The Smartest SAT & Essay Advice? Talk to a Student Who Already Got In.
Daniel Okafor
Student guide, Harvard University
When it comes to standardized tests and application essays, families spend thousands on tutors and consultants. That advice can be valuable — but it’s often a few years out of date, and it rarely reflects what a specific school is actually looking for right now.
Current students know the current bar
A student who got in last cycle knows which score ranges are realistic, how the essay prompts really read to an admissions reader, and what made their own application stand out. That perspective is fresh, specific, and free of the sales pressure that comes with paid packages.
Nobody told me my essay could be about something small. A current student did — and that’s the essay that got me in.
Questions worth asking
Ask a guide what they wish they’d known about the SAT, how many drafts their essay went through, and which extracurriculars actually mattered. You’ll walk away with grounded, honest guidance you can trust.
Ready to see a campus for real?
Book a private, student-led tour with a verified current student.
