2010-2011 SAT and ACT test dates and deadlines
July 29, 2010
The
new school year is almost here, believe it or not! And with the new school calendar comes the new schedule for the SATs and ACTs.
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!
The Benefits of Private Tutoring
June 16, 2010
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this podcast, Mike Rivera, co-founder, tutor and college counselor with Top-Tier Tutoring, discusses the benefits that can be achieved in one-on-one tutoring.
During the podcast, Mike gives a historical overview of private tutoring as mainly for the affluent members of society. In today’s world, many students are taking advantage of private tutoring as a way to either help understand topics taught in class, or to stimulate academic challenges, or to help achieving students score even higher on standardized tests ranging from the SAT to the ACT to AP exams. Having a tutor is seen as a cool, status symbol.
Listen as Mike offers insightful questions that you should ask any prospective tutor before making a hiring decision. One of the most important questions to ask is the teaching methodology of the tutor, or the tutoring center, you are considering. Specifically, you will want to know if the private tutoring is curriculum-based or is constructed around your child’s exact needs. Simply because tutoring is going to be one-on-one does not necessarily mean that the sessions will be tailored to the student’s needs.
Mike provides you with great information when you are starting to search for a tutor. The benefits of private, non-curriculum based tutoring, such as offered at Top-Tier Tutoring, are well documented and, in many cases, dramatic. Of course, the tutor cannot do the student’s homework, but working together as a team, superior results can be achieved.
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.
Guidance Counselor Realities
February 24, 2010
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Is 38 Minutes Enough?
In this podcast, Mike Rivera poses the question: “Is 38 minutes enough?” This question derives from a study by Dr. Patricia McDonough that found that an average student will spend only 38 minutes per year with his or her high school guidance counselor discussing college counseling and/or career counseling.
Now, this fact is through no fault of the high school guidance counselors themselves. It is based upon the realities of numbers. While the American School Counselor Association recommends 1 guidance counselor per 100 students, the national average is 1:315 (or much more) in public high schools and 1:241 in private schools.
During the podcast, Mike offers questions for parents to ask the high school office regarding this issue. He also recommends seeking external college counseling to best position the high school student for success in college and beyond.
Source: Sanders, B. (2008, January 18). Parents – Guidance at School May Not be Enough. Retrieved January 18, 2010, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Parents---Guidance-at-School-May-Not-be-Enough&id=935539
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.
Feb. 6 ACT – SNOW!!
February 8, 2010
Many students across the nation were scheduled to take the ACT on Saturday, February 6th. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans! A major snowstorm, some dubbed it the “Snowpocalypse, ” hit the midsection of the US – cancelling the ACT. Or rather, merely postponing the ACT!
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
Guest Blogger – Allison from Verona
January 7, 2010
In this post, we’ve asked Allison, a client here at Top-Tier Tutoring, to answer a few questions that many people ask us. A big thank you goes out to Allison for agreeing to be our “guest blogger.” We hope you find this information helpful!
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.
Year in Review: 2009
December 30, 2009
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this podcast, Mike and Rhonda Rivera discuss the successes and challenges they faced at Top-Tier Tutoring over the past year, its first in operation. From starting a business from scratch, getting known in the community, to wonderful success stories, the co-founders of Top-Tier Tutoring share their ups and downs with their listeners. Listen to the podcast to see how far the company has come in one year, and what the new year has in store!
As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.
Guest Blogger Erica from West Orange
October 25, 2009
In this post, we’ve asked a client of Top-Tier Tutoring, Erica, to answer a few questions that many people ask us. A big thank you goes out to Erica for agreeing to be our “guest blogger.” We hope you find this information helpful!
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.
ACT versus SAT – What’s Best For You?
August 23, 2009
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this podcast, Mike Rivera takes you on a tour of the two major standardized tests looked at by college admissions officers: the ACT and the SAT. He traces the origins of both exams, and the varying skills they are meant to test.
The SAT is designed to test a student’s test taking skills and innate ability, as it was designed based upon the IQ test. It runs three hours and forty-five minutes, has 140 questions and tests critical readying, writing and math. The perfect score is 2400; 1/4 point is deducted for each incorrect answer.
On the other hand, the ACT tests scholastic achievement, and it was designed based upon the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. The ACT is three hours and twenty-five minutes long, has 215 questions and tests math, English, reading, science and writing. The perfect score is a 36. No points are deducted for a wrong answer.
Both the SAT and the ACT are accepted at virtually every college. Starting with the class of 2010, the SAT joins the ACT in allowing you to select which scores (entire test) to send to the colleges. The bottom line: take practice exams for both exams to determine with which test you’re most comfortable. Then, study for that one, and get the best score possible!
We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.
Meet Math & Science Tutor Jeff Wojcik
June 2, 2009
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In the second podcast for Top-Tier Tutoring, Mike Rivera introduces our listeners to Jeff Wojcik. Jeff is a math and science tutor with Top-Tier Tutoring, who makes these sometimes intimidating subjects understandable, approachable and dare we say it – enjoyable!
Jeff holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Secondary Education from the University of Scranton. While there, he also was enrolled in
pre-med courses. At the present time, he is going for two masters degrees – one in Mathematics from Montclair State University and another in Administration and Curriculum from the University of Scranton. Jeff is a math teacher at Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls, NJ. Ironically, Jeff says that it was tutoring that got him into teaching!
During the podcast, Jeff explains his philosophy about tutoring, and how he makes students feel “safe” with the subject matter, which leads to their success. We were skeptical at first of how such a math whiz could really connect with students (or anyone for that matter!), but once you listen to this podcast, we’re confident that you will agree that our skepticism was unfounded.
We welcome your feedback. Send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212
Top Tier Tutoring Podcast Show #1
May 21, 2009
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In the debut of its podcast, Mike and Rhonda Rivera, co-founders of Top-Tier Tutoring, a tutoring and college counseling center located in West Orange, New Jersey, introduce you to themselves and their school’s philosophy and offerings. Mike and Rhonda discuss their approach to tutoring and college counseling as focusing on the individual student. Top-Tier Tutoring only offers one-on-one tutoring, and assigns 1 tutor to be with the student for their entire package. Diagnostic tests, in addition to old exams, are administered to each student that inform the tutor/counselor about how the student best receives and processes information so that the tutor can adjust his or her style accordingly. Top-Tier Tutoring truly is a boutique tutoring and college counseling center.
During July and August, Mike discusses how Top-Tier Tutoring is challenging all students to Seize the Summer by enrolling in its College Prep Boot Camp. This series of 8, 1-hour workshops will address a variety of topics related to college planning, such as selecting the right schools, creating your academic resume and writing your essays and short answers. One lucky listener to the Top-Tier Tutoring Podcast will be selected at random to win free admission into the College Prep Boot Camp (a $300 value). To enter this contest, please send an email to info@top-tiertutoring.com with “Free Boot Camp” in the subject line.
Mike has been a tutor and college counselor for over 3 ½ years as well as in the financial industry for over 16 ½ years. Mike holds a BA from Seton Hall University, an MA from Kean University and a JD from Fordham University School of Law. He applies humor and a dose of reality into his tutoring sessions, to help his students see the big picture. Rhonda, who does sales and marketing for Top-Tier Tutoring, earned her BA from Bucknell University and a JD from New York Law School. Both have seen the value of education as providing a firm foundation in today’s changing world.
