September To Do List for Independent School Admissions

September 18th, 2017|

September is when families are embarking upon the admissions process for the following school year.  This is a time to gather information about the schools to which you're applying and plan for their specific requirements for admission.  One of the most important pieces of advices that we give parents is to make sure you are not holding up [...]

First Steps in the College Application Process – 9th Grade

March 23rd, 2017|

There is no question that preparing your child for college while in elementary school is way too early.  But it's also possible to start too late.  For most students, the application process will begin junior year, but freshman year is when decisions about coursework and extracurricular activities count.   In order to create a sound foundation for [...]

How Parents Can Alleviate Stress During the Admissions Season

December 26th, 2016|

It is very difficult watching your child feel stress, especially when you are feeling the same way. This is what I commonly hear from the parents I counsel during the admission process. So, how do we help our children and ourselves during this oftentimes anxiety-filled time?  Here is my advice on how to demystify [...]

What Parents Should Know About Standardized Tests

November 17th, 2016|

One of the great myths out there is that students who know the material taught in class will be prepared for standardized tests. But  the reality is that except for a few naturally great test takers, knowing only the academic material is going in half-prepared.   One concept we try to instill in our students is that [...]

Tips for Having a Great Admissions Interview

November 12th, 2016|

During the admissions process, parents and student applicants will be asked to participate in an interview. This might be with someone from the admissions office, a teacher, or even a student if you're applying to secondary school.  It's natural for parents and students to feel somewhat anxious about this step in the admissions process.  Don't let that [...]

Testing Your Best: It’s not as simple as knowing what you learned in class

July 12th, 2016|

"My child is a great student.  He works hard and earns excellent grades.  He just doesn't test well."   How many of us have made that same observation about our own child?  As teachers and test-prep tutors, this phenomenon of good students struggling at test time seems to be more the norm than the exception.   What [...]

Taking the New SAT?

August 24th, 2015|

An article in Forbes Magazine recommends not taking the SAT in its first year. For one thing, they say, it’s hard to prepare for a test that hasn’t been given before, versus one that has been given for years. Second, the scores for the first test in March cannot be reported until after the May [...]

In Celebration of the Ordinary

June 15th, 2015|

In my work with students and families over the years, I have noticed a growing trend among parents:  they expect their children to be extraordinary. A clear majority of them expect this, so the math can’t possibly work. This phenomenon takes so many forms.  More frequently than you’d think, parents worry that their child's teacher or [...]

Knowing the Test Prep Track

June 8th, 2015|

When we were starting our test prep program, a school principal asked us why anyone would practice for a test that they can’t see beforehand anyway. I had just seen a documentary on a race called the Baja 1000, and so had a pretty good metaphor ready to go. The Baja 1000 course changes every [...]