So you have written a first draft of your college essay, and deep down you know it needs work. However, you are feeling a bit stuck because you find it really embarrassing to write about yourself. Plus, everyone keeps telling you that your essay must be personal, that it needs to SHOW not TELL, and that it needs to be interesting and grammatically correct. You know you need help, but where do you turn?
If you are not working with a college consultant with expertise in teaching essay …
Has summer boredom set in? Do you need a break from college planning and summer reading? You can now learn about exciting new topics through Khan Academy’s partnership with major cultural and academic institutions. Visit the Museum of Modern Art, explore Pixar in a Box, NASA, Dartmouth, and more by looking here. Topics include:
You know all about Facebook, Snap, Twitter and YouTube, but there are dozens of free or low-cost apps and sites to help you survive high school, college, and beyond. Here are a few of our favorites:
Studying and Organization
Evernote – Evernote is perfect if you take a lot of notes while surfing the web. You can download web clippers, desktop shortcuts, and other handy tools, and you can also sync notes on different computers and smart phones. While it hasn’t completely
This fall, most juniors will take the PSAT, a practice standardized test that is very similar to the SAT used in college admissions. Both tests have similar content, format and scoring, and the PSAT is considered good preparation for and helpful in predicting SAT scores.
The PSAT includes two components:
1. Evidence Based Reading and Writing
2. Math
Within the Evidence Based Reading and Writing there are two tests: the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test.
Many students are on the go all summer, and it can be difficult to schedule time for standardized test preparation. Many students also know that Khan Academy is an online resource that offers SAT practice tests, interactive problems, videos and more.
It is now possible to link your College Board test results with Khan Academy to get a personalized SAT study plan based on your results.
Go to SAT Practice, then create an account on Khan Academy, or sign into your existing account.
Like many of you, our family recently visited four schools in four different states, and brought back a great deal of information. Here are some highlights:
Georgetown University – Most applicants know that Georgetown abuts a bustling residential neighborhood of shops and restaurants, but our expectation of a very urban feel changed as we approached campus from the Potomac River side and saw that it is perched atop a hill overlooking the water and beautiful parks. The students…
Students spend lots of time and energy on their main common application essay or personal statement and sometimes rush through their college-specific supplemental essays without much thought or care. College admissions officers report that supplemental essays are playing an increasingly important role in the college application process. A supplemental essay is an extra essay beyond the personal statement or the primary application essay. It typically asks a creative…
When making admissions decisions, most colleges place the greatest emphasis on a student’s transcript, but the majority also require applicants to submit standardized test scores.
Plan Ahead – Early junior year is an ideal time to plan a standardized testing strategy. Look at the calendar and consider when time will be available for diagnostic testing, test preparation, and the actual test dates. Consider time commitments including sports, work, and family vacations,
When students envision themselves filling out college applications, they typically picture the components they have heard others discussing: “the big essay,” an activities list, or what to list as a major. However, students should know that there are often multiple application options available—The Common Application, The Coalition Application, and college-specific applications, and it is beneficial to preview the options and consider which will help you most effectively…
Austin is a vibrant city with a college town vibe situated on a river reminiscent of the Charles River in Cambridge. People of all ages are cycling, running, and biking along the adjacent bike-hike trail. Just above the trail, there are restaurants galore, and public maker spaces that reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of the community.…
