Why engage the services of a private college consultant?

Independent college consultants are

• Available. Consultants aren’t tied to a school, a school district, or a school calendar. They work with students in the immediate neighborhood or across the world thanks to readily available technology. Not surprisingly, consultants do much of their most important work over the summer months getting seniors ready for the admissions process, and many work long weekend and evening hours. Lee Academia's experts worked 24-7 for the past 10 years, and have never complained about their hours, as their dedication to work with students always comes first.
  

• Responsive. It’s part of the business model. Consultants have to respond promptly to emails, phone calls and other forms of inquiry or they’re quickly out of business. Deadlines are everything in the world of college admissions and no one is more aware of time constraints and the need for immediacy than independent educational consultants.

• Knowledgeable. Consultants spend significant time visiting college campuses and attending professional workshops or conferences. It’s no secret that colleges have different personalities and management practices. But it’s virtually impossible to get a feel for these personalities or keep up with changes in programs and facilities without visiting on a regular basis. Lee Academia's experts visit over 80 schools each year to update their knowledge about campuses firsthand, despite the availability o
  

• Credentialed. Reputable independent educational consultants maintain memberships in organizations such as the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) or local NACAC affiliates—each of which sets individual membership requirements demanding years of specialized experience, education and training, and a firm commitment to continuing education.

• Ethical. As members of the above-mentioned organizations, consultants subscribe to specific Principles of Good Practice governing the actions of consultants in their relationships with students and families, schools and colleges, and with colleagues.

• Parent-recommended. Anyone in the consulting business will tell you no amount of marketing will ever bring in as many clients as simple word-of-mouth. Informal surveys of educational consultants suggest that as many as 90 percent of families seeking college consulting services are referred by other families. The best consultants are well-known in the community and are respected for the service they provide. It’s as simple as that. So ask to speak with our satisfied clients and former students or check out the Testimonials.
  

So with the May 4th, 2013 Tests coming up, are you ready?

If you haven't registered for your SAT or Subject Tests, you still have 2 more days to register for the June 1st Tests.

Get cramming and work with a tutor. Contact Lee Academia if you need some last minute guidance. Good Luck~

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."

SAT Subject Tests are the only national admission tests that measure students' knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, and their ability to apply that knowledge. They are closely linked to the high school curriculum and have a proven track record of providing colleges with a highly reliable, objective assessment of student readiness for college-level work.


What are the best ways to prepare for the SAT subject tests?

Start early and read! It is a test that takes strategy, clear thinking, critical thinking and test taking skills that need to be learned over time. Do not start preparing one week before the exam!

• Read, read, read! (novels, not comics)
• Get a set of flash cards (SAT/ACT Vocabulary) and start on them early.
• Read the newspaper.
• Visit a news website such as NY Times, CNN and read the top stories.
• Do crossword puzzles.
• Write in a journal or as much as possible.
• Solve logic puzzles.
• Answer the SAT question of the day on-line.
• Take the practice tests offered on-line or at your school .

Strategies to Become a Better Students Sometimes, it’s not enough just to work harder to improve your grades. Instead, you have to learn how to work smarter—that is, to find ways to work in a more organized and efficient manner that helps you remember what you learned.

Here are five tips to becoming a better junior high or high school student in the fall:


Tip #1: Read actively.

Read with a pencil, pen, or highlighter in hand, and underline the key points of what you are reading. Skim the passage before reading to get the main idea and the overall context for the passage. As you read, underline the main details, and then summarize what you’ve read. If you write down your summary, it will help you recall your reading without re-reading the entire passage.


As you read, look up any unfamiliar vocabulary words. Building your vocabulary will also help you with admissions tests, such as ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, COOP, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and other admissions tests for college. Keep a list of new vocabulary words and review them for 10 minutes each day.


Tip #2: Study word roots. You can easily and quickly build your vocabulary by studying common Latin and Greek word roots and prefixes. You can expand your vocabulary by recognizing common roots. Studying Latin also helps you learn new roots and improve your vocabulary.



Tip #3: Get organized. If you don’t have a way to organize and keep track of nightly and long-term assignments, find one now—before school starts. You can use a traditional planner or any other device that keeps you on track. Practice putting your assignments into your planner and checking it regularly. For long-term assignments such as research papers, you should break down the work so that you put each mini-task in your planner. For example, write down the days you plan to go to the library to do research, the days you will work on your outline and rough draft, and the days you will complete your final draft. Leave time for revision and rewriting. Find out more ways to get organized from Steph.


Tip #4: Learn how to take notes. You may want to organize your notebook by writing the major ideas in each lecture on the left-hand side of your page and writing the details related to the main idea on the right-hand side. Each lecture tends to have a major theme or themes, and these are the types of ideas that teachers like to ask about on tests. You should identify the main idea of each lecture to prepare for tests. Review your notes after taking them and think about how you can organize the material more efficiently.


Tip #5: Learn about your teachers. Before the year starts, speak to older or other students who’ve had your teacher or teachers, and ask them how the teacher works. What does the teacher want, and what is he or she looking for in assignments? The better you understand your teachers, the better prepared you will be for tests and other assignments.

Carefully read the information your teacher gives you on the first day of class, as it usually spells out the expectations the teacher has and how you will be graded. If you have any questions, ask them before the school year starts so you will understand exactly what you need to do to have a successful year.