Guest Posts, test prep

SAT Prep Crunch Time: Veritas Prep Outlines 5 Things Students Can Do Now to Boost Their SAT Score

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Veritas Prep (www.veritasprep.com) recently released a list of five things students can do now to boost their chances at a higher score. The SAT is offered seven times annually in the United States – six times internationally. The tips outlined benefit students who may not feel adequately prepared and are doing what they can in the final weeks before the exam to improve their performance, as well as provide an extra edge to those who have spent the summer studying or taking an SAT course.

To help students get ready for test day, Veritas Prep recommends the following:

1) Be Prepared to Write a Longer SAT Essay
An MIT study found that longer SAT essays receive higher scores, so unlike what your high school English teacher may have told you, on the SAT quantity is just as important as quality. SAT essay readers have hundreds of essays to read and can only spend a few moments reviewing each one, so because the logic is that smarter students have more to say, essay readers discriminate against short essays. To improve your score on the SAT essay, make sure you practice filling up two full notebook pages in 25 minutes before test day.

2) Research Two Literary Works, Two Historical Examples and Two Current Events in Advance
Although writing full two pages for the SAT essay will take you far, if you want to maximize your essay score potential, you’ll need to fill those pages with scholarly examples. If you don’t think you can come up with solid academic examples in 25 minutes on test day, don’t worry. You can actually plan out what examples you will use in your essay right now. This works because SAT essay topics are extremely broad. They won’t ask you about specific material such as the Declaration of Independence or the Watergate scandal; instead, SAT test writers must offer topics that are very general so that every student is able to write about the topic. Use this to your advantage by researching examples that are applicable to multiple themes in advance.

3) Stop Using Algebra
Have you ever been given a multiple-choice exam in a high school algebra class? Chances are, probably not. That’s because you could just plug in the potential solutions into the original algebra equation and see which one works. Well, guess what? That’s exactly how the SAT is setup. This enables you to practice a powerful strategy we use at Veritas Prep called Plug In Numbers. If there are variables in the question and numbers in the answer choices, plug the potential options into the original equation and see which one works. For students that might struggle with time management during the Mathematics section, this can ensure you complete the questions in time.

4) Don’t Make Assumptions on SAT Reading
The biggest mistake students make on the SAT Reading section is that they make assumptions rather than inferences. What’s the difference between an assumption and inference? An assumption is a conjecture that is not based on textual evidence, whereas an inference is a conjecture that is based on textual evidence. Every correct answer on the SAT Reading section is based on textual evidence from the passage. So get in the habit of not making any assumptions, both when you read and even in real life.

5) Learn the 15 Writing Rules Tested on the SAT
Did you know that there are only 15 grammar rules you need to know to successfully answer every Improving Sentences and Identifying Sentence Errors question on the SAT correctly? Most students miss this huge opportunity to cut down on their study time. They go into the SAT thinking that any one of a hundred different grammar errors could pop up at them during the Writing Multiple-Choice section and doom their SAT score. Don’t let this be you! Make sure to check out Veritas Prep to learn the 15 SAT Writing Rules you must know.

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About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the world’s largest provider of test prep and admissions consulting services. It offers industry-leading programs to help applicants improve standardized test scores and gain admission to the world’s most selective universities. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its live classroom GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. Its Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course is available as a classroom course, live online, on demand or in private SAT tutoring sessions and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. In addition, Veritas Prep offers admissions consulting services for applicants seeking entry into competitive business schools, law schools, medical schools and other graduate programs. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.

In addition to its online SAT prep course, Veritas Prep also makes several free resources available to students, including a free SAT practice test and a free, live one-hour online SAT prep seminar. To learn more about Veritas Prep’s SAT offerings, visit www.veritasprep.com/sat.

in the news, infographics, online learning

America’s Most Innovative Colleges

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In late June 2012, CampusTechnology.com revealed the winners of its 2012 Innovators Awards, which are given out to IT leaders who have come up with extraordinary technology solutions for campus challenges. This infographic gives us a snapshot of the leaders; I bet you will be surprised who scored an award!

Innovations on Campus
Put Together By: OnlineUniversities.com

college majors, Guest Posts

Top 7 College Majors you probably never knew existed

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You know the drill: your college-bound teen is trying to choose a college that best fits his/her intended career path. It’s no easy task, especially when there are so many majors out there and so many colleges to choose from. Here’s a guest post that might spark your teen’s interest in one of the “obscure” college majors. But be careful–research the earning potential of these careers before your teen commits four years of your hard-earned money!

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You’ve read through the course catalog, spoken to your academic adviser and chosen a major that just doesn’t seem to fit your life’s aspirations. Many have found success seeking a tried-and-true English, History, Communications, Criminal Justice or Elementary Education degree, but you desire to blaze a trail and seek a new and exciting career path. Luckily, many online and campus-based universities are indulging visionaries such as yourself by creating unique and, in many cases, unexpected college majors. Here’s a list of the top 7 college majors you probably never knew existed:

Green Urban Planning

As a concentration, urban planning is nothing new. However, in response to many communities’ passions to live an eco-friendly existence, a handful of universities are offering courses and a full-fledged major in Green Urban Planning. This degree focuses on many of the same concepts as traditional urban planning, but teaches students to determine the location of a town’s schools, hospitals and other structures with the environment in mind.

Turfgrass Science

Did you ever stroll through a golf course, botanical garden or even some well-kept private residences and marveled at their pristine green lawn? Believe it or not, many golf courses are hiring individuals with a Bachelor’s Degree in Turfgrass Science. During their two to four-years of study, students delve into topics ranging from pesticides and weed control to entomology and business management. Who knew it took so much erudition to keep the greens on a par 4-hole so lush?

Fire Science

In the past, the only prerequisite to break into firefighting was a strong back and willingness to risk your life. Times have definitely changed, and many are finding that in order to advance in their career, a fire science bachelor degree is a necessity. This degree program prepares students to handle the many facets of this challenging vocation, from emergency preparedness to public education.

Emergency Management

Upon completion of their fire science degree, many are continuing their education by seeking an emergency management masters degree. Basically, this highly-specialized program prepares individuals to plan for and react to a variety of emergency situations. This could mean anything from designing and implementing a fire escape plan at a nursing home to working with Homeland Security to thwart a potential terrorist attack. This degree program isn’t presently well-known, but as more industries are hiring emergency management professionals, its anonymity is sure to fade quickly.

Animal Science

As the population of the United States continues to swell, so does the need for individuals to monitor the safety of its food sources. If you’ve ever wondered where your food comes from, and how to help ensure future generations continue to consume healthy livestock and poultry, consider earning your degree in animal science. Animal science majors learn how to protect, monitor and regulate the nation’s supply of poultry, beef and any other products produced from animals.

Bakery Science

Before you assume that this major is interchangeable with any other courses found at your local culinary institute, be prepared to go deeper into food preparation and science than you ever thought possible. Aside from learning the fundamentals of the perfect chocolate chip cookie, bakery science students either concentrate on the business-side of restaurants and the food industry or cereal chemistry, which deals more with research, development and quality control. Classes in this unique major include: chemistry, physics, nutrition, bakery science, bakery design and cereal science.

Bowling Industry Management

Bowling is big business that, according to the United States Bowling Congress, is enjoyed by over 70 million participants every year. In reaction to this startling statistic, the bowling industry management major was created. Individuals with a passion for this sport are able to make a career out of bowling by taking classes on pro shop management, bowling lane care and pin-setting mechanics. Unfortunately, this major doesn’t explain why bowling shoes are so uncomfortable and how to master the perfect bowling ball curve.

Before getting your heart set on any of the aforementioned, off-the-beaten-track majors, remember that many are offered by a handful or single university, with the exception of fire science and emergency management. Online university is another option if you’re interested in a unique major, but your local campus-based college doesn’t offer the necessary coursework.

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Evelyn Green is a blogger and currently earning her Master’s in Emergency Management. She’s currently a trained EMT and firefighter. Upon completion of her degree, Evelyn hopes to use the skills learned in her program to make her focus forest fire prevention. 

college planning, dorm life, Guest Posts

Too much “stuff” in your student’s dorm room?

When my daughter was heading off to college, we packed up her entire room except for the bed (no kidding) and shipped it 2000 miles to Boston. Once she got there we realized 1-she should have left most of it at home, and 2-we should have waited until we got there to see what she needed. We also found out that most of her incoming class was doing the same. Today’s guest post gives you some tips on how to avoid arriving with too much and what to do with it during the summer breaks.

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Across the nation at the end of each school year, college graduates (and some students simply leaving for the summer) participate in an incredibly wasteful tradition: They dump an entire home’s worth of furniture on the curb. Of course, it’s not the case with everyone or every school or every piece of furniture, but anyone living in a college town can attest to the phenomenon.

How much of that stuff did these students really need in the first place? How much of it was worth keeping?

Typical college dorm room

Heading to college is typically a young person’s first taste of independent living. From unconventional furniture arrangements to indoor hammocks, the interior decorating habits of college students could be their own reality show. For a college student, a year of school can feel like quite a long time. But as any parent knows, May will be here before they know it. What on earth are they going to do with all of that stuff?

If your college-bound kid is vying for a new La-Z-Boy or insisting that they need a king size bed, here are a few tips for controlling the accumulation of stuff during the college years (and what to do with them in between).

  • Communicate with Roommates–If two roommates show up to college, each with a couch in tow for their shared dorm room, there’s already a dilemma or potential conflict. For schools that assign a roommate (common for freshmen), they’ll also typically provide contact information. Touch base over the summer or winter break and figure out who can bring what so that you don’t double up on furniture.
  • Use Thrift Stores–Let’s face it — furniture gets beat up during college. There’s no point buying an expensive sofa if there’s a chance of somebody dropping a drink between the cushions and forgetting about it for two weeks. Most towns have a thrift store where used couches, chairs, and tables can be purchased at a cost that may be reasonable enough to simply donate it back at the end of the year.
  • Wait Until You Arrive–Most students have roommates during college, and it’s not uncommon to rent an apartment or house over the summer without seeing it first. Once all the inhabitants are together in the space is the best time to make decisions about furniture and decorating. It’s also a chance to pool resources so that everyone has a stake in the house’s furnishings. If one student shows up with a nice piece of furniture to share in a house with three other women or men, they should expect that it’s going to suffer some wear-and-tear over the course of a college year.
  • Be a Minimalist–Have you ever been to an Asian tea house or restaurant where patrons sit on pillows on the floor? College may be your best option for trying that out.

Even if you heed this advice, there’s a very good chance that come May, you’ll have a load of stuff that doesn’t fit in your sedan for the ride back home for summer. A short-term storage unit rental can fit the bill, and the less stuff you’ve accumulated, the less space you’ll need (and the less it will cost).

Whether you’re going abroad for a semester or just leaving for the summer, these tips for storage will help ensure that you come back to your belongings just as you left them:

  • Decide whether you need climate control or not–Almost everywhere in the U.S. can get pretty hot in the summer time. If you’re storing electronics, photographs, musical instruments, or anything that could melt, consider getting a unit with climate control.
  • Find a reputable unit and read the fine print–There are too many horror stories of students utilizing minimum security storage facilities. Oftentimes, the user provides their own lock, and a break-in is their own liability. Know the rules and the rights you have at the storage facility you choose and protect yourself accordingly. And if you provide your own lock, get a sturdy one.
  • Pack everything into plastic bins or tubs–Hauling the loose contents of a dorm room that you threw into the backseat of your car just begs for frustration when the next semester starts. Fold loose clothes and stack paperwork neatly in bins.
  • Share with friends–When you’re planning ahead for the furniture you’ll use with your roommates, go ahead and discuss who is responsible for storing the items when that time comes. Splitting a unit between multiple people can save money, but you’ll want to coordinate to insure that everyone has access to any personal items stored in the unit that they might need over the break.

College is a learning experience, well beyond the classes you take. It’s also a young person’s first opportunity to practice self-reliance and live outside of the comforts of their parents’ home. Help to remind your student that it’s a transitory period and they don’t need to furnish their apartment to the nines. At the same time, it’s a chance to learn how to care for their belongings, including the responsibility of storing them when they’re away.

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Our guest post today is from Kenneth McCall. Kenneth loves to bike and hike. When he’s not busy with outdoor activities he is a managing partner at storage.com, a leading provider of self storage for homeowners and businesses. Ken designs systems and tools for homeowners and businesses that need storage in places in the southwest like self storage in Albuquerque and Phoenix.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, tutoring

Alleyoop connects with Naviance to maximize student success

Earlier this year, I wrote a post about Alleyoop, a program designed to help students prepare for college by improving their math skills.

Today Alleyoop is partnering with Hobsons to create even more customized recommendations to keep students on track to reach their college and career goals through Naviance. With more than 5 million students in 5,500 schools around the globe, Naviance is the world’s largest college and career readiness platform. Through this partnership, students can use their Naviance Family Connection accounts to benefit from the collective intelligence of the Alleyoop Super Brain to improve their math and science skills.

“Alleyoop is about so much more than getting immediate math and science help — it’s about letting students take control of their education,” said Patrick Supanc, president of Alleyoop. “With this new partnership, Alleyoop becomes a destination for students and families on Naviance to get personalized academic resources that help make their dreams a reality.”

Alleyoop helps students succeed by connecting them with the right resources at the right time. Students will now get customized, tailored math and science help from Alleyoop based on the goals they set within the Naviance Family Connection portal.

According to The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, every year in the United States, nearly 60 percent of first-year college students discover that, despite being fully eligible to attend college, they are not academically ready for postsecondary studies. Alleyoop and Naviance are helping to bridge the gap between college eligibility and college readiness by providing a way for students to set academic and career goals, and map out a plan of action to achieve them.

 

“The combination of Naviance and Alleyoop makes it easier than ever for students to tie learning to life,” said Stephen M. Smith, President, Hobsons K-12. “At Hobsons, we strive to connect everything a student learns to a real-world objective. Our partnership with Alleyoop helps students tie their interests and skills to real college majors and careers, and preparing them academically and personally for a bright future.”

admissions, college guidance, college planning, Guest Posts

An interview with the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at UNC-Ashville

A special thanks to Dr. Patrice Mitchell for participating in The Parliament Tutors Admission Spotlight Series.  Dr. Mitchell is the Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid at UNC – Asheville.

As the Dean of Admissions, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?
I can definitely say that no two days are ever the same, which is also what I love about working with students to help them navigate through what can often be a nerve-wracking experience.  Depending on the time of the year, I spend a lot of time reviewing enrollment reports to ensure that admissions decisions are being made on a daily basis to ensure we will enroll the desired quality and quantity of new students.  I also spend a lot of time responding to questions from prospective students and their families about the application process and requirements.

What do you consider the most significant parts of an application, the parts which applicants should prepare the most carefully?
In regards to UNC Asheville, the most significant component of the application is the high school record.  Specifically, rigor of course work, grade point average, and class rank.

Is there anything you frequently see on an application that you hope to never see again?
There is nothing that jumps out at me.  However, the one thing that I would caution students on is the tendency to reveal such personal and sometimes tragic information, but do not necessarily correlate those experiences to how they have prepared them to be successful at the institution.

What common pitfalls should applicants be careful to avoid? 
I can not emphasis enough the importance of proofreading all of your supporting documentation that you submit as a part of the application – including having the correct name of the institution on the essay.  (Yes, I have had read “It has been my dream to attend X college all of my life” when the college that I am reading the application for is actually college Y!
Students should also avoid missing deadlines or assuming they have plenty of time to submit information prior to the deadline.  Time for technology glitches and mail delivery problems should always be accounted for when submitting application materials.  Students should also follow up with their counselors and/or individuals submitting recommendations to give them friendly reminders regarding the deadlines.

Are there any myths about the application process which you would like to dispel?
One thing that I would share about the process is that Admissions Offices really do want to make an admissions decision based upon whether or not the individual student will be a good fit and for the institution.  Therefore, it is important for you to take the time to write a good essay that gives some insight into who you really are that SAT and gpa averages won’t tell us.  It is also important to have an individual that truly knows them and the institution the student is applying.  These are the reasons that you sometimes here of a student with a stronger SAT and gpa not getting into a specific college when there classmate does.

What advice would you give to an applicant with below-average test scores but significant extra-curricular experience?
Please remember that there are literally thousands of college options available to you.  You just have to be open to exploring a handful that you may not have initially had on the top of your list.  The reality is that at some schools the admissions process is selective and not having all of the components may keep you from getting an offer.  However, at those schools where the SAT is optional or the SAT being below average many not be as big of a problem, that may be the school where you end up deciding to attend and find yourself having a wonderful experience.   However, you may still want to contact the prospective college and ask to speak to the admissions counselor responsible for your high school.  Establishing a relationship with that individual can sometimes be helpful.

Do you frequently have to turn away applicants whom you wish you could admit? If so, what could those applicants do to be admitted?
Unfortunately, we are not in a positive to offer admission to every applicant.  In that case, the transfer option is discussed.  This option is also being used by students who are admissible but want to get started at a two-year college and transfer in.  There are several universities with articulation agreements with two-year colleges.  Therefore, the idea of transferring in as an upper-classmen has become more of a positive alternative for students who are not competitive for freshmen admission.  The important thing to remember is that sometimes there are different paths to get to the same destination.

How much faith do you have in the ability of the SAT to predict success at in college?
Here at UNC Asheville we take a holistic approach to the admissions process in order to reduce the importance that one variable has on the application decision.  This is particular important to us since the high school rank and grade point average has been shown to be more of a predictor of success here than the SAT.  Having said that, we do have a selective process in place, and we are a part of the UNC system, which requires us to report the average SAT, so it is a factor.

What do you look for in a recommendation letter?
Students should ensure that the recommendation letter is from someone who knows them well enough to speak to the attributes and strengths that make the student a good fit with the college.  It also helps if the letter is written to the specific college.  Not everyone is going to be able provide such detailed information, or even has the time to do so if they wanted to, but I enjoy reading letters from teachers and/or counselors who have some type of story or anecdote to share about the student that I otherwise would not know about them.

Joseph Fernandez conducted this interview.  Joseph is a Tutor with Parliament Tutors. He specializes in SAT Tutoring.

scholarships

Freedom in Academia Essay Contest

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is currently running an essay contest (the Freedom in Academia Essay Contest). High school juniors and seniors for the 2012-2013 school year are eligible to participate in FIRE’s essay contest. To enter, students must submit an essay between 800 and 1,000 words on the provided topic.

One $10,000 first prize, one $5,000 second prize, and three $1,000 runner-up prizes will be awarded for the best essays. Four $500 winners will be chosen from the remaining entrants in a drawing.

FIRE will accept essay contest entries from August 1 to November 25, 2012.

Instructions:

Familiarize yourself with FIRE and FIRE’s issues. Our mission statement:

FIRE’s mission is to defend and sustain individual rights at America’s colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience — the essential qualities of individual liberty and dignity. FIRE’s core mission is to protect the unprotected and to educate the public and communities of concerned Americans about the threats to these rights on our campuses and about the means to preserve them. A great resource is FIRE’s Guide to Free Speech on Campus. For more information, explore thefire.org.

Watch two short videos about real students who were censored and punished for speech that is protected by the U.S. Constitution. Students should also watch FIRE’s other videos, available on YouTube.com/theFIREorg.

Answer the essay question: Why is free speech important at our nation’s colleges and universities? Using examples from both videos, discuss how censorship of student speech is incompatible with higher education. Your essay should be 800-1,000 words.

Submit your essay through the online form at http://thefire.org/article/14663.html. Only current high school juniors and seniors (graduating in the spring of 2013 or 2014) may apply.

 

 

college guidance, college planning, infographics

Public vs Private Colleges

I have had many parents ask me about a public college education vs a private college education. It’s the old debate: Public vs Private. Surprisingly, many times the private colleges cost less than public institutions (based on large financial aid packages they are able to offer from alumni contributions). But according to this infographic, private colleges might be an even greater value in the long run due to higher earning potential. It’s just one more factor to consider before making the final college choice.

 

Public vs. Private: How College Quality Can Impact Your Future
Brought to you by: OnlineColleges.net

campus security, college guidance, college planning, parenting

Preparing for College: Safety First

In a few short weeks, your child is going away to college – either for the first time or another year. That reality brings with it an overwhelming number of emotions for most parents. Excitement for the new experiences they will have, but also worries for their safety and ability to thrive on their own. So many questions run though your mind as the countdown begins. Have you prepared your child for this big step? Will he or she be able to take care of themselves? Make the right choices? But most important of all, is your child safe? Thanks to the wonders of information technology, you can send your child to college with powerful safety tools that keep you connected no matter the miles between you.

Creating a virtual safety tool kit for your child’s Smartphone is a great way to take advantage of the latest information technology. It’s as easy as downloading a few key apps. One basic app that can be useful to your child in all kinds of situations is a simple flashlight app. Downloading this app, for example, can help your college student locate their keys before entering an apartment or dorm at night. More involved applications like the WebMD app, put tons of valuable health information at your child’s fingertips. WebMD allows you to document any conditions your child may have, such as any allergies; it lists nearby hospitals, pharmacies, and doctor’s offices and includes a first aid guide for emergencies.

An all-in-one emergency response app can be beneficial to your child’s safety too. Apps like The Safety App Plus allow parents to request the safety status of their college student, giving them an instant visual update of their child’s current or last known address. The app also helps you to prepare your child for weather emergencies, by providing real-time emergency weather alerts. Its patented technology allows The Safety App Plus to send and receive text messages even when voice and data networks are overwhelmed which is common during disasters and emergencies.

The Safety App Plus can be used by both you and your college student to…

  • Request a safety status, automatically supplying you with the GPS location of your college student or of a lost or stolen phone.
  • Access real-time emergency weather alerts, a checklist of emergency supplies and important online resources while on a road trip.
  • Send group or individual messages when data and voice networks are overwhelmed, such as during large campus events or disasters.

As an incentive for more families to benefit from the robust features of The Safety App Plus and in observation of National Preparedness Month, the app is now only $0.99.

Sending your child away to college doesn’t have to be wrought with worry for you or your child. With the right tools, you can stay connected and help them stay informed and prepared in the event of a weather or other emergency. For more information on The Safety App Plus visit www.thesafetyapp.com or follow them on twitter @thesafetyapp.

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Today’s guest post was contributed by Lisa Barclay DiBenedetto, the president and founder of LDB communications, a successful marketing company. Lisa is the mother of four children, the oldest of whom is a junior at Northern Illinois University. Keeping her family safe has always been a priority, as well as spending as much time with her teenage children as they will allow.  

Helping parents navigate the college maze