If you are lucky enough to have discovered your passion during high school, then by all means think about how you can turn that passion into a career.  For example, if you love to cook, consider all of the different ways cooking can become a profession:  chef, restaurateur, personal chef, caterer, food critic; as you can see, the list goes on and on.  Stepping back from your ultimate goal, your next step would be to consider what types of education you will need.  For instance, if you want to be the chef/owner of a restaurant, in addition to cooking classes, you will need business and marketing skills as well as general accounting.  So, for an undergraduate major, you probably will be interested in business.  Although being a business major sounds worlds apart from being a chef, by employing this reasoning, you can see why it would stand you in very good stead.

If, however, you haven’t yet found your “passion,” you may be wondering how to begin selecting a major.  You can work backwards, so to speak.  Begin by selecting a job in a projected growing field and then choose your major based upon your career goal.  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, over one-half of the occupations with the fastest growth are in the medical field.  This is not to say that you should be a doctor – many different occupations comprise this field, including biomedical engineers, home health aides, personal/home care aides, medical scientists, physician’s assistants, skin care specialists, biochemists and biophysicists, athletic trainers, physical therapist aides, dental hygienists, veterinary technologists and technicians, dental assistants, medical assistants, physical therapist assistants and veterinarians to name a few.  Other careers that are projected to be in high demand in the coming years are network systems and data communications analysts, financial examiners, computer software engineers/applications, self-enrichment education teachers and compliance officers (except agriculture, construction, health and safety and transportation).  Of course, nurses, auditors/bookkeepers/accountants and teachers always are in demand.  For more information about growing industries, go to the Department of Labor’s website.

One word of caution about college majors, however.  The most valuable asset that you derive from college is an ability to think, reason and research.  These traits will serve you well no matter your chosen profession.  In the podcast series “Ear on Careers,” many of the professionals interviewed tell the same story:  their success in their career is unrelated to their college major.  For example, a hospital president was an engineering major; a magazine publisher was a biology and math major; a lawyer was a psychology major; and a federal agent was a communications major, just to name a few.  To listen to this podcast series, go to www.EarOnCareers.com.

Senior year in high school is exciting, and gone all too soon.  Before this calendar year is through, you will have completed your first year of college!  However, that’s a ways away, so let’s focus on the here and now.  Here are some New Year’s Resolutions for high school Seniors to consider:

• Remind your parents about the FAFSA. Your parents should submit their FAFSA in as early January as possible in order to realize the best outcome.  In this economy, everyone is looking for financial aid, so make sure your family is meeting with someone who specializes in financial aid, as your family accountant may not be your best resource.  For more information about financial aid, check out this podcast.

• Decide which college you’ll be attending. By now, all of your college applications should have been submitted, or you’re submitting them tomorrow.  The waiting game has begun!  Soon, however, you will start to hear back from the colleges with their decisions about your applications.  With any luck, you’ll have more than one college that accepts you!  Once you hear back from all of your schools, weigh all of your acceptances carefully.  Revisit the campuses, chat with college students about their experiences, and review the financial aid packages.  As soon as you decide where you want to go, make sure to let the colleges know and write down important deadlines for course selections, financial requirements, dorm room survey dates and the like.

• Enjoy your Senior Prom. Even though you’ll be off to college in seven or eight months, take the time to enjoy this last year of high school!  Go to the prom, enjoy the school play, hang out with your friends.  Don’t forget to keep your grades up, though!

To read our New Year’s Resolutions for high school freshmen, click here.  For Resolutions for high school sophomores, click here; and for high school juniors, click here.  All you High School Seniors, what are your resolutions?  How are you doing with them?  We’d love to hear from you!

Junior year in high school is when college applications start to creep into your life.  Well-organized students will take advantage of this year to get the college entrance exams out of the way and work on applications.  Here are some New Year’s Resolutions for high school Juniors to consider:

• Take the SAT and/or ACT. We recommend that Juniors take each of the SAT and ACT once, and then re-take the one exam in which they scored higher.  For example, you can take the SAT in March, ACT in April, and then retake whichever one you prefer again in either May or June.  Don’t waste time or money, though.  Make sure you register by the regular registration deadline, thereby avoiding late fees.  And, prepare for each exam either with private tutoring, online, in-school or simply buy a study guide.  There’s no reason for you to waste a morning taking an exam “blind” – be prepared and be successful!

• Create your college list and visit the campuses. Now is the time for you to refine your college list.  Using your grades and GPA, plus an estimate of your SAT or ACT scores, start narrowing down the 4000+ institutions into a more manageable list.  If possible, set up appointments for you to visit the campuses during your spring break.  Keep notes for every campus so that you don’t get confused (it happens!).  Check out this podcast for additional pointers for creating a college list.  And if you feel you need more help than your guidance counselor is able to offer, don’t be afraid to reach out to independent college counselors.

• Get to know your guidance counselor and teachers with an eye toward recommendations. Your guidance counselor will be writing one of your letters of recommendation for your college applications, so if you don’t know him or her yet, now is the time to do so.  Also, your other letters of recommendation will come from your teachers, so start thinking about whom you would like to ask.  Work on your Academic Resume so that when the time comes at the beginning of the next school year, you’ll be able to hand them some information about yourself.  For information about this type of resume, listen to our podcast.

• Work on your college applications over the summer. Once the summer starts, you should take advantage of the time without papers and tests to get your college applications in order.  You’ll need to refine your college list to the 8-12 schools to which you’ll apply, and see if they participate in the Common Application.  Work on your personal statement, or college application essay, early.  The Common App has a 500 word maximum, and believe it or not, it takes quite a long time to write an effective essay under such restrictions!  The Common App goes online in the beginning of August, but they post a preview of the application before the end of the school year, so check it out.  Your goal should be to have all of your college applications DONE, with the exception of your recommendations and information needed from your guidance counselor, by the beginning of your Senior year.

To read our New Year’s Resolutions for high school freshmen, click here.  For Resolutions for high school sophomores, click here.  All you High School juniors, what are your resolutions?  How are you doing with them?  We’d love to hear from you!  Stay tuned for more suggested New Year’s Resolutions for high school seniors!

Sophomore year in high school is a great time!  You don’t have to worry about taking college entrance exams just yet, or any of the other “college-type stuff,” so you can enjoy the year!  Here are some New Year’s Resolutions for high school Sophomores to consider:

• Keep up your grades, and take SAT 2s. Grades and class ranks are important to college admissions officers, so make sure to keep studying and doing well in your classes.  Also, keep an eye out for any SAT 2s that you might want to take (for more info about the SAT 2s, listen to this podcast).

• Get to know your guidance counselor. Your guidance counselor will be writing one of your letters of recommendation for your college applications, so now is the time to get to know him or her.  Ask about summer internships that may be available from your high school.  And make sure to attend any college application seminars that may be offered.

• Study for the PSAT over the summer. More than likely, you have already taken the PSAT a couple of months ago.  You will be taking it again next October, when your scores will count toward the National Merit Scholarship.  So, take advantage of the summer before your Junior year to start studying – either on your own with a PSAT study guide or with a tutor.  And this prep time can be applied to the SAT test which you will be taking next year, so it’s time well spent!

• Start thinking about colleges that interest you, and visit them over the summer. Even though you haven’t taken your SAT or ACT yet, you can start researching colleges that have the major you are interested in.  Start by compiling a list of school that pique your fancy, and then take some time over the summer to go visit the campuses.  You’ll have a leg up on the junior year spring break college visiting frenzy!

To read our New Year’s Resolutions for high school freshmen, click here.  High school sophomores, what are your resolutions?  How are you doing with them?  We’d love to hear from you!  Stay tuned for more suggested New Year’s Resolutions for high school upperclassmen!

Freshman year in high school can be a pretty tricky time.  You’re out of middle school (finally!) and now playing in the “big league”:  high school!  By now, though, you’ve had a bit of time to adjust to your new school – it’s physical layout, your teachers, your homework and all of the new friends you’ve met.  Here are some New Year’s Resolutions for you to consider:

• Earn good grades! Start your high school career off correctly by doing your best academically.  Competition for college is fierce, so give yourself a leg up by getting good grades right from the start.  Even though college seems a long way off now, you’ll be applying before you know it!  It’s harder to raise your grades in a year or two than it is to do well from the beginning.

• Join a club or sport. Getting involved in your high school’s extracurriculars will allow you to meet even more people and expand your interests.  Like music?  Join the band or glee club.  Enjoy photography?  Think newspaper or yearbook.  Into wrestling, swimming or baseball?  Try out for the teams.  An added bonus is that colleges are looking for these types of activities.

• Plan a summer internship. Even though you are too young to get a paying job over the summer, you can volunteer to work with professionals in a career you might like to pursue.  You won’t have to work 80-hour weeks – even just a few hours a week will give you a taste of the profession.  It’s a great way to figure out if you truly want to follow in their footsteps.

• Read. While college entrance exams are still a few years off, one thing you can do to prepare for them is to read books.  Both the SAT and ACT test your knowledge of vocabulary, critical reading and English, so why not broaden your vocabulary now?  It’s more fun to read a good book than to try to memorize words off of flashcards!

• Sign up for the SAT 2s. If you are taking any AP or Honors courses, you might want to consider signing up for the SAT 2s.  You definitely want to take these one-hour tests as soon as you get through the class in high school so that you don’t forget all the material!  For some info about the SATs, listen to this podcast.

High school freshmen, what are your resolutions?  How are you doing with them?  We’d love to hear from you!  Stay tuned for more New Year’s Resolutions for other high school years!

(1)   Clothes/favorite store gift card – Teenaged girls love keeping up with the trendy clothes worn by celebrities.  Even if their (or your) budget does not allow for pricey outfits, many stores like H&M or Old Navy offer current fashions that don’t break the bank.  The safest gift is a gift certificate to her favorite store, which allows the recipient to continue developing her own sense of style.  If you’re sure you know what the teen will like, give her a nice new outfit – but don’t forget the gift receipt!

(2)   Accessories – What girl (or woman) wouldn’t like to receive a cute piece of jewelry, nice perfume, trendy shoes or a gorgeous handbag?  Surely the teenage girl on your list will appreciate the time you take to select such a gift.  Before you go to the mall, make sure to look at her wardrobe so you know the colors and styles that she prefers. And ask for a gift receipt…

(3)   Laptop accessories – Assuming she already has a laptop, your daughter may be looking for ways to personalize it.  Head on over to www.snapfish.com and create a custom skin.  Or, check out the many laptop cases on the market today.  Not only will the gift earn you points for creativity, but it will also help her keep an eye on the computer!

(4)   Picture frame – Most high school girls have a multitude of photos with their family and friends.  Today, many are digital and stored on her phone or computer.  What better way to display her pictures than with a digital frame?  She can set it up to rotate through a slideshow that can be changed as new memories are created.

(5)   Tickets to tween concert/movie – Is Justin Bieber coming to a stage near you?  Is she on Team Edward or Team Jacob?  Tickets to either a concert or a gift certificate to the movies will bring a smile to any high school girl’s face!

(Of course, the ideas for high school boys all apply to these young ladies as well!)  We hope our suggestions help you find the “perfect” gift for the teenage girl on your list.

NOW is the time to take stock and start preparing for college.  As a Junior, here are 5 tips to help pave the way for your college application process:

(1)    Take your SAT, SAT 2’s and/or ACT tests.  Plan to have all of these tests completed by the end of this year.  Start your prep course (online, in-person, or simply by yourself) this month, or no later than January.  This way, you will have ample time to take your first SAT or ACT in the spring, and retake your better test (i.e., the one you scored higher on) in May or June.  Your goal is not to have to spend any time in your Senior year taking these tests, as waiting for your results will only slow you down.  For more information about the difference between the ACT and SAT, check out our podcast; for even more info about all of the tests, listen to this podcast; and for help comparing your SAT and ACT scores, read this post.

(2)    Start working on your college list.  In order to develop a college list, you will need to know your GPA, class rank, SAT/ACT scores, your academic interests, the geographic location you want, and so much more.  Even if you don’t have all this information at your fingertips right now, you can create a list of colleges that offer majors you are interested in, in locations of interest.  Take the time now to start exploring college websites.  Write down the colleges that interest you, and make arrangements to visit the campuses (if possible).  Many families will high school Juniors will set aside Spring Break to tour the various schools of interest.  In this competitive environment, it is more important than ever to take the time to visit campuses, so start planning now.  For great info about how to create a college list, listen to our podcast.

(3)    Keep your grades up.  With college on your mind, now is the time to shine academically in high school.  If your grades haven’t been stellar to date, apply yourself now and then write your personal statement about how you realized school is important and you rededicated yourself to your studies!  Your goal is to put your best foot forward and show college admissions officers that you have what it takes to do well at their school.  Also, all college applications require letters of recommendation, and doing well in a class is a sure way to be noticed by your teachers – who will remember you when they write your stellar recommendation letter!

(4)    Make sure you are involved.  One thing that college admissions officers love to see are extracurricular activities.  Not a lot of them, just a few to which you are deeply committed.  They don’t have to be offered by your high school either, as volunteer work or activities outside your school also are viewed very favorably.  What isn’t smiled upon as much?  Activities that all of a start in your senior year, as they obviously are being joined for application purposes!  So, participate now and reap the benefits!  For more tips about activities to join, listen to our podcast.

(5)    Create an academic resume.  In addition to your application, personal statement and other documents required for college admissions, we strongly urge our college counseling students to prepare an academic resume.  This is like an employment resume, but lists your achievements in high school (or even prior).  Time to toot your own horn!  This document also will be handy to provide to your guidance counselor and teachers who will be providing you with letters of recommendation.  To learn more about creating an academic resume, listen to our podcast.

What do you think about these tips?  Have any others you’d like to share?  We’d love to hear from you!

Here is a Top 10 List of questions you might want to answer your newly-minted college friends and family:

(10)  How is college different from high school?

(9)  Do you find your professors to be accessible during and after class?

(8)  What surprises you most about college?

(7)  Why did you apply to the college you are attending?  Do you think that was a good reason?

(6)  What is dorm life like?

(5)  How is the food?

(4)  What do you miss the most about home and/or high school?

(3)  Was it difficult making new friends?

(2)  What activities are you involved in at college?

And the #1 Question to ask college freshmen:  What advice do you have for me as I start creating a college list and applying to colleges?

We hope this list gets you started in a conversation with your college friends and relatives that will enable you to apply to colleges with more confidence!

Too bad no one told Mother Nature.  On October 29, 2011, the Saturday before Halloween, we were clobbered with at least 8 inches of heavy, wet snow.  Mind you, the week before, it was nearly 70 degrees outside, and the trees were just starting to turn.  This

Photo courtesy of Robert Allen

“perfect storm” set the stage for an unprecedented Nor’easter in our “neck of the woods” (as Al Roker likes to say).

In West Orange and surrounding communities, thousands were without power for days.  Trees and tree limbs lined all of the streets, and even went through some roofs and cars.  Schools were closed through Wednesday.  Even Trick-or-Treat night was rescheduled!

Thankfully, while people were displaced, discomforted and/or delayed, no one was hurt here (that I’m aware of).  Residents relocated to area hotels with generators to keep warm, moved food from their refrigerators to neighbors’ with power, and relied on area Wi-Fi hotspots to connect to the internet.

Now that we are getting back to normal finally, what did we learn about this highly unanticipated and unwelcome snowfall in October?  Mind you, this all occurred right before the Early Action/Early Decision deadlines for most colleges!  Here is some of what we learned:

• Give yourself some time with the deadlines.  Try to be finished at least 1 week ahead – after all, you never know when a freak snowstorm will hit!
• Be organized.  In case you need to leave your home in a hurry, or just need to pack up to go to the library, it’s always easier to have all of your materials in one designated place.  If you’re preparing for the SAT or ACT, keep your registration ticket, pencils, calculator and study guides in one pile.  Creating your college list?  Another pile!
• Have back-ups! Your personal essay should be on at least two different computers, or the cloud.  If something should happen to your laptop, like your little sister spilling water on it, you don’t want to lose all of your hard work.
• Be flexible.  If a natural disaster happens, realize that it’s most important to make sure your family is safe.  As soon as you are able, contact the “powers that be” to see if anything can be rescheduled.  For example, last spring when New Jersey was suffering with flooding, the ACT was postponed for a couple of weeks.  Remember, if Mother Nature has impacted your ability to travel, many others are probably in the same boat and accommodations may be made.

What other tricks have you used to handle bad weather?  We’d love to hear from you!

“Wait lists are becoming the Wild West of the admissions process,” said John Talmage, director of college counseling at St. Paul’s School in Maryland, who recently brought a resolution regarding Wait Lists before the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), as reported in Inside Higher Ed.  “There are basically no rules there,”  Mr. Talmage is reported as saying.

Exactly what is happening when students are placed on a Wait List?  What prompted Mr. Talmage to bring the resolution to the NACAC?  Inside Higher Ed reports that he said he was motivated to bring forward the resolution after an incident involving one of the students he counseled.  The student was placed on the wait list at his first-choice college, and told in May that the university would no longer accept anyone from the wait list.  Consequently, the student accepted an offer from another college – only to get a call from his first choice at 9:30 a.m. one day in June, telling him he had until noon that day to make a decision.  Such impossibly short deadlines are not uncommon when a student is accepted off a Wait List.

In other cases, students are admitted off several wait lists in succession, losing enrollment deposits at each successive institution.  Sometimes the stories involve institutions pumping up their yield numbers by placing a large number of students on wait lists and then only selecting students they know will enroll.  Other times they revolve around need-blind institutions no longer ignoring need once they start accepting from the Wait List.

NACAC’s Assembly voted for a formal study, which will promulgate Best Practices.  The results of the study are expected to be delivered in October 2012.

In the meantime, what is an applicant and family to do when a college says “maybe”?  Mike Rivera, co-founder and college counselor here at Top-Tier, recommends the following:

• Decide Whether You Want To Remain On The Wait List. You have the option of declining to stay on the Wait List.  If the school is not your #1 college, Mike recommends against staying on it.  “If the college is not your first choice, take yourself out of the competition to allow a possible slot for a student for whom the college is their dream school,” he says.
• Go Over Your Notes – Or Revisit – The College(s) At Which You Were Accepted. Try to put your wait-listed college out of your mind, and take another look at the universities that said “yes” to you.  Revisit the campus, talk with students, review the course offerings.  You may be surprised that you no longer are interested in a school that thinks of you as a “maybe.”
• Review Deposit Guidelines. If you choose to stay on the wait list, make a back-up plan.  Select a college that accepted you, at which you will be happy to attend, and review their deposit guidelines.  If you change your mind and decide not to go there, what is their refund policy?  How much tuition will be forfeited after a certain date?  After all, college is a financial commitment too.  If your family will lose $10,000 after June 15^th, then decide that if you don’t hear back from your “maybe” school by that date, that you will remove yourself from the Wait List and end your torture.
• Put Your Best Foot Forward. If you decide to stay on the wait list, you should contact the Admissions Department to find out if and how high you are ranked on it.  Also, find out if any conditions are attached, such as reduced financial aid or campus housing.  Consider writing a letter to the Admissions Officer explaining why you are a good fit for the school, what courses are of interest to you, and outlining anything that may have occurred post-application (i.e., you received an award).  Request an interview, which will give you the opportunity to shine in person.
• There’s Always The Transfer Option. Just because you decide that your “maybe” school isn’t right for you, that doesn’t mean that you cannot reapply after your freshman year in college, if you still want to go there.  By declining a Wait List position, you are not closing the door on the college forever.  However, be prepared that you may fall in love with your college and not look back!

What are your stories about being Wait Listed?  How did you handle it?  We’d love to hear from you!

Please be safe and warm!

Some candidates will receive responses rather quickly, while other colleges will take longer to inform them of their decisions.  Either way, high school seniors expect either a “yes” or “no” response.  Then, their plan is to choose the one college into which they will matriculate among their acceptances (hopefully they have more than one!).  This is the ideal situation.

However, the ideal situation is becoming less commonplace with the “Rise of the Wait List.”  Nowadays, colleges are responding to applicants with “yes,” “no,” or, increasingly popular, “maybe.”  More and more applicants are being placed on the college’s Wait List, which is tantamount to being a “maybe.”

What does it mean to be Wait Listed?  What are the rules of the Wait List?  In this two-part blog post series, we’ll explore the current status of the ubiquitous Wait List, where it’s headed and how best to handle the “maybe.”

According to the 2011 “State of College Admission” report recently released by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), 48% of colleges and universities surveyed used a wait list for fall 2010, up from 39 percent just the previous year.  42% of colleges reported that they placed more applicants on wait lists in 2010 than they did in 2009.

Of the colleges that use a Wait List, the NACAC study found that they place approximately 10% of their applicants into it, 56% of which decided to remain on it.  On average, the incoming college freshman class of 2010 consisted of 28% of wait listed students, down from 34% for incoming college freshmen in 2009.  The more selective colleges generally admitted just 11% off their wait lists.

Why the rise in colleges’ use of a Wait List?  Presumably, mainly, it is as a result of the increased number of applications.  Because high school seniors are applying to many more schools, it is becoming more difficult for college admissions officers to predict how many accepted students actually will enroll in the school (technically called the “yield”).  For example, one student may apply to 10 colleges and get accepted into 6.  Since the student can only attend one school, that means 5 colleges will be rejected by the student.  That’s 5 slots that are now opened up at the rejected colleges!  The average yield has declined steadily from 49% in 2001 to just 41% in 2010.  (This phenomenon largely has been fueled by the colleges’ own marketing strategies – listen to our podcast entitled “Colleges’ Dirty Little Secret” for more information.)

Therefore, colleges have to hedge their bets against the unpredictable yield.  In some cases, they have increased their use of early decision and early action policies.  (For information about these two practices, listen to Top-Tier’s podcast, “The Ins and Outs of Early Decision versus Early Action.”)     The Wait List is another tool available to colleges to help manage the admissions process.

In the next post, we’ll go over what happens when you are placed on a college’s Wait List (or several colleges’ wait lists), and what the NACAC is working on in response to this growing practice.

A Highlight Video can take many different forms, depending upon exactly what you want the colleges to see.  If you want to submit it to college scouts for a sport such as football, basketball, baseball, soccer, swimming, etc., then you want to include your outstanding moments on the field/court/pool as well as clippings in local papers, stats and any trophies you have won.  If you are part of a competitive dance troupe or cheerleading squad, you should include clips from competitions highlighting your participation – maybe a solo.  Perhaps you are not going to college to become a concert pianist so no audition is required, but want admissions officers to appreciate your talent, so you can showcase your skill in a video.  Still photographs can be incorporated into the video to show your achievements by way of headlines.  Truly, the sky is the limit!

Highlight Videos should be no longer than 5 minutes long, as coaches/scouts/admissions officers are pressed for time.  So, make sure every clip that is included shows you in your best light and that you are easily visible in it.  Depending on what you are highlighting, you may also want to include a full-length game video in case the coach wants to see you in action for longer.  Your video also must include all of your contact details, as you don’t want to leave a college guessing about who you are!

Top-Tier now offers a “Highlight Video” package option as part of our college counseling services.  We can compile your video clips from games, tournaments, exhibitions, recitals, performances, etc., incorporate an introduction by you to the college admissions officers, and produce a professional-quality video for your applications.  Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212 for more information and to schedule an appointment!

If the Common App essay is limited to 500 words and a picture is worth 1000 words, how much more is a video worth?

At first glance, this seems to be a tricky proposition.  The SAT is based on a 2400 point scale, with 800 being the perfect score in each of the 3 sections (math, critical reading, writing).  The ACT, on the other hand, gives a composite score based on a 36 point scale, with 36 being the perfect score in each of the 5 sections (English, math, reading, science, writing).  So, unless you receive a 2400 or a 36, how do you translate the scores?

The answer is simple:  a Concordance Table.  OK, “concordance” is an SAT word, meaning “similarity or agreement between two or more things” (thank you, Encarta Dictionary).  If you google “concordance table” you will see numerous results.  The ACT has a handy one here.

So, for example, assume that Jane (not her real name) took both the SAT and ACT and scored 2080 and 28, respectively.  According to the Concordance Table, her ACT composite score is the equivalent of 1860-1910 on the SAT.  Therefore, she performed better on the SAT and, if she wants, will retake only that exam.

As another example, Jack (not his real name) also took both the SAT and ACT, scoring 1520 and 24, respectively.  The Concordance Table shows that his ACT composite score is equal to approximately 1620-1670 on the SAT.  He, clearly, scored higher on the ACT and will retake only that test.

We hope this post helps you to compare “apples to apples” between your SAT and ACT scores (and taught you a new vocab word in the process)!

In one brilliant move, Seton Hall University has removed a majority of the financial burden aspect of college acceptances for highly qualified applicants.  In an unprecedented decision, Seton Hall is offering nearly a two-third discount off its tuition to members of the Class of 2012.  The over $21,000 discount makes this private school education comparable in price to the public Rutgers University for New Jersey residents, and much cheaper than Rutgers for non-New Jersey residents.

Recognizing the current tough economic times, Seton Hall’s President, Dr. Gabriel Esteban, states:  “This initiative reflects Seton Hall’s commitment to serving our community and putting a high quality, personalized education within reach of more students and their families.  In this way we make a first-class, private Catholic college experience as affordable and accessible to students as a public university, with the added benefits of smaller classes, close mentoring faculty relationships and a 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio.”

The fine print?  The discounted tuition will be available to applicants who either have a minimum of a 27 ACT composite score or a combined 1200 on the SAT (Critical Reading + Math), with not less than 550 on either SAT section.  In addition, the applicant must be in the top 10% of his/her high school class.  Applications must be received by Seton Hall by its December 15, 2011 Early Action deadline; however, no special application need be filed – if you meet the qualifications, you’re automatically eligible for the discounted tuition!  In addition, still file your FAFSA, as you could qualify for financial aid.  This tuition rate will apply for all four years of schooling.

Seton Hall also has some other terms and conditions that must be met in order to qualify for the discounted tuition.  For much more information, click here to go to the website.

If you’re looking for help with the college application process, Top-Tier can help you!  Just send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

From the recent results released by both the College Board (who administers the SAT) and the ACT, it is clear that nearly equal number of students are now sitting for both tests:  1.65 million students took the SAT, while 1.62 million took the ACT.  No data was reported as to how many students took both tests, which is commonly done.  In point of fact, at Top-Tier Tutoring, we recommend that a student take both tests and then retake the test on which s/he performed better.

What it comes down to is how well an individual student scores on the test as s/he wants to put the best foot forward to colleges.  Conversion tables easily can be found on Google in order to compare apples to apples.  It has been our experience that approximately 75% of our students score higher on the ACT when the conversion table is applied.  For example, Student A took the SAT receiving a total 1390 points, and that same Student A took the ACT, and received a composite score of 22 points.  According to the Conversion Table, Student A’s ACT score of is equivalent to 1530 points on the SAT.  Therefore, when Student A applies to colleges, only the ACT score will be submitted.

Clearly, New Jersey students are not availing themselves of the ACT.  According to the ACT report, only 19% of the Class of 2011 took the ACT here, versus 49% nationally.  Moreover, New Jersey’s rate of increase in test-takers was only 1.8% from 2010, versus 86.8% nationally.  Yet, New Jersey ranked #6 in the nation for its average composite score.  Why is the ACT lagging here in New Jersey?  Primarily it is because the parents of the students are unaware of the ACT, or believe it is not accepted or weighed equally with the ACT at all colleges.  This simply is untrue, and it is this thought process that actually is hindering NJ high schoolers today!  As stated above, the SAT and ACT scores are weighed equally by colleges, so it is very important for the student to be exposed to both and then take the one that better suits his or her test-taking abilities.  There simply is no room for bias against the ACT in the competitive college application world.

As we have said before, the SAT and ACT are standardized college admissions exams, utilized by colleges as one way to determine whether to accept an applicant.  However, the methodology and philosophy behind each exam is markedly different.  As a brief overview, the SAT is based upon an IQ Test, and is designed to challenge a student’s thought process.  The ACT is an achievement test, and seeks to identify what the student has learned.   Traditionally, the SAT was widely recognized on the East and West Coasts, while the ACT was taken by more Midwest students.  Nowadays, however, both tests are accepted equally at all colleges and universities.  For more information about the differences between the two tests, listen to our podcast.

Nationally, 1.62 million students – 49% of graduates – took the ACT in 2011, which is an increase from the nearly 1.6 million students who sat for the ACT in 2010 (47% of graduates).  The national average composite score for the ACT in 2011 was 21.1 (out of a perfect 36).  The ACT has four main sections:  English, Math, Reading and Science.  The breakdown for each of these sections was 20.6, 21.1, 21.3 and 20.9, respectively, for 2011.  These scores represent and overall increase in the ACT scores over the 2010 results, for which the national average was 21; the section averages were English 20.5, Math 21, Reading 21.3 and Science 20.9.

How do New Jersey students compare?  Well, only 19% of graduates took the test in 2011 (up from 17% in 2010).  But, the results are impressive:  the NJ average composite score was 23.2, over 2 points above the national average!  NJ students scored better than the national average in every section too:  English – 23.1, Math 23.7, Reading 23.3 and Science 22.4.  New Jersey ranked #6 in the nation for average composite score, trailing only Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Maine (in that order).  These results are that same as the New Jersey 2010 ranking and scores, with the only changes being a 0.1 point increase in each of the Math and Reading section in 2011.  Of note, from 2007–2011, the number of ACT test-taking graduates has increased by 86.8% nationally, while the number of graduates taking the ACT in New Jersey has increased by 1.8% only.

The ACT was the first to introduce a “benchmark score” in 2006 (adopted by the SAT this year).  According to the ACT, the “benchmark score” is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses, which include the four subjects tested on the ACT:  English Composition, Algebra, Social Science and Biology.  The ACT states that “[t]he scores were empirically derived based on the actual performance of students in college.”  The benchmark scores are 18 for English, 22 for Math, 21 for Reading and 24 for Science.  25% of test-takers nationally meet all 4 subjects benchmark scores; on average, 37% of New Jersey students met the composite benchmark and exceeded the subject benchmark scores for all but Science.

Click here for much more information about the ACT.

The first part of this series will focus on the SAT entrance exam.  Nationally, nearly 1.65 million students in the high school graduating class of 2011 took the SAT, up from 1.6 million for the class of 2010.  The 2011 national average score for the SAT was 497 in Critical Reading, 514 in Math and 489 in Writing, for a total of 1500 points (each section has a maximum score of 800).  The national scores dipped six points overall, as the 2010 average scores were 500, 515 and 491, respectively.

Here in New Jersey, the average student scored an aggregate of 1508, eight points higher than the national average.  The New Jersey graduating class of 2011 earned an average score of 495 in Critical Reading (the same as last year), 516 in Math (an increase of two points) and 497 in Writing (the same as last year).  For 2011 graduates, 78% of New Jersey students (86,515) sat for the SAT, which represents an increase of 800 students over 2010.

This year, the College Board introduced the “SAT College and Career Readiness Benchmark.”  The College Board indicates that if a student earned a combined score of 1550, s/he has a 65 percent probability of achieving a B- grade point average or better in the freshman year of college.  43% of test-takers meet this new SAT Benchmark, which was developed in order to help schools, districts, and states evaluate whether more students are graduating from their high schools college-ready from one year to the next.  Unfortunately, the average New Jersey high school senior scored 42 points below this SAT Benchmark.

Click here for more information about the New Jersey SAT results.  Our next blog post will go over these results for the ACT.

Starting today, we will be on our Academic Year Schedule:

Sunday 12 noon – 4 pm

Monday 4-8 pm

Tuesday 4-8 pm

Wednesday  4-8 pm

Thursday  4-8 pm

And by appointment

Congratulations!  You just received your high school diploma!  It’s time to celebrate!  For many recent grads, this is exactly how you should be feeling right now.  Soak it in and enjoy your accomplishment!

By the time the calendar turns to July, however, you should be starting to prepare for your next milestone:  being a College Freshman.  Time to become physically, mentally and emotionally ready to go from being a high school senior to starting over at a new school, in possibly a new state, with new people all around.  Feel overwhelmed?  Here are seven tips to help you get ready for this exciting time:

1. Get a check-up.  Most colleges require a physical before enrolling, so take care of this requirement.  Ask your doctor if you should be taking any vitamins or other medicines while you’re away at college.  Make sure you stock up on them, or at least have a prescription to be filled while you’re on campus.  While you’re at it, get checked by your family dentist and eye doctor too!  One other item:  find out what your health insurance coverage is, and put the membership card(s) in your wallet.
2. Buy some new clothes. Nothing makes you feel more confident than showing up for class in a new outfit.  Check out your wardrobe and purchase new items at your favorite stores – which may not be located in your college town.
3. Go on facebook and “meet” your new roommate. Most colleges will let you know sooner rather than later who your freshman roommate is going to be.  Go online and meet them well in advance of move in day!  This way, you’ll feel more confident and hopefully already have a friend on campus, even if you’re the only one from your high school attending that college.
4. Think ahead about your dorm room. Scope out comforters, sheets, pillows and lamps.  Absolutely can’t live without that shaving cream or shampoo?  Prefer a certain notebook, pen or highlighter?  Is your computer “college ready”?  Try to think ahead and purchase all the necessities that you want to have with you on campus.  After all, mom and dad won’t be there to give you the comforts of home.
5. Money, money, money. This one may take some pre-planning.  You need to consider how you are going to be financially fit while away from your regular ATM machine.  Check to see if your bank has a branch on or near your campus.  If not, see what banks do and be prepared to open up an account there when you arrive.  Talk with your parents about getting a credit or debit card, and find out your spending limits.  Set up a budget.  You are going to be venturing forth as an independent young adult, so you need to get your financial house in order!
6. Fill out the forms. Your college will be sending you a lot of forms to fill out, including your course selections.  Take your time with these, but do return them on time.  Also, when you’re looking over all of this material, mark down the date for orientation – when your real adventure begins!
7. Do your homework. Yes, some college courses assign homework before class even starts!  If you’re one of these lucky students, be sure to arrive on campus with all of your work completed!

We hope these tips will enable you to feel confident as you leave high school behind, and begin your exciting journey in college!

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

The impetus for this change appears to have arisen as a result of complaints coming from college admissions officers.   As a consequence of lengthy, rambling and unfocussed essays that were submitted, Common App member colleges and universities have repeatedly pressed the Board to reconsider capping the length of the Common App essay.  Therefore, as if the college application process is not already stressful enough, students must now face the added challenge of having to distinguish themselves from their peers through a more restricted platform with which to express their thoughts.

Undoubtedly, many students will hail this decision as lightening their college application burden.  However, such a view is imprudent in that it stems from a dearth of guidance and a regrettably common lack of aptitude in developing composition creatively, coherently and concisely among high school students.  High schoolers cheering the limitation are, perhaps, the very ones requiring the most flexibility.  Without the cap, those students maintaining written competency would generally be capable of communicating effectively and succinctly, making a maximum word count irrelevant.  On the other hand, applicants whose areas of strength reside more within the realms of math, science or the arts, might be hard-pressed to adequately convey a flavor of who they are by using the medium of writing.

This change to the Common App essay is notable, given that our society is moving toward shorter forms of communication.  For example, microblogging sites such as Twitter only allow 140 characters per tweet, or approximately 28 words.  To put this new requirement in common parlance, college applicants may be able to include the equivalent of 23 tweets in their Common App essay.

Ultimately, this discussion is an academic one, as a decision has been made that appears unopen for debate.  All 2011 applicants must prepare to submit thoughtful essays, where every word is carefully weighed and considered, owing to the constraint of brevity that is now being imposed upon them.  One cannot help but wonder what outcome may have ensued, had the Board submitted this anticipated adjustment directly to the public (e.g., counselors, teachers, parents, students, etc.), as a proposal for consideration, even a mere 2 or 3 years prior to actually instituting the change.   At the risk of sounding naïve, is it too farfetched to believe that an announced, upcoming reduction in word count might possibly have prompted at least some faculties to increase their emphases on writing skills preemptively?  Alas, we’ll never know.

Working closely with a college applicant on his or her Common App essay, college counselors must ensure that it pithily provides a snapshot of the student’s individuality to admissions officers.  This blog post comprises 500 words.

We were very honored to have been interviewed for Mr. Walker’s book about “Ear on Careers” – the web’s premiere career day podcast series, produced by Top-Tier Tutoring.  We were even more excited to receive the finished product and realize that “Ear on Careers” was written up as a Case Study on page 15 of the book!  Click here to read the  Ear on Careers case study.

If you would like to order a copy of Mr. Walker’s book, click here and search under “podcast.”

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Top-Tier's Class of 2014 (not pictured: The Cooper Union)

At Top-Tier Tutoring, we love to celebrate our clients’ successes.  The Class of 2014 is now in college – our first graduating class! – and we are extremely proud of their achievements.

In order to recognize our students’ choices of colleges, we have obtained pennants from each of their post-high school selections.  Feel free to stop by to see the “Wall of Pennants”!

As of right now, the schools represented are the following:

• Rutgers – Allison & Lauren
• Muhlenberg – Amanda
• Northeastern – Becca
• Villanova – Colin
• Montclair State – Erica
• Gettysburg – Katie
• University of Delaware – Kyle
• Essex County College – Lisa
• NYU – Matt
• The Cooper Union – Rob

We look forward to growing our “Wall of Pennants” throughout the years!  Congratulations to all Top-Tier students with their college careers!!

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

“While starting a company from the ground up in this economy is challenging, the benefits far outweigh the negatives,” says Mike.  “We are very excited to share our knowledge about starting a new business to those in the planning stages!”

A big thank you to Devesh Dwivedi for featuring us on his blog!  Click here to read the entire interview.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

While this seems to be more of a political or business decision, the issue of a guarantee of increase in scores is very touchy.  According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, on average, SAT test courses improve about 30 points after taking a test preparation course.  While this increase may seem low, a 30-point improvement can make a significant difference if your scores are just on the “cusp.”  Or, that increase could mean that you now qualify for a scholarship.

At Top-Tier Tutoring, our students receive one-on-one instruction with the same tutor for the entire tutoring package.  Our tutors tailor their instruction to your specific needs.  As a result, your individualized attention results in much more accountability for your doing your homework and understanding the material.  (For more information about the benefits of one-on-one tutoring, check out our podcast on this topic.)

We have had students who have studied with us improve their SAT scores 50 points, 70 points, and much, much higher.  Our students’ scores improve because they are comfortable with the tests, understand the scoring system and have a solid knowledge base.

However, we have never guaranteed a specific point increase.  When prospective clients call and ask that question, we answer that their improvement depends upon their dedication to working with the tutor and putting in the hard effort required.  We guarantee that for students who take a package of 10 hours or more, if the student attends every session, completes all assignments, and takes all practice exams without improving, we will offer 8 additional hours of tutoring at no extra cost.  We believe this guarantee is appropriate and not misleading – and provides peace of mind that your investment of time and money is well-worth the results.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

While application deadlines are months away, now is the time to get a head start on the forms.  After all, high school hasn’t started up yet, so there’s no time like the present!

If you need help creating a school list, finding a topic for your college essay, drafting your academic resume, preparing for college interviews or anything else related to the college application process, feel free to contact us.  We offer college counseling to students in our West Orange, NJ center — or to anyone over the internet via Skype.  We’d love to help you achieve your dreams!

Don’t procrastinate – start working on the Common App today!

Check out our updated page for all of the important dates for these standardized tests:  when the test dates are, regular registration deadlines and late registration deadlines.  Make sure to secure your seat for your preferred date and time by signing up early!  Plus, why pay late fees?  Click here for our page of the 2010-2011 SAT and ACT test dates and deadlines.  Then, contact us to help you prepare!

Remember to become a fan on facebook or to  follow us on twitter to see our reminder tweets about all of the deadlines!

Kyle Friedman and his mother Laura at the Chamber Banquet

College-bound Kyle Friedman of West Orange received one of only two scholarships awarded that night.  Kyle was a college counseling student here at Top-Tier, and has decided to attend the University of Delaware in the fall, among his many acceptances.  In his acceptance speech, Kyle poignantly thanked Mike Rivera (co-founder of Top-Tier and Kyle’s college counselor) for all his help.  We wish you well, Kyle, in all that your future holds!

Also honored that night was co-founder Rhonda Rivera.  An active member of the Chamber of Commerce as well as a member of the Board of Directors, she received the President’s Award.  Last year, Rhonda chaired the first annual Casino Night for the Chamber and is co-chairing the event this year on October 27, 2010 at the Highlawn Pavilion in West Orange.  Feel free to stop by Rhonda’s office to see her award and Proclamation from Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr., the Essex County Executive.

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

We’re very excited to now include a ® by our name in the logo.  Check it out and let us know what you think!

We welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

Parents and students in high school are welcome to come and learn insider tips and strategies to being accepted into the college of their dreams -  and how to pay for it!

The workshop will take place at West Orange High School, 51 Conforti Avenue in West Orange, NJ,  starting at 7 pm.  While the workshop is free, registration is a must – call 973.243.1212 to reserve your seat today!

Click on this link to go the ACT official site and find out when your rescheduled test date will be.  You may have to check back often, as the ACT organization is working hard to get new dates.

Here’s the link:  http://bit.ly/a8rvAn

The reason that many students score lower on their SATs than the PSATs is due to the major differences that exist between the two exams.  The PSAT does not include an essay question or algebra II topics.  In addition, the PSAT is significantly shorter at 2 hours and 10 minutes, as opposed to 3 hours and 45 minutes for the SAT.  Moreover, the time frame between when a student takes the PSAT versus the SAT will often result in the student having forgotten earlier subject areas covered, particularly relating to math, if the student has not refreshed old materials.

Consequently, it has been our experience that only a full mock SAT exam (either an old SAT or a full length exam crafted to mirror it) will best gauge how a student will perform on their SAT.  Of course, it is advisable not to wait until after taking an SAT before determining whether or not to commence studying for a subsequent exam.  In this keenly competitive environment, we encourage our students to be proactive, as opposed to reactive.  Sit down for a mock exam, under real testing conditions (i.e., time it, put down the pencil, follow appropriate test-taking strategies, etc.), and get the most value for your time and effort.  If, under these conditions, you are satisfied with your scores, you are ready to take the actual SAT.  However, if your scores are lower than expected gauging from your PSAT results, take the time to study and prepare before sitting for an actual SAT.

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.  Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.

How did Top-Tier Tutoring help you to prepare for the SAT and ACT?  ALLISON:  Top-Tier provided great practice to get me used to, and ready for, the SAT and ACT.  I received practice specific to my needs to strengthen my test-taking abilities.

What surprised you the most about the tutoring you received at Top-Tier Tutoring?  ALLISON:  It was a relaxed atmosphere where I wasn’t pressured, and wasn’t afraid to make mistakes.  I felt comfortable, so I was more receptive to new techniques.

What advice would you give to students getting ready to take the SAT and/or ACT?  ALLISON:  RELAX!  It’s only one test, and it’s not the end of the world! It can be mastered, and is nothing to be afraid of.

Allison’s SAT math score improved 50 points with the help of Top-Tier Tutoring.  She has been accepted into the University of Pittsburgh and Rutgers University, and is awaiting further acceptances before making her decision as to which college she will attend.

T3: How would you describe the differences between the SAT and ACT?

ERICA: I felt the ACT test was a more straight-forward test, even though there are more questions and less time given for the actual test versus the SAT. The ACT test is based on what you have learned in the past 3 yrs. etc. of high school and the SAT is a more complex type of test which I felt very intimidated when taking the SAT.

T3: How did Top-Tier Tutoring help you to prepare for these standardized tests?

ERICA: Top-Tier Tutoring (Mike) helped me gain much more confidence and improve my skills for test taking. Also a lot of direction and practice was given to me in each area math, English etc., with concentration on each area separately. Mike tackled each area one at-a-time with me. Along with the review sessions all which helped me improve my scores.

T3: What recommendations would you give students who are going to take the SAT or ACT?

ERICA: I recommend that you keep reviewing and take the practice section tests along with timing yourself so it’s not a real surprise when you actually take the real test.

Erica’s ACT scores improved 4 points with the assistance of Top-Tier Tutoring. She currently is applying to colleges and looking forward to the next phase of her education.

Become a fan of Top-Tier Tutoring on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/West-Orange-NJ/Top-Tier-Tutoring-LLC/52463834971?ref=ts!

Students should proceed with caution on social networking sites.

High-school students have enough on their minds with regard to course selection, GPA and exam scores, to name a few. Now another concern adds a challenging dimension to the college application process. Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites can potentially derail a student’s aspirations about getting into the college of their choice.

A recent survey found that approximately 10% of admissions officers routinely review the social-networking pages of their student applicants. More than a third of those that used the online information indicated that what they saw “negatively affected” their views of the applicant – a significantly higher percentage than those that indicated their views were improved, according to the survey by education company Kaplan, a unit of Washington Post Co. With the explosion of social networking sites, it is reasonable to assume that more and more admissions officers will add their review to the entrance checklist.

In this age of the internet, admissions officers may very well reject students because of the content on their social networking pages, even though the majority of colleges surveyed have no policy about when school officials should investigate prospective students’ social-networking sites.

While there is a debate currently taking place amongst admissions officers, students must be wary and remember that there should be no expectation of privacy regarding their online data. After all, once posted, it becomes public information that schools may consider in order to maintain the integrity of their respective institutions.

This recent interest in social-networking sites, on the part of colleges, should prompt many aspiring candidates to carefully review their online habits – including removing or changing some of their material. While privacy settings can certainly be put in place, it’s not unusual for admissions officers to receive anonymous tips about embarrassing Facebook or MySpace material (e.g., such as a picture of a student drunk at an underage party, statements advocating violence or drug use, links to sites expressing racist views, etc.)

Counselors should advise applicants to refrain from including anything that could damage their college admissions opportunities. Special caution should be expressed concerning foul or offensive language, nudity, or photos of drinking and drug use.

Students should behave intelligently, with regard to the content of their social networking sites. Essentially, they should consider whether they would be embarrassed if family and neighbors were to view it – not necessarily their peer group.

The lesson? Go ahead and use the social networking sites to keep in touch with your friends, but remember that your audience may secretly include your #1 college admissions counselor!