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!