Articles & Videos
Commit To ACT or SAT Prep For the Money
For students who need help making a school-year commitment to serious ACT or SAT prep. It can be hard to find motivation. Our founder, Mark Greenstein, explains why you should commit to seriously preparing for college admission tests. Concentrated test preparation shows your academic authority and dedication to continually grow and develop.
60-40 Split: Potential advantages for male students in college admissions
Female to male college acceptance.Many colleges have a nearly 60-40 female and male ratio for undergraduate students. Learn how this trend affects college admissions. Ivy Bound tutoring and test prep courses can help get you get accepted to your dream school.
When should I complete my college applications?
When Should You Complete Your College Applications? Timing becomes crucial. Find out when the optimum time is to submit your college application.Find out when the optimum time is to submit your college application. Call now to find out how we can assist your student.
Visiting College Campuses: How, When, and Why?
Should you visit a college campus you are applying to? Ivy Bound owner Mark Greenstein answers some of the most common questions parents and students have about campus visits. For over 20 years, Ivy Bound Test Prep and Academic Tutoring has helped students accomplish their academic goals. The academic admissions process is familiar territory for our tutors and staff. Call today to see how we can help.
“Test Optional” is not “Test Blind”
Are you thinking about applying to a university early decision without submitting your ACT or SAT scores? Learn how the word "test optional" might deceive students and harm their chances of acceptance. Ivy Bound's Mark Greenstein presents the most up-to-date information on why you should submit your test scores to improve your chances of acceptance. Call today to learn how we can help your student
What makes a college essay stand out?
Mark Greenstein of Ivy Bound helps parents figure out how to get into college. He and his tutors are very good at helping students prepare for tests and do well in school. In this video, Mark talks about college essay tips and how a teen can make their submission standout.
What Looks Good On College Applications?
Is your family trying to determine what looks good on college applications? SAT or ACT scores help students who want to get into good colleges, and this is especially true for African-Americans who want to go to top schools. But everybody needs something more. Mark Greenstein of Ivy Bound shows parents and students what makes a college application stand out.
Are AP Classes Worth It?
Ivy Bound's Mark Greenstein helps students and parents assess the importance of APs, honors, IB, and challenging university classes for college admission. For SAT and ACT Prep, Ivy Bound's tailoring, its materials, and its talented tutors yield great results for students, over 140 point average SAT increases, and nearly 14 section-point ACT score increases.
Do I Need To Take The SAT?
The SAT is a huge admissions helper for ambitious minority students. At most universities, the SAT is also a significant helper to their parents in the form of scholarships. The SAT is primarily a test of skills, among them reasoning skills. Boosting those skills is what we do best at Ivy Bound, and we are here to help you towards that goal.
Asian-American Scholarships
Ivy Bound's Mark Greenstein draws attention to the financial ramifications of need-based prizes, which, when used wisely, can benefit Asian Americans. Although a qualified financial counselor is advised in this situation, Mark's tips are a good place to start.
Exceptions to “Test Optional” Rules: Who Needs to Show VERY High SAT Scores?
The big exception on admission to "test optional" colleges. These students need to show SAT scores WELL above the university’s published median. Students with few to no extracurricular activities that colleges appreciate need to show scores 100+ points above the published medians to feel good about admission to a given college.
How to play the “Test Optional” game with college admissions
Ivy Bound's Mark Greenstein lets students and parents hear the upside and downside of presenting scores to "test optional" colleges. Colleges still reward students for scoring above their MEDIAN. It makes the college look good.
Early Decision Statistics Among Elite Colleges
Many elite schools saw a dramatic increase in applications, especially early applications, with Princeton up 18 percent and Columbia, Duke, Dartmouth, and Cornell reporting the largest early application pools in their histories.All Ivy League institutions and many other selective colleges have released their early admissions stats*. We've compiled them below and will continue to update the numbers applying to, and accepted by, these elite institutions.
College Prep Suggestions for Teens and Parents
Before a student even begins the college search, he or she will have to deal with things like taking college preparation classes in advanced mathematics and language arts, including foreign languages, visiting college fairs and college campuses, and determining a course of university study. The list offered here is the result of experience with thousands of college-bound students and their parents who have been through the process. We hope that, as you apply to college and then bask in the joy of college acceptance, you'll see the process as a journey that is manageable -- and maybe even enjoyable -- with the right resources.