Accommodations for the ISEE and SSAT

December 4th, 2017|

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS TAKING THE ISEE    Educators are fully aware that many very capable students struggle taking standardized tests because they have learning or physical challenges. This is why accommodations are offered to students who "are unable to take the ISEE under standard conditions" These challenges must be documented and upon approval, a student may be eligible to receive [...]

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Creating Your College List

October 18th, 2017|

When you’re deciding on a college, it’s a good idea to start researching them early in the game. We’ve seen many of our students change their minds late in the process, after they’ve gotten to know a little more about the schools they’re looking at, or have narrowed down the subjects that are of most interest to [...]

College Bound Juniors – Summer is the Time to Write Your Personal Statement

May 30th, 2017|

Summer is a perfect time for college-bound juniors to begin crafting their personal statements. A personal statement is required by many colleges, and is arguably the most important component of the application. Each school has a unique personal statement requirement, so it’s paramount you follow the directions perfectly. For example, if you do not adhere [...]

College Bound Juniors – Get Started on your Essay Now

May 23rd, 2017|

Last week we began talking about the benefits of starting the college application process during the summer of junior year. In looking at the process in terms of separate chunks, our focus today is the essay.  So how should you get started on your essay?  Read the prompts on the Common Application webpage and start [...]

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 [...]

Why Do Kids Struggle With Standardized Test Questions?

February 23rd, 2017|

Whether you understand the meaning of a test question or not may depend on whether you’re the one who wrote the test, or are the one who’s taking it. As experienced teachers, we've seen this first hand.   We would write questions for tests that seemed perfectly fair. The material had been covered in class, [...]

What Are Schools Looking For in the Writing Section?

February 10th, 2017|

It’s not easy to put together a good writing sample on the test if you don’t know what your schools will think is good.   Do they want formal writing? Should there be astounding thoughts that unlock the secrets of the universe? Should it be in iambic pentameter?   Don’t worry. None of those things [...]

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Reading Comprehension – Finding the Best Strategy for You

February 1st, 2017|

     The first thing to know about the reading comprehension section of any test is that it is not a test of how well you read. It's a test of how well you take a reading test.      What this means for test takers is that to do well on this test section, [...]

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 [...]