Entrance exam 680x258Lots of folks will tell you that you can’t really raise your SAT, ACT or GRE scores by studying. Yet, lots of well-to-do parents send their students to SAT/ACT training courses. Some have tutors. Thriving businesses pick up a lot of revenue on people who disagree with this “can’t raise scores” notion. Some students went back a second and third time in order to get a higher score for the school of their interest that may have a cut-off threshold of some kind. And guess what? Those that actually did study for weeks or months in advance DID get higher scores. Often much higher scores…But for some reason we don’t hear that from some teachers…Why the difference? Does a certain type of studying and prep work actually help on this type of test? The answer is YES with little room for doubt. Sure, there are instances when the second score is substantially lower than the first and everyone wonders, “Why? How did this happen?” Everyone has good days and bad days, no doubt, but overall most folks are quite confident that more refresher study results in higher scores. And most agree that a systematic approach is probably far better than a “hit or miss” approach.

Should you set up scholarship search hours each week?

Wanna go to a movie with a friend or go to the game with the girls and guys tonight? You'll have to learn to say "no, not this time" more often than you'd ever like to do. Isn’t it true that we always would rather do the fun thing than the hard thing? Isn’t that pretty much what we call, “human?” Of course. So relax, knowing that this is normal. At the same time, this is the part of self-discipline that more and more often people have to learn to overcome as they get older. Some call it maturity since it seems to come with age. It also comes with life that enforces it in certain circumstances (e.g., job, marriage, etc). And other times, it is quite appropriate to do a family or social thing not previously scheduled. You don't want be overly rigid on this! About wanting to do the "fun thing"...We naturally want to please our emotional center

Essays and Writers Block

Hasn’t everyone had cases of “writer’s block?” Of course. But there are some great solutions out there. Here’s one. Write these words atop a sheet of paper (or type them at the top on your wordprocessor): Who, What, Why, Where, When and How. These six words comprise most all papers when all is said and […]

Short Term Volunteering

Short term volunteering is where the FUN starts…as well as BIG TIME learning that you simply cannot get anywhere else–even in a job. First of all, whether it’s short term (weeks? months?) or long term (months? year?), you’ve got to ask yourself, “Is this an organization that fits into a long term career or college entry plan? […]

Writing a “Killer Essay”

There are certain qualities, both tangible and intangible, that seem to be found in really great essays. Every applicant should strive to learn what these are and how to implement them in their late and final draft. I say late and final because it usually takes many drafts before a truly “killer essay” can even […]