5 Tips to Get High School Juniors Ready For College
November 30, 2011
Even though you are not yet through the first half of your junior year in high school, college will be here before you know it! Ask your Senior friends who already have, or are finishing, applying to schools at this very moment. Bet they can’t believe they only have a few months left in high school!
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!
Top 10 Questions To Ask College Freshmen
November 22, 2011
With Thanksgiving just days away, many college freshmen are returning home for the first time since they started college. As a high school junior or senior, this is your chance to ask the questions that don’t seem to be answered in any college brochure or websites!
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!
Common Application Essay Limits Word Count
June 5, 2011
The College Board (“the Board”) has determined to reinstate a prior word limit on the Common Application (“Common App”) essay, after several years of experimenting with having no upper limit. Beginning on August 1st of 2011 (the opening of the Common App window), the maximum word count will be changed to 500. The 250 word minimum remains unchanged.
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.
Ear on Careers – Ashley Bryan, Children’s Book Author and Illustrator
December 1, 2010
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Ashley Bryan, Children's Book Author and Illustrator
In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are extremely pleased to welcome Ashley Bryan, an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. He is a “lion” of the New York Public Library, a multiple winner of the Coretta Scott King award and a recipient of the Laura Ingalls Wilder medal. Click here
Ashley is a child of the Great Depression who was born in Harlem to Antiguan immigrant parents and grew up in the Bronx. He attended The Cooper Union Art School until he was drafted into World War II. After the War, he completed his studies at The Cooper Union and went on to study philosophy at Columbia University. Named a Fulbright Scholar, and thanks to the GI Bill, he was able to study art in France and Germany. Ashley then taught at Queens College in New York and served as the Chair of the Art Department at Dartmouth College, until he retired as a professor emeritus of art and visual studies. Ashley’s intellect and talent allowed him to excel in a time when the color barrier was nearly insurmountable; as he discusses in the podcast, he “never stopped, even though he was colored.” A modern-day renaissance man, his “post-retirement” career as a children’s book author and illustrator, mainly of African-American stories, also encompasses windows made from sea glass, spoken-word poetry, painting and speaking at conferences, conventions and to children the world over.
Listen as Ashley describes a “typical day” for him, or rather his own philosophy of the way he lives: traveling to conferences all over the world, painting, working in his book projects and walking on the beach near his home looking for new ways to use what has been discarded. He shares the ways in which college opened up the world of possibilities of adventure and exploration, and allowed him to touch lives of those around the globe. In addition, Ashley offers tips for those listeners who want to become a children’s book author and illustrator. In his own distinctive voice, Ashley will lift your spirits and give you the gift of sharing in his passion of storytelling, as well as encourage you to follow your heart and love what you do.
Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.
We welcome your feedback and ideas. Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.
Ear on Careers – Dr. Rose Frasco, Optometrist
September 16, 2010
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Dr. Rose Frasco, Optometrist
In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are pleased to welcome Dr. Rose Frasco, an optometrist with the Liva Eye Center in Paramus, New Jersey. Dr. Frasco has been named one of the “Top Optometrists in America” by the Consumer Research Council of America.
In the seventh grade, Dr. Frasco was introduced to eye care when her grandmother needed cataract surgery. Her interest in the field deepened throughout high school, after which she worked with an optician and an optometrist. She attended Siena College in Albany, knowing that she wanted to become an optometrist. However, life took an unexpected turn in the form of a car accident during college. In order to graduate with her class, she changed her major to English, with a biology minor. After attending Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey to take prerequisite classes for optometry school, Dr. Frasco attended the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, she achieved Highest Clinical Honors, Honors in Pediactrics and was awarded the Conforma Contact Lens Award of Excellence, and graduated with a Doctorate of Optometry degree in 2001. Dr. Frasco’s optometric internships/residency were completed at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware and at Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates, in Havre de Grace, Maryland, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Listen as Dr. Frasco describes a “typical day” for her: seeing 30-40 patients with different vision/eye issues. She shares a “war story” that demonstrates her dedication to her patients, in which she was able to place a temporary bandage contact lens in a 4-year-old girl’s eye after being hit by a dog – so that she was able perfectly to perform her duties as a flower girl the next day! In addition, Dr. Frasco explains the differences among opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists, offers tips for those listeners who want to go into the field of optometry as well as what surprises her the most about her chosen field. We hope this podcast gives you eye-opening information into the very rewarding field of optometry!
Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.
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 Benefits of Private Tutoring
June 16, 2010
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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.
What Is College Counseling?
June 2, 2010
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In this podcast, Mike Rivera, co-founder, college counselor and tutor with Top-Tier Tutoring, discusses what is, exactly, college counseling – and what it is not.
Mike Rivera, college counselor, with student
You probably have heard the term “college counseling” bandied about in several different contexts. During this podcast, Mike discusses what is encompassed by this term – guiding high school students through the college application process, understanding the student’s interests, goals and ambitions, recommending classes, extracurricular activities and volunteer work, crafting a college list, counseling about the required essays, obtaining recommendations, coordinating college visits, preparing for the college interview – the list goes on and on! College counseling also includes managing expectations and setting reasonable goals, both for the student and the parents. The best part of college counseling, Mike admits, is celebrating acceptances.
During the podcast, Mike does offer a word of caution. No college counselor can offer a guarantee of admission to a particular college or university. Please keep this fact in mind when looking for a qualified college counselor!
A Reply To Recent Article About College Prep Advisors
April 7, 2010
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Mike Rivera recording this podcast
In this podcast, Mike Rivera – co-founder, tutor and college counselor with Top-Tier Tutoring – responds to a recent article published on SmartMoney.com, which has been picked up and disseminated on the web in various forms. The article, entitled “10 Things College-Prep Advisors Won’t Tell You” identifies ten allegedly deceptive practices of the college counseling industry. To read the full article, click here.
In his rebuttal, Mike debunks each of the ten topics brought up in the article. For example, in responding to the “your high school guidance counselor can do this for free” argument, he references the study by Dr. Patricia McDonough that determined a high school student will spend approximately 38 minutes per year with his or her guidance counselor for college advising. Click here to read Dr. McDonough’s comprehensive study. He also points to the recent Public Agenda report, “Can I Get A Little Advice Here?” This report finds that six in ten young adults who had gone on to further education gave their high school counseling poor grades for college advice. To go to the Public Agenda report, click here. Clearly, you get what you pay for.
This podcast is not a rant, but rather a thoughtful reply to a superficial article. Mike points out when the article is correct, but wants our listeners to understand the limitations of the guidance department – and those of independent counselors as well.
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.
Ear on Careers – Corinna Sager, Film Director/Producer
March 31, 2010
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In this episode of “Ear on Careers, we are pleased to welcome Corrina Sager, founder and president of, as well as film director and producer with, Lifestyle 
International Production Service, Inc. (“Lifestyle”), based in Montclair, New Jersey, www.lifestyleintl.com. Lifestyle assists corporations, governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, TV/film productions and marketing agencies with their communication projects to and from the United States.
Corinna was born in Hamburg, Germany, and studied at the Villa Pierrefeu near Montreux, Switzerland and at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. She earned a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts (“BFA”) in Theater and Communications from the University of Miami. She feels that her BFA prepared her well for the corporate world because it gave her a broad education in areas of study like communications, English literature, etc. She also received a great introduction to the theater by building sets and creating costumes; she learned how to make it “magic.”
In the podcast, Corinna explains the different roles that a producer and a director perform for a project. Listen as Corinna discusses her surprises in the field, including how new technology impacts production and the importance of continuing to learn. Being from Europe, Corinna is multilingual, and she stresses the importance of being able to communicate with people around the world, and to have an insight into their culture. Nominated for an Academy Award® for her role as a producer of the documentary “Ferry Tales,” Corinna shares her exciting Oscar-night stories with our listeners. Finally, Corinna offers tips to aspiring directors and producers: the business is very difficult to break in to, so volunteer and learn by doing, in addition to getting a broad education at a college that expands your horizons.
Corinna has won Film Festival Awards in both the United States and internationally for her PR video “Container Shipping – A Revolution for World Trade” and her documentary “Women – Our Century” which toured the United States with Billy Jean King and Star Jones. In addition to the Academy Award® nominated “Ferry Tales,” she served as Executive Producer for “Vertical Traveler,” seen on PBS and the Franco/German TV channel, Arte. Corinna also is President of the Media-Communication Association-International, and is listed in the Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals.
We hope this podcast gives you insight into becoming a film director and/or producer, and offers alternative routes than simply television or movies for you to consider.
Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere career day podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.
We welcome your feedback and ideas. Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.
Extracurricular Activities Admissions Officers Love
March 24, 2010
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In this podcast, Mike Rivera offers some insights into what admissions officers look for in the college applicant’s extracurricular activities column. In short, quality triumphs over quantity every time.
Mike discusses that an admissions officer seeks to round out the college class with students who will make a meaningful contribution. Consequently, high school students who exhibit leadership and dedication – and therefore good time management skills – are looked upon favorably. In addition, meaningful participation in activities outside of school such as community, church or travel, are similarly viewed with favor. Read more
Meet Meghan McGeehan, Spanish Tutor
February 9, 2010
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Meghan, Spanish Tutor, with Mike recording this podcast
In this podcast, Mike Rivera introduces our listeners to Meghan McGeehan. Meghan is a Spanish language arts tutor with Top-Tier Tutoring, who has developed an affinity for Spain and its culture, and imparts her enthusiasm for all things Spanish on to her students.
Meghan holds a B.S. in Spanish and Criminal Justice from Penn State University. She has her Master’s Degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Middlebury College. Her studies have taken her to Sevilla and Madrid, and she has taught in Madrid for two years. Meghan also is a Spanish teacher at Morristown-Beard High School in Morristown, NJ.
Is the PSAT really the best indicator of SAT scores?
January 30, 2010
The Preliminary SAT (“PSAT”), was created to serve as a practice test for the SAT Reasoning Test. Many argue that performance on the PSAT is, generally, a good indicator of how students will achieve on the SAT. As indicators go, it is certainly satisfactory. However, in our experience, college applicants, and their parents, are looking for something more than merely “satisfactory.” They seek a solid indication of what the student is likely to achieve on the actual SAT exam. Be forewarned: adding a “0” to the PSAT scores and assuming that your SAT scores automatically will be at those levels, without study or preparation, is a dangerous assumption.
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.
Ways to Stand Out in a (College Admissions) Crowd
July 21, 2009
College Admissions. These two words strike fear in many students’ hearts, as they only think about grade point average and
standardized test scores. There’s nothing wrong with focusing on these components, as they do play a very significant role in the college application process. However, colleges are much more expansive in their review of an applicant’s submission, as they seek students who demonstrate more than simply classroom success. Admittedly, a student’s academic grades and mix of courses will be the most important factors admissions officers will consider; nevertheless, it’s also very important that students endeavor to excel in areas outside of the classroom.
What types of activities catch an admissions officer’s eye? A whole range of things! Students should become involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, volunteer organizations and part-time jobs. In addition, strive to take on leadership roles within your chosen activities. Don’t feel stymied by a seeming lack of opportunities, either. For instance, if a club that interests you doesn’t currently exist at your school (e.g., fencing), take the initiative and start the club yourself. Being the founder of a particular club really enhances your academic resume by demonstrating your leadership and initiative. Read more
