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Sept 7 : Registration deadline for Oct SAT
Sept 8 : ACT (ACTStudent.org) Sept 21 : Registration deadline for Oct ACT Sept 21 : Late registration deadline for Oct SAT Oct 5 : Late registration deadline for Oct ACT Oct 6 : SAT (CollegeBoard.com) Oct 7 : Start Preparing for December SAT with Lee Academia
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Senior year is a busy and extremely important time in the college admissions process. This is your last chance to get the SAT and ACT scores you need. And senior year is when you have to narrow down your college options to the handful of schools to which you’ll apply. You’ll need to get your college essay polished and ready to shine, line up your letters of recommendation, and apply for scholarships and financial aid. During the application process, you'll need to keep active in extracurricular activities and maintain high grades.
August before Senior Year
September
Based on the 2011 data, the top 10 colleges that had sent out the greatest percentage of rejection letters were:
10. Caltech (California Institute of Technology)
9. University of Pennsylvania
8. Dartmouth College
7. MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
6. Columbia University
5. Brown University
4. Princeton University
3. Yale University
2. Stanford University
1. Harvard University
Here you saw the 10 most selective colleges/universities in the U.S. These schools accept a lower percentage of applicants than any others. Also, consider these issues:
Remember that leaders are not created overnight but daily over time. As you begin to evolve as a leader you will affect other lives in a positive way. This will change you as a person and affect your academics in a positive manner. You will begin to realize success in your education as you change your character.
The greatest leaders of all time make mistakes. If you are not making mistakes along your journey then you will not be successful. There are 5 action steps to developing your leadership that you must do to develop this strategy of being successful student: 1. People are important. Build strong alliances with everyone. 2. Have Character. Encourage others to be leaders and do what they know is right. 3. Endeavor longer. Ask yourself how can I do better daily? 4. Be master at Communication. Perfect the art of public speaking and story telling. 5. Be decisive. Have the courage to make a decision. I can promise you that if you incorporate all of the activities within this article that you will master being successful student in a short amount of time. Now go implement them into your school lives. The big advantage to test prep is improved scores, but no method of preparation is magic. SAT/ACT prep methods work when students put in the time and effort. To find the method right for you, you need to understand the pros, cons, and costs of various test prep methods.
Benefits of Test Prep The ultimate objective of any SAT or ACT program is improved test scores, but in order to score better, students need more than a review of test content. Some students know all the content needed to earn a perfect score, yet they still struggle due to problems with pacing, test anxiety, test format, and lack of familiarity with question types and test structure. Any quality test prep method should address these areas:
Private Tutoring One-on-one or small group tutoring allows for personalized instruction and often the best results when it comes to score improvement. In an individual setting, students are most accountable for completing assignments and all the time is dedicated to making sure that student improves. The drawbacks to private tutoring are cost and quality. Cost is obvious; you are paying for the instructor’s time and experience. A complete test prep program delivered one-on-one can cost between $1,200 and $10,000. Quality can be an issue in private tutoring. Anyone with an SAT book can call himself or herself a tutor. You want an experienced instructor who specializes in SAT or ACT prep. Group Classes Group classes are one of the most popular methods of test prep, because they are more affordable than private tutoring. Students receive the same information, but in a group setting. For some, a group is better because they learn from the questions of others and feel less pressured than in a one-on-one setting. Group programs offer a more consistent quality of information, but there are still huge variations. The big name test prep companies have consistent materials, but college students trained on the workbook often teach those classes. You can get some good teachers. But you can also get the instructor with no classroom management skills or the one who spends half the class on break. Classes usually range in cost between $500 and $1400. While you may be able to find some bargains, ask around for recommendations because cheaper is not always better. Online Programs For those of us who grew up before email, internet, and smart phones, it can be difficult to imagine taking classes online. But online education is the way of the future and some universities offer entire degree programs online. Online test prep can take many forms. Some require students to “attend” class at specific times each week to watch the lessons live; others allow students to access lessons at any time. Online classes can offer all the same benefits of a traditional class with added flexibility. The drawback to online education is accountability. Some students need the structure of a traditional class. The cost of online programs varies considerably, often based on the quality and quantity of information. Some programs cost less than $100 while others are as much as $3000. Again, do your research and get recommendations. Self-Study Finally, the least expensive method to prepare for the SAT or ACT is to study on your own. Some students are dedicated enough to review without guidance and these diligent scholars can teach themselves for the cost of materials alone. Self-study works best for bright students who are already good test takers. They already know most of the test content and don’t have problems with nerves, so these students just need to study the format of the questions and exam to develop test-taking strategies. Keep in mind that the primary factor in score improvement is effort. The best tutor can’t help the student who refuses to study. But everyone learns differently, so you need to find the right balance of information, motivation, and accountability. If you begin early, you can experiment with different test prep methods until you find the one that works for you. Time To Update Your College Bound Resume
Colleges want to know how students spent their free time outside of school. Do they stay involved with activities or go home, sit on the couch, and watch TV? Involved students have spent time pursuing and developing their strengths and interests. They have experiences that will help them contribute to the college community. A list of activities, also known as a resume, shows colleges what students have done with their time. Take time to include all activities from last school year and account for summer activities. Remember that activities done the summer before 9th grade are considered part of a student’s 9th grade year and so on. What should I list? List everything! Colleges understand that students might change their interest over time or participate in an event only once. Go ahead and list the variety of things done every year of high school. Resumes typically can be broken down into the following sections: 1. Extracurricular Activities – sports, school clubs, youth group, Boy / Girl Scouts, recreational teams, band, music lessons, theater, church choir, newspaper, debate, etc. This includes school, church, community, and recreational activities. 2. Honors / Awards / Academic Achievements – dean’s list, honor roll, all area team, regional qualifier, most improved, top student in a subject, Eagle Scout, high honors, state finalist, first chair, blue ribbon, etc. List all awards, honors, and academic recognition. 3. Work Experience & Internships – Colleges recognize students can learn valuable lessons from work. You might learn customer skills, responsibility, and leadership by working 40 hours a week at McDonald’s over the summer. After two months of clearing carts from the grocery store parking lot, you may have learned why you want to go to college and improve your job prospects! Don’t forget internships and unpaid experiences. You may watch your siblings every day after school or work in your dad’s office over the summer; these are both work. 4. Community Service & Volunteer Work – There are many ways for students to volunteer these days. The best types of service are those that let you develop your strengths, talents, and interests while helping others. 5. Summer Experiences – Because students have so much free time in the summer, it is an ideal time to take on additional projects, activities, and experiences. Many colleges offer programs for high school students to get a preview of campus life and college classes. Make the most of this time! 6. Hobbies & Interests – Some students are passionate about subjects which aren’t offered in school. Use this part of the resume to show anything that hasn’t fit into the categories above. For example, one student was a self-taught gourmet cook. Just because you do it for fun, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be something you brag about. It is a good habit to update your resume each semester. Keeping an up to date resume will make interviews and applications much easier. Applications are open now through October 31, so apply now!
As a Coca-Cola Scholar of 2002, I had fond memories of this program and of the wonderful friends I met through the scholarship application process. Apply now! Coca-Cola Scholar Program The Common Application will have close to 500 participating colleges during the current admissions cycle. The online application went live August 1st. Rising Seniors, have you started yet? so today's newsletter focuses on relevant articles.
All of the country's most selective colleges have holistic admissions--they evaluate the whole applicant, not just numerical data such as grades and SAT scores. The personal essay is one of the few places where you can really present yourself as a unique individual. A well-crafted essay presents your voice, interests, passions, and personality. The Common Application gives you six options for the essay, and knowing the tips can help you avoid common pitfalls and make your essay shine. The personal essay isn't the only writing you'll need to do for the Common Application. You'll also need to elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in about 150 words. For more help on the Common Application: ask Steph. Prepare for the October and November SAT!
SAT | ACT Ultimate This intense course (small group of under 3 students or Private 1-to-1 sessions) is for students who expect nothing short of stellar results.
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Stephenie Lee
Stephenie, having been a tutor/instructor/mentor since 1996, discovered her passion and founded Lee Academia Educational Consulting, LLC. after she left the dental and medical field. She loves teaching/mentoring and counseling her students. Her passion lies in educating others and helping them pursue their educational path. Today, certified in College Counseling and with more than 10 years of experience, Stephenie and her team continues to blog about current updated educational news and events. Archives
April 2016
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