I was born in Burma, a country in South East Asia but originally of Chinese-Central Asian descent. I came to the United States of America in 2007 and began my life in Maryland as a 5-year old.

Living outside Baltimore, Maryland, makes it hard for a kid to imagine living elsewhere. But now, almost 20 years since I was born at the ​​Greater Baltimore Medical Center, I am studying at the University of Southern California. I can’t imagine ever moving back to the East Coast. But how did I end up here?

My name is Johanna Lee and I am currently an undergraduate studying Human Biology at the University of Southern California. As someone who grew up and lived in California practically all my life, I wanted to share my personal experience throughout my high school journey and the college application process.

The first week I arrived at Brown University, everyone was asking themselves the same question: How did I get in here? While we started off intimidated by our accomplished classmates and brilliant professors, we learned that the simple truth is that most top universities are filled not with child prodigies but with smart, hard-working students.

Getting into a BS/MD program is no small feat. It requires years of dedication, resilience, and an unwavering passion for medicine. My journey from high school to a combined medical program was anything but easy, but it was shaped by a unique set of experiences, personal challenges, and an unrelenting drive to make a difference in the field of healthcare.

You may have heard of the prestigious academic title called “National Merit Finalist”. In this blog post, we’re going to discuss what this academic distinction means and how students can become a National Merit Semifinalist and a National Merit Scholar (disclaimer: it will require a lot of hard work!).

In this informative blog post, we’re going to go over the list of the most applied-to colleges and universities in the U.S. that still require SAT and ACT scores for admission.

Out of the approximate 2 million high school students that took the SAT in the most recent academic year, a stunning 500,000 of these students were from California (which is supposedly a test-optional state).

Every quarter, I am invited to do an educational webinar with my college consulting industry colleague Jack Delehey on the state of college admissions and the standardized testing landscape. In the most recent webinar, we discussed a few key trends with SAT/ACT standardized testing which I’ll showcase below with data tables.

In this emailed blog post, my team and I at Tigerway will share our opinion on why it feels like getting into a top University is getting more and more difficult each year. More importantly we’ll talk about what Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors in High School can do about it.

Engineering and science disciplines require a strong foundation in mathematics and analytical thinking. The SAT's Math section serves as a benchmark for assessing students' proficiency in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and problem-solving—skills that are essential for success in engineering and science coursework. By excelling in the SAT Math section, students demonstrate their readiness to tackle the rigorous quantitative challenges inherent in these fields.

Traditionally, well-off private school students have enjoyed certain advantages in the college admissions process, including access to resources, personalized support, and extracurricular opportunities. However, in recent years, colleges and universities have begun to reassess their admissions criteria, placing a greater emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, assess students' understanding of fundamental concepts across various subjects. By preparing for these exams, students reinforce their knowledge base, ensuring they have a solid grasp of essential academic content. This preparation not only aids in test performance but also fosters a deeper understanding of key concepts crucial for success in college and beyond.