [...]
Applying to college gets tougher every year, with constantly shifting requirements, tricky essays, and increasingly fierce competition. Private college admissions consultants simplify this process, providing personalized guidance, targeted essay help, and smart planning—all proven to boost college acceptance rates. With expert support, families stress less, save time, and help students [...]
Texas high school students have two main pathways to graduation: the Texas Foundation High School Program, and the Texas First Early High School Diploma Program. Since the 2014-2015 school year, the Foundation High School Program (FHSP) has been the default route for graduation for all Texas public high school students. [...]