Brains and Brawn Blog

Most students and families are aware that they need to have good grades, be involved in extracurriculars, and get good test scores to go to their choice college. However, one often overlooked factor is showing demonstrated interest. Demonstrated interest is essentially showing colleges you’re enthusiastic or have an interest in their school before you even send in your application. As college admissions get more competitive each year, particularly at selective universities, it’s in your best interest to do everything you can to increase your chances of getting into your dream school. The following are some ways that you can start showing demonstrated interest:

Find out how beneficial AP scores can be when it comes to getting ahead in college credits and classes. 

A debrief on how AP Classes can affect your college application more significantly than the AP score, and distinguishing the difference between

By: Isabel Sipkema, Biology and Educational Studies at Rhodes College ‘22

The main thing that colleges look at is grades! It's important to choose the right classes and that you do very best in them. When you sign up for classes, your counselor might throw terms like “honors” and “AP” around. Both class types are more rigorous than the average high school curriculum, but there are some important differences. 

All of the application deadlines can get confusing. This is why it is quintessential to know the differences between the ways in which you can apply and the benefits of applying early.

The ACT and SAT are two of the most common standardized tests for college admissions. One of the things we stress at Brains and Brawn is choosing the right test for you! Everyone’s different, so some students may do better on one test than the other. The best way to figure which one works best for you is to take a practice test from each test and then compare your scores and how you felt about each one. However, the information below can be helpful if you’re in crunch for time or are just curious about what makes the ACT unique. 

ACT Science is probably the most dreaded section on any standardized test. It is unlike any other section or exam that you have taken before. But with good study practices and employing a few special tactics, it can easily become the easiest for you.

Some tips and information that will help with the process of how to ask teachers to write recommendations for you