7 iPhone Apps to Make You a Better Student

There’s no denying that, for many of us, the iPhone has turned into a highly entertaining and virtually indispensable gadget, especially when taking notes from your private SAT tutor. There are even a number of very useful educational tools designed to help you become a more efficient student. But with hundreds of thousands of applications out there, finding the ones that are right for you can seem overwhelming. Here are a few that I’ve found to be pretty nifty.

Evernote (Free)

Use this app to remember anything and everything that happens in class. Evernote allows you to create text, photo and audio notes, all of which can be synchronized to your computer and accessed later. You can organize, tag, and search through notes—even the text within snapshots is searchable!

Dictionary.com (Free/$3.99 for No-ads version)

There’s no need to lug around a big, heavy dictionary when this app gives you access to nearly one million definitions and over 90 thousand synonyms and antonyms. It also offers audio pronunciation, word origin, example sentences, and—you guessed it—Dictionary.com’s Word of the Day.

myHomework (Free)

This app offers an easy way to track your homework, projects, and tests. Assignments are color-coded by due date in a simple, notebook-like design. Past and upcoming deadlines will be numbered on your application icon, so you’ll be sure not to miss any.

iStudiezPro ($2.99)

This highly-efficient and colorful app helps you organize every aspect of school life. You can input and manage all the details of your classes and activities, including schedule, location, and instructor information. iStudiezPro also enables you to track assignments and tests and can even calculate your GPA for past and current semesters. And you can count on the integrated alarms to remind you of your tasks, classes and events.

The Chemical Touch ($0.99/Lite Edition is free)

This app is a goldmine for chemistry students. The touch-sensitive periodic table gives lets you explore the properties of the elements, such as atomic mass, density, melting and boiling points, etc. It even provides information about standard amino acids and nucleobases. And if you find yourself thirsty for knowledge still, The Chemical Touch’s internet button links directly to the Wikipedia page of the selected element, amino acid, or nucleobase.

FREE Spanish Tutor (Free)

Download this app if you’re looking for a fun way to practice your language skills and pick up new words and phrases. It offers a number of interactive study tools like flash cards, multiple choice and fill-in quizzes, and a puzzle game. FREE Spanish Tutor even has an audio feature so you can learn how to pronounce words like a native speaker! This app is also available in French, Italian and German.

Graphing Calculator ($1.99)

If you ever misplace your TI-83, this app will come in as a handy back-up. It’s a user-friendly scientific calculator that supports most commonly-used functions and allows you to graph multiple equations on the same screen. And one of the advantages of using a graphing calculator on your iPhone is that you can take screenshots and email them to yourself for reference.

Making the Most of Your Winter Break

After the tortures of SAT tutoring, mental exercises, and final exams, many students cannot wait to turn off their brains and “veg out” in front of the television all vacation long. Although a break from the daily routine of school and homework can be extremely necessary, the break does not have to be completely unproductive.
Parenthood.com ran a podcast series, Straight Talk About School, featuring Judy Molland, long time teacher and an award winning educational writer. This particular podcast offers up some tips on how to stay checked in during school vacations. Whether it is the 3 months of summer vacation, or the 3 weeks of the winter break, there are fun ways to make the best out of the time away from school.
Take a couple minutes to listen to this short podcast for fun and constructive ways to fill your days off.
How to Keep Learning Alive During School Vacation

Nailing Your Final Exams

The Christmas songs are playing. Everywhere. It’s that time of year.

While for most people, these songs are the sound of holiday spirit, for us at Launch Education Group, Christmas songs are the sound of upcoming final exams.

Festive, huh?

Now don’t look so sad—even though it’s not quite “the most wonderful time of the year” for students, finals and private SAT tutoring don’t have to be that bad, as long as you approach them with the right mindset and the right strategies. Here are some tips to keep in mind as finals get near:

Pace yourself. Studying for final exams takes a lot of time! It’s a huge mistake to wait until the day before a final to begin studying. Get started as early as two weeks before the exams, and don’t plan on having much of a social life the weekend before exams.

Pay close attention to any final exam review sheet or topic list your teacher gives out. This will help you know exactly what you should and should not spend time studying, and you can use it as your study checklist. You should also absolutely go to any and all review sessions held by your teacher.

Use previous tests, quizzes, and other assignments to your advantage. Especially in math, science, and foreign language classes, if you know how to do every problem on every previous test or quiz, you’re likely to do very well on your final exam. When you go through old tests and quizzes, take special note of any low scores you received, and plan to spend extra time studying those topics.

Get ready to memorize. Memorization is generally a key component of successful final exam studying. Since everyone’s best strategies for memorization are different, think about what has and has not worked for you in the past when memorizing, and pick your techniques accoringly.

Find the right balance of solo versus group studying. Some people actually learn a lot when studying with friends. Others learn much better on their own. Again, think about what has really worked for you in the past. Just because it’s more fun to study with friends does not necessarily mean it’s a smart choice for you.

Remember, final exams count for a lot and they can make or break your report card. You’ve put in countless hours of hard work this semester—don’t let your effort drop now! Rather, this is the time to sprint to the finish. Nothing is better than relaxing at the end of the semester knowing you gave finals your all.

Crosswords Galore

In a recent attempt to catch up on the latest news headlines, I found myself hopping from webpage to webpage reading all sorts of interesting articles. About a dozen clicks later, I landed on an article about the vast and hybrid nature of the English language. That’s when I stumbled upon what ended up occupying me for the next several hours: crossword puzzles. I started with one about ‘borrowed’ words in the English language and then went on to discover a plethora of others —all for students and all about different educational topics like SAT test prep. It turns out that the New York Times' Learning Network has crossword puzzles on everything from Shakespeare to genetics to the stock market.

Crosswords are a great way to review a topic you’ve studied in school or learn something new. And in my book, anything that combines learning and fun is time well-spent. Check out the Student Crossword Archive, find the one (or many) that piques your interest, and start solving!

The College Admission Essay

Writing has never been my greatest academic strength. While I've been able to get by, I've always felt like I've never been able to get my words to really jump off the page like those of some of my peers.

So when it came time to draft my college admissions essay, I was absolutely stumped and had no idea how to make myself "shine" while being "humble" at the same time.

Fortunately for you, Jeannie Borin has compiled some key college essay writing tips as well as some basic do’s and don’ts to simplify this delicate feat.

The College Admissions Essay
By Jeannie Borin M.Ed., College Connections

The Common Application is now online and it’s ready for you to register. Visit www.commonapp.org. As of June 17th, 49 more colleges were added and this website now houses 392 colleges. Remember that some of the colleges on your list may not be on the Common Application. When this is the case, visit those college websites to complete their individual applications.

There are two required essays on the Common Application – one short and one long. Both of these essays provide you with limited space to express yourself. In addition to this, most colleges have supplements and many include more essays.

Here are tips to writing an excellent college admissions essay

1) Make yourself shine within your own story- It’s important that you don’t repeat what has already been stated on your activity resume, but you should highlight your accomplishments in your essay- weave them into your story. Reveal your personality and perhaps your future goals in your writing.

2) Be humble but don’t be modest- Don’t underestimate yourself in any way and be proud and secure in who you are. Sincerely describe your most impressive accomplishments but don’t overdo it.

3) Be confident in your statements– It’s important to write as though you deserve gaining acceptance. Present yourself as unique with specific skills and passion: "Leader in SAT tutoring etc."

4) Use personal stories- You really own your essay in this way and no one can tell YOUR story, this is what makes you unique

5) Write descriptively – Engage the reader and be specific about your experience. If writing a memorable story about a ride in the car and what you saw, have that reader sitting there with you. A good story is priceless and you will catch attention in this way. Use powerful imagery and personal anecdotes whenever you can. Leave readers with a lasting impression and it will serve you well come decision time!

DO’S & DON’TS in college essay writing

DO

• Use personal detail- show, don’t tell
• Be concise
• Vary sentence structure and use transitions
• Use active voice verbs
• Answer the question and follow directions
• Seek a few opinions
• Stay focused as you have a limited word count
• Revise, revise, revise and proofread

DON’T

• Write chronologically- it can be boring
• Thesaurus “ize”- don’t write what you think admission officers want to hear or use language that is not your own
• State a point of view without backing it up with details and examples
• Repeat what is listed on your activity resume
• Use slang

Your character is the hardest thing for admission officers to measure. The essay is your chance to reveal who you are- your passions, values, authenticity and sincerity. Be yourself!

The Path to NCAA Academic Eligibility

There is a great deal of hard work and dedication that goes into being a student-athlete at the collegiate level. What most people don’t realize is that this hard work starts long before the athlete first steps foot onto campus; in high school with their first private SAT tutor. In order to become eligible for NCAA Division I and II athletics, the prospective student-athlete must pay as much attention to their school work as they do their sport. Below is a general guideline of how to start planning and preparing for NCAA eligibility during your high school years.
Please note that these guidelines ONLY cover the requirements for gaining NCAA Academic eligibility and does not touch on the numerous NCAA recruiting rules and regulations.
Freshman and Sophomores

• Start planning now!
• Work hard to get the best grades possible
• Make sure that you are taking classes that are NCAA core courses. You can access your high school’s list of NCAA courses at http://eligibilitycenter.org/
• Don’t fall behind early on! Use summer school classes to catch up if necessary
  

Juniors

• Complete registration at the NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly known as the NCAA Clearinghouse) at the beginning of your junior year
• Register to take the SAT, ACT, or both. Enter code “9999” as a score recipient to send your scores directly to the Eligibility Center
• Check to make sure you are still on track with the NCAA courses
• After completing your junior year, ask your school counselor to send your official transcript to the Eligibility Center
• Check with a school counselor before registering for Senior classes to make sure you complete all core courses by graduation

Seniors

• Take the SAT and/or ACT again if necessary
• Check once again to make sure you are completing all necessary NCAA courses for eligibility
• Request final amateurism certification on or after April 1st
• Graduate on time (in eight-semesters)
• After graduation, ask your high school counselor to send your final transcript to the Eligibility Center with proof of graduation

With a little planning and the hard-work to make it possible, you can set your dreams of playing collegiate athletics in motion.
For a complete list of the NCAA rules and regulations download a copy of the 2010-2011 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

All You Need To Know About The ISEE In Five Minutes

Are you and your child applying to private middle school or high school for fall 2011 admissions? Do you find yourself staring bewilderingly at the application request for your student’s recent ISEE scores, and reminding you that its never too early to consider SAT tutoring?

Sure, you may have questions – but you are not alone: every year about 45,000 kids take the ISEE, which means your questions have been considered, asked, and answered before. Short on time? Look no further – in just a few minutes you will understand the basics of the ISEE.

1. The ISEE sounds familiar. Has my child taken it before?

Unless you have applied to private school in the past, your child has not taken the ISEE. However, it is likely that you have heard of the company that makes the ISEE – the ERB. The ERB is responsible for the CTP (“ERBs”), an exam administered every year in private school to test student performance against “advanced” grade standards. The ISEE is based on similar expectations.

2. I went to the ERB website to register my child for the ISEE, and it asked me what grade we are applying for. Why?

There are three levels of the ISEE: the Lower Level, the Middle Level, and the Upper Level. The level your student will take depends on the grade your student is in. However, the ERB has clustered certain grades: students in 4th or 5th grade take the Lower Level exam, those in 6th or 7th take the Middle Level exam, and students 8th grade or above applying for any grade in high school take the Upper Level exam.

3. Does this mean that my 8th grader is taking the same test as a 9th grader? That’s not fair!

Correct. But your 8th grader’s performance will only be calculated and scored in comparison to that of fellow 8th graders.

4. How are the tests scored?

There are five sections on the ISEE: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement and an Essay. Each student’s raw score (per section) is calculated based upon the number of questions answered correctly (there is no penalty for an incorrect answer). Each raw score is then converted to a scaled score between 760 and 940 (according to the “three year rolling norm pool” for that section) and then converted in to a percentile (ranking) that appears in the form of a stanine (a number from 1- 9).

5. I’m confused. What is considered a “good score”?

Since scores are evaluated in various terms of “comparison,” we encourage students to simply do their best to achieve their potential. Each school accepts a range of stanine scores, but most admissions counselors I’ve asked want everyone to remember that ISEE scores aren’t the only factor considered in the admission decision – schools are building classes, and they emphasize that test scores are just one of dozens of factors they look at when considering a student for their school.

6. My child is nervous about the exam. What can I do?

As with any new experience, familiarity breeds confidence. We recommend having your child take practice tests so that he or she will know what to expect on test day – everything from how much time is allotted for each section to when they can take bathroom breaks.

Since the ISEE is standardized, with studying and review, students can become familiar with the types of topics the test will cover, improve their knowledge base, and practice efficient test-taking strategies (like ways to derive the correct answer choice without taking the time to “solve” the question). The more comfortable students feel with the task at hand, the more they will feel like they can put their best foot forward.

Unfortunately, the ERB has only published one real ISEE from each level, which makes the “test-day” experience difficult to match. That said, since rehearsing what will happen on test day is a key component to any student’s preparation, Launch Education Group has created two practice exams based on the published ISEE exams from the ERB to provide more opportunity for practice. Princeton Review and Kaplan also offer practice exams, although they have not been updated for the new ISEE format.

7. When is the test? Can my child take it more than once?

Testing this year starts December 4th. Most schools recommend taking the ISEE as soon as possible, but there are test dates offered throughout the early spring. Check with the schools on your application list to make sure the test date you have selected is within the deadline. Students can only take the ISEE once every six months. Therefore, plan accordingly!

For registration and more information, visit the ERB website.

Good luck!

NYC: A Sea of Schools

Enrolling your child in a private school in New York City is no easy feat. There are over 900 privately run schools in the city, some of which are among the most competitive independent schools in the nation. From researching the schools to registering for standardized tests to submitting applications, the process can be overwhelming. I’m no expert, but something tells me that the key to staying above water is staying informed.

The first step is narrowing your search. Learn as much as you can about the schools you are considering, and decide which ones could be a good match for your family. Talk to friends, do research online, attend workshops, visit and request information from schools—do what you need to do in order to finalize the list of schools to which your child will be applying.

Next, register your child for any standardized tests he/she will need to take, and remember it is never too early to start SAT test prep. Most middle and high schools require the ISEE (check the school's website or admission material). The sooner your child starts preparing for this test, the better. But don’t get bogged down trying to figure out what score is needed to get admitted here or there as this information is often hard to come by.

At some point, you’ll find yourself neck deep in test prep, applications, interviews, shadow days, and a number of other things on your admissions checklist. As you muddle through, remember to keep one eye on the present and one eye on the looming deadlines. Most applications, including essays, test scores, recommendations, and transcripts are due in January or February. For some, this is the hardest part; for others, it’s the uncertainty that surfaces right after.

Will my child get accepted? Waitlisted? Rejected? The truth is, once the application is out of your hands, so is the school’s decision. My advice: focus on the part you can control. There are a ton of available resources to make this otherwise taxing application process manageable—and hopefully, worthwhile!

Here are a few good place to start:

The National Association of Independent Schools

The Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York

The Parents League of New York

Behind “Beyond the Brochure”

Sallie and I recently had the pleasure of meeting Christina Simon, the co-author of “Beyond the Brochure: An Insider’s Guide to Private Elementary Schools in Los Angeles”. “Beyond the Brochure” is an excellent resource for any Los Angeles parents planning to send their child to private elementary school, and helpful to get into the mindset of preparing your child early with SAT tutoring. 

The direct, matter-of-fact style gives the reader the true “inside scoop” from actual LA private school mothers who have been through the process several times.

Christina also authors an excellent and very popular blog about the private school admissions process and the life of an LA private school parent in general (beyondthebrochure.blogspot.com).

It was wonderful to meet Christina in person. She is extremely bright and down-to-earth, and it only reinforced our belief that she has a great voice to share with the LA private school community! Check out her book and blog for more insights.

Knowing the Score

Imagine you’re a quarterback. There are two minutes left in the game and your team has the ball. The pressure’s on for you to drive your team down the field. But there’s just one thing…

You don’t know what the score is.

Maybe you’re up by three (in which case the right move would be to kill time and try to run down the clock). Maybe you’re down by three (in which case you’d want to carefully drive down the field to at least get into field goal range). Maybe you’re down by ten (in which case the only option would be to try to make a quick drive for a touchdown and then get the ball back again).

But since you don’t know the score, how do you proceed? You have a problem, right?

Naturally, every quarterback would be well aware of the score at all times in order to be effective.

But if knowing your current grade is just as important for a student trying to get the best grade possible (and it is), then why are so many students clueless about where they stand in their classes most of the time and never prepare early with private SAT tutors?

Like a quarterback, a student who knows the "score" at all times has a huge advantage over one who doesn't.

Just say your goal in history is to get an A-. This means your average needs to be above that magic “90” line when the semester or year ends. Most schools and teachers round off to the nearest whole number, so for most students, the true magic number to get in the A range is an 89.5.

89.5 (or 79.5) is a very important number to get in your head, and in order to have the best chance of achieving it, you, like the quarterback, must know:

A) each class’s grade breakdown, and

B) your current average in each area of the breakdown

So back to that history class. Let’s imagine this is the grade breakdown:

Papers: 30%

Tests: 30%

Quizzes: 15%

Homework: 15%

Participation: 10%

In order to figure out your grade at any point in time, you need to know your current averages in each area. You’ll often be able to find these numbers just by looking at what’s been handed back to you so far, and if not, you can always ask your teacher.

Once you have these numbers, all you have to do is multiply each by its weight percentage and divide by 100. So let’s say that your breakdown with a month left in the semester is as follows:

Papers: Two handed back (B and A-) = about an 88 average

Tests: Three handed back for an 86 average

Quizzes: Eight handed back for an 88 average

Homework: Doing well here—98 average

Participation: You’re pretty active in class and the teacher likes you—let’s estimate a 90

You would do the following calculation—

(88 x 30) + (86 x 30) + (88 x 15) + (98 x 15) + (90 x 10)

And then divide by 100 to find your current average at 89.1. This is a crucial piece of information! Now, like the quarterback, you can plan accordingly. You’re close—but you’re in danger of falling short of the A range, so you really need to nail that last paper and the final exam.

Give it a try for your classes. You’ll be surprised how helping knowing the score can be.

Making The Academic Journey Part of Everyday Life

I find myself reading and talking a lot about “how busy kids are these days,” but it has come increasingly apparent how much busier their parents are – and how little support they receive in respect to managing their kid's academic futures.

In the same breath, I also hear a lot of parents say that “it just seems like everything is happening younger and younger” – like students taking the SAT in 9th grade when most used to only take it in 11th -which makes keeping up with academic trends and timelines seem hard to plan, let alone accomplish.

However, there are easy ways to keep up with academic planning that will enable you to seamlessly (especially with private SAT tutors) incorporate steps toward your student's academic future in to your everyday routine – so while it may seem that “everything happens so quickly,” at least you will be prepared and already half-way there!

Steps To Achieve Higher Education Goals
By Jeannie Borin M.Ed., College Connections
In addition to the challenging academic workload most teens are faced with, many students are simultaneously working, engaged in extracurricular activities and want social time. Compile this busy lifestyle with the time and energy it takes to prepare and apply to colleges.

Step One: Guidance

Applying to college is no easy task. Examine a college application and you will see the various elements required. Universities require more information from students now than ever before to make distinctions and admission decisions. Applications are often difficult if not impossible for students to complete without the proper support and direction.

Most colleges suggest support and counseling, but from whom and how?

Well meaning high school counselors are often spread too thin and many families do not know the current application requirements, options, statistics or what university admissions officers want to see. If universities are requiring numerous components to the college application process, students are entitled to know what to do. Before even beginning the college process, families should learn exactly what is involved and make sure their children have the proper guidance.

Step Two: Stay Current

There are factors in the admission process that change from year to year. What are the different ways to apply? Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive First Choice Early Action, and Rolling Admissions... What do these terms mean? What is the best strategy? Harvard, Princeton and the University of Virginia along with other select universities have eliminated their Early Admission Plans. How do students and their families become aware of such news? A few ways include:

1. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) will have current college news and updates. Visit www.nacacnet.org

2. Contacting university admission officers as well as carefully reviewing college websites will provide current brochures and admission information for free

Step Three: Testing

Each year, students face additional concerns regarding the standardized testing process. Families we work with are constantly unsure about what tests to take (ACT and/or SAT I), what colleges require SAT II Subject Exams, when they are given and where and how to register to take them. The testing requirements change as some universities require certain tests and some do not or simply recommend them.

Step Four: The Essay

Since over 800 universities in the United States are test optional, often greater emphasis is placed on the college essay. What are these university admission officers looking for in the student essay?

Although many universities do give a “topic of your choice” there are also those questions that are specific. For example, an essay question may quote legendary philosophers and tell the applicant to decipher the content and connect it on a personal level. To write intelligently anywhere from 100 to 600 words (depending on the institution) is yet an additional skill. Essays should be in story format, creative and wonderfully intriguing. However, students generally do not learn to write first person essays in high school, which makes the process more challenging. Many colleges require three to four essays; some long and some short – but nevertheless all different.

Step Five: Recommendations

The amount of recommendation letters necessary vary per college. Here are a few of the questions I get from students and parents: “How many do I need?” “What information should be included?” “Who should I give them to?” “Should I submit my recommendations with the rest of the application?” “Should I waive the right to see them?” The answer is that universities have different methods of how they want their applicants to submit recommendations.

Step Six: The Brag Sheet

The “Brag Sheet” is essentially a list of extracurricular activities, honors and awards received in high school. Students need to know the best way to state and present their activities. In most cases, applicants are given approximately seven short lines to list years of experience and accomplishments. They are entitled to know how to maximize this space.

Step Seven: Financial Planning

Most families approach college years for their children without having given much thought to how they will finance their children’s college education. Funding college education for your children will probably represent the second largest out of pocket expense that a family will incur in their lifetime

Author Bio:
Jeannie Borin, M. Ed, is Founder and President of the independent educational and college consulting firm College Connections.

Man's best friend and child's learning tool?

We all know that dogs are warm, fuzzy, lovable creatures. But did you know that they can actually help improve your child’s reading skills?

One of the biggest challenges kids face in learning to read is a lack of confidence. Children who struggle with reading often become self-conscious about their abilities, embarrassed of making mistakes, and generally uncomfortable reading out loud in front of others. Their insecurity prevents them from doing the one thing that will make them better readers—practice, practice, practice!

This is where the dog comes in. It may seem silly to you, but reading to a dog (and oftentimes SAT tutoring) can be just what your child needs—a comforting, furry friend who will always listen and never judge. In this non-threatening environment, your child can read freely and confidently. In fact, the presence of a dog has been proven to diminish the signs of anxiety (elevated heart rate and blood pressure, for example) that can appear when a child reads aloud to a peer or adult. Who knew?

And here’s more food for thought. A study conducted this year by researchers at the University of California, Davis confirmed that children who read to a canine companion really do perform better. Young students who read out loud to dogs improved their reading skills by 12 percent over the course of a 10-week program, while children in the same program who didn't read to dogs showed no improvement. Other studies have revealed that a young student's reading scores can advance significantly—two to four grade levels—by reading to a dog for just 20 minutes a week throughout the school year. And the leaders of R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) recommend doing just that—set aside 20 minutes each week for your child to read to a dog.

If you don’t have a dog, you can visit www.therapyanimals.org to find a R.E.A.D. program near you. Otherwise, encourage your child read to whatever pet he/she does have. The key is reading to an audience who will offer unconditional respect and attention. Reading to Fluffy the hamster, Bubbles the goldfish, or Winston the tortoise might just work!

How to Review College Websites

Around this time of year, about eight years ago, my mother and older brother began the daunting task of investigating colleges of potential interest. They decided the local Barnes and Noble was the place to start - and after a solid hour, they arrived home with close to ten pounds of college guides - Petersons, Fiske, Newsweek - I'm pretty sure they had every single one available in the four, extra-large bags.

Over the next few weeks, I watched as they spent several hours thumbing through each book - comparing schools, considering the different angles each guide offered. By the end they had a better understanding of his options, a solid list of schools that he would keep an eye on, and stacks of extremely-used guides.

Three years later I began the same process - but mine did not necessitate even ONE book...

Thanks to the internet, I accomplished what took my brother weeks in just 2 days. Absolutely free, to boot - plus, not only does every single college in the US have an informational website - but these websites often have links to student reviews, as well.

The process continues to become much more efficient and balanced with each passing year - however, in order to get the most out of each website, you should follow a few best tips from a local pro, Jeannie Borin:

How to Review College Websites

So you can’t visit all the colleges where you choose to apply. The internet is a great source to do lots of homework on colleges. Visit college websites and it’s easy to be drawn into the fantastic graphics, sunny weather and smiling students. In addition to providing information on their schools, appealing to students via glorious websites is an objective colleges have to lure students into applying.

Here are some tips:

• Take notes when gazing at college websites. Keep track of things that impress you and where you see yourself as a good match for that college. A typical essay question colleges ask students is why they are a good fit for their college.
• Read the college’s mission statement. This information is generally found on the college’s “about” page. Philosophically, one can learn a tremendous amount by this statement.
• Read the campus newspaper. Students write current stories on hot topics, posting opinions and discussing relevant issues about that college. One can learn about “the pulse” of a campus this way.
• Visit student run campus websites. Look at campus events, and consider e-mailing college students who are private SAT tutors, for they may have helped many students with choosing the right college.
• Check out the academic programs. It’s a good idea to look at any core requirements the first two years. For example, if a college wants you to take lots of science classes and that’s not your thing – that may not be the college for you.

Most importantly, know yourself! What do you like and dislike? What are your strengths and weaknesses? In what kind of an environment are you most comfortable? Is this college affordable? Can this college help fulfill your career goals?
Generally admission offices will welcome phone calls. You can speak with an admissions representative and counselor to get any specific questions answered. However, it is important to visit college websites first as many of your questions will be answered on their websites.
*Thanks to Jeannie Borin, founder and president of College Connections, for her contribution again this week!

Effective College Visits

Back in the day, a majority of my college visits went something like this:

My Mother: We should go on a tour of the campus...don't forget to ask questions!
Me: Yuck. Can we go get coffee at the bookstore?
My Mother: You should talk to the students and get a feel for the school!
Me: I just want to go swimming
My Mother: Campus tour!
Me: Lunch?

In the end, I spent most of my college visits sulking around as my mother approached random students and interviewed them on the spot, one of them was even my former private SAT tutor! Occasionally, I would sneak off and visit the campus gym and check it out - but looking back, there were a lot of questions I should have asked others - and myself.

Jeannie Borin, founder and president of College Connections, offers the below checklist as a way to efficiently and effectively structure your college visits so that you leave with valuable information.

How To Make The Most of Your Campus Visits

As you visit different colleges, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the many buildings, programs and informational tours. Preparing a preplanned checklist of what you want to see and do while on campus is advantageous. Each year my staff and I tour a myriad of universities across the country. Here are some things we look for at each college we visit:

Admission Criteria

Requirements and What to Include with the Application
When to Apply
GPA & Test Scores (if required)
Scholarships Offered
Student Support/Counseling Center

Academics

Professor Availability
Popular Programs
Average Size of Class
Possible Internships Available
Study Abroad Opportunities
Available Technology
Library Facilities and Resources

Campus Life

Greek – Fraternities/Sororities
Weekend Activities
Special Campus Events
How Many Students Live on Campus? Commute?
Sporting Events
Dining Facilities
Party Scene
Campus Setting
Located of College (Urban vs. Rural)
Surrounding Community (College Town)

Look Of The College

Dorms and Nearby Housing
Lecture Halls & Classrooms
Clean, Easy Access, Transportation
Libraries
Security & Safety, Campus Police Availability
Current Building Projects
How Well Are Current Facilities Maintained?
Recreation Center
Additional Suggestions
Take a campus informational tour
Set up an interview with an admission officer
Audit a course
Speak with a professor or representative at the department in your field of interest
If you are pursuing athletics, talk to a coach in your sport
If possible, stay overnight in a dorm with a friend or relative
Pick up the campus newspaper
Spend time in the Student Union and eat in the cafeteria
Speak to students and ask questions
Find the center of campus and be an observer
Take a look at the college bookstore
Ask a student what he/she likes and dislikes about the college
Tour the community surrounding the campus
Ask yourself if you could feel at home at this college
Take lots of notes and pictures
Enjoy yourself!

Ultimately, the most important thing is finding the right match for you. Your comfort level and ability to intertwine with students and faculty will help you know what you want come decision time.

*Special thanks to Jeannie Borin, founder and president of college connections, for her contribution this week!

Academic New Year's Resolution: Attainable and Maintainable Goals

We are all familiar with the resolutions made on January 1st. Ambitiously, we make plans to improve in various areas: exercise consistently, read more, complain less, recycle, etc.

Unfortunately, by February, after two months steadfast commitment, we feel like it is “too much” and start making exceptions, excuses, and decide that maybe it really is true that weekends don’t count.

In the world of education, September is the mark of another kind of new year – the academic school year. As I can recall, this was an exciting time that always felt full of potential. A new year meant new classes, new teachers, new private SAT tutors, and a new opportunity to start off “fresh” with academic organization, sports, and extra-curricular activities.

Like most, I would always start off the year strong. Each class was organized into separate binders, I had highlighters and a planner, and I would meticulously track every assignment and exam date. I would commit to clubs during lunch and lifeguarding during the weekend, and anything else was crammed in between school and the 25 hours of swim practice during the week.

Then, late October would happen. Much like the attack of February on the commitment to New Year’s Resolutions, I would find myself skipping club meetings, scheduling work more sporadically, and stacking returned tests, papers, and other assignments in to teetering piles on my desk. While I never completely abandoned my efforts, by the end of high school I noticed one thing: no matter the number of promises I made or the strength of my intent, I always ended up only seriously committed to two or three goals come June.

Now, for my advice to students…

Students, as you start this new school year, take a few minutes to consider the upcoming year. Do you have goals for this year? Are they attainable AND maintainable, or have you set yourself up to compromise quality of commitment for quantity of activities? Remember, success is built by integrating on-going actions and dedication over a long period, not by attaining goals for a short lived spurt of time. (Also, colleges care WAY more about the depth of a student’s activities then their breadth).

Smells like school

As the weather changes and back-to-school ads creep up everywhere, the anticipation builds. Those seemingly endless days of summer are, well, coming to an end, and the onset of a new school year beckons. But back to school doesn’t have to mean back to old habits. A new school year marks a new beginning, a fresh start. So consider the slate wiped clean of last year’s mishaps, and start the year off right.

Here’s how.

Get organized. This means different things to different people, but the key is adopting a system (and maintaining it) that works for you. Try to find an efficient way to file school materials you’re currently using and to archive those that you’re done with but may need to refer to later. And use a calendar—be it on paper, on a whiteboard, or on the computer—in order to keep up with deadlines and better manage your time.

Get to bed at a reasonable hour. Staying up until 2:00am is all good and fun in the summertime, but you’ll regret when you wake up to a pop quiz in your first-period algebra class. Your academic performance greatly depends on how much snooze time you get, so be sure to set up a healthy sleep schedule (8-9 hours a night), and stick to it.

Get to work. This is the one time of the school year that you’re not behind on assignments and you don’t have any catching up to do. So take advantage, and keep it that way! If you get a homework assignment, do it. Don’t shove it at the bottom of your locker or use it to line your birdcage. We all know schoolwork can pile up quickly, and putting it off is a sure-fire way to end up overwhelmed and stressed out.

Get acquainted with your teachers. Introduce yourself, sit in front, ask questions—do what you can to show that you have a positive attitude toward school. Your teachers are the ones reading your papers, evaluating your homework, and grading your tests, and—let’s face it—they’re biased. Making a good impression on them paves the way to higher grades.

Get involved in school activities and SAT tutoring. If you’ve ever thought about pursuing an extracurricular interest, now’s the time to do it. Find out what clubs/teams/groups your school has to offer, sign up for try-outs, and give it a go! These activities are a great way to express yourself, and colleges love seeing them on your application.

Here’s to a successful 2010-2011 school year!

How To Learn SAT Vocabulary

Mastering and memorizing hundreds of vocabulary words can oftentimes be a daunting and tedious task. However, have no fear- the days of flipping through hundreds of flashcards are long gone. Easily accessible and available in a variety of mediums, the number of resources ready for students these days is so dynamic that no excuse prevails for eschewing vocab preparation, or private SAT tutoring for that matter.

Vocabulary Cartoons
This book comes equipped with mnemonic devices designed for learning new words. It makes vocabulary fun by providing definitions, links, illustrations, and humorous sentences for hundreds of SAT words.
Price: $12.95

SAT Vocab for Dummies
This groundbreaking guide is packed with tips, tricks, stories, and jokes that will help build your vocabulary. It organizes vocab into easy-to-remember categories, lists numerous antonyms and synonyms, and focuses on those words that pop up over and over again on the SAT.
Price: $16.99

SAT Vocab Novels
Visit Amazon.com for a variety of novels that come with SAT vocabulary words identified and defined within. For example, the classic novel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde comes with 279 highlighted SAT words within the pages of the intriguing mystery.
Price: $5.00 - $15.00

SAT Vocab Challenge Vol. 1 (For your iPhone)
This iPhone app will help you master 250 vocab words by testing your knowledge of each word’s positive or negative connotation, synonyms, antonyms, and definition.
Price: $4.99

SAT Word of the Day
Increase your vocabulary by receiving the word of the day sent straight to your phone. Reach a step further and challenge yourself to use this word in casual conversation sometime throughout the day!
Price: Free, Standard text messaging rates apply.

SAT Words Shower Curtain
Improve your vocabulary and hygiene at the same time! Use your 15 minutes of daily shower time to master plenty of definitions.
Price: $28.00

Procrastination And How To Defeat It

Procrastination is something that we all deal with, even your private SAT tutors! For example, I spent the last half hour procrastinating from writing this post by reading the description on all the food products in my apartment.  I have a hard time believing that Snyders Pretzels were born from "an Old World recipe."

The point is, procrastination is an issue that plagues all of us at one time or another, and in order to best overcome it, it's important to first understand it.

In every student's head live two conflicting forces that don't like each other: the Rational Young Adult (RYA) and the Bratty Little Kid (BLK). And they're always fighting. Think of it like the old angel and devil on your shoulders.  On one shoulder is the Rational Young Adult—he (or she) knows what you have to do, and knows that it'll be a lot more fun later if you just get your stuff done now. The RYA is logical, and the thing is—he's usually right. You see, the RYA isn't some joyless old hag trying to steal Christmas—he's true to his name: he's rational.

On your other shoulder is the Bratty Little Kid. The BLK doesn't really care what happens, as long as it's the exact opposite of what the RYA wants to do. He's resistant by nature, and even though the RYA part of you knows you'll have a lot more fun later that night if you just get your work done now, the BLK wants to resist.

So, back to procrastination—when you're procrastinating, the Bratty Little Kid is winning the battle. When you're being productive, the Rational Young Adult is prevailing.

Here are five ways to help the RYA win the fight (and trust me, he's the one you should be rooting for):

1) Start small. People always tell you to shoot for the sky. Well when it comes to homework, don't. If you set too lofty a goal, it's too daunting to start working toward it. Say you have a three-page paper to write—tell yourself you're going to write half a page and then do something fun. Then after 15 minutes, you have to write another half a page, and then you can take another break, etc. This way, you're giving the BLK some time and then the RYA some time. If you can't beat the BLK, accommodate him.

2) Get the easiest things done first. They'll tell you to do the exact opposite, but they're wrong. You have to do the hardest things at some point. What's easier—starting the hardest, ickiest part of the homework when you've done nothing and the whole night of work is ahead of you? Or starting the hardest stuff once everything else is done and you know it's the last hump to get over before you're free? 

3) Talk to yourself. In general, when in doubt, it's a good idea to talk to yourself like a crazy person. So when you're procrastinating, say out loud, "This isn't that hard. I'll be much happier later if I just do this now. I have to do this at some point no matter what, so I might as well get it out of the way, rather than spend the day with it hanging over my head." If it doesn't work, say it again…and again. Until you'd rather do anything other than say it, even homework.

4) Give yourself a light at the end of the tunnel. It's a lot more fun to work if there's a good reward at the end. If you start work too late, the only thing that's happening after you finish is sleep. Well, that's no good. So start earlier, and plan to watch a favorite TV show, or go to a movie, or hang out with a friend, or play with stickers or whatever kids these days do for fun—after you finish.

5) Just start. The hardest part is the first word. Or problem. Or page. Or whatever. Starting kills the morale of the BLK. Just take a deep breath, and get the very beginning out of the way. The rest will follow.

Podcasts - A Beacon of Nerdy Awesomeness

With no “disrespect” to the iPhone and Facebook, the podcast is quite possibly the greatest tech invention of the 21st century, used by many private SAT tutors to teach you online!

What is a podcast? It’s a downloadable audio snippet ranging from two minutes to an hour, on any topic from nature to talk shows to audio versions of TV shows – basically, anything that you might want to listen to, there is a podcast that caters to your interests. The podcast subscription is free, and you listen to it on your iPod, iphone, or other portable device.

Why are podcasts beyond awesome? Instead of spending idle time (e.g. driving, walking, working out, doing chores) listening to music and learning nothing, you can listen to a podcast and absorb immense amounts of information. It’s like having your favorite teacher or professor at your beck and call and getting them to tell you incredibly interesting stuff on the topic of your choice.

Productivity! By my calculation, I spend 1.5 hours a day doing idle tasks (commuting, running errands, etc). I listen to podcasts the entire time – so, by my calculation I will listen to 500 hours of podcasts every year. This learning time is the equivalent of about THREE MONTHS of full-time lecture in school. So, assuming I listen to “productive” podcasts (e.g. not sports related), by the end of each year it will be like I took off three months from work just to catch up on current events and learn more about my areas of interest. This delights me, and only with the practicality of podcasts would I be able to achieve this added productivity.

How Does This Apply To Students? Students’ lives are packed to the brim with school work and extra-curricular activities, which makes it extremely difficult for them to keep up with the ever-changing world around them. The biggest road block for young people becoming engaged with current events is: a) it takes time, and b) they feel like they have no idea what is going on, so they have no clue how to go about finding out more about something they don’t know much about.

Podcasts easily tackle both issues by giving students a really easy way to stay up to date with current events without having to sacrifice free-time (because they listen to them when they are otherwise doing nothing) AND they are easily obtained and updated by a quick iPod or phone sync. The ease and convenience of podcasts makes it easier to start keeping up with the world and stay caught up!

Interested in podcasts? Here are some links to help you get started:

Download iTunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/

Download Awesomely Nerdy Podcasts (here are some of my favorites):

Front Page – Basically 8 minutes every day of some guy reading you the front page of the NY Times. If you only listen to this, you will at least have a basic idea of current events.

The Economist – Discussion of random articles from The Economist – also includes “The Week Ahead” which gives a great 12 minute overview of world events for the week.

ESPN: PTI – A daily audio version of the acclaimed ESPN show – surprisingly little is lost without the visual. A great treat for the end of the day commute home.
NBC Meet the Press – The weekly audio version of the show where republicans say what republicans are supposed to say and democrats say what democrats are supposed to say. This one isn’t so much fun as “necessary torture so you know what is going on in Washington.”

NPR: It’s All Politics – Two extremely silly and amusing men give a great rapid fire breakdown of the week’s political news in about 20 minutes.

NPR: Intelligence Squared – Oxford style debate by really smart people on really interesting topics. Is Russia Friend or Foe? – good question, I’d love to know.

60 Minutes - The weekly audio version of the show - just generally cool, easy to absorb, and interesting.

TEDTalks – Incredibly smart people talking about interesting stuff.

Porque? Pourquoi? Warum?

Why? Why should you spend your time learning a foreign language when you already speak English? And everyone speaks English, right?

Wrong. According to the CIA World Fact Book, only 5.6 % of the world's total population speaks English as a primary language. That number doubles when people who speak English as a second or third language are counted. This means that well over four fifths of the world's population does not speak English!

Well that was reason enough for me to learn another language… or three. I picked up Hebrew at home, French at school, and even dabbled in some Spanish. But if the idea of connecting with people around the globe doesn't pique your interest, do read on.

Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Richard Riley, once said, “We have strong evidence today that studying a foreign language has a ripple effect, helping to improve student performance in other subjects.” Did you know that the study of another language can improve your understanding of your native language? Stronger vocabulary skills and higher reading achievement in English as well as enhanced listening and memorization skills have all been associated with extended foreign language study. In fact, several studies have revealed that with each additional year of foreign language instruction, a student’s scores on college entrance exams such as the SAT or ACT improve incrementally.

This might explain why colleges look so favorably upon, and often require, the study of a foreign language for admission. Surely, my language abilities boosted my college application, but I didn’t realize just how valuable they were until I got in. My knowledge of languages gave me options: I was able to choose from a larger pool of majors and study abroad in countries in which a lot of my peers could not. I chose to spend a semester in Paris, where I blended in with the locals, regularly devoured Nutella crepes, and learned all about a culture that I might never have encountered if it weren’t for all those years I spent learning French.

My eye-opening time abroad sparked a passion for travel and all things international, and speaking several languages made my newfound hobby more feasible and more fun. Language barriers can be frustrating at best, but when you know the native tongue, you have the comfort of being able to navigate all sorts of situations. Thanks to my language skills, I successfully ordered meals in Barcelona, negotiated lower prices in Tel Aviv, and somehow explained to a pharmacist in Rome that I needed drops for an eye infection (and yes, it healed just fine).

But the benefits didn’t end overseas. Having graduated from college without a clue about what I wanted to do professionally, I dove into the workforce and began exploring my options. SAT tutoring and translating gigs eventually turned into job offers from a research company, a law firm, several financial corporations, and even an entertainment group—all international businesses and all competing in the global marketplace. Whatever your career goals may be, speaking another language will increase your employability by giving you an edge over your monolingual competitors.

As you can see, the study of foreign languages has advantages that go well beyond the school setting in which it starts. So while that Spanish, French or German class may feel like a burden now, it can open all kinds of doors down the line. I’m not saying that learning another language is easy—I’m just saying it’s worth it!