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.
Most students juggle a full course load in addition to extracurricular activities. Often, this mix of textbooks, athletic wear, and club fundraiser materials can be jumbled together. We have compiled eight fantastic organization solutions guaranteed to make Marie Kondo proud. 1. Label all of your files and folders With digital note-taking, online textbooks and virtual classrooms increasing in popularity, it can be to overlook your laptop’s organization. Create files for each course, and store all related materials accordingly. 2. Assign every item a place Within each folder, be sure to label all of your assignments and to keep track of draft numbers. There’s no panic like submitting your essay at the last-minute, only to realize you cannot locate the file. 3. Consolidate your binders into one Instead of lugging around multiple binders per class, consolidate your materials into one. Then, choose dividers with labels in order to differentiate classes. You can also use folders to store loose paper, just be sure to make each folder class-specific. 4. Maximize storage space. Use zip files to compartmentalize large pdf files. Take advantage of Sunday evenings to clean out superfluous paper and trash. Utilize double sided printing and take notes using the front and back sides of your paper. By making the most of every item and space, you will increase your sense of order and cleanliness. 5.Use a calendar or planner Write down all upcoming deadlines, events, and appointments in a planner. Make sure to include times, addresses and relevant notes to help jog your memory. If hard copy calendars aren’t your style, try Google calendar and sync the data with our email and smart devices. You’ll never be late or miss a due date again!
Ample emphasis is placed on the SAT and ACT for high school seniors. These are touted as the “biggest” exams of a student’s life. However, for the private school pupil, the High School Placement Test (HSPT) proves a major undertaking. What is the HSPT? The HSPT has existed for five decades. It is used to assess an eighth grade student’s preparedness for the ninth grade. High schools nationwide interpret HSPT scores in order to make admissions decisions as well as to award scholarships and assign curriculum. What is a good score? The number of correct responses generate a raw score that is then converted into a composite result. Students receive a composite score in three areas: Total Cognitive Skills, Total Basic Skills, and Battery Composite. Although the scoring is standardized, competitive criteria differs from institution to institution. Note that scores at the 50th percentile reflect the national average performance. Is there an official prep guide? Many parents fret over how to prepare their young ones for the HSPT. According to the Scholastic Testing Service, Inc (STS), there is no formal prep guide for the exam. Completion of academic work through the first semester of eighth grade should adequately prepare your child for the test. Still, many guidebooks exist to help preview the types of questions featured on the exam. Shopping for an HSPT preparation guide can be tricky. Always search for the most recent edition of the guide to ensure the most up-to-date material. Read reviews from previous buyers and prioritize copies that feature full-length practice exams. Finishing Touches As with all standardized exams, the preparatory measures can make a major difference. Ensure your student gets a full night of rest and eats a complete breakfast. Send them to their exam with two number two pencils and a wristwatch so they can track their pace. Most of all, once they complete the exam, celebrate! The most challenging aspect of the high school application process is behind them and all that is left to do is await the results. Good luck!
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.
Start early. Start well in advance to avoid cramming. This way, you are prepared the night before an exam. Your score will be much better as a result. Build a master to-do list and a schedule for the remaining days in the semester. Break cumulative exams into smaller study units. Studying increments prevents you from feeling overwhelmed. It can also aid in monitoring your progress. Study for the style of exam. Ask about the test format, then study accordingly. Multiple choice exams mean you should know definitions and concepts. Written exams focus on your synthesis of the concepts, so study with examples in mind. Build a custom study guide. Some teachers provide study guides. But creating your own study guide can help you process the material more efficiently. Outline the important information you need to learn and to refer to it frequently while you study. Explain concepts aloud. Pretend to teach the material to someone. Use your own words to assess your comprehension. This will aid your memory and help identify growth areas. Use your friends and family as guinea pigs to teach. Use focus tools. For example, music can help you focus. Listen to music you already know all the words to, but don’t feel compelled to sing along. If it becomes a distraction, try a different focus tool. Find a study buddy. You and your friends should make a study guide for the final exam separately. Then review the topics together. But do not split the work. You do not want to miss something. Quiz yourself. Think about and create mock exam questions. You will become more familiar with what you need to study. Also, making questions helps familiarize yourself with the type of language used on the exam. You will be able to set expectations of what you need to focus on by doing so. Promote relaxation. One example is listening to calming music. You can also stretch, breathe deeply, or meditate. De-stressing can release negative thoughts and boost your confidence. Go to bed early the night before. Sleep is crucial. “All-nighters,” aka staying up throughout the night to study, are harmful. Studies indicate that late night studying without sleep will actually hurt your performance. So get a good night’s sleep before your test.
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.
Summertime is the bastion of relaxation and ease in a child’s life. No school, fun in the sun and endless free time. It is not uncommon for a child to put away their books until school starts once again. However, this creates a risk for summertime learning loss and even potential academic setbacks when school is back in session. Encouraging your young one to pick up a book can require a creative approach, especially when reading time competes with social activities and technology. We suggest that you tag team your child’s summer reading list by reading to them or with them. For older children, feel free to read independently and discuss together later. You will find that the opportunities for engaging conversation on intriguing topics are virtually boundless and tech-free bonding is an added bonus! Below you will find summer reading suggestions for children of all ages. All of our selections have television or film adaptations to supplement the reading and are available for hardcopy or audiobook purchase online. Elementary School 1. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit: A young girl encounters an extraordinary immortal family who teaches her that there is more to life than simply living forever. 2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney: This comedy novel explores the daily life of a self-proclaimed wimpy kid just trying to fit in. 3. The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey: Two overly imaginative pranksters spend hours in a treehouse creating comic books about their hero, Captain Underpants, and are surprised to discover that he has become real. Middle School 4. Holes by Louis Sachar: An unlucky teenage boy named Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile corrections facility in a desert in Texas, after being falsely accused of theft. 5. Wonder by R.J. Palacio: A boy with Treacher Collins Syndrome, which has left his face disfigured, leaves homeschooling behind to experience a larger world after his parents enroll him into Beecher Middle School for the start of fifth grade. High School 6. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: Avid gamer Wade Watts searches for an Easter egg in a worldwide virtual reality game, the discovery of which will lead him to inherit the game creator’s fortune. 7. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon: Madeline Whittier lives everyday stuck inside her LA home while being treated for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) until a new friend motivates her to come outside. 8. The Circle by Dave Eggers: A young woman begins a new job at top technology firm, The Circle, that has consequences for every aspect of her life.
Summer vacation is a magical time for children all across America. No schoolwork, no early mornings and no responsibility. Amid all the fun in the sun, however, summer break can also pose risks to your child’s education. According to The Brookings Institution for research, there are three major drawbacks of summer vacation with regard to a student’s education: “on average, students’ achievement scores declined over summer vacation by one month’s worth of school-year learning, declines were sharper for math than for reading, and the extent of loss was larger at higher grade levels.” Bearing this in mind, what is a parent to do in order to counteract the uglier aspects of this “summer slide” phenomenon? Summer Reading Programs One of the most effective methods for maximizing learning opportunities during the summer is to have your child participate in a summer reading program. Nearly all public libraries in the nation program summer reading into their calendars, and some even offer incentives and prizes for successful completion of the program. Similarly, bookstores like Barnes and Noble organize summer reading programs in tandem with their children’s books departments. Activities like story time sessions and interactive reading games help to bolster excitement around reading for younger children. Summer School There is a slight stigma regarding summer school that those who attend are lagging in their studies. On the contrary, summer school can be an opportunity to get ahead as well. Before the spring term ends, reach out to your child’s school counselors to get additional information regarding curriculum, cost and enrollment. Math Prep In addition to reading, math abilities are at a risk of taking a nosedive during your child’s summer months of recreation. Fortunately, there are many possibilities for practicing math in between trips to the pool, and not all of them need to be costly. Mathnasium offers summertime math programs online for all grade levels. Most local colleges and universities offer math camps and courses for a few weeks out of the summer as well. If you do a bit of digging, you are sure to find a practical math practice regimen that suits your student’s needs. No matter how you decide to tackle the “summer side,” we hope you and your child make the most of the break by boosting their academics. Good luck!
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).
Being a teenager has its pitfalls, which can include overwhelming pressure and stress with school and grades. Classes become more difficult and teachers often demand a tremendous amount of general homework, projects, and reports to be completed. As a parent, it is imperative that you be there for your high school student to make sure your child performs well to help with college and beyond, even if extra help may be needed. High school is a common time for tutoring to be needed. Here are 7 strong signs that your high school student needs a tutor… Different methods: Times have changed and so have the teaching methods they use in schools. You may know how to get the answer yourself, but do you know how your child is being taught to get the answer? Your child may be learning how to do things differently than you did them. This will make it harder for you to help them when you don’t know the current methods being taught. It Has Been Too Long Or You Do Not Remember Enough To Help: If your child is studying long division or fractions and those aren’t something that you deal with on a daily basis, then it may just have been too long since you’ve done some of these things for you to be the best tutor for your child. Could you look at a book and remind yourself. Maybe math wasn’t your thing or you don’t remember how to do signs and cosigns. You can look over the worksheet your child brings home, but you weren’t in class with them. Even if you were getting the concept across to your child, if you don’t really understand how they are trying to do it, then it may not work. Tutors will have several different ways to approach a subject in order to help your child. Need A Someone To Help Who Has More Patience: Let’s face it, our children know how to push our buttons and make us mad. Often we do not have as much patience with our children as we would like. I know there are times when I have more patience with other people’s children than I do with my own. This is where a professional tutor come is. This is what they do. Your child will learn better if they have someone that is more patient with them. Plus, maybe it is just me, but there are times when it seems like your child will listen to everyone else except you, especially teenagers. Time Commitment: How much of a time commitment can you make to help your child? Sometimes it can be hard to find the time needed to help your child. Fitting a solid hour with no distractions, 3 times a week may not be something that you can do. If you get your child a tutor, they can often meet at the school either before or after classes. Your Child Is Trying Not To Disappoint You: Our children don’t want to disappoint us, so they may say that they understand something when really they don’t. They may also feel stupid asking a question for the third time if they still don’t understand the answer. Tutors are used to this kind of thing so they can try to rephrase an answer in order to explain it differently. This way it may click with your child so the finally understand it. More Convenient: Work can be exhausting, so there are pros to having your child meet with a tutor. Having your child meet with a tutor before or after school would be a lot more convenient than having to try to find a time after you get home from work. Since your child is already in the learning mode at those times and more awake it should be easier for them to learn it during those times. Let’s say you get home from work at 6, eat at 7, and finally get around to helping them at 8, chances are your child is already out of school mode and not pick it up as easy. Specialization: Your child could have a learning issue like dyslexia. Finding a tutor that specializes in teaching children like yours will help your child way more than you can. Sometimes it is hard to admit that you can’t do it all as a parent, especially once your child reaches high school. Deciding if your high school student needs a tutor may be a difficult one, but the end result may be worth it.
