Every year I meet a lot of kids who prepare for, and try their best on, an SAT or two during the spring of their junior year. When they get results they are not happy with, they panic or start to doubt themselves.
I always tell them not to panic or begin to doubt themselves. “It is the rare student who crushes the SAT junior year.” Most (like me back in 1985) will have to wait until senior year. (more…)
1. I saw ePrep Guest Expert Seamus Malin on TV yesterday. Seamus was part of ESPN’s presentation of the Champions League final between AC Milan and Liverpool. I saw him during the halftime show. (Seamus, in addition to being a former administrator at Harvard University, is a world-famous soccer commentator.) Great job, Seamus.
2. Bob Bradley, my old soccer coach at Princeton University, was recently named Head Coach of the United States Men’s National Team. The team will attempt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Good luck, Bob.
3. The movie “Gracie” will be out in theaters across the United States starting on June 1. I actually play the referee in the movie, which has a sports/soccer theme. The movie was directed by Oscar-winning director, Davis Guggenheim (“An Inconvenient Truth”). You can check out the trailer at www.graciemovie.com. Good luck to my friend, Andrew Shue, who produced the movie, which happens to be inspired by his family’s real life events.
Enough about soccer, back to the SAT.
Spring of junior year is typically the time students get really focused on the SAT and the ACT. What a lot of juniors don’t know, however, is that many selective colleges require applicants to have taken one or more SAT II Subject tests.
Since fall of senior year is typically packed with AP classes, extra-curricular and social activities, SAT I and/or ACT prep work, applications, etc., I advise most juniors I tutor to take one, two, or even three SAT II Subject tests in June. (more…)
Are you considering switching your child from public school to an independent school? Perhaps you are contemplating a change from one private school to another as your child transitions from middle school to high school. In either case, it’s never too early to start exploring resources and learning about potential new schools. In fact, late spring and early summer hold many opportunities that may not be found as easily next September.
In many ways, independent/private school admissions mirrors college admissions… (more…)
We continue our sit-down with Don Betterton to discuss financial aid issues for high juniors and their parents. In today’s post, Don discusses college work study programs and how they fit into your financial aid package. Additionally, we explore the question of whether indicating you will or “might” need financial aid negatively affects your chances for college admission. Click the “play now” button to enjoy our continued discussions with Don. (more…)
Today is May 6, which means the May 5th SAT is over! We wanted to share this hilarious YouTube video, entitled “I Hate the SAT”, which perhaps summarizes how most high school students feel about the SAT. You should also check out all the video responses and comments by other student who concur.
Be sure to congratulate yourself for all the hours of hard work you’ve poured into your SAT preparation. You can now take a deep breath and relax. Regardless of how you think you scored, please remember it’s just (more…)
Today we spotted this gem of an article by high school junior Angelia de Meistre regarding the SAT and college application process. With levity and wit, she sums up the bittersweet anticipation of taking the SAT and applying to college.
There is an intellectual thrill, which is somewhat akin to skydiving for the first time, in realizing that I have both the opportunity and responsibility to make decisions and perform on tests in a bid to gain acceptance into that perfect college that seemingly determines the outcome of my entire adult life.
Angelica has this advice to offer sophomores heading into the college application gauntlet:
My suggestion…. is to be sure to have your parents take many photos of you and display them prominently so when they think you’ve disappeared in your junior year, they’ll be reassured that you’re still alive.
