Straight A’s and perfect SAT scores are no longer enough to gain admission into the nation’s top colleges. So says a higher education expert, who explains how elite colleges are looking for that something “extra” in their applicants. In a guest column, a Clayton County teacher talks about turning students into “makers,” reflective of the burgeoning Maker Movement that appeals to tinkerers, techies and do-it-yourselfers. And readers talk about a new study that finds “drill, baby, drill” may provide the secret to math success in the early grades.

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Peggy Harris (foreground) stocks the shelves at Sandy's IGA, which is the only grocery store in town, Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Sparta. Hancock County has one of the highest rates of childhood food insecurity in the country. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC