June 23, 2026

Why AI can be a bad idea for an essay coach

By Zelda Thomas-Curti, College Counselor and Essay Coach
[email protected]

Every year, I see more students consider using AI for their college essays, and I understand why. The college process can feel overwhelming, and families are often looking for ways to make it easier. But when it comes to the personal essay, I want parents to know that the strongest writing usually comes from the student’s own voice.

The essay is one of the few parts of a college application where a student gets to show who they really are. It gives admissions committees something they cannot find in grades or test scores, which is a glimpse of personality, perspective, and self-reflection. That is why it matters so much for the essay to feel genuine and personal. Colleges are not only looking for strong students. They are also looking for thoughtful, self-aware young people who can communicate their experiences in a clear and authentic way.

This is also where working with a college essay coach can be so helpful. A good coach can help students think through their experiences, uncover what feels most meaningful, and shape a story that truly reflects who they are. Sometimes students need help recognizing that the moments they think are ordinary are actually the ones that make them interesting. What feels small or routine to them may be exactly what makes their story feel real and memorable to someone else.

From the newsletter, the article picks up here….

My concern with AI is not just that it can make an essay sound less personal. It can also pull students away from the process of discovering their own story. The best essays are not written to sound perfect. They are written to sound real. Colleges want to hear the student’s voice, including the small details, quirks, and honest reflections that make the writing feel human and memorable. That voice is what helps an application stand out in a crowded pool of similarly accomplished students.

It is also important for families to know that colleges have clear expectations around AI use in applications. In general, students should not use AI to write the actual essay. Some schools may allow it for brainstorming or editing, but the essay itself should remain the student’s own work. And while families sometimes think of this as a small shortcut, the consequences can be serious. At a recent college counselors conference, admissions officers from the University of Pennsylvania shared an example of a student who fabricated something on her application. She was initially accepted, but later had her admission rescinded. That story was a powerful reminder that honesty in the application process really matters, and that a rescinded offer is not just a warning. It is a real outcome that can change a student’s path in a major way.

As parents, one of the best things we can do is encourage our children to trust their own voice. The college essay does not need to be polished to the point of sounding generic. It needs to feel thoughtful, sincere, and unmistakably theirs. That is what helps a student stand out in a process where so many applications can start to sound similar. Students do not need to have the most dramatic story in the room. They need to have a true one.

Looking for an essay coach?  Flying Colors can help.  Email Ron Michalak, president and founder, to learn more at [email protected].

June 1, 2026

What should my student do about the science section on the ACT?

ACT shortened and redesigned its test in 2025. The science section is now optional, and the core test — English, reading, and math — makes up the “enhanced ACT.” Students who take science receive a separate score; it no longer factors into the Composite.

This raises real questions for students: Do colleges require science, even though ACT doesn’t? Will science count toward a school’s superscore?

The short answer: we don’t fully know yet. The ACT’s own superscore report excludes science, but individual colleges set their own policies — and most haven’t published clear guidance on the new format.

Until they do, Flying Colors recommends that students prepare for and take the science section at least once. If a school you’re applying to requires it, you’ll have a score ready. We’ll continue monitoring college policies and keep you updated as things become clearer.

The leadership team of Flying Colors is here to help you and your family make decisions about the timing of prep and testing.  We can bring to bear our 15 years of experience along with data gleaned from practice tests and students’ academic backgrounds.  Please feel free to reach out to us when you and your student are ready to discuss the preparation process.  Our contact information is below.

Warmly,
Ron Michalak
President, Flying Colors Test Prep

Ron Michalak
President, Flying Colors Prep
Edina and Plymouth offices
[email protected]
612.216.5133

Flying Colors Education Directors  

John Kingsbury
Director, St. Paul office
john@flyingcolorsprep.com
218.791.7910

Matt McManus
Director, Eden Prairie office
matt@flyingcolorsprep.com
612.578.9995

Rachel Erickson
Director, Students with Learning Disabilities
rachel@flyingcolorsprep.com
218.201.2615

April 24, 2026

The Sophomore Edge

For many families, college planning seems to arrive suddenly in junior year, when timelines tighten and decisions begin to feel consequential. Yet the students who navigate that season with the greatest confidence rarely begin there. They start earlier, in quieter and more deliberate ways.

The second semester of sophomore year offers a rare kind of space. It is early enough to build and improve, yet close enough to what comes next that those efforts matter. Academic consistency is the foundation of this period. Strong grades now do more than strengthen a transcript; they establish habits that will be required as coursework becomes more demanding.

Continue reading……

It is also a useful time to gain familiarity with what lies ahead. Standardized testing often feels abstract until students experience it firsthand. A spring practice test with Flying Colors can provide clarity around pacing, structure, and areas for growth, replacing uncertainty with perspective.  You can click here to register for a practice exam with us.

Equally important is maintaining balance. As students look forward to finishing up sophomore year, this time, ideally, should not be defined by pressure or acceleration, but by steady engagement. Students who remain focused on academics while gradually becoming more aware of the admissions landscape tend to enter junior year with far more stability.

A modest sense of structure can help as well. Thinking ahead, even loosely, about when testing might occur or how coursework will unfold allows families to avoid the sense of sudden urgency that often appears later. Flying Colors has long recommended that students begin the test prep process during the summer before their junior year, when they are free of the demands of the school year, and can work to build greater familiarity with the test and confidence in their test-taking skills.

The advantage is not found in doing more. It is found in beginning with intention, while there is still time for that intention to matter without urgency attached to it.

When that foundation is in place, junior year feels less abrupt. Decisions are clearer, and confidence is no longer reactive. It is earned.

The leadership team of Flying Colors is here to help you and your family make decisions about the timing of prep and testing.  We can bring to bear our 15 years of experience along with data gleaned from practice tests and students’ academic backgrounds.  Please feel free to reach out to us when you and your student are ready to discuss the preparation process.  Our contact information is below.

Warmly,
Ron Michalak
President, Flying Colors Test Prep

Ron Michalak
President, Flying Colors Prep
Edina and Plymouth offices
[email protected]
612.216.5133

Flying Colors Education Directors  

John Kingsbury
Director, St. Paul office
john@flyingcolorsprep.com
218.791.7910

Matt McManus
Director, Eden Prairie office
matt@flyingcolorsprep.com
612.578.9995

Rachel Erickson
Director, Students with Learning Disabilities
rachel@flyingcolorsprep.com
218.201.2615

April 10, 2026

List-o-mania! Schools that require test scores + superscoring schools!

Schools that require the ACT or SAT

Auburn University
Brown University
California Institute of Technology
Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Florida A&M University
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida International University
Florida State University
Gallaudet University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Southern University
Georgia State University
Harvard College
Johns Hopkins University
Kennesaw State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mercer University
New College of Florida
Ohio State University—Columbus
Princeton University
Purdue University—West Lafayette
Stanford University
The Cooper Union
Thomas Aquinas College
United States Air Force Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Military Academy
United States Naval Academy
University of Alabama
University of Central Florida
University of Dallas
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Memphis
University of Miami
University of Pennsylvania
University of South Florida
University of Tennessee
University of Texas—Austin
Yale University

Schools that Superscore the ACT and SAT

College or University SAT ACT
Abilene Christian University Yes Yes
Adelphi University Yes Yes
Agnes Scott College Yes No
Albion College Yes Yes
Allegheny College Yes Yes
American University Yes Yes
Amherst College Yes Yes
Appalachian State University Yes Yes
Arizona State University—Tempe No No
Auburn University Yes Yes
Augustana College No No
Austin College Yes Yes
Babson College Yes Yes
Baldwin Wallace University Yes Yes
Bard College Yes Yes
Barnard College Yes Yes
Bates College Yes Yes
Baylor University Yes Yes
Beloit College Yes Yes
Bennington College Yes Yes
Bentley University Yes Yes
Berea College Yes Yes
Berry College Yes No
Binghamton University—SUNY Yes Yes
Biola University Yes No
Birmingham-Southern College Yes Yes
Boston College Yes Yes
Boston University Yes Yes
Bowdoin College Yes Yes
Bradley University No No
Brandeis University Yes Yes
Brigham Young University—Provo No No
Brown University Yes Yes
Bryn Mawr College Yes No
Bucknell University Yes Yes
Butler University Yes Yes
California Institute of Technology Yes Yes
California Lutheran University Yes Yes
Carleton College Yes No
Carnegie Mellon University Yes No
Carroll College No No
Case Western Reserve University Yes Yes
Centre College Yes Yes
Chapman University Yes No
Christopher Newport University Yes No
Claremont McKenna College Yes Yes
Clark University Yes Yes
Clarkson University No No
Clemson University Yes Yes
Coe College No No
Colby College Yes Yes
Colgate University Yes Yes
College of Charleston Yes Yes
College of New Jersey Yes Yes
College of St. Benedict Yes Yes
College of the Holy Cross Yes Yes
College of William and Mary Yes Yes
College of Wooster Yes Yes
Colorado College Yes No
Colorado School of Mines Yes Yes
Colorado State University Yes Yes
Columbia University Yes Yes
Concordia College—Moorhead Yes Yes
Connecticut College Yes Yes
Cooper Union Yes Yes
Cornell College Yes Yes
Cornell University Yes Yes
Creighton University Yes Yes
CUNY—Baruch College Yes Yes
Dartmouth College Yes Yes
Davidson College Yes Yes
Denison University Yes Yes
DePaul University No No
DePauw University Yes Yes
Dickinson College Yes Yes
Drake University Yes Yes
Drew University Yes No
Drexel University Yes Yes
Drury University Yes Yes
Duke University Yes Yes
Duquesne University Yes Yes
Earlham College Yes Yes
Elmhurst College No No
Elon University Yes Yes
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Yes Yes
Emerson College Yes Yes
Emory University Yes Yes
Fairfield University Yes Yes
Florida Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Florida State University Yes Yes
Fordham University Yes Yes
Franklin and Marshall College Yes Yes
Furman University Yes Yes
Gallaudet University Yes Yes
George Mason University Yes No
George Washington University Yes Yes
Georgetown University Yes No
Georgia Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Gettysburg College Yes Yes
Gonzaga University Yes Yes
Goshen College Yes Yes
Goucher College Yes Yes
Grinnell College Yes Yes
Gustavus Adolphus College Yes Yes
Hamilton College Yes Yes
Hampden-Sydney College Yes Yes
Hampton University Yes No
Hanover College Yes Yes
Harvard University Yes No
Harvey Mudd College Yes Yes
Haverford College Yes Yes
Hendrix College Yes Yes
High Point University Yes Yes
Hillsdale College No No
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Yes Yes
Hofstra University Yes Yes
Hollins University Yes Yes
Hope College Yes Yes
Howard University Yes No
Illinois Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Illinois Wesleyan University No No
Indiana University—Bloomington Yes Yes
Iowa State University Yes Yes
Ithaca College Yes Yes
James Madison University Yes Yes
John Brown University No No
Johns Hopkins University Yes Yes
Kalamazoo College Yes Yes
Kenyon College Yes Yes
Knox College Yes Yes
Lafayette College Yes Yes
Lake Forest College Yes Yes
Lawrence University Yes Yes
Lehigh University Yes Yes
Lewis & Clark College Yes Yes
Lipscomb University No No
Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge Yes Yes
Loyola Marymount University Yes No
Loyola University Chicago Yes Yes
Loyola University Maryland Yes Yes
Luther College Yes No
Macalester College Yes Yes
Marist College Yes Yes
Marquette University Yes Yes
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Mercer University Yes Yes
Miami University—Oxford Yes Yes
Michigan State University No No
Michigan Technological University No No
Middlebury College Yes Yes
Millsaps College Yes Yes
Milwaukee School of Engineering No No
Mississippi State University Yes Yes
Missouri University of Science & Technology Yes Yes
Morehouse College Yes No
Mount Holyoke College Yes Yes
Muhlenberg College Yes Yes
New College of Florida Yes Yes
New Jersey Institute of Technology Yes Yes
New School No No
New York University Yes Yes
North Carolina State University—Raleigh Yes Yes
Northeastern University Yes Yes
Northwestern University Yes Yes
Oberlin College Yes Yes
Occidental College Yes Yes
Ohio State University—Columbus No No
Ohio University Yes No
Ohio Wesleyan University Yes Yes
Oklahoma State University No Yes
Oregon State University No No
Pacific Lutheran University Yes Yes
Pennsylvania State University—University Park No No
Pepperdine University Yes No
Pitzer College Yes Yes
Point Loma Nazarene University Yes Yes
Pomona College Yes Yes
Pratt Institute Yes Yes
Presbyterian College (SC) Yes Yes
Princeton University Yes No
Providence College Yes Yes
Purdue University—West Lafayette Yes Yes
Queens University of Charlotte Yes Yes
Quinnipiac University Yes No
Randolph-Macon College Yes Yes
Reed College Yes No
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Yes No
Rhode Island School of Design Yes Yes
Rhodes College Yes Yes
Rice University Yes Yes
Ripon College No No
Rochester Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Rollins College Yes No
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—New Brunswick Yes No
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—Newark Yes No
Saint Louis University No No
Samford University Yes Yes
Santa Clara University Yes Yes
Sarah Lawrence College Yes Yes
Scripps College Yes Yes
Seattle University Yes Yes
Seton Hall University Yes Yes
Sewanee—University of the South Yes Yes
Siena College Yes No
Simmons College Yes Yes
Skidmore College Yes No
Smith College Yes No
Soka University of America Yes Yes
Southern Methodist University Yes Yes
Southwestern University Yes No
Spelman College Yes Yes
St. John Fisher College Yes Yes
St. John’s College Annapolis Yes Yes
St. John’s University (NY) Yes Yes
St. Lawrence University Yes Yes
St. Mary’s College (IN) Yes Yes
St. Mary’s College of California Yes Yes
St. Mary’s College of Maryland Yes No
St. Michael’s College Yes Yes
St. Olaf College Yes Yes
Stanford University Yes Yes
Stetson University Yes Yes
Stevens Institute of Technology Yes Yes
Stonehill College Yes Yes
Stony Brook University—SUNY Yes No
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Yes Yes
SUNY—Geneseo Yes Yes
Susquehanna University Yes Yes
Swarthmore College Yes Yes
Syracuse University Yes Yes
Taylor University Yes Yes
Temple University Yes Yes
Texas A&M University—College Station No No
Texas Christian University Yes Yes
Texas Lutheran University Yes Yes
The Citadel Yes No
Thomas Aquinas College Yes Yes
Transylvania University Yes Yes
Trinity College (Hartford) Yes Yes
Trinity University Yes Yes
Truman State University Yes Yes
Tufts University Yes Yes
Tulane University Yes Yes
Union College (Schenectady, NY) Yes Yes
United States Air Force Academy Yes Yes
United States Coast Guard Academy Yes Yes
United States Military Academy Yes Yes
United States Naval Academy Yes Yes
University at Albany—SUNY Yes Yes
University at Buffalo—SUNY Yes No
University of Alabama Yes Yes
University of Arizona No No
University of Arkansas—Fayetteville Yes Yes
University of Chicago Yes Yes
University of Cincinnati No No
University of Colorado—Boulder Yes Yes
University of Connecticut Yes Yes
University of Dallas Yes No
University of Dayton Yes Yes
University of Delaware Yes Yes
University of Denver Yes Yes
University of Florida Yes Yes
University of Georgia Yes Yes
University of Hawaii at Manoa Yes Yes
University of Illinois—Chicago No No
University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign Yes Yes
University of Iowa No No
University of Kansas No No
University of Kentucky Yes Yes
University of La Verne Yes Yes
University of Mary Washington Yes Yes
University of Maryland—College Park Yes Yes
University of Massachusetts—Amherst Yes Yes
University of Miami Yes Yes
University of Michigan—Ann Arbor Yes Yes
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities No No
University of Mississippi Yes Yes
University of Missouri Yes Yes
University of Nebraska—Lincoln No No
University of New Hampshire Yes No
University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Yes Yes
University of North Carolina—Wilmington Yes Yes
University of Notre Dame Yes Yes
University of Oklahoma Yes Yes
University of Oregon Yes Yes
University of Pennsylvania Yes Yes
University of Pittsburgh Yes No
University of Portland Yes Yes
University of Puget Sound Yes Yes
University of Redlands Yes Yes
University of Richmond Yes Yes
University of Rochester Yes Yes
University of San Diego Yes No
University of San Francisco Yes Yes
University of South Carolina Yes Yes
University of South Florida Yes Yes
University of Southern California Yes Yes
University of St. Thomas (MN) Yes Yes
University of Tennessee Yes Yes
University of Texas—Austin No No
University of Texas—Dallas Yes No
University of the Pacific Yes Yes
University of Tulsa Yes Yes
University of Utah No No
University of Vermont Yes Yes
University of Virginia Yes Yes
University of Washington Yes Yes
University of Wisconsin—Madison No No
Ursinus College Yes Yes
Valparaiso University Yes Yes
Vanderbilt University Yes Yes
Vassar College Yes Yes
Villanova University Yes Yes
Virginia Commonwealth University Yes No
Virginia Military Institute Yes Yes
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Yes Yes
Wabash College Yes Yes
Wake Forest University Yes Yes
Washington and Jefferson College Yes Yes
Washington and Lee University Yes Yes
Washington College Yes No
Washington University in St. Louis Yes Yes
Wellesley College No No
Wesleyan University Yes Yes
Western Michigan University Yes Yes
Westmont College Yes Yes
Wheaton College (IL) Yes Yes
Whitman College Yes Yes
Whittier College Yes Yes
Willamette University Yes Yes
Williams College Yes Yes
Wofford College Yes Yes
Xavier University Yes Yes
Yale University Yes Yes
Yeshiva University Yes Yes
February 27, 2026

In an AI world, real prep still wins

AI tools make studying feel easier. Students can get instant explanations, summaries, or even solutions to difficult problems with a few clicks. While convenient, this reliance on AI can create a false sense of mastery. Students may think they understand material, but in reality, they may be skipping the deep reasoning and problem-solving skills the ACT and SAT actually test.

On test day, AI isn’t allowed. Success depends on your student’s knowledge, judgment, and ability to navigate questions under time pressure. That’s why real preparation, including plenty of practice and thoughtful guidance, is unmatched.

At Flying Colors Test Prep, our one-on-one tutoring focuses on exactly that. Tutors tailor instruction to each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and pacing. Beyond reviewing content, students learn to recognize patterns, manage time, and make confident decisions under pressure.  Work with our instructors always includes a useful blend of strategic and conceptual insights, so that when the student tests, they can be more comfortable and confident in a stressful test-taking environment.

Tutors help uncover the gaps that AI can’t detect and transform preparation and practice into measurable improvement.

AI may provide answers, but it cannot teach judgment, strategy, or confidence. In a world full of shortcuts, personalized instruction remains the true path to ACT and SAT success. If you’d like to explore how one-on-one tutoring or small group prep could support your student, our Education Directors are happy to chat and help create a plan that fits their needs.

Warm regards,
Ron Michalak
President, Flying Colors Test Prep

January 30, 2026

Is College Admissions Truly Test Optional?

In recent years, the term “test optional” has become central to how families think about college admissions, in part because the COVID‑19 pandemic disrupted access to testing and led many institutions to relax score requirements. What was widely expected to be a temporary adjustment became a lasting policy that has both puzzled families and reshaped application strategies.

Even as some colleges relaxed formal testing requirements, an increasing number of students and families elected to submit their scores, underscoring the perennial value placed on standardized testing in the admissions process. According to the Common App’s Mid-Season report for the 2024‑25 cycle, the number of applicants reporting standardized test scores grew by approximately 12 percent compared to the previous year, marking a notable uptick in score submission among applicants. Similar to last year, when the number of applicants using test scores also climbed, the biggest growth came among students targeting LESS competitive schools, with admit rates greater than 25%.  (commonapp.org)

Institutional decisions also highlight the continued relevance of testing. Penn, Stanford and Carnegie Mellon University, for instance, are phasing out test optional for students applying to those schools this coming fall. Public universities such as Purdue, Ohio State, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia all require test scores now.  These actions reflect a growing recognition among selective institutions that standardized scores provide valuable context when evaluating students from varied schools and curricula.

Standardized test results, much like Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate scores, offer admissions professionals an additional, objective measure of academic preparedness that complements grades and coursework. While no single element defines a student’s potential, strong test scores can enhance the student’s demonstrated record of success, clarify academic strengths, and support admissions and scholarship decisions in competitive applicant pools.

At Flying Colors, we believe the goal of the admissions process is to help students present the strongest, most complete picture of themselves. Providing admissions counselors with credible evidence of academic capability supports more informed, confident evaluations and broadens the range of opportunities available to students.

Understanding the continued importance of testing naturally raises a question about timing: when is the optimal moment to begin? February presents a unique opportunity to current high school juniors who may be looking ahead to upcoming in-school testing at their high schools or spring national ACTs or SATs.  It is a wonderful time to a student’s academic profile, establish a realistic baseline, and plan next steps with intention rather than urgency. This approach allows students to improve steadily, make informed choices about additional support or tutoring, and approach spring or summer testing with confidence.

As always, Flying Colors’ education directors in Edina, Eden Prairie, Plymouth and St. Paul are ready to talk to you about getting started or getting ready for a second attempt at testing.  And for those families whose students have a learning difference or attention disorder, our LD/ADHD team is available to assist as well.

Please let us know how we can help.

Ron Michalak
President & Founder, Flying Colors Prep