Some things to consider when selecting a college…

Choosing a college can truly be a daunting task. With close to 5,000 traditional colleges and universities across the country, there are a lot of choices. When choosing a college there are a few things that you can consider to make the process go smoothly and reduce the stress of the whole process.

To begin with, make a list of potential colleges. The big list should include every college that you might be willing to attend. Once you have a list, narrow it down by taking the time to consider all of the following.

Location. Does the location of the school matter to you? If so consider whether or not each college on your list fits your needs.

Degree Programs. Obviously degree programs matter. In this case you don’t just want to look at undergraduate degrees. If you did decide to further your education with a Masters or a Doctorate, does the school provide programs to suit?

Campus Resources.  What resources does the school have to offer that will help you on your road to secondary education? Do they have labs for their science programs for example?

Academic Rankings. How does the college rate when compared to similar institution? Although rankings aren’t everything, there is usually a reason that the highest ranked schools have higher peer ratings.

Costs.  Consider the costs involved in attending each institution. Tuition isn’t the only factor; you should also factor in the cost of food, housing, and any other activities that you plan to be involved in.

Class Sizes.  A college with a smaller class size may be more difficult to get into, and they may have higher tuition costs. But, they also might give you a more personalized educational curriculum.

Housing Options.  What options do you have for housing in the area? Do they offer on campus housing? If not, does the rental market in the area fit with your budget?

Faculty. Along with the school itself you should also look at the faculty. A good school will have full time, doctorate-qualified, professors.

The Student Body.  Does the student body fit you? Does the campus have a diverse student population, with students from different ethnical backgrounds?

Admissions Counselors.  It is always worth getting a second opinion. Talk to the admissions counselors at the school(s) you’re considering. You may even consider hiring an admissions consultant to help you choose the right school.

Taking the time to consider all of these elements when selecting a college will make the selection process easier. More than that, it will help you to choose the school that is right for you, and in turn help you to get the most from your college years.

Ross Blankenship is an admissions consultant and education expert. He is also an author and Founder of Top Test Prep.

Call (800) 501-Prep to begin your college admissions counseling program.

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Even if money is a problem, don’t give up on college or finding ways to pay for college – you can find a way to make it work. There are many scholarship and financial aid programs and other ways to find the money.

Scholarships
Scholarships are a great way to pay for college because you don’t have to pay them back! Diligent students have a good chance of gaining a scholarship. To increase your chances of getting the money you need by the time you graduate high school, start looking for scholarships during your junior year.

Most scholarship programs require applications. The process for applying can be as simple as sending an application form, or as complicated as writing a number of essays and providing detailed transcripts. Searching online is a good way to find scholarships.

Merit-based
There are a number of merit-based scholarships available. Some pay your entire tuition; most pay a portion. If you’re a hard-worker with good grades and decent test scores, you can apply for merit-based scholarships, specific university scholarships and other nonprofit scholarships intended to attract talented students.

Need-based
Need-based scholarship programs are for students in need of money for college. These are often run by colleges and are based on a combination of your income and your family’s income. Some are specific to a major or location. Research the need-based scholarship programs at the colleges you wish to attend to determine if you’re eligible.

Other types
Along with traditional scholarships, you will also find state-run programs, business-run scholarships and money for students of specific religions or ethnicity. There are also special scholarships for your sports and artistic talents. Ask your school guidance counselor for details!

Financial aid programs
Financial aid programs are another good way to pay for college. Usually combining grants and loans, they are often run on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early.

Government financial aid
To determine your eligibility for financial aid, such as grants and low-interest government loans, fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Familiarize yourself with this application before applying for financial aid.

Other programs
Some colleges run their own aid programs aside from scholarships. These are specific to each school, so research the financial aid programs at the schools to which you intend to apply.

Other options

Work
You can always work to pay for school, but be careful not to overwork. As a college student, you will already have a large amount of work on your plate.

Accelerated programs
Some schools run accelerated degree programs that allow you to complete classes in a less-than-usual amount of time. These programs may help you graduate sooner, but you might find the pace overwhelming

Getting a college education can be expensive, but it is worth every dollar. Use these techniques to get started on your quest to pay for college. If you need more help, talk to your school counselor or the admissions office at a college nearby.

Ross Blankenship is Founder of Top Test Prep and an education expert and admissions consultant.

This article appeared in Next Step Magazine and was written by Ross Blankenship.

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With the economy as it is, there’s no question that more people will be heading to business school as a safe haven for the recession. So exactly what kind of return on investment does a business school education bring these days? Well a recent study by BusinessWeek provides some very interesting insight on Business Schools, costs and the eventual return on investment. Most notably making the rankings is Harvard Business School at #50 on Return on Investment. But before you think it’s a bad investment, consider that many of the most prestigious schools like HBS and Stanford, have many enrolled students who were probably already making a lot of money before they pursued their MBAs. Do check the rankings out and let us know your thoughts.

Ranking Return On Investment
Special Report: The Best B-Schools

Program Rankings and Profiles

Contact us for a free initial admissions consultation.

We have business school admissions counseling to help you get into top MBA programs. Call us today at (800) 501-Prep.

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Here’s some information on “How to Prepare for Admissions Interviews…” When you’re getting ready for your admissions interview, make sure you’re prepared. Make a list of questions ahead of time to ask the interviewer. This helps you obtain more information about the school, and it shows the interviewer that you’re interested in the college.

Your list should include relevant questions about the school and the education you’ll receive there. Use this guide to prepare questions for your college interview.

1. Ask about the school. Demonstrate interest in the school to show that you care about the institution and your education.

Why would you recommend this school?

What are the most common majors? Why?

Are there any areas you feel the school could improve on?

How does this school compare to other public or private colleges?

2. Ask about student life. You’re going to spend the next four years of your life there, so find out answers to your questions ahead of time.

How many freshmen do you expect this year?

What activities are available for students to get to know each other?

How would you describe student life at this school?

3. Ask about activities. Learn about the extracurricular activities available at the school.

Are there sports, arts or other activities on campus that interest you?

Are internships or co-ops required?

4. Finish with a question about you. When the interview is almost complete, ask the interviewer if there is anything else he would like to know about you. This will allow the interviewer to make a more informed decision about your acceptance and leave him with a positive impression.

What not to ask

Personal questions. Ask questions to learn more about the school itself. Do not ask questions specifically about the interviewer, as they may be perceived as offensive.

Questions you should already know. Do not ask questions that can be found in the school’s calendar or admissions information. You will look unprepared.

After researching the college, draft your own list of questions. Asking questions will help you leave a better impression, which may increase your chances of admission.

Article as it appeared in Next Step Magazine.

To speak with education experts, contact us today at (800) 501-7737.

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We get this question all the time: “How many safety schools should I apply to?”

Our definition of safety schools: schools where you have a greater than 75 percent chance of admission.

The number of schools you should apply to which are traditionally safety schools should be a 3-2-1 ratio. Meaning, you should apply to 3x as many top level schools which are considered “reach” schools as 2x as many mid level and 1x as many safety schools. This ratio allows you to concentrate and increase your odds of getting into a top school.

But it’s important not to just blindly apply to as many top schools as possible. In fact, there’s a good chance that the numbers behind Harvard University’s applicant statistics are skewed greatly by students without a strong chance of being admitted. This means that a majority of the applicants will just simply fill out a perfunctory application without serious, in-depth admissions counseling.

Harvard University Applicants (Class of 2012)
Students Total
Applicants 27,462
Admitted 2,175
Anticipated Matriculants 1658
Yield 76.4%

This means that you should spend more time on the top schools so as to differentiate yourself from the others in the applicant pool- those who simply fill out the application without hard work.

In terms of filling out the safety school applications, you should devote as much time as needed because you might have a chance of receiving a scholarship or grant. Often times, these schools lure students to their campus in order to increase their yield rate and their bottom line. These universities and colleges do so through scholarships and grants, so don’t just fill out the your college applications, get college admissions counseling help.

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Our Annual Ranking of Boarding Schools is listed below. Our boarding school rankings are based on a simple formula below.

(1) Phillips Exeter Academy
(2) Phillips Andover Academy
(3) St. Paul’s School
(4) Lawrenceville School
(5) Choate Rosemary Hall
(6) The Hotchkiss School
(7) Middlesex School
(8) Deerfield Academy
(9) Northfield Mt. Hermon School
(10) Loomis Chaffee

[Formula Used] Class Size + SAT Score Average + College Placement + Facilities
Note this formula is inclusive of all boarding schools and prep schools.

For more information on our private school rankings or on our own prep school admissions counseling.

Contact Top Test Prep’s admissions counseling team today at (800) 501-PREP for help with your boarding school applications and prep school admissions counseling.

These are the best boarding schools in America. There are many more out there, so let us help you do the research on this topic.

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I’ve decided to help parents see why hiring an independent college counselor – one not affiliated with a specific school- can and will help you:

(1) 98% of American high schools lack the resources necessary to dedicate to individual students who are applying to schools.

(2) Your acceptance rate WILL go up when you do; hiring a focused counselor will help you get an outside perspective on your applications.

(3) International students sometimes need help writing in a new language; applications can be complicated, tedious and long. We help you navigate the process.

(4) We can help you get the financial aid necessary to pay for school.

(5) Parents can use the extra help motivating their students to optimize their academic potential.

These are just a few reasons how and why we can help YOU succeed in the complicated admissions game.

Contact TopTest Prep.com today for help or call (800) 501-7737.

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I’ve had a few people ask me whether they should write about the Presidential election and how it is has shaped their lives. The answer is: if you can do it effectively without it being too clich√©d, then yes – it can be an acceptable topic. All too often, however, students let the election season take over their college applications- writing fervently for either Obama or McCain without any substance; they forget to come up with a solid theme about themselves. Don’t fall victim to such poor writing.

Writing an essay, whether it be for prep school, college or graduate admissions, requires students take an inimitable approach. You must write with clarity, consistency and care.

For example, the following essay is a sample of bad writing on the election:

“I’m supporting ______ candidate because we need change. Change is a good thing for America. Just look at the last 8 years; when I was in middle school students and teachers thought we were heading in the right direction.”

Why does this essay start off bad? Well, for one, it is about a concept, i.e. “Change,” which can be difficult to bring down to a tangible level where the audience can see how it has shaped your life. Instead, start broadly and narrow the concept into a form where the reader/audience knows where you’re heading with the topic. Further, supplement any political writing with solid examples of your participation in the election process.

Here’s an example of a better essay with more substance:

“Having volunteered in a local phone drive for __________ candidate, I have heard the voices of people desiring change; I want to be part of this change. I took part in the electoral process because I feel our government is too large and our individual voices are all too often drowned out by special interests and lobbyists.”

These two parallel examples – one bad, one good- hopefully clarify the essay topic of the Presidential election or any election for that matter. If you have volunteered before or been an active part of any local, state or federal campaign, tell the admissions office, be specific and bring any abstract topic such as change down to a manageable level. You don’t want to sound clich√©d like many political ads airing across the nation. Bring substance, candor and care to your essay and you’re bound to connect more with your audience.

Hope that helps…
For more information on college essays and private college counseling, check out one of our programs, or call (800) 501-7737.

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Recommended College Planning Resources

Career Search

The following site will help you in your college search.
www.careerkey.org

Test Registration

As the time for testing looms on the horizon, you should be mindful of deadlines and registration requirements. Almost equal numbers of students took the ACT and the SAT during the most recent admission cycle. Check the following sites for more information about tests, dates and registration deadlines.
www.ACTStudent.org (ACT, PLAN)
www.CollegeBoard.com/index.html?student (SAT, PSAT, AP, CLEP)

List of Standardized Test Optional Colleges

The rapidly growing list of accredited, four-year colleges and universities that do not require the submission of ACT or SAT scores as part of their admission requirements is nearing 750! You can see the entire list at:
www.fairtest.org/optinit.htm

ACT/SAT Conversion Charts

The ACT and SAT are very different college entrance test. Now that every college in the country will accept either test result, you might be interested in an approximation of how your result equates with scores on the “other” test.
www.collegeboard.com

Formula for U.S. News & World Report College Rankings

Check this link to learn more about how the editors at U.S. News & World Report arrive at their results.
www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/about/weight_brief.php

Alternative to Rankings

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) conducted annually by the Indiana University at Bloomington provides a comprehensive overview of outcomes for participating institutions. To learn more about this resource, visit their site and go to the “Students and Parents” page.

http://www.nsse.iub.edu/index.cfm

Scholarship Searchs

Looking for scholarships? The following sites will give you access to scholarship information and help you assess your viability as a candidate to receive merit awards.
www.FinAid.org
www.FastWeb.com
www.Internationalscholarships.com

Financial Aid

It you are looking for guidance in completing the financial aid process or you have received a financial aid award and aren’t quite sure what to make of it, these sites provide a good orientation to the terms, the construction of financial aid award letters and how much assistance you are actually receiving.
www.FinancialAidLetter.com (“decode” financial aid awards)
www.FinAid.org (comprehensive resource)
www.fafsa.ed.gov (complete/submit FAFSA to determine eligibility for federally-administered need-based aid)
profileonline.collegeboard.com/index.jsp (complete/submit Profile to determine eligibility for institutionally awarded need-based aid)

Generic Application Forms

Interested in exploring application options that will allow you to complete one form from which you can generate applications to multiple colleges? The following links take you to websites for two membership organizations that provide such opportunities.
www.commonapp.org
www.universalcollegeapp.com

National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
NACAC is the professional association of which most colleges and universities are members. This site includes a comprehensive orientation to the college process for students and their parents covering topics such as college preparation, scholarship scams, international student resources and online resources.
www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/Students/

Athletic Recruitment and Admission

If you are an athlete who is eager to continue competing in college at any level, scholarship or non-scholarship, you need to be aware of the rules that govern the manner in which you may be recruited and considered for admission. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) are the two associations of which most intercollegiate athletic programs are members. Visit their sites to make sure you are aware of the rules before you become too heavily involved in the recruitment process.
www.ncaa.org (go to Academics & Athletes)
naia.cstv.com

If you have any questions about any of these sites, don’t hesitate to call or contact us about getting college counseling. Call 800-501-PREP.

Get help today with our college admissions counseling

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Dear Top Test Prep,
“I need some help with college counseling; what all can you do? P.S. I live in New York City.”
-Susie B., NYC

Hi Susie,
We offer Ivy League college counseling over the phone (and Skype for international students), via email, and using web meetings. Our college counseling is not limited to giving you a college list and letting you do the work. We work with you until you’re admitted. From top 10 schools to top public universities, we’ll make sure your application gets all the fine tuning it needs to stand out from the crowd of applicants. Depending on which Level you sign up for, we are dedicated to ensuring you are admitted.

Best,
President and Founder, Ross Blankenship

__________________________________________

Dear Top Test Prep,
“My son is applying to boarding schools. Do you have experience getting students into top boarding schools?”
John T., Greenwich, CT

Hi John,
Thanks for your email. Absolutely; both co-founders attended top boarding schools and have experience working with applicants to top boarding schools. From counseling students on the SSAT, to working on admissions packets, we’ll be here for you. We also will help you figure out basic things like student housing and financial aid (if needed).

__________________________________________

Dear Top Test Prep,
“Which exams are you tutors trained in helping with?”
-M. Brown, Dallas, TX

Hi Mr. Brown,
Our tutors help with the following exams: SSAT, PSAT, SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE and MCAT. All tutors have scored in the top 1% overall and will make sure you succeed. Contact us today for help!

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Well, I just checked our IT programmers and they told me that we’re almost at 10,000 readers, after having launched our blog only a couple months ago. Thank you to all of our readers. Make sure to forward the blog address to your friends and spread the word about the Admissions Blog and our admissions counseling page, Admissions Counseling

.

If you’re the 10,000th reader, we’ll be issuing a pretty great prize. To be announced!

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If your college counselor isn’t spending enough time on your applications, it’s time to get some serious help with your college applications.
We’re here to help you. If there’s anything we can help you with – don’t hesitate to call or email us.

There’s only one time to go to college, so make the right choices with the right people supporting you – Top Test Prep.

For a free consultation, check this out: Admissions Consultation.

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So, you want an Ivy League education? Well, this could be a difficult undertaking. In general, less than 1 out of 10 Ivy League applicants are accepted. To give you an idea of how tough it really is, for the 2007 school year, Harvard received 22,955 applications. They accepted only 2,058. Not very good odds are they? The question is – how do you stand out from the crowd? What will make you the 1 in 10 that they choose?

The answer: a well-refined and organized application.

Think of your college application as a full-page advertisement. An Ivy League application will include your transcripts, letters of recommendation, an essay, and test scores. These items are what the college admissions office sees as your profile or overall impression. Opinions are formed by what is contained in that admissions package. How do you make a lasting impression? Just like as in marketing – it’s all about the packaging. Here is how to make your admissions package stand out from the crowd.

First, don’t just apply to an Ivy League School for the sake of applying. A better tactic is to decide on why you want or need to go to an Ivy League School. Once you have the answer to that question, start researching what the Ivy League schools are looking for in a successful candidate. A great way to do this is to visit the schools you are interested in. Talk to everyone you can on campus about college life and whether they enjoy their experience. Ask for college brochures and admissions materials. Be sure to know what they expect as far as grades, extracurricular activities, and community work. It takes a lot more these days than a perfect SAT score and straight A’s. Know that you need at least one letter of recommendation, so start building meaningful relationships your sophomore year with school instructors and administrators.

Second, let’s talk about getting you to stand out from the crowd and making you the 1 in 10 who gets accepted. You may have heard the phrase “organization is the key to success.” This holds true for your college application process. Start by making a chart of the schools you desire to attend. You will be tracking their admissions requirements.

Be sure to note the following:

A. Application deadline

B. Applications requirements

standard forms
scores
transcripts
recommendations
essays, etc.

C. Letters of Recommendations

deadlines

who you want to write the recommendation

exact number which you’ll need

As you complete each part of the application process, check it off your chart. Remember that many colleges have a January deadline for applications. Start asking for recommendations no later than the previous November. You want to give the person writing the recommendations plenty of time to get it done correctly. If they feel rushed, your review may not be a dazzling as you had hoped. In order for your recommender to write a really good review make sure:

That your recommender knows you well. Be sure to give them enough information about why you want to attend this particular college.

Inform your recommender of the deadline.

Make sure he has your full name, address, email, home and cell numbers, and any IM or instant messaging info you may have.

Provide him with at least two copies of the forms, just in case of a mistake.

Give the complete name, mailing address of the college or university you are applying to, and include a stamped addressed envelope.

A copy of your completed application form and essays.

Information about the school you are attending. This could be a brochure or other pamphlet.

A list of all activities, awards, achievements

Your resume if you are employed.

Do not forget to send your recommender a thank you note once you are admitted.

So, you’ve organized yourself and lined up a few people to write letters of recommendation. What’s next? You need to write a killer essay. Why do you want to go to college and why should this college select you? What do you have to offer the college admissions offices? The essay is your voice to the admissions committee. Make it believable and sincere. Don’t beg or plead – illustrate your voice and vision.

Also important are interesting extracurricular activities, great grades and test scores, and a well organized application that is complete and well written will lead you to admission. If you can offer these things to the admissions counselors, you stand a good chance of getting in – you might even receive a scholarship or higher grant-based financial aid. And these rules apply to all colleges and universities, not just those Ivy League schools.

Aim high, but be fully prepared, organized and committed to enriching your application completely. Applying to the Ivy League is a challenge, but taking the process step-by-step will enable you to achieve admissions success.

Ross Blankenship is a researcher, admissions analyst and alumni of the Ivy League. He is also an author and current director of http://www.toptestprep.com. He graduated from Cornell University and obtained a law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. Article appeared on education.com.

Call Top Test Prep today at (800) 501-Prep.

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Next Step Magazine just released one of my articles which I’d like to share with my readers:

The Common App

Hope you enjoy. Remember, applying to college is a process. We’re here to help, contact us today.

Call (800) 501-Prep for more information.

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Today many of our students took the ACT Exam, June 2008. Here is some feedback we received:

Most difficult section: Math

Increased emphasis appeared to be on Trigonometry and Intermediate Algebra. Not as many coordinate geometry questions. Although on average there are typically less than 5 questions involving trigonometry there were more according to some students.

Here is the typical ACT Math Section: 14 covering pre-algebra, 10 elementary algebra, 9 intermediate algebra, 14 plane geometry, 9 coordinate geometry, and 4 elementary trigonometry.

Reading: Average difficulty. Nothing too unsual. Here’s the typical ACT question breakdown: 35 minute, 40 question reading section measures reading comprehension in four passages. Today’s reading section featured nothing out of the ordinary including one reading passage on Neanderthals (very common for test writers to include passages with complex scientific terms).

Essay Topic:
Lawmakers arguing whether companies should be able to advertise harmful products; your point of view.

Science:
Conflicting view points: two different graphs supporting the arguments
Data Representation, somewhat more difficult with more questions than usual.

The ACT science section is a 35 minute, 40 question test. There are seven passages each followed by five to seven questions. There are three Data Representation passages with 5 questions following each passage, 3 Research Summary passage with six questions each, and one Conflicting Viewpoints passage with 7 questions.

If you have more information you would like to share, any specifics, please feel free to do so. We’ll post a trend analysis on the ACT later, but wanted to share some of the feedback we had received.

For students:

The ACT exam hopefully went well. If you have any questions or comments, or are interested in getting help on future tests -contact us.

For parents:

Once the test scores come back, give us a phone call or fill out our consultation form to get help. Our ACT Tutors will help you figure out exactly what went well and fix the ACT sections that need improvement.

Although it might seem like the ACT exam is too difficult, our strategies and methods help students succeed on their tests. So if you took the ACT exam today, June 14th, take the day off, you deserve it.

Ross Blankenship, Director of Tutoring and Admissions Consultant

Call (800) 501-Prep to find out about more ACT prep and ACT private tutoring.

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As sample of a new test prep and admissions consulting commercial is ready.

Top Test Prep provides SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT and other test preparation services. Here’s a commercial made by Google’s great short story creator.

Contact Top Test Prep today for private tutoring and SAT, LSAT, ACT, and GMAT Prep – (800) 501-Prep.

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We came across a unique article about the most interesting, dare we say “strangest” scholarships and wanted to share with our readers. Some pretty amusing ones and all credit goes to Jenny Sweeney, who we cite below. Top Test Prep writers thank her for posting this.

Oink, Oink

Has your room been compared to a sty? Are you comfortable living in a messy habitat? These aren’t requirements for a scholarship, but they are attributes of the creatures you care about – pigs! If you’re interested in creatures of the bovine persuasion, this is the scholarship for you; the International Boar Semen (IBS) Scholarship is available for those interested in swine management. For more information, visit piggene.com/IBS/ibs_home.htm.

The Next Generation of . . . Klingons

Trekkies, leave your capes, figurines, posters and other memorabilia behind. Just bring, well, yourself! Klingon Language Institute, in an effort to promote language study, awards one lucky winner a $500 Kor Memorial Scholarship-but don’t worry, fluency in Klingon is not a requirement. Check out the requirements for this scholarship at: kli.org/scholarship/.

Think Tall Thoughts

You’ve got Michael Jordan’s stature but you’re about as agile as a water buffalo. That’s okay with Tall Clubs International! Males over 6’2″ and females above 5’8″ are encouraged to apply. The reward is no small (pun intended) amount either; Tall.org awards a whopping $1,000 scholarship to the winner. Find more info at: www.tall.org.

Yo, Shorty!

For the vertically challenged, the Billy Barty Foundation offers scholarships to students of “short stature”. Similarly, the Little People of America awards students – and their families – scholarships. To join, members must be 4’10″ and shorter. Scholarship amounts range from $250 to $1000. Read all the requirements at: lpaonline.org.

Bit of the Bubbly, Please

Finally, your weakness for wine might serve another purpose-besides the pounding morning-after headache. The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (AASEV) awards multiple students for enrolling in science fields relating to the grape and wine industry. The scholarship amount is not predetermined; it varies year to year. To read other requirements for this scholarship, go to: asev.org/scholarship-program.

Bowling for Dollars

Though those middle-school years of loitering around bowling alleys have ended, your talent for earning turkeys may finally be cashing in. The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) offers a range of scholarships, including the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow that offers a $1,500 renewable scholarship for distinguished male high school bowlers and the Alberta E. Crow Star of Tomorrow that also offers $1,500 in renewable scholarship funds for great female high school bowlers. Read more at: bowl.com/smart/locateState.aspx.

Got Milk?

The Scholar-Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year award is given to twenty-five graduating high school seniors who have what it takes to sport the famous milk mustache; winners receive $7,500 in scholarship funds. If that’s not enough, winners receive a special ad that runs in USA Today. If that’s not enough, winners receive an all-expense trip to an awards ceremony at Disney Wide World of Sports’ Milk House in Orlando, FL and an induction into the Milk House Hall of Fame.

Offer an Organ

You signed up to be an organ donor when you received your license. Put that heart on your ID to use! The Students for Organ Donation Youth Leadership award one or two $500 to $1,000 scholarships to full-time high school or undergraduate college students. Successful candidates actively promote organ donation and transplantation. More criteria to apply for this scholarship can be found at: studentdonor.org.

Tee It Up

You’ve seen them trudging up and down the greens, toting thirty pounds of iron on their backs, and offering tips to improve swings, distance and posture. Finally, they’re due their recognition; Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, founded in 1949, offers anywhere from $1,500 to $7,500 per year to caddies. Eligible applicants must have served at least two years as caddies, helpers in the pro shop or course superintendent operations at a club in Massachusetts. Read more information: ouimet.org/scholarships/

Hot, Hot, Hot

You’ve heard it, those three little words…in case of a fire: stop, drop and roll to safety. Earning a scholarship from the American Fire Sprinkler Association is almost just as easy; AFSA offers ten $2,000 scholarships per year to graduating high school seniors. Requirements include reading an essay and taking an online (and open-book) test. Read more about this sizzling offer on: afsascholarship.org.

Sweeney, J. (2008, February 22). Top 15 Strangest Scholarships. Retrieved June 3, 2008, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-15-Strangest-Scholarships&id=1002481

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Many of our readers alerted us on the Wake Forest policy to make standardized tests optional. We’d like to get your feedback on the issue, so send us a line and we’ll post your comments. Here’s the original story New Admissions Policy.

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One of our students asked, “What should I do to prepare my college applications during the summer?” Another reader pondered, “I’m not sure what my student should be doing this summer, could you help?”

Well, we’ve developed a top 10 list for test prep, college admissions counseling and college applications during the summer before your senior year. The list also should help students before they apply to colleges:

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Obtain college applications:

Print off all of the college applications from every school you’re interested in. Even if you’re using the common application, it’s good to know which documents each school requires.

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Arrange your college visits:

The summer is a great time to travel to colleges and narrow down your college choices based on what the schools look and feel like. College visits will solve this dilemma.

(3)

Contact the admissions offices:

If you have questions about applying to an individual school, use the summer to call the admissions offices and make sure you know their requirements.

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Work on your college essays:

Whether for the common app or for the school’s individual application, college essays can be tough. This is particularly true because they’re usually very broad and require you to get as much information as possible into 500 words or less.

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Organize your documents:

If you don’t already have a resume or “brag sheet”, use the summer to develop them. In addition, get all of your test scores (PSAT, SAT, ACT) and transcripts from your school. These will be very helpful when you develop your college list.

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Volunteer:

If you’re not already involved in some community groups or non-profit organizations, the summer is a perfect time to start. Volunteer with the local YMCA or Big Brother / Big Sister’s Club. Also, because this is the prime presidential season, you can volunteer for one of the major Presidential campaigns. Whatever you do, work hard and make good contacts.

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Read!

This summer you should do all assigned summer reading. But go one step further: read magazines like The Economist and publications like the Wall Street Journal. Reading these periodicals will keep your mind fresh and prepared not just for high school, but for college.

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Stay active:

If you’re involved in sports, keep it up. The exercise and activity will no doubt help you concentrate in the fall. And if you’re an athlete hoping to get recruited, maintaining your fitness is crucial.

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Take summer classes:

Whether you’re in a big or small city, there’s a good chance the local colleges offer summer enrichment courses- you could even take some college courses for credit- like Creative Writing, Chemistry or Math. These courses will keep your mind fresh. And we offer SAT and ACT courses.

to help you get higher scores.

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Prepare for the SAT / ACT:

If you haven’t already taken the SAT, it’s important to spend the summer preparing for these standardized tests. Spend at least one hour a night on a new chapter on the SAT or ACT.

We hope this list of top 10 summer activities helps you get ready for the all-important transition from high school to college. If you need college admissions counseling, contact us today to get started.

Ross Blankenship, Education expert and Founder, Top Test Prep

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There are an increasing number of college admissions consultants discussing the benefits of applying to college from either a public or private high school. Further, many parents and students want to know whether going to a private high school will give them a greater advantage in the admissions cycle. So we’ll discuss the benefits of applying from either public or private schools.

Applying to College From Public High Schools:

There’s a greater chance that you might “stand out” more with higher SAT and ACT scores.

Most admissions offices have statistics of matriculated students from any given high school. These show the performance of students from any high school at their college. In fact, many high school admissions offices provide SAT and ACT medians from their respective school. So, if you score way higher or lower, it could be seen more or less favorably. If a recent study by the Center on Education Policy concluding that students score slightly higher on SAT Verbal / Math from public schools is correct, then you might stand out with a higher score.

You are more likely to be the only one applying to a “Top” College

Because some public high schools are more worried about students attending high school at all, if you’re one of the few students applying to an Ivy League School or to another “Top 50″ college (based on U.S. News and World Report), admissions officers will make note of this fact. Often times students recall of X student of 300 total from Y public high school getting into Harvard. In some cases, this is true. But work on increasing your scores and improving your essays, and then apply to college. Don’t worry about the fact that you have to apply from a public school.

Applying to College From Private High Schools:

Many private schools have greater resources.

Simply put: because many private schools charge tuition and don’t rely on state and local taxes to survive, private high schools can channel more resources into college counseling and other things like computer technology. So if you’re going to a private school use the resources wisely. And our admissions consultants help both public and private school students, regardless.

There’s a better chance you can speak with current and former students at top schools.

Because there are more students from private schools at the top colleges, your private school is more likely to put you in touch with a current student who can help facilitate a campus tour or discussion with the admissions office. In addition, these contacts will help you find out what school is a good fit for you. So find out what graduates went to your choice schools and contact them.

So now you know…

Overall, it is doubtful that an admissions office will think more or less favorably of your application whether at a public or private school; the most important thing is to create an application that shows you contributed to your high school (public or private) and will do the same in college.

Remember, the key to applying to colleges is making sure that you develop a strong theme in your admissions application that shows you stood out of the crowd, regardless of whether you went to a public or private high school. Don’t worry about whether you’re currently at a public or private school, the SAT and ACT create enough objective criteria to evaluate your applications that this fact becomes irrelevant.

Ross Blankenship, Education Expert and Founder of Top Test Prep

College Admissions Experts

(800) 501-Prep

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We’ve had many students ask us what colleges have the best engineering and science programs. Using a weighted average of faculty resources, technology grants, class size, and student ratings, we have developed the following list to help guide students and parents in the process of college counseling. The list provides a concise summary of these top engineering and tech programs. For more information, contact Top Test Prep directly.

(1) California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
Cal Tech is the top ranked tech savvy college. The school is packed with great professors and has a niche in the California technology industry, including Google and Yahoo. Cal Tech is highly recommended if you’re interested in entering Silicon Valley and have a knack for inventing new technologies. Their undergraduate program is one of the best for students interested in individual research projects with professors and Cal Tech is a key part of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Some key specialties: Natural Sciences, Biotechnology, Space Sciences
Famous alumni: Gordon E. Moore, co-founder of Intel Corporation; Charles Francis Richter, creator of the Richter Magnitude Scale;
SAT range for incoming students: 2200-2350
Acceptance rate: 17%

(2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
MIT is a great school with unique resources for its students. If you’re interested in graduating with the famed MIT degree, and want to be immersed in high quality education, every day, then this is a great place to be. With more Nobel prizes than one could count in an hour, they define excellence in engineering. Their high alumni giving suggest generations of families are happy with their educational choice. MIT probably has the highest name recognition worldwide amongst scholars and students.

Some key specialties: Artificial Intelligence, Aerospace Engineering
Famous alumni: Col. Buzz Aldrin, NASA Astronaut; IM Pei, world-renowned designer and architect; Robert Metcalfe, inventor of Ethernet and founder, 3COM;
SAT range for incoming students: 2070-2340
Acceptance rate: 13%

(3) Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cornell is one of the few colleges with engineering research programs that allow students to work directly under renowned professors. With faculty like Bill Nye (the science guy) and Steven Squyres of the NASA Mars Rover program, you will have the opportunity to learn from the best. Be prepared to work harder at Cornell than you would at most colleges. Cornell’s unique engineering science facilities include newly built Duffield Hall, which represents the university’s next high-tech step.

Some key specialties: Engineering Physics, Nanotechnology, Biomedical Sciences
Famous alumni: Steven Squyres, principal science investigator for the Mars rovers; William F. Friedman, founder of the study of cybernetics;
SAT range for incoming students: 1940-2240
Acceptance rate: 24%

(4) Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Founded originally as Carnegie Technical Schools in 1900 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, the school is primarily known for its science and research. Carnegie Mellon hosts the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and operated by Carnegie Mellon University. In addition, they host the Robotics Institute (RI), a division of the School of Computer Science. Overall, its solid reputation amongst scholars and education journals is a reason why students should look to this school.

Some key specialties: Computer Science, Software Engineering
Famous alumni: James Gosling, creator of the Java programming language; Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Sun Microsystems; Vinod Khosla, billionaire venture capitalist and co-founder of Sun Microsystems;
SAT range for incoming students: 1940-2235
Acceptance rate: 34%

(5) University of Texas, Austin, TX

Considered to be one of the Public Ivies in America, the University of Texas has fantastic resources for their students. As a public university, it spends almost 50 percent of their engineering budget on sponsored research. UT’s Cockrell School of Engineering enrolled 67 new National Merit Scholars in 2006-2007, the university’s largest proportion of new National Merit Scholars. UT Austin enrolls the third highest National merit scholars nationally. Plus, Texas is a great state with awesome weather and friendly people. Definitely keep UT-Austin in mind when applying to college.

Some key specialties: Petroleum Engineering, Computer Engineering
Famous alumni: Michael Dell, Founder and CEO of Dell Computers; Rex Tillerson, Exxon Mobil Corp. chairman and CEO.
SAT range for incoming students: 1680-2055
Acceptance rate: 49%*

*Note that this admissions rate will be affected by Texas’s top ten percent law, which guarantees graduating Texas high school seniors in the top 10% of their class admission to any public Texas university

Brought to you by Top Test Prep and the Education Expert, Ross Blankenship
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Here’s a great way to create the best study schedule for the SAT…

Want to help your teen ace the SAT exam? The key is to establish a schedule for studying and then stick to it. Sure, spending an hour or more studying may sound like a drag. But by the time the big day rolls around, your teen will be the most relaxed student in town while his classmates are wishing they’d trained to get into SAT shape. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting underway.

I. Time frame:

The best study schedule will encompass a period of 1 to 2 months. Your schedule should be for five days a week over the entire period.

II. Finding Time:

Decide how much time can be devoted to studying each night, while making allowances for homework and extracurricular commitments. It should be at least one hour, and preferably 2 to 3 hours, per night.

III. Making a Plan:

Write out a schedule for studying. Each night focus on one area of the SAT. If your study time extends past an hour, be sure to schedule a break every hour. Each week re-make the schedule to fit what needs to be studied the most.

IV. Studying:

When it comes time to study, ensure your child has a place that is quiet and free of distractions (no computers, phones, television, video games, etc). If needed have them go to a library to study.

V. Practice Tests:

Finish each week’s schedule with a timed practice exam. This allows you to refocus next week’s schedule, and also to gauge your son or daughter’s progress.

VI. Sticking to the Plan:

It isn’t enough to just make a plan. Obviously you have to ensure that your teen sticks to the plan. A gentle reminder each night will probably be enough to keep them from procrastinating.

A Sample Schedule (for one week):

Monday: Study vocabulary for 1 hour. Take a break. Further improve reading comprehension by going over the answers to a practice test for 1 hour. Focus on the wrong answers and learning why they are wrong.

Tuesday: Study Geometry rules for 1 hour. Take a break. Practice by doing 30 practice questions in two different sections of previously released SATs.

Wednesday: Work on reading comprehension. Do three long passages from a practice SAT and then answer the questions accordingly. Take a break. Work on English grammar (writing) skills by studying questions from a practice exam.

Thursday: Do four sections of the math test on a practice SAT. Take a break. Study the areas where you got the most answers wrong.

Friday: Take a timed practice test. Use the exact breaks allotted on the Reat SAT .

When the week is finished, hone your schedule for the next week (based on the practice test results). For example: If your teen needs to focus on one area more than another rearrange next week to compensate. Working this way over the course of a month will ensure they’re ready when the test comes.

Ross Blankenship has been an instructor and tutor, and worked in college admissions at Cornell University. He is the founder of Top Test Prep, a test prep and admissions company, offering test prep, college admissions counseling and advice for students and parents

Admissions Consultants

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There are several college admissions myths which should be exposed before you apply. These myths often scare certain students from applying to the best schools. Never limit yourself from applying to top colleges because you believe these things:

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Applicants are pre-screened.

Whether using the common application or a school-specific application, college admission offices have enough staff members to read your entire application. After all, you pay an application fee for a reason and colleges want to make sure you get your fair chance. However, if your application is incomplete or missing crucial components (essays, transcripts, or supplements) this might explain why it is rejected, or pre-screened out, before it reaches the full committee.

(9)

You must choose your major and stick to it.

When you apply to college, admissions officers know your major is bound to change. In fact, many admissions offices have reported that the majority of their students change their major by the end of their freshman year. Don’t worry about choosing your major. Pick a department or major where you have a genuine interest, and be open-minded to changing it once you’re enrolled.

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You must apply early decision or early action.

Yes, applying early decision or early action shows a student is committed to a particular college. But you do not have to apply early to be accepted, even to top colleges. In fact, if you’re deferred in the early decision or early application round, your application goes right back into the regular pool and will be re-evaluated again.

(7)

Colleges have a certain profile of the perfect student.

While colleges strive to admit students who will fit into their college, there’s simply no way for a college to predict whether a student will be happy or whether they will actually succeed at their college. This is why colleges don’t set a particular admissions profile for the “perfect” student.

(6)

Ivy League schools don’t give scholarships.

Although Ivy League schools say they only allocate need-based scholarships, there’s no doubt that certain schools issue other grants and fellowships based on other criteria. If you’re a top athlete, recruit or a national merit scholar, an Ivy League school will go out of its way to make sure you can afford their school.

(5)

International students don’t receive scholarships or loans.

More colleges are looking to diversify their student body with international students; major banks and financial institutions offer the same financial opportunities for international students as they do American applicants. Scholarships and fellowships are available for international students.

(4)

You should pad your resume with extracurricular activities.

Every admissions officer is a human being. Imagine that. Applications aren’t accepted or rejected by a computer. So when filling out this section of the common app, know that admissions offices can (and do) spot superfluous extracurricular activities. Further, they can certainly tell whether you added an extracurricular because you have a genuine interest or because it looks good on your resume.

(3)

Recommendations don’t matter.

Great recommendations are vital. You cannot expect to be admitted simply with high scores and great grades. If an admissions officer sees a perfunctory or suspicious recommendation, it will set off a red flag. Bottom line: choose the person writing the recommendation who knows you best and make sure they know where you’re applying and what your qualifications are.

(2)

There’s a GPA Cut-Off.

Colleges generally don’t have a GPA cut-off. The reason admissions offices don’t have a GPA “cut-off” is because students come from all sorts of different high schools with varying curriculums and grade structures. Some students attend public schools, others private schools where the GPA ranges could be wider or narrower. Further, there has been much discussion about grade inflation, and colleges do know what particular high schools tend to have higher GPAs than others. Whether this is so-called grade inflation or not, the schools have an idea of what schools have a more competitive curriculum, including more AP, IB and honors courses. Be aware of your GPA and explain discrepancies in your transcript.

(1)

There’s always an SAT/ACT Cut-Off.

Some state colleges do have a cut-off for SAT/ACT scores. But the majority of American Universities do not. So keep working on your test scores but don’t fear the mythical cut-off.

If your SAT or ACT Prep isn’t as strong as you’d like it to be, TopTestPrep.com will help you improve your SAT and ACT scores.

Hope these admissions myths were answered. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Top Test Prep team.

-Ross Blankenship, Education Expert and Founder, Top Test Prep

Test Prep and Admissions

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We have had a lot of questions about the new college rankings, particularly what sort of methodology was used to assess hundreds of schools throughout the country. Although there’s an entire school of thought on the efficacy of the rankings themselves, what we believe is that the criteria should at the very least be modified. One of the key criteria we believe should be factored into these rankings is post-graduation statistics, namely what students are doing from these prestigious colleges after they graduate.

We believe that much information could be gleaned by adding an additional category on post-graduation employment and/or statistics on graduate school entry. Adding an additional category would reflect a college’s ultimate purpose, i.e. providing employment opportunities and/or graduate program opportunities.

There are two reasons why adding this criteria into the rankings would be helpful: (1) this information would show the public exactly what the graduates do after college, and (2) it would create an incentive for colleges to improve their career services and graduate program counseling. If a parent were comparing two top schools, let’s say Cornell University and Washington University in St. Louis (both ranked 12th respectively), would it not serve the public well to know which school provides its graduates better career opportunities and/or graduate program opportunities? Further, colleges have for generations been adjusting their core curriculum and admissions based on the U.S. News rankings. Whether this is a good or bad thing could be debated for just as long. However, if parents are going to spend 40 to 50 thousand dollars per year on their son or daughter’s education, it would be helpful to know what exactly their son or daughter will do after graduation.

The U.S. News Rankings do provide valuable information on colleges, both public, private, as well as liberal arts and graduate schools. But the methodology could be improved with additional criteria like graduation statistics specific to employment and further education pursued by students. This addition would create major incentives to improve student resources, would give valuable information to parents and students and lastly, would provide a greater ability for parents to differentiate these schools.

-Ross Blankenship, Co-Founder, Top Test Prep

Test Prep and Admissions

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Here’s an article on using SAT vocabulary words: You can use those big SAT words on your college essay, but do so gingerly. Well placed “big words” are effective and they can really make your essay stand out. Over-use of those words will make your essay seem disingenuous, another SAT word. Here are some tips to keep you sounding smart and genuine.

If you are going to use a word that you do not normally use, be sure you know the all of the meanings of the word and know how to correctly use it in a sentence. You want the admissions committee to see that you have a great command of Standard English. If you use your word processor’s thesaurus, make sure that the word you choose is in the correct form and tense for your sentence and paragraph.

Practice writing fresh sentences for newly acquired SAT words. For example, if you’re studying new words, write original sentences next to the words in the SAT prep book, as well as in a new vocabulary journal. Mastery of vocabulary takes months. Thus, you should practice writing these sentences months before the application is due and keep sentences with fresh content inside a special journal or notebook.

Here is an example of what not to do, we will use the following sentence as an example. “Most varanid lizards are large, conspicuous carnivores, making them important elements in terrestrial vertebrate fauna…” This is fine for an essay talking about monitor lizards at a college level. Nothing needs to change in that sentence. If we want to try to make that sentence sound smarter using a “big” word and we substitute the word meretricious for conspicuous; the sentence now reads: “Most varanid lizards are large, meretricious, carnivores, making them important elements in terrestrial vertebrate fauna…” We have changed the meaning of that sentence considerably. Our monitor lizard, instead of being a noticeable or important carnivore as the original text implies, is now a tawdry or flashy carnivore perhaps even behaving in a manner consistent with a prostitute. You see how substituting “big words” can get you into trouble.

On the other hand, if we use the same original sentence as above but in a watered down version, our essay sounds like a 9th grade science project. “…most monitor lizards are large meat eaters, making them an important part of the land based vertebrate group…” This is where knowing when to use “big” words and when not to can make a difference.

Remember keep it reasonable. Your essay should reflect your intelligence level. Your choice of words should not make it difficult to read and it should not change your intended meaning.

Get a good dictionary, do not use the one that comes with MS Word, and get a good thesaurus. This way you will have the proper tools to create your essay using a sprinkling of big SAT words instead of a paper consisting of 500 words you can use to study for the SAT’s.

Practice writing fresh sentences for newly acquired SAT words. For example, if you’re studying new words, write original sentences next to the words in the SAT prep book, as well as in a vocabulary journal. Mastery of vocabulary takes months, thus you should practice writing these sentences months before the application is due.

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