AchieveCoach College Consulting

07/29/2026

Georgia Tech joins other highly selective southern universities in dropping the supplemental admissions essay.

Georgia Tech’s first-year application for undergraduate admission will no longer require the Georgia Tech short-answer question beginning in the 2027 application cycle. Students will still be required to complete the Common App personal essay. This decision comes as the Office of Undergraduate Adm...

05/28/2026

Is the ACT Science section worth your time? The answer depends on your college list.
The ACT Science section is now optional — but for students applying to Georgetown, Boston University, Marquette, Pomona, or East Carolina, it's still required. And for STEM-bound students eyeing schools like U of Michigan or Duke, it's recommended.
Our latest post walks you through exactly how to decide —
👉 https://www.achievecoach.com/should-you-take-the-act-science-section
Questions about your testing strategy? That's what we're here for. DM us or visit achievecoach.com.

The ACT Science section is now optional at most colleges. Find out exactly who requires it, who recommends it, and how to decide if it's right for your college list.

04/30/2026

To every AchieveCoach family celebrating this spring — CONGRATULATIONS! 🎓

This year's students earned admission to 44+ colleges and universities, including some of the most competitive schools in the country. Together they secured more than $5 million in merit scholarships and awards.

But here's what I'm most proud of: every single one of these students found a college that truly fits — academically, socially, and financially.

That's what AchieveCoach is all about. ❤️ 👍🏼

📋 This year's admit list includes:
Cornell • Tufts • Boston College • Northeastern • Villanova • Tulane • Washington University in St. Louis • U.S. Naval Academy • Fordham • Syracuse • UMass Amherst • University of Pittsburgh • University of Miami • and 30+ more!

If your family has a junior starting to think about college, I'd love to connect. Spots are limited.
👉 www.achievecoach.com
— Marla Platt, MBA | Independent Educational Consultant

04/23/2026

Getting placed on a college waitlist adds to uncertainty, but guess what? You are STILL in the game! The move s knowing how to handle next steps. AchieveCoach is here to help you to navigate!! 👍🏼⏰⭐️ www.Achievecoach.com

Getting waitlisted feels like a “maybe” in a season full of yeses and no’s, and that uncertainty can be hard. But a waitlist placement means you are still in the game, and knowing how to handle it can make all the difference in attracting a late-season acceptance.

03/24/2026

Is your junior ready to build real momentum toward college?

03/10/2026

Here are 3 smart ways to make the most of this spring — from shaping the right college list to mapping out a testing strategy. Read the full post on our blog! 👇
www.achievecoach.com/blog

02/25/2026

"Choosing courses by content and appropriate challenge is the name of the game. Coursework rigor is the most important element of college applications." AchieveCoach.com

01/14/2026

A​uthentic and unique reflections on identity, background or origins ​deserve our CONSIDERATION and RESPECT in the college admissions process, regardless of political winds. 📝🙏🏼

Some students are still mentioning their race or immigrant status as the Trump administration cracks down on diversity efforts. But many are avoiding sensitive aspects of their identity.

01/07/2026

Merit scholarship awards are the "gold standard" of financial assistance.

Many families assume that applying for numerous outside scholarships is the best way to lower college costs. In reality, merit scholarships awarded directly by colleges often provide far greater financial benefit.

11/10/2025

Planning on reporting standardized test scores to colleges? Read along to find which schools require fee-based official score reports and which schools allow no-cost self-reporting at the time of application. 👍🏼😊

Examining self-reported SAT/ACT scores from students during the application process and when they require official reports.