Which of the following is true about SAT and ACT test preparation?

SAT and ACT test prep can…

• Create STRESS for students, parents, and counselors
• Improve odds of college admission
• Cost families thousands of dollars
• Earn students scholarships, grants, and financial aid
• Be aligned to Common Core curriculum
• ALL of the above

If you’re applying to college or plan to apply to college in the near future, I’m sure you’ve started wondering what it takes to get into your top choice school. While the college admissions environment changes from year to year, depending on the scope and aptitude of the applicant pool, past admissions data does help to determine where you stand in terms of your GPA and SAT/ACT scores and gaining admission to a particular university. Read more…

A-List Education founder and president, Scott Farber, was recently featured on NBC’s Weekend Today Show discussing  SAT prep and college admissions.

College entrance exam test scores can be crucial to your child’s educational future. A-List Education’s tutors and admissions experts specialize in getting kids test ready and college ready. Listen to Scott’s advice for both test-takers and parents!

View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

A-List Education founder and president, Scott Farber, was recently interviewed by WXBR where he had the opportunity to talk about A-List’s extensive range of services: SAT, ACT, LSAT, SSAT, ISEE, & Regents tutoring, customized educational nonprofit programs, ACT and SAT professional development, and college application and essay services.

Have a listen to learn more about A-List and its mission: Scott Farber_WXBR1460_interview

Scott being filmed for an appearance on "Inside Edition."

Cavanagh, S. “STEM Defection Seen to Occur After High School” Education Week. October 28, 2009.

STEM Defection Seen to Occur After High School

The college admissions process is stressful not only for students and guidance counselors, but for parents as well. We feel for you! You certainly want your children to get into the colleges of their dreams as much as they hope to attend the colleges of their dreams. Now, part of the test preparation process can be fun—at least for students (sorry, parents!). Vocab Videos is a revolutionary new system bringing vocabulary to life. Hilarious short videos illustrate the meanings of the most frequently tested SAT words making them easy for students to learn and remember.

Here are a few reasons why Vocab Videos is right for your child:

·         Perfect for preparing for the SAT, ACT, and high school English tests

VOCABULARY MATTERS: When vocabulary increases, so do your child’s SAT scores! About 1/3 of the SAT Reading section is made up of questions that are explicitly vocabulary-dependent—questions that are potentially worth 150 points in all! So, a better knowledge of vocabulary is a concrete way to improve test scores. And standardized tests aside, an increased vocabulary thoroughly improves literacy, making your child a better reader, writer and interpreter of information. A good vocabulary is important both inside and outside the classroom.  

·         THEY’LL ENJOY IT!

There’s not much about studying that could be considered “fun” for students, but that doesn’t make it any less important—it’s those good grades and SAT scores that are going to help your child get into his or her top-choice colleges. Vocab Videos makes studying this essential vocabulary more fun. Hilarious short videos illustrate the meanings of 500 of the most frequently tested SAT words making them easy to learn and remember. Parodies of some of your child’s favorite television shows like Lost, The Office, 24 and Gossip Girl make content more relevant, memorable and compelling for students.Vocab Videos’ humorous plotlines and engaging characters make it an effective and entertaining vocabulary system.

·         Useful study materials

Watching a video once isn’t enough to remember it forever, so our extensive review material is an essential part of the Vocab Videos study program. After students have watched the videos, the quizzes at the end of each unit allow them to reinforce what they’ve seen, and SAT style questions prepare students for what they’ll encounter on standardized tests. An alphabetical glossary helps students keep track of words they’ve mastered, and gives them the option to review definitions without re-watching the videos. Category lists group words by common themes, and additional worksheets list words and provide space for students to write their own sentences using the vocabulary.  If students have a true understanding of the vocabulary, they will be better able to recognize and comprehend the words—even within an unfamiliar context as they could appear on the SAT, ACT or in a homework assignment.  

·         Suits your child’s lifestyle

Between sports practices, extracurricular activities and school projects, we understand your child’s schedule can be jam-packed. Vocab Videos allows students to craft individual study programs, so that they can learn this crucial vocabulary on their own time. They can watch an episode before bed or study five words per day depending on their schedules and when they’re taking their standardized tests. Even if you decide to designate Vocab Videos as “homework” for your child, it won’t feel like their typical study time—Vocab Videos are funny and captivating. Students will be learning and having fun in the process!

They say, “War is hell.”  For millions of students nationwide, so is the SAT.  But the truth is preparing for the SAT doesn’t have to be the painful, depressing, and terrifying experience you keep hearing about.  In fact, success on the mother of all tests is a lot easier than you think.  Here are 5 helpful tips from a Harvard guru who has taken more than a 100 SATs and PSATs, helped instruct thousands of students and experienced first hand what a great score can do for your future. 

Before you even begin to prepare for the SAT, remember that you are always more than a number on a piece of paper.  You are the sum of your life experiences, and the SAT is only one part of the admissions equation.  If you become obsessed with your score (or the scores of your friends), you are setting yourself up to go crazy.  Honestly, the world is full of crazy people already and a meltdown with a number two pencil is just no way to go.

Here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. Have a Plan – You have plenty of time to get ready for the SAT, but if you try to hide from it and pretend it’s not there, believe me it will sneak up behind you, beat you down and take your lunch money.  Mapping out a strategy early on that fits your schedule, your learning style and your goals is essential.
2. Make a Schedule – Choosing when to take your first SAT is an important decision.  If you have AP tests in May, you probably want to take your SAT earlier in the year to avoid stress; if you are an athlete^* with a winter sport, preparing during the season may be tough.  Be realistic about your time commitments.
3. READ  – Pick up a book.  Read the newspaper (box scores don’t count).  Stop relying on SparkNotes and read the Scarlet Letter for real (you can still use SparkNotes to help).  This isn’t just about improving vocabulary and reading comprehension for the SAT; YOU SPEAK ENGLISH, this will help you for the rest of your life.
4. Don’t Burn Out – Focusing too much on the SAT is a mistake.  To most colleges, your GPA is just as, if not more, important than your SAT scores.  If you are taking mountains of practice tests and sections without reviewing them thoroughly you are wasting your time.  If you are locking yourself in your room for hours doing nothing but SAT work, you are a weirdo.  And all too often you will burn out and get frustrated.  This is a marathon, so pace yourself.
5. Block out the Nonsense – When it comes to the SAT, suddenly everyone is an expert.  There is no “easy” or “hard” month to take the SAT.  The ACT isn’t the “easier” test.  Guessing “C” isn’t better than guessing “A” or “B”.  Ignore most of what you hear since it is usually anecdotal at best.  Sorting fact from fiction is sometimes difficult, so only trust those with a solid track record and experience.  Even then, a second opinion never hurts.

^* Athletes who are hoping to get recruited should start early to give coaches solid scores to work with.  In future posts I will discuss how the academic index is used in admissions decisions for recruited athletes.

McNeil, M. “Proposed ‘Race to Top’ Rules Seen as Prescriptive” Education Week. September 3, 2009.

Proposed ‘Race to Top’ Rules Seen as Prescriptive

Welcome to the new A-List homepage! Please take some time and have a look at some of our new site features:

• Updated navigation with drop-down menus

• Extensive descriptions of A-List’s services old and new, including preparation for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, & LSAT. Look out for the details of our new hybrid SAT course that blends classroom instruction and one-on-one tutoring!

• Vast list of useful resources: Check them out! Some may help make the college admissions process a bit easier for you.

• Our Expanding A-List Team: Meet all of our new expert educational consultants—learn a little about them and their impressive academic backgrounds. Many have attended the country’s most prestigious schools including Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

• A-List Training & Licensing for schools and non-profits: See what A-List has to offer your school with respect to our SAT teacher-training.

• Clients’ Success Stories: A-List prides itself on our exceptional results, and the relationships we develop with students. Please explore our comprehensive list of testimonials, SAT & ACT score improvements, and college acceptances from top schools including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Emory, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, and UCLA.

• Get Ready for the New & Improved Vocab Videos Site: Have fun, learn vocabulary, and get SAT prep and ACT prep!

Enjoy the site!

Marcus, David L. “Rejection Is A Blessing” www.Forbes.com. March 26, 2009

Rejection Is A Blessing