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​THOUGHTS & ADVICE ON COLLEGE, Careers, the APPLICATION PROCESs, and More

Summer Series: College Essay Writing Tip #3

8/3/2020

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Written by Lily McIntyre

Hi everyone! I hope you've all been enjoying your summer (keeping COVID-19 restrictions in mind, of course!). Unfortunately, this is the last college essay-writing tip in this series, but it's definitely an important one to remember. As always, feel free to scroll down to find previous tips that may be helpful to you during this process!

Make it personal: There is so much going on in the world, especially right now. You really don't need to write about how the world is; anyone can do that. But nobody except for you can tell a story from solely your perspective. What do your observations and thoughts offer that the media might not? How is your perspective unique, and how can it benefit the world? You might be worrying of seeming too ordinary, but that's okay! In fact, a bonus tip on writing your essay is to think of seemingly unordinary things (a famous essay which helped someone gain admission to five Ivy Leagues and Stanford was all about Costco...find it here). The key part of all of this is to perhaps make the unordinary seem extraordinary by talking about how it might relate to you and how you see the world. Only you have the power to do that. Remember that cheesy quote, "Be yourself because everyone else is taken"? It's more significant than you might think. 

Thank you for reading, and I wish everyone applying to college this year and the years to come luck in this process! You'll be on the other side of it before you know it.
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Summer Series: College Essay Writing Tip #2

7/27/2020

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Written by Lily McIntyre
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Hi everyone! I hope you've all been holding up okay and have been taking care of yourselves. Keep reading for the second edition of our Summer Series on college essay writing, and feel free to browse through previous blog posts for more tips when it comes to perfecting your essay!

Show, don’t tell: I touched on this during last week's post using examples from my own college essay, but I really want to highlight the importance of showing, not telling in your story. The admissions officers should never explicitly read the words “driven”, “passionate”, and “enthusiastic” in reference to yourself and your abilities, but they should be able to read between the lines of your essay to decode that you’re driven, passionate, and enthusiastic. By providing examples in which you showcase these qualities instead of listing qualities, they can gain a greater understanding of how you’ll positively contribute to their school.

Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for the next tip! 
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Summer Series: College Essay Writing Tip #1

7/16/2020

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Written by Lily McIntyre

Hey everyone! I hope you’ve all been staying well and are taking good care of yourselves. For the next couple of weeks, I’ll be starting a series of essay-writing tips that may help you as you navigate the college essay/application process. Keep reading for the first tip, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for the next edition of this series!

Your story should help, not hurt you: If you’re to get anything out of this post, I hope it’s this: Don’t let your story hold you back in your essay. You might have a really interesting story, but it might be too specific and limit you from talking about everything you want to in a coherent way. If this applies to you, maybe think of a general metaphor that you can weave mini-stories into instead. For my own college essay, I talked about my favorite word game, Bananagrams. I exhibited my personal growth by starting off with a scene from when I was a kid playing Bananagrams in which I traded in my hard letters like Q and X in for easier ones to make words with. I related this story to parts of my life in which I took the easy way out and shied away from challenges. Later in the essay, I gave examples from when I grew older that showed my rising up to challenges and facing my fears. Finally, I tied it all together by discussing a game of Bananagrams in the present day where I didn’t trade in my letters and made creative words with the more difficult letters I already had.

As someone who was going through this process a couple of years ago, I understand how difficult writing your essay can be. Remember to take care of yourselves and prioritize you ​throughout this process!
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Interview with an Expert Tutor: Tackling the ACT and SAT

6/24/2020

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Written by Lily McIntyre

Hi everyone! I hope you’ve all been taking good care of yourselves amidst the great change and upheaval going on in our country right now. I've been worrying about the world a lot lately, but my mom always tells me to focus on the stuff I can control instead of worrying about things I can’t. If you’re in high school and planning on taking the SAT or ACT sometime soon, something you can control is getting ahead on standardized test prep (...as terrible as that sounds). If you don’t have any idea where to start or are looking for resources, we’re here to help. Today’s blog post features an interview with Ben C., a top ACT and SAT tutor for a boutique tutoring company called MyGuru. Ben and I talked about study mistakes, tips, test prep resources, and information on standardized tests that might help give you all a leg up in this process!

I started off by asking Ben what kind of student would be a better fit for the ACT versus the SAT; I was confused myself when I was going through this process just a couple of years ago! According to Ben, “The ACT tends to be well suited for students who make a lot of distinctions between things they know, i.e. analytically minded students, where the SAT tends to be suited for students who reason well, or synthesize different kinds of information.” The tests themselves have gotten more similar over the years, so it’s not the end of the world if you’re not sure which test best suits you! Ben also notes that colleges don’t prefer one test over the other, so your decision can be completely based on which test you feel more comfortable taking.

Then, we discussed the prep period before taking the test. Personally, I started prepping for the ACT 6 months before I took it because I was freaked out about it. Ben says that if you’re comfortable with tests, you can start prepping 6-8 weeks before you take it. But for people who get nervous with tests (like myself), Ben agrees with beginning test prep around 6 months in advance. When you’ve started studying and are looking for online resources, Ben recommends test-specific materials. Specifically, “...most tests have numerous official copies that have been uploaded by HS programs and others who gain access to official ACT/SAT tests. It is always a better idea to practice with official materials than a secondary company if possible.” In the weeks leading up to the test, Ben recommends studying 2 hours a week with a tutor, spending 2 hours doing practice questions, plus 4 hours scattered throughout the week doing study work like flash cards, reading, etc.. However, you might have a different time frame and schedule that works for you! Studying for standardized tests is an individualized process; different methods work for different people.

When you’re studying, though, Ben warns against studying “too hard” in order to relieve test anxiety. It is just as important to rest while studying as well! In the weeks leading up to the test, Ben notes that there are certain types of problems that consistently appear on each test, and that there is usually a conventional “right way” to solve it. If grasping that one process is challenging for you, get creative! In Ben’s words, “The ‘wrong way’ can be easier [and] faster, and the test isn’t checking your work. See if you can make up a way to solve the problem that works for you.” 

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Ben and I also discussed the actual test-taking process. When asked about the biggest test-taking mistakes they see students make, Ben says, “Something I always preach is that we should always choose our own way through the test. Following the sequence of questions as offered… leads to a tendency to get stuck on questions or easily tripped up.” I agreed and reflected on my own experience of being stuck on some math questions while taking the ACT and inevitably wasting more time on those few problems rather than tackling the questions I immediately knew first. In our interview, I also asked Ben about how many times students should take the ACT or SAT. I remember talking to some of my high school peers who took the SAT seven times. Is this actually your best bet? According to Ben, “Taking the test is never fun, so the true ideal is 1 time, so prepare well and hit that mark on the first go. In my experience, though, the experience of taking the test is an essential teacher, and so usually the second or third time will be substantially higher. After the 4th it’s less and less likely, so you definitely don’t want to overdo it.” Similarly, I was satisfied with my score after my third time taking the ACT.

Finally, I really wanted to get a tutor’s insight on the new test-optional policy many universities have been adopting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Ben’s eyes, “The college application is a process that incorporates an array of information in the service of determining whether a student would be a good fit for a given school… It does make sense and feels fair to make the test optional in so many places this year, given that many students are not able to go to great lengths to take it under the pandemic - requiring it would unfairly benefit students with access to more resources.” Given this, Ben still believes that taking the test and getting a high score can positively affect your application. Looking to the future, Ben is excited to see how standardized tests will transform, whether there will be new kinds of tests or new ways to do testing at home, or something we can’t imagine right now. We hope that Ben’s insight has given you some guidance, and hopefully some relief, on the big, bad standardized test process! Find out more about Ben and MyGuru’s services below:

Ben C. is a top ACT and SAT tutor for a boutique tutoring company called MyGuru. They specialize in connecting students with experienced (at least 3 years) and impressive (at least 95th percentile test scores and bachelor's degrees) backgrounds at an affordable cost. They also stress the importance of mindset, strategy, confidence, effective study habits, and time management and organization skills in achieving superior performance in school and on standardized tests. Visit them there for more information on their ACT and SAT tutoring approach.

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Black Lives Matter

6/9/2020

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by Lily McIntyre

We hope that everyone is staying healthy and safe during these troubling times. If you haven’t read our last blog post, I posted about some mental health resources and self-care tips that might be helpful given our current situation. Please check them out if you haven’t yet; you can find the post here. 

But this week, I wanted to share some thoughts on the situation as well as things that I’ve been learning throughout the past week or so. We at Lucent believe that the killings and abuse by the police, as well as the systemic racism that disproportionately impacts Black people, are unjust and need to end. We hope that people are educating themselves so that Black people may be treated as equals, with the respect and dignity that so many already have the privilege of having. Black Lives Matter, but “matter” is the minimum. Black lives are worthy and needed. Of course, I am unbelievably angry that this keeps happening, and that it ever happened in the first place. I’m even angrier that some people are morphing a human rights crisis into a political issue. 

I actually saw an analogy on TikTok recently that I think explains the situation clearly to those who might be having trouble understanding. Here’s the link: https://vm.tiktok.com/EsmYX6/. The woman in the video is talking about a conversation she had in which one of her friends said, “I just can’t support this because all lives matter.” The woman in the video then explains a hypothetical situation in which people are sitting down to eat and everyone gets a plate of food except for Bob. Bob is hungry and wants a plate of food, but Karen, with a full plate, says, “We’re all hungry, Bob.” Bob doesn’t have any food, though. “I deserve food!” Bob says. Everyone else keeps eating. Do we all deserve food? Yes! But saying that doesn’t change the fact that Bob still doesn’t have any. This next part really stuck with me and I hope it will stick with you too. The woman says, “Do all lives matter? Yes! But saying it doesn’t change the fact that Black lives haven’t mattered for years. Don’t be mad because you don’t have a movement. Be happy you don’t need one.” The time for us to step up has been long, long overdue. 

As a white woman, I am aware of my privilege and have been viewing each day as an opportunity to educate myself and confront the systemic racism that has burdened our country for over 400 years. Privilege is educating yourself about racism instead of experiencing it (@sirjohn on Instagram). Privilege is being encouraged to vote instead of being turned away from the polls. Privilege is feeling sympathetic for the people directly affected by this situation instead of truly empathetic, because as much as I educate myself, as often as I sign petitions and donate, I will never really know the pain and suffering the Black community is feeling right now and has felt for centuries.

Maybe you’re wondering how you can step up. Maybe you’ve seen posts online about protests, step-by-step guides on how to be actively anti-racist, or books and movies that bring awareness to the reality of being a Black person in America. Maybe you’ve seen bail funds to donate to or petitions to sign. We have our work cut out for us. Maybe you’re feeling pressured to do everything, which simply isn’t possible for one person! If I’m being honest, the sheer influx of information I have been seeing, while incredibly helpful, can get overwhelming after a while. But as long as we collectively keep our foot on the gas and make a habit of doing something meaningful that benefits this movement every day, that moves us in the right direction. Do whatever you can to make a tangible difference. Here is a compilation of resources for accountability and action for Black lives: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xa9Av-NfuFsWBHlsMvPiqJHdNedZgnCRW56qAS-7PGQ/mobilebasic. Also, you can still donate without actually spending mone (check this out for more information: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7xa-gJ6To/?igshid=1q83y0muclfsg ) . But please keep in mind as more time goes by that this movement is not a trend. We have created great momentum and have to keep it going!
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Check-in on your Black friends (here’s a guide if you don’t know what to say: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA-hlZwlz9s/?igshid=h05fdz84gm2). They are carrying an enormous weight on their shoulders. And to the Black community: We see you, we hear you, and we are here for you. 
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Mental Health Resources

6/3/2020

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by Lily McIntyre

Hi everyone, and we hope that you’re all hanging in there throughout these times. Lucent wants to remind everyone that we see you, we hear you, we are here for you, and Black Lives Matter. A separate post regarding thoughts on the situation is in the works, but for now, we wanted to offer some mental health resources. Below is a slideshow of resources 
specifically aimed towards our friends in the Black Community. If you think these might be helpful to anyone you know, please spread the word and share this post!
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We also wanted to note that this has been a time of high emotion, which can be very overwhelming. There has been a lot of intense content on social media during the past couple days, so we want to remind everyone of a few tips if the media/situation at large has you feeling overwhelmed:

1. Write down your thoughts (@justgirlproject on IG). Doing this without judgement is very important. Feel whatever it is you feel.
2. Have productive conversations and express your feelings to friends and family (@justgirlproject on IG).
3. Read (especially before bed)! (@justgirlproject on IG)
4. Color, paint, or do paint by numbers.
5. Focus on what you can control (_@hi_anxiety_ on IG)
6. Continue to educate yourself and continually check in with yourself to be aware if you need a break.

We hope that you are all looking out for others and also yourself. We hope that you continue to stay healthy and safe. We are here to support you in any way we can.


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The Dreaded College Essay: Staying Ahead of the Game

5/29/2020

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written by Lily McIntyre

With most (virtual) graduations in full swing, we start to look forward to the rising seniors who will be in a cap and gown a year from now, all of their hard work towards school and college/job applications having finally paid off. However, all graduates will tell you that it can be a long road to get to that point. The college application process can seem to be a daunting one, especially when coming up with your personal statement. Based on my own experience and my friends’ experiences, I can tell you firsthand that it takes a weight off of your shoulders if you write a rough draft of your college essay sooner rather than later. Even if you re-read your essay later and cringe, or decide to make lots of revisions, and it doesn’t matter. You’ll already be done with the hardest part: starting. Social distancing may be a pain in many ways, but you can actually use it to your advantage this time. It’s not very often that you’re left with little to do but think! Use this time as an opportunity to reflect on your past experiences and what you’ve learned from them. 
Want some tips for your essay? Here are 3 ideas that might be useful for brainstorming:
  1. Leave your inner critic behind. A lot of college essay writers have trouble coming up with an idea because they immediately judge themselves for not being “interesting” enough. In reality, the actual subject matter isn’t as important as how you convey you through it. Don’t believe me? My college essay was about the word game Bananagrams and I got into some great schools! Stay true to you and it will be enough.
  2. Use your opening sentence to hook your reader. Just like how your teachers might instruct you in English class, it’s so important that the first sentence of your college essay grabs the reader’s attention immediately. Sometimes, this can be done through an action word (e.g. “Wham!”) or through a unique quotation that gives readers an inside look at the story you’re about to tell.
  3. Don’t shy away from some of those “not my finest moment” stories. College admissions officers look for a number of things in each applicant’s essay, especially personal growth. If you can show (not tell) how you’ve developed and matured from the beginning of your personal statement to the end, that lets the college admissions officers know that you’re more than capable of thriving at their school and growing even more.
Like I said before, the college admission process is definitely daunting at first. But really, it’s a checklist of multiple smaller tasks to form your whole application. If you can check off the personal statement part sooner rather than later, it can save you a lot of potential stress down the road. ​

Looking for a fresh set of eyes to look over your essay or someone to brainstorm with? Lucent Education offers essay revision services that tailor to each student’s individual needs. Whether you’re applying to an undergraduate, graduate, or MBA program, Lucent is committed to helping you showcase the best, most genuine you. For more details on our services, click this link: https://www.lucenteducation.com/store/c5/college-gradschool-services.

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Using Mindfulness to Manage School and Career Stress during COVID-19

5/13/2020

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written by Lily McIntyre

​Staying mindful and present amidst the uncertainty relating to the pandemic’s impact on career and education-related opportunities is more important than ever. Mindfulness, otherwise known as focusing on the present moment, is “not the answer to all of life's problems. Rather, it is that all life's problems can be seen more clearly through the lens of a clear mind” (Kabat-Zinn, 1990). If school, career, or any life-related stress is taking a toll on you, here are three easy tips that can boost your mindfulness experience:
MyLife Meditation app: If you’re new to meditation, check out this free app for quick and effective guided exercises to tap into your feelings in a healthy way.

Four Square Breathing: If you’re feeling especially anxious, “Four Square Breathing” is a great grounding tool that lowers both psychological and physiological stress.
  1. Inhale deeply for four seconds.
  2. Hold your breath for four seconds.
  3. Exhale deeply for four seconds.
  4. Hold your (lack of) breath for four seconds.
  5. Repeat this process 3 more times. As you do, try to focus solely on your breath and block out any intruding thoughts.

Exercise: Yes, the idea of exercise might seem annoying! But if you’re able to, even taking a walk or run outside for a half an hour a day is a great tool to clear your head and focus on the present moment.
 
​We at Lucent Education hope that these tools make this uncertain time a little bit easier to navigate. We are committed to supporting our clients in any way we can, and hope that everyone is staying safe, healthy, and present during these times.


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Ongoing list of resources for high schoolers during college application process (COVID19)

4/7/2020

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High School from in-person to remote & mental health:
  • Curated materials from Stanford ChallengeSuccess group for remote learning:https://www.challengesuccess.org/resources/covid-19-resources-for-remote-learning/
  • Connecting with friends - video, text, calls - will be important to find a way to keep connected to the high school community (or other activities communities); it might be different from the usual house-device rules!
  • Online classes - if possible, chunking up classes to max 1-hour sessions at a time and completing studies, readings, snacking in between
    Spring break - this should still be honored as spring break; doing something different, getting out for more walks/hikes, etc
Other ways to experience colleges at this time:
  • Social media - not through the official channels, but check out student club channels/pages/handles
  • ​Student newspaper - much of the time found online
  • Alumni newsletters - also can be found online much of the time
  • https://www.campusreel.org/; https://www.youvisit.com/?fromExperience=true
  • Ongoing list of events from schools: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sO7pVos0EvK0BvXoMbnyg00K6r7hXbOQE0HNXF4N4eM/edit?fbclid=IwAR38doSbY4609xgSWILabuvVptXsRuKRg5K6dti6zYmt072D78NbWzS_d8w#gid=0
Extra Curricular Activities:
  • Continuing to condition or work on activities that are interesting to you - but switching gears; also good opportunity to consider options if summer programs shut down due to the pandemic
  • Sports - conditioning at home, getting into a regimen to keep fit for varsity teams; studying strategy (depending on the sport)
  • Club leadership - planning for future events or consideration of events that move online instead (online conference or panel of speakers)
  • Find a relevant outlet (as it relates to your interests) to support or adjust activities for pandemic (e.g. interest in fashion design might equate to sewing cloth masks; interest in eating out might mean learning to cook at home; interest in food bank/poverty issues might equate with online fundraising for the same groups locally)
APs
  • Can likely still sign up, check in with your school counselor/AP coordinator; truncated test, likely still scored on same scale, some schools will still accept it for credit
  • ​If the course wasn’t completed at school (or to your best understanding of the material), might be wise to retake coursework (if necessary for major/interests/career path) when you get to school
  • Updates from college board and additional resources for classes: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update
  • AP classes via youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/advancedplacement?app=desktop
  • ​More AP practice: https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/163503591115/khan-academy-is-the-official-practice-partner-for

SATs
  • College board is trying  to schedule one for one replacement exams throughout summer
  • ​Several schools (Tufts, Scripps and more) have already announced going test-optional for the rising seniors applying to college; others have announced dropping requirements for SAT2s (e.g. MIT)
  • ​From all admissions officers, I’ve been in contact with - assurance that this odd time will be accounted for in the admissions process
  • List of schools that have shifted testing policies for Class of 2021: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17shfjh0LANftkDfBkw7MsYztwc79eWPsNPTPTZucgu8/edit?fbclid=IwAR2VuXsnpUNlsiPIKdgTIpOAI7qsKc8NEI1Iiah913qEXGeGkqe5x9GjEwQ#gid=0​

 For current high school seniors:
  • Pay close attention to communication from the colleges to which you’ve been admitted
  • College admission officers are still working (many from home), so don’t hesitate to still reach out to them and email them with questions
  • The cancellation of admitted student events and campus visits is difficult; most colleges are replacing those activities with online events like live chats, web panel discussions, and virtual live tours
  • ​Many universities have already extended their reply deadline from May 1st to now June 1st, in order to give students more time to make their college decision. Watch for emails from the colleges or contact each school for updates; National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) has also created a for colleges to report any changes to deposit deadlines and visit opportunities, as well as how to connect with each admissions office: here; the list will continue to grow real-time
  • Please READ letters and notifications from colleges on how to communicate with them; there are deadlines (many extended) and specific ways in which college wants to be communicated with (e.g. for wait list letters etc)
  • ​Suspect that wait lists will be longer than in the past (and more generous than in the Fall) as colleges will be protecting themselves from any fallout that might occur from covid19
  • As you are notified of college acceptance and financial aid, it's common for questions to arise. If you have questions about a financial aid package, don't hesitate to contact the college; though I’m not an expert in this particular realm, I have heard of negotiations on financial aid packages in the past or clarifications on how schools calculate their need; here are some other resources which may help: Accepting Financial Aid, How to Break Down Financial Aid Award Letters, and Award Comparison Worksheet



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COVID-19 & College Applications

3/23/2020

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Info on how COVID-19 might affect your high school experience as it relates to college applications:

For seniors receiving decisions letters back from colleges:
  • Pay close attention to communication from the colleges to which you’ve been admitted.
  • College admission officers are still working (many from home), so don’t hesitate to still reach out to them and email them with questions.
  • The cancellation of admitted student events and campus visits is difficult; most colleges are replacing those activities with online events like live chats, web panel discussions, and virtual live tours. 
  • Many universities have already extended their reply deadline from May 1st to now June 1st, in order to give students more time to make their college decision. Watch for emails from the colleges or contact each school for updates. The National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) has also created a for colleges to report any changes to deposit deadlines and visit opportunities, as well as how to connect with each admissions office: here.  This list is likely to grow as time passes.
  • Please carefully read letters and notifications from colleges on how to communicate with them; there are deadlines (many extended) and specific ways in which college wants to be communicated with (e.g. for wait list letters etc)
  • As you are notified of college acceptance and financial aid, it's common for questions to arise. If you have questions about a financial aid package, don't hesitate to contact the college; though I’m not an expert in this particular realm, I have heard of negotiations on financial aid packages in the past or clarifications on how schools calculate their need. Here are some other resources which may help: Accepting Financial Aid, How to Break Down Financial Aid Award Letters, and Award Comparison Worksheet.

AP and SAT/ACT Exams:
  • AP exams will be truncated to cover less material and offering an in-home exam.  Please continue to study for exams!
  • College board has put together additional resources to supplement any online instruction students may still be receiving from high school: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/coronavirus-updates#free-ap-classes
  • Khan Academy also has a bunch of resources: https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/163503591115/khan-academy-is-the-official-practice-partner-for
  • Updates on AP exams/program from college board will be here: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update
  • SATs: cancellation for May subject tests are official; it is possible and likely that June exams will also be cancelled; we are awaiting news on if additional exams will be offered in the summer time https://www.collegeboard.org/releases/2020/college-board-cancels-may-sat-response-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR1-gLDmv9bVgL94tgkyAM9XU3c_nIcdw82v641vq_7qvg05iOVhqwHGTQA
  • ACT: exams have been postponed from April to June for now http://leadershipblog.act.org/?_ga=2.159268410.1898909573.1584994722-1635057728.1584994722

College visits:
  • Most admissions offices are closed to gatherings (tours, admit days, open houses, etc) and most schools are closed for in-person classes as well.
  • There are a few other resources to get a feel for specific college campuses especially as you're deciding where to apply (or choosing where to attend): https://www.youvisit.com/ is one option.
  • Don't hesitate to reach out to colleges if you have specific questions; many colleges also have photos and videos of their campuses on their websites; and you can always do a google image search (insight into dorms is easily found here!)
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CANCELLED Free Workshop: College Admissions A-Z

3/11/2020

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We're teaming up with Learning Center again to hold FREE college admissions prep workshops.  These are great for parents of middle and high schoolers (and teens are welcome to join).  

Presented by: Agnes Chan, Lucent Education
Date: Saturday, April 4, 2-4pm
Location: Learning Center, 333 W Maude Ave #110, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Who: Great for parents of middle schoolers/high schoolers; teens are welcomed to join

We’ll navigate through the high school timelines for each of the main components of a high school portfolio that are considered during the admissions process.
  • Academics: trends, rigor, and performance
  • Extra-curricular activities: exploration, depth, leadership
  • Standardized testing: timelines and strategy
  • Applying to school: school selections, preference/fit, teacher recommendations


    Workshop RSVP

Submit


​More info about the Learning Center


​Tutoring: Learning Center offers individualized tutoring in Math and English for kids and adults in a small group setting. 
​STEM Coding: Learning Center offers technology-focused camps and classes for students in Scratch, Python, 3-D printing, Java, and Robotics. Our offerings include coding classes and camps throughout the year including Saturdays. Students code computer games/projects, and construct engineering models. They build and program robots. Our program features use of computer technology under the supervision of qualified and experienced teachers. We provide all the technology and tools necessary to enhance students coding learning.

Founder/Instructor: Sanjay Agarwal brings in more than 25 years of experience as a Hardware and Software Engineer and has worked with many technology companies.  He holds a Masters in Electrical Engineering and an MBA. He has a passion for teaching science and technology to school children in fun filled learning environment. Sanjay believes our children should learn how to program, because it helps the way they see and think. He caters to the passion, creativity, and curiosity of the child using projects and games that are both educational and fun.

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Introduction to College Loans

1/27/2020

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Blaine at Financial Aid Coach gets tons of questions about college loans this time of year.  Here are his thoughts and expertise laid out as a primer.  ​

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This time of year, once families have decided where their high school seniors will attend college for the upcoming fall, a new set of questions come into play. Admissions applications and financial aid forms have been completed, but parents are often left with wondering how they will cover the balance remaining. Let’s take a look at something that’s commonly used to help bridge the gap of remaining cost; college loans.

Considering the rising cost of college, loans come into play more and more. These are made available through the Federal Government, private banks and credit unions and sometimes even schools themselves. It’s common for families to need to utilize college loans. Students are graduating from college with over $20,000 in loan debt, on average. That’s not accounting for loans that are in their parent’s name.

Here are some of the more common loans that are made available to families:

FEDERAL DIRECT LOANS
These loans, formerly referred to as the Stafford Loans, are loans in the student’s name provided through the Federal Government. There’s no application process. Students become eligible for this loan by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

These loans are provided in specified amounts to college students. They come in subsidized (government pays the interest) and unsubsidized (families are responsible for the interest) forms based on need as determined by the FAFSA and other financial aid forms. While a family may not qualify for subsidized Federal Direct Loans, you can’t be turned away from the unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan because you make too much money or have too much in assets. This is a common misconception.

Here’s a bit more info on Federal Direct Loans. The interest rates for the 2016-17 Federal Direct Loans will be announced later in the summer.

PARENT PLUS LOANSBecause the Federal Direct Loans have a maximum amount that can be borrowed, which is commonly not enough to cover the full remaining balance, parents are left to look into other options. One of the more common loan options is the Parent PLUS Loan.

This is another loan through the Federal Government. The difference between this loan and the Federal Direct Loan is that the Parent PLUS Loan is a loan in the parent’s name, as the name of the loan would indicate. This loan is applied for on a pass/fail basis at a fixed interest rate provided by the government each new school year. Parents can apply for the maximum needed to cover any remaining balance.

Check out a previous article on common loan myths to avoid confusion when it comes to repayment of the Parent PLUS Loan.

To read the rest of the article: ​http://financialaidcoach.com/introduction-to-college-loans-2016/

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Regular Decision College Notifications (2020)

12/16/2019

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Please double check with schools as decisions notifications can change!
Agnes Scott College - April 15, 2020
Allegheny College - March 15, 2020
Amherst College - April 1, 2020
Babson College - April 1, 2020
Barnard College - Late March 2020
Bates College - April 1, 2020
Belmont University - Mid-February 2020
Boston College - Late March 2020
Boston University - Late March 2020
Bowdoin College - Early April 2020
Brandeis University - April 1, 2020
Brown University - Late March 2020
Bryn Mawr College - April 1, 2020
Bucknell University - Late March 2020
California Institute of Technology - Mid-March 2020
Carleton College - Late March 2020
Carnegie Mellon University - April 15, 2020
Claremont McKenna College - April 1, 2020
Colby College - April 1, 2020
Colgate University - April 1, 2020
College of Charleston - April 1, 2020
College of William & Mary - April 1, 2020
Colorado College - Late March 2020
Columbia University - Late March 2020
Cornell University - Late March 2020
Dartmouth College - Late March 2020
Davidson College - April 1, 2020
Denison University - Mid-March 2020
Dickinson College - Late March 2020
Duke University - Late March 2020
Emory University - Late March 2020
Fordham University - April 1, 2020
Franklin and Marshall College - April 1, 2020
Georgia Tech - Mid-March 2020
George Washington University - Early April 2020
Georgetown University - April 1, 2020
Grinnell College - Late March 2020
Hamilton College - Late March 2020
Hampton University - Rolling admissions
Harvard University - Late March 2020
Harvey Mudd College - April 1, 2020
Haverford College - Early April 2020
Howard University - April 12, 2020
Johns Hopkins University - March 15, 2020
Kenyon College - Mid-March 2020
Lafayette College - Late March 2020
Lehigh University - Late March 2020
Macalester College - Late March 2020
Middlebury College - Late March 2020
MITMid-March 2020
Morehouse College - April 1, 2020
New York University - Late March 2020
North Carolina State - Late March 2020
Northeastern University - April 1, 2020
Northwestern University - Late March 2020
Pomona College - April 1, 2020
Princeton University - Late March 2020
Reed College - April 1, 2020
Rice University - April 1, 2020

Sarah Lawrence College - Late March 2020
Scripps College - April 1, 2020
Southern Methodist University - Late March 2020
Spelman CollegeApril 1, 2020
Stanford University - Late March 2020
Syracuse University - Late March 2020
Swarthmore College - March 15, 2020
Transylvania University - March 1, 2020
Tufts University - April 1, 2020
Tulane University - April 1, 2020
University of California-Berkeley - Late March 2020
University of California-Los Angeles - Late March 2020
Tuskegee University - Rolling admissions
University of Chicago - Late March 2020
University of Colorado at Boulder - April 1, 2020
University of Delaware - Rolling admissions
University of Kentucky - Mid-March 2020
University of Maryland - April 1, 2020
University of Massachusetts Amherst - Early March 2020
University of Miami - Early April 2020
University of Michigan - Early April 2020
University of Minnesota - Late March 2020
University of North Carolina - Late March 2020
University of Notre Dame - Late March 2020
University of Pennsylvania - Late March 2020
University of Richmond - April 1, 2020
University of Rochester - April 1, 2020
University of San Diego - March 2020
University of San Francisco - February 15, 2020
University of Southern California - April 1, 2020
University of Texas - March 1, 2020
University of Vermont - February 22, 2020
University of Virginia - April 1, 2020
University of Wisconsin - Late March 2020
Vanderbilt University - April 1, 2020
Vassar College - Late March 2020
Villanova University - Late March 2020
Virginia Tech - March 5, 2020
Wake Forest - April 1, 2020
Washington and Lee University - April 1, 2020
Washington University in St. Louis - April 1, 2020
Wellesley College - Late March 2020
Wesleyan University - Late March 2020
Wheaton College - April 1, 2020
Whitman College - Late March 2020
Willamette University - March 1, 2020
Williams College - April 1, 2020
Worcester Polytechnic Institute - April 1, 2020
Yale University - Late March 2020
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Early Decision Round 2?

12/12/2019

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There's not much of a difference between Early Decision 1 and Early Decision 2 - except for the timing.  Students that know that they have a first choice school, and will go regardless of being accepted elsewhere, have the opportunity to apply a bit earlier.  The timing for these 2 rounds are different with Early Decision 2 deadlines closer to the deadlines of Regular Decisions, but that the notification of Early Decision candidates is typically in February instead of late March/April.  

Here's a list of schools with the option to submit and Early Decision 2 (ED2) application:
​
American University
Babson College
Bates College
Boston University
Bennington College
Bentley University
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
Bryant University
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Claremont McKenna College
Colby College
Colgate University
College of the Atlantic
College of the Holy Cross
College of William and Mary
College of Wooster
Colorado College
Connecticut College
Davidson College
Denison College
Dickinson College
Emory University
Franklin & Marshall College
George Washington University
Gettysburg College
Grinnell College
Hamilton College
Harvey Mudd College
Haverford College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Juniata College
Kenyon College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
Macalester College
Middlebury College


Mount Holyoke College
New York University
Northeastern University
Oberlin College
Occidental College
Pitzer College
Pomona College
​Reed College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhodes College
Saint Olaf College
Santa Clara College
Sarah Lawrence College
Scripps College
Sewanee: The University of the South
Skidmore College
Smith College
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University
Trinity College
Trinity University
Tufts University
Tulane University
Union College
University of Chicago
University of Miami
University of Richmond
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Wake Forest University
Washington University
Washington and Lee University
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Whitman College
​​
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Early Decisions notifications are coming out soon!

12/6/2019

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Here's a list - Stanford (our alma mater) comes out today!

Barnard College: Mid-December
Boston College: December 5th, 5:30pm EST (Early Decision I)
Boston University: December 15
Brandeis University: December 15
Brown University: Mid-December
Cal Tech: Mid-December
Carnegie Mellon University: December 15
Columbia University: December 12th, 7pm ET
Cornell University: December 12th, 7pm ET
Dartmouth College: Mid-December
Duke University: December 15th
Emory University: By December 15
Georgetown University: December 15th
Harvard University: Mid-December
Harvey Mudd: December 15th (decisions mailed)
Johns Hopkins University: December 13th
Middlebury College: Mid-December
MIT: December 14th, 12:14pm ET
New York University: December 15th (Early Decision I), February 15th (Early Decision II)
Northwestern University: Mid-December
Notre Dame University: Mid-December
Pomona College: By December 15
Princeton University: December 12th
Stanford University: December 6th, 4pm PST
Swarthmore College: By December 15
Tufts University: Mid-December
Tulane University: November 20th, 4pm CST (Early Decision), December 19th, 3:30pm CST (Early Action)
University of Chicago: Mid-December (Early Action and Early Decision)
University of Michigan, By December 24
University of Pennsylvania, December 16th, 7pm
University of Virginia, December 6th, evening (Early Decision), January 31st (Early Action)
Vanderbilt University: Mid-December (Early Decision I), Mid-February (Early Decision II)
Washington University in St. Louis: Mid-December
Wellesley College: Mid-December, ED Round I
William & Mary: December 6th, evening (Early Decision I)
Williams College: By December 15
Yale University: December 16th


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