by Tom Kleese | Feb 9, 2026 | College Planning Blog
For many families, the college search feels like it sneaks up overnight. One minute your student is adjusting to high school, and the next you’re staring down campus tours, test dates, and financial aid deadlines.
The truth is, most confident college decisions don’t happen by accident, or all at once. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), students who begin exploring colleges earlier report greater clarity and less stress during the application process. That doesn’t mean piling on pressure. It means spreading the work out in a thoughtful, strategic way.
A clear college search timeline for sophomore and junior year allows students to explore options, test assumptions, and strengthen their profile, while giving parents peace of mind that nothing critical is being left to chance.
Why Starting the College Search in Sophomore and Junior Year Makes a Difference
Sophomore and junior year are when students are most open to discovery, and when small decisions begin to compound.
A student may think they want a large public university, only to realize after a few campus visits that a mid-sized private college feels like a better academic and social fit. Those realizations don’t happen on a website. They happen through experience, comparison, and reflection.
Families who start earlier also avoid one of the most common pitfalls we see: trying to make high-stakes decisions under senior-year pressure. By junior spring, students who have been intentional about the process already know:
- What type of campus environment fits them best
- Which academic programs align with their strengths
- How cost, merit aid, and admissions strategy intersect
At OnCampus College Planning, we break this process into manageable phases so families can move forward with clarity, not urgency.
What to Do in Sophomore Year: The Foundation Phase
Sophomore year is about exploration, not commitment.
This is the year students begin understanding who they are as learners and what they might want from a college experience.
Key Sophomore-Year Priorities
Self-Assessment Comes First
Students should begin identifying academic interests, emerging strengths, and possible career directions. This is not about choosing a major, it’s about developing awareness that will guide smarter decisions later.
Define College “Types,” Not Names
Instead of fixating on specific schools, sophomore year is the time to explore categories:
- Large vs. small
- Public vs. private
- Urban, suburban, or rural
- In-state vs. out-of-state
These preferences shape a realistic and balanced college list down the road.
Build Academic Momentum
Colleges look closely at course rigor trends. Sophomore year is when students should begin stretching academically through honors, AP, or advanced coursework that aligns with their goals.
Visit a Campus or Two
Any campus visit is valuable early on. The goal isn’t evaluation yet; it’s learning what to notice when comparing schools later.
Families who want guidance structuring this phase often benefit from working with a college planning coach to map out clear next steps without overloading the student.
What to Do in Junior Year: The Active Search Phase
Junior year is the heavy-lifting year of the college planning process. Coursework becomes more demanding, expectations rise, and two major areas require focused attention: college exploration and ACT strategy.
Breaking junior year into phases keeps it manageable.
Early Junior Year (Fall Semester)
Refine the College List
Using insights from sophomore year, students should begin narrowing their list based on academic fit, environment, and long-term goals.
Plan ACT Timing Strategically
Contrary to popular belief, simply taking the ACT multiple times does not reliably improve scores. ACT’s own data shows that students who retake the test increase their score only about 57% of the time, and average gains are modest (ACT Research).
Intentional preparation, guided by experienced ACT coaches, is what actually moves the needle.
Families in Wisconsin should also be aware that all public high school juniors take a state-mandated ACT in March, but students can, and often should, test before and after that date to maximize results.
Learn more about OnCampus ACT prep.
Mid Junior Year (Winter / Spring)
Prioritize Campus Visits
This is the ideal time to visit three to five schools. Students should attend official tours, information sessions, and (when possible) connect with admissions representatives.
The goal isn’t just to see campuses. It’s to evaluate:
- Academic support and advising
- Campus culture
- Class size and teaching style
Start Real Conversations About Cost
Even families who can afford college want clarity. Use each school’s net price calculator and begin discussing:
The U.S. Department of Education provides helpful FAFSA resources here.
Late Junior Year (Spring / Summer)
Finalize Application Strategy
By late spring, students should be narrowing their list to schools they will actually apply to; not “maybe” schools.
Prepare for Essays and Applications
The summer before senior year is the ideal time to begin personal statements and application work. Students who start early write better, more authentic essays and avoid last-minute stress.
Families looking for end-to-end guidance can explore comprehensive college planning support here.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During the College Search
- Waiting Until Senior Year
Delaying decisions limits options; especially for test prep, campus visits, and merit aid.
- Chasing Prestige Over Fit
Rankings don’t account for learning style, campus culture, or student support. Fit drives outcomes.
- Avoiding Money Conversations
Waiting for acceptance letters to talk about cost often leads to unpleasant surprises. Early planning creates leverage.
- Misaligned Academic Choices
Course selection matters. Students aiming for competitive STEM programs need consistent math and science rigor throughout sophomore and junior year.
What Parents and Students Are Saying
“We wanted to get this right from the start. It’s too big of a decision to go into halfway. The peace of mind alone was worth it.”
– Melissa N., OnCampus parent
Families who begin their college search earlier consistently report less stress and more confidence during senior year. They’ve already done the thinking, before deadlines and emotions take over.
Where to Get Professional Help with Your College Search in Fitchburg, Wisconsin
OnCampus College Planning is located at 5930 Seminole Centre Court, Suite D, Fitchburg, WI 53711, serving families throughout Madison and Dane County.
Our team of experienced coaches helps students:
- Build personalized college lists
- Create realistic ACT strategies
- Understand merit aid and cost projections
- Stay on track from sophomore year through senior spring
Read reviews from local families or schedule a free consultation:
Ready to take the next step?
A clear timeline changes everything. Schedule your free strategy call and start planning with confidence.
by Tom Kleese | Feb 9, 2026 | College Planning Blog
Students who retake the ACT without preparation only score higher 57% of the time, and when they do improve, the average gain is just 1.5 points. That’s barely enough to matter on most college applications.
But here’s what works: 98% of OnCampus students increase their scores with an average gain of 5 points. The difference isn’t luck or natural ability, it’s your approach.
Junior year is the right time to start. Here’s how to prepare in a way that actually delivers results.
Why Junior Year Matters for ACT Prep
Starting early gives you room to find weak spots, build skills through practice and fit in retakes without panic. Wisconsin public high school juniors have a built-in advantage: the state-mandated ACT on March 10. But most students don’t realize you can test before that date.
The proven strategy is to “double dip” by taking the February national test date and the March state exam. This gives you two official attempts in four weeks.
Work with OnCampus to complete your test prep by February, then follow a maintenance plan to stay sharp for March. If February goes well, March becomes a low-pressure backup. If February shows room for improvement, you know exactly what to fix before March. Either way, you walk away with your best possible score.
Colleges accept ACT scores through December of senior year, but scholarship deadlines come earlier. The February-March double dip means you can lock in a strong score by spring of junior year, leaving senior year open for applications and college visits instead of test stress.
What’s a Good ACT Score Goal?
Start by researching average ACT scores at your target schools. Selective universities want to see scores well into the 30s. The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s middle 50% range sits at 28-32.
Score above a school’s average range strengthen your application and unlock merit scholarships. A professional can help you set a target that matches your college list.
Strategy #1: Treat ACT Prep Like Hockey Practice and Theater Rehearsals
Students would never dream of missing sports practice or skipping rehearsal. Yet they reschedule ACT sessions, rush through assigned work and treat prep as an afterthought.
Test prep gets pushed to late hours after AP calc and everything else “important” is done. Then students try to pound out an ACT section test when they’re exhausted. That’s why all assigned work is due no later than 10 p.m. the night before your session. This gives our coaches time to review and prepare for a productive meeting, but it also guards against midnight cramming when your brain has already clocked out.
You get seven sessions with your coach. Make them count. Show up prepared, complete assignments on time and give ACT prep the same commitment you give activities that matter to you. When you do, scores move.
Strategy #2: Hooks Work Better Than Memorization
Forget trying to memorize massive lists of rules and formulas. Good coaching organizes material around easy-to-remember catchphrases and even colors.
According to our system, all English questions fall into one of three categories. Once you identify which type you’re facing, you can drill down into how to respond. See a green question that asks for the choice that is “grammatically correct”? Think about your five comma rules and move forward with confidence.
Students learn the Mark Johnson rule to identify and test appositives. Mark Johnson, the Badger women’s hockey coach, is an Olympic gold medalist. If that middle section renames the subject and the sentence would work without it, it’s an appositive. Surround it with a pair of commas, em dashes or parentheses. You can’t mix and match one comma with one dash.
For math, we hand students a one-page, double-sided, handwritten sheet with 90% of the algebra and geometry formulas and examples they’ll need. It’s far more effective than trying to relearn a year of geometry. We’re essentially saying, “Don’t look over there. Look here. This is what matters on the ACT.”
Strategy #3: Build a Personalized Study Plan
Generic prep programs don’t work. Start with a diagnostic test to identify weak areas. Struggling with algebra? Taking too long on reading passages? Know your weaknesses first.
Build a weekly study plan that doesn’t burn you out. If you’re targeting the February-March double dip, finish core prep by early February. That leaves time for maintenance—light review sessions to keep concepts fresh before your second attempt.
The OnCampus ACT exam prep program creates plans based on your diagnostic results and timeline, including schedules that align with the February national test and March state exam.
Watch for these high-impact question types:
- English: Comma rules, semicolons and subject-verb agreement
- Math: Algebra fundamentals, coordinate geometry and trigonometry basics
- Reading: Inference questions and main idea identification
- Science: Data interpretation and conflicting viewpoints
Master frequently tested concepts and you’ll see faster improvement.
Strategy #4: Use Proven Practice Resources
Official ACT materials beat everything else. Generic workbooks and online programs miss the mark on question quality and difficulty. Start ACT test prep now to mix self-study with expert coaching that converts weak sections into reliable points.
Good test prep coaches offer something answer keys can’t: personalized feedback. They spot the patterns in your mistakes and shift your study plan to fix them.
Strategy #5: Review, Reflect and Retake
Quality beats quantity with practice tests. After each session, analyze what went wrong and why. Look for patterns in your mistakes.
Retaking the ACT helps most students when done strategically. For Wisconsin students, the February-March double dip is your best approach. You get two official scores while material is fresh, and February results show you exactly what to review before March.
You can test again in the summer or fall if needed, but the double dip means you’ll likely have your target score locked in by spring of junior year.
What Students and Parents Are Saying
OnCampus College Planning clients report better scores and less stress. Parents appreciate the structured approach and clear communication. Students build confidence working with someone who knows the test thoroughly and provides individual attention.
Strategy coaching plus content review gives students an actual plan instead of just hoping for the best. Results depend on effort and starting scores, but committed students see real gains.
Where to Find ACT Test Prep
OnCampus College Planning serves Madison area students from our Fitchburg, WI office and students nationwide online. Their ACT test prep program pairs personalized planning with strategies that actually work to help juniors hit their target scores.
Ready to begin? Schedule a free consultation to talk about your ACT goals and build a customized prep plan. Starting earlier means better odds of reaching the score your dream schools require.
by Tom Kleese | Dec 27, 2025 | College Planning Blog
According to a recent article, 12.4 percent of students with an ACT score of 21 or higher win private scholarships. That’s compared with just 7.7 percent of those scoring below 21. Even more striking: over 66 percent of students with above-average SAT or ACT scores receive private scholarships.
Most families don’t realize how much a few ACT points can change college affordability. A 3 to 4 point increase can mean thousands of dollars in merit-based aid that renews every year for all four years. At OnCampus, students average a 5-point ACT score increase, which often opens even more scholarship opportunities. Better scores open more scholarship doors, and more scholarship money means graduating with less debt.
Why ACT Scores Matter for Scholarships
Colleges and private scholarship programs use standardized test scores as one factor when determining merit-based aid eligibility. Merit-based aid is different from need-based aid. It rewards academic achievement, test scores and extracurricular involvement rather than family income and assets.
Admissions committees review the complete application when awarding scholarships. GPA and activities count, but ACT scores often break ties between similar candidates. Take two students with a 3.8 GPA. One has a 29 ACT, the other a 25 ACT. They’ll receive different financial aid packages, and the higher score often unlocks a better scholarship tier.
Many schools set hard cutoffs for their scholarship programs. A student with a 27 might miss an automatic award that starts at 28, regardless of strong grades and recommendations. Knowing these thresholds helps families set realistic score targets and build appropriate prep timelines.
How Much Money Can Higher ACT Scores Really Save?
The financial impact varies by school, but patterns emerge. A 2-4 point increase can mean $2,000-$4,000 off annual public university tuition. Jump 5 points or more, and you could unlock $5,000-$10,000 off private college tuition each year.
The compound effect matters most. Scholarships renew annually, so a $4,000 award becomes $16,000 over four years. That $7,000 award? It totals $28,000. Small improvements add up.
What ACT Score Do You Need for Merit Aid?
Merit aid thresholds differ by school, but these ranges provide useful benchmarks:
- 20-24: You’ll find some merit eligibility at regional schools and state universities. Scores in this range typically unlock modest awards of $1,000-$3,000 per year.
- 25-29: This is solid territory for mid-tier university merit awards. Students here often qualify for half-tuition scholarships or significant annual grants.
- 30-36: These scores compete for top merit scholarships at selective institutions. Full-tuition offers and presidential scholarships become real possibilities.
Each college publishes its own scholarship criteria, so check individual school financial aid pages. Some offer automatic merit awards based purely on test scores and GPA. Others require separate applications or interviews. If you’re unsure how to compare majors, merit aid and campus vibe, a guided college search program can help you build a best-fit list backed by data.
Smart Prep Strategies to Increase Your ACT Score
Starting test prep early in junior year gives students time for multiple test attempts. Score gains usually come from targeted strategies, not hours of unfocused studying.
Start with a diagnostic test to pinpoint weak areas. A student struggling with Science reasoning needs a completely different approach than someone missing Reading questions because of time pressure. Official ACT practice materials match actual test content better than third-party resources and give you the clearest picture of what test day will look like.
Dial in timing and focus with an ACT exam prep program that uses data from your practice tests. Professional tutoring speeds up progress by zeroing in on specific skill gaps and building the stamina you need on test day.
If your English and Math scores move in opposite directions, ACT test prep can rebalance your approach. Weekly practice paired with expert feedback turns weak sections into reliable score builders.
The Hidden Bonus: Strong Scores Improve Admission Chances
Higher ACT scores unlock more than scholarships. They strengthen applications at selective schools and show admissions committees you’re ready for college-level work. A strong test score can offset a slightly lower GPA or push a solid transcript into must-admit range.
Colleges offer their most generous financial packages to students they really want. When your ACT score lands in the top 25 percent of admitted students, schools compete for you with better aid offers.
This works both ways. Better scores open doors at schools that were previously out of reach. Those same schools often provide stronger merit aid than your safer backup options. From first campus list to final deposit, secure end-to-end college planning support and move through each milestone with confidence.
Find ACT Test Prep in Fitchburg, Wisconsin
OnCampus College Planning offers personalized ACT preparation for Madison-area students at 5930 Seminole Centre Court, Suite D, Fitchburg, WI 53711. We combine diagnostic assessments, targeted skill-building and practice test review to help students hit their score goals.
Score gains don’t happen by luck. They come from having a system. Start ACT test prep now and turn weak sections into reliable score builders. Our college planning services keep families on track from freshman year milestones through senior spring checklists.
Ready to take the next step? Schedule your free consultation talk through your student’s goals and build a smart path forward.
by Tom Kleese | Apr 24, 2025 | College Planning Blog
Simple Solutions to Important Questions
The college search can be daunting, with an overwheling array of options and no clear start line. The graphic below shows you how to take two simple but powerful steps on the way to the University of You, and you can here me talk more about these steps on episode 24 of the Tom Talks College podcast.
How do I find the right colleges, and where do we start?
#1 Clarify your needs + wants.
Fill in as much of the University of You Matrix as possible.
Don’t sweat what you don’t know yet. It’s a work in progress.
Avoid lazy words such as “good” and “big.” You’re better than that.
Check out Zoe’s matrix. She’s a rockstar!
Take time to explore colleges online and follow my campus visit rule: Visit early. Visit Often. You’ll be amazed how quickly you’ll go from “um, not sure” to “this is what I need and want,” but it doesn’t happen without effort and energy.
#2 Start by finding A+A options.
Skip those reach schools for now that get you all bunged up about not getting in. Match your matrix with colleges that fit both A’s.
ACCESSIBLE = I will get in.
AFFORDABLE = We can afford it.
Opening your mind to a great experience at a college that ALREADY loves you is the best way to take the stress level down a notch. Maybe the best fit isn’t the one that tells the most students “no.”
The goal is to create a great set of options from which to choose — when it’s time to choose
None of this is intended to create a “drive through” college search process. To do this well, it takes time, energy, patience and sometimes endurance. But it’s 100% worth it.
Next up: How to visit campuses the right way
In two weeks I’ll return to one of my favorite topics, and one which I’ve featured on numerous episodes.
I have no idea what I’ll say, but I’ll come up with something YOU can use to get the most from campus visits on your way to the University of You.
Until then…
Connect with me if you need help building the right list of colleges for your student. Call, email, text or schedule a free consult or 15-minute phone call.
We’re OnCampus, and we’re in your corner.
by Tom Kleese | Mar 20, 2025 | College Planning Blog
Here’s a condensed version of episode 23 on the Tom Talks College podcast with the graphic I referenced.
Hey, Juniors
This is the first in a series called “Hey, Juniors,” and the goal is simple: respond to your most common and most important questions with easy to understand visaul images and just enough verbiage to provide context. This week I’m tackling a question that seems far off, but our goal is to take a simple step that leads to action during a designated “work window.” Here’s the graphic.
You choose, juniors
The work windows given are just suggestions, and all of these are 45 days. If you want to kick butt and get ‘er done in 30 days, go for it. Let’s not drag this out anymore than we have to. But if you say you’re going to start then, you need to back it up with action. Until then, Mom and Dad have every right to talk with you about colleges — and you not only have the right but the opportunity to do the same — and everybody is on the same page about the start date.
Pieces and parts
In later podcasts, blogs, graphics and social media we’ll break down the application into its components to see how the pieces line up with what colleges look for in applicants. It’s going to make a lot of sense.
Next up: How to find the right colleges
Next week I’ll tackle one critical part of the much larger question about what to look for, what makes a college a great fit, what exactly is a “fit” anyway…and there will be another image, created by the former fine artist who never took a graphic design class. (No surprises there given the image above, TK.)
Until then…
Let us know if you have questions about applications, the process, timing or anything college-related including the ACT, call, email, text or schedule a free consult or 15-minute phone call. We’re OnCampus, and we’re in your corner.
by Tom Kleese | Mar 13, 2024 | College Planning Blog
Here’s a condensed version of episode 21 on the Tom Talks College podcast with some slick visuals referenced on said podcast.
Itinerary
We just wrapped up another state-mandated ACT this morning, so parents of juniors in the great state of Wisconsin…be good to your kids. We’ve been working them pretty hard, and they need a little mental downtime and maybe a three-hour nap. I’m enjoying a slower day today, then I’m back at Edgewood tomorrow for two ACT classes with two great groups of students before hopping on an early flight out of Dane County Municipal Airport and arriving before noon at Seattle Tacoma International. Assuming they don’t lose my rental car agreement, I’m headed north to Bellingham to visit Western Washington University, home to two former OnCampus students and then back to enjoy all that Seattle has to offer.
Friday = Fun day
I’ll be on the University of Washington campus no later than 7:30 Friday morning and be there until mid-morning, when I head south to Portland. On my way I’ll make quick stops at Seattle University, the University of Puget Sound and Evergreen State College. Friday afternoon includes stops at Reed College, Lewis and Clark College and then Portland State, all in the greater Portland metro area.
Saturday is for Beavers and Ducks.
Surely strong coffee and doughnuts are available in Portland, and I’ll enjoy them on my way to Corvallis, where I’ll poke around Oregon State, then make the quick jaunt over to Eugene where I’ll say it like they say it, hopefully. YOU-gene. YOU-gene. Gotta practice. I dislike those acid green and yellow costumes our future Big Ten rivals wear, but I’m tempted to buy something garish and wear it home, just for shock value — and because the whole idea of any travel, collegiate or otherwise, is to do what they do, eat what they eat and talk like they talk. Otherwise, I could go to a Chili’s at West Towne Mall. No fun in that. At 4:30 this morning when Buddy the 16-year-old rat terrier texted me that he needed to be let out I did some revamping of the travel plans and decided to spend half an hour on the way back to Portland walking around Willamette University, one of the esteemed Colleges That Change Lives. Evergreen State College and Puget Sound are also on that list list, and you’ll hear me talk more about what Colleges That Change Lives means in my social media posts and next week when I compile my notes for the next podcast and blog.
Why do I visit campuses, and why do I visit so many in such a short time?
I willingly spend company money (a.k.a my money) to travel around the United States so that I can speak with greater authority when I’m hired by a family to build a college list for their student, and so that my conversations and advice to anyone – a test prep client, someone who comes in for a free consult and decides to go elsewhere, or even a friend – are more accurate, more informed and more helpful. My goal is to experience and know this campus as a place, in ways I can’t through just a website or a virtual tour. The one math formula I didn’t make your kids memorize is this:
Being There = Knowing
Most of these colleges have been on my wish list for quite some time, and it’s time to fill the gap on the map.
I visit campuses because college is what I do and who I am, and I just can’t get enough of this. But I am not trying to relive my glory days. I am dedicated to the idea that college is a critical choice, and one that is not the right choice for every high school student. I’m convinced we all can do a better job of making an informed choice so that we have better experiences and get more from that experience.
But why so many in such a short time?
Eleven campus visits in just over two days is a lot. (I did 31 in 11 days back in 2022, but who’s counting?) I’m cheap (thrifty?), and it’d be great to devote an entire day to each college, or just do two in one day – but I don’t know when I’ll get back to Seattle, so I’m going to maximize my time by doing pre- and post-trip research. I know a decent amount about all these schools, some more than others, but I don’t know what it looks like when you pause in the middle of the campus in Corvallis and look around. I don’t know (yet) where I could walk as a freshman to find a cool, alternative coffee shop or a great burrito. I have a burning desire to know those things, the way I know those things about State Street, or the many campuses where I’ve already visited.
Filling the gap in the map
In 2020 I added a wish list to my spreadsheet of colleges that were high on my list. I’m delighted to see that I’ve made it to so many of these places, sometimes tacking on a few on my drive back from visiting our son, Joe, in Cincinnati — and that big purple swatch came during a Christmas visit to the in-laws in Tucson, which is really just five or six hours from San Diego. You see how this works.
What do you get out of this?
In addition to some Facebook Live posts and a foray or two onto Instagram, I’ll pull together some time-tested, Tom-tested tips for better campus visits from these and my almost 190 previous campus visits and share them with you next week. I’m incredibly excited to be on the road again, and in the same way I love to talk about college football and good BBQ in the South, I just really love sharing what I know about colleges with people like you who want to learn more. It’s 8:32 p.m. on Wednesday. I should probably pack a toothbrush.
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