Though standardized tests are not the only piece of information an admissions office will review in the application process, it will be important to take the tests if the colleges require them for admission. Register for SAT (http://www.collegeboard.
Check out the the testing dates for the SAT, ACT, and TOEFL. Click here for dates and deadlines.
This week, guest blogger Janine Robinson, shares some helpful hints on the college essay.
Want to know the inside scoop on what makes the best college app essays? It’s called a “slice of life” narrative, where the writer picks one interesting moment, incident or event to start the essay, and then goes on to share what she or he learned from it. They are personal, engaging and the opposite of the formal, pedantic essays that English teachers promote.
But how do you find your best story? And then make sure it’s about you? How can you tell it’s a good one for your college app. essay?
Here are some tips from my short guide to writing college app. essays, called Escape Essay Hell!, on how to find your best stories to showcase what makes you unique–using a story-telling approach to make it interesting:
1. When looking for a great story, start with one of your defining qualities. (Examples: curious, self-disciplined, creative, empathetic, bold…) Then look for “times” or examples of when you either demonstrated or developed this quality, or had it challenged. When your mini-story, or anecdote, is linked to a core quality, you make sure your essay will be about you, and not someone or something else. Click here to read more tips!
Thank you to all who served our country so we may celebrate this Independence Day!
If you are a hi
gh school junior and you will be applying early action to the college of your dreams this fall, you may wonder if you should send in your AP (advanced placement ) exam scores. What if you received scores, a 4 and a 5 on the two exams you took, should you send them in May of your junior year? Are they part of the college application process? Will they help in the decision process?
AP or Advanced Placement courses are college level classes with exams given each May for students who complete the AP coursework. The fact that you took rigorous courses will indicate to a college that you are college ready. You’ll improve your writing skills, sharpen your problem-solving abilities, and develop time management skills, discipline, and study habits. These characteristics may be helpful in the in the admissions process. Read more about the AP scores and the college application.
Posted by Jed Applerouth on March 5, 2014 in Featured, Jed Said 
If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, the ACT must be blushing.
This afternoon, The College Board announced that in 2016, it will strip away the main differences between the SAT and the ACT.
Here’s a quick taste of the impending changes. Like the ACT, the new SAT will have:
– No guessing penalty for incorrect answers
– No advanced vocabulary or sentence completions
– An optional, rather than required, essay that won’t leave room for students to make up their own “facts”
– Science content incorporating tables, charts, and graphs
– Close alignment to the Common Core standards
The test will also return to a 1600-point scale and will last about 3 hours without the essay, which, coincidentally, is the length of the ACT. The College Board also announced a partnership with Khan Academy to provide free online practice questions.
On April 16th, The College Board will reveal the full structure of the new test along with example practice problems on their website www.deliveringopportunity.com.
Stay tuned for updates.
Just in time for holiday giving, the 2013-14 edition of “College Bound: Proven Ways to Plan and Prepare for Getting into the College of Your Dreams” is available in paperback.
Available in paperback and eBook formats on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites includes:
● Over 1,200 links to grants, loans, scholarships, and pre-college programs
● How to pick a major, what colleges look for in applicants, where to find financial aidand more
● Special admissions information for the artist, the athlete, the military-minded, the disabled, and the home schooled along with over 100 minority scholarship websites
● In-depth information on women’
● A planning time line
● Sample forms and checklists
● Career exploration, sample resumes and interview questions
● Step-by-step instructions through the college application process
● Inside information on standardized tests, the ACT, PSAT, and SAT
● A comprehensive list of must-read books and publications
● How to make a smooth transition from home to college
● A chapter just for parents
My College Bound Plan, the companion workbook to College Bound,
gives students the actual forms, checklists, and step-by-step guidance they need for self-evaluation, college comparisons, financial considerations, teacher recommendations, activities resumes, and much more.
About The Author: Christine Hand Gonzales, Ed.D, has spent the last 20 years as a professional college planning consultant, professor, presenter, high school college counselor, and registered therapist. Her work with high school juniors and seniors focuses on career exploration and college counseling. She also writes a blog for the college bound student and their parents at www.college–
Also available from College Path Publishing at College-Path.com Bookstore, Paying for College Without Breaking the Bank; Your College Planning Survival Guide, and How to Impress Your Instructor Online: Quick Tips to Success for the Virtual Student.
America
’s Best Architecture & Design Schools, 2014, published by “Design Intelligence,” recently released articles about architectural programs including the article, “The College Search for the Artist, the Architect, and the Designer- A Primer on Finding the Perfect Educational Path,” by Dr. Christine Hand Gonzales. Dr. Chris of College-Path.com also share a list of internet resources she finds most helpful in the college search from your computer – http://www.di.net/articles/links-to-great-school-architecture-design-school-search-resources/
