FAQ: I’m about to finish my Junior year, when can I start working on the Common Application?6/1/2016 Good news! In past years, the Common Application was not available until August 1 before your Senior year. Starting this year, you can create an account and begin working on your Common Application in June (or earlier), and most of your information will rollover on August 1. For details on what will rollover and what will not, click here. For example, don’t bother working on the individual college supplements because those haven’t yet been updated for Class of 2017! But feel free to enter all of your demographic data, test scores, high school information, etc. For now, focus on your coursework and exams and on preparing for the SAT or ACT if you are taking it in June. But once Junior year is complete and the SAT and ACT are finished, it is time to at least set up your Common Application account so you can get as much as possible done over the summer. Senior year will be busy enough with your toughest classes, leadership positions in athletics or extracurriculars, and finishing up college visits and essays – completing the Common Application is an easy way to check something off your list while you have more free time!
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Online or in-person? This is an ongoing debate in many arenas today, including SAT and ACT tutoring. Some tutors offer both, but many are staunchly in the online only or in-person only camp. While a good argument can be made for either side, the bottom line is that a student should choose the option that fits well with his or her learning style, motivation, and schedule. Attending virtual tutoring sessions via Skype or Facetime becomes more popular every year. This option enables students to have access to the best tutors, regardless of location, and is particularly beneficial to students in geographic areas without a large supply of local tutors. The biggest advantage to everyone is that online tutoring sessions are generally much more flexible as far as scheduling, and there is no wasted time (for the student or the tutor) on commuting to and from another location. This often results in a less expensive hourly rate. According to Sean Quinn at Arbor Bridge, there is also less wasted time with things like small talk and getting a glass of water, so the sessions become more efficient. Arbor Bridge uses Zoom, a new technology platform with added bells and whistles like an interactive whiteboard and the ability to record, which mitigates some of the concerns that students and parents have about online sessions. However, online tutoring is still a very distinct experience which requires a different skill set from both the tutor and the student. For example, according to Isabela Guimaraes at Wheelhouse Learning, the online setting requires the tutor to be able to ask the right questions to assess comprehension. It can be harder for the tutor to see what a student is doing when a moment of hesitation hits, so the student needs to be a strong communicator who can express when he or she doesn’t understand a concept. For many students there is just no substitute for a face-to-face in-person meeting. To have a productive relationship, you need to connect with your tutor, and this is often much easier in person. There is also something to be said for the commitment and investment of in-person meetings where students may feel more accountable. And anyone who has ever been on a Skype call with a bad connection can definitely appreciate the value of meeting in person. Both options have pros and cons, and students should take advantage of free introductory lessons to figure out which method will be most effective in helping them achieve their goals.
Planning a college visit soon? Check out The 34 Most Beloved Food Joints In College Towns Across America (Dinosaur BBQ and Collegetown Bagels both made the list!).
For pictures from our campus visits, check out the photo albums on our Facebook page. Vinik EPS is pleased to announce an affiliation with Arc School Placement, a Bethesda-based company that specializes in independent school placement for students entering pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Our firms’ connections allow families to work with one set of people, from kindergarten through college and graduate school — people who know each other well, who communicate student and family preferences and strengths fluidly, who provide superb service, and who offer competitive rates. Our affiliation also means that our work occurs in the context of a complete education. As professional counselors we understand the arc of a student’s life: from kindergarten to middle school to high school to college and beyond, each transition occurs in the context of a student’s entire school career — no one division should exist in a vacuum. Bruce Vinik and Peter Braverman (the Principal of Arc School Placement) have known each other for nearly 20 years and have worked together seamlessly — as your family will too. (There is nothing competitive between them, but Bruce is the better racquetball player, while Peter is the better cook. You decide which is more important.) Learn more about Arc School Placement here: Arc.
The Bethesda program will be held from 7pm-9pm on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center (5701 Marinelli Road). The program begins promptly at 7 p.m. with a 30-minute information session, and a college fair begins immediately afterwards, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. This program is offered to the public free of charge. No pre-registration is required. Colleges anticipated to be in attendance include:
Agnes Scott College • Allegheny College • Antioch College • Beloit College • Birmingham-Southern College • Centre College • Clark University • Cornell College • Denison University • Earlham College • Eckerd College • Emory & Henry College • The Evergreen State College • Goucher College • Guilford College • Hampshire College • Hendrix College • Hillsdale College • Hiram College • Hope College • Juniata College • Kalamazoo College • Knox College • Lawrence University • Lynchburg College • Marlboro College • McDaniel College • Millsaps College • New College of Florida • Ohio Wesleyan University • Reed College • Rhodes College • Southwestern University • St. John’s College • Saint Mary’s College of California • St. Olaf College • University of Puget Sound • Ursinus College • Wabash College • Whitman College • Willamette University • Wooster, College of We visited Salisbury University last week, a Maryland state school located 30 minutes from the beaches of Ocean City. With about 8,000 undergraduates, Salisbury offers programs in everything from Nursing to International Business to Elementary Education.
Everyone on campus is very excited about the construction of the new Academic Commons, a $117 million project scheduled to open this fall that will house the library, a 24 hour cafe, classrooms, study rooms, and an auditorium. With Division 3 athletics, Greek life, and a traditional red-brick campus, this could be worth a look for a student interested in a mid-sized public university in Maryland. The vegan options in the dining hall were particularly impressive! Thinking about a gap year? USA Gap Year Fairs will be visiting the DC area in February, and the fair provides a great opportunity to learn more about gap years and meet representatives from different programs. The fairs will be held on:
For more information and to register, please visit the following links:
To read more about gap years check out Laura's Q&A in the Washington Post, "A Primer on Gap Years," and a more recent Washington Post article, "Want to Help Kids Succeed in College? Let them take a Gap Year." Today we attended a presentation by the British Council about applying to universities in the UK. There are currently over 15,000 U.S. students pursuing degrees in the UK, and about 30% are undergraduate students. One key difference between the UK and US undergraduate education systems is that in the UK you apply directly to a major, or "course." This means that UK schools are typically a good option only for those who are certain of what they want to study. Applicants must demonstrate a sincere interest in an academic area, as well as a readiness for a more independent learning style. If you are interested in learning more, here are some useful websites:
Is your child or someone you know heading to college this month? Here are a few recent articles to share full of advice, lessons, and a little humor:
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