Well, it finally feels like autumn. The weather is cooling and the leaves are falling to the ground. Those who are applying to college have just submitted their Early Action and Early Decision applications to their ideal colleges. For those who have back-up colleges, you might want to begin working on their supplemental questions now, so that you aren’t overwhelmed with work and emotions if you don’t get into the college of your choice.
If you are a junior, EA suggests that you take advantage of the long weekends to visit colleges because the current students are walking around campus. Sign up for a tour and an information session in advance. Remember when you are on a campus, take a few photos and pick up a newspaper. When you leave campus, make a list of the pros and cons of that school. Your memory of the school will be clearest as you are leaving and the conversation will be the most intense. You have two choices: record your thoughts on your phone or write them down as soon as you get back into the car. Those initial impressions are usually very accurate. Once you visit a few campuses, things can get a little fuzzy that is why your notes to yourself are important.
Okay, so you have decided on school A, B, and C. Now you need to figure out what needs to be done to get accepted. The Internet makes this fairly simple: research the website for each school. Determine what is required to gain acceptance and set up a plan NOW! Think about activities, grades, and the SAT and ACT. Although it is optional for many schools, some still require it. You also want to consider how an admissions officer might view your application without the test. Also remember that SAT and ACT scores can be used for scholarships.
Hope these EA suggestions are useful! Contact us or visit our website to learn more about how we can help. #students #help #schools #collegesanduniversities #collegeadmissions #satprep #actprep #collegeplanning

​We haven’t felt the chill of autumn in almost a year, but it is in the air this weekend. Many people are thinking about how lucky we are in the northeast to have been spared the wrath of Hurricane Ian. And although we think about people in other parts of the nation, who haven’t been as fortunate, we need to focus on the quality of our lives here. At EA, we are hoping to help high school students move forward in their quest toward college.
The junior year of high school is filled with academic, extra-curricular, and social demands, which often exceed what a student has experienced. Combine these pressures with thoughts about college, and it becomes apparent why many students have difficulty dealing with these different aspects. For many, including test preparation (SAT or ACT) as part of the schedule often falls to the wayside. However, without paying ample attention to at least one of these tests, applying to the ideal college might result in disappointment that could be avoided by a greater awareness of the college application process and/or developing the academic skills required for a more seamless transition into college. Of course, the quintessential problem becomes how to incorporate more tasks into an already full schedule.
First, it is important to recognize that you will get all the tasks done, but thinking about them in a calm and organized way will smooth the process. And remember that for almost everyone, even thinking about going to college can be fraught with stress, both parent and child. For a student, it is a combination of wanting to go to the "perfect" college but not wanting to leave everyone and everything that is familiar. Combining this with the reality of the amount of effort required to prepare for the SAT and/or ACT, determining the colleges that are "reach, target, and safety" schools, as well as the written work to complete applications, can produce a high level of tension. A student's motivation, self-confidence, and skills will influence the response to this situation. For a parent, the concern about how much college will cost and the value of that expense becomes a concern. Additionally, parents want to help their children minimize stress while still achieving all the college application requirements in a timely manner.
With all these pressures, EA Test Prep would like to offer some suggestions to ameliorate the tensions that can develop. To achieve this, periodically, we will post ideas to make this a less troublesome process as well as alert parents and students to upcoming events that might be valuable.
As a junior in high school, take out a calendar and count the months until next September. Then write, in pencil, on the calendar when college applications are due for next year. Although this can be a bit of an exaggeration, depending on the college, it lets everyone see that there is plenty of time to get everything accomplished. For example, if you don’t achieve an adequate score on the SAT or have not properly researched colleges then there is time to correct errors if you plan ahead. Write the following information on your calendar:
· Every date that the SAT and ACT can be taken and circle the preferred test date
· Dates to visit colleges (Although students may not have chosen a college, planning dates to visit schools makes the process seem real.)
· Dates to meet with the high school college counselor regarding "reach, target, and safety" schools recommendations
· Dates to meet with a tutor to prepare for the SAT and/or ACT
Once this is accomplished, place the calendar in a prominent place so everyone can review it. Don’t forget to add any high school event related to college like when the high school hosts a College Night.
Remember EA can make this process easier.