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5 Crucial Tips That Can Help You Improve Your SAT Score

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While SATs are spread throughout the year – this is one of the hottest seasons. Many high school students are either taking their first test… sitting for the SAT IIs (subject tests)… or improving upon previous SAT scores.

No matter which situation you're in, there are a few easy things you can do to maximize your score. Today, we’ll take a look at the five most important.

1. Give yourself time. When you start studying is entirely up to you. And it’s been shown, time and time again, the sooner you start studying, the better you’ll do. It’s a self-evident truth – but it’s only further reinforced by studies that show the same thing.

Not only can you improve your score an extra 50 or 100 points by getting ready earlier… but the study itself will be easier as well. You see, while you will be spending more hours getting ready, the most powerful part of starting study early isn’t the extra time as much as the chance for your mind to process everything.  In other words, you'll remember more of what you cover –without the stress of “cramming.”

2. Practice. Nothing – absolutely nothing – will give you as big a leg up as practice tests.

With practice, you’ll memorize the test instructions, so you won’t have to spend time figuring out what you’re being asked in each section. With practice, you’ll get a better feel for the questions you’ll see, and the types of thinking you’ll need to apply. And, of course, with practice, you’ll learn your weakest areas, and hence have an opportunity to focus your study where it will do the most good.

3. Word A Day. Hopefully, you already know a good number of the SAT vocabulary words. That said, very few people know enough to feel confident without study – and, as mentioned earlier, cramming a bunch of words at a time isn’t the best way to retain them.

If you start early enough, though, you can add a word a day without too much trouble, and cover most of the gaps in your knowledge. With only a word a day, you can really focus on it – go over the definition, use it three times in everyday conversation, and review it again before you go to sleep. Easy – and highly effective.

4. Relax. For many students, the hardest thing about the test is knowing you’re being tested.

Studies have shown that most people get “dumber” under test-like pressure – they miss questions with answers they know. The solution? Learn how to relax your mind.

Studying early and taking many practice tests help here – the confidence you gain can make a big difference.

But there are plenty of other things you can do as well. Practice various breathing techniques – anything from counting to ten to full-on meditation. Calm yourself just before the test starts – and between any sections, if you have the time. Learn to recognize when you mind is tensing – and, as you notice it, do your best to sooth your mind.

5. Prep yourself right. This should go without saying – but before the test, get a good night’s rest. After all, nothing dulls the brain like lack of sleep.

Try to make your night-before meal a light, healthy one. Salmon, for example, is rich in brain-assisting fatty acids.

Of course you should have a good idea what will help your body work best – the key is, don’t give it short shrift during the drama and tension that often precede an SAT sitting.

Treat yourself right – and you’ll help yourself in the end.

If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4collegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!

_______________________________

Article excepted from Scott Weingold,  College Planning Network, LLC

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What To Do – And NOT Do – While Waiting On College Acceptance Letters

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The “Hidden Costs” of College 

Living Arrangements

Some colleges offer cheap student housing for all four years. Meanwhile, some colleges force students out of the dorms after freshman year.  And some schools don’t have dorms at all.

Point is – Find out if your college estimates the cost of off-campus living for later years in its room and board, or not. Many will give the dorm estimates… even though dorms might not be available.

If you’re going to pay for off-campus living at some point, the location of the college suddenly matters a lot more. A small town in Nebraska will be a lot cheaper than a school in Boston or Manhattan. That difference can make a large difference in price – especially if dorms are only guaranteed for the first (freshman) year.

Travel

If you’re in New York, you’re most likely going to need to ride the subway often. How much will a monthly subway card cost?

If you’re on a remote campus, are you going to have a car? How necessary is it for getting around? How much will car insurance cost in that town? Do you have to pay for garage parking?

Some schools are well-contained, and have virtually no day-to-day travel expenses. For others, a car is nearly a necessity. There is plenty of in between… but, as you can imagine, a school with minimal travel expenses can make a huge difference in the cost of attendance. And most of the time, the cost of a car (or other travel) isn’t figured into a university’s cost-of-living numbers.

Food

Nearly every school has meal plans. But not every school offers it to all students – such as those who live off-campus. And a number of college cultures wind up skipping the cheap eats of the cafeteria for the better quality available in town.

This often winds up being the biggest hidden cost of attending college. If you’re in a small university town with little fare beyond the school’s walls, then the cost of eating won’t be big.

But if your school is in the middle of a large city – and especially if students eat away from cafeterias often – then the cost of food can be a nasty surprise on your budget.

Most schools figure board into their cost-of-living numbers… but not a lot factor in a high degree of eating out or takeout food. Going to school in a major city offers plenty of opportunities for new experiences – but those costs can quickly add up.

There are plenty of other hidden expenses – including the biggest one of all:  NOT graduating in 4 years.

Fact is, the U.S. Dept. of Education's National Center for Education Statistics determined that only 44% of full-time students graduated from college within 4 years of enrollment (based on a study it conducted in 2008).

That's why it's imperative to be laser focused on graduating in 4 years (and not the national average of 5 ½ years.)

Just remember – when you’re weighing the costs of college, don’t forget the hidden ones.

  If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4collegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!

___________________

Excerpted from Scott Weingold, Co-Founder, College Planning Network, LLC

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Consider These 4 Unique College Scholarships

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Parents and students are looking for ways to keep the cost of college tuition down. While researching this topic on the web for my blog post, I came upon this web post by Matt Conrad from  Scholarship America.  Read below to learn about four very different scholarship opportunities available from some unusual sources.

Generally, we think about college scholarships and financial aid as pretty serious business. You spend precious hours searching out opportunities, crafting perfect essays, finding the ideal recommendations, and making sure your application is up to par—and the cost of college is certainly no joke.

But that's not to say you can't have some fun in the midst of your scholarship search. For every hyper-competitive national scholarship, there are dozens of options geared toward uncommon pursuits, unusual interests, and unlikely skills. These four scholarships may not appeal to everyone, but if you fit their criteria they can mean real money toward your college education.

One of the most ubiquitous elements of any student's college life is the lofted bed. When dorms are as small as they often are, every bit of space counts, and one of the easiest unusual scholarships to apply for is the OP Loftbed $500 Scholarship.

Sponsored by one of the leading manufacturers of bed lofts, this scholarship competition's unique twist comes via the application. Rather than asking about your grades, goals, or achievements, the judges are looking for the most creative short answers to a set of nontraditional questions. These range from "What song would you want to play every time you walked in a room and why?" to "What should be celebrated with a new holiday every year?" OP Loftbed runs the contest a few times a year; if you have a little time to think creatively, it's well worth submitting an application next time.

If it's hard to imagine college life without a bed loft, it's even harder to imagine everyday life without duct tape—and everyone's favorite adhesive can mean up to $5,000 in college cash for a creative couple. The Duck Brand Stuck At Prom Scholarship Contest, now in its 12th year, challenges high school prom goers to create entire outfits out of duct tape for the chance to win scholarships. Duck will choose its top 10, and then the public will vote for the first-, second- and third-place winners (who win scholarship funds for themselves and their schools).

You can start submitting your entries on March 7, but before you start planning, be warned that this is a little more intense than your average duct tape wallet project: Last year's grand prize winners didn't just make a suit and a dress from duct tape; they constructed flowers, lace and a vest and tie combo that, frankly, was nicer than the tux I wore to my prom.

While we're on the subject of ducks, did you know you can turn your passion for duck calling into scholarship dollars? Every November, the city of Stuttgart, Ark., hosts the World's Champion Duck Calling Contest; in conjunction with the main contest, any high school senior is eligible to enter the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest, which awards scholarships to the top four finishers. Over the past 36 years, the memorial contest has given out $60,000 in scholarship funds; 2011 winner Gavin Roberts received a $2,000 award. If you're a skilled caller and will be graduating from high school in spring 2013, bookmark the contest page, and you might just find yourself on stage with next year's Queen Mallard.

Last but not least is one of the highest-paying unusual scholarships out there: the Ursinus College Creative Writing Award. The award may not actually sound that unusual, until you learn that it was formerly known as the J.D. Salinger Creative Writing Award—and that the writer receiving the award not only gets $30,000 per year, but also the chance to spend his or her freshman year living in the former dorm room of the reclusive Catcher in the Rye author.

While this scholarship is a big and competitive award, the college does treat it with the appropriate sense of humor as well: "In the spirit of Holden Caulfield … we are looking for an unusual perspective, for quirky brilliance, for a voice, not necessarily the kind that can be measured by conventional standards. Mr. Salinger never graduated, but we like to think that if his genius had been recognized with an award like this, he might have." If you're serious about writing, this unusual scholarship could be the ticket to a bright future.

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Matt Konrad, Scholarship America

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How Do I Thank the College Interviewer?

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College Interview Thank You Letter

This is the time of year of the "college interview".  My last two blog posts spoke about how to prepare for the interview.  Today's blog post speaks to how to "follow up" after the interview.  It is very important to leave a good impression with the interviewer.  Peggy Wallace, founder of Making Conversation, presents an excellent article on the reasons why you should write a thank you note to the interviewer immediately after the interview.  Her article is reproduced in its entirety below. 

The world is fast-paced. Take the time to stand out from the crowd and maximize your chances for admission with a written "Thank You."

You likely spent quite a bit of time worrying about and preparing for the interview. Hopefully, more of the latter than the former -- the better prepared you are, the less worried you will be. When the interview is complete and you have thanked them for their time and parted with another handshake, do you just exhale a sigh of relief, "Whew, that's done" and escape? You could. However, I strongly recommend that you take the extra time to thank the interviewer again in writing. Yes, in writing. This does not mean that you go overboard and send a gift, flowers, candy, bottle of Champagne or anything which could be misinterpreted.

The person with whom you interviewed took time from his or her day to meet you. Even if it is an interviewer's job or a volunteer's pleasure to do the interviews, people like to have their effort appreciated. It may not be what you say, do, or wear that makes the lasting impression. How you made the interviewer feel (I recommend respected), makes the big difference.

The Basics

A meaningful thank you note, one that contains substantive references to the specifics of the conversation (one or two, if you have them, is sufficient) and reiterates your enthusiasm about the school, will reinforce that positive impression you worked so hard to present. To be most effective, it must be sent promptly.

E-mailed Thank You Note

An e-mailed thank you is perfectly appropriate. But, wait until you leave their parking lot, so it can appear to reflect some careful, considered thought expressing gratitude. If you want to attach a file or reference something relevant, so much the better, e.g. some recordings of your original songs or a reprint copy of an article that was published. However, send the e-mail before the end of that day, or certainly within 24 hours. Most interviewers, including regional alums, try to write up their interviews right away. You want them to feel especially good about you, before they press "send" on their report of your interview.

Snail Mail Thank You Note

If you decide to send a note through snail mail, make sure they get it by the next day. A handwritten note makes a standout impression. It can be sent in addition to the e-mail thank you. Make sure that both notes reference different observations or impressions of the topics discussed during the interview and highlight different aspects of your enthusiasm about the school. If the interview was with someone at the school, your handwritten note may go into your file, assuming they are not TOTALLY electronic. If they are online only, they may scan in your handwritten note! The recipient is likely to fondly remember your extra effort when he or she is discussing the merits of your application with the admissions committee and, hopefully, advocating for your admission. I ask my clients to travel with stationery and stamps, so they can mail the thank you note before they leave town! You might want to avoid a postmark from your next location, particularly if it is a city with a rival school. Some additional snail mail tips include the following.

• Use conservative, quality blank note cards. A cutesy, funny or satirical card may be misinterpreted. If you want to add your personal style, get something with a quiet border or tasteful design.

• You do not have to go to their bookstore and buy stationery with the school logo on it. Some clients like this, but to me it seems a bit presumptuous. You most certainly are not expected to have formal stationery engraved with your monogram.

• Do an outline of the points you wish to make in the thank you note. Then do a rough draft so you have the time to review the word choice and sentence structure.

• If you are not used to writing on a blank note card, do a test run on a lined piece of paper and then put a blank lined piece of paper under the stationery. If it is cardstock, you will not be able to see the lines underneath, so mark every other line showing on the sides as a guideline so you can make sure your writing stays horizontal.

Of course, any gratitude would be appreciated by the interviewer. As a volunteer regional alum for University of Pennsylvania for over 25 years, I interviewed many applicants for admission. I can count on one hand the number of thank you notes I received during all those years.

Show the good manners you learned when you were a child. Thank the interviewer in writing.

Present your best self by being authentic and enthusiastically showing your own unique personality; open doors by winning with words.

______________________________________________ Article by Peggy Wallace, founder, Making Conversation