"Test-Optional is a Lie"
My Conversation with Brian Eufinger of Edison Prep
I recently spoke with Brian Eufinger of Edison Prep. Brian graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004 and a Healthcare MBA in 2006. He serves as a founding board member of the National Test Prep Association and is an Associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. More recently, he represents Edison Prep in a consortium of four tutoring companies that created Assessiv, an online digital SAT practice platform that Edison Prep students and students nationwide use.
In our conversation, Brian and I discussed:
Why, in many situations, “Test-Optional” is a lie
How test scores can result in tens of thousands of dollars in merit aid
How Brian supplemented merit aid with private scholarships
The opportunity cost of failing to prepare for standardized tests and applying for scholarships
Why GPA is ‘sacred’
Merit Aid Grids - the easy-to-use, free website to find out how much your student can receive in scholarships based on their GPA and test score
And much more…
Click here to listen to my conversation with Brian:
To connect with Brian and learn about their approach to SAT and ACT Prep, and to get a special discount, click here: https://edisonprep.com/scholarshipgps/
Scholarship season for the Class of 2026 is officially open!
Starting your scholarship journey now provides your student with many advantages, including:
Getting a head start with scholarships compared to their peers
More opportunities to earn scholarships
Resume enhancement (a scholarship win on a resume looks great!)
Improved writing skills (needed to do well in college!)
Preparation for the huge scholarships open during senior year
Great practice for the college admissions process
The opportunity to build a set of re-usable essays for future scholarship applications
And much more
However, most families struggle with the scholarship process, which is why we are proud to introduce…
The Class of 2026 Scholarship Navigator Program
This program includes:
Bi-weekly webinars: A new topic or scholarship will be covered in depth during these live webinars. Plus, time will be allotted for Q&A.
Online Support: You'll have direct email access to Dave The Scholarship Coach, a seasoned expert in the field. Dave is here to help you navigate the complex world of scholarships and get your questions answered!
A custom list of scholarships for which your Class of 2026 grad is eligible. Your student’s custom list will include a minimum of 20 scholarships, including national and local scholarships (if local scholarships are available) and a mix of small and large scholarships.
Personalized help with one scholarship application & essay each week. These can be any scholarships of your choice, not just scholarships from your custom list.
Access to the Scholarship GPS Course, where students can learn best practices for scholarship success. Lessons include: How/Where to find scholarships, application and essay best practices, sample scholarship-winning essays, and much more.
To learn more, go to https://www.scholarshipgps.com/2026navigator