This is a heads-up to the many students and their parents, who might be complacent about college prospects. Even in the past five years, admissions to the most competitive U.S. colleges have tightened further.

A parent will feel regretful when their child receives an unsatisfactory score on either the SAT or the ACT. Fewer scholarship opportunities, a smaller total amount of money available for awards, and the realization that "we could have prevented this."

Making new friends and figuring out "who they are" are two of the primary focuses of college life for students. Even though you're having a good time, it can be discouraging to struggle with your schoolwork at the same time. Many students will not let a few poor grades affect their overall grade point average, but having a good GPA is essential for your future after you graduate.

At Ivy Bound, we help students prepare for their AP (Advanced Placement) tests, but students can also help themselves. Those who attend school until mid-June will likely have teachers who cannot get through the whole textbook in time. Independently, students can use a decent AP guide to learn the content that’s not covered before the May round of AP exams.

Your high school GPA plays an instrumental role in the college admissions process. One letter grade can make a colossal difference over the course of three years of school work in getting accepted or denied at competitive colleges. Moving from a 3.4 to a 3.6 makes your college resume that much better than other students who are at a 3.5 or lower. Why does a mere 0.2 points make all the difference?