ACT AND SAT TESTING - I CANNOT AFFORD THE REGISTRATION FEE

BOTH TESTS OFFER A PLAN FOR PERSONS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE REGISTRATION FEE. DON'T BE EMBARRASED. DON'T LET THIS STOP YOU FROM TAKING THE TEST AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN!

FOR THE ACT SEE

http://www.act.org/contacts/index.html#reg

OR CALL 319-337-1270

FOR THE SAT GOTO

http://www.collegeboard.com/html/communications000.html

OR CALL (888) CALL-4-AP or (609) 771-7300

I WOULD CALL THEIR MAIN NUMBERS AND TELL THEM YOU CANNOT AFFORD THE TEST FEE AND SEE WHERE THEY SEND YOU. YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO SOME READING ON THEIR WEBSITES BEFORE ACTUALLY CONTACTING THE NUMBERS. AN INFORMED STUDENT IS THE BEST STUDENT!

ACT AND SAT TESTING - DURING THE TEST THE A/C OR HEAT WENT OUT AND IT WAS VERY, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TEST CONTACT THE

ACT( http://www.act.org/contacts/index.html

OR SAT (http://www.collegeboard.com/html/communications000.html)

AND THEY WILL USUALLY CANCEL YOUR TEST AND ERASE IT FROM YOUR RECORD. PLEASE DO THIS ASAP! IF YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU GET THE SCORES THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT (THEY WILL THINK YOU ARE JUST MAKING AN EXCUSE FOR A POOR SCORE). IF ANYTHING HAPPENS DURING THE TEST THAT IMPEDED YOUR PERFORMANCE ON THE TEST IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE TEST MAKERS AND TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND USUALLY THEY WILL BE NICE AND JUST CANCEL THE TEST BUT YOU MUST MUST DO THIS RIGHT AFTER THE TEST. SOMETIMES THEY WILL EVEN ALLOW YOU TO TAKE THE TEST AGAIN FREE.

ACT AND SAT TESTING - I BROUGHT THE CORRECT CALCULATOR AND MY PROCTOR CANCELLED MY TEST AND DISMISSED ME??

I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A STUDENT BEFORE. GOOD NEWS HERE JUST IMMEDIATELY CALL THE ACT (http://www.act.org/contacts/index.html) OR THE SAT (http://www.collegeboard.com/html/communications000.html) AND TELL THEM EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND USUALLY THEY WILL JUST CANCEL THAT TEST AND ERASE IT FORM YOUR RECORD AND YOU CAN TAKE THE TEST AGAIN!!

ACT AND SAT TESTING - WHAT CALCULATORS CAN I USE?

THIS WAS ALREADY ADDRESSED IN ANOTHER POST BUT I FEEL IT IS SO IMPORTATN IT SHOULD GET ITS OWN POST. YOU MUST BRING A CALCULATOR THAT IS APPROVED BY THE TEST (IF YOU BRING THE WRONG CALCULATOR TO THE ACT OR SAT I OR SAT II YOU WILL GET YOUR TEST TAKEN UP AND CANCELLED).

FOR PROPER APPROVED CALCULATORS SEE THE WEB SITES (http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html FOR ACT CALCULATOR POLICY AND http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/testday/calc.html FOR SAT CALCULATOR POLICY). I CANNOT EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. I HAVE HAD STUDENTS GET DISMISSED FOR BRINGING THE WRONG CALCULATORS. YOU ALSO CANNOT BRING ANY DEVICE SUCH AS A WATCH THAT MAKES NOISE, ETC.

YOUR PROCTOR IS THE ONE WHO WILL SPOT THE WRONG CALCULATOR. SOME PROCTORS DON'T CARE AT ALL ABOUT CALCULATORS SOME DO SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT WORTH THE RISK AT ALL TO BRING THE WRONG ONE.

ACT AND SAT TESTING - WHAT DO I DO THE MORNING OF THE ACTUAL TESTS?

VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. YOU SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE TEST CENTER AT LEAST 30 MINUTES EARLY!!! I CANNOT EMPHASIZE HOW TRULY IMPORTANT THAT IS. THERE ARE LOTS OF STUDENTS TAKING THESE TESTS AND SOME TEST CENTERS HAVE HUGE LINES. THEY OFTEN RUN LATE IN ACTUALLY GETTING THE TEST OFF THE GROUND AND ALSO THEY COULD BE PAPERWORK PROBLEMS - SO GET THERE EARLY TO AVOID ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. YOU SHOULD ALSO BRING TWO #2 PENCILS AND A CALCULATOR THAT IS APPROVED BY THE TEST (IF YOU BRING THE WRONG CALCULATOR TO THE ACT OR SAT I YOU WILL GET YOUR TEST TAKEN UP AND CANCELLED). FOR PROPER APPROVED CALCULATORS SEE THE WEB SITES (http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html FOR ACT CALCULATOR POLICY AND http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/testday/calc.html FOR SAT CALCULATOR POLICY). ALSO BRING ANY SNACKS YOU MAY WANT BRING SOME CHANGE ALSO TO GET DRINKS DURING THE BREAK. USE THE RESTROOM BEFORE THE TEST BEGINS! DON'T WASTE VALUABLE TEST TIME HAVING TO USE THE RESTROOM. EAT A NORMAL BREAKFAST, DON'T BE EXCESSIVE IN ANYTHING INCLUDING DON'T DRINK TO MUCH COFFEE. I WOULD ALSO SAY AVOID EATING LOTS OF SWEETS FOR BREAKFAST. HIGH PROTEIN IS BETTER AS YOUR BRAIN NEEDS GOOD FUEL TO BURN.

ACT AND SAT TESTING - WHAT IF I AM OUT OF TOWN ON A TEST DATE?

YOU CAN TAKE THE ACT OR SAT TESTING AT ANOTHER LOCATION. HOWEVER, MY EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS NOT AT ALL A GOOD IDEA. DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST. THE EXPERIENCE OF TAKING ONE OF THESE TESTS AT A TOTALLY FOREIGN LOCATION CAN BE QUITE UNNERVING. I HAVE HAD STUDENTS DO THIS IN THE PAST, AND THE RESULTS ARE USUALLY NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS WHEN THEY TOOK THE TEST IN TOWN. LETS FACE IT, THESE TESTS ARE VERY LONG AND DIFFICULT AS IS SO WHY EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM BY TAKING THE TEST AT A TOTALLY FOREIGN LOCATION; THIS USUALLY ONLY ADDS FURTHER ANXIETY. NOW IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST DO IT FINE. IT WOULD NOT HURT ON THE ACT BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE THAT TEST AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT. FOR THE SAT I IT MIGHT HURT BECAUSE YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE THAT TEST A LOT OF TIMES, JUST TAKE IT AS MUCH AS IS NEEDED LESS IS BEST!

FOREIGN STUDENTS - ACT AND SAT TESTING

IF YOU ARE A FOREIGN STUDENT YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE EITHER THE SAT I OR ACT TESTS OR BOTH. THESE TESTS ARE OFFERED AT LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE. MOST COUNTRIES HAVE A LOT OF TUTORING RESOURCES. HOWEVER, SMALLER COUNTRIES MAY NOT. THEY MAY ALSO NOT HAVE ANY TEST CENTERS. YOU MAY HAVE TO FLY TO A NEARBY LOCATION TO GET TESTING DONE. AGAIN CHECK AT WWW.ACT.ORG FOR THE ACT AND CHECK AT WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM FOR THE SAT TESTS.

FOREIGN STUDENTS - HOW DO I APPLY TO USA COLLEGES?

FOR MOST COLLEGES THE PROCEDURE IS QUITE NORMAL GET AN APPLICATION AND FILL IT OUT. MANY COLLEGES HAVE EXCELLENT RESOURCES FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS SO MAKE SURE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCHOOL(S) OF INTEREST. YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH BY TAKING THE ESL EXAM (ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE). THIS IS TAUGHT IN MANY, MANY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. MOST COMMUNITY COLLEGES OFFER THESE COURSES ALSO. THERE IS ALSO THE TOEFL EXAM (TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE) THAT IS OFFERED WORLDWIDE (SEE http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/). THE TOEFL IS OFFERED IN 110 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE WITH 6,000 UNIVERSITIES ACCEPTING IT AND THEY HAVE OVER 3,600 LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE YOU CAN TAKE THE TEST. MANY, MANY PLACES OFFER TUTORING FOR THE TOEFL INCLUDING SUCH PLACES AS THE PRINCETON REVIEW (http://www.princetonreview.com/home.asp) AND STANLEY KAPAN CENTERS (http://www.kaplan.com/TestPreparation/English/). SOME SCHOOLS MAY ALSO REQUIRE THAT YOU TAKE THE IELTS (THE INTERNATION ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM). AGAIN, ASK WHAT YOUR PARTICULAR SCHOOLS WANT! NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU AS A STUDENT ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR COLLEGE(S) OF CHOICE!

FURTHERMORE, SOME SCHOOLS WILL WAIVE THESE TESTS IF YOU HAVE ACHIEVED A CERTAIN SCORE ON THE ACT OR SAT I. AGAIN CHECK WITH THE COLLEGES. ALL COLLEGES HAVE SUPERB WEB SITES WITH THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

COLLEGE - LIVE ON CAMPUS?

YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY LIVE ON CAMPUS IF YOU CAN FOR YOUR FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARS AT LEAST IF NOT ALL 4 YEARS AT COLLEGE. LIVING ON CAMPUS CAN BE QUITE CHEAPER THAN LIVING OFF CAMPUS (NOT ALWAYS BUT IF YOUR SCHOOL IS IKN A LARGE US CITY USUALLY SURROUNDING REAL ESTATE CAN BE QUITE COSTLY) PLUS ITS USUALLY MORE SAFE. MOST DORMS HAVE AN RA (RESIDENCE HALL ADMINISTRATOR) AND HE OR SHE WATCHES OVER THE STUDENTS ON THAT FLOOR. OF COURSE IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, LIVING OFF CAMPUS CAN BE VERY NICE ALSO. MOST SCHOOLS HAVE LOTS OF EXCELLENT CHOICES OF LIVING AROUND THE SCHOOL SUCH AS CONDOS, HOMES FOR RENT, APARTMENTS, ETC. LIVING ON CAMPUS IS A WONDERFUL, FUN EXPERIENCE THAT NO STUDENT SHOULD MISS. MOST COLLEGES OFFER A MEAL PLAN THAT IS USUALLY QUITE EASIER AND CHEAPER THAN IF YOU EAT ON YOUR OWN. COLLEGE FOOD HAS DEVELOPED INTO A FINE ART OVER THE PAST YEARS. SOME CAMPUSES OFFER QUALITY CUISINE RANGING FROM FOREIGN FOOD TO GOOD OLD AMERICAN HAMBURGERS. NOT ALSO THAT SOME SCHOOLS HAVE STRICT RULES ON WHO MUST LIVE ON CAMPUS OR OFF. SOME COLLEGES WILL DEMAND THAT ALL FRESHMAN LIVE ON CAMPUS, ETC. SOME SCHOOLS OFFER COED DORMS IN RECENT TIMES. JUST CONTACT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR WHATEVER SCHOOL(S) YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AND SEE WHAT THEY OFFER. SOMETIMES LIVING ON CAMPUS CAN GET QUITE NOISY AND DISTRACTING SO THE LIBRARY IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET YOUR STUDYING DONE.

VOCABULARY - LIST OF 50 COMMONLY USED ON SAT I

THE WORDS BELOW I HAVE TAKEN FROM MY PRIVATE STOCK OF MOST COMMON SAT I VOCABULARY WORDS. NOTE THAT THESE ARE ONLY TAKEN FROM REAL SAT I TESTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADMINISTERED. I WILL BE POSTING MORE WORDS LATER ON. I EVENTUALLY WANT TO POST PROBABLY 500.

DIVERGENT = DIFFERENT

MUTUAL = SHARED

ARBITRARY = NO PURPOSE

EPHEMERAL = SHORT LIVED

SEDENTARY = SEATED

GREGARIOUS = OUTGOING

INNATE = BORN WITH IT

WARRANTED = DESERVED

DUBIOUS = DOUBTFUL

EUPHORIC = HAPPY

AMBIVALENT = CONFUSED

YEARN = TO LONG FOR, DESIRE STRONGLY

COLLAGE = COLLECTION OF IMAGES

ABASH = EMBARRASSED

TERRESTRIAL = ON LAND

AQUATIC = WATER

ARBITER = DECIDES ARGUMENTS

SALVE = OINTMENT USED TO HEAL WOUNDS

ASYLUM = SAFE PLACE

TO NIP = CUT OFF

OBJECTIVE = GOAL

EMPATHY = CONCERN

ASSIDUOUS = STRONG, WORKS HARD

FORTUITOUS = LUCKY

CANDOR = FRANKNESS, OPEN

INGENIOUS = BRILLIANT

ADVOCATE = SUPPORTER

DUPE = TO FOOL

SPURIOUS = FAKE, FALSE

ZEALOUS = MOTIVATED

DIVERSION = FUN, ENTERTAINMENT

ENTHRALL = TO REALLY INTEREST

VOLATILE = CAN BE TURNED INTO GAS, EVAPORATION

BUTTRESS = SUPPORT

ORTHODOX = "NORMAL", ORDINARY

ICONOCLAST = NOT NORMAL, NOT ORTHODOX

CHOREOGRAPHY = TO DO WITH DANCE

IMPINGE = ENCROACH UPON, GET TOO CLOSE TO

CONSTITUENTS = SUPPORTERS, ADVOCATES

DOGMATIC = SURE OF YOUR CORRECTNESS

VINDICATED = SUPPORTED, MADE RIGHT

EXONERATED = BLAME IS REMOVED

ADULATION = PRAISE

ADORATION = PRAISE

PORTFOLIO = BUNCH OF DOCUMENTS

PROFICIENT = GOOD AT

CARPING = EXTREME CRITICISM

TACTILE = HAVING TO DO WITH SENSE OF TOUCH

VOCABULARY - IMPORTANT FOR IVY LEAGUE AND OTHER SELECTIVE SCHOOLS?

YES IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL OR OTHER VERY SELECTIVE COLLEGE IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO STUDY THE VOCABULARY ON THE SAT I. THIS COULD GIVE YOU A POINT GAIN ON THE VERBAL PORTION OF THE TEST THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN APPLYING TO A HARD TO GET INTO COLLEGE. AGAIN THOUGH, JUST STUDY VOCABULARY WORDS THAT HAVE APPEARED ON TESTS ALREADY. DO NOT STUDY JUST A RANDOM LIST OR BOOK THAT SOME TEACHER TOLD YOU WAS GOOD. THAT IS A DUMB IDEA SINCE THE SAT I REPEATS THE SAME VOCABULARY WORDS FROM THEIR OLDER TESTS.

VOCABULARY WORDS - HOW IMPORTANT ON ACT?

LITTLE TO NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT!! THERE ARE NO DIRECT VOCABULARY TYPE QUESTIONS ON THE ACT AT ALL!! NICE. SO IF YOU HAVE A POOR VOCABULARY THIS MIGHT BE ANOTHER PLUS FOR TAKING THE ACT. THERE MIGHT BE THE OCCASIONAL WORD USED IN THE SCIENCE OR READING SECTIONS OF THE ACT THAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW OUTRIGHT, BUT THERE IS NO LIST TO STUDY. JUST STUDY ONLY PAST REAL TESTS. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT VOCABULARY ON THE ACT. WHAT I DO DURING TUTORING IS JUST SIMPLY WRITE ANY WORDS A STUDENT DOES NOT KNOW IN THEIR BINDERS SO THEY CAN MEMORIZE THEM AT A LATER DATE.

VOCABULARY - HOW IMPORTANT ON THE SAT I?

NO LONGER IS VOCABULARY ON THE SAT I OF MUCH IMPORTANCE. AS OF MARCH 2005, THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY ANALOGIES ON THE SAT I! THERE ARE ONLY SENTENCE COMPLETION QUESTIONS, AND NOT TOO MUCH OF THESE EITHER. I WOULD SAY THAT VOCABULARY CAN ONLY IMPACT YOUR VERBAL SCORE BY AS MUCH AS 10 TO 15%. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU STUDY EVERYTHING ELSE FIRST. IF YOU MUST STUDY VOCABULARY, ONLY STUDY WORDS FROM PAST REAL SAT I TESTS! DO NOT STUDY THESE MASSIVE LISTS! SOME OF THEM ARE A TOTAL WASTE OF YOUR TIME!! DURING TUTORING WHAT I DO IS WRITE DOWN ANY VOCABULARY WORDS A STUDENT DOES NOT KNOW. THIS I HAVE BEEN TOLD HAS PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL!!

VOCABULARY - TO STUDY OR NOT TO STUDY?

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING A LOT OF VOCABULARY WORDS IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW RIGHT NOW FOR THE ACT AND THE SAT. THE ACT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO VOCABULARY ON IT AT ALL EXCEPT THE OCCASIONAL ONE OR TWO DIFFICULT WORDS ON THE ENTIRE TEST YOU MAY NOT KNOW. THE SAT I HAS DRASTICALLY CUT DOWN ON VOCABULARY. THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS ON ANALOGIES AT ALL (AS OF MARCH 2005) AND THERE ARE ONLY A FEW SENTENCE COMPLETIONS. I WOULD SAY THAT AT MOST SENTENCE COMPLETION QUESTIONS MIGHT BE 10-15% OF YOUR VERBAL SCORE. I WOULD STUDY EVERYTHING ELSE FIRST BEFORE STUDYING ANY VOCABULARY.

THE SAT I DOES REPEAT A LOT OF THE SAME VOCABULARY WORDS. I HAVE SEVERAL WORD LISTS OF VOCABULARY WORDS THAT I HAVE COMPILED FROM OLD TESTS. I AM THINKING ABOUT POSTING THESE LATER. I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THE SAT I MAY REPEAT IN UPWARDS OF 50% OR MORE OF THE SAME VOCABULARY WORDS OVER TIME. THAT ESTIMATE COULD BE EVEN HIGHER.

ISEE AND SSAT - WHAT ARE THESE TESTS FOR?

THE ISEE AND THE SSAT ARE TWO EXAMS WHICH ARE VERY POPULAR IN A STUDENT WHO IS APPLYING TO A PRIVATE GRADE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL. THE ISEE STANDS FOR THE "INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM" AND THE SSAT STANDS FOR "SECONDARY SCHOOL AADMISSIONS TEST".

YES THAT IS RIGHT, THERE IS NOW A TEST TO GET INTO MOST PRIVATE SCHOOLS NOT JUST CATHOLIC PRIVATE SCHOOLS! THESE ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TESTS AND CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR ADMISSIONS. THESE TESTS GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 3RD GRADE OR LOWER SOMETIMES!!! THERE ARE LOTS OF THESE TESTS AVAILABLE. HERE ARE A FEW: ISEE, SSAT, COOP, SHSAT, ETC. SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE LENGTHY ADMISSIONS DOCUMENTS JUST LIKE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS. SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS ALSO REQUIRE A FACE TO FACE INTAKE INTERVIEW. I AM CONSIDERING STARTING ANOTHER BLOG ON PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS. OR IF I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW, I WILL START IT HERE!

TUTORING - I HAVE ALREADY A VERY HIGH SCORE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET IT HIGHER WITH TUTORING?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HIGH SCORING STUDENTS CAN BE IMPROVED JUST AS LOW SCORING STUDENTS CAN BE IMPROVED WITH TUTORING. RECENTLY I HAD A RASH OF STUDENTS WHO HAD ALREADY VERY HIGH SCORES (LIKE 29 ON ACT OR 1290 ON SAT I) AND THEY WANTED TO GO HIGHER SO THEY COULD APPLY TO MORE SELECTIVE SCHOOLS. GREAT. WHEN TUTORING THIS TYPE OF STUDENT, I USE AN ARSENAL OF HINTS/STRATEGIES AND OR WEAPONS THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF WHAT I USE WITH LOWER SCORING STUDENTS. IN OTHER WORDS, A HIGHER SCORING STUDENT HAS A DIFFERENT SET OF "TESTING ISSUES" THAN THAT OF A LOWER SCORING STUDENT. A HIGHER SCORING STUDENT WILL NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON STRATEGIES AND METHODOLOGY RATHER THAN ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE MATERIAL (THEY USUALLY KNOW THE MATERIAL JUST FINE - ITS A MATTER OF COMING UP WITH A STRATEGY THAT WILL HELP THEM AVOID MAKING CARELESS ERRORS OR MISSING THINGS THAT THEY ALREADY KNOW).

A STUDENT WHO IS TRYING TO IMPROVE A LOWER SCORE (LIKE ACT OF 22 OR SAT OF 1000) INTO A HIGHER SCORE USUALLY NEEDS TO LEARN A GREAT DEAL MORE MATERIAL SUCH AS MATH FORMULAS AND VOCABULARY AND WILL ALSO VERY MUCH NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR STRATEGIES OR METHODOLOGY OF TEST TAKING.

TUTORING - WHY ARE THE ACT AND SAT TUTORABLE?

I HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION A LOT. THE ACT AND THE SAT I AND THE SAT II SUBJECT TESTS ARE "TUTORABLE" BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE TESTS GIVEN EACH TIME ARE EXACTLY THE SAME FORMAT, QUESTION TYPES, TOPICS, AND MATERIAL AS QUESTIONS ON PREVIOUS TESTS. IN OTHER WORDS, THESE TEST MAKERS ARE VERY LAZY. THEY RARELY IF EVER CREATE UNIQUE NEW TEST MATERIAL. ALL THEIR TESTS HAVE THE SAME OLD PREDICTABLE QUESTIONS, SOME OF THE SAME VOCABULARY WORDS, SOME OF THE SAME AND SIMILIAR PASSAGES, AND SIMILIAR OF THE SAME MATH PROBLEMS AS OLD TESTS. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT IF YOU STUDY OLD TESTS YOU CAN EASILY AND QUICKLY LEARN FROM THEM! MANY OF MY STUDENTS HAVE TOLD ME COUNTLESS TIMES THAT THEY SAW EXACTLY ON THE REAL SAT OR ACT SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS WE DID HERE! THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO HAPPEN. THANK GOD THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE IF IT WERE NOT TRUE THESE TESTS WOULD INDEED BE A PROBLEM TO STUDY FOR.

ACT AND SAT I - DO I LOOK BETTER IF I TAKE BOTH TESTS?

YES YOU DO LOOK BETTER IF YOU TAKE BOTH TESTS AND DO WELL ON BOTH TESTS!!!! FOR MOST MOST COLLEGES, A STUDENT WHO TAKES BOTH TESTS AND DOES WELL ON BOTH LOOKS BETTER THAN A STUDENT WHO TAKES ONLY ONE TEST. THIS DOES NOT MEAN HOWEVER THAT YOU MUST TAKE BOTH TESTS. TAKING BOTH TESTS SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO A HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGE. FOR MOST STUDENTS, TAKING ONE TEST IS FINE. TAKING BOTH THE ACT AND SAT I WOULD CONSUME AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY!!

SAT I - CAN I TAKE THIS AS MANY TIMES AS I WANT?

YES YOU CAN BUT IT IS A VERY BAD IDEA BECAUSE THE COLLEGE BOARD SENDS ALL YOUR SAT I SCORES WHEN THEY SEND SCORES TO COLLEGES. ALL OF THEM. SO ITS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE THE SAT I MORE THAN 4 OR 5 TIMES. MOST STUDENTS I SEE TAKE IT ONE TO FOUR TIMES. USUALLY 2 OR 3 TIMES IS THE MOST COMMON. STILL THOUGH I WOULD NOT PUT ANY SCORES DOWN TO GOTO TO COLLEGES UNTIL YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU ARE GOING TO USE THE SAT I AS YOUR TEST.

ACT - CAN I TAKE THIS AS MANY TIMES A I WANT?

YES THIS IS TRUE BUT YOU MUST DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR THE ACT DO NOT DO NOT PUT DOWN ANY SCORES TO SEND COLLEGES TO. THAT WAY YOU CAN TAKE THE ACT AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR HIGHEST SCORE JUST CALL THE ACT AND HAVE THEM SEND THAT SCORE ONLY TO COLLEGES. SO IT LOOKS LIKE TO COLLEGE THAT YOU JUST TOOK THE ACT ONE TIME AND DID WELL! AWESOME. THE SAT I DOES NOT OPERATE THAT WAY.

TUTORING - WHAT IS YOUR BEST RECOMMENDATION FOR SUCCESS AT THE ACT AND OR SAT?

MY BEST RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO START THE SUMMER AFTER FRESHMAN YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL. DO A LITTLE WORK OVER THAT SUMMER PERHAPS 6 TO 10 SESSIONS AND PREPARE THE STUDENT FOR THE UPCOMING PSAT HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR. SEE HOW HE DOES ON THAT PSAT THEN BEGIN WEEKLY MEETING THE SUMMER BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR. ONCE A WEEK TUTORING IS GOOD. CONTINUE THIS ONCE A WEEK TUTORING UNTIL THE STUDENT TAKES HIS OR HER FIRST ACT OR SAT AFTER CHRISTMAS THEIR JUNIOR YEAR. SEE WHAT THEY GET ON THAT AND IF ENOUGH WERE DONE IF THEY DID NOT SCORE ENOUGH WE CONTINUE AND TAKE IT AGAIN THAT SPRING OF JUNIOR YEAR AND KEEP TAKING IT UNTIL THEY REACH THEIR NEEDED SCORE. 25 YEARS OF DAILY EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT NOTHING WORKS MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN REGULAR TUTORING SCHEDULE SPREAD OUT OVER TIME. IN OTHER WORDS, MEETING ONCE A WEEK FOR 15 WEEKS IS MUCH BETTER THAN MEETING TWICE A WEEK FOR 7 WEEKS. CRAMMING JUST DOES NOT GIVE THE STUDENT THE BEST CHANCES. OF COURSE CRAMMING WORKS IF WE HAVE TO DO IT. IT JUST NOT MY FIRST CHOICE. CRAMMING IS STRESSFUL FOR ALL PARTIES CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS!

SAT AND ACT - ANYTHING POSITIVE TO SAY?

ABSOLUTELY THE ACT AND THE SAT ARE A PAIN IN THE REAR TO DEAL WITH. ITS ALMOST INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT AFTER A STUDENT HAS DONE WELL IN HIGH SCHOOL HE OR SHE IS YET ASKED AGAIN TO DO SOMETHING MORE ON TOP OF THAT ACHIEVEMENT. I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. HOWEVER, OUR OPINION DOES NOT NEGATE THE FACT THAT THEY EXIST AND ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO GETTING INTO COLLEGE. I DID NOT INVENT THEM. NEITHER DID YOU TEACHERS OR COUNSELORS. WERE ALL TRYING OUR BEST TO HELP YOU THROUGH THEM SO DON'T ADOPT A BAD ATTITUDE TOWARDS THEM. IT WILL ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE. THE ACT AND SAT DO HAVE ONE VERY BENEFICIAL USE. THAT IS FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE GRADES AS HIGH AS THEY WOULD LIKE. IF YOU DO REAL WELL ON THE SAT OR ACT BUT YOUR GRADES ARE NOT SO HOT, THIS WILL ONLY MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE AN UNDERACHIEVER TO A FUTURE COLLEGE. IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR OBVIOUSLY VERY INTELLIGENT BUT NOT PERFORMING AT YOUR POTENTIAL. SO THE COLLEGE MIGHT JUST THINK THAT YOU ARE A LATE BLOOMER SO TO SPEAK. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY MAY BE MORE WILLING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE. LOTS AND LOTS OF STUDENTS DO FAR BETTER IN COLLEGE THAN IN HIGH SCHOOL. ITS JUST A MATURITY ISSUE. SO ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, THE ACT AND SAT ARE A CHANCE FOR SOME STUDENTS TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE REALLY SMART, BUT JUST DID NOT ACHIEVE THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL AS OF YET BUT MIGHT IN THE FUTURE!! COLLEGES DO MAINLY LOOK AT YOUR GRADES SO IF YOU GRADES ARE ALREADY WHERE YOU WANT THEM THE ACT OR SAT COULD JUST BE ICING ON THE CAKE, BUT FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHOSE GRADES ARE NOT WHERE THEY WANT THEM TO BE THE ACT AND OR SAT PROVIDES A FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY THAT SITUATION.

SCHOLARSHIPS - HOW DOES SAT AND ACT SCORES AFFECT?

SOME COLLEGES WILL OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS BASED PARTIALLY AND OR ENTIRELY ON YOUR SAT OR ACT SCORES. I HAVE HAD DOZENS OF STUDENTS WHO JUST NEEDED A FEW MORE POINTS AND IT ENABLED THEM TO GET A LITTLE MONEY TO GO TO COLLEGE. THIS MAKES MY JOB VERY WORTHWHILE. I LOVE TO SAVE MY CLIENTS MONEY. RECENTLY, I HAD A YOUNG LADY WHO CAME TO ME AND NEEDED 3 MORE POINTS ON HER ACT TO GO TO COLLEGE FREE! WELL WE ONLY HAD 4 SESSIONS AND SHE NEEDED TO GO FROM A 29 TO A 32. NO EASY TASK. SOMEHOW INCREDIBLY WE PULLED IT OFF! HER MOTHER CALLED ME IN TEARS. I HELPED SAVE THEM OVER $100,000.00. I REALLY LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN DOING THAT!

SAT I - IS GUESSING A GOOD STRATEGY?

OK. PAY ATTENTION HERE. THE GODS AT THE SAT I HAVE INVENTED A "GUESSING PENALTY". THAT'S RIGHT. PRETTY SILLY BUT NONETHELESS WE MUST LIVE WITH IT. THERE IS A WAY TO TURN THIS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND GET LOTS MORE POINTS. HERE IS HOW. DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTION THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY DON'T KNOW OR CANNOT ELIMINATE ANY OF THE ANSWER CHOICES AS BEING INCORRECT. LEAVE THEM BLANK. EVERY 2-4 QUESTIONS THAT YOU LEAVE BLANK THAT YOU KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INCORRECT CAN ACTUALLY ADD 10 POINTS TO YOUR OVERALL SCORE. HOW MUCH TOTAL POINTS CAN THIS STRATEGY ADD TO YOUR TEST? ABOUT 0-100 TOTAL POINTS IT COULD ADD TO EACH SECTION!! THAT IS A LOT. OF COURSE THIS NUMBER CAN VARY A LOT AND IT DEPENDS SOLELY UPON HOW MANY YOU DON'T KNOW. WHY IS THIS SO? BECAUSE ON MOST QUESTIONS THE SAT I TAKES OFF .25 RAW POINTS (ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO 2.5 TOTAL POINTS) POINTS IF YOU MISS THE QUESTION. SO IF YOU LEAVE IT BLANK THEY TAKE OFF ZERO POINTS. SO IT DOES NOT HURT YOU. WHAT DOES NOT HURT YOU CAN HELP YOU ON THIS TEST! IN THE MATH SECTION THAT IS CALLED THE STUDENT RESPONSE SECTION (WHERE YOU WRITE IN THE ANSWERS) THERE IS NO GUESSING PENALTY SINCE THERE ARE NO ANSWER CHOICES SO JUST GUESS THOSE IF YOU WANT. YOU CAN ALSO USE THIS BLANK RULE IF YOU ARE RUNNING LOW ON TIME.

ACT - IS GUESSING A GOOD STRATEGY?

LET'S MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR. ON THE ACT THERE IS NO GUESSING PENALTY THERFORE ONE SHOULD NOT LEAVE ANY QUESTIONS BLANK WHATSOEVER. BASICALLY THERE IS A 20 TO 25% CHANCE THAT YOU WILL GUESS THE QUESTION CORRECTLY SO GO FOR IT!! IF YOU ONLY HAVE 4 ANSWER CHOICES THERE IS A 25% CHANCE THAT YOU WILL GET THE QUESTION CORRECT. IF THERE ARE 5 CHOICES FOR THE ANSWER THERE IS A 20% CHANCE YOU WILL GET THE QUESTION CORRECT. IF YOU ARE RUNNING LOW ON TIME AND THE TEST ENDS AND YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS LEFT TO ANSWER, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU PICK A LETTER CHOICE (THE SAME ONE) AND JUST FILL IT IN FOR THE REST OF THEM. DO NOT KEEP WORKING ON YOUR TEST AFTER THE PROCTOR CALLS TIME - THIS CAN HAVE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES SUCH AS GETTING YOUR TEST TAKEN IT. IT HAS HAPPENED.

SAT II SUBJECT TESTS - BEST STRATEGY TO LEAVE QUESTIONS BLANK?

SAT II SUBJECT TESTS - BEST STRATEGY IS TO LEAVE QUESTIONS BLANK THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NOT KNOW. YOU WILL ACTUALLY EARN POINTS BY DOING THIS!!!! PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS. IF YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT ELIMINATE ANY OF THE ANSWERS CHOICES LEAVE IT BLANK. EVERY 2-4 QUESTIONS THAT YOU LEAVE BLANK THAT YOU WOULD HAVE MISSED COULD GIVE YOU ANOTHER 10 POINTS ON YOUR FINAL SCORE. SO THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

SAT II SUBJECT TESTS - HOW DO THEY SCORE THESE?

ALL SAT II SUBJECT TESTS ARE SCORED ON THE SAME 800 POINT SCALE AS IS THE SAT I INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THE SAT II TESTS ARE GRADED ON A MUCH MORE LIBERAL GRADING SCALE THAN THE SAT I. THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY IN THESE COURSES THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE USA. FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE US HISTORY SAT II SUBJECT TEST THERE ARE 90 TOTAL MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS. IF YOU LEAVE BLANK APPROXIMATELY 25 OF THEM YOU CAN STILL GET A 700! NOT BAD FOR ONLY GETTING 65 QUESTIONS OUT OF 90 CORRECT. SO THESE ARE NOT AS HARD AS THE SAT I, BUT ONE STILL SHOULD PREPARE. A LITTLE PREPARATION OR TUTORING ON THESE WILL HELP TREMENDOUSLY.

SAT II SUBJECT TESTS - WHEN TO TAKE THEM

THE BEST ADVICE IS TO TAKE AN SAT II SUBJECT TEST RIGHT AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED THE PARTICULAR TEST FOR THAT SUBJECT. FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY YOU JUST FINISHED TAKING CHEMISTY YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR. I WOULD ADVISE TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE THE SAT II CHEMISTRY SUBJECT TEST THAT JUNE. THE CLOSER YOU CAN TAKE ONE OF THESE SUBJECT TESTS TO WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED THE ACTUAL COURSE THE BETTER.

SAT II SUBJECT TESTS - WHICH ONES TO AVOID?

FROM PAST EXPERIENCE I CAN GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF WHICH SAT II SUBJECT TESTS ARE PRETTY DECENT TO TAKE AND WHICH ARE NOT. IT SEEMS THAT THE MATH LEVEL 1, US HISTORY, WORLD HISTORY, AND (IF YOU KNOW WELL A FOREIGN LANGUAGE) A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEST SEEM TO BE SOME OF THE TOP CHOICES THAT STUDENTS DO WELL ON WITH LESS PREPARATION. I KNOW THAT ANY OF THE SCIENCE TESTS SUCH AS BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND PHYSICS ARE PRETTY DIFFICULT AND WILL REQUIRE MORE PREPARATION. THE LITERATURE TEST APPEARS TO BE EXRUCIATINGLY HARD FOR MOST STUDENTS. THE BEST THING TO DO IS PURCHASE THE BOOK, "THE OFFICIAL STUDY GUIDE FOR ALL SAT SUBJECT TESTS" BY THE COLLEGE BOARD (ISBN-13 IS 978-0-87447-756-6). THIS BOOK HAS ONE FULL PAST REAL SAT II SUBJECT TEST FOR EACH TEST. I WOULD TAKE A FEW OF THESE TESTS AND SEE WHICH ONES YOU LIKE AND DO BEST ON. THERE ARE MORE BOOKS ON THE MARKET. THE COLLEGE BOARD OFFERS A BOOK ON EACH INDIVIDUAL SAT II SUBJECT TEST. YOU CAN GOTO A PLACE LIKE WWW.OVERSTOCK.COM AND DO A SEARCH ON SAT II AND IT WILL BRING UP LOTS OF BOOKS. REMEMBER NONE OF THESE SAT II SUBJECT TESTS IS TOO BAD IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PREPARE FOR THEM. THEY CAN BE TAKEN AT ANYTIME. THEY ARE ALL ABOUT AN HOUR LONG.

CLEP TESTS - WHAT ARE THESE?

CLEP MEANS "COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM". THE CLEP EXAMS PROVIDE STUDENTS OF ANY AGE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE COLLEGE LEVEL ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH A PROGRAM OF EXAMS IN UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE COURSES. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 2,900 COLLEGES THAT GRANT CREDIT AND OR ADVANCED STANDING FOR CLEP EXAMINATIONS. MOST COLLEGES OFFER TESTS AT THEIR OWN SCHOOL WHICH IF YOU TAKE AND DO WELL YOU CAN GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COLLEGE CREDIT WITHOUT EVEN TAKING A COURSE! NICE. CONSULT YOUR PARTICULAR UNIVERSITY. FOR EXAMPLE, LETS SAY YOU HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL SUMMER COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY. BUT THERE IS NOT SAT II SUBJECT TEST FOR PSYCHOLOGY. YOU MIGHT FOR SURE WANT TO MAKE ALL YOUR COLLEGE CHOICES AWARE THAT YOU HAVE ADVANCED KNOWLEGE IN PSYCHOLOGY, AND ASK THEM IF THEY OFFER A PSYCHOLOGY CLEP TEST. CLEP EXAMS ARE AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO SAVE MONEY! IF YOU TEST OUT OF A COURSE YOU BASICALLY GET CREDIT FOR IT FOR A VERY SMALL FEE (USUALLY FAR LESS THAN $100). SOMETIMES COLLEGE COURSES COST IN THE THOUSANDS! YOU CAN SAVE TIME, SAVE MONEY, GRADUATE EARLY, OR EVEN BOLSTER YOUR COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT BY ADDING FURTHER COURSE STUDY WHICH WOULD LOOK GOOD TO A FUTURE EMPLOYER. I KNOW OF MANY STUDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED AS EARLY AS 12 MONTHS, SOMETIMES MORE, BY CLEPPING OUT OF LOTS OF MATERIALS. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE SUCH AS PROFICIENCY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE DON'T FORGET TO TAKE A CLEP TEST. EACH CLEP EXAM IS USUALLY 90 MINUTES LONG.

IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD IDEA TO LET A PROSPECTIVE COLLEGE CHOICE KNOW THAT YOU ARE PROFICIENT IN SOMETHING AND THAT YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE CLEP EXAM ON IT. THIS MAKES YOU LOOK ALL THE SMARTER (JUST LIKE MY SWEDISH EXAMPLE ABOVE).

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CLEP SEE THIS LINK:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html

HERE IS A LIST OF SOME CLEP EXAMS:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/exams.html

THERE IS LOTS OF TUTORING AND OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR CLEP EXAMS.

SAT II SUBJECT TESTS - WHAT SUBJECTS ARE OFFERED?

THE FOLLOWING ARE CURRENTLY THE OFFERED SAT II SUBJECT TESTS (NOTE THE WRITING SAT II SUBJECT TEST IS NO LONGER OFFERED! IT BECAME A PART OF THE SAT I IN MARCH 2005).

LITERATURE

UNITED STATES HISTORY

WORLD HISTORY

MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1

MATHEMATICS LEVEL 2

BIOLOGY E/M

CHEMISTRY

PHYSICS

CHINESE WITH LISTENING

FRENCH

FRENCH WITH LISTENING

GERMAN

GERMAN WITH LISTENING

ITALIAN

JAPANESE WITH LISTENING

KOREAN WITH LISTENING

LATIN

MODERN HEBREW

SPANISH

SPANISH WITH LISTENING

SAT II SUBJECT TESTS - FOREIGN LANGUAGE WITH OR WITHOUT LISTENING?

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SAT II SUBJECT TESTS - ONE WITH LISTENING AND ONE WITHOUT. CHECK WITH YOUR PARTICULAR COLLEGES AS TO WHICH ONE THEY WANT TO SEE. IF YOU TAKE THE ONE WITH LISTENING, I THINK YOU MUST NOW BRING YOUR OWN CD PLAYER FOR TESTS WITH LISTENING SO BEWARE!

NOTE THAT ONLY THE FOLLOWING HAVE BOTH READING AND LISTENING SECTIONS:

CHINESE

FRENCH

GERMAN

JAPANESE

KOREAN

SPANISH

THESE CAN BE TAKEN WITH READING ONLY:

FRENCH

GERMAN

MODERN HEBREW

ITALIAN

LATIN

SPANISH

SAT II SUBJECT TESTS - CAN I CHANGE MY MIND ONCE AT THE TEST CENTER ON WHICH SUBJECT TESTS I WANT TO TAKE?

YES YOU CAN. WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE TEST CENTER, YOU CAN CHANGE WHICH TESTS YOU WANT TO TAKE. YOU CAN ONLY TAKE A MAXIMUM OF THREE SUBJECT TESTS AT ANY ONE SITTING. YOU CAN TAKE THREE DIFFERENT TESTS, DROP A TEST, ADD A TEST, ETC. DO THIS IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU ARRIVE.

REGISTERING FOR THE ACT AND SAT - HOW?

THE ABSOLUTE FASTEST AND BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS ONLINE AT EACH SITE. FOR THE ACT GOTO WWW.ACT.ORG AND FOR THE SAT GOTO WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS. THERE IS USUALLY A VERY LENGTHY AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU MUST ANSWER WHEN YOU DO THIS THE FIRST TIME. ITS ONLY A ONE TIME DEAL, AND IT IS REALLY FOR YOUR BEST INTEREST. THESE ANSWERS YOU GIVE ARE USED BY POTENTIAL COLLEGES THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN YOU. ANOTHER BENEFIT OF REGISTERING ONLINE IS THAT YOU CAN QUICKLY AND EASILY CHECK YOUR SCORES IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

COLLEGE CAMPUS INTERVIEW - EXAMPLE QUESTIONS

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLE QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HEAR AT A COLLEGE CAMPUS ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW:

-WHAT IS YOUR FAMILY LIKE?

-WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER AND WHY?

-WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE TEACHER AND WHY?

-WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO MOST REMEMBER ABOUT YOU?

-DOES YOUR FAMILY ATTEND CHURCH?

-DO YOU ATTEND CHURCH?

-ARE YOUR PARENTS STILL MARRIED?

-DO YOUR PARENTS GET ALONG WELL?

-WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE HERO?

-WHAT DOES YOUR FATHER/MOTHER DO FOR A LIVING (MAKE SURE YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT)?

-WHAT OTHER COLLEGES ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

-WHY SHOULD WE ACCEPT YOU?

-WHAT COULD YOU CONTRIBUTE TO OUR INSTITUTION?

-WE NOTICED ON YOUR TRANSCRIPT THAT YOU MADE A C- IN FRESHMAN ENGLISH BUT YOU HAVE MOSTLY A'S EVERYWHERE ELSE. WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?

-NAME ONE OF YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL?

-WHAT DO YOU DO FOR HOBBIES? IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

-WILL YOU CONSIDER JOINING A FRATERNITY/SORORITY HERE?

-WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?

-WHO IS THE PRESIDENT?

- WHAT DO YOU WANT TO STUDY HERE?

-DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

THIS IS JUST TO NAME A FEW. I WILL TRY TO POST MORE LATER ON. REMEMBER, BE PREPARED. IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO WRITE OUT YOUR RESPONSES TO THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU GO. IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO A HIGHLY SELECTIVE SCHOOL THE INTERVIEW CAN BE VERY IMPORTANT.

COLLEGE CAMPUS INTERVIEWS - GROUP INTERVIEWS

MANY COLLEGES OF LATE HAVE STARTED TO OFFER GROUP INTERVIEWS. THIS IS REALLY A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH MANY STUDENTS PRESENT. THE INTERVIEWER PRESENTS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE PARTICULAR COLLEGE AND YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS AFTERWARD. OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT NEARLY AS PERSONAL AS A ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW. DEPENDING UPON HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN THE GROUP, YOU MAY STILL HAVE A DECENT CHANCE OF IMPRESSING THE ADMISSIONS OFFICIAL WITH YOUR QUESTIONS. YOU MIGHT CONSIDER STAYING AFTER AND ASKING A FEW MORE QUESTIONS ONE ON ONE OR AT LEAST ASKING THE OFFICIAL IF YOU CAN GET HIS OR HER EMAIL ADDRESS AND YOU MIGHT FOLLOW UP WITH MORE QUESTIONS. THE MORE INTERESTED YOU APPEAR THE BETTER YOU LOOK!! REMEMBER COLLEGES ARE A BUSINESS!!

COLLEGE VISITS - SHOULD I STAY OVERNIGHT WITH THE STUDENTS IN A DORM?

IF THIS TYPE OF VISIT IS OFFERED GO FOR IT! THIS WILL GIVE YOU A MARVELOUS IDEA OF WHAT IT IS TRULY LIKE TO GO TO THAT SCHOOL. IT WILL ALSO UNEQUIVOCALLY DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GOING TO THAT INSTITUTION. THESE VISITS CAN BE SO MUCH FUN. YOU WILL GET TO SEE THE DAILY LIFE OF STUDENTS AT THAT SCHOOL. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO VISIT CLASSES WITH THEM, GOTO PARTIES, FUNCTIONS, ETC. THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD ADVISE YOU DO AT A SCHOOL YOU ARE VERY INTERESTED IN GOING TO. THIS WOULD ALSO HELP YOU BREAK ANY TIE BREAKERS BETWEEN TWO SCHOOLS YOU REALLY WANT TO GO TO.

COLLEGE VISITS - HOW IMPORTANT?

REMEMBER COLLEGES ARE BUSINESSES. THEY WANT TO ACCEPT STUDENT THAT THEY KNOW WILL MOST PROBABLY NOT TURN THEM DOWN. WHEN YOU TURN DOWN A COLLEGE ADMISSION, THE COLLEGE HAS TO GO TO THEIR WAIT LIST AND PULL SOMEONE OFF THEIR. THIS TAKES TIME AND FURTHER EFFORT. IN FACT, MANY TIMES A COLLEGE MAY HAVE TO SELECT SEVERAL PERSONS OFF THE WAIT LIST UNTIL THEY FIND ONE TO FILL AN OPEN SPOT. A COLLEGE DOES NOT WANT ANY VACANCIES IN SPOTS WHEN THE NEXT FRESHMAN CLASS COMES IN. EACH VACANCY COULD REPRESENT A FINANCIAL LOSS IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. SO WHY IS A COLLEGE VISIT IMPORTANT?

A COLLEGE VISIT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES YOUR INTEREST IN THAT INSTITUTION. NO ONE WHO IS NOT AT LEAST SOMEWHAT INTERESTED WOULD TAKE THE TIME OR SPEND THE MONEY TO VISIT A COLLEGE. BE SURE TO TAKE BOTH PARENTS WITH YOU IF POSSIBLE. THIS MAKES YOU REALLY SEEM INTERESTED. A COMMON MISTAKE ON COLLEGE VISITS IS TO NOT REGISTER WITH THE ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT. YOU MUST ALWAYS LET THE ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT KNOW THAT YOU ARE ON CAMPUS TO DO A COLLEGE VISIT. THEY WILL WRITE YOUR INFORMATION DOWN IN YOUR FILE. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. I HAVE HEARD OF CASES WHERE A STUDENT VISITED FOR EXAMPLE THE ENGINEERING SCHOOL BUT FAILED TO VISIT THE ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT. THE ENGINEERING SCHOOL IS NOT IN CHARGE OF ADMISSIONS AND THEY MAY FAIL TO NOTIFY ADMISSIONS OF YOUR VISIT!! SO, ALWAYS GOTO THE ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT FIRST THEN THEY WILL TAKE YOU TO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU MOST WANT TO SEE.

COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAYS - TEN GOOD TIPS

MORE IMPORTANT THAN I COULD POSSIBLE CONVEY TO YOU IN MERE WORDS. SINCE MANY SCHOOLS NO LONGER HAVE THE FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW PROCESS, COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAYS HAVE REPLACED THIS AND ARE TERRIBLY IMPORTANT. MOST COLLEGES HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASK YOU. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHICH ESSAY TO RESPOND TO. HERE ARE TEN GENERAL HINTS TO USE IN ESSAY WRITING. I WILL PROBABLY POST MANY MORE LATER ON.

TEN ESSAY HINTS:

1. MAKE SURE YOU ADDRESS THE ACTUAL QUESTION THAT IS BEING ASKED! YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY ESSAYS I HAVE READ THAT THE STUDENT DEVIATES SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE QUESTION BEING ASKED. STICK TO IT.

2. FOLLOW SOME TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR ALL YOUR ESSAYS. THE GOOD OLD INTRO-BODY-CONCLUSION TYPE FORMAT IS PERFECT AND STILL WIDELY USED. YOUR INTRO PARAGRAPH IS WHERE YOU SPECIFICALLY ANSWER THE QUESTION (STATE YOUR THESIS) AND ADD SOME STRONG RESPONSE TYPE DATA. THE BODY CAN BE 2 OR 3 PARAGRAPHS SUPPORTING THE THESIS STATED IN THE INTRO PARAGRAPH. THE CONCLUSION WRAPS THINGS UP AND AGAIN REMINDS THE READER OF YOUR THESIS.

3. TRY TO MAKE THE ESSAY AS INTERESTING AS YOU CAN. REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE. THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOU. MAKE IT PERSONAL. GIVE PERSONAL EXAMPLES. DO NOT WRITE THE ESSAY ON A VERY COMMON TOPIC LIKE "HOW I OVERCAME MY ADD". THEY LIKE UNIQUE MATERIAL.

4. INJECT SOME HUMOR. THIS KEEPS THE READER INTERESTED.

5. DEFINITELY HAVE YOUR ESSAY PROOFREAD BY MORE THAN ONE SOURCE. YOUR ENGLISH TEACHER, YOUR PARENTS, AND YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COUSELOR ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW.

6. IF YOU GET STUCK ON A TOPIC(S) ASK YOUR PARENTS. THEY USUALLY WILL REMEMBER INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT YOUR LIFE THAT YOU HAVE LONG FORGOTTEN.

7. USE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT GRAMMAR STRUCTURES. FOR EXAMPLE, USE A SEMI COLON HERE AND THERE, USE SOME COLONS, USE SOME DASHES, ETC.

8. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THE NORMAL CONVENTION OF ESSAY WRITING YOU LEARNED IN YOUR ENGLISH CLASS. THIS IS ONE PLACE THAT TAKING A RISK CAN PAY OFF, BUT YOU MUST BE CAREFUL. FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF THE PERSON WHO PROOFREAD YOUR ESSAY.

9. WATCH OUT ABOUT SAYING TOO MUCH GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF. THAT LOOKS VERY SUSPICIOUS. KEEP YOUR ESSAY WELL BALANCED ON YOUR GOOD POINTS AND MENTION SOME THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT BE SO GOOD AT BUT YOU ARE WORKING ON. REMEMBER, KEEP IT SOMEWHAT PERSONAL. THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LIFE. KEEP IT REAL. ITS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LIFE USUALLY. GET PERSONAL. STAY AWAY FROM PLATITUDES AND MORALIZING AND LECTURING. THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

10. MENTION CURRENT EVENTS, BOOKS YOU HAVE READ, FACTS YOU KNOW, ETC. WHEN APPROPRIATE TO BACK UP YOUR THESIS. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH SHOWING THEM YOUR EDUCATION OR YOUR KNOWLEDGE. THEY LIKE TO KNOW THAT.

THERE IS A LOT MORE TO BE SAID ABOUT ESSAY WRITING INDEED! THERE ARE MANY WEB SITES AND BOOKS THAT SAY FAR MORE THAN THIS POST CAN. I HAVE LISTED SOME OF THESE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE UNDER "SOME GOOD BOOKS ON COLLEGE ESSAY WRITING". CHECK THOSE OUT. THE MORE INFORMATION YOU HAVE ON DOING THIS THE BETTER. SOMETIMES ESSAYS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO MAKE OR BREAK A STUDENT'S ADMISSION. THEY ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. YOU CAN MAKE UP FOR A LOT OF POOR GRADES OR TEST SCORES BY WRITING GOOD ESSAYS.

COLLEGE CAMPUS INTERVIEW - TIPS FOR A GOOD INTERVIEW

I KNOW THE FOLLOWING MAY SOUND RATHER OBVIOUS TO SOME OF YOU, BUT TO OTHERS THESE TIPS MAY NOT SEEM SO OBVIOUS. HERE ARE 10 GOOD GENERAL TIPS TO USE IN AN INTERVIEW SITUATION THAT I HAVE TOLD STUDENTS OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES:

TEN TIPS FOR A GOOD INTERVIEW:

1. BE ON TIME TO YOUR INTERVIEW! THIS SHOULD BE OBVIOUS. BEING LATE IS A VERY BAD SIGN TO A POTENTIAL INTERVIEWER. BE EARLY WOULD BE THE BEST BET.

2. DRESS NICELY. DRESS AS IF YOU WERE GOING TO CHURCH. I WOULD NOT OVER DO (NO 3 PIECE SUITES) BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT UNDER DO IT.

3. USE SOME COLOGNE OR PERFUME. DOES NOT HURT. MAKE SURE YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH, COMB YOUR HAIR, ETC. ETC. EVEN THOUGH MOST COLLEGES ARE CONSIDERED VAST BASTIONS OF LIBERAL REFUGE, MOST INTERVIEWERS CONSIDER BAD HYGIENE A VERY POOR REFLECTION ON THE STUDENT.

4. THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS. ANSWER THEM HONESTLY. THERE MIGHT BE SOME SHOCK QUESTIONS OR SURPRISE TYPE QUESTIONS SUCH AS "WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT". JUST ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. I WOULD AVOID ANY STRONG HEATED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE INTERVIEWER ON POLITICS OR RELIGION. JUST STICK TO FACTS.

5. ANY QUESTIONS YOU ANSWER ARE SUBJECT TO FURTHER SCRUTINY SO IT BECOMES IMPERATIVE THAT YOU BE HONEST AND ACCURATE. I HAVE TUTORED STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERVIEW TEAM FOR COLLEGES AND PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS. THIS IS THEIR NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT TO PLEASE BE HONEST. THEY HAVE TOLD ME HORROR STORIES WHERE A POTENTIAL STUDENT HAS ANSWERED A QUESTION THEN LATER THEY PUSHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THE STUDENT WAS LYING. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE STUDENT TOLD ME THEY ASKED A POTENTIAL ADMISSIONS CANDIDATE IF HE WAS GOOD AT COMPUTERS. THIS STUDENT REPLIED THAT HE WAS AN EXPERT AT COMPUTERS, AND COULD BUILD MOST ANY COMPUTER. THE STUDENT DID NOT KNOW THAT THE INTERVIEWER WAS A PH.D. COMPUTER ENGINEER! THE INTERVIEWER ASKED SOME HIGHLY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT COMPUTERS THE STUDENT HAD RECENTLY BUILT, ETC. ETC. OF COURSE THE STUDENT COULD NOT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCURATELY SO HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS LYING. IN ACTUALITY THE STUDENT KNEW A LOT ABOUT COMPUTERS, BUT HE WAS FAR FROM AN EXPERT.

6. ASK THE INTERVIEWER YOUR OWN QUESTIONS! THIS MAKES YOU SEEM INTERESTED. YOU SHOULD PREPARE A LIST OF 5 TO 10 QUESTIONS BEFORE GOING TO THE INTERVIEW. QUESTIONS SUCH AS "WHAT PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS GRADUATING THIS COLLEGE GET JOBS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD?" WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF A GOOD QUESTION. ASKING HOW GOOD THE CAFETERIA FOOD IS HERE MIGHT NOT BE SUCH A GOOD QUESTION. THAT IS NOT A BAD QUESTION PER SE BUT I WOULD KEEP THE QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON IMPORTANT TOPICS. ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION WOULD BE, "HOW MANY STUDENTS PURSUE GRADUATE DEGREES AT THIS INSTITUTION?"OR "WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOP JOBS RECENT GRADUATES ARE GETTING?". YOU GET THE IDEA.

7. TAKE WITH YOU A WRITING INSTRUMENT AND SOME TYPE OF PAD OR NICE LOOKING BINDER. THIS MAKES YOU LOOK SERIOUS. TAKE NOTES DURING THE INTERVIEW.

8. LOOK THE INTERVIEWER IN THE EYE AND ADDRESS THEM AS MRS. OR MR. SO AND SO. IF THEY SPECIFICALLY TELL YOU THEY WANT TO BE ADDRESSED BY THEIR FIRST NAME THEN DO IT.

9. DO NOT ASK AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS JUST TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS. THIS CAN ANNOY THE INTERVIEWER.

10. THANK THE INTERVIEWER WHEN YOU LEAVE. IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO MAIL THEM A HAND WRITTEN THANK YOU NOTE EXPRESSING YOUR GRATITUDE AND CONFIRMING YOUR INTEREST IN THAT INSTITUTION.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE VERY POWERFUL. THE INTERVIEWER HAS A FORM THAT HE OR SHE FILLS OUT ON YOU AND THIS INFORMATION IS GOING TO DEFINITELY BE USED IN YOUR ADMISSIONS EVALUATION PROCESS. SINCE A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE NOT DOING THE INTERVIEW ANYMORE, YOUR APPLICATION ESSAYS ARE TAKING THE PLACE OF THIS AND THEY BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

COLLEGE CAMPUS INTERVIEW - HOW IMPORTANT?

MANY COLLEGES OF LATE HAVE NOT BEEN REQUIRING A FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW. ONLY THE SMALLER AND MOST HIGHLY SELECTIVE SCHOOLS DO A FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW. IN FACT, SOMETIMES THE INTERVIEW IS LISTED AS OPTIONAL. NO MATTER WHAT MAKE SURE YOU DO THE INTERVIEW ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED IN GOING TO THAT UNIVERSITY!!!!! FACE TO FACE INTERVIEWS WERE A LOT MORE COMMON IN THE TIME BEFORE THE INTERNET. FACE TO FACE INTERVIEWS ARE BECOMING MORE RARE EACH YEAR!! HOWEVER, SOME COLLEGESE STILL DO THIS. THE FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW IS IMPORTANT. IT IS JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS. REMEMBER, IDEALLY YOU WOULD NOT LIKE ANY PART OF YOUR ADMISSIONS PROCESS TO REFLECT WEAKLY. IDEALLY A STUDENT WOULD LIKE ALL PARTS OF THEIR ADMISSIONS PORTFOLIO TO BE AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS WHAT I CALLED THE "STRENGTH ADMISSIONS APPROACH". WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT WE WANT ALL PARTS OF ANY ADMISSIONS DEALINGS WITH ANY COLLEGES TO BE STRONG IN THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM PRESENTS A VIEW OF A STUDENT AS STRONGLY AS POSSIBLE. THIS INCREASES THE OVERALL NET VALUE OF A STUDENT TO A COLLEGE. SO YES IF YOU RUN ACROSS A COLLEGE THAT STILL ASKS FOR AN ON CAMPUS FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW I WOULD DO IT, ESPECIALLY IF THIS IS A COLLEGE YOU ARE VERY INTERESTED IN GOING TO. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER POST SHORTLY ON TIPS FOR A GOOD INTERVIEW.

ANY TESTS BESIDES THE SAT I OR ACT??

THAT IS THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION. NO, RIGHT NOW A STUDENT IN THE USA HAS ONLY TWO CHOICES OF TESTS TO TAKE FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS. THE SAT I AND THE ACT ARE THE ONLY TWO CHOICES. ISN'T THAT PITIFUL? WANT TO MAKE A BILLION+ DOLLARS? INVENT A NEW TEST FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AND GET COLLEGES TO ACCEPT IT. THERE ARE SOME COLLEGES IN THE USA RIGHT NOW WHO DO NOT USE EITHER TEST. THEY ARE FEW THOUGH.

SAT I: WHO IS SAT I BEST FOR?

SAT I I WOULD SAY IS GOOD FOR A STUDENT WHO LIKES MATH. THE SAT I IS 50% MATH AND 50% READING (I AM NOT INCLUDING THE WRITING AS MOST COLLEGES ARE NOT USING THAT IN ADMISSIONS RIGHT NOW). SO IF YOU ARE GOOD AT MATH THIS TEST SHOWCASES YOUR MATH ABILITY MUCH BETTER THAN THE ACT WOULD. IF YOU ARE NOT GOOD AT MATH, ACT MIGHT BE BETTER. YOU CAN TELL PRETTY FAST BY DOWNLOADING A DEMO TEST FROM EACH WEBSITE AND SEEING HOW YOU DO. IN GENERAL, THE SAT I WITH ITS ENORMOUS LENGTH IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE ACT IS FOR LEARNING DIFFERENCED STUDENTS. THE AFOREMENTIONED ARE VERY GENERAL RULES. YOU CAN ALSO TELL IF YOU ARE A DECENT SAT CANDIDATE BY YOUR PSAT SCORES. FOR A JUNIOR, I WOULD SAY ANY PSAT SCORES AT 50 OR ABOVE IN ANY CATEGORY IS GREAT INDICATOR THAT THE SAT I WOULD BE A GOOD TEST FOR YOU. AGAIN THIS IS A VERY GENERAL STATEMENT. ANY DECENT TUTOR CAN TELL QUITE EASILY WHICH TEST IS BETTER FOR YOU. IF YOU REALLY REALLY HATE READING THE SAT I IS PROBABLY NOT THE TEST FOR YOU, BUT AGAIN ITS UP TO THE STUDENT.

SAT I WEB SITE:

WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM

ACT WEB SITE:

WWW.ACT.ORG

ACT: WHO IS THE ACT BEST FOR?

THE ACT IS BEST USUALLY FOR LEARNING DIFFERENCED STUDENTS. IT IS ALSO GOOD IN GENERAL FOR ANY STUDENT WHO IS FAIRLY DECENT AT READING BUT NOT TOO GREAT AT MATH. THE ACT IS ROUGHLY ONLY 25% MATH SO IF YOU ARE NOT GOOD AT MATH THIS TEST IS ONLY 25% MATH. IT IS ROUGHLY 50% READING AND 25% SCIENCE, ALTHOUGH THE SCIENCE IS REALLY MORE LIKE READING PASSAGES OVER SCIENCE. SO ONE COULD SAY THAT THE ACT IS 75% READING AND 25% MATH. A LOT OF THIS DEPENDS UPON THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT. A STUDENT MAY LIKE ONE TEST MUCH BETTER THAN ANOTHER TEST. ITS BEST TO GET SOME BOOKS OR DOWNLOAD TESTS FROM THEIR WEBSITES AND SEE WHICH ONES YOU DO BEST ON. IF YOUR SCHOOL GIVES THE PLAN TEST (THE PRE ACT TEST) IF YOU MAKE 22 OR ABOVE YOUR PROBABLY A DECENT CANDIDATE FOR THE ACT.

BOTTOM LINE: IF YOU ARE POOR AT MATH AND SOMEWHAT GOOD AT ENGLISH OR READING ACT IS PROBABLY SOME WHAT BETTER THAN THE SAT I.

SAT WEBSITE: http://www.collegeboard.com/

ACT WEBSITE: http://www.act.org/

GOING TO COLLEGE IN YOUR HOMETOWN?

I MYSELF WENT TO COLLEGE NEAR WHERE I GREW UP. I SEE LITTLE OR NO PROBLEM WITH DOING THIS. YOU CAN GET THE SAME PERSPECTIVE WIDENING EXPERIENCE OF COLLEGE NEARBY YOUR HOME. JUST TRY TO STAY ON CAMPUS FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO. YOU WILL DO JUST FINE! ESPECIALLY IF YOU FINANCES DON'T ALLOW YOU TO GO TO SCHOOL FAR AWAY, BE ASSURED THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE SAME WONDERFUL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE NO MATTER WHAT THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF YOU COLLEGE IS.

POSTPONE COLLEGE?

I HAVE HAD MANY STUDENTS ASK ME IF THEY SHOULD TAKE A YEAR OFF AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. MY ANSWER TO THAT IS NORMALLY "NO". IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A YEAR OFF AFTER YOU HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED SOME COLLEGE AND DONE WELL I MIGHT NOT ALWAYS SAY "NO". TAKING A YEAR OFF RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN PRODUCE GOOD RESULTS. YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHY ARE YOU WANTING TO DO THIS? COLLEGE IS A WONDERFUL, FUN, EXCITING, FULL OF LIFE EXPERIENCE. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO POSTPONE THAT KIND OF FUN? MANY STUDENTS RELISH THEIR NEW FOUND FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITIES. TAKING A LONG PERIOD OF TIME OFF AFTER YOUR SENIOR YEAR IS REALLY A POOR CHOICE MOST OF THE TIME. ITS VERY HARD TO GET INTO THE RHYTHM OF SCHOOL AGAIN ONCE YOU HAVE STOPPED GOING. VERY HARD. PLEASE THINK HARD ABOUT THIS. I WOULD CONSULT YOUR PARENTS, YOUR COUNSELOR AT SCHOOL, AND PERHAPS EVEN GET SOME PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FROM A THERAPIST OR PSYCHOLOGIST. GOING TO COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE; IT WILL GIVE YOU THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO BECOME YOUR OWN SELF SUPPORTING PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE TO TAKE ANY ADVICE FROM PARENTS!

WAIT LISTED: WHAT IF I GET WAIT LISTED AT A SCHOOL?

DON'T DESPAIR. YOU MIGHT BE SUPRISED TO KNOW THAT MOST SCHOOLS LIST THE LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING OFF THEIR WAITING AS QUITE GOOD. WAITING LISTED DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY DO NOT OUTRIGHT WANT YOU. IF I WERE BEING WAIT LISTED AT A FAVORITE CHOICE SCHOOL OF MINE, I WOULD CALL THEM SEND THEM LETTERS, ETC. LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I REALLY WANT TO GO THERE AND IF I AM TAKEN OFF THE WAIT LIST I I WILL GO THERE, ETC. LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS YOUR FIRST CHOICE SCHOOL AND YOUR VERY ANXIOUS ABOUT GETTING IN. REMEMBER, THE MORE A COLLEGE KNOWS THAT YOU WANT TO GO THERE THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO ACCEPT YOU. I WOULD STILL BE MAKING OTHER PLANS THOUGH. MOST SCHOOLS WILL USUALLY CONTACT WAIT LISTED STUDENTS AFTER MAY. THEY ARE WAITING TO SEE HOW MANY STUDENTS ACCEPT THEIR REGULAR ADMISSIONS MAILERS AND HOW MANY SPACES THEY HAVE LEFT OVER TO OFFER WAIT LIST STUDENTS. MORE HIGHLY SELECTIVE SCHOOLS MAY NOT LET YOU KNOW ANYTHING UNTIL JUNE OR LATER. DON'T FLOOD THE ADMISSIONS TEAM WITH TOO MANY COMMUNICATIONS. I WOULD SAY ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS IS ENOUGH TO LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED. IF YOU REALLY ANNOY THEM, THAT MIGHT NOT GO WELL FOR YOU.

IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS: HOW HARD TO GET INTO REALLY?

REALLY QUITE HARD. HARVARD HAS BEEN KNOWN TO TURN DOWN OVER 2,000 STRAIGHT A VALEDICTORIAN APPLICANTS IN ONE YEAR!! YES THAT IS RIGHT, TURN DOWN 2,000 + STRAIGHT A STUDENTS. THERE IS JUST SUCH AN INCREDIBLY HIGH DEMAND TO GET INTO THESE SCHOOLS IT IS UNREAL. THERE IS A WORLD WIDE DEMAND FOR SPOTS AT THESE SCHOOLS. SOME IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS WOULD BE BROWN, COLUMBIA, CORNELL, DARTMOUTH, HARVARD, PENN, PRINCETON, AND YALE. THERE ARE OTHER HIGHLY SELECTIVE SCHOOLS SUCH AS STANFORD, UVA, DUKE, VANDERBILT, ETC. ETC. THAT ARE ALSO JUST AS HARD SOMETIMES TO GET INTO.

IF I WERE TO GIVE YOU A GENERAL GUIDELINE AS TO WHAT YOU AS A STUDENT WOULD NEED TO POSSIBLY GET INTO THESE SCHOOLS I WOULD SAY:

1) HIGH GRADES SUCH AS ALL A'S OR AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE

2) ALL AP OR HONORS CLASSES

3) LOTS OF EXTRACURRICULARS INCLUDING LOTS OF SPORTS

4) WELL KNOWN PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OR ATTENDANCE AT A WELL KNOWN EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOL

5) SPECIAL MERITS SUCH AS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED YOUR OWN BOOK?

6) A VERY FULL, BUSY RESUME INCLUDING WORK AND TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

7) LOTS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

8) VERY HIGH SCORES ON YOUR ACT, SAT I, AND SAT II'S. MORE IS BETTER IN THIS CASE. MOST IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS HAVE 50TH PERCENTILE SCORES IN THE 700 SAT RANGE AND IN THE 32+ ACT RANGE. CHECK WITH YOUR SCHOOL.

IF AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL IS INTERESTED IN YOU BECAUSE OF LET'S SAY YOUR AN EXCELLENT SOCCER PLAYER, THEY CAN OVERLOOK MANY THINGS JUST TO GET YOU IN. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY CAN BREAK LOTS OF RULES TO GET YOU IN. AGAIN, YOU WILL NEED TO TALK TO PEOPLE AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL OF INTEREST TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE. I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF SUPRISES AT THESE SCHOOLS. THERE IS NOTHING AT ALL WRONG WITH WANTING TO GO TO AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL OR A HIGHLY SELECTIVE SCHOOL, BUT YOU SHOULD DO SOME RESEARCH AND SEE IF THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENT YOU ARE WILLING TO BE IN? ARE YOU WILLING TO DO 8 HOURS OF HOMEWORK PER NIGHT? AGAIN I WOULD MAKE SURE ALSO TO APPLY TO SOME SCHOOLS YOU CAN FOR SURE GET INTO. THE WORST SCENARIO WOULD BE TO APPLY TO COLLEGES AND NOT GET IN ANY - YES THAT HAS HAPPENED. MY ADVICE IS ALWAYS TO DO WHAT IS MOST PROBABLE NOT WHAT IS POSSIBLE. YES IT IS POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE ALL C'S YOU MIGHT GET INTO A HIGHLY SELECTIVE SCHOOL, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT PROBABLE. TRY TO STICK WITH WHAT IS PROBABLE!!

COLLEGE: WHAT IF I GO TO A COLLEGE I DISLIKE? WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

ACTUALLY YOU HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS! MANY COLLEGES LOOSE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR FRESHMAN CLASS. I KNOW AT SOME SCHOOLS THIS CAN BE AS HIGH AS 20%. THIS IS DUE TO MANY REASONS SUCH AS PARTYING, DRINKING, PARTYING, SKIPPING CLASS, PARTYING, AND MORE PARTYING. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? IT MEANS THAT EVEN AT SOME OF THE BEST SCHOOLS IN THE NATION THEY MAY HAVE MANY OPENING IN THEIR SOPHOMORE CLASSES. IT CAN BE MUCH EASIER TO TRANSFER INTO THESE SCHOOLS THAN IT WAS TO ORIGINALLY GET IN. WHATEVER SCHOOL YOU ATTEND, TRY AND KEEP YOUR GRADES AS HIGH AS YOU CAN SO THAT IF YOU DO WANT TO TRANSFER YOU WILL HAVE THE GRADES TO DO IT. THERE IS NOTHING EMBARRASSING ABOUT TRANSFERRING; STUDENTS DO IT ALL THE TIME. THIS IS ACTUALLY A WELL KNOWN WAY FOR A STUDENT TO GET INTO AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL IF THEY WERE ORIGINALLY TURNED DOWN!

TESTING: WHEN SHOULD A STUDENT BE DONE WITH ACT OR SAT TESTING?

AS WAS SAID IN ANOTHER POST, ITS PROBABLY BEST TO BE DONE WITH ALL YOUR ACT OR SAT TESTING BY JANUARY OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL. THIS DOES ALSO DEPEND UPON THE COLLEGES YOU ARE APPLYING TO. REMEMBER, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TURNED IN YOUR APPLICATION YOU CAN STILL SEND IN SCORES FROM ACT AND SAT TESTS ELECTRONICALLY VIA THE ACT OR THE SAT. THEY WILL SEND THEM FOR YOU. SO AGAIN CHECK WITH THE COLLEGES YOU ARE MOST INTERESTED IN. CHECK SPECIFICALLY THEIR DEADLINES FOR ADMISSIONS DECISIONS.

TEST PREPARATION: IS CRAMMING GOOD FOR SAT OR ACT?

CRAMMING IS BAD!! I DO NOT LIKE TO CRAM IN TUTORING UNLESS WE MUST. IT IS TRULY BEST TO START YOUR SAT OR ACT TUTORING AS SOON AS IS POSSIBLE! I WOULD RECOMMEND STARTING EARLY JUNIOR YEAR OR THE SUMMER BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR. YES THAT IS RIGHT; I SAID THE SUMMER BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR. STUDENTS ARE STARTING EARLIER AND EARLIER EACH YEAR. YOU SHOULD AT LEAST TAKE ONE SAT OR ACT JUNIOR YEAR AFTER CHRISTMAS TO SEE HOW YOU DO. DO NOT TAKE THESE TOO SOON. REMEMBER, THESE TESTS ARE DESIGNED FOR SENIORS AND SENIORS HAVE USUALLY COMPLETED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COURSES BEFORE THEY TAKE THESE TESTS. I HAVE HAD CLIENTS WHO DESPERATELY TRIED (FOR WHATEVER REASON I DO NOT KNOW) TO GET ALL THE STUDENT'S TESTING DONE BY THE END OF JUNIOR YEAR. THAT IS GREAT IF IT CAN BE DONE SUCCESSFULLY, BUT SINCE THESE TESTS ARE TRULY DESIGNED FOR SENIORS IF YOU WAIT A LITTLE LONGER YOU WILL FIND STUDENT'S SCORES WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE HIGHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE MORE COURSE WORK. SOME SCHOOLS DO NOT EVEN ADDRESS SOME OF THE MATH TOPICS ON THESE TESTS UNTIL SENIOR YEAR!!! SO THERE IS NO RUSH. YOUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO ENABLE THE STUDENT TO DO THE BEST POSSIBLE. SOME STUDENTS WILL DO BETTER THE OLDER THEY ARE WHEN THEY TAKE THE TEST. OF COURSE, YOU REALLY SHOULD BE DONE WITH ALL TESTING AROUND DECEMBER OR JANUARY OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR.

TUTORING: WHAT IS A HOMEWORK TUTOR?

WOW THIS IS A GOOD TOPIC. IN THE LAST 20 OR SO YEARS, I HAVE SEEN AN OUTGROWTH OF WHAT IS CALLED A "HOMEWORK TUTOR". BEWARE HERE. A HOMEWORK TUTOR CAN MEAN ANYONE WHO JUST WILL SIT DOWN WITH A STUDENT AND SIT THERE WHILE THEY DO THEIR HOMEWORK. THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE HOMEWORK. YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL HERE AND EXPLICIT IN YOUR NEEDS. IF THE STUDENT NEEDS ONLY HELP IN BEING ORGANIZED AND GETTING ACTUAL ASSIGNMENTS DONE (AND THEY NEED NO HELP ON THE ACTUAL MATERIAL ITSELF) THEN A HOMEWORK TUTOR IS FINE. SOME HOMEWORK TUTORS MAY KNOW THE MATERIAL BUT BE SURE YOU ASK THEM. IT IS A RARE CASE THAT A STUDENT HAS NO TROUBLE WITH THE ACTUAL MATERIAL ITSELF IN A CLASS SUCH AS PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, MATH, ETC. IF YOUR GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY ANYWAY, I WOULD MAKE SURE YOU GET A TUTOR WHO NOT ONLY KNOWS THE MATERIAL BUT CAN TEACH THE STUDENT PROPER STUDY SKILLS IN THE MATERIAL SO THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER NEED A TUTOR IN THE FUTURE HOPEFULLY. YES SOMETIMES HOMEWORK TUTORS ARE MUCH CHEAPER THAN REGULAR TUTORS, BUT THIS IS USUALLY FOR A REASON. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. CHECK OUT THEIR CREDENTIALS.

HOW DOES ONE STUDY FOR THE ACT AND SAT I IF I CANNOT AFFORD TUTORING?

GREAT QUESTION. I WOULD ADVISE ANY STUDENT WHO CANNOT AFFORD TUTORING TO DO THE FOLLOWING (THE BOOKS I RECOMMEND BELOW CAN ALSO BE SEEN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS BLOG):

IF YOUR TAKING SAT I: GO AND BUY THE COLLEGE BOARD'S BOOK CALLED "THE OFFICIAL SAT STUDY GUIDE"ISBN 0-87447-718-2 AND WORK AS MANY TESTS AS YOU CAN FROM THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK HAS ANSWERS TO EACH QUESTION, BUT THEY ARE NOT EXPLAINED. BUT THIS BOOK IS THE ONLY BOOK ON THE MARKET THAT HAS ACTUAL PAST TEST MATERIAL FROM REAL SAT I TESTS. THE SECOND BEST BOOK TO THIS BOOK WOULD BE ANY BOOK FROM THE PRINCETON REVIEW, ESPECIALLY "CRACKING THE SAT I 2007" BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW (ISBN 978-0375765452). IN MY OPINION THE PRINCETON REVIEW VERY ACCURATELY MODELS WHAT APPEARS ON THE REAL SAT I. KAPLAN MATERIALS ARE ALSO GOOD. WARNING: THERE ARE SOME TERRIBLE BOOKS OUT THERE ON THE MARKET THAT DO NOT AT ALL MODEL WELL WHAT APPEARS ON THE REAL TESTS. YOU WILL BE VERY SORRY IF YOU DEVIATE FROM THE BOOKS LISTED HERE. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEND HOURS STUDYING MATERIAL THAT IS NOT EVEN ON THE SAT I?

FOR THE ACT GET THE BOOK CALLED "The Real ACT Prep Guide" (ISBN 978-0768919752). IT IS PUBLISHED BY PETERSON'S BUT IT IS THE ONLY BOOK ON THE MARKET THAT HAS ACTUAL REAL ACT MATERIAL IN IT. THIS BOOK HAS BOTH ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AND IN DETAIL EXPLANATIONS OF THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. EXCELLENT TOP NOTCH BOOK. SECOND TO THIS, I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYTHING BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW SUCH AS "CRACKING THE ACT" ETC. KAPLAN AGAIN IS ALSO GOOD.

YOU SHOULD WORK THE TESTS IN THESE BOOKS IN A QUIET, TIMED ENVIRONMENT USING THE ACTUAL ANSWER SHEETS PROVIDED. DO NOT LOOK AT THE ANSWERS UNTIL THE END OF THE TEST. GO OVER EACH ONE YOU MISSED. TAKE NOTES AND WRITE DOWN ANY VOCABULARY WORDS THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW, MATH FORMULAS, ETC. THIS WILL HELP YOU A GREAT DEAL.

LD STUDENTS: WHAT ARE SOME COLLEGES WITH GOOD LD PROGRAMS?

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I KNOW THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER (WWW.DU.EDU) AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA (WWW.SALT.ARIZONA.EDU) HAVE VERY GOOD LD PROGRAMS. SEVERAL OF MY PAST STUDENTS HAVE ATTENDED THESE SCHOOLS AND LOVED THEM. THE WEBSITE I POSTED FOR UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA IS A SPECIAL WEBSITE JUST FOR LD STUDENTS. THE SALT PROGRAM IS THE PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA WHICH IS SOLELY FOR LEARNING DIFFERENCED STUDENTS. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION ACCORDING TO MANY SOURCES.

THERE ARE MANY SPECIALIZED BOOKS ON COLLEGES FOR LEARNING DIFFERENCED STUDENTS AND MANY WEBSITES. ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BOOKS WHICH I HAVE RIGHT HERE IN MY HAND IS CALLED, "THE K&W GUIDE TO COLLEGES FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES OR ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER". THIS BOOK IS PUBLISHED BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW AND ITS ISBN IS 0-375-76495-X. I FIND IT TO BE INCREDIBLY CHOCK FULL OF EXCELLENT INFORMATION. I WILL BE ADDING MORE AND MORE TO THIS TOPIC AS I MOVE FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS BLOG.

THIS LINK BELOW IS TO A GOOD WEBSITE I HAVE USED MANY TIMES. IT LISTS COLLEGES WITH LD PROGRAMS:

http://www.college-scholarships.com/learning_disabilities.htm

EXTENDED TIME ON THE ACT AND SAT I: DO COLLEGES HOLD THAT AGAINST STUDENTS?

THIS IS A VERY COMMON QUESTION. I HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME. IT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. THE ANSWER IS 99% OF THE TIME "NO". THE ACT AND THE SAT I DO NOT EXACTLY TELL THE COLLEGES WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS YOU GOT ON THE ACTUAL TEST. THEY USUALLY JUST PLACE A SYMBOL NEXT TO YOUR NAME THAT MEANS THAT YOU RECEIVED SOME TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION. IT COULD BE EXTENDED TIME, IT COULD BE THAT YOU BROKE YOUR LEG AND NEEDED SOMEONE TO HELP YOU WRITE, ETC. THE SAT I USED TO PLACE A "#" SYMBOL BY THE STUDENT'S NAME WHICH INDICATED THEY GOT SOME TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION(S). SO THERE IS NO WAY THE COLLEGE ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATIONS THAT YOU GOT; THEY ONLY KNOW THAT YOU GOT AN ACCOMMODATION. SINCE MOST ALL COLLEGES GET SOME TYPE OF FEDERAL AID MONEY TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR LEARNING DISABILITIES PROGRAMS (LD PROGRAMS), NO COLLEGE WOULD BE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO RISK FORFEITING THAT MONEY. THEY ARE JUST NOT GOING TO DO IT. MANY PERSONS IN THIS INDUSTRY HAVE VOICED THEIR SUSPICION THAT SOME IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS MIGHT HOLD SOME TYPE OF LD ACCOMODATION OR LD IN GENERAL AGAINST A STUDENT. I DO NOT HAVE ANY VALID INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THAT CLAIM. I HAVE ONLY HEARD IT MYSELF. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS IF YOU NEED EXTRA TIME ON THE ACT OR SAT I TO SHOW YOUR TRUE ABILITIES GO FOR IT. YOU DESERVE IT.

LD STUDENTS: WE HEAR THE ACT IS MUCH HARDER TO GET EXTENDED TIME?

YES ABSOLUTELY. THE ACT APPEARS TO BE STRICTER OF LATE IN WHO THEY GRANT EXTRA TIME TO. THIS IS WHY IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET A TESTER WHO IS WELL VERSED IN THE ACT AND SAT EXTENDED TIME ACCOMODATION PHENOMENON, ETC. I HAVE HAD CLIENTS GET GRANTED EXTENDED TIME ON THE SAT ONLY TO BE TURNED DOWN ON THE ACT! THE ACT IS USUALLY THE BETTER TEST FOR LD STUDENTS, BUT NOT ALWAYS. I WOULD ALWAYS REAPPLY!! DO IT SEVERAL TIMES. DO NOT GIVE UP. GO AFTER THEM. CALL THEM. FIND OUT WHY YOU WERE TURNED DOWN. CALL YOUR TESTER. DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO GET THAT ACCOMODATION OF EXTRA TIME. THAT IS LIFE OR DEATH FOR SOME STUDENT'S SCORES. KEEP BOTHERING THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS SERIOUS TO YOU, AND THAT YOU FEEL THAT BY DENYING YOUR CHILD EXTRA TIME THEY ARE DENYING YOUR CHILD ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION (WHICH IN A WAY THEY ARE).

KEEP IN MIND THOUGH THAT BOTH THE ACT AND THE SAT REQUIRE LOTS OF DOCUMENTATION. THERE ARE DEADLINES THAT MUST BE MET, ETC. FOLLOW EVERYTHING TO THE LETTER THAT THEY REQUIRE. FURTHERMORE, THE MORE DETAILED, EXTENSIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL THAT THE REPORT IS FROM YOUR DIAGNOSTICIAN THE MORE LIKELY YOU WILL BE GETTING ACCOMODATIONS. I HAVE SEEN AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY IN THE LENGTH, EFFORT, PROFESSIONALITY, ETC. OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. FIND OUT WHO IN YOUR AREA IS THE BEST. USUALLY A LONG WAITING LIST INDICATES THAT SOMEONE IS PRETTY GOOD!! I KNOW THAT SEEMS STUPID, BUT IT USUALLY IS TRUE. CHECK WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND THE COLLEGE COUNSELOR AT YOUR SCHOOL.

LD (LEARNING DIFFERENCES): HOW EARLY CAN A STUDENT BE TESTED?

AS EARLY AS YOU WANT! NOTE THAT MOST EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC REPORTS HAVE A LIMITED RANGE OF TIME THEY ARE CONSIDERED VALID. THIS IS USUALLY 2 TO 4 YEARS. YOU CAN GET AN UPDATE FROM THE ORIGINAL TESTER FOR LESS MONEY THAN A FULL RETESTING. AGAIN IF YOUR CHILD IS DEMONSTRATTING ANY DIFFICULTIES IN SCHOOL, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET THEM TESTED BEFORE DOING ANY TUTORING!! BOTH THE ACT AND THE SAT PUT A TIME LIMIT ON THE VALIDITY EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC REPORTS.

LD (LEARNING DIFFERENCES): WHAT ARE ACCOMODATIONS?

ACCOMODATIONS ARE CERTAIN ADVANTAGES OR RULE CHANGES THAT ARE GRANTED LEARNING DISABLED STUDENTS (THE TERM MOST COMMONLY USED FOR ANY STUDENT WHO IS LEARNING DISABLED IS CALLED LD OR LEARNING DIFFERENCED) IN ORDER TO HELP THEM PERFORM AT THEIR TRUE LEVEL OF ABILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR SOME LD STUDENTS YOU CAN BE ALLOWED AT YOUR SCHOOL TO HAVE LONGER TESTING THAN OTHER STUDENTS. YOU MIGHT BE GIVEN 150% TIME ON YOUR TESTS MEANING YOU GET AN EXTRA 3O MINUTES ON AN HOUR LONG TEST. YOU MIGHT EVEN BE GIVEN A READER ON SOME TESTS - A TEACHER WHO READS THE MATERIAL FOR YOU SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON THE QUESTIONS. YOU MIGHT EVEN BE ALLOWED THE USE OF A NOTE TAKER - SOMEONE WHO CAN TAKE NOTES FOR YOU SO THAT YOU CAN FOCUS ONLY ON LISTENING TO THE MATERIAL. YOU MIGHT BE ALLOWED THE USE OF A TAPE RECORDER, ETC. YOU MIGHT BE ALLOWED THE USE OF A PRIVATE ROOM TO TAKE YOUR TESTS IN, ETC. THE LIST IS LONG. WHEN YOU GET TESTED, THE EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC REPORT USUALLY WILL CONTAIN A LIST OF SUGGESTED ACCOMODATIONS. NOTE THE WORD SUGGESTED. SUGGESTED ACCOMODATIONS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOUR PARTICULAR HIGH SCHOOL MAY HAVE THOSE PARTICULAR ACCOMODATIONS AVAILABLE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN LARGER US CITIES SEEM TO HAVE BETTER LD PROGRAMS THAN MOST. LD SAVY PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE ALSO VERY GOOD AT PROVIDING ACCOMODATIONS. CHECK WITH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL OR GRADE SCHOOL.

LD (LEARNING DIFFERENCE) STUDENTS: DO YOU PUT THIS ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS?

FOR THE MOST PART, MOST COLLEGES GET FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES PROGRAMS. IF THERE IS EVER ANY BIAS FOUND IN THEIR ADMISSIONS AGAINST LD STUDENTS, THE COLLEGE WOULD BE IN GRAVE DANGER OF LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FEDERAL AID MONEY. NO ONE WOULD BE SO FOOLISH AS TO RISK LOOSING SUCH LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST SAID SCHOOL. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE STUDENT OF TODAY? IT MEANS THAT IF YOU ARE INDEED LEARNING DIFFERENCED, GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT CLEAR ON YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATION. YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO TREMENDOUS BENEFITS AND PROGRAMS AT THAT COLLEGE IF YOU GET IN. MOST COLLEGES DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LD STUDENTS. I WOULD SAY, HOWEVER, THAT EXTREMELY HIGHLY SELECTIVE SCHOOLS SUCH AS IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS COULD POSSIBLY USE THAT AGAINST YOU. I HAVE HEARD THAT MANY TIMES, BUT I HAVE NO VALID CONCRETE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THAT CLAIM. AGAIN, I WOULD CHECK WITH THE SCHOOLS THAT YOU ARE MOST INTERESTED IN GOING TO. DO THEY HAVE AN LD PROGRAM? IF SO, WHAT ACCOMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE? BEING AN LD STUDENT IS NO LONGER THE STIGMA THAT IT UNFORTUNATELY WAS 15 OR MORE YEARS AGO. ITS JUST NOT. THANK GOODNESS! ITS ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST AS A STUDENT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE COLLEGES THAT YOU WANT TO GO TO AND ASK THEM QUESTIONS!!!! SO IMPORTANT. GET ON A NAME BASIS WITH SOMEONE IN THE ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT. YOU WILL NOT REGRET THIS. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE OF AN LD NATURE, IT WOULD BE BEST TO APPLY TO A GOOD COLLEGE THAT OFFERS A GOOD SOLID LD PROGRAM. THIS WOULD BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST! REMEMBER, FUTURE EMPLOYERS ARE MAINLY GOING TO LOOK AT YOUR GRADES IN COLLEGE SO ANYTHING YOU CAN USE TO HELP BOOST YOUR GRADES IS ESSENTIALLY VERY BENEFICIAL.

LD STUDENTS: HOW DO YOU GET EXTENDED TIME TESTING ON THE ACT AND OR SAT I?

THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED QUESTION. NOTE THIS DIFFERS FROM STATE TO STATE. I AM ONLY GOING TO ADDRESS THE MOST BASIC PRECEPTS HERE.

FIRST, YOU MUST GET A LICENCED EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN TO ADMINISTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THIS USUALLY TAKES ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PERSON WILL WRITE A REPORT AND DISCUSS THEIR FINDINGS. A PSYCHOLOGIST AND SOME PSYCHIATRISTS CAN DO THIS ALSO. IF THE TESTING HAS ANY LD ISSUES FOUND, THEN ONE WOULD MOVE TO ENROLL THEIR STUDENT IN ANY LD PROGRAMS THE HIGH SCHOOL OFFERS. SOME PARENTS ARE AFRAID TO DO THIS AS IT MIGHT "LABEL" THEIR CHILD. IF YOU DO NOT ENROLL YOUR CHILD IN AN LD PROGRAM AT HIS OR HER SCHOOL, LATER ON YOU WILL HAVE A MUCH TOUGHER TIME OF GETTING EITHER THE ACT OR SAT TO APPROVE ANY ACCOMMODATIONS SUCH AS EXTENDED TIME.

SECONDLY, YOU WILL NEED TO SUBMIT THIS REPORT TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR WHO WILL FILL OUT OTHER FORMS AND SUBMIT THESE TO THE ACT OR SAT I. IN ABOUT ONE TO TWO MONTHS, THE ACT AND OR SAT WILL SEND YOU AN APPROVAL FOR ACCOMMODATIONS OR A DENIAL. IF YOU GET DENIED, PLEASE RE APPLY! BOTHER THEM!!! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. DO NOT GIVE UP. THE EARLIER YOU GET THIS TESTING DONE THE BETTER. THERE ARE CERTAIN TIME LIMITATIONS ON THESE REPORTS. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME REPORTS MIGHT BE VALID ONLY 2 YEARS FROM THE REPORT DATE. IF YOU ARE PAST THE GOOD DATE, YOU WILL NEED TO PAY FOR AN UPDATE TO THE INITIAL LD REPORT.

THE ABOVE IS GROSSLY OVER SIMPLIFIED. BUT HERE ARE THE BASICS BELOW. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOUR CHILD IS HAVING MORE THAN NORMAL DIFFICULTY IN TAKING TESTS, DOING HOMEWORK, READING, FINISHING SCHOOL TASKS IN A TIMELY MANNER, ETC. THEN GET THEM TESTED BY AN EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN. YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COUSELOR SHOULD HAVE THE NAMES OF MANY GOOD DIAGNOSTICIANS. BEWARE THOUGH, MUCH PREJUDICE STILL EXISTS IN THIS AREA!! SOME PEOPLE DO NOT IN THE LEAST BELIEVE IN SUCH THINGS AS ADD, LD, ETC. TOO BAD. LEARNING DIFFERENCES ARE A PROVEN GROUP OF DISABILITIES THAT ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AFTER GETTING YOUR CHIILD TESTED, READ THE REPORT CAREFULLY. YOU MAY WANT TO GO OVER IT IN DETAIL WITH THE TESTER. THEN TAKE THE REPORT TO YOUR CHILD'S HIGH SCHOOL AND FIND OUT WHAT PROGRAMS THEY OFFER, IF ANY, THAT WOULD HELP IN THE REMEDIATION OF THESE ISSUES (IF ANYTHING IS FOUND). MAKE SURE YOU TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF ANY PROGRAMS THE SCHOOL OFFERS! THIS WILL ENSURE LATER ON THAT YOU ARE GRANTED ANY ACCOMODATIONS BY THE ACT AND OR THE SAT.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, LD ISSUES ARE REAL. IF YOU HAVE AN LD CHILD AND YOU DO NOT GET THEM EXTENDED TIME ON THE ACT OR SAT, IT WILL MAKE TUTORING MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. YOU WILL BE REALLY HURTING YOUR CHILD'S ABILITY TO GET INTO COLLEGE.

LEARNING DIFFERENCE STUDENTS (LD STUDENTS): GROUP TUTORING?

GENERALLY SPEAKING IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT LD STUDENTS DO NOT AT ALL PERFORM WELL IN ANY GROUP TUTORING SETTING. I WOULD SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY AND GET MY LD CHILD PRIVATE TUTORING. I GET CALLS EACH WEEK FROM STUDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY SPENT THE TIME AND MONEY TAKING A GROUP COURSE WHO DID NOT IMPROVE AT ALL. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT A MAJORITY OF THESE CALLS ARE FROM LD STUDENTS.

LD STUDENTS GENERALLY REQUIRE MORE TUTORING THAN NON LD STUDENTS. THEY ALSO REQUIRE CERTAIN CONDITIONS BE MET DURING THE TUTORING THAT SEEM TO HELP EFFECT A MORE BENEFICIAL OUTCOME. THEY NEED WHAT I CALL STRUCTURED TUTORING WHICH MEANS MANY THINGS BUT MAINLY MEANS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO MEMORIZE CLEARLY WRITTEN DOWN FOR THEM STEP BY STEP. THEY ALSO NEED ANY AND STRATEGIES TO BE CLEARLY EXPLAINED IN WRITING SO THAT THEY CAN REVIEW THESE AT ANY TIME. I MYSELF MAKE A SPECIAL BINDER WITH PROPRIETARY FORMS IN IT THAT I ONLY USE FOR SAT AND OR ACT TUTORING. THESE FORMS ARE A STRUCTURED WAY OF RECORDING ALL THE INFORMATION THAT A STUDENT NEEDS TO LEARN FOR THE TEST TUTORING. GOOD TEST TUTORING IS NOT ONLY MEMORIZING FACTS, BUT IS ALSO A PROCESS OF LEARNING WHICH STRATEGIES WORK BEST FOR WHICH STUDENTS. I TREAT EVERY STUDENT INDIVIDUALLY TO SEE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR THEM. A STRATEGY THAT WORKS FOR ONE STUDENT MAY NOT WORK WELL FOR ANOTHER. GOOD TEST TUTORING IS PRACTICING OLD PAST REAL TESTS, MEMORIZING ANY INFORMATION THE STUDENT NEEDS TO KNOW, AND LEARNING ANY NEW STRATEGIES THAT HELP THE STUDENT AND IMPLEMENTING THESE STRATEGIES.

GOOD SCORE VS. BAD SCORE - GET RID OF THIS IDEA - WHAT IS THE NEEDED SCORE?

DO NOT AT ALL PAY ATTENTION IN ANY WAY TO WHAT SOMEONE TELLS YOU IS A "GOOD SCORE"! LETS TURN OUR ATTENTION TOWARDS WHAT I CALL YOUR NEEDED SCORE.

WHAT SCORE DO YOU NEED TO GET TO THE SCHOOL YOU WANT TO GOTO? THAT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT!!!! LOOK UP THE SCORES YOU NEED TO GET (KEEPING IN MIND YOUR GRADES, EXTRA CURRICULARS, ETC.) AND FORGET ABOUT "GOOD" OR "BAD" SCORES. THERE REALLY IS NO SUCH THING. ITS JUST THE SCORE YOU NEED TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MENTAL ENERGY ENGAGING IN SUCH ARGUMENTS. IT'S A WASTE OF TIME. A GOOD ROAD MAP TO USE IS THE 50TH PERCENTILE SCORE THAT IS PUBLISHED BY MOST COLLEGES. SEE MY OTHER POSTS ON THAT.

ACT AND SAT I - WHAT THE HECK IS A TEST SECTION?

UNFORTUNATELY BOTH THE ACT AND THE SAT I EMPLOY USING "TEST SECTIONS" ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR TEST ADMINISTRATIONS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THERE IS A PART OF THE TEST THAT IS NOT GRADED AT ALL. THE TEST MAKERS ARE USING IT TO EVALUATE FUTURE QUESTIONS AND TESTS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF TELLING WHICH SECTION OR QUESTIONS ARE THE TEST SECTION (MAINLY THAT IS TRUE OF THE SAT I). I WOULD NOT EVEN WORRY ABOUT IT AT ALL. JUST DO YOUR BEST. I HAVE HAD THE UNFORTUNATE STUDENT WHO IN THE PAST, DUE TO LISTENING TO INCORRECT INFORMATION, THOUGHT THAT THEY KNEW SOME MAGICAL WAY OF KNOWING THE TEST SECTION. ONE STUDENT COMPLETELY SKIPPED THE SECTION HE THOUGHT WAS THE TEST SECTION!!! STUPID!!! OF COURSE, HE LOST ALMOST 200 POINTS FOR SKIPPING THAT SECTION SO HE HAD TO RETAKE THE SAT I.

MORAL OF THE STORY - DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT A TEST SECTION. IGNORE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT IT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF KNOWING FOR SURE WHAT OR WHERE IT IS SO JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. DO YOUR BEST ON EVERY SINGLE QUESTION. ITS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD EVEN OCCUPY YOUR THOUGHTS - ITS AN EASY WAY TO GET DERAILED AND FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON SOMETHING IRRELEVANT AND WASTE ENERGY. NO MATTER WHAT ANY STUDENT, PERSON, TEACHER, ETC. TELLS YOU THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT THE TEST SECTION IS SO YOU CANNOT TURN THIS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. FORGET ABOUT IT! THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING. THEY SHOULD NOT EVEN TELL US ABOUT THE TEST SECTION. THIS CAUSES TERRIBLE STRIFE AND WASTE OF TIME.

ACT - HOW IS THE ACT SCORED?

THE ACT IS SCORED ON A SCALE FROM 1 TO 36. 36 BEING THE HIGHEST AND 1 BEING THE LOWEST. THE ACT HAS 4 SECTIONS ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, READING, AND SCIENCE IN THAT ORDER. THE NEWER ACT OFFERS A FIFTH SECTION WHICH IS AN ESSAY. THE ESSAY SCORE IS THEN INTEGRATED INTO YOUR ENGLISH SCORE FOR A COMBINED WRITING SCORE. EACH SUBSECTION OF THE ACT IS SCORED OUT OF 36 ALSO.

THE ACT POST A COMPOSITE SCORE (OUT OF 36) WHICH IS ONLY THE AVERAGE (MEAN) OF THE 4 SECTIONS SCORES. IN OTHER WORDS, EACH SECTION SCORE IS ADDED UP THEN THAT TOTAL IS DIVIDED BY 4. MOST COLLEGES WILL ACCEPT YOUR HIGHEST ACT COMPOSITE SCORE NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE TAKEN THE ACT. AS OF 2007, MANY COLLEGES ARE NOW SUPER SCORING THE ACT. THIS MEANS THEY WILL TAKE YOUR HIGHEST SECTION SCORE, NO MATTER WHAT DATE IT COMES FROM, AND COMBINE THAT WITH OTHER HIGHEST SECTION SCORES AND USE THAT TO COMPUTE YOUR SUPER SCORE. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY TAKE YOUR HIGHEST ENGLISH SCORE, YOUR HIGHEST MATH SCORE, YOUR HIGHEST READING SCORE, AND YOUR HIGHEST SCIENCE SCORE FROM ANY DATES AND ADD THOSE HIGHEST SCORES TOGETHER AND DIVIDE BY 4. THIS IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE OLD WAY OF JUST USING YOUR HIGHEST COMPOSITE SCORE!!!! MUCH BETTER. CHECK WITH YOUR PARTICULAR COLLEGE OF INTEREST TO SEE IF THEY ARE DOING THIS.

NOTE: SUPER SCORING IS RELATIVELY NEW. CHECK WITH YOUR COLLEGE OF INTEREST'S ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT. YOU MAY HAVE TO EMAIL AND OR CALL THEM. THIS IS SO NEW THAT MANY COLLEGE EMPLOYEES DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS.

ACT VS. SAT I SCORES - HOW DO THEY CORRELATE?

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THIS BUT BASICALLY HERE IS ROUGH SCALE. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES THAT YOU CAN GET THIS INFORMATION FROM. BOTH PRINCETON REVIEW AND STANLEY KAPLAN SITES AND BOOKS PUBLISH SIMILIAR INFORMATION.

ACT SCORE (COMPOSITE), EQUIVALENT SAT I SCORE (1600 SCALE ONLY - MATH + VERBAL)

36,1600
35,1560-1600
34,1510-1560
33,1460-1510

32,1410-1460
31,1350-1410
30,1320-1350
29,1280-1320
28,1240-1280
27,1210-1240
26,1170-1210
25,1130-1170

24,1090-1130
23,1060-1090
22,1020-1060

21,980-1020
20,940-980
19,900-940
18,860-900
17,810-860
16,760-810
15,710-760
14,660-710
13,590-660
12,520-590
11,500-520

OVER THE YEARS I HAVE NOTICED THAT A VERY GOOD "MAGICAL" NUMBER SCORE FOR THE ACT SEEMS TO BE AROUND 22-25 AREA. IF YOU HAVE LD ISSUES, ANYTHING 22 OR OVER IS CONSIDERED A VERY RESPECTABLE SCORE. I RARELY HAVE HAD A STUDENT WITH AN ACT SCORE OF 24 OR OVER HAVE TROUBLE GETTING INTO SOME COLLEGES. BASICALLY A 21/22 IS EQUIVALENT TO BREAKING AN SAT I SCORE OF 1,000 WHICH MUST BE DONE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GETTING INTO SOME COLLEGES. A SCORE OF 23/24 PUTS YOU IN THE OVER 1100 SAT I SCORE AREA. SCORE OF 26 OR OVER IS APPROXIMATELY SAT I SCORE OF AROUND 1200 OR OVER.

AS WAS STATED IN ANOTHER QUESTION, THERE IS A RULE CALLED THE 10/11/12 RULE FOR SAT I SCORES THAT I CAME UP WITH. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT A STUDENT HAVING DECENT GRADES ( MAINLY A'S AND B'S WITH JUST A FEW C'S) DECENT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (AT LEAST ONE SPORT AND SEVERAL OTHER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ACADEMIC CLUBS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, ETC), AND WHO GOES TO A DECENT HIGH SCHOOL (ACCREDITED HIGH SCHOOL PREFERABLY PRIVATE) CAN WITH AN SAT I SCORE OF 10 HUNDRED (1,000) OR ABOVE GET INTO SOME COLLEGES. THIS STUDENT CAN GET INTO LOTS OF COLLEGES WITH A SCORE OF 11 HUNDRED (1100) OR BETTER, AND THIS STUDENT CAN GET INTO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COLLEGES WITH AN SAT I SCORE OF 12 HUNDRED (1200)OR BETTER. THIS IS A VERY GENERAL GUIDELINE BUT SHOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE YOU STAND. YOU CAN GET INTO COLLEGE WITH SAT I SCORES LESS THAN 1,000. ONLY THE MORE SELECTIVE COLLEGES ARE GOING TO REQUIRE AN SAT I SCORE OF 1200 OR ABOVE.