THE ADMISSIONS TESTING BLOG: STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Blog will ultimately contain thousands of commonly asked questions with answers regarding the College & Private School admissions process and the tests required. The ACT & SAT are covered, as is the GMAT & GRE for graduate school. The ISEE & SSAT are covered also (private school admissions). My entire intent is to provide this priceless information & insider "secrets" a parent would need to get their child into a superb, competitive College or Private School in the USA.

THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS POSTED HERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE RUN INTO IN THE PAST 30 SOME ODD YEARS OF RUNNING MY EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING/PROFESSIONAL TUTORING BUSINESS WHICH I OPENED IN 1981. MAINLY THE BLOG COVERS THE COLLEGE AND PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IT ALSO COVERS IN GREAT DETAIL THE MANY TESTS USED FOR ADMISSIONS TO COLLEGES AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE USA. THE ACT, PLAN, SAT, AND PSAT ARE THE TESTS MAINLY USED FOR ACCEPTANCE TO A 4 YEAR COLLEGE. THE GRE AND GMAT ARE TESTS USED TO GET INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL (AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED A 4 YEAR COLLEGE), AND THE ISEE AND SSAT ARE PRIMARILY TESTS USED TO GET INTO PRIVATE GRADE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE US. I AM ADDING NEW MATERIAL ALL THE TIME. I TRY TO EXPLAIN AS QUICKLY, SUCCINCTLY, AND AS EASILY AS I CAN THE ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS FACING PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GAINING ADMISSIONS TO A GOOD, SOLID COMPETITIVE COLLEGE OR PRIVATE SCHOOL. WE WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU EMAIL TO US (COOKTUTORING@AOL.COM), AND WE WILL POST THE QUESTION WITH ANSWERS.

SPECIFICALLY THE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS ARE DERIVED FROM MY DAILY CONSULTING EXPERIENCE SINCE 1981. THEY ARE THE TYPE OF QUESTIONS PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED TO KNOW. THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION CANNOT BE FOUND EASILY ANYWHERE ELSE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. IN OTHER WORDS, I AM TRYING TO GIVE YOU THE "SECRET INSIDER" INFORMATION - HINTS - STRATEGIES - TIPS, ETC. THAT COULD SERIOUSLY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN GETTING INTO THE COLLEGE OR PRIVATE SCHOOL OF YOUR CHOICE! THESE ARE QUESTIONS I GET ASKED ON A DAILY BASIS FROM MY ACTUAL CLIENTS.

THE BLOG ALSO HAS MANY EXCELLENT RESOURCES REGARDING COLLEGE AND PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS AND THE TESTING NEEDED. I HAVE LINKS, THE BEST BOOKS YOU CAN BUY ON THIS TOPIC, ETC. ANYTHING I SUGGEST ON THIS BLOG IS SOMETHING THAT I USE IN THE DAILY OPERATION OF MY EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING/TUTORING BUSINESS.

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SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE BLOG'S AUTHOR

I AM THE OWNER OF CHRISTOPHER C. COOK & ASSOCIATES IN DALLAS, TX. WE (MY MOTHER (SUE COOK) AND I ARE THE ONLY EMPLOYEES) HAVE BEEN IN CONTINUOUS, DAILY OPERATION SINCE 1981. WE TUTOR A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC SUBJECTS (ENGLISH, ALL MATH UP TO CALCULUS 3, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, SPANISH, LITERATURE, AND MUCH MORE) AND MANY ADMISSIONS TESTS. THE TESTS WE TUTOR INCLUDE THE ACT, PLAN, SAT 1, SAT 2 SUBJECT TESTS, PSAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, ISEE, SSAT, AND A FEW MORE. MY MOTHER IS A FORMER ENGLISH TEACHER AT HOCKADAY, URSULINE ACADEMY, HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL, AND BROOKHAVEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALL IN DALLAS. SHE HAS OVER 40 YEARS TEACHING AND TUTORING EXPERIENCE. SHE HAS A BA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS. I, CHRIS, AM A FORMER CIVIL/STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AND HAVE TAUGHT IN COLLEGE. I HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND APPLIED MECHANICS; I ALSO HAVE A MINOR IN SPANISH & SPEAK SPANISH FLUENTLY. I HAVE OVER 30 YEARS DAILY EXPERIENCE IN TUTORING AND EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING. THAT IS 30 YEARS OF TEACHING AND TUTORING STUDENTS DAILY IN THE ACT, SAT, ETC. IF YOU LIVE IN THE DALLAS FORTH WORTH AREA IN TEXAS AND ARE INTERESTED IN HIRING US PLEASE EMAIL US AT COOKTUTORING@AOL.COM.

I ALSO OFFER WHAT I CALL "ACADEMIC RETRAINING". THAT IS WHERE I CAN TAKE A STUDENT AND TEACH THEM APPROPRIATE STUDY SKILLS AND TEST TAKING SKILLS AND APPLY THAT TO THEIR CURRENT ACADEMIC MATERIAL. I CAN EVENTUALLY ENABLE A STUDENT TO BE ABLE TO STUDY AND DO WELL ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT NEEDING CONSTANT TUTORING! I HAVE EXTREMELY GOOD RESULTS DOING THIS,AND I HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FROM PAST CLIENTS THAT I CAN SHOW YOU.

I HAVE INTIMATE, PERSONAL, WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE COLLEGE AND PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESSES AND THE TESTS USED THEREIN. I AM ABLE TO VIEW THESE ISSUES FROM A UNIQUE VIEWPOINT - MY DAILY EXPERIENCE OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS!

SMU: SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

SMU: SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY (SMU) DALLAS, TX (MY ALMA MATER)!

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BUSINESS CARD FOR CHRISTOPHER C. COOK, OWNER

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

I JUST TOOK MY FIRST SAT I/ACT AND DID NOT DO AS WELL AS I EXPECTED....

I JUST TOOK MY FIRST SAT I/ACT AND DID NOT DO AS WELL AS I EXPECTED....
LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO WHAT I AM SAYING HERE. THE NEW SAT I (AS OF MARCH 2005) IS VERY LONG COMPARED TO THE OLD ONE. HOW LONG? ALMOST 4 HRS OR SO (IF YOU FACTOR IN BREAKS AND GETTING TO THE TEST SITE 30 MINUTES EARLY YOU MIGHT BE THERE OVER 5 HOURS!!). DO NOT EXPECT YOUR CHILDREN OR YOURSELF TO DO PERFECT ON YOUR VERY FIRST TEST. IT IS QUITE SHOCKING TO TAKE A TEST THAT LONG!!!! IF YOU DO WELL ON YOUR VERY FIRST SAT I, FINE. BUT MOST STUDENTS REPORT NOT DOING WELL ON THEIR VERY FIRST SAT I. WHAT I MEAN IS THEY REPORT GENERALLY DOING MUCH BETTER ON THEIR SECOND OR THIRD SAT'S.
SOMETIMES THINGS DO NOT WORK OUT AS WELL AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED. I HEAR THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT OFTEN. JUST TAKE THE TEST AGAIN. NO HARM DONE. IT IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. DON'T WASTE TIME OR ENERGY WORRYING ABOUT IT!!!!!!
LOOK FOLKS, LETS BE RATIONAL. WHENEVER YOU TRY SOMETHING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IT IS GOING TO BE A NEW EXPERIENCE. YOU MAY NOT DO AS WELL AS YOU LIKE. THANK GOD YOU CAN TAKE THE SAT I OR ACT AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT WITH NO HARM. SOME STUDENTS DO GREAT ON THEIR FIRST TEST. SOME DON'T. I HAVE HAD STUDENTS DO NOT SO HOT ON THEIR FIRST TEST ONLY TO TURN AROUND AND GET A 300 POINT IMPROVEMENT ON THEIR SECOND SAT I WITH LITTLE OR NO MORE TUTORING!! SO RELAX. IT IS NO BIG DEAL IF YOU DON'T DO SO WELL ON YOUR VERY FIRST SAT I OR ACT. JUST TAKE IT AGAIN. BOTH TESTING SERVICES OFFER WAYS OF SEEING WHICH QUESTIONS YOU GOT RIGHT OR WRONG. SOMETIMES YOU CAN EVEN GET THE ENTIRE TEST BACK! ORDER THOSE SERVICES SO YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES.
ALSO AS I HAVE SAID IN OTHER SECTIONS OF THIS BLOG, SOME TEST DATES SEEM TO BE HARDER THAN OTHERS! ITS JUST THE WAY IT IS. NO BIG DEAL. JUST TAKE THE THING AGAIN. I KNOW YOU MAY NOT WANT TO, BUT THAT IS THE WAY THINGS ARE. BE GRATEFUL THAT YOU CAN AT LEAST TAKE THE TEST MORE THAN ONCE - THAT USED TO NOT BE THE CASE!!!
FURTHERMORE, THE SAT I IS DESIGNED TO BE A SENIOR LEVEL TEST. SO, IF YOU ARE TAKING IT ANYTIME YOUR JUNIOR YEAR THAT IS CONSIDERED EARLY. ACROSS THE BOARD, I SEE PARENTS, ESPECIALLY PARENTS, WHO UNDERESTIMATE JUST HOW HARD THIS TEST IS. IT IS DANG HARD!!! BE POSITIVE TO YOUR KIDS PLEASE! ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE THE TEST AGAIN AND DO BETTER. MOST ALL OF MY TUTORING STUDENTS DO BETTER ON THEIR SECOND ATTEMPT, IF THEY NEED A SECOND ATTEMPT. BE ALSO POSITIVE TO ANY TUTORS YOU ARE WORKING WITH. THEY ARE HUMAN ALSO AND NEED ENCOURAGEMENT. BEING NEGATIVE DOES NO ONE ANY GOOD WHATSOEVER, ESPECIALLY YOUR CHILDREN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE I WORK WITH ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO TAKE THE SAT I OR ACT TOO EARLY. THEY THINK THERE IS SOME ADVANTAGE TO DOING THAT. THEIR IS A RIGHT TIME TO TAKE THESE TESTS. THE ONLY REASON YOU TAKE A TEST YOUR JUNIOR YEAR IS TO SEE HOW YOU ARE DOING. IF YOU DO WELL, YOU ARE DONE. IF YOU DO NOT DO WELL, JUST TAKE IT AGAIN. YOU HAVE ALL THE WAY TO SENIOR YEAR PAST CHRISTMAS TO KEEP TAKING TESTS. I AM SORRY THESE TESTS ARE SO HARD AND SUCH A PAIN, BUT I DID NOT MAKE IT THAT WAY. IT IS JUST REALITY.
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University of Texas at Arlington - New Engineering School

University of Texas at Arlington - New Engineering School
I received my Master's Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering & Applied Mechanics from the University of Texas at Arlington (& also was a course Instructor)