--- title: "The Insider: Your Expert Guide to College Admissions | Zaragoza Guerra" description: The official blog of College Coach, a division of Bright Horizons. Our expert view on all things college admissions. --- [![College Coach - Your College Admissions Experts](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/hub/146790/file-1518948603.png "College Coach - Your College Admissions Experts")](http://www.getintocollege.com/) - [Blog](https://146790.hs-sites.com/blog) - [Contact](https://146790.hs-sites.com/contact) - [Login](http://passport.getintocollege.com/Account/Login) # The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts ## Zaragoza Guerra ### Recent Posts ## [Realizing Your Dreams at Very Selective Colleges | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364319/Realizing-Your-Dreams-at-Very-Selective-Colleges-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Thu, Aug 27, 2015 @ 10:58 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-1878632528-jpg/images/coco_130820_0160-1.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364319/Realizing-Your-Dreams-at-Very-Selective-Colleges-College-Coach-Blog) In my former life as an admissions officer, I was often cornered at the end of my information sessions by a student or parent who wanted to know the “secret” formula, the undisclosed algorithm, for [getting into MIT](http://www.getintocollege.com/our-experts/college-admissions/college-admissions-experts/zaragoza-guerra) or Caltech: [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364319/Realizing-Your-Dreams-at-Very-Selective-Colleges-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) ## [Where to Begin with STEM Education | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363958/Where-to-Begin-with-STEM-Education-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Thu, Jul 16, 2015 @ 11:57 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-3168596990-jpg/images/calculator-scientific-large.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363958/Where-to-Begin-with-STEM-Education-College-Coach-Blog) ### Where to Begin with STEM Education [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363958/Where-to-Begin-with-STEM-Education-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) ## [The Asian Penalty | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363459/The-Asian-Penalty-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Fri, Jun 05, 2015 @ 09:22 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-2807083706-jpg/images/coco_130819_0107.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363459/The-Asian-Penalty-College-Coach-Blog) Do Asians face discrimination when applying to Ivy League schools?  Do they need to appear less “Asian” when submitting their college applications in order to be admitted?  These are questions I often receive when counseling students on competitive admissions — usually when students learn I worked as an admissions officer at MIT and Caltech.  They’re questions I’ve come across in articles such as “’[The Asian Penalty](https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2015/06/01/college-counselors-advise-some-asian-students-appear-less-asian/Ew7g4JiQMiqYNQlIwqEIuO/story.html),’” most recently featured in *The Boston Globe*.  And while the questions posed might sometimes lessen the sting one might feel at the possibility of not getting admitted to one’s dream school, the reality is much more complex. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363459/The-Asian-Penalty-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) ## [College Visits - 5 Tips for your Checklist | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362076/College-Visits-5-Tips-for-your-Checklist-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Thu, Mar 26, 2015 @ 07:51 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-2836486600-jpg/images/coco_130820_0306.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362076/College-Visits-5-Tips-for-your-Checklist-College-Coach-Blog) ### 5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your College Visit ** *Little Miss Sunshine*. *Pee-wee’s Big Adventure*. *National Lampoon’s Vacation*. The history of the silver screen is chock-full of interpretations of the great American road trip. And while Hollywood tells us it’s the journey that counts and not the destination, when it comes to [college visits](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341222/Visit-Colleges-and-Universities-on-Spring-Break), sometimes the destination *is* important. So how do you make the most out of your arrival at your figurative [Walley World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36OPVI5v7jc) U? Is there a method for learning about a college beyond the [admissions info session and student tour](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/167237/Visiting-Colleges-How-to-Plan-and-What-to-Look-For)? With just a little bit of planning, the answer is yes. The following are a few tips that will help ensure you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to your college road trip. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362076/College-Visits-5-Tips-for-your-Checklist-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Visits](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-visits) ## [Summer Plans Before College | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/347453/Summer-Plans-Before-College-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Tue, Jun 03, 2014 @ 03:15 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-941815189-jpg/images/coco_130820_0289.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/347453/Summer-Plans-Before-College-College-Coach-Blog) #### What I Did on my Summer Vacation… There comes a time in the relationship between a [college coach and a student](http://www.getintocollege.com/for-students/offerings) when the question of summer activities is broached. The conversation might go something like:** [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/347453/Summer-Plans-Before-College-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) ## [When To Take AP Exams and Report Them ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341997/When-To-Take-AP-Exams-and-Report-Them) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Tue, Apr 08, 2014 @ 04:35 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-530551448-jpg/images/img_8516.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341997/When-To-Take-AP-Exams-and-Report-Them) #### How important are AP exams in the admissions process?  Should I take any AP tests at the end of the school year? Colleges and universities generally don’t require students to take [AP exams ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/303997/What-s-the-difference-between-AP-and-IB-Classes) as part of the admissions process.  AP exam results are mostly used to qualify students for placement or credit after a student has enrolled at his or her school of choice.  While a score of 4 or 5 might earn placement or credit at many colleges and universities, there are a few schools that don’t give either no matter what a student scores.  As a general rule, though, it’s not a bad idea if a student who feels she’s mastered the subject matter takes the exam as a way of possibly placing out of a few classes. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341997/When-To-Take-AP-Exams-and-Report-Them) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) ## [Is the PSAT Used for College Admissions?](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/336627/Is-the-PSAT-Used-for-College-Admissions) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Wed, Feb 19, 2014 @ 01:30 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-530551448-jpg/images/img_8516.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/336627/Is-the-PSAT-Used-for-College-Admissions) #### My son recently took the PSAT and has started receiving both email and snail mail from a few schools. Just how important is the PSAT to colleges and universities? The answer to your question depends upon which hat an admission officer is wearing: the “recruiter” hat or the “gatekeeper” hat. Let’s start with the recruiter hat first. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/336627/Is-the-PSAT-Used-for-College-Admissions) Tags: [College Entrance Exams](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-entrance-exams) ## [Common App Essay Help: Challenging a Belief or Idea](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/310766/Common-App-Essay-Help-Challenging-a-Belief-or-Idea) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Thu, Aug 22, 2013 @ 02:13 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-274247310-jpg/images/img_8512.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/310766/Common-App-Essay-Help-Challenging-a-Belief-or-Idea) Universities are places where debate and argument are fostered in all academic realms:  science, philosophy, law, culture, politics.  More often than not, they are places where students encounter the “other” — those holding beliefs that might seem “different” or “strange.”  Conflicts are bound to arise in such environments.  But how does one conduct himself when he sees an opportunity to make an argument that goes against the grain?  That’s the question facing students who choose to answer the [Common Application’s essay](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/267878/Common-Application-Announces-New-Essay-Prompts-College-Admission-Experts-Reaction) prompt number three: [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/310766/Common-App-Essay-Help-Challenging-a-Belief-or-Idea) Tags: [College Essays](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-essays) ## [5 Tips for Showcasing Your Identity on the Common App Essay](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/305990/5-Tips-for-Showcasing-Your-Identity-on-the-Common-App-Essay) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Tue, Jul 23, 2013 @ 02:58 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-17860324-jpg/images/_mg_5169.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/305990/5-Tips-for-Showcasing-Your-Identity-on-the-Common-App-Essay) It’s mid-July, and I’m sure most soon-to-be seniors are enjoying a much needed respite from school work, term papers, and standardized testing.  But the halcyon days of summer, unfortunately, will eventually come to an end.  It’s not a bad idea to get started on the main [Common Application essay](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/267878/Common-Application-Announces-New-Essay-Prompts-College-Admission-Experts-Reaction) — get it out of the way before it has to compete for your attention against tests, papers, extracurricular activities, and any supplemental application essay questions, most of which get published August 1st. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/305990/5-Tips-for-Showcasing-Your-Identity-on-the-Common-App-Essay) Tags: [College Essays](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-essays) ## [SAT Essay Changes Likely Coming](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/291223/SAT-Essay-Changes-Likely-Coming) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Mon, May 13, 2013 @ 04:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-27016684-jpg/images/ccacademy.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/291223/SAT-Essay-Changes-Likely-Coming) In part two of [our series](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/275567/SAT-Changes-What-Do-They-Mean-for-Students-Studying-for-the-SAT) interviewing Megan Stubbendeck, Global Elite Instructor at [Revolution Prep](https://www.revolutionprep.com/partners/college-coach), regarding the news shared in the *Washington Post* article, [College Board to make changes to SAT](http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-26/local/37310951_1_college-board-common-core-standards-exam), College Coach discussed what some of the specific changes might be and got Megan’s take on changes she would like to see implemented.  [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/291223/SAT-Essay-Changes-Likely-Coming) Tags: [College Entrance Exams](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-entrance-exams) [All Posts](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/all) [Next Page](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra/page/2) ### Need help with the Common Application?  [![common application help](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/146790/cb1db37b-0d15-41e3-988b-213bb2724008.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/146790/cb1db37b-0d15-41e3-988b-213bb2724008) ### Get the Insider Advantage  College Coach experts, all former senior admissions and financial aid officers, are available to work privately with your student to achieve admissions success. 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