Category: Newsletter

Is your high school junior on schedule with the necessary college preparation steps? Now that your son or daughter is settled into the school year, winter break is an optimal time to determine which big college entrance test your child should take.

It’s important to keep in mind that all colleges will accept either the SAT or ACT. We offer free diagnostic testing for both exams in order to determine which test is best suited for your child. In addition, we will provide a recommendation about the appropriate preparation options, how long the process will take, and the approximate cost.

Here’s a list of to-dos and helpful college preparation tips to get your student ready for a productive junior year.

  • Take a diagnostic test. Now is the time to take diagnostic exams to determine whether the ACT or SAT is the better test for your student. If your child took the PSAT in October, you will not receive results until January, which is too late to begin our courses to prepare for late winter test dates.
  • Based on the diagnostic results and our recommendations, register for either the February or April SAT, or the March ACT. This will allow sufficient time to re-take either exam later in the spring if necessary.
  • Think about college visits. Winter break or mid-winter break are the ideal times to plan college visits, since classes will be in session and your student will get the best sense of campus life. Begin thinking about a list of colleges that your son or daughter might be interested in applying to. Click here for College Board’s interactive college search tool. As you plan your child’s college visits, consider visiting different kinds of schools in the area. Your child can get an idea of what his or her experience might be like at a school with or without fraternities/sororities, a private school vs. a public school, an inter-urban school vs. a rural school, etc.
  • Now is the time to get as much information about colleges as you can. Visit your local public library (or our Sandweiss Test Prep office!) to look at college guidebooks. Check your high school counselor’s office and/or their newsletters to learn about college representatives who might be visiting your high school. You should be ‘window shopping’ for colleges as you and your child put together the list of places he or she might be interested in attending.

Stay tuned for more college preparation tips here on our blog. Remember that while test prep is important, colleges put more emphasis on grades! Study hard and focus on keeping your junior year grades at their best.

Greetings Students and Parents,

This newsletter is being sent to all high school juniors who have participated in a Sandweiss Test Prep class or lesson. We want to help you get the most out of your junior year and stay on track for college.
Here are a couple important and/or interesting topics for you to consider.

Testing

 

Many of you are planning to take the ACT or SAT in the next few months. With all the pressure to perform you may be looking for some fool-proof test taking hints or tips. Don’t be too eager believe everything you hear though. Take the article below, for example.

 

The Huffington Post – Research Debunks Common Standardized Test Taking Strategies

It is true that some test taking strategies are simply not helpful, like choosing C if you’re unsure of the answer. But unlike the author of this article, we’re less eager to dismiss strategies like underlining and taking notes. A lot of students have trouble concentrating on the reading passages. Underlining or taking notes forces them to engage. It is beneficial for holding their attention and provides a visual reference when they are answering the questions. We also recommend summarizing to identify key points and the author’s purpose or tone. This is a strategy many students find helpful.

 

The article also addresses the fact that test takers are often reluctant to go back and check their answers. This is something you will learn with practice, but it really depends on the type of question. It is important to notice the patterns. If your first instinct is typically correct on vocabulary questions, for example, then you should trust the answer choice that feels right to you. But if your first answer choice on questions requiring you to identify the main topic or purpose of a reading passage often turns out to be incorrect, then don’t be afraid to go back and consider changing your answer on that type of question.

 

There is a lot of debate around effective test taking strategies. Students are looking for miracle solutions that will improve their scores without much effort, but as this article correctly states, the best, most proven strategy is practice. Taking practice tests and reviewing those tests is the best way to implement what you learn in your tutoring session or in your class lessons. It may take some time, but it is probably the only thing that works well for every student.

For more advice see: Timing Tips for the ACT and SAT from The New York Times.

 

The Washington Post – College Board markets midweek SAT testing to schools

Last year more US students took the ACT than the SAT for the first time in history. We like to advocate the ACT as an equal alternative to the SAT, so this is good news for us.

 

The College Board, on the other hand, is understandably not enthused to hear that the ACT is now more popular than its test. Fewer SAT test takers means less money. The College Board has started to push mid-week SAT testing in schools (the SAT and ACT had previously only been administered on Saturdays). Not only that, but the SAT is being offered at a discounted rate or even for free in some areas. The College Board wants the SAT name to be synonymous with college-readiness, especially in the untapped lower income, lower achieving areas (a market where the ACT has been especially successful).

 

How does this all affect you and your family? Well, more competition between the SAT and ACT could be good for test-takers, if it leads to better tests, lower fees, and more exam dates.

 

Choosing a College

 

Juniors, just in case you didn’t already have enough on your plates this year with getting impressive grades, becoming more involved in your extracurricular activities, taking the ACT or SAT, SAT Subject Tests and AP Exams, it’s also time to start seriously thinking about where you want to go to college.

 

You should emphasize finding the right fit above all else. As Frank Bruni says in his op-ed piece for The New York Times, “How to Choose a College”,

 

“[I worry about] secondary-school students who […] possess the economic and intellectual good fortune — and the hard-won transcripts — to entertain a wealth of alternatives, because I think we let them get too distracted by rankings, ratings, brands. We don’t point them toward assessments and dynamics that are arguably more meaningful.”

 

Keep this in mind when navigating through college guides and college matching websites. Just because a school has a strong “brand name”  doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you.

 

If you’re ready to do some research, read the following article that is packed with some awesome links, advice and other resources:

Sevens Steps to Putting Together a Great College List

 

If you put together a solid college list now, you should be able to visit some of your favorites during Spring Break. Related reading: Juniors: Start your Planning for College Visits.

 

Also, check out the White House College Scorecard.

We offer more than just test prep. We can be your partner through all aspects of your decision making process

Let us give you some free, low-hassle advice. If you have a quick comment or question about your college application process just post it on the Sandweiss Test Prep Facebook page and we’ll respond ASAP.
If you’ve ever received a service from Sandweiss Test Prep please share your opinion: Review Us on Yelp!
Has your family visited a college recently? Help us build a dynamic, social database where students can interact, share stories and give each other tips, recommendations or warnings about different colleges.
Do you have feedback on this newsletter? Please let us know if you’d like to be taken off the mailing list, or if you have any other feedback.
Susie Coffaro

Lee Bierer at The Charlotte Observer offers these tips for a successful college interview:

Do your homework. Demonstrate how well you know the college. Research the website thoroughly, including possible majors of interest, study abroad programs, extracurricular activities, etc.

Be yourself, but don’t be shy. Allow your personality to shine, but if you are a natural introvert, use this as an exercise to try coming out of your shell.

Make it a conversation and not an interrogation. Change up the pace and rhythm of your responses. The more you can make it a two-way street discussion with questions for the interviewer, the better off you’ll be.

Share new information, but not too much information. Don’t restate your application, don’t blame teachers and don’t talk about boyfriends/girlfriends or conflicts with your parents.

Don’t sound rehearsed. You want your responses to be fresh and not sound as if you’re reading off a teleprompter.

Come prepared with questions. You can count on the interviewer leaving time for your questions. Make sure your questions are ones that can’t be answered on the college website.

Dress for success. Use your common sense. Boys don’t need to wear a suit, but everyone should look neat and professional.

Remember the basics. Arrive early, bring a copy of your resume, thank the interviewer and go it alone. Parents should not be seen or heard from in alumni interviews.

Be prepared for a variety of questions. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes alumni want to “test” applicants and will ask questions such as “If you were a color, which one would you be and why?” Practice thinking on your feet in a mock-interview with your parents.

Stay in touch. Be sure to send a thank you note. Handwritten and delivered via postal mail is the best, but email will suffice.

 

 

Greetings Students and Parents,

This newsletter is being sent to all high school seniors who have participated in a Sandweiss Test Prep class or lesson. We want to help you get the most out of your 2012 – 2013 school year and stay on track for college.
Here are four things you can think about right now that will give you a head-start on your senior year.
1. Study for your SAT II Subject Tests before it’s too late!
If you haven’t considered taking an SAT II Subject Test there’s still time, but not much. A handful of schools now consider subject test scores as part of your application. You can show off your knowledge in one or two of your best subjects, which ishelpful if your SAT or ACT scores are low or average.
You may find some highly selective colleges that now require any two subject test scores along with your traditional SAT or ACT scores. Other schools will allow you to submit your scores from two of the following tests: SAT, ACT or SAT II Subject Test. For a fairly up to date list of colleges that require, recommend and consider SAT II Subject Tests, check out this link from Compass Prep.
If you’re planning on taking an SAT II Subject Test, October 6th, November 3rd and December 1st are the last testing dates that will leave you enough time to submit your scores to the colleges of your choice. For full details on the Sat Subjects Tests visit the College Board website.
And remember, Sandweiss Test Prep offers individual tutoring and practice exams for all SAT II Subject Tests. Now is the perfect time to start studying!
2. Submit your early decision or early action application
 
For those of you who don’t know the difference between early decision and early action you may want to take a look at thisrecent post from Christina Quinn, “College Admissions: Demystifying Early Admissions.” She clearly explains the advantages and disadvantages of applying either early decision or early action.
To summarize briefly, early decision is the most restrictive type of early application used by some selective colleges. Deadlines are typically in November and students hear back the following month (before Christmas). This is the ideal choice if you are positive of your first choice school. You can only apply to one school for early decision and if admitted, you must attend that school in the fall.
In addition to the November early decision, some schools now offer a second round of early decision in December or January for students who need a little more time to submit their application.
If you’re interested in applying to more than one college, look for an early action or priority decision application. These plans are due around the same time as the early decision (November – December), but most allow you to apply to many colleges, and if admitted, you can wait until spring to make you final decision.
Still on the fence about applying early?
One advantage is that your senior year could be a lot less complicated. Imagine knowing exactly where you will be going tocollege by Christmas Time. That leaves the rest of the year to focus on other things (like your financial aid and grant applications).
Another great advantage is that you may get a boost on your application. Selective colleges admit students at a much higher rate in early decision and early action rounds. Colleges love to know you’re serious about attending their school.
Make sure to fully research your top school’s application choices. There are many variations to early decision or early action applications.
3. Start thinking about your FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The FAFSA is, as many of you know, the federal financial aid application for prospective college students. If you’re interested in reciving any state or federal aid, you must fill out and complete the FAFSA by the end of January. The application becomes available January 1st, 2013.
That may seem like a long ways off, but you can start preparing now. All colleges provide a worksheet or survey on their website to help calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). You might find this by searching “net price calculator” or “financial aid estimator”. Here is the page from UW, for example. Your EFC does not represent the amount of aid you will receive or the amount your family will pay. It will only help colleges estimate your potential aid based on how much your family can afford to contribute.
Here are some other FAFSA resources:
The CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile) is the College Board financial aid application. It is a more detailed form, and it is accepted by certain colleges as a supplement to the FAFSA, or sometimes in place of the FAFSA. Students applyingto selective colleges will probably end up completing both forms.
You can also work on the CSS Profile starting October 1st, and it’s perfect for students applying for early decision or early action (since the FAFSA is not available until 2013).
Here are some CSS Profile resources:
 
4. Prepare for your college interview.
Your potential admissions interview is probably still months away, but it’s never too early to start preparing.
There’s no uniform policy on admissions interviews. Some schools require them, others make it optional. It’s important toresearch your top colleges and see if they offer an interview as part of your application.
There are four types of admissions interviews:
–    You can visit the campus and interview with an admissions officer. This is the best option.
–    You can meet with a local alumni and they will report back to the admissions office.
–    If you live far away, a college might allow you to schedule a telephone or Skype interview.
–    Many colleges have a regional admissions officer in the Seattle area. You can sometimes contact the college admissions office to schedule a local appointment.
Once you schedule an interview, start practicing right away. There are tons of sites with advice on how to nail your interview. Just Google “college admissions interview”.
Here are some that we found particularly helpful:
And remember, if you visit a college for your admissions interview, make sure you tour the campus and explore the town. It will let you consider your all the factors before you make your final decision.

The National College Fair is coming to Seattle November 2nd and 3rd at the Downtown Convention Center. Make sure to register in advance. It’s a great oppertunity to meet with college representatives in person.

 

Let us give you some free, low-hassle advice. If you have a quick comment or question about your college application process just post it on the Sandweiss Test Prep Facebook page and we’ll respond ASAP.
If you’ve ever received a service from Sandweiss Test Prep we’d love it if you would review us on Yelp.
Has your family visited a college recently? Help us build a dynamic, social database where students can interact, share stories and give each other tips, recommendations or warnings about different colleges.
Do you have feedback on this newsletter? We’re planning on starting a semi-monthly newsletter of this sort. Please let us know if you’d like to be taken off the mailing list, or if you have any other feedback.
Susie Coffaro
Sandweiss Test prep

 

 

Greetings Students and Parents,

This newsletter is being sent to all high school juniors who have participated in a Sandweiss Test Prep class or lesson. We want to help you get the most out of your junior year and stay on track for college.
If you’re wondering what you can work on during winter break, here are some ideas.
Make a list of your top colleges
 

Now is the ideal time to seriously think about where you want to go to college. It may seem like you have plenty of time, but before you know it you’ll be working on your application packets and writing your admissions essays. Keep in mind that your final decision is just over a year away. Remember: consider all your options, and be aware of any misconceptions you might have about choosing a college. Picking a college is all about finding the right fit.

 

Right now you should be soaking in as much information as possible. Ask everyone for advice, talk to your teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, family friends, distant relatives, etc. And don’t be shy about it. People love giving advice to high school students. The more opinions you get, the more information you’ll have and the easier it will be to make the decision that is best for you.

 

US News – Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Offers Advice on Choosing the Right College

 

Also, request information from any colleges you’re considering. Collect pamphlets and info packets, consult guidebooks and college comparison sites. Your school’s guidance office can be a great resource if you don’t know where to start.

 

For a detailed and comprehensive online college guide visit College Confidential.
 
Plan your campus visits
 

The most popular time to tour college campuses is during spring break. Do your family a favor and start planning that trip now. Most college tours do not require reservations this far in advance, but there’s a lot of demand for spring break tours and it never hurts to sign up early. You can also start looking at campus tour calendars (here’s the UW calendar for example) to start planning your own itinerary.

You should also think about booking hotels and flights in advance. This will not only offer you discounted prices, but it will also save you the stress of trying to plan last minute.

Use spring break to visit out of state colleges. You can tour local colleges over long weekends or during winter break.

 

The Choice Blog – How to Make the Most of a College Visit

 
 
Register and prepare for the ACT or SAT
 
By now you’ve probably decided whether you’re taking the ACT or SAT. Remember, colleges will accept either test; neither is better or more impressive than the other.

Here at Sandweiss Test Prep we recommend you take the ACT no later than February or  April, and SAT no later than March. This will leave you enough time to retake the exam in June if needed. You don’t want to end up in a position where you need to take the ACT or SAT again during the fall of your senior year when you really should be thinking about your college applications.

If you haven’t already registered, here are the upcoming ACT and SAT test dates:
ACT Test Date         Registration Deadline

February 9th                 January 11th

 April 13th                      March 8th
 June 8th                        May 17th
Sandweiss ACT Class
Starting February 9th or 10th for the April 13th exam
SAT Test Date         Registration Deadline

January 26th               December 28th

 March 9th                   February 8th
 May 4th                      April 5th
 June 1st                     May 2nd
 
Sandweiss SAT Class
Starting mid January for the March 9th exam
 
Get good grades
 
When you submit your college applications, admissions officers are going to pay close attention to the classes you took and the grades you got during your junior year. It’s the most important year of your high school career. That means you should be taking AP and honors classes, getting good grades, and being generally impressive. Don’t take on more than you can handle, but colleges want to see that you’re pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.
If you feel like your course load is too easy, you still might be able to sign up for a second semester AP or honors course. AP Government and AP Environmental Science, for example, are sometimes offered starting mid-year.
 
 
 
Prepare for AP exams and SAT Subject Tests
Since you’re probably already taking one (or a few) AP classes, you know AP exams are coming up at the end of the year. You may just be taking an AP class for the GPA boost, or because it looks good on your transcript. Maybe getting a 5 on the exam is not your top priority, but as you probably know, many colleges will exchange AP exam scores for college credits, and the most selective schools only accept the highest scores.
Even though it might seem like a lot of work to study hard for AP exams on top of all your course work, consider the fact that earning college credit could literally save you and your family thousands of dollars. So pay attention in your AP classes and study hard for your AP exams.

Students taking advanced classes should also consider taking SAT Subject Tests. We encourage you to take the SAT Subject Test of any AP class you’re already taking (ie if you’re taking AP Chemistry, take the Chemistry subject test as well). If you’re unsure how the AP exams and SAT Subject tests compare, explore the official College Board site. Sandweiss Test Prep also offers free diagnostic tests for SAT Subject Tests allowing you to see what the real test would be like.

A handful of schools now consider SAT Subject Test scores as part of your application. You can show off your knowledge in one or two of your best subjects, which is helpful if your SAT or ACT scores are low or average. Additionally, many selective colleges now require any two subject test scores along with your traditional SAT or ACT scores. Other schools will allow you to submit your scores from two of the following tests: SAT, ACT or SAT Subject Test. For a fairly up to date list of colleges that require, recommend and consider SAT Subject Tests, check out this link from Compass Prep.

Remember, Sandweiss Test Prep offers individual tutoring and practice exams for all SAT Subject Tests and AP exams. Now is the perfect time to start studying!

For more reading: December College Checklist for Juniors from The New York Times The Choice Blog

We offer more than just test prep. We can be your partner through all aspects of your decision making process

Let us give you some free, low-hassle advice. If you have a quick comment or question about your college application process just post it on the Sandweiss Test Prep Facebook page and we’ll respond ASAP.
If you’ve ever received a service from Sandweiss Test Prep please share your opinion: Review Us on Yelp!
Has your family visited a college recently? Help us build a dynamic, social database where students can interact, share stories and give each other tips, recommendations or warnings about different colleges.
Do you have feedback on this newsletter? We’re planning on starting a semi-monthly newsletter of this sort. Please let us know if you’d like to be taken off the mailing list, or if you have any other feedback.
Susie Coffaro
Sandweiss Test Prep