Seniors, check out the following comments from colleges in reaction to performance deterioration in senior year. Do NOT let this happen to you!

· Stony Brook:

Your final high school grades have been received.  We note with regret that your performance in some academic subjects has declined from the level that led us to offer you admission.  While it is not clear to us what has caused your academic slide, we can say with reasonable certainty that matriculation at Stony Brook will be much more difficult if your senior year level of effort is continued after you enroll.

The purpose of this letter is to alert you to our awareness of your final grades and to urge you to reflect upon the attitude and work habits during your final year in high school that produced such disappointing results.  Meanwhile, in the time remaining before the first day of classes, we urge you to develop an improved outlook and re-dedicate yourself to achieving a level of performance commensurate with your ability.

· An Ivy League School:

I was concerned to learn of the reasons for and details surrounding the significant decline in your senior year grades at XXX High School.  Your very disappointing academic performance and your explanation of the factors that contributed to it raise serious questions for me about your ability at this time to be successful in an academic environment.  After reviewing all of the information you shared with me, I am faced with a very difficult decision.

I underscored my expectations for the successful completion of your academic year in your offer letter of early admission in December.  The last sentence of the fifth paragraph of my letter states, “While we have every reason to believe you will complete this school year successfully, please remember that this offer of admission is contingent upon your continued strong academic performance”.  Furthermore, as stated in our freshman application materials, “The university reserves the right to withdraw your offer of admission if you show a significant drop in academic performance” prior to matriculation.  While I would like to avoid taking this step in your case, I remain concerned about your readiness to face the demands of the freshman academic experience this fall.  

I am, therefore, writing to inform you that, although I will not be withdrawing your offer of admission altogether, I have decided to defer your offer of admission to ______________________ University for one year.  I encourage you to use the coming year to reset your priorities so that you will be ready to immerse yourself in a rigorous academic environment in the fall of 2011.  As you map out your plans for the year ahead, please be in touch with the Assistant Director of Admission, ___________________, who oversees our deferral process, to gain approval of your plans.  In addition, Mr. __________________ will send you some paperwork to fill out which will assure your place in our class that will enter in the fall of 2011.  Mr. _____________________ can be reached at __________________.    

    

(Student’s name), this letter is a difficult one to write, and must surely be a difficult one to receive.  You are so talented and have so much to offer.  I am hopeful that we will be able to welcome you to __________________ University in September of next year with the same confidence and enthusiasm I did in my original offer to you last December.

                                                                  Yours truly, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid

What do you look for when you are researching about colleges that suit you?

School size, academics and finances are just some of the factors to consider before choosing a college or university.

Before you make up your mind about where you'll get your degree, make sure you take the following things into consideration.

1. Type : There are many types of higher education; from technical colleges to public universities, these may all depend on how much money you have available, what kind of job you want to have and how much you value selectivity and prestige.

2. Cost : Don't go straight to choosing the cheapest option available. Although cost should be a huge factor when deciding on a college, you need to figure out a realistic plan. Don't set your heart on an expensive college either, if you do not have much cash at hand for tuition and other living expenses. Scholarships are an option.

If the career you are hoping to enter does not pay well, consider whether or not the prestige is worth the dent you leave in your pocketbook.

3. Major : Research the institution's various academic programs before you make any final decision. You want to make sure the college for you meets all your requirements, otherwise you waste time and money transferring.

4. Location : Are you planning to live at home? Are you choosing a college within easy driving distance? Is there public transportation? Do you have a part-time job you need to go home on the weekend for? Think about whether you prefer a small college town setting or a big city atmosphere. There are advantages for each setting, but it all depends on how comfortable you feel.

5. Size : Your personality comes into play here. Many students that I've worked with love fast-paced energetic setting of a big school, along with the opportunities it can bring, while other students prefer a more personal setting where they get to know their professors and peers and this is easier to do at a smaller school.

6. Miscellaneous : Narrow your list from the factors above, and think about the FUN things now. These extras can determine whether you will survive or thrive in college. For instance, how's the cafeteria? What do students do on the weekends? Does the college have an active Greek life or other clubs/activities that interest you? How are the sports teams?

If you have the opportunity, go tour the college and ask yourself if you feel like you fit in.

With the fierce and competitive application process and high tuition cost of many colleges and universities, it's essential that you weigh the factors that matter to you before you shell out thousands of dollars in tuition payments. You want to feel happy and comfortable at the institution you decide to attend and you need to consider life after college. Make sure you are not uncomfortable because of the student loan debt.

Good luck. For more help, contact Lee Academia at Stephenie@LeeAcademia.com.

"Teaching is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire" - William Butler Yeats

Last week, while I was working with a student, I realized that for the last 16 years, the majority of my students and clients have always assumed during their tutoring sessions, they were to only listen and take notes. However, this particular student I was working did something that I was thrilled about - She challenged what I was telling her, and this sparked an engaging learning process where we discussed and went over myths and facts together. Then we used the internet to look up more resources and to find pictures and videos online proving the theory and known fact.

I strongly encourage all students to understand that teachers are there to guide them, and to provide knowledge and learning growth, but there is a point when all students should never hesitate to question, or ask for more. It's alright if the teacher doesn't know everything about the reproductive system or how to grow an avocado plant, but it is the student's responsibility to find out and to continue to learn and grow.

Learning is forever. It's not over after the teacher is done teaching.

"The best way to predict your future is to create it." - Abraham Lincoln

Last year,tThe College Board recently got into a lot of hot water when it revealed a plan to offer the SAT in August — but only for students enrolled in an exclusive $4,500 Princeton Review prep course at Amherst College. In the end, the College Board rightly decided to cancel the exclusive summer program. However, many thought what they really should have done was make a summer SAT test available to everyone.

A summer test date would be an unequivocal gain to over-stressed high school students everywhere. Currently there are no test dates between the first weekend in June and the first weekend in October, so most students take the SAT sometime in the spring of their junior year. Students aiming for more competitive schools also have to take SAT Subject Tests, which are given on the same few weekends each spring. If the students aren’t satisfied with their scores by June, they’re faced with a four month hiatus before they can take the test again. And the worst part is the next test date — October — doesn’t even get their scores back before they have to send off applications for Early Decision or Early Action schools.

A summer test date would let them let students take advantage of a time when they’re less distracted by school and would help them make more informed decisions about Early Decision and Early Action applications.

Summer test dates would also benefit students who can’t afford prep courses and need to prepare on their own, since they will have more time to take practice tests and use the growing variety of excellent practice resources available. Also, many institutions, such as Lee Academia and many others that help economically disadvantaged students prepare for the SAT would be able to build better programs for their students during the summer.

So why hasn’t College Board implemented a summer SAT already? The most commonly cited reason is logistics: it would be difficult for schools to staff and run a test when they aren’t in session. But most schools have a variety of programs, including summer school, happening during the summer. Ultimately schools could quite easily find ways to overcome logistical obstacles.

Juniors already have so many priorities to balance. A summer SAT date would help mitigate the stress of junior year by giving students another shot when they have time to properly prepare.

Lee Academia offers SAT programs during the summer that continue into the month of September to prepare students for their October exam. Contact for more information.

Do you know the rest of the numbers? 3.14......

Lee Academia now offers Pro Bono Consulting to students and families who need it. If you know of anyone who may need this, please inquire and contact us.

Jessica Tomer, Editor of Carnegie Communications posted an interesting funny article on CollegeXPress  . Take a look at it. So what do you think? Which two would YOU pick?

Follow our very own, Stephenie, on the Homeschool website, as a guest blogger this week at Educational Adventures. In the article blog titled, "Technically Homeschooled," Stephenie shares what it was like growing up in two diverse cultures, and becoming the Educator that she is today; with the drive to keep learning and educating herself. "With my mother’s sacrifices and encouragement in education and learning, I have technically homeschooled myself in many ways."

With school vacations around the corner, families are packing up the car for road trips and campus tours. If you have a sophomore or junior in high school, now is the time to visit! College is the second largest investment you will make in life, next to your home. So, here are some answers you should uncover when you are on campus: What percentage of students graduate in 4 years? And with cutbacks, many students are finding it difficult to secure all the required courses in order to graduate in 4 years. So, ask about graduation rates and access to courses.

What percentage of students return for sophomore year? Junior year? This speaks to how happy students are with the college and also the support that they are given to succeed. If fewer than 80% of students return for sophomore year, it raises a red flag that you should dig deeper to understand why.

Campus visits can be overwhelming, but leaving without all the information is a mistake that can cost you dearly. So, take the time to uncover the real story behind the pretty presentation and marketing materials. You will make better decisions academically and financially if you know all the facts. For more questions to ask, contact Lee Academia for a short session or workshop on campus visits.