FAQ’s
College PlanningACT/ SAT PrepGraduate School ApplicationsExecutive Functioning/College and Career Coaching
College Planning | ACT/SAT Prep | Graduate School Applications | Executive Functioning/College and Career Coaching
College Planning Frequently Asked Questions
Membership in IECA not only provides extensive opportunities for continuing counselor education, it also requires its members to maintain the highest standard of professional practices and ethics. The IECA philosophy, which focuses on helping students find their “best fit” college, aligns closely with the Milestone mission.
All of our advisors are here to provide you with the services that you need to have effective college counseling. We offer hourly availability, as well as packages for in-state colleges and our comprehensive package that includes out-of-state as well as in-state colleges. We also have the ability for assisting with the main Common Application essay only, and for a final application review (what we call our Finishing Touches).
We are also flexible in where we meet with your student. Knowing that high school students have busy schedules, even on weekends, our advisors can meet via Zoom or in our office on Powerline Road, in the late afternoon and into the evening hours.
Some students begin meeting with Milestone advisors as early as eighth grade to begin the planning process. Other students meet with an advisor at different points during high school, depending on their unique needs. We offer a range of services which include course selection, resume building, summer activity recommendations, standardized test preparation, college essay writing support, application assistance and college advising. As such, students from eighth grade to post-college graduation can benefit from meeting with Milestone advisors to address individual needs.
Milestone advisors do not replace high school guidance counselors; we work cooperatively to augment the services that in-school counselors provide. However, guidance counselors have significant responsibilities and are tasked with helping many students. According to an article published in the New York Times, the average counselor to student ratio in public high schools across the country is approximately 500:1.
Milestone advisors are able to get to know students and develop an individualized college plan that meets the needs of the student and the family as a whole. In addition, Milestone advisors visit college campuses, attend conferences and workshops, and participate in ongoing continuing education to provide the highest level of expertise and service, enabling us to help our students meet their unique academic and personal goals.
SAT/ACT Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Recent changes have made this much more accessible for families. In July 2025, Congress passed new tax legislation that expanded the use of 529 plans. Parents can now withdraw funds tax-free to cover tutoring, standardized test prep, and even educational therapy for K–12 students.
For many families, this can translate to a 25% or more reduction in the cost of tutoring or test prep, depending on their tax situation. As always, it’s a good idea to confirm details with your financial advisor or 529 plan provider to understand how these changes apply to your specific situation.
It is almost always a good idea for your child to attempt standardized testing. Competitive SAT or ACT scores can strengthen an application, open doors to more selective schools, and even lead to valuable merit scholarship opportunities.
That said, many excellent colleges now offer test-optional policies. If your child’s scores fall below the typical range for a given school, choosing not to submit them can be a smart strategy.
In most cases, the decision to apply test-optional should be made after your child has taken an official test and seen their results—not before. This ensures you’re making an informed choice based on real data, rather than limiting opportunities prematurely.
Yes. Test prep can make a significant difference. With the right approach, students become more familiar with the test, improve timing, and learn strategies that lead to higher scores.
Based on our experience working with students at Milestone, most see meaningful improvement over time. On average, students improve 200–250 points on the SAT and 6–8 points on the ACT across 2–3 official test attempts.
The key is consistent, targeted preparation combined with a thoughtful testing plan.
Superscoring means a college takes your highest section scores across multiple test dates and combines them into a new, higher composite score.
Many colleges superscore, but not all. Always check each school’s policy.
No. The Science section is no longer required as part of the ACT, and most colleges do not consider the science score in admissions decisions. However, there are still a small number of schools that do require a science score. Because of this, it’s important to carefully review the testing requirements for every college your child is considering.
If your child does not yet have a clear college list, it may be wise to take the Science section to keep all options open.
Register for the ACT: http://www.act.org/ Register for the SAT: https://www.collegeboard.org/
Ideally, students should begin test prep 2–3 months before their first official test. This provides enough time to build skills, learn strategies, and gain confidence without feeling rushed.
It’s also important to remember that most students will take the SAT or ACT more than once. Because of this, prep should be viewed as a process over time, not a one-time push.
While starting early can be helpful, starting too early can lead to burnout, especially if a student hasn’t yet completed the academic coursework that appears on the test. The goal is to find a balance: begin early enough to prepare effectively, but not so early that your child becomes fatigued or disengaged before test day even arrives.
The best way to decide is to take a diagnostic, or baseline, test for both exams. Some students naturally perform better on one due to pacing, question style, or strengths in math vs. reading. We generally recommend taking baseline tests once a student has completed all (or at least most) of Algebra 2.
There’s no universal “better” test—only the better fit for your child.
Graduate School Applications Frequently Asked Questions
- Unlike college, which has a fall or winter deadline for applications, graduate schools vary in their deadlines, depending on the degree
- If you are applying for MD or DO or Dental programs, you must get started 18 months prior to matriculation
Many graduate programs no longer require standardized testing; however, in general, the allied health graduate programs and law still do
All graduate programs require letters of recommendation from a minimum of three professors or employers
Many graduate programs have a unified application platform (think Common Application for grad students)
Executive Functioning/College and Career Coaching Frequently Asked Questions
We can help evaluate a student’s resume or CV and offer suggestions for improvement, find programs that match the test scores or location preferences, assist with editing the personal statement and other essays, assure the application is completed accurately, offer interviewing tips and support, and provide guidance on a timeline for proper submission.
First and foremost, does the graduate program have the curriculum the student wants? Is it in a location in which the student might want to live after they have completed their graduate work? Does the student have all of the required undergraduate coursework to be an acceptable applicant for their programs?
No. However, virtually all medical graduate programs do require a graduate admissions test of some type, as do law programs. A student needs to research the program they want and look carefully at the entry requirements.
The timing depends on the program a student is hoping to attend. For example, for the medical professions, beginning two years in advance is advisable; for law school, one year before matriculation is typically a good time to begin.
Yes, we help students that are considering an extensive array of graduate programs, including medical school, dental school, veterinary school, law school, business school, masters programs, and accelerated and traditional nursing programs, as well as physician assistant programs.
