BigFuture – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

BigFuture

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2023

68%

WISE Score

4.6

App Store

College Board's official app for high schoolers to check test scores and navigate the college admissions maze without losing their minds.

BigFuture

app

Everyone, 2023

68%

WISE Score

4.6

App Store

College Board's official app for high schoolers to check test scores and navigate the college admissions maze without losing their minds.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

BigFuture is what it is: a utilitarian tool from College Board that does exactly what it promises. It won't inspire creativity or spark joy, but if your teen is in the SAT-to-college pipeline, it's a legitimately helpful organizer for an overwhelming process.

The app gets solid reviews from students who appreciate having scores and college info in one place instead of hunting through emails and websites. It's not exciting, but it's competent—which honestly matters more for this category of app.

The safety profile is clean, the enrichment value is practical rather than intellectual, and the wholesome factor is just... fine. It's institutional software with a purpose. If your junior or senior is taking the PSAT or SAT, this is a reasonable tool to have on their phone. Just don't expect them to actually enjoy using it.

Age Fit

This is specifically for high school students taking standardized tests—so realistically 14-18 year olds in the thick of college prep. Younger kids have no use for it, and adults would only reference it to help their teens.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Straightforward educational tool focused on college planning, test scores, and career exploration. No concerning content, emotionally neutral tone. Models goal-setting and future planning, though it's purely functional rather than emotionally resonant.

Imaginative

Essentially a utility app for accessing SAT/PSAT scores and college information. Zero creative expression or exploration—it's a database and planning tool. The 'Connections' feature that matches students with colleges is algorithmic, not imaginative. This is functional software, not a canvas for curiosity.

Safe

Clean, purpose-built app with no ads, no social features, no content concerns. Requires phone verification tied to test-taking, which actually limits access in a protective way. 'Kids mode available' noted in data. The College Board connection is institutional and legitimate. Only minor concern: data collection inherent to college matching, but that's the core function parents are signing up for.

Enriching

Genuinely useful for its target audience—high schoolers navigating the college admissions gauntlet. Provides test scores, scholarship connections, career info, and financial planning resources. This is practical skill-building for a major life transition. Not intellectually stimulating, but functionally valuable. Helps demystify a confusing process, which is enriching in a real-world sense.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

One-stop shop for SAT/PSAT scores, college matching, scholarship connections, and financial aid info—all the stuff that's usually scattered across 47 browser tabs
Free and ad-free, which is refreshing in the app ecosystem
Users report it's well-organized and actually helpful during the stressful college application season
The Connections feature can surface colleges and scholarships students might not have found otherwise

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What to Watch For

This is purely functional—think spreadsheet energy, not TikTok energy. Kids won't open this for fun
Only works for US students 13+ who've taken digital PSAT/SAT and provided their phone number during testing
Requires separate login from regular College Board account, which can be confusing
Data collection is baked in—the whole point is matching students with colleges, so expect your kid's info to be shared with institutions they express interest in

Conversation Starters

"What colleges are showing up in your matches? Any surprises on the list?"
"How are you feeling about your scores? Want to talk through what they mean for your college list?"
"Have you looked at the scholarship connections yet? Let's see if there are any worth applying to together"
"What's one thing you learned about paying for college that you didn't know before?"

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