Studying for the SAT is no easy task: often, students feel like all their hard work is in vain, or they become frustrated with ambiguous study concepts. A common symptom of SAT studying is “burnout,” when students lose motivation to keep working hard. One of the best things to do in the face of burnout is to form an SAT study group.

Study groups for the SAT go beyond motivation—teaching others is one of the best ways to ensure that you understand important concepts. There are clear advantages to adding a study group to your test preparation regimen. You must, however, think carefully about the dynamic you want to form when assembling your study group. Here are some important things to think about:

1. Keep your study group limited to 4-6 members. More than this and you will get bogged down with each student’s weakness.
2. Try to work with students who are aiming for a similar score as you. This will ensure that you achieve a balance of learning from others and helping others learn.
3. Make sure that everyone brings a different strength. Try not to have a study group where all four of you are math whizzes, but no one knows the definition of “coincidental.”
4. Meet consistently, and have a schedule. It is easy to get distracted when you are hanging out with a bunch of friends, and it is often difficult to find a time that works for everyone to meet. Find a specific time and discuss a “study plan” at your first study group meeting. Stick to it! Generally, it is a good idea to meet for 1-2 hours once per week.
5. Try to do a “homework task” every week. This will ensure that you all are doing the same preparation, and that week’s homework can illuminate weaknesses that your study group can work through together.

Good luck, and most importantly remember that a study group is there to create a change of pace from solo studying. Keep at it on your own, and use this as a tool to continue motivating your progress!

If you find yourself in search of SAT test prep and SAT tutoring, give us a call at (800) 501-7737.

This article was written by Beryl Manning-Geist, an admissions counselor and private tutor with Top Test Prep.

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More and more, colleges are beginning to consider students holistically. Admissions committees acknowledge and reward a breadth of interests, like athletic achievement, artistic endeavors, or other activities. Your application includes a variety of information: personal statements, academic records, and recommendations all play important roles. In light of this, you may wonder how important are your ACT scores? The answer: they are crucial. Although there may not be a huge difference between a 34 and a 35 in an admission officer’s eyes, there is a big difference between a 25 and a 35. You must, with few exceptions, score within a certain range to attend the nation’s best colleges.

So what is a good ACT score? It largely depends where you want to go! The nation’s most elite colleges, like Williams College, Yale, or Stanford, all have average ACT composites of 30-34. This means that only 25% of students scored below 30, and 25% of students scored above 34 at these schools.

Interested in schools like Washington and Lee, Georgetown, or University of Virginia? You’ll want to score between 28 and 31 or 32.

Lastly, make sure that you score comparably in all sections! It may raise a few eyebrows if you score 35 on your science, English, and reading sections, but earn a 25 on your math. Make sure to work on your weaknesses so that you earn a similar score on each section. This will demonstrate that you are a well-rounded student prepared to succeed in many different disciplines.

Keep in mind that these numbers do not secure an offer of admissions. You could score a 36 on the ACT, but if you have a few bad grades that you can’t explain, or you haven’t participated in any activities in high school, you still might not get an offer! Ideally, colleges are looking to confirm that your standardized testing complements your grades. Are you a straight-A student with a 33 on your ACT and a few strong extracurricular activities? You are well situated for the admissions process!
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This article was written by Beryl Manning-Geist, who is on the admissions counseling expert team at Top Test Prep. For more information on ACT Prep and Tutoring, contact (800) 501-Prep today.

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In recent years, it has become fashionable for families to consider a “gap year” for graduating high school seniors in which they take a year off prior to entering college to travel or participate in community service activities. A cottage industry of books, advisors, and even
“gap year” scholarships have emerged to promote and support this ostensibly maturing experience. Little has been written, however, about the down-side of not heading off to college once you complete high school. Once size does not fit all, and a “gap year” can have an adverse impact on some students. Concerns about the repercussions of “gap years” follow.

First, for those in cumulative disciplines such as science, math, and languages a year away from focused study can hinder your ability to master them. Noble intentions may not make up for a sustained period of time away from core academic subjects.

Secondly, for students who lack focus and a sense of purpose, a year removed from studies may have little impact on their overall motivational level. A sense of commitment to academic pursuits generally comes from within, a state of affairs which is not fostered over a calendar year removed from academia.

Third, your longer term earning potential is hurt every time you take time off from picking up the academic skills which are a pre-condition for success in the job market.

Finally, in an increasingly degree conscious society, the most logical period to take time off is between undergraduate and graduate school. You will then have a stronger skill base for the job market, and some professional graduate programs as business look favorably on experience acquired in the work place.

While the “in crowd” may be enamored with “gap years,” it may be of little utility once you decide to pursue undergraduate studies and move into the work force beyond.

David Dickson is an admissions expert for Top Test Prep which provides test preparation to help students gain admissions to top private schools, colleges, and graduate schools. Call 800-501-7737 to learn more.

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Kiplingers magazine has released its annual list of the best values in American universities. The criteria used by Kiplingers include cost and financial aid (31.25%), competitiveness including admissions rates (25%), academic support including freshman retention rates (12.5%), graduation rates over four years (18.75%), and student indebtedness (12.5%). Institutions which excelled using these criteria follow. Top Test Prep makes an annual assessment on the best values in college educations so as to help our loyal readers make decisions when applying to colleges.

Best Values in Private Universities:
1. Princeton
2. Yale
3. California Institute of Technology
4. Rice
5. Harvard
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. Duke
8. Columbia
9. MIT
10. Stanford

Best Values in Public Universities:
1. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2. University of Florida, Gainesville
3. University of Virginia, Charlottesville
4. College of William and Mary
5. New College of Florida
6. University of Georgia
7. University of California, Berkeley
8. University of Maryland, College Park
9. University of California, Los Angeles
10. University of California, San Diego

Best Values in Liberal Arts Colleges:
1. Pomona
2. Washington and Lee
3. Swarthmore
4. Williams
5. Davidson
6. Hamilton
7. Vassar
8. Wellesley
9. Bowdoin
10. Amherst

David Dickson is an admissions expert for Top Test Prep which provides college admissions counseling to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges, and graduate schools. Call 800-501-7737 to learn more.

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High School seniors must be aware of the importance of not dropping any important spring semester courses. The senior classes students list on their college applicatons include course work for the spring 2012 semester. College admissions officers base their decision to accept students on their grade transcripts and course curriculum which includes spring semester classes. If a student elects to drop a course in the spring semester, they have submitted a false college application. Consequently, colleges could rescind their offer of admission because the information submitted on the application is no longer true.

If you feel compelled to drop an elective spring course that you don’t need, contact the admissions officers in charge of your college files to ask how doing so will affect your application. However, don’t drop classes in core subjects such as math, science, English or social science. This will be frowned upon by college admissions officers when your submit your final grade transcripts in June 2012.

David Dickson is an admissions expert for Top Test Prep which provides tutoring including SAT tutoring and ACT tutoring to help students gain admission to top colleges and graduate schools. Call 800-501-7737 to learn more.

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We all know that standardized test scores and grades play a major role in college admissions. What about community service, however? What does it mean to be a “good citizen?” JP Morgan partnered with on-line educational service providers to conduct an annual survey of the top 50 colleges according to US News and World Report on admissions topics including how they treat community service.

Some of the key findings include:

-70 percent of admissions officers prefer students to be consistently involved with one issue over a variety of causes.

-69 percent of admissions officers considered a political campaign to be community service. However, they cautioned that it is not considered “community service” if the work is paid.

-95.8 percent of admissions officers value a student who took a gap year and did a service project while only 4.2 percent value a student who spent the time traveling the world.

Follow your passion on social change by committing yourself to a cause that it is meaningful to you. Use your application essay to explain why that cause matters to you.

David Dickson is an admissions expert for Top Test Prep. Top Test Prep provides test preparation to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges, and graduate schools. Call (800)-501-7737 to learn more.

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Here are a few tips for those of you finishing up your college admissions essays.

1.Use care in responding to the short queries. Admissions staffs use them to gain insights into your character and suitability for their institution.

2.View each prompt as a chance to display another aspect of your personality. Give them something they don’t know about.

3.Strive for originality. Another essay about getting cut from the team and then playing for five minutes isn’t helpful.

4.Don’t write in such a generic fashion that it could apply to any college. Tailor your response to the institution you are applying to.

5.Avoid the common error of inserting the wrong college’s name in the essay.

Essays are an integral part of your application package and should be treated as such.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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Once you push the “submit” button on your college application, the process is not complete. Ten steps that will help you keep it moving follow.

1. Check in with teachers who agreed to write recommendations to confirm they have been submitted.

2. Make sure that your standardized tests have been sent by the appropriate testing agency.

3. If you submitted applications electronically, review your “receipts” and confirm that the application supplements and payment were all sent.

4. Check with your guidance counselor to ensure that transcripts and secondary school reports were sent.

5. If you applied early to a school requiring a CSS Profile for financial aid consideration, verify that your parents have sent all required information.

6. Regularly review e-mail and telephone messages. You may get requests for interviews or follow-up information.

7. If you have been given a log-in to check the status of your application, do so.

8. Update colleges on important information like strong senior year grades or new awards occurring after you submitted your application.

9. Follow-up with the admissions office if you are concerned about the status of your application.

10. Keep focused on your school work. Declining grades will hurt you if you are deferred from early admissions or wait listed.

With effort you can increase your chances of achieving your admissions goals.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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Building a strong engineering application takes preparation and should begin no later than your junior year. Six tips for facilitating this process follow.

1.Research colleges with strong engineering programs. Examine their engineering department web-site to learn about them. Arrange visits to the schools that most appeal to you. When you do so, make sure that you talk to an engineering advisor in addition to participating in a regular college information session and tour.

2.Talk to different types of enginners to learn about their jobs. Learn the differences between civil, mechanical, chemical, electrical, chemical, and bio-enginnering.

3. Look into engineering internships prior to your senior year. A start would be to explore Google Engineering Opportunities for High School students.

4. Sign up for an academic enrichment course related to engineering at a local college.

5. Bolster your computer skills since computer science where you learn programming languages is an important part of engineering programs.

6. Examine the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook on earnings and job prospects for different areas of engineering at www.bls.gov/oco.

Engineering, like other fields, requires deliberation and preparation to produce the strongest possible college application.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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If you’re studying for the SAT and ACT, you can easily use the Christmas break to prepare wisely.

Here are three quick tips to help you prepare for both the SAT and ACT exams during your vacation.

(1) Practice at least 1 hour a day during the week. Split your time between Math, Reading and Writing for the SAT (15-20 minutes each) and the same for the ACT.
(2) Do at least 2 practice exams per week, with at least 2 days separated from each exam. Use the middle day between your exam as a time to review every problem you missed.
(3) Prepare your SAT vocabulary questions by using sentences filled with Christmas spirit (Don’t laugh! This works as a great memory device). For example… Santa’s rotund figure was an impediment to crawling down the constricted chimney. Have fun preparing for the SAT vocab with these sentence…

Last, but not least…consider getting an ACT private tutor or SAT private tutor during your break. Give us a call if you need help preparing for these exams! (800) 501-Prep.

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Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine has published a list of private colleges that “provided enough financial aid to get their students across the finish line for $14,000 or less” in loans. Some of the ten schools have price tags exceeding $50,000. The list follows with the average debt and the percentage of students who borrowed.

1. Princeton University (NJ):$5,225, 23%

2. Berea College (KY): $5,836, 73%

3. Williams College (MA): $8,369, 43%

4. Yale University (CN): $9,254, 28%

5. Scripps College (CA): $9,435, 36%

6. Harvard University (MA): $10,102, 34%

7. Claremont McKenna College (CA): $10,280, 35%

8. Pomona College (CA): $10,592, 47%

9. California Institute of Technology: $10,760, 43%

10. Wellesley College: $12,495, 58%

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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You may not be able to get an in-person preview of colleges you are interested in. What do you do?

1. Get Online: The first resource you should consult for comprehensive information about a college is its official web-site. Gather information on size, location, and degree programs. Jot down a few contact names and e-mails.

2. Talk to Alumni: Most colleges offer an alumni resource page on their web-site, where students can see whre alumni are currently working and read about their college experience. Moreover, get in touch with graduates of your high school who attended the college you’re exploring through the counseling office.

3. Take a Virtual Tour: Many colleges showcase their campus via video tour.

Basic information about colleges of interest is only a click away on your computer.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more

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College interviews can be an important part of the admissions process, particularly at selective institutions. Tips for prpearing for your interview follow.

1. If you know that you may be called for an interview, always be ready for the call. Check your e-mail and phone messages regularly.

2. Arrive at least ten minutes early. Dress appropriately and keep the fashion on the conservative side. Nice slacks and a button-down shirt are appropriate for men. Women should wear nice pants and a blouse or a nice dress. Make-up and jewlery should be simple and non-distracting. You want the interviewer to focus on what you are saying, not what you are wearing.

3. Practice for your interview. Be ready to discuss your long-term goals and talk about your activities. You may be asked about your accomplishments, but you may also be asked about weaknesses. Prepare a few questions for the interviewer on topics such as the curriculum and student life.

4. Bring along two copies of your resume and any other helpful documents.

5. Smile and make eye contact.

6. Thank your interviewer with a note or e-mail afterward.

Keep in mind that the interview is a significant aspect of the admissions process and prepare accordingly.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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If your early application for admission is deferred, you can increase your chances of admission by taking the following four steps.

1. Find Out Why You Were Deferred: Within a few days of receiving your deferral, contact the admissions office and ask to speak with the office responsible for your application file. In a respectful tone, emphasize that his/her college is your first choice and ask if there is anything which prevented you from being accepted. If a reason is provided, politely ask if you have a reasonable chance of admission because if there is, you will work toward that end.

2. Improve Your Shortcomings: Address the reasons for your deferral if specific ones were mentioned. For instance, if your SAT/ACT scores were too low, contact a test preparation service to assist you, and retake the exams in late January or early February. If your recommendation letters were inadequate, ask one of your current teachers to write an additional letter of recommendation. Moreover, if your GPA is not high enough, work to excel in this semester’s courses.

3. Keep in Touch With the Admissions Officer For Your File: Over the next few months through a couple of messages reiterate to the admissions officer that college is your first choice, why this is the case, and that you will attend if accepted. Describe new accomplisments not included in your original application. It is counterproductive, however, to bombard the officer with telephone calls or e-mails.

4. In Early Spring Contact the Admissions Officer Again: Write a letter outlining your recent accomplishments such as improved SAT/ACT scores or outstanding grades. Call him/her a few weeks later to summarize these accomplishments.

If all goes well, you will receive a notice of acceptance. Don’t neglect applying to other schools, however.

David Dickson in an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep which offers expert tutoring and test preparations and will help you gain admission to our top schools. Call 800-501-PREP to learn more about the admissions program.

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Some schools have recently added the option of creating a video essay for your admissions package. How can you take advantage of this opportunity and highlight your strengths?

1. Address the question and follow any directions which are offered such as length. If a short video is requested, a minute in length is best.

2.Brainstorm ideas about what you want to say.

3. Collect visuals that help to explain your central theme.

4. Write a first draft.

5. Edit.

6. Get feedback.

7. Record your script until it is as perfect as you can make it.

The video is designed to complement other application materials so use your imagination to create one which puts your best foot forward!

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with TopTestprep which offers expert private tutoring and test preparations which will help you gain admission to your top schools. Call 800-501-PREP to learn more about the admissions program.

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College admissions essays are an important part of your admissions packet. As such, they should be written with care and tailored to the questions posed by the institution to which you are applying. Basic stylistic and grammatical errors reflect poorly on you and should be avoided. A listing of common errors on the college admissions essay follow:

1.Poor Proofreading. Proper proof-reading takes time. Do not rely on on-screen reading. Read your writing aloud to catch errors.

2.Unnecessary Words and Phrases. These are things that sound good but are meaningless like “in my opinion.” When you make a statement in your essay, do so without these qualifiers.

3.Poor Vocabulary. Do not rely on the thesaurus feature of your computer. It may suggest words that are not correct in the context of your writing. Work on improving your vocabulary and making sure you understand the full meaning of words you use.

4. Lack of Thoughtfulness. Gaps in reasoning waste a reader’s time. Vague generalities are sometimes used to mask a lack of thought and research.

5.Repetitiveness. When a writer says the same thing over and over, it appears that she or he doesn’t have much to say.

6. Colloquialisms and Slang. Learn that the kind of writing that’s appropriate when texting friends isn’t appropriate for other contexts.

7.Little Sentence Variety. Check the beginnings of sentences and be sure that there are not too many that begin the same way. Watch overuse of pet phrases or words.

8.Long Paragraphs. Question your writing if it is one long paragraph.

9.Absence of Clear Introductions, Transitions, and Conclusions. These things are necessary.

College admissions offices pay attention to your ability to express yourself in a clear and fluid fashion. A consciousness of good writing style and proper grammar is a must for your admissions essays.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep which offers test prep tutors and tutoring programs and can help you gain admission to your top boarding schools, colleges and grad schools. Call 800-501-Prep to learn more about the admissions program.

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As many students hit the “submit” button and send off their college applications, they forget that the application itself is just one part of what needs to be submitted. There are several other documents that must be received in order for a college to consider your file ready for review. Here are four ways to avoid having your application sidelined in the admissions process

1. School Forms: Make certain that your school based college counselor has the list of colleges that you will be applying to several weeks before your first deadline arrives. That way he/she can prepare all the forms that need to be submitted from the school. Teacher recommendations, the guidance counselor recommendation, your transcript, and the school profile Must All be received by each of your colleges. Give your counselor plenty of notice as to where you will be applying.

2. Test Scores: Your SAT, SAT II, Subject Tests or ACT scores must be sent directly from the reporting agency to colleges unless you are applying to a test optional school. Be sure to request your scores two weeks before your deadlines whenever possible.

3. Payments: Your payment must be received in order for your application to be processed. Most colleges allow you to do this via credit card on the payment tab of the Common Application or on their web-site. Checks are also accepted, but make certain that you put your social security number on the check and send it directly to the admissions office.

4. Supplements: Most colleges have a supplement to the Common Application which includes personal informaton, your desired major, and sometimes, essays. If your supplement is not sent by the deadline, your application is likely to be rejected.

The college application process is a challenging one, but with organization, it can be managed effectively.

David Dickson is an admissions expert and admissions
counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools (SSAT/ISEE), colleges (SAT/ACT) and grad schools (LSAT, MCAT, GRE);  Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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The most selective colleges place a particular emphasis on admissions interviews. How can you prepare?

1. Do Your Homework: Demonstrate how well you know the college. Research the web-site, including possible majors of interest, study abroad programs, and extracurricular activities.

2. Be Yourself: Authenticity is important. Allow your personality to shine.

3. Make it a Conversation: The more you can make it a discussion with questions for the interviewer, the better off you’ll be.

4. Share Information, but Not Too Much Information: Don’t restate your application, don’t blame your teachers, and don’t talk about family conflicts.

5. Come Prepared With Questions: The curriculum and student life are important areas. Make sure your questions are ones that can’t be answered on the college web-site.

6. Dress for Success: You should look neat and professional. Jeans, shorts, and tennis shoes or sandals will create the wrong impression.

7. Remember the Basics: Arrive early, bring a copy of your resume, and thank the interviewer.

8. Be Prepared For a Variety of Questions: Your favorite courses, meaningful extra-curricular activities, and why you are interested in the institution are common areas of inquiry.

9. Stay in Touch: Be sure to send a thank you note. Handwritten and delivered via postal service is the best.

A one-on-one admissions interview is an opportunity to set yourself apart. Take advantage of it!

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A variety of factors should go into your college selection, but few are more important than those related to a possible college major. Exploring a major requires research which goes beyond a standard college web-site, but the rewards of doing so will extend to your college experience and your subsequent ability to find a good job or a strong graduate program. Passion for a field bolstered by good grades and test scores in it should play major roles in your selection of a possible major. It’s also necessary to identify whether the career path produced by the major leads to jobs in the emerging national and international economy. Internet research and questions posed to family friends, and professionals in your community can assist in that process. You’re ready to find suitable colleges. What factors should you take into account?

1. Student Selectivity: US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue provides figures on student selectivity for the institution as a whole. You may have to directly contact the department or honors program you are interested in to get additional data on your major.

2. Class Size: Your academic experience will be enhanced if you have small enough classes to receive significant feedback from your professor. Contact departments in which you are interested to get information on the size of introductory and upper level classes.

3. Quality of Faculty: The annual US News “Best Colleges” issue includes information on the resources available to faculty for teaching and research at the institution. You can also find information on the national ranking of a department on-line. Call individual departments to clarify whether you will taught by full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty, a pre-condition for a quality academic experience.

4. Placement in Strong Professional/Graduate Programs and Good Jobs: Undergraduate schools, unlike some professional graduate programs, are not required to provide this information. Nonetheless, any school worth it’s salt should have data in this area. If it does not, it’s time to head to your next institution.

Finding the right academic match requires initiative and a willingness to gather data not readily available on many college web-sites. While location, climate, and other factors often play a role in college selection, always keep your eyes on the prize. You’re going to school to pick up academic and life skills which will maximize the probability that you will find a strong graduate program and a good job! It will take a willingness on your part to ask the tough questions!

David Dickson is an admissions expert and admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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The most recent figures for early decision (binding) and early action (nonbinding) applications at top 25 institutions of higher learning, according to ratings from US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue, follow.

Early Decision Schools Early Applicants for Fall 2012 Percent Change in Applications Over 2012
Brown (RI) 2,904 5.48%
Columbia (NY) 3,088 -5.68%
Cornell (NY) 3,609 3.74%
Dartmouth (NH) 1,791 2.11%
Duke (NC) 2,716 23.06%
Emory (GA) 879 17.36%
Harvey Mudd (CA) 186 30.99%
Johns Hopkins (MD) 1,440 7.64%
Middlebury College (VT) 597 -8.85%
Northwestern (IL) 2,450 15.90%
Pomona (CA) 304 33.30%
University of Pennsylvania 4,526 0.98%

Early Action Schools
University of Chicago (ILL) 8,698 24.97%
Georgetown (DC) 6,750 1.40%
*Harvard (MA) 4,245 NA
MIT (MA) 6,102 NA
Notre Dame (IN) 5,590 5.47%
*Princeton (NJ) 3,547 NA
*Stanford (CA) 5,880 -0.83%
University of Virginia 11,417 NA
*Yale (CT) 4,310 -18.01%

NA means not applicable. School did not have early action policy previous year.
An asterisk * is placed next to schools which have restrictive single choice early action admissions policy where students can apply to regular admissions elsewhere, but not early decision or early action.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep which offers expert private tutoring and test preparations and will help you gain admission to your top schools. Call 800-501-PREP to learn more about the admissions program.

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As old man winter approaches in many parts of the country, it isn’t too early to start thinking about summer pre-college programs (also known as summer enrichment programs) for junior and rising senior high school students. Many programs are booked by February or March so if you wish to find a good program for summer 2012, register as soon as possible.

What Are They
Summer programs are typically two to six weeks in length. Some offer scholarships, while others have costs ranging from $1,500 to $7,500. Students attending these programs experience college level work and a preview of college life. They choose their classes and live on campus. Pre-college programs may include courses taught by professors for college credit, themes of language and cultural immersion, or community service programs. Afternoons include leisure activities and weekends often include excursions to local areas of interest. Participation in these summer programs can assist students in making decisions about suitable colleges. You can also display the discipline and focus necessary to do the high level academic work which colleges look upon favorably.

How to Apply
If interested, research college web-sites or contact of college of your choice in the few weeks to see if they offer pre-college summer programs. It could be a summer to remember, and a road to your higher education goals.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep which offers expert private tutoring and test preparation who will help you gain admission to your top schools. Call (800) 501-Prep to learn more about admissions programs.

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Your middle school grades and activities won’t appear on your college application, but you can use seventh and eighth grades to set yourself up to have the strongest record possible in high school. This will, in turn, increase your prospects of getting into an academically strong college. Additionally, if you’re applying to private high schools, these tips will help you as you begin to prepare for the SSAT and/or ISEE exams.

Seven tips for maximizing your prospects for top schools follow.

1. Work on Building Study Habits
Middle school grades won’t appear on your college application, so you can use seventh and eighth grade to work on time management and study skills. Start longer-term assignments well ahead of time and learn to focus on your work in a quiet setting.

2. Read a plethora of books
The more you read, the stronger your verbal, writing, and critical thinking skills will be. Reading beyond your homework will help you do well in high school, on the ACT and SAT, and in college.

3. Take Challenging Courses
When senior year rolls around, you will want to have taken the most challenging courses available at your school. The tracking of those courses begins in middle school (or earlier). Position yourself so that you can take full advantage of whatever AP courses and upper-level math, science, and language courses your school offers.

4. Work on Foreign Language Skills
Most competitive colleges want to see strength in a foreign language. The more years of a language you take the better.

5. Get Up To Speed in Math and Science
Advanced math and science skills are increasingly crucial in college and in the work place. If necessary, get tutoring help in these areas in middle school so you can excel as you move into high school.

6. Explore Several Extra-Curricular Activities
When you apply to college, you should be able to display depth and leadership in one or two extracurricular activities such as music, athletics, or drama. By figuring out your passions in middle school, you can better focus on developing leadership skills and expertise in high school.

7. Explore and Enjoy
Keep in mind that your middle school record doesn’t appear on your college application. Don’t stress out about college. Instead, use these years to discover explore new things, discover what subjects and activities excite you, and develop good study habits.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor at Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep’s educational programs and academic tutoring, allow students to improve exam scores and gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call TTP’s team today at 1-800-501-Prep.

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Many students applied this fall, through early decision programs at their top choice colleges and universities. Now, we’re currently conducting a survey of our admissions and test prep blog readers to hear whether you gain admission early decision.

If you do, simply tweet us @toptestprep and let us know your decision when it comes. If you do, you could win a $100 gift certificate.

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A survey conducted by the Annapolis Group of alumni from 130 liberal arts schools, the top 50 public universities and private universities reveals disparities in their assessments of the quality of their undergraduate educational experiences.

According to the study, 77 percent of alumni from liberal arts colleges rated their undergraduate experiences excellent, compared to 59 percent of alumni from private universities and 56 percent from the top 50 public universities. Liberal arts school alumni reported that their college experience made them better prepared for life after college including their first job, career changes, and graduate school than did alumni from other sectors.

The study places much of the credit for these outcomes on the smaller classes, enhanced faculty-student interaction, teaching focus, and greater emphasis on reading and writing of liberal arts college environments. Large public universities have attempted to compensate for their educational shortcomings by starting small honors colleges designed to offer a small college feel. Since a mere three percent of American college students attend liberal arts colleges, it is incumbent upon our private and public universities to improve the quality of the class-room experience for their students.

How Families and Student Applicants Can Identify Strong College Learning Environments
Families and students can find the best academic environments by paying attention to student selectivity, class size, attrition and four year graduation levels, and student and faculty resource figures found in US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue. Additional inquiries can be made with the departments of possible majors on class size, the percentage of professors in the class-room who are tenured or tenure-track, and placements in strong graduate programs and good jobs.

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David Dickson wrote this article to help guide people as they choose between Liberal Arts colleges and traditional public/private Universities. For more information on Top Test Prep’s admissions experts and private tutors, call (800) 501-Prep.

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