quality internships, newer scholarships, schools we evaluate, keeping up with the latest news on admissions - Success Koach

Parental help with college applications

9/29/2021

How can I help my child apply for college?
Parent Tips: DO's and DON'Ts of Helping Your Child Apply for...

DO set up a separate email account. ...
But DON'T put it in your name. ...
DO maintain a timeline. ...
But DON'T nag. ...
DO your homework. ...
But DON'T do everything for your child. ...
DO discuss finances. ...
But DON'T let sticker price intimidate them.

Many parents get very worked up about college admission forms and essays. This is a good place to step back from and let your student take the lead. The bottom line is, if they don't finish the applications and essays, they won't be admitted to school. They'll have to work for at least a year before they attend.

ADHD challenges for high schoolers FAQs

9/29/2021

What challenges do students with ADHD face?
A changing school environment
School can present challenges for many children with ADHD. Because ADHD symptoms include difficulty with attention regulation, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can affect planning, organizing, and managing behavior, many children with ADHD struggle with change. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/features/adhd-and-school-changes.html

Colleges that produce the highest # of PhDs

9/27/2021

These colleges produce the highest percentage of eventual doctorate recipients in the humanities, natural sciences, and social and behavior sciences. Institutions are listed in rank order and based on statistics provided by the National Science Foundation’s Weighted Baccalaureate Origins Study. The stack ranking is based on the # of PhDs produced.

Can I write my college essay about ADHD?

9/27/2021

You have, in essence, three choices: write about your ADHD as the subject matter for your common application essay, mention it in the “tell us anything else” section, or simply leave out any mention of it altogether. ... As of 2014, over 6.4 million people under the age of 18 have been identified as ADHD. https://medium.com/@parkemuth/how-personal-should-a-personal-statement-be-b81bf4de0ade

EIP or 504 plan: Do those impact college admission decisions

9/27/2021

You should NOT talk about it on your application. It WILL be held against you. Put yourself in their shoes... Unless they are a public school, why would they knowingly take someone in who has a lesser chance of graduating from college in the long run?
Colleges don't know whether a student applicant has an IEP or a 504 plan . ... In fact, colleges aren't allowed to ever students who apply whether they have a disability. Nor can a college ask what kind of plan a student has, because that's simply a different way of asking if the student has a disability.

Can I talk about my mental health in my college essay?

9/27/2021

Recently, I've noticed a concerning uptick in the number of students asking whether it's appropriate for them to write about mental health issues, most frequently ADD and/or anxiety, in their college applications. ... So the short answer: don't do it.

Is it OK to talk about depression in a college essay?
All counselors interviewed for this piece agreed that students' college essays should not be about their struggles with mental health. ... Vinik says that mental health problems should only be shared in the essay if the college would not be able to understand the applicant without knowing about this part of her. https://www.noodle.com/articles/how-to-discuss-your-mental-health-on-college-applications

Should You Self-Study for an AP Exam? 5 Key Factors

9/26/2021

Whether or not self-studying is the right approach for you will depend on five key factors.
Should You Self-Study for an AP Exam? 5 Key Factors
Factor 1: Which AP Exam You Want to Self-Study For
Factor 2: How Much Time You Have for Studying
Factor 3: Your Studying Motivation Level
Factor 4: Your Ability to Stay on Track
Factor 5: Access to Study Material
5 Essential Tips for Effective AP Self-Studying
#1: Stay on Track
#2: Make a Schedule
#3: Find the Best Material
#4: Take Practice Tests
#5: Register for the AP Exam

AP Courses online self-study material

9/26/2021

If you have worked with em, you know I'm a stickler for my students self studying AP classes. Here's a list of free classes on edX that will get you jump started.

How do I get improve my child's chance of getting into a top school?

9/26/2021

Prepare early. ...
Nurture academic development. ...
Focus on strengths and interests. ...
Leave room for autonomy. ...
Emphasize extracurricular activities. ...
Pursue excellent test scores. ...
Make sure they write and express themselves well... essays, persuasive skills are phenomenal. ...
Be mindful of deadlines.... plan each year of high school meticulously

What are the best electives to take in middle school?

9/26/2021

These fare un and unique middle school electives that students love taking—and teachers love teaching!

Kitchen Science. This elective combines the principles of science with the fun of cooking! ...
Life Skills. ...
Sewing. ...
Board Games. ...
History of Rock & Roll. ...
Hand Drumming. ...
Yoga & Mindfulness. ...
Theatre.

The Forgotten Middle school: : Ensuring Students are on Target for College and Career Readiness by High School

9/26/2021

The process of preparing students to make successful transitions from middle school to high school is just as important as the process of preparing them to make successful transitions from high school to postsecondary education. Obstacles to college and career readiness must be met head on. We can take the steps necessary to ensure that every student learns the essential skills necessary to handle the rigorous high school coursework that prepares them for college and career. Let’s make these skills nonnegotiable minimum standards for all K–8 students. They deserve it.
Highlights:

Eighth-Grade Academic Achievement Is the Best Predictor of College and Career Readiness by High School Graduation

What is college readiness for middle school students?

9/26/2021

Students should casually go to local college visits with parents, make it a fun experience. They should investigate different career pathways at career fairs. They should take assessments to identify careers in line with their interests. It is important that students continue to build their reading, writing, and mathematical skills.
It is important that students continue to build their reading, writing, and mathematical skills. Studies show that students who are off-track in 7th grade math are at higher risk for scoring below college benchmarks on the ACT in high school.
Grade point average should also become a focus for students at this age. High school transcripts permanently record grades that follow students to the postsecondary application process. Middle school is the best time to teach students about GPA and how performance affects their readiness.

Merit scholarship, who gets it?

9/23/2021

The merit scholarship criteria are part of your college's list planning and should be documented as such part of your final priorities for the admissions. Finding colleges that give good merit scholarships, the criteria, and the amounts is an art. Invest the time to learn the process. The details below will help. Reach out to the Success Koach team if you have questions.

External scholarships: strategies to get funded

9/23/2021

Is it Worth it to Apply for Scholarships?
Absolutely, but only if a student is willing to put in the work it takes to apply correctly using winning strategies and doing a bit of research before submitting any application. Scholarships are FREE money that does not have to be paid back, so learning how to strategically apply is crucial to a student’s scholarship success rate. Students who quickly write an essay without much thought will have basically no chance of winning unless there is only one applicant, which is very rare.

Majors in subjects like English, philosophy, psychology, and sociology?

9/23/2021

We students are way too focused on a STEM education. While the benefits of STEM are awesome and tangible, don't disregard the humanities subjects. those make you whole. Shreya, my older daughter is getting a very complete education at Wellesley college where she is majoring in CS yet 50% of her classes are in Humanities; that's a requirement when you graduate from a liberal arts college. Read on for more..

9th and 10th graders colleges prep essentials

9/23/2021

It's never too early to start preparing for college. Since colleges look at your accomplishments from all four years of high school, you don't want to wait until your junior year to start thinking about your GPA and college admissions. Our checklist linked can help you get started.

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Advanced Placements (AP) testing! Why bother? Why NOT bother too much either?

9/23/2021

What is the purpose of AP credits?
AP courses give you the experience of an introductory level college or university class while you're in high school. You might also get post-secondary credit for the class if you pass the AP exam and if it meets your post-secondary institution's admission requirements.

The spike in your application spike

9/22/2021

Your application should clearly communicate your “spike.” A spike, hook, etc. is a set of activities and accomplishments that show admissions officers what you are truly passionate about and what you bring to the table.

Freshmen year could decide where you ultimately land up...

9/22/2021

During ninth grade it's important adjust to the new work load and learn how to deal with the social stress that often accompanies high school, but it's also important to remember that you're now in the “college prep” years. The activities you join and grades you earn will be a part of your college application.

9th, 10th graders... don't slack off... what could you do to get college ready?

9/22/2021

Why is 9th grade so important?
http://stand.org/washington/blog/how-were-investing-ninth-grade-success
After decades of research with Chicago Public Schools, the University of Chicago's Consortium on School Research found that staying On-Track during ninth grade means a student is four times more likely to graduate high school, regardless of their race, income or background. ... how ninth-grade success teams help kids

What's college like? Should I tour any schools?

9/22/2021

It's never too early to explore college campuses. Take some time during your freshman year of high school to get yourself to campus and get a feeling for the typical layout of public and private institutions.

How to Pay for College

9/22/2021

Find out exactly how much college can cost and what you can do now as a freshman to prepare for those expenses. Refocus your study habits to build the credentials necessary for grant and scholarship applications.

When should you start planning for college?

9/22/2021

It’s never too early to start thinking about college. It may seem very far away, but the hard work you put in now should help you later on.
Some experts recommend starting as early as sixth grade.

The Heros journey has to show in your essays

9/22/2021

It's not what you say, but more importantly how you say that is more important. Remember, the AO has 8-mins in total to read your application, You can't predict when in the day the AO reads it either. the dude could be in a crappy mood. So always tell a story in the format he/she is most comfortable knowing... ie the Hero's journey.
Throughout history, various people have studied the hero’s journey narrative, but it is most commonly associated with Joseph Campbell’s work. There is a common arc to most journey:

It begins with an initial catalyst for the hero to start an extraordinary adventure
While on the adventure, the hero overcomes challenges
The hero completes the adventure and returns home

Wait... I have to write another supplemental essay??

9/22/2021

Admissions officers are trained to look for the "fit". Remember this.. the adcomm dude wants to help you but only if you help him/her simplify getting to the details, put everything they need in front. For example, don't just explicitly state the values you have, but instead, with the research into the school values how you fit those like a glove. That you should be able to make the case for how your candidature fits in. Helps the dude make the case on your behalf.