What Universities Look for in Personal Essays for Admission When it comes to applying to universities, the personal essay is one of the most CRITICAL components of your application. It is not all about the academics! A compelling personal essay can be the difference between acceptance and rejection-and it should be just that; Personal. The temptation to create an essay that sounds like a resume is common, but it is an opportunity to showcase individuality, values, and experiences. This opportunity is what creates an investment and connection between you and your school of choice. 6 KEY ELEMENTS TO A STANDOUT ESSAY Authenticity and Self-Reflection The foremost quality an admissions officer seeks in personal essays is AUTHENTICITY. They want to hear your genuine voice, your unique perspective, and your heartfelt stories. Reflect deeply on your experiences, the triumphs AND the challenges, and convey what you’ve learned from them. Authenticity demonstrates your ability to introspect and grow. Avoid clichés and overused phrases, and instead focus on sincere moments that truly shaped who you are. A Strong Opening and Honest Narrative First impressions matter, especially in personal essays. First, Stick with the Prompt! Those prompts are given for a reason. Starting with a hook is great, use an intriguing anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a vivid description but make sure it aligns with the prompt. As you develop your narrative, ensure it flows logically, leading the reader through your journey without losing focus. A stand out narrative can transform mundane experiences into pivotal moments, let the admissions committee into your world. Admission committees are reading MANY essays so use sensory details and emotional depth to help keep your readers engaged. Clarity of Purpose and Passion Your personal essay should clearly set out your goals and aspirations. Admissions want to understand your motivation for pursuing a particular field or attending a specific institution. Share your passions and how they have influenced your academic goals. Mention a mentor who inspired you or a specific experience that fueled your interest in a subject. Use vivid storytelling to highlight how these elements contribute to your vision. Resilience and Growth Mindset Universities not only appreciate stories of success but also those of adversity. Demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges can provide insight into your character and determination. Share times that you faced obstacles, whether in your personal life, academic pursuits, or extracurricular endeavors, and emphasize how you overcame them. Reflect on what those experiences taught you and how they propelled your growth. Admissions officers value candidates who possess a growth mindset and are willing to learn from setbacks. Connection to the University’s Values Research the universities you are applying to and identify their core values and missions. Your personal essay should reflect a connection between your values and those of the university. What draws you to this institution? How do its programs, culture, and community align with your goals? Pinpoint specific aspects of the university that resonate with you, whether it’s a professor whose work inspires you, a unique program that suits your interests, or a vibrant campus community that you wish to be a part of. This tailored approach demonstrates your enthusiasm and interest in the school. Insight into Your Character Ultimately, your personal essay should provide admissions officers with insight into who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Consider what you want them to know about you that isn’t evident in other parts of your application. Your values, experiences, and how you interact with the world around you ALL contribute to your identity. Whether through your relationships, volunteer work, or personal interests, share stories that highlight your character and how you contribute to your community. A holistic view of your personality can set you apart from other applicants! IN SHORT…. The personal essay is not merely a requirement in the college application process; it is an opportunity to show who you REALLY are. Again, they are not just looking for an applicant with a perfect GPA but a well-rounded individual who can add richness to their campus community, so emphasize authenticity, clarity of purpose, resilience, and connection to the university. AND DO NOT START THE NIGHT BEFORE! Take the time to write thoughtfully, reflect deeply, and showcase yourself. Your story is your greatest asset; let it shine through! And of course, we at Elite are here to help you.
For many students, graduation is a rite of passage. It is an experience akin to prom, or getting married— something you’re supposed to do. But there’s another subset of this population. That is the one that focuses on creating generational change. That is to say, first generation graduates. This expression refers to individuals that are the first in their families to graduate. Whether it be from high school or college, there is something meaningful about changing what had come in the past. There is something beautiful about this change. What are the statistical differences? Some say once you get in, you’re set. But that is not entirely true. For first generation college students, there are statistics that suggest getting to the point of graduation is the hardest part! A 2016 study found that about 60% of college students 6 years after entering college did not obtain their secondary degree. The same study found that students who are first generation tend to use necessary offered resources like financial aid more, however resources that focused on well being, like counseling, were used less. This indicates that first gen students may not be clued into the opportunities to support a healthy lifestyle with coping mechanisms in college. Beautiful positive facts First generation students may experience unique challenges that are difficult to hear about. However, the experience is poignant for that fact alone. Some key points to remember for first generation college students includes increasing support for this demographic. 73% of colleges and universities have a formal definition of this cohort. This means institutional recognition of the unique struggles for first generation students. This results in experiences such as experience-based cohorts that share resources through shared identity. Further, this leaves space for programmatic efforts that tackle the same issues as mentioned above— mental and social health. Overall, the percentage, some ⅓- ½ of all college students today are first generation, and their experiences increasingly significant and recognized.
Reading is fundamental. This old adage has been around since the dawn of education. And it is true. While the emphasis on reading remains constant in classrooms, many teachers have a narrow definition of quality reading time. But not all students feel equally passionate about launching into a novel. There is room to expand that definition to include new forms of reading. Here are four alternative ways to incorporate reading into your life, regardless of your free time or genre preferences. 1. Utilize Digital Reading Tools Hate carrying around heavy books? Download the Kindle app on your smartphone device. You can purchase books and keep them on hand to read whenever the urge strikes. You can also purchase an e-reader like the Kindle or Nook. These devices allow you to carry multiple books with you, without the heavy burden. Particularly for high school and college students with ample textbooks, this method lightens their book bag and makes reading more convenient. 2. Find an Aggregated news Source Not into fiction? Get your nonfiction fix by using an aggregated news source. Combine all your major news subscriptions into one place with tools like the Apple News app, Inoreader etc. No more toggling between the New York Times application and BuzzFeed News. Enjoy having reputable, credible nonfiction in one single location. Skip the clickbait headlines and build a reading log you can rely upon. 3. Podcasts and Audiobooks Let’s face it–reading can be arduous or inaccessible. Whether the issue is that you’re often driving or even that you suffer from dyslexia, sometimes life simply does not afford us the luxury of staring at pages for hours on end. Audiobooks and podcasts provide quality alternatives. The amount of material available is truly astonishing. There is no decrease in selection or cost, either. Many podcasts are available free of charge, and can be streamed via bluetooth or downloaded on the go. If you’re craving a way to read more books in your spare time, but cannot get on board with visual reading, definitely give this a try! 4. Blogs Can’t find a book that interests you? Tired of reading long-form pieces? The caliber of blog content is unparalleled nowadays. You can read about virtually any topic, with just the click of a button. Find a few bloggers who create quality, regular content and subscribe. Swap chapters of book reading for swiping through engaging posts. Just be sure to find blogs that have valuable production quality and strong language skills to ensure that you continue to grow.
There are a few things that we feel absolutely every high school student in America should cross off of their bucket list before graduation. While we recognize that there are different strokes for different folks, these five items are universally beneficial. Regardless of whether the post-high school plan consists of college, trade school or full-time employment, this list will definitely help. 1. Take an advanced level course. Enrolling in rigorous coursework can seem daunting, or even risky. There are fears of failing or of getting lost in the curriculum. However, overcoming these fears and taking a higher level course can bring numerous benefits. For example, AP courses mimic college courses in their structure, rigor and assessments. Taking just one AP course might provide useful insight into whether or not college is a good fit. Also, Honors or Gifted level courses can open up opportunities that would not be available otherwise. Many Honors course utilize field trips, research grants and extracurricular experiences to supplement the coursework. Why not take on a challenge that could guarantee growth? 2. Introduce yourself to your academic counselors and advisors. Many public high schools in the U.S. have a high ratio of students per counselor. Often, students never cultivate a direct relationship with their advisors and counselors, beyond college planning and course scheduling. States nationwide require high school counselors to stay informed about relevant scholarships, vocational opportunities and learning resources. Even if college is not a future goal, high school counselors can provide crucial information and tips for other post-graduation paths like trade school, military enlistment, nonprofit programs and more. It all starts with, “hello.” 3. Join an extracurricular activity. It is common for high schools across the country to offer sports, clubs, volunteering and technological opportunities to their student body. Participating in an extracurricular activity serves as a great method for making friends and furthering interests in a variety of areas. Not to mention, making a commitment to an extracurricular activity requires time management. Developing a strong sense of punctuality and scheduling will prove essential to adulthood. Why not start now? 4. Complete a class on public speaking. The number of occasions in life where one speaks publicly is unlimited. Wedding toasts, graduation speeches, eulogies, presentations for work and school–the list goes on! Knowing how to confidently and clearly communicate can be the deciding factor in job interview situations or financial opportunities. Get a head start on building confidence in public speaking ASAP. 5. Learn money management. No matter what path high schoolers follow once they graduate, money will be a constant presence. Understanding the basic mechanisms of taxes, interest, and savings is important. But the buck does not stop there. Having confidence making long-term investments, understanding how to assess the better buy from a slew of products or even learning the common trappings of hidden fees can be instrumental. Some schools offer formal money management classes or economics classes. Having a low-stress part-time job can also be a great way to build these skills.
By junior year, most high school students have been told that they need to ace their standardized tests in order to get into college. But what does acing it really mean? We have the answer. Your child can use this step-by-step guide in order to create a personalized ACT or SAT goal score. This way, they will know precisely when they have hit the mark. Make a list of prospective schools Every university has their own requirements. Make a spreadsheet of every school your student plans to apply to attend. Be sure to include safety schools, dream schools and reach schools. Nothing is off limits–think broadly here! Find the average ACT/SAT scores of admitted students You can use the College Board database to figure out average test scores for current students. While not all universities report these statistics, a great many do so on College Board. Search for a school’s name, and under the “Applying” heading you will find a tab labeled “SAT and ACT Scores.” Look for the score range that contains the largest percentage of students, and input the low and high thresholds of that range into your spreadsheet. Calculate your goal score This is it: the moment you have awaited! Find your child’s goal ACT or SAT score by calculating the average of all the low-threshold scores, and the average for the high-threshold scores. For example, if Harvard College’s SAT threshold is 1460-1590 and Yale’s is 1420-1590, then you will average the low end of the range ((1460 + 1420)/2 = 1440), and the high end of the range ((1590 + 1590)/2 = 1590), separately. Do this for all schools on the master list. In the end, you will have a score range that takes into account the expectations from your student’s college application list, instead of just an arbitrary number. In the example given, the goal SAT score range to apply to Harvard and Yale is 1440-1590. Calculating a personalized goal score helps provide a metric during test prep time. By keeping in mind the requirements needed to be a competitive college candidate, your child is more likely to meet their goals. Once they earn the score and get admitted, you all can celebrate the victory!
Regardless of whether your child attends elementary school or university, studying remains an essential part of academic life. Often, the month of October ushers in a period of midterm assessments. Students might juggle oral exams, written tests and essays. Take advantage of a few study tips we have compiled to make midterms go more smoothly. Restrict Notes to One Page per Chapter – This prevents students from compiling pages upon pages of notes that they will never have the time to review. By restricting the available space, students distill notes to only the most pertinent information. Color Code Common Themes – Particularly for history and literature courses, identifying recurring themes is crucial. Assign colors to majors ideas the teacher explores in class, and continue this colorful annotation in the reading and notes. When it comes time to study, similar themes will be grouped in advance, making for associative learning. Don’t Go Crazy with Highlighters – Many students go overboard with highlighting. Efficient studying focuses only on the key information, and uses notes to help with details. If your student has a tendency to highlight everywhere, suggest that highlighter only be used for a specific type of detail, i.e. historic dates or vocabulary words. Mark Deadlines – Write down upcoming deadlines for every major assignment. Then, plot out which will require the most time to complete. Next, identify what assignments prove most challenging. Prioritize based on deadlines and difficulty and write out a plan of execution. Tiny, Daily Chunks of Study Time – Cramming can be effective for passing a test, but it is not good for retention. This means that when final exams roll around, knowledge may be forgotten. Instead, commit 20 minutes of study time to each subject, everyday. So, if your child has 6 classes, their total study time would be 2 hours. Break up these 2 hours into study chunks. Perhaps try an hour directly after school and an hour before bed. You decide what is more manageable. Talk It Out – True mastery means being able to teach the material. Have your student teach you the concepts that they are learning. And remember to set a time limit. Ideally, they feel confident enough about their material to recite the lessons at a conversational pace. Take note of concepts on which they flounder, those need more study time. Studying is a very personal activity, and no single solution suits everyone equally. If you find that one of these tips works better than another, embrace that! With the multitude of learning styles, variety equals healthy study habits. As long as your child can master their information in an efficient amount of time, midterms season should be a cinch.
When applying to university, the admissions require consider more than just grades. It’s common knowledge that colleges take into account a student’s academic rigor, their written recommendations, and their standardized test scores. But did you know that factors like community service, extended travel experience and specialized skills can also be attractive qualities in a college candidate? This rings true tenfold if the student participates in these areas during all their years of secondary education because it demonstrates the ability to manage long-term commitments. Community Service Often adolescence represents a period of personal growth and exploration. So when a high school student dedicates a consistent portion of their time to bettering their community, colleges take notice. Now this does not mean that your child should be collecting litter from the roadside for hours on end. Rather, a regular and consistent investment in community organizing and activities speaks volumes. Think about volunteering with children or the elderly, acting as a member of the community board, or helping to bring local events and initiatives into fruition. What is even better is tailoring your child’s service to their aptitudes and interests. If your child loves music, perhaps volunteering to stage manage music programs at the elementary and middle schools or the local theater is suitable. Just take care to be consistent, sincere and committed to the work. Extended Travel Experience Navigating the world is no small feat. Students who pursue their academic or professional passions abroad can be positioned as worldly candidates for admission. This is because international travel often imparts unparalleled insight and massive personal growth. When constructing an incoming freshman class, admissions officers value students who can contribute authentic, global perspectives and who may bring that drive and boldness to campus. Specialized Skills Now most parents have heard of the stereotype that all children should play piano, chess and be class president in order to get into the college of their dreams. While these skills are undoubtedly valuable, a multitude of fascinating and unique possibilities exist that will impress colleges. Let’s take our previous example of music. Hypothetically speaking, admissions officers want to fill their freshman class with talented and driven students. They also have an imperative to replenish the needs of their university. For example, if the college boasts a full orchestra, then there are a finite number of pianists that they can utilize. This is because they must also have bassoonists and cellists and french horn players. So as you begin to introduce your child to various skills, feel free to allow for quirky choices. With four dedicated years in high school honing their craft, you may find that playing the bassoon proves equally impressive as the piano in the eyes of admissions officers.
What do all parents have in common? They want success for their children. It is no secret that a large part of success stems from playing to one’s individual strengths. In the world of education, not all classes are created equal when it comes to student aptitudes. But parents are in luck because most public and private schools offer a variety of academic rigor levels for every core class. Typically, rigor is classified from the General Education Level to the Advanced Level to the Gifted/Honors Level. There are also Advanced Placement (AP) courses and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses which are nationally and internationally standardized curricula, respectively. Before a child can truly benefit from the differing levels of rigor, he or she must know their strengths in the classroom. One way to do so is by reviewing all of your child’s progress reports and report cards. The classes in which they scored highest are potential rigor areas, particularly if they are earning in the 94-100 percentiles. Another area is pre-test benchmark scores. If your child earns top marks on pre-tests (which measure subject knowledge prior to instruction), this may be an indicator that they are ready to be exposed to more challenging material. Finally, we recommend that you have a discussion with your young one about what school subjects interest them most, and why. Often people work harder on things that fascinate them. The same logic rings true for growth areas. If your child is demonstrating lags or struggles in a given subject area, perhaps they need to drop a rigor level in order to continue to learn without harming their confidence in that area. Once you have identified your child’s strength and growth areas, contact their school to discuss the corresponding levels of rigor they offer. Be sure to ask about how each rigor level will impact classwork, pacing and homework assignments. Often there will be an adjustment period, so anticipate and allow time for that transition. Ideally, your child is able to construct a class schedule that allows them to remain challenged and engaged. Taking the time to coordinate rigor with aptitudes is something colleges take note of during the admissions process. They seek out candidates who are self-aware of their abilities and who are committed to growing academically. This does not necessarily mean that colleges only want students who enroll in AP or Honors across the board. In fact, many institutions would rather a pupil who has earned high B’s and A’s in a mix of varied rigor courses than to see a transcript of all C’s in high-rigor courses or all A’s in General Level courses. So as the school year revs into full swing, make sure to build a schedule for your child that will hone their abilities and make them an attractive candidate to universities.
Once the school year gets into full swing, it can feel like a nonstop train. It goes until the winter semester. This relentless schedule can make it hard to set goals for your family and children. So why not do it ahead of time? Here are 7 tips for ways to effectively set goals and to monitor them. Establish a bedtime. It’s a well-known fact that sleep is essential to productivity and wellness. While many assume smaller children need the most sleep, studies show that teens need anywhere from 8-10 hours of sleep each night to perform at full capacity. Sit down with your child and establish a bedtime for school nights, and a bedtime for weekdays to ensure that they are firing on all cylinders in the classroom. Review past grades and set custom progress report and report card goals. In an ideal world, all children earn A’s in every class. But in reality, the grading system allows us to measure aptitudes and growth areas. Make a plan for what grades you want to see on your child’s report card, and then a plan to achieve them. Refresh study skills. One of the biggest conundrums in education is the fact that many students have never been taught how to study. One way to address this is to review a few study skills before the year begins. Many teachers assign summer reading, which is a great way to address annotating, note taking, speed-reading, color-coding and other study habits. Sometimes having a study skill memory jog can make all the difference. Practice time management. Success in school is largely tied to time management. Help to build these sorts of skills in your child by showing them how to budget their time. Perhaps buy a written planner or agenda for them to log their assignments and due dates. Or, utilize the calendars apps offered on many smart devices and emails accounts to set reminders and note appointments. By encouraging your child to take an active role in their schedule before the year begins, they will have a better chance of maintaining the habit during the semester. Ask your child to discuss their own personal goals. Your children may have an idea of what interests them academically, extracurricularly, and recreationally. Have a 30-minute sit-down where you both brainstorm activities, grades, events and goals that you want to achieve over the school year. Then build a calendar together in order to pace out your combined efforts to get there. Having your listening ear and support will do wonders for your little one. Set rewards. For each and every goal that you propose, set a reward that corresponds to it. Children respond to positive reinforcement, and having them work actively toward achieving them. This makes your expectations clear, and sets the stakes for success in a straightforward with your child. Check-In. Touch base with your student after the first week of school. The influx of class schedules friends and orientation days may have shifted their goals or put new ones on their radars. Be encouraging and open to pivoting as necessary.
A music streaming gift subscription. Pandora Radio and Spotify offer one-year subscriptions of their ad-free streaming services, which means 365 days of virtually unlimited tunes! Every time your graduate turns on their sound system, they’ll have you to thank. A Movie Pass. This service allows users to view one movie per day in theaters. It’s a $9.99 monthly fee, for endless cinematic bliss. With summer on thehorizon, make their post-grad lives kick off with moviegoing bliss. Amazon Prime. Think about it: graduating from school means embarking on adulthood. Recent grads will head across globe to jobs, internships, fellowships and service missions. Having free shipping on Amazon’s entire inventory is the gift that will keep on giving. A Lyft gift card. Most of us cannot gift a car for graduation. But a Lyft gift card might be the next best thing. Purchasing a ride-sharegift card increases mobility for recent grads, relieving high school grads of the need to beg for parental carpools and eliminating the risks of drunk-driving with older grads. You won’t miss the mark with this one! Portable Smartphone Battery. It is no secret that millennials love their gadgets. Spare them the horror of a dead phone battery by gifting them a portable phone battery. No matter if their post-grad plans take them abroad, to the beach or to the office, knowing they have a battery backup brings ample peace of mind. Nice headphones or earphones. With the omniscient presence of technology in most recent graduates’ lives, having access to quality headphones is a no-brainer. The best part is that with bluetooth headphones, wireless sets and the classic earphones, the options are plentiful, yet equally valuable.
With college graduation season just a short six weeks away, most recent graduates focus on surviving final exams, crossing off the last remaining items on their bucket lists, and securing new job or fellowship opportunities. While the Commence Day ceremony marks the conclusion of undergraduate life, it also signifies the beginning of paying back student loans. Even those who deferred their first student loan payment will need to begin planning. We compiled five easy-to-implement ways to plan for student loan payback that will not break your budget. 1. Make a lump sum payment After May graduation, many students will be receiving graduation gift money, job signing bonuses and tax refunds. Applying this lump sum to your student loans can save you thousands in accrued interest and decreases the repayment time. Use Make Lemonade’s Lump Sum Calculator to gauge how much you could save in time and interest by applying a lump sum at the beginning of repayment. 2. Make more than the minimum payment This tip is quite straightforward. The more you pay, the less interest is added to your remaining balance and the quicker the loan is paid off. No need to put pressure on yourself to double the payment. Even $50 more each month will make an impact. Still on the fence? Incorporate this added amount to your automatic loan payments so that you stay consistent and hesitation-free in your payments. 3. Refinance Your Loans Regardless of whether you have one loan or multiple, refinancing creates an opportunity to lower your interest rate. Before diving into refinancing, first consult a lender to verify that your interest rate will decrease. Here is a list of awesome banks that help refinance loans. 4. Avoid Repayment Programs It is true that many of these programs aim for lower monthly loan payments. But they do so by extending the length of the payback term. This means that it will take you longer to pay back your balance and your principal will continue to accrue interest during that extended period. 5. Start a Side-Hustle Spend a few hours each week on a side-hustle that you contribute 100% of the income into loans repayment. Ideally, choose something easy and enjoyable that does not restrict your schedule. Do you enjoy shopping? Apply to work part-time at a retail store. Get a discount off of apparel, and direct that cash toward your loan. In California, working one 5-hour shift per week at $11.00 minimum wage means you could earn $220 toward your loans every month. Not a bad trade-off, eh? Regardless of how you tackle the loan behemoth, be proactive about making a plan. Loans can be a challenge to navigate, but with the proper strategy, you’ll find your balance at $0.00 in no time.
It is nearly time for college admissions decisions to start being delivered to mailboxes all around the nation. Prospective college freshman wait with a health mixture of nerves and excitement. Along with admission comes Move-in Day, arguably the most exciting aspect of a freshman’s preparation. Here are ten things we recommend you bring to outfit your child’s freshman dorm. Mattress Protector – Adding a mattress cover/pad is a cost-effective way to make those twin XL sized beds feel brand new. Ease any worries about bed bugs, previous mattress users and other contaminants by investing in a protective zip-up cover for less than $15. An added bonus: keeping your mattress in pristine condition means the dorm deposit will be returned in full.Mattress Cover/Pad – College dorm life does not mean that comfort must be sacrificed. Memory foam mattress toppers add much-needed comfort and support, without putting a major dent in your pocketbook. After a long night of studying, there is nothing better than crashing in comfort. Portable Shower Caddy – Dorm living often necessitates communal bathrooms. Keep your toiletries in a shower caddy to maximize organization. Best part? You can carry the shower caddy to and from your room, so that you know you’re the only one using your products.Eye Mask – College living often means roommates. Even the most compatible of suite mates might have misaligned schedules. Don’t lose a minute of shut-eye, instead use an eye mask to block light.Extra set of laptop and cell phone chargers – A day in the life of a college student means ubiquitous electronic usage.Nonstop tech time means ample opportunities to leave a charger in the lecture hall, library, dining hall etc. Keep one set of chargers that stays home, and the second set for on-the-go.Surge Protector – Need extra outlets to plug up your gadgets and gizmos? Get a surge protector that will maximize available outlets without overloading the circuits or fuses in your dorm room.Under-the-bed Movable Storage – Dorm rooms necessitate taking full advantage of smaller living spaces. Ikea has a few great options for wheeled bins and chest of drawers to transform the space beneath your bed into an organized storage space.Bed risers – A critical part of utilizing storage below your bed is ensuring that it’s high enough off of the ground. There are no guarantees that bunk beds will be able to be debunked, but if you can split the bunks into two separate beds, we highly recommend doing so. Then, use bed risers to elevate your bed anywhere from 6-12’ from the floor. You’ll marvel at the increased storage space!
Standardized tests are a cornerstone of the college application process. Parents devote ample time and energy to preparing the prospective college freshmen in their homes for success with Kaplan courses and Princeton Review guidebooks. But in the last two years, both the American College Test (ACT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) have been redesigned. So how do they compare to their older versions? Also, which test best suits your child’s needs and abilities? Let’s first break down how the test have evolved in recent years. In September of 2015, the ACT was redesigned to incorporate new sub-scoring categories for each of the four core sections: English, Math, Reading and Science. The rationale behind the change meant to provide greater insight into a student’s personal strengths and weaknesses. Thus in addition to the composite score graded on a 1-36 scale, students also receive scores in four new subcategories: S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), English Language, Career Readiness and Text Complexity. Each of these areas theoretically contribute to a more detailed snapshot of the student’s aptitudes. Along with new scoring mechanisms, the ACT made alterations to the optional writing section by extending the time from thirty minutes to forty minutes. The essay requires analysis of multiple perspectives as opposed to general prompt response of older formats. While these changes do not impact the difficulty of the questions themselves, being aware of how best to prepare could be the difference between earning a 28 and a 30 on the exam. Collegeboard first administered the new SAT in March 2016, which decreased total exam time from three hours and forty-five minutes to just three hours (excluding an optional fifty minute essay section). The old Critical Reading and Writing sections, once famous for their vocabulary sections, have been combined into a single Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section that poses questions related to textual excerpts. The new format also eliminated the point penalty for incorrect responses, and extended the time allotted for writing from twenty-five minutes to fifty. Most importantly, perhaps, the score range shifted from 600-2400 to a scale of 400-1600. So a 1600 back in 2012 meant a very mediocre score, whereas now a 1600 denotes perfection. But how to choose between the two exams? First and foremost, not all colleges accept scores from both exams, Not to worry though, because most do. If you want to verify, search through the comprehensive Collegeboard.org database of application requirements. If you can choose either or both, then let the content inform your decision. Note that the main content difference between the ACT and SAT centers around the ACT having a Science section, while the SAT does not. In terms of test formatting, the SAT requires a No-Calculator Math section, while the ACT permits calculators for the entire Math section. With respect to aids, the SAT provides common algebra and geometry formulas, while the ACT does not. Our suggestion? Review these content and formatting differences with your child in order to gauge their preferences. Still stuck? Have them complete sample SAT and ACT questions and then compare the scores. At the end of the day, rest assured that many colleges permit students to submit the highest scores per section for either test, without reviewing all scores from each exam attempt. When choosing between the ACT and SAT, be sure to prioritize your child’s preferences along with the application requirements of the colleges they hope to attend. In any case, happy testing and good luck!
Gearing up for SAT and ACT season? Countless families are shifting from summer mode to college prep mode as the application deadlines for most major universities draws near. Not surprisingly, many high school juniors and seniors have thought only of where they will attend college. In fact, not many been of these students have been asking themselves if they want to attend a four-year academic institution at all. As it turns out, “do I want to get a bachelor’s degree?” may very well be the $55,000/year question of the year. For the last four decades, the United States experienced a cultural push for adolescents to earn bachelor’s degrees. In fact, data collected by the United States Census Bureau indicates a over a 28% percent increase in bachelor’s degree holders in 65 years: from 5% in 1940, to 33% in 2015. This year alone, around 33.4% of Americans reported having earned at least a bachelor’s degree, with many within that cohort having gone on to earn master’s and doctoral degrees. Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the substantial difference in earning potential for those with academic degrees and those without, the latter earns approximately $464 less in average weekly pay. It seems only natural then, to assume that most American parents intend on sending their children to four-year institutions to secure a bachelor’s degree, and, hopefully, higher salaries in the future. But is committing to four years of study, $30,000 worth of student loan debt and an uncertain hiring pool the only option for leading financially secure adult lives? Perhaps not. Recently, a contributor to PBS published an article claiming that the nation’s emphasis on attaining bachelor’s degrees after high school caused a number of adverse effects; particularly the erosion of vocational industries. You might be thinking, “what’s the big deal?” With a shortage of skilled trade workers, the demand for these positions are steadily increasing. Not to mention, the salaries for these careers. Interestingly, the article states that “The United States has 30 million jobs that pay an average of $55,000 per year and don’t require a bachelor’s degree, according to the Georgetown center.” That is a big deal. A massive deal. But that is not all. Not only do a plethora of well-paying jobs exist that do not mandate $30,000 of debt, but “people with career and technical educations are actually slightly more likely to be employed than their counterparts with academic credentials, the U.S. Department of Education reports, and significantly more likely to be working in their fields of study.” Talk about thought-provoking, right? So we leave you to ponder this information as your high school juniors and seniors begin contemplating their post-graduation plans. It may be worth considering a broader range of paths, including the pursuit of a vocational education or trade certification. While the benefits of college cannot be measured solely by one’s income, the desire to build a stable future for your kids may be more attainable than what we have been led to believe.
The New SAT made its debut in March 2016 and impacts the students in the class of 2017 or younger. In 2005, the SAT changed and a score of 2400 or higher became the magic number to get. Before that the magic number was 1600. This year the SAT test is changing again and the magic number is reverting back to 1600. You may be asking yourself what is the new SAT test and why has it changed? Let’s dig a little deeper and learn more about the history of the SAT. The SAT was founded in 1926 and was an adaptation of the Army Alpha, an IQ test which had been used to check the intelligence of recruits to the US Army. This eventually developed into the SAT as we know it. In 2005, an update was done to the test where analogies was eliminated from the test. It was determined that they did not really reflect today’s high school curriculum. They als0 felt that the analogies encouraged memorization of vocabulary rather than reasoning skills. The math section was expanded to embrace concepts covered by most high school “Algebra II” courses. Again, the change represents an attempt to keep the SAT in step with the modern high school curriculum. They also wanted to emphasize the skills that are most desired by top colleges and universities. The newest changes to the SAT test in 2016 have students pretty excited. Lets look at some of these changes. 1. No Obscure Vocabulary. The new version of the SAT will be easier because there will no longer be obscure vocabulary to trip you up. So you may be more familiar with some of the vocabulary that is tested, but you will need to know multiple definitions of those words. The College Board made the decision to focus on vocabulary words that you will encounter on a regular basis in college and in future jobs. 2. Fewer Answer Choices. The new format will have only 4 choices to each question instead of 5. This will help save you time when taking the test because you will have 1 less answer choice to read through. This will also give you a 25% chance of getting the answer correct instead of only a 20% chance. 3. More Time. One of the biggest complaints that students had with the SAT test is that they didn’t have enough time to take the test. The good news is that there will be more time per section on the new version, and you will even have double the amount of time to write your essay. Another cool thing about it is the new 1600 version of the test will have 16 fewer questions than the old version. 4. No Penalty for Guessing. On the previous version of the SAT, students were penalized for guessing the wrong answer by losing a point on their score. The new system doesn’t penalize you for choosing the wrong answer. 5. Optional Essay. The essay, which the SAT added in 2005, will now be optional. SAT essays have faced criticism over the years from educators who said they focused too much on what test takers wrote, not whether their statements were true, or their arguments reasonable. Essays will be scored separately from the rest of the test, and the prompt will remain basically the same in every test. It will ask you to consider a passage and write an essay that analyzes how the author made an argument, used evidence and styled ideas. The redesigned test will take about three hours, with an additional 50 minutes for the essay, and will be administered by print and computer; the current test is available on paper only. These are so many needed changes to the SAT. The new SAT will have no bearing on students scheduled to graduate in 2016. However, for students planning to graduate in 2017 or any year after, the new SAT exam will be the exam they have to take (assuming they would prefer to take the exam no sooner than spring of 2016).
With the holiday break over, it’s time to start getting back to classes. When it comes to classes, it is always great to have a couple of apps to help keep things organized and running smoothly. Both Apple and Android have a wonderful selection of apps to help you get started. Here are the “Top 7 Apps” to get you started for college in the New Year: Dictionary.com Dictionary.com is a great vocabulary building app. It is great for helping you get ready for exams. With over 2,000,000 definitions, you are sure to find any word you are looking for. The main app is free. It does have ad banners that allow it to be free. It has search history, word origin and history, word of the day, synonyms, antonyms, a thesaurus, and much more. The IOS version and Android version are both very popular and growing apps. Quizlet Quizlet is a great study tool. Filled with millions of flashcard study sets for several topics that have already been created by both high school and college students. If you can’t find the subject that you are looking for, it’s very easy to make your own. You can also use images and audio in your flashcard sets. It is great for adding variety to your learning process. The IOS version and Android version both average a 4.2 star rating.This is a handy app that every college student should keep around. Google Drive Google Drive is a wonderful resource for taking and keeping notes, drawing diagrams, creating spreadsheets, and building presentations. The great thing about Drive is the cloud storage, which allows access any computer or mobile device that is connected to the internet. Google Drive is a collection of cloud based “Office” programs that include spreadsheets, documents, presentations, diagrams, and more. You get 15GB of free storage and you have the option to purchase more if needed. You can sign up with an email address. If you have a Google account, you automatically have an account. The IOS version has 37,190 reviews with a 4 star rating. The Android version has 1,046,549 reviews with a 4.3 star rating. Make sure to take advantage of this wonderful tool! Wi-FI Finder Between checking your grades online to checking out what is on the menu in the cafeteria, you won’t get far in college without WiFi. This app is great for finder of all the free internet hotspots in your area. Learn more about the IOS version and Android version,as this app is a great one to keep around to minimize mobile data and keep connected. Amazon Kindle The Amazon Kindle is a great app, if you like to read e-books. You can turn your smartphone into a book library. You can use this app to organize all your eBooks and read them offline. A great thing about the Amazon Kindle is that it has a built in dictionary so you easily find the meaning of a word while you are reading. Check out the IOS version and Android version with an average rating of 4.1.. Whether it is a book for a class or for pleasure, this is an app you want to keep around! Evernote Evernote is one of the top apps for taking notes. It has cool features like bookmarking, composing, clipping, and much more. It even has a to-do list to keep you on track! You can sync it to an online account. So you are taking notes on your phone you can access them later on your computer. There is both a free version and a paid version. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the many features available be sure check out this comprehensive beginner’s guide. Check out the IOS version and the Android version with an average rating of 4.6. Mathway If Math is a weak spot for you, then Mathway is a great app for you! It does all the work for you when it comes to solving the problem. The app does everything from Arithmetic to Geometry. It also does Theorems to Calculus. It helps make your math classes a little easier, with less headaches. Check out the IOS version and Android version. Now you have a few more tools to help you better succeed in 2016. Make sure to share with other students apps that you love, as this is the best way to help one another get through the tougher parts of school. Don’t forget that these apps aren’t just for college students!
Congratulations on your decision to go to college! It is an exciting time in your life, that may also a stressful one. There are many important areas to consider when you begin to think of the best way to be ready for college, as a student. Preparing For College Means Two Things: Be Prepare To Work Hard Be Prepares To Take Time Inside & Outside of School To Explore Your Career Interests A strong academic foundation in high school improves your odds of getting into a good college. During high school, focus on completing the following: 1 year of High School Physics 1 year of High School Chemistry 1 year of High School Biology Math (up to Calculus) 2-4 years of a Foreign Language 4 years of English 2 years of History and/or Social Sciences To create this foundation, take at least five solid academic classes every semester. Start with the basics, and then move on to challenging yourself in advanced courses. Most colleges require students to meet certain college prep curriculum standards, so just meeting the minimum is not necessarily the best way to prepare for college. Make sure you check to see what your college of choice requires. Strong preparation means going beyond the minimum. Colleges also expect students to have interests outside of academics. Sports and other extracurricular activities show admission officers that students are well-rounded and can contribute to life on campus. Volunteering or working part-time also indicates a sense of duty and commitment, further proof that students are ready for the responsibilities college entails. It takes a lot of work to prepare for college admission. With a little effort and time, you will do great. Remember to choose extra curricular activities that you enjoy to show how unique you are.
You have decided on your career and the college you want to attend. Now you have the task of finding a loan so you can afford to attend college and help your dreams come true. Paying for college is a scary thought, especially when the average public college tuition costs $24,061 and average private is $47,831. There are similarities and differences when it comes to student loans and ordinary loans. Student loans are similar to other loans in the way that you borrow money from a lender and promise to repay the loan with interest. The difference from student loans and ordinary loans comes in the repayment terms of student loans. With an ordinary loan, you are expected to begin paying the loan off in installments as soon as you receive the money. In the case of a student loan, you are traditionally expected to begin repaying the loan after your education is over because of the lack of employment needed to pay the loan is not there until you complete your schooling. As you will read below, some types of student loans are vastly superior to others. There are 2 main categories for student loans, federal and private loans. Let’s take a look at the different types of loans that come with federal and private loans: Stafford Loans are the most common type of federal loan that students apply for and use for funding their college education. Stafford loans are capped at a certain amount per year, based on whether you are dependent on or independent of your parents and what year you are in school. There are two types of Stafford Loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. Subsidized loans are awarded based on your financial need. The interest on these loans will not accrue while you are in school at least part-time. The interest will also not accrue if you apply for “deferment” following your education to help you have time to get an established job and full-time employment. Unsubsidized loans are not based on your financial needs, and the interest will begin to accrue from the moment the government gives you the loan. If you are an undergraduate, a subsidized Stafford Loan will have a lower interest rate than an unsubsidized one. Perkins Loans are for students with extreme financial need. The interest rates for Perkins Loans are a standard 5%, and the loan is limited to $5,500 per year in aid. PLUS Loans are issued to parents of students. Your parents can borrow a PLUS loan to supplement the costs that were not covered by other forms of financial aid that you have received. A consolidation loan combines one or several loans into a single loan package. According to the nonprofit American Student Assistance (ASA), interest rates on consolidation loans are calculated by doing a weighted average of the rates of each individual loan being combined and rounding up to the nearest one-eighth percent. The interest rate is capped at 8.25%. Institutional loans are offered by the school you’re attending. Unlike a scholarship, this money must be repaid to the school once you graduate. Private loans are sometimes called “alternative” or “deal” loans because they are different from government-funded Stafford, Perkins and PLUS loans. Unlike government loans (whose interest rates don’t vary and which have standard repayment schedules), the interest rates of private student loans can change over the life of the loan, and repayment schedules are not standardized. For this reason, private loans tend to be a greater financial burden for you when you take them on. These loans are recommend for you to use only when all other sources of financial aide have been exhausted. After learning about the different types of loans available, the first step is to fill out a “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” (FAFSA) form. A few things you will need for this form are: Your Social Security Number Your W-2 and Tax Return Paperwork From The Previous Year Your Parent’s W-2 and Tax Return Paperwork From The Previous Year (if still legally a dependent of your parents) Submitting the FAFSA form online is the most recommended route as it is the fastest way to apply. The next important step is to find out the total cost of the school that you are want to attend. For this you will need to factor in: Tuition Additional Fees and Charges (These vary from school to school, so ask your admissions and records office what that may be.) Housing Books and Supplies Transportation Miscellaneous After you find the total cost, find out how much your family is able to help with your education funding. Sometimes your parents will have set up a savings account to help with these cost. Once finding out what loans you are eligible for, investigate the different types and what they have to offer. What is the interest rate? Total amount owed later? Accept the loans that are right for you and ensure to budget your money to last through the year and cover everything you will need. The process of applying for loans is repeated every year, as your income can factor in State and Federal grants, depending on what your state has to offer. Your income also factors how much interest-free and interest loans you are eligible for. Don’t just assume that your loans will be the same as they were the previous year. As income and other factors change, so do your loans. If you are stuck in a difficult spot when it comes to paying for school and do not have enough loans to cover, search out grants and scholarships offered for students in your position. There are many companies offering new grants and scholarships every year.
Preparing for college is important for every student. There are many steps that need to be completed to help students prepare for this journey. Through beginning at the right time and accomplishing certain steps, college will approach with you just waiting for the acceptance letters. Follow our student guide to preparing for college, grade by grade. 9th Grade is the starting point for preparing for college.. This is the stepping stone year that will start you working towards your college goals. The first step in this grade is to meet your guidance counselor. This meeting can help you decide what your goals are and possibly what you want most from college. You are still young, so things may change. Getting a general idea and begin the process of brainstorming what it is you want to be after high school is important. Begin looking at different clubs or sports you like, as extracurricular activities are a great way to earn achievements, along with help you learn to set and achieve goals for yourself. Colleges love to these activities, along with your grades! These activities are a great way to look at receiving scholarships or grants! As we all know, good grades are vital and important for college. Make sure to start your year out in a good way through working on your grades and keep them this way throughout your high school years. Colleges go back to 9th grade and see what your marks are. Everyone wants to go to college, so make sure you prove to the school of your choice that you are able to work hard and get the good grades! 9th grade is also a time to think of how you spend your summer. Try volunteering somewhere or begin your 1st job! Having a job and volunteering is a way to add a little more responsibility to your life as well as learning to juggle more than one thing. It is ok cut back on your job or volunteering during the school year. Learning to manage your time and show school being important through minimizing your work time is a great way to show people you are growing up! 10th Grade is the grade you begin thinking about your SAT or ACT test. Begin by taking the PSAT test. This test is a great way of getting your name out to colleges before other students! Speak to your guidance counselor about the Plan Assessment Program that is offered by the American College Testing. This is a great way to show your testing ability as well as getting a glimpse at your study habits and how well they are working! Make sure to pick the right classes. Having the right classes is important to helping you achieve your goals. 11th Grade is an important year. If you haven’t yet, take the PSAT course in the Fall. This qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship Program. This is program can help you earn money, which is wonderful when it comes to paying for school! This year is a great time to attend college fairs and/or college tours. Start thinking about what you want to be even along with what schools will help you accomplish your goals. This is a great time to begin collecting recommendation letters from teachers, bosses, and other individuals that you have worked with (for pay or no pay). Recommendation letters are wonderful for those college applications! Begin looking into your high school ranks and where you stand. This way if there is something that can be fixed, you can find and begin fixing it. 12th Grade is the time that you begin registering for your ACT or SAT tests which are necessary for college acceptances. Make sure you have requested (either by mail or online) that your test scores are sent to the colleges of your choice. Make sure your grades and activities are on track. Your grades do not need to be perfect, but they need to be good to help get into the colleges you need and want. If you feel you are not on track for doing well on your ACT or SAT tests, find and hire a tutor to help you prepare. Your test results can help make up for any classes you may have not done well in. Begin to finalize your top 5 college list. Gather the information from college visits, your interviews and research you have may have found. Be sure to apply to the schools you may feel are difficult to get into as well as schools you may think are easy. This is best way to assure you have a few different options available to you. Make sure to fill out all the forms needed and mark all the deadlines on a calendar so everything gets sent to the correct place on time. Make sure you notify all schools of your intent by May 1st. If you are not sure yet which school you want, try visiting a few school campus again and get a feel for what you truly want. Once you make that decision, make sure you send your deposit to your chosen school and ask your guidance counselor to send your final transcript to the college in June. Now is the time to enjoy the last little bit of what’s left before you start your next journey in life. Enjoy your high school years, but make sure you are working hard to keep up on everything! These are such important years of your life that affect your future.
In our world of technology, we have so many resources at our fingertips. The library is used for peace and quiet more than anything because of the easy-to-access resources from any of our phones, computers, or tablets. With all this technology, there comes the problem of finding the right information for our need because of the large amount of resources. If you are struggling with your college classes and trying to find those “great resources” to bookmark and have to help you through your classes, check out these 5 websites. Quizlet Quizlet is a website offering free study tools. You provide the curriculum through registration, then begin studying just about anything. Easily download Quizlet on your Android or iOS phone or tablet to allow you to study virtually anywhere! This wonderful resource is used by both students and teachers, and available no matter the age or grade. Learn more about Quizlet on their website. Essay Punch Essay Punch is a website helping you write that perfect essay. It is very easy to use and walks you through the whole process. You can do the free version, which will provide you with one prompt, or for $39.00 a year, you are able to receive 9 prompts, as well as have the ability to save and resume your work and copy and paste it to an email, word processor, ect. If you are looking at improving your writing skills, Essay Punch something you should try and learn more on their website. The Owl (Purdue) Writing Lab Owl Purdue is a website offering many different free resources that are great to refer to when writing research papers, no matter the class or college level. Owl Purdue helps with writing, research, grammar, and even ESL! This website is a resource that you definitely want to bookmark and use, as it helps you write the perfect paper in the format you need through helping understand the important areas your teacher requires. Learn more Owl Purdue on their website. Open Study Open Study is a website for those out looking for others to study with! A free resource offering online study groups with people from all over the world! Offering help with Chemistry, Mathematics, English and more! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Keep this website close in case you find yourself needing help, or just want to study with someone without having to leave your home! Learn more at Open Study’s website. StudyBlue Study Blue is a website offering ways to study through flash cards, review sheets, quizzes and more. A completely free site that you can study virtually anything and anywhere. Easy to use for all students and a great tool to help you in the areas you are struggling with classes. Learn more about Study Blue on their website. These are just 5 wonderful websites out of the thousands of resources available online to the average college student. When in doubt, always use Google Search to find what you need as help is always just a few clicks away!
