Plan Ahead to Help Your High School Students Benefit from CLEP

CLEP Exams Help Students and Parents Save Thousands of Dollars in College Tuition…

College Planners

College is more expensive than ever. Common solutions to saving money for college include sending high school graduates to less expensive, community colleges. Parents also enroll their kids in AP courses in high school, in hopes that passing the AP exam at the end of the year will exempt their child from having to take mandatory general education courses their freshman year, thereby saving a lot of money. Other students vie for competitive scholarships. However, unless grades are impeccable and extra-curricular activities are impressive and noteworthy, a good scholarship can be hard to come by.

The most overlooked way to save thousands of dollars in college tuition is the CLEP exam. CLEP, or College Level Examination Program, which allows your child to earn college credits by studying for and taking an exam that demonstrates their knowledge about any one of 34 different subjects. CLEP exams, which only cost around $70 to take, are actually less expensive to take than AP exam and don’t require high school students to enroll in the more vigorous and time-consuming AP courses. Parents will benefit the most from CLEP if they figure out an early course of action and plan accordingly. Some crucial questions parents should know about CLEP follow:

How Many CLEP Exams Can My Child Take?

Different colleges accept up to 3 to twelve credit hours for each exam taken. You must contact the college of your choice to see if there is a cap on how many credit hours can be transferred from the successful completion of a CLEP or an AP exam. Students serious about saving money with CLEP should apply to the colleges of their choice before deciding which and how many CLEP exams they will study for. Some students can save a year’s worth of tuition by utilizing CLEP. To find out which colleges give credit for CLEP, visit the above link.

What Classes Should my Child Take to Prepare for the CLEP exams?

The beauty of the CLEP exams is that your child doesn’t have to take specific classes in order to pass. Often, general knowledge gleaned from experience, reading, and mandatory high school classes is a good basis for passing the CLEP exams. However, be sure to study these tips to pass CLEP. It may be best for your child to study for exams that have content she feels most familiar with. If she ends up taking the CLEP exam before she knows what college she is attending, be sure to get a copy of the CLEP transcript form. You can request a transcript through www.collegeboard.com or by calling 1-800-257-9558. Be sure to have your child’s social security number and test information on hand.

Navigating the CLEP Process with Outside Help

Students who plan to go on to college should have contact with their guidance counselors. Make sure the guidance counselor is informed of your desire to use CLEP to your child’s benefit. Your guidance counselor should help you find testing sites, plan a course of action, be in contact with potential colleges’ admissions counselors, and should help your child find study resources and facilitate communication with his teachers to help gain study support.

CLEP is a great way to ensure your child has a successful and affordable college career. Whether your child wishes to transfer to a local community college or wants to move to a large university in another state, CLEP will help make the transition a smooth one.

About the author: Students who must take an introductory psychology course as part of their undergraduate degree requirements may be interested in taking the CLEPtest instead of attending the actual course. College academic counselors can be excellent resources for students who are interested in learning how they, too, can use CLEP tests…

Filed under: AP Courses, Admissions, Applications, CLEP's, Classes, College Planning, High School, Mothers, PSAT, Parental Guidance, SAT, Students, single parent families , Admissions, Classes, CLEP, College Applications, college planning tips, Parental Guidance, parents, PSAT, SAT, Students

Parliament Tutors Ranked Best SAT Prep Company; Kaplan Takes Second Place

By Aaron Goldstein

 Parliament Tutors was recently named the best SAT Prep program in the nation by BestTestPrep.Blogspot .This comes just weeks after Parliament

College Planning

Tutors revealed their custom-designed prep materials and diagnostic grading module.

 

While, the best test prep method is often diligent, independent study, new technology and advanced testing strategies have given students an upper-hand in standardized test-taking. Boutique private tutoring services are doing their best to compete with test-prep giants like Kaplan and Princeton Review that can afford luxuries like real ScanTron tests to grade students immediately after practice exams.

Parliament Tutors, a New York City-based private tutoring and test prep company, recently invested in state-of-the-art software to better diagnose students SAT strengths and weaknesses. “We want to be ahead of the SAT Prep curve,” explains Parliament Tutors President, David Greenberg. “We consider ourselves the most forward-thinking private-tutoring service in the nation. Our software engineers have developed a grading program to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses based on their correct and incorrect answers immediately upon submission. Our specialized math and verbal tutors are trained to respond to these evaluations.”

Last year over 1.5 million students took the SAT. As the importance of SAT scores in the college admissions process continues to grow, so does the demand for private tutoring and test-prep services. More and more students are applying to college today than ever before. “With fewer job opportunities, students that may not have considered school in the past are turning to secondary education as an alternative,” explains test-prep tutor and educator Uri Carni. “Never have we seen such a high number of standardized test-takers for secondary education.” Students have responded to this increased demand in education by stepping up their preparation strategies as college application season approaches. The SAT and ACT, complimented by SAT II Subject Tests and Advanced Placement (AP) Exams, may be the most important components in the college application process. The most important key for success is identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and building lessons accordingly to maximize your potential. Take as many practice tests as possible and focus on your areas that require extra attention and improvement.

“As important as these tests are, college admissions officers are putting increased emphasis on candidates’ profiles and less emphasis on their scores,” explains Lawrence Beer, Parliament Tutors California regional director. “Students are going to have to work hard to find and develop their niches to get admission officers’ attention today. A 700 around the board isn’t what it used to be. Schools want to see leadership, involvement, and expertise.” This education boom will precipitate an even more competitive college admissions process. Much more attention will be given to students personal statements. It is important to grab your readers’ attention from the outset of your essay. Anecdotal essays that can relate to everyone typically work best. Increased attention and focus is being given to subject tests and AP results, as well. These exams give students a chance to show off their abilities to complete college-level coursework and to demonstrate proficiency in a particular field. Choose only the most passionate and well-trained tutor when making your selection. See that their approaches make sense to you and that their teaching strategies work. Take advantage of every minute and never stop listening, learning and improving.

Parliament donates a percentage of its profits to sponsor free private tutoring sessions for students in need. “This campaign is special because is provides those in need with the same advantages as those who can afford first-class tutoring services,” explains Ari Smith, Parliament’s Cleveland regional director. “Students that can’t afford group courses, let alone a private SAT tutor, are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to competitive standardized-testing. I am proud to be a part of this effort and to give back to the community and provide these needy students with the same state-of-the-art software and top-notch tutors available to the wealthy.”

About the author: Aaron Goldstein is an NYU Graduate with degrees in accounting and finance. He is currently doing an education fellowship in the Middle East, while pursuing a masters in education.

Filed under: AP Courses, Admissions, Applications, College Planning, High School, PSAT, Parental Guidance, SAT, Students, single parent families , Admissions, College Applications, College Planning, Parental Guidance, parents, PSAT, SAT, self help, self improvement, Students

Are standardized Tests Monopolizing Real Learning and Education?

By David Greenberg

Is too much stress being put on students these days to perform well on the SAT and ACT? Are standardized tests monopolizing real learning and education?

Theoretically the answer is no; realistically, the answer is yes.

How are college admissions officials supposed to evaluate schools’ report cards? It would be impossible to accurately rate the difficulty of each schools curriculum and assess students’ grades accordingly. Colleges are forced to use a system that
measures students abilities on a single plane.

Standardized tests allow colleges to see how students fare relative to one another. Advanced Placement (AP) Tests and SAT II Subject Tests give students the opportunity to shine in their particular fields.

As the application process becomes increasingly competitive, admissions counselors are going to place more emphasis on candidates’ profiles and less emphasis on their test scores.

“Admissions counselors want to see a well-rounded, yet specialized individual,” explains Ari Smith, regional director of Parliament Tutors. “Great SAT scores are essential; however, science students should be sure to take and excel in the
standardized science exams. Math students should do the same with math, and so on and so on…”

Parliament Tutors is one of the nation’s fastest growing tutoring companies covering all subjects and levels from Kindergarten through the MCAT. They take pride in their state-of-the-art technology to better diagnose student strengths
and weaknesses in regard to the SAT.

More and more students are looking to third parties to get help preparing for the SAT and other standardized exams. Take advantage of all the resources around you and make sure to Practice, Practice, Practice.

About the author:
David is an NYU Graduate and a tutor for Parliament Tutors in New York City.

Filed under: AP Courses, Admissions, Applications, College Planning, Parental Guidance, Students, single parent families , ACT, Admissions, College Applications, college planning tips, PSAT, SAT, Students

Tips on the Process – Choosing a College: How to Compose a List

By James Maroney

First, evaluate the 5 factors outlined in the article here. Most importantly look at your Geographical Interest and your Academic Major interest; we will use these two criteria to start our search. We will start by plugging the criteria into a search site, such as Usnews, Gocollege,Princeton Review, Petersons, or the College Board. We will use these two factors to generate an initial list. We will then want to narrow this list down by using an additional two factors: your academic profile, and the desired size of schools.

I think it is always a good idea to include some schools that will stretch your options, such as a school that may be larger or smaller than you initially wanted, or a school that might be in a different geographic region if it matches on all the other factors. You will want to use your academic profile to determine if you have a chance of admission at the school. Remember, you want to be able to comfortably handle the workload at the college so that you can fully participate in and enjoy college life. If you are trapped in the library all the time, you will miss out on the whole college experience. On the other hand, you do not want to go to a college that is too easy and does not challenge or stimulate you intellectually.

You will want to use your academic profile to break the list into 3 categories: Reach; Possible; Highly Likely. There are a few ways to try and determine your admissions chances. First, compare your SAT score to the 25-75 split of the school. You can get this number from the US news website, the College Board website, the Princeton Review website, by calling the school, or from some of the “insider’s guides.” If your SAT score is below the lower number of the range, this school will probably be a reach. You will also want to check your GPA against the 25-75 split for GPA, if available, and against the average GPA. Another method is to determine if your high school tracks the results of former students at your school and look at their admissions success rate at the schools you are interested in. If your school does not have that information available, you may want to compare yourself against the data from Amity High School, which is available online. The web address is:http://apps.amityregion5.org/colleges/CollegeApp. Remember, this is only statistical information, and other factors such as extra-curricular activities, essay, interview, and recommendations, enter into the total admission decision.

To add some additional schools to your list, you may want to look at Rugg’s Recommendations On The Colleges, and add some more schools that are strong in your major. Remember, there is a good chance that you will change your major, so if possible choose schools that are strong in a couple of your areas of interest. Once you see the schools listed in Rugg’s, cross reference them with a larger college search engine or the school website itself to determine the important statistics for the school to fill in on your list (Size, SAT 25-75 Split, Admissions Phone Number, Web Site). Your goal should be to arrive at an initial list of 25 schools.

Over the course of your search you will add new schools to the list, and of course, eliminate a number of schools. From the initial list, through your research, you will want to narrow it down to 10 to 12 schools that you will visit, and from there try to get it down to 6 to 8 schools to which you will apply. The goal should be to apply to 1 or 2 highly likely schools (schools where you are almost 100% certain that you will be accepted), 2 possible schools (schools where you have a better than 50% chance of being accepted) and a few reach schools. If you are going to be applying to the most competitive schools (Ivy League, Swarthmore, Haverford, Amherst, Williams, Wesleyan, etc), you should consider applying to more than 2 reach schools. These schools are so competitive now, that I would consider them a reach for almost every student.

Once we have our initial list of schools based on the first 4 factors, you will need to do additional research to narrow that list down to 10 to 12 schools. How should you go about conducting that research? * Look through the school website to try and get a “feel” for the school. Look at the pages of clubs and organizations that interest you. Look at student’s personal web pages, and ask yourself, “Do these seem like people that I could picture myself becoming friends with?” Email professors in the department that interests you to ask detailed questions about the department and the program in general. Look through the online course catalogue to see the classes that are required for your major, and also browse for other classes of interest to you. You will want to note how many classes are required for your major, how many classes are required for the “core curriculum”, and how many electives you are allowed to take. Also, you may want to find out how difficult it is to double major, or minor, if that is of interest to you. Finally, are there concentrations offered within your major? * In addition to the internet, look through some of the “insider’s guides” and read their reviews on the colleges. Does this sound like a school that you would be happy attending? * Contact friends you know who are attending the school. Ask their opinion about the school. Find out what they like, and what they do not like. Remember, just because they feel one way about the school, you might not necessarily feel the same way, but nonetheless, it is valuable information. * Finally, the best way of learning about a college is through a school visit. Planning the visit, and what you should look at while you are on campus are discussed in a later chapter.

The visit is so important, it warrants a section of its own. * In addition to having academic safeties, you will want to locate a financial safety. We always recommend applying to at least one of your state schools. With recent economic trends, however, state school admission has become increasingly difficult. Another way to locate financial safeties is to look for schools that would offer you an academic scholarship. One good site for this is www.collegetreasure.com. You can search for colleges where you are eligible for scholarships based on your geographic preference and academic profile (SAT and GPA). It is not enough to find a school where you know you would be accepted, a good safety is a school where you know you could be accepted and you know you would be happy if you had to go there. You need to research these schools as well in the same manner discussed above.

About the author:

James Maroney, is an educational consultant from Milford, Connecticut. He has been helping students with all aspects of the college search since he founded First Choice College Placement in 1999. He is a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association, Education Industry Association, National Association of College Admissions Counselors, and National College Advocacy Group. He is also the publisher of www.collegetreasure.com, www.admissionhook.com, andwww.firstchoicecollege.com.

Filed under: AP Courses, Admissions, Applications, College Financing, College Planning, Grants, Home Schooling, Universities, single parent families , academic quality, Admissions, Choosing Universities, college planning tips, financial aid, Scholarships, student financial aid, Universities

College Planning Specialists TV Interview with Dan Evertsz

Dan Evertsz owner of BayCollegePlanners.com has the answers to the difficult questions parents and students face when considering the choices and expenses of a college education: “How do we find the money for college?” The following is an introduction to Dan and his Bay Area College Specialists consulting business in the form of a television interview on the Northern California Comcast show “Reference Point” with host Dave Korcharhook.

If you are having trouble qualifying for student aid, finding funding for an education, or if you are in need of consultation about these expenses please consider Dan Evertsz your go-to source for action:

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Ivy League admissions: a unique way to set yourself apart and

By John Dorian Chang

Are you interested in the internet? Technology? Business? Are you simply looking to standout in college admissions? Challenge yourself to a new opportunity?

Here’s an out of the box idea that will help your quest to get into Stanford: offer to be an intern at a startup!

It’s easier than you think – it requires leg-work and initiative on your part, but it looks great on college applications and can help you move your careers and professional interests to the next level.

Here are two examples of how it can be done:

1) Search for local startups through Google. Email them with a brief description of your background, and tell them you’re interested in an unpaid part-time or summer internship.

The key here is local – these will give you the best shot since it’s convenient for you and them, and there’s greater overlap in interests, backgrounds, etc

2) Browse through the online services that you use the most and love – such as Facebook, Myspace, Imeem, and so on. Look through their websites and get in touch with human resources staff or recruiters. Explain your story. Again, offer to work in an unpaid position or any position they have available

Startups are always looking for more help, especially if it’s free. Showing initiative like that in high school will impress any company. Even if they say no, you have nothing to lose.

An internship will strengthen your college application – it will bolster your work experience and leadership/initiative-taking. It will also be one helluva story to tell in college essays or alumni interviews.

Finally – and here’s the best part – it could lead to a unique and outstanding recommendation. Everyone else just has recs from teachers – what if you got one from your CEO? Win-win-win. Harvard here we come.

This is just one example of great out-of-the-box thinking. What unique ideas do you have? Share them with me by emailing john AT hopelesstoharvard.com and I’ll give you feedback!

Unique risk-taking is a surefire way to help your chances of getting into Ivy League schools. Start today.

About the author:
Are you an average student who wants to go to Harvard? Hopeless To Harvard is the story of how a B+ student got into Harvard,
Stanford, and Princeton. Click here to learn his strategies for admissions success. Get into Stanford now!

Filed under: AP Courses, Admissions, Applications, College Planning, Internships, Ivy League Schools, Mentoring, Social Networking, Students, Universities , academic quality, Admissions, College Applications, college planning tips, planning, self help, self improvement, Social Networks, Students, Universities

Secrets of the SAT and Ivy League Admissions

By John Dorian Chang

The SAT test is a rite of passage for all high school students. Score too low, and you face an uphill battle to get into Harvard. You’ll spend hundreds of hours studying for, worrying about, and taking the exam.

Here, I’ll discuss two key questions on your mind.

One, what do colleges like Stanford look for with respect to SAT scores? What is a “good enough” score?

Two, how can I best prepare for the SAT? How do I spend my time and money wisely?

Ivy League schools look for high competence, not perfection

1. A high score. This is obvious – but exactly how high is high?

My recommendation for SAT score is 2100. You should target 700 across each section to be considered for Ivy League admissions. Anything sub-700 will raise an eyebrow.

Of course, the higher the better. But as I argue, at a certain point it’s smarter to spend your time elsewhere.

The best evidence of this is my experience as an admissions officer. I can count on one hand the number of times an applicant has been rejected because a 2100+ SAT score was “too low” (and that’s usually in conjunction with other negative academic qualities, such as a weak course transcript).

But there are countless times – I repeat, countless times - that students have been put into the denial/rejection pile because, despite a very high SAT score (including 2350s!), they simply had nothing else to show.

2. A record of improvement. If you’re like me, and you scored dismally on your first try (I’m not even going to tell you what my score was initially), you’ll want to take the SAT again. But keep in mind:

-You shouldn’t take it more than 3 times total – anything more, and you look desperate and a little stupid unless you get a 2400.

-You need to consistently improve your score. This is very important. If your first score was 2020, second score was 2150, and third score was 2060. Guess which score they’ll focus on? Not your highest one, but the last one. Even if you’re allowed to put your highest per section scores on the Common App, colleges still review your College Board official score reports closely. I guarantee it.

3. SAT over ACT always

While the ACT is a challenging test and in many ways superior to the SAT, you should always take the SAT. When admissions offices have 2 borderline candidates – with roughly identical high school backgrounds and similar caliber of extracurricular achievements – the one who has a knockout SAT score will always look more impressive than one with a knockout ACT
score.

Why? Because significantly fewer people take the ACT – standards are more varied, plus the vast majority of admissions officers took the SAT themselves and not the ACT. They’re familiar with it, and they know how hard it is to get a knockout score…not so with the ACT.

Preparation should be focused on two things – sample tests and an early start

1. Start early. As said before, take the PSAT at least once before the NMSQT. It’s a risk free chance to practice. Take the SAT in 7th grade for the Duke TIP as well.

2. Be wary of SAT courses and prep programs with exaggerated promises. I took a Kaplan course back in high school - about the only thing I remember is creative flashcards that minimally improved my vocabulary. My parents were out a few thousand bucks. Sit in on sample classes before you commit.

Looking back on the whole experience, I got the most by far out of books available at your local library. The good thing about a class is that it forces you to study and practice, but if you have the self-motivation (and I’m hoping you do), you can save significant time and money with cheap and/or freely
available resources.

3. Do as many sample tests as possible. More than anything else – this is what makes the difference. The more practice problems you answer, the more comfortable you will be. Do them all – from Princeton Review to Barron’s, love your local Barnes & Noble.

4. Don’t forget online resources. New companies online are doing amazing things with online, interactive learning. Google is your best friend. The best part is, it’s free or very very cheap.

5. Practice with friends. Oddly enough, I did very little of this. But the few times where a friend and I studied and took practice tests together were incredibly helpful. Their perspective will be different, and teach you much more than if you study alone for weeks on end.

Don’t practice in large groups – you’ll be completely unproductive and you know it. Study with one other person who’s serious and committed, and solve problems together. 2 brains is far better than 1.

About the author:
Hopeless To Harvard is a former Admissions Officer’s account of how to get into Stanford, Princeton, and Ivy League schools. Click here to break into the school of your dreams! Read Ivy League admissions advice now.

Filed under: AP Courses, Admissions, College Planning, High School, Home Schooling, Ivy League Schools, Students , academic quality, ACT, College, College Applications, college planning tips, Ivy League Schools, PSAT, SAT, self help, self improvement, Universities

Free San Francisco Bay Area College Planning Workshops

Bay Area College Planning Workshops will help you to learn about the many issues College financial aid funding can typically present to a family. We will present useful information which can assist in safeguarding your families future. Our San Francisco Bay Area College Planning  Workshops will teach your family about:

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•  Tax Scholarships: What are they?

•  Ways to get Thousands of Free dollars from the Colleges of your choice.

•  How to keep on top of college admissions, FAFSA and scholarships.

•  How some families have reduced their out of pocket college expenses by thousands.

•  How some middle and or upper-middle class families send their kids to college for free.

•  How to double or even triple your eligibility for Financial Aid.

•  How to pick colleges that give the best Financial Aid packages. 

•  Unlocking the unknown – How to win at the College funding game.

•  The 5 myths concerning College funding.

•  How to help your student find direction in the College search process.

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December 2009 Workshops
 
Alameda Free Library Workshop
1550 Oak Street,
Alameda, CA 94501
Date: Tues Dec 8th
Time: 6:30pm-8pm
 
Redwood Christian High School Workshop
1000 Paseo Grande, 
San Lorenzo, CA 94580
Date: Tues Dec 8th
Time: 7pm-8:15pm
 
Webinar: “Learn the Insider Secrets to Get Free Financial Aid for College!”
Click on the link to register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/734644299
Date: Wed Dec 9th
Time: 6:30pm-8pm PST
 
Moraga Library Workshop
1500 St. Mary’s Road,
Moraga, CA 94556
Date: Sat Dec 12th
Time: 11am-12pm

Find out about the many more College funding secrets many Colleges hope you will never discover.  

 - Prior registration required for all workshops and teleseminars -

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