Private Prep - Learn to Thrive

Join us for an exclusive webinar in which we’ll provide valuable insights into mapping your 9th or 10th grader’s high school experience with an eye toward their future college admissions journey.

April 9, 2025 | 7:00 PM ET

What We'll Cover
Start planning from freshman year and beyond:

⭐️ Strategize your coursework—balance rigor, challenge, and passion
⭐️ Understand what your dream colleges are looking for
⭐️ Explore new extracurriculars and align them with your interests
⭐️ Gain insights into building a strong, well-rounded profile
⭐️ ..and more!

Following our 30-minute presentation, we'll include a 15-minute Q&A session so that you can get personalized answers to your questions.

Register today! https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0feJk2N9QXq13_T_nKcA-w #/registration

⭐️ Podcast Spotlight ⭐️
Cultivating Excellence
Episode 3: Achieving Mastery with Steve Feldman
Listen as Dr. Rebecca Resnik, Licensed Psychologist and host of the podcast Cultivating Excellence, chats with Private Prep Founder and Chief Growth Officer Steve Feldman about tutoring, academic coaching, and standardized test preparation. Steve examines the importance of both building student motivation and sharing subject matter expertise, and discusses how parents can help ensure students are invested in the tutoring process.

Tune in (link in bio) for expert tips on test prep, building student confidence, and improving academic skills!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-3-achieving-mastery-with-steve-feldman/id1796003751?i=1000696864703

⭐️ Demonstrated interest is an umbrella term for a student showing interest in a college or university. It can manifest in a lot of different ways, from something as small as opening the emails a college sends you (yes, some colleges really do track that) to something as big as visiting campus or, of course, applying Early Decision.

⭐️ Demonstrating interest in a school can increase your chances of admittance—sometimes in a big way! A study on demonstrated interest at one college found that students who were placed in the highest SAT quartile and who made on-site contacts increased their probability of admission by 34 percentage points. That’s a big impact!

⭐️ Check out our blog to learn more about how you can demonstrate interest in your dream school: https://privateprep.com/blog/demonstrated-interest/

So, your child is preparing for the SAT or ACT. Maybe they've just started to prepare; maybe they've taken a diagnostic or they've just begun sessions with a tutor. They're off to a great start!

The process is the most important thing—but let's talk about the finish line for a moment. When in the process should your child actually plan to take their first real exam? Swipe for a few factors to consider as you build your real test timeline!

Check out our blog for more helpful tips: https://privateprep.com/blog/when-to-take-the-sat-act/

Webinar: The Current Testing Landscape—ACT Changes & the Digital SAT

You're invited!

Join our Director of Test Prep and Curriculum, Emily Lubejko, in a webinar examining the current testing landscape, especially in light of changes coming soon to the ACT. Mark your calendars for this exclusive 45-minute conversation for families!

March 3, 2025 | 7:00 PM ET

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gTFfNrIyRCKMIVS94Qkg8g #/registration

What We'll Cover
In the session, we'll answer the following questions:

What should you know about the digital SAT?
When will the new ACT roll out?
What exactly is changing on the exam?
What do the ACT changes mean for students' testing timelines?
Following our 30-minute presentation, we'll include a 15-minute Q&A session so that you can get personalized answers to your questions.

Zoom link supplied upon registration.

Unable to attend at the scheduled time? Go ahead and register, and we’ll send you a recording.

📚️ Wondering how you’re going to juggle prep for German Language & Culture, Physics I, and World History AP exams this year? The prospect of preparing for more than one AP assessment can feel overwhelming, but fortunately, with thoughtful planning, good time management, strong study habits, and attention to your overall well-being, you can make this exam season successful.

Check out our blog to see our comprehensive guide on balancing prep for multiple AP exams and to learn how Private Prep can help: https://privateprep.com/blog/how-to-balance-prep-multiple-ap-exams/

💕💬 It's time to FLIP THE SCRIPT on how you talk to yourself.

💕💬 Research shows that what you say to yourself matters. Today—right now!—you could start building a growth mindset by leveraging the power of self-talk.

💕💬 Looking for help building positive self-talk or holding yourself accountable? Head to our blog for more ideas: https://privateprep.com/blog/executive-functioning/building-a-growth-mindset-positive-self-talk/

🎉 Private Prep is proud to announce that we now have a full lineup of 8 digital SAT practice tests available for our students! Practice tests for the new, soon-to-be released digital ACT are in the works and are scheduled for release in Spring 2025.

When it comes to personal and academic growth, setting goals is the easy part. But to be successful, you'll need to do much more than just make a plan. Consider these crucial questions: What is going to make your goal difficult, and how will you achieve it in spite of those difficulties? How will you measure progress along the way? What will you do to maintain your motivation?

Our executive function coaches have broken down goal-setting into a manageable, step-by-step process. Swipe to see the steps, and check out our blog for more guidance: https://privateprep.com/blog/5-steps-accomplishing-your-goals/

AP season is here! As you look ahead at a busy spring semester, start planning now for how you’ll survive and come out the other side with 5s on your APs. Check out the tips below or head to our blog for more info on how to plan your AP study timeline: https://privateprep.com/blog/ap-study-timeline/

⭐️ Know your test dates. AP exams are scheduled in a ten-day period in May. Dates and times are listed on the College Board website, and you can double check with your AP teacher. Mark your calendar.

⭐️ Start prepping and planning now. Keep current with your coursework.
Try not to load up on future commitments that will pull you away from your studies or conflict with key deadlines and exams.

⭐️ Identify where to focus your studies. Examine your syllabi, identifying your strengths and areas that need more focus.
Make a list of your top three priorities.

⭐️ Map out your AP study timeline. Work backwards from your test dates to figure out roughly how much study time to allot to each topic or skill each week. Build regular review sessions into your study plan.

🗓️ Great news for students targeting fall SAT exams: SAT has just confirmed test dates for the first half of the 2025-2026 school year, and they have included a new September test date, bringing the grand total to five available dates from August-December.

Check out our blog to learn more about what this means for test-takers this year: https://privateprep.com/blog/new-september-sat-test-date/

🫣 So, you just submitted your college applications. You double- and triple-checked each essay, and you were positive that everything was perfecto. But then, you reviewed your submitted materials, and—gasp—you noticed a mistake!

🫣 Don't panic. One mistake is not going to jeopardize your admission. Before you head into a tailspin, here is some concrete guidance to help you assess the situation and (if appropriate!) take steps to correct the error.

Check out our blog for more detailed guidance: https://privateprep.com/blog/college-admissions-blog/mistake-on-college-applications/

⭐️ This time of year can be a major rollercoaster. We're right there with you and understand what you're feeling! Learn more from our College Admissions team about next steps to set yourself up for success, depending on the decision you received.

⭐️ Swipe through for quick tips on what to do if you've been deferred, denied, or accepted, and head to our blog (link in bio) for even more details: https://privateprep.com/blog/deferred-denied-or-accepted/

AP exams might still be a few months away, but the time to begin planning your study timeline is now! Getting organized in advance can help you avoid having to make a mad dash to study when get test dates get close. Here are a few of our pro tips for planning:

⭐️ Know your test dates. Dates and times are listed on the College Board website, and you can double check with your AP teacher, your counselor, and your school itself to confirm when your test will be and how it will be administered.

⭐️ Create a schedule. Begin preparing now by keeping current with your coursework, avoiding future commitments that conflict with key deadlines and exams, and creating a timeline for studying.

⭐️ Examine your syllabi. Reflect on your current knowledge, identifying your strengths as well as key areas that need more focus.

⭐️ Identify your top three priorities. Having a list of your priorities will help you organize your initial study sessions as effectively as possible.

⭐️ Determine how much time you can devote to AP studies. Be realistic! Work backwards from your test dates to figure out how much study time you’ll need in total, and based on your priorities and your comfort level in each area, decide how much time to allot to each topic each week.

Check out more tips in our blog: https://privateprep.com/blog/ap-study-timeline/

🤩 A sneak peak at the new digital ACT is here! Students can now visit ACT’s Online Sample Questions to find both short collections of sample questions and a full practice test.

🤩 If you plan to take the new digital ACT in the spring, be sure to familiarize yourself with the test format. Practice using the on-screen tools, work through the unscored sample questions, and take the full-length practice test before your real exam.

🚫 That said, you may not want rush to complete this new test immediately. If you’re planning to work with a tutor to prepare for the new ACT this spring, we recommend holding off for the moment, because resources for the new ACT format are limited at this time. Your tutor can recommend the best time to try out this practice test!

You can find more information on the new practice test in our blog. https://privateprep.com/blog/new-digital-act-practice-test/

⏰️ You can now register for ACT test dates through July 12, 2025! ⏰️ Test centers fill up quickly—if you plan to take the ACT, we recommend you register well in advance. A quick reminder that when registering you only need to complete the required questions.

⭐️ Important changes for U.S. students ⭐️
Starting with the April 5th exam, you will have the option to sign up for either a paper ACT or a new, shortened digital ACT. However, there are still many unknowns about the digital test. We recommend that U.S. students register for the paper test to avoid any issues.

⭐️ International students ⭐️
Your test is not changing this school year, so you can register as usual.

Head to our blog to learn more about changes to the ACT and how to plan your testing timeline: https://privateprep.com/blog/new-act-roadmap/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--EoCpC86bNydrrKhHwGBV2AMj0V-pN5U9RV7kGb66Mb-YKWjwJC95M6dVEiZtB8Y5w-UEw

PSAT scores are out, and with them come enthusiastic questions about the PSAT’s big brothers, the SAT and ACT. Here are some important notes to keep in mind as you review your child’s PSAT score! Swipe for a few tips, and head to our blog for more.⁠

⁠https://privateprep.com/blog/making-sense-of-psat-scores/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_TtbHhXpvkbum2TYHjSiuTo-h6m4Wa62mbkre2c9WJfQvAxqtrqP2O_XfECynThacAx79N

Welcome to the fall semester homestretch! It's the perfect time to take stock of your grades across the board–while you still have time to fix anything that isn't working! If you find that your grades aren't where you'd like them to be, don't panic: there's plenty you can do to boost your grades before the end of the semester.

Check out our blog for more info: https://privateprep.com/blog/executive-functioning/boost-your-grades/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Q3KkFM_ewDNeoSVce3-wrD3dJ1C-awCuPStPujWsnUWEdBXwHnEwSSNGuDlfYbdZR1eD2