Top Test Prep – Overview Video
Posted on July 22nd, 2010 by admin
Here’s our new tutoring and admissions expert, overview video. We hope our family, friends and fans enjoy!
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Here’s our new tutoring and admissions expert, overview video. We hope our family, friends and fans enjoy!
Top 10 Things to Check Before Submitting Your College Applications
Written by Admissions Expert, Ross Blankenship
Founder of Top Test Prep
When applying to college, your admissions application is the gateway to your acceptance. Your grades and academic history obviously factor into the equation, but since the application itself is what the admissions officers see first, caution must be taken to ensure you get everything right the first time. Remember perception is reality – admissions officers want to see a flawless college application. Before you submit your college application – whether using the common application or a University’s specific application – the same rules apply.
To help you get started, I have put together this guide to 10 things to check before you submit any college application or common application.
Before your submit your college applications…
1. Follow Directions Carefully – One of the most common errors applicants make is to simply not follow the directions on the application. As you begin filling out your app, be sure that you follow the directions thoroughly. If you’re been asked to submit an essay that is no more than 500 words, do so. If you’re asked to fill in all of your personal information, complete everything you can. There’s a reason college applications have a “word” limit. Admissions offices receive thousands of applications, so it’s important to be clear and concise in the spaces allotted.
2. Write legibly (and don’t handwrite). Yes, students still do fill out applications by hand. I would strongly advise you not to be one of these students. If you’re one of the few people in America without a computer, then of course you can handwrite. But your handwriting should be perfect if you do.
3. Re-read everything – Be sure to re-read every section of the application. Doing so will ensure that you say what you mean, and don’t send the wrong message because of an error or oversight. I would even encourage you to read the entire college application out loud. You’ll be pleasantly surprised if you catch a mistake before, rather than after, your application is submitted.
4. Check Spelling and Grammar – Spelling and grammar are important on your college application. If you’re pasting your essays and application information from Microsoft Word, this is so easy to do. It also helps to have someone else read your application entirely before submitting.
5. Make sure everything is filled out – Be sure that everything is filled out. You likely won’t have to fill out every section of the application, but you do want to ensure that you complete the portions that are pertinent to your acceptance.
6. Fill it out yourself – You can get your parents or friends to help you if needed, but fill it out yourself. If you allow someone else to write any portion of the document it will be apparent to the admissions officers with handwriting or general writing style. Some college admissions experts can also help you with your application, and make sure the application itself is perfected.
7. List Extracurricular Activities – Be sure that you list extracurricular activities that you actually were involved in throughout your academic career. Don’t overload the admissions offices with activities in which you spent very little time during the year.
8. Check the Date and Signature – Don’t forget to sign the application and date it correctly. On some documents the place for the signature will be on the back – don’t forget to check it!
9. Attach all relevant Information – Ensure that you attach every document needed with the application: ID, your admissions essay, and any other documentation the application asks for should be attached as per the directions.
10. Ensure your Online Application Gets Submitted – If you are applying online be sure that you are taken to the confirmation page, and that you save the confirmation email.
Your college admissions application is your one chance to show the admissions offices exactly what kind of student you are, and plan on being at their school. Thus, taking extra time and double-checking your application is crucial. These steps above are just a few of the many admissions counseling tips we use at Top Test Prep. Give us a call to learn more, at (800) 501-Prep.
Ross Blankenship is an admissions expert and Founder of TopTestPrep.com.
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Top Test Prep provides admissions counseling and private tutoring for students applying to prep schools, colleges and graduate schools. For more information on test prep, admissions counseling and private tutoring, go to http://TopTestPrep.com or call (800) 501-Prep.
Written by Admissions Expert, Ross Blankenship
Founder of Top Test Prep
With a faltering public education system, plagued by lowered budgets and a host of other issues, many parents are turning to prep schools and private schools to get their children a solid education that prepares them for college and beyond.
A prep school is usually a private school and many times they are boarding schools as well. If you are one of those who choose the route of college prep for their children, rather than leaving them to the realm of a failing school system, choosing the right school is the key to your child’s future.
In this guide, we’ll use the words Prep Schools and Private Schools interchangeably, as most prep schools are private schools and vice versa.
With that, we have put together this guide of the top 10 considerations when choosing a prep school. It is not necessarily that any private school won’t provide a better academic experience for your child, most private schools far surpass their public counterparts; moreover it’s that choosing the right school will help your child through college and beyond. Students and parents should be ultra-selective when choosing these schools.
10 CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHOOSING A PRIVATE SCHOOL
When choosing a prep school you should visit every school that you have on your list. As you visit each school you should answer the following questions.
1. Does the location work for your family? – Obviously you want to send your child to a school that is located conveniently for your family. You wouldn’t want to send them to a boarding school across the country, for example, if you weren’t prepared to pay for flights home a few times each year.
2. Does your child agree with the choice of schools? – You child should be involved in the choice of schools. Failing to involve your son or daughter may mean lower grades when they are resentful for being there in the first place.
3. What are your child’s future plans? – Many students don’t know what they plan to do beyond high school, for those that do however, that possible future can help you to choose a school that will fit well with their future educational requirements.
4. Does the educational program fit your needs? – Many prep schools have a specific educational focus. What is that focus, and does it fit with what you want for your child? You don’t want to send your child to an art’s-specific school for example, if they intend to work in science in the future.
5. How does the school rate compared to similar schools? – A simple Google search for prep school rankings will turn up hundreds of pages devoted to comparing the academic achievements of all of the different prep schools across the country. Top Test Prep provides an annual ranking of the best prep schools in the country. You can contact Top Test Prep to find out more (see contact below).
6. What values does the school instill? – Many prep schools are focused on one set of moral, ethical, or religious values. Do those values fit you and your family?
7. Does the academy assist students in learning the moral and ethical requirements of the school? – If the school has a specific focus, do they work to teach their values to their students? For example, does the catholic academy make time to teach Catholicism?
8. What are the rules for contacting your child? – If the school has rules about contacting home, be sure that those rules fit with you and your child. A school that only allows weekly phone calls, for example, won’t work well if you plan to talk to your child every night.
9. How much does the school cost? – Although it shouldn’t be the only consideration, obviously cost is a factor. If you can’t afford the school, do they offer scholarships or financial aid?
10. What other activities does the school offer? – You also want to look at the extracurricular activities that the school offers. Do their sports, work, and other programs fit with your child’s passions and interests?
A prep school can help your child to get the best education possible. By simply taking the time to consider which school to choose carefully, you will be helping your child to create the best future possible as they move into college and then beyond their school years. However, just as private schools are selective in their admissions processes – from test prep and full-length applications- as a parent you too should be just as selective in your selection of the best private school.
Ross Blankenship is an admissions expert and the Founder of Top Test Prep. As an admissions expert, he helps families and students get into top private schools, colleges and graduate schools.
For more information on private school admissions counseling or for help with SSAT Prep, HSPT Prep or ISEE Prep, contact Top Test Prep today at (800) 501-Prep.
What Admissions Offices Want, Objective vs. Subjective Standards
There are two sides to an admissions application for both colleges and graduate schools: objective vs. subjective standards. An admissions office wants both of these components, although some admissions committees emphasize one more than the other.
For definition purposes: the objective side of your application includes your test scores and your GPA. Whereas the subjective side of your application includes your personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, extracurricular activities, and academic (or other) awards.
For the most part, an admissions office wants the highest test scores. In fact, test scores are the only objective standard in which an admissions office can compare your academic potential to another person applying. Think of the objective standard – test scores – in the same way that a person buying a new home would want to compare the house they’re interested in with a house on the same block. You can never really know the value of that potential home, until you see how other houses near that address fare when sold.
Also, it’s not easy to know exactly what test scores an admissions office is looking for, but one good guess is to research “median” test scores published by that school. For example, many Ivy League schools, which are ranked in the top 10 – i.e. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, generally have test scores that range above the top 90th percentile. This means for the SAT generally students score a 2000 or higher. For test such as the LSAT and GMAT, students generally score a 165 or higher and a 670 or higher, respectively, on these two exams for both schools. However, if you’re not quite in these ranges, you have two options: re-take the test, or make the subjective side (essays, resumes, recommendations) so good that they de-emphasize your test scores.
I would argue that objective standards such as your test scores and GPA are the gateway to having an admissions officer review the subjective side such as your essays and personal statements. In other words, many admissions officers won’t begin to look at your full application unless your test scores and GPA are strong enough and fit their median range. There’s a little bit of flexibility on the GPA, as there is some grade inflation at certain schools, and admissions offices know this. But for the most part, you want this objective component to also be as strong, as your test scores are. If the admissions office sees a higher GPA and a really low test score (or vice versa), you might have to explain why such a discrepancy exists.
On the subjective side of the admissions application, you really should focus on your admissions essay. In addition, your recommendations can make a big difference especially if the admissions office is comparing applicants with similar test scores. Overall, the subjective criteria that defines your application is the secondary component – but very important – to your potential admission into a top school.
If you need help with college admissions counseling or graduate admissions counseling, give us a call today or fill out our contact form.
Ross Blankenship
Admissions Expert, Founder of Top Test Prep
Top Test Prep’s summer SAT and ACT prep programs have started. If you’re preparing for the SAT or ACT this summer and need help, our test prep programs can help you improve your scores. Summer test prep doesn’t have to be difficult.
If you need help with the SAT and/or ACT exams, give us a call today at (800) 501-Prep or fill out our contact form.
This is the time to improve your test scores so that you can apply to the best colleges and universities.
Top Test Prep’s private tutoring and test prep programs continue to lead the field. Be part of the best program.
One of the most frequently asked questions at Top Test Prep is whether a student should take the SAT or ACT.
To answer this question, here are the differences between the SAT and ACT, and reasons why you should take one versus the other.
About the SAT:
The SAT is administered 7 times per year.
The SAT includes three critical reading sections, three math sections, three writing sections and one experimental section.
The SAT math section goes up to basic geometry and algebra II.
There is no science section on the SAT.
The SAT reading section includes sentence completions, short and long critical reading passages, and reading comprehension sections.
There is a penalty for wrong answers!
The highest combined score on the SAT is 2400, and the highest per section for the SAT is 800, including math, reading and writing.
Unless you’re enrolled in the SAT’s “Score Choice”, all of your scores will be reported to colleges.
About the ACT:
The ACT is administered 6 times per year.
The ACT includes four sections, including English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, and an optional writing test.
The ACT math goes no higher than trigonometry.
The ACT science section includes charts and experiments (theoretically, you don’t need a strong science core base before taking the test)
The ACT reading section includes four passages total.
The ACT English focuses on grammar and the ACT writing essay is similar to most standardized tests including the SAT’s essay prompt.
There is no penalty for wrong answers!
The highest combined score on the ACT is 36, and they’re averaged together for a composite score.
You can decide which schools receive your ACT scores.
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In general, we recommend taking the ACT exam over the SAT exam if your approach to problems is more straightforward. The ACT math and other sections are drier compared to the SAT, which requires a bit more reasoning and analysis. However, our SAT tutors know exactly how to give you in-depth strategies for the SAT test, as it does require more analytical thinking. Also, if you do better in school generally without having to work as hard, we always recommend taking the ACT.
We recommend taking the SAT versus the ACT exam if you have fewer issues with time management. The ACT exam requires more endurance, as students are required to do up to 60 questions in a short amount of time. Our ACT tutors can help you better understand the exam, and ways you can prepare.
If you’re unsure whether you should take either or both, you should take both tests. Your scores will likely be similar according to concordance table.
If you need help with SAT prep or ACT prep, give Top Test Prep a call at (800) 501-Prep and we’ll help you improve your scores.
By Ross Blankenship
Founder of Top Test Prep
& Admissions Expert
So you’ve been put on the waitlist for your top school? Well, it might not be the most ideal situation, but I’ll try to help you get off the admissions waitlist with a few easy admissions tips.
Whether you’re on the admissions waitlist for a top college, medical school, graduate school, business school, these steps will help you get accepted.
Tips for Getting Accepted off the Waitlist:
(1) Reply immediately.
When you get your letter (or email) from the admissions office indicating you’ve been placed on the waitlist, don’t wait until the last minute to send in your reply letter. The sooner you indicate your interest in being accepted off of the waitlist, the more likely you’ll get into this school. I would recommend waiting no more than 48 hours. Also consider writing a certified letter, instead of an email, directly to the admissions office. Consider doing something extraordinary like writing a handwritten letter. There’s no harm in trying a different approach.
(2) Notice who wrote your waitlist letter.
With today’s technology, you can do basic research on any University’s admissions officers. If you received a letter from the Dean of Admissions or their assistant, do a little background check to find things out such as their age, how long they’ve been at the school, and what sorts of things they’re interested in at their current school. You’d be surprised about how much information you can find by doing a Google Search or researching social networks such as LinkedIn. Now, take this information and use it to your advantage.
Write a rapid response letter whose tone is as formal as you know that person to be. For example, if you’ve found that the admissions officer is younger, be less formal in your response. Note: this does not mean writing a casual response! Instead, try to be a little less wordy and more to the point. Your salutations and greetings also can be less formal, depending on your audience.
(3) Be specific.
Instead of writing a general letter or calling to say how interested you are in their school because “it’s [simply] such a great school,” write instead about how you’ve followed Professor “X” academic research and how you want to be part of the school so you can contribute to their academic work. The more specific, the better! Don’t be so general in terms of how or why you think the school is a good fit for you. Do simple research to display how much you know about their school and every department in which you are interested.
(4) It’s not always about you!
This applies to pretty much every setting, whether in your letters or correspondences to an admissions office, or in your admissions interviews. Too often students think these two situations are opportunities for you to go on about how smart or great you are personally. Think about turning the table and making it less about you and more about what you can do for their school, college or university.
(5) Re-take that test.
If you’re applying to college and you’re on the admissions office’s waitlist specifically because of your low SAT or ACT scores, re-take the test! If you’re applying to graduate school – perhaps to medical school or some graduate program- and your MCAT score is low or your GRE score is too low, re-take the test. Admissions officers are people too (yes, hard to believe) and they know how stressful tests can be for students. If your scores are outside of their median whether for the SAT, ACT, MCAT, GRE, and so on, taking the test again will show the school how dedicated you are to getting into their program. This doesn’t mean that you have to continue re-taking an exam over and over again, but instead you should give the test one more try. When you get your improved scores, send these scores directly to the admissions office. Also, write a letter to the admissions office indicating you’ve re-taken the exam and that you are still committed to attending their program if accepted.
I hope these tips for getting accepted off the waitlist help you. There’s no need to panic if you’re placed on the waitlist. In fact, you can use it as an opportunity to showcase other talents that didn’t necessarily come out in the first round of admissions.
Ross Blankenship is an admissions expert who helps students get into colleges and graduate schools. He is also the Founder and President of Top Test Prep.
Top Test Prep provides admissions counseling, test prep, and private tutoring for students applying to prep schools, colleges and graduate schools.
To find out more about Top Test Prep, go to http://TopTestPrep.com or call (800) 501-Prep.
When you’re applying to colleges, it’s important to know the most common application mistakes, and how you can prevent these simple errors. In fact, these common admissions application mistakes can make your test scores and hard work in school, less relevant. So, know these mistakes so that you can make your application perfect and so that you won’t get rejected from your top college.
Most Common College Application Mistakes:
(1) Forgetting Spell-check. This is by far the most common mistake students make. You should have someone you know read your essays and applications, and at the very least (which takes two seconds) select “spell check” on Microsoft Word when completing your application. This could literally save your application as admissions officers don’t like to see typos and simple errors. Remember, the application is a reflection on your entire high school career.
(2) Entering the wrong college “CEEB” information. When you’re applying to colleges, you should know the correct “College Entrance Examination Board” or “CEEB” code number. This number is assigned by the College Board to any college you’re applying to. Don’t mess this number up! If you assume that a college’s CEEB code is correct, double-check. Many SAT scores are not received each year because student’s incorrectly put the wrong CEEB code.
(3) GPA (weighted v. unweighted). The difference between your weighted and unweighted GPA can be significant. The weighted GPA is what carries more significance, particularly because it means you have taken harder courses in high school. Know the difference between a weighted and unweighted GPA. The weighted GPA means that AP and honors courses are assigned higher values compared with the unweighted GPA, which means a GPA that is based on “normal” course work. If you mess up this calculation, the college admissions offices could reject your application. So be careful not to confuse the two concepts. Your high school should clearly note these on your transcript they provide.
(4) Extracurricular activities. On the new common application, you are given an option to enter 12 extracurricular activities. Be careful not to put too many here! Fewer extracurricular activities is sometimes better. Also, if you enter too many extracurricular activities on the common application, there’s a good chance a “red flag” might be raised by the admissions officers. What this means is that an admissions committee could either doubt that you actually completed that many extracurriculars or believe you’re exaggerating. Remember, there’s a fixed number of hours in any week – whether academic or not – and if you suggest in your common application that you’re doing close to 25 to 40 hours in extracurriculars, that work will come into question. Less is sometimes better. Think quality over quantity.
(5) SAT and ACT score self-reporting. On the common application, you’re asked to self-report your SAT/ACT scores. Be careful you get the dates, scores and subjects correct. Any mishap here can cause a serious red-flag, and your application will be tagged by the admissions committees. Now that the SAT is based on score-choice, you can select which scores you want to report. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t include the proper scores. Your SAT and ACT scores need to be accurate, along with your entire college application.
I hope this information helps you as you begin to apply to colleges and universities. If you need help with college admissions counseling or with admissions experts, give us a call today at (800) 501-Prep or fill out our contact form.
Best regards,
Ross Blankenship
Founder, Top Test Prep
Admissions Expert
Here’s Top Test Prep’s SAT Vocabulary, Word of the Day -
Facilitate – (verb) make easier;
Find out more about Top Test Prep’s SAT Tutoring or ACT Tutoring, by calling (800) 501-Prep.
