Great College Advice Blog

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College Application

College Essay Length: How Long Should It Be?

Your college essay length is not a minor formatting detail. It signals how well you understand the assignment and much more. Read all about it.

July 17, 2026

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College Application

Should I Use ChatGPT to write my college essay

Using ChatGPT to write your college essay is one of the most tempting shortcuts available to students right now. See what to do if you are considering this option.

July 16, 2026

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College Admissions

Benchmarking Your SAT Score: How to Determine Your Target Number for Highly Selective Colleges

An in-depth explainer on how to define a ‘good’ SAT score based on a student’s specific college list. Drawing on GCA’s internal knowledge base, it breaks down how admissions officers view scores in context.

July 15, 2026

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College Admissions

The Contextual GPA: How Selective Colleges Recalculate Your GPA

Admissions officers run your grades through an internal recalculation process before making any judgment. See why.

July 14, 2026

College Admissions +

10 Questions About the Best Ways to Get into College

Get answers to the 10 most often questions about how to get into college. What are the most important aspects of the college admission process that you should master?

July 13, 2026

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College Admissions

How to Plan Your ACT Testing Timeline: Maximizing Scores Without Burnout

A step-by-step guide on structuring an ACT testing schedule across junior and senior years. It addresses the technical limits of how many times a student can test while providing GCA’s strategic advice on avoiding testing fatigue.

July 10, 2026