College Prep: Acing the College Interview

BY MARILYN MORRISON

“Tell me about yourself.”  Tough questions like these await nervous high school seniors in a college admissions interview—one of the last hurdles in the application process.  The interviews are conducted by admission officers, student interns, or local alumni, either on the college’s campus or in the student’s home town.  Although very few colleges require interviews, many recommend them and it’s usually in a student’s best interest to participate, because these face-to-face meetings are often the only opportunity for colleges to associate a living, breathing human being with the words on a paper application.

A few years ago, the website for the College of William & Mary advised students that college interviews are “one of the rare opportunities in your life when you are expected to brag about yourself; take advantage of it.  Be prepared to talk about yourself.”  Interviewers are not mind-readers, so students must become comfortable volunteering details about their accomplishments without sounding arrogant.  Honesty is essential, however, and lying or exaggerating will always backfire.

A successful college interview requires preparation and practice.  The fundamental principles involved are actually similar to those for job interviews.  Students often don’t realize that good manners, attitude, and behavior are critical—those who show up chewing gum, wearing torn jeans, or listening to their iPods appear immature and disrespectful.  Because they only have a short time in which to make a favorable impression, students should follow some basic interview guidelines:

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early.  Allow plenty of time for traffic, parking, and finding the location.
• Dress appropriately.  Formal attire is not necessary, but clothes should be clean and presentable.
• Use a firm handshake and maintain eye contact.
• Don’t mumble, curse, slouch, or fidget.
• Don’t give one-word answers, but don’t monopolize the conversation, either.
• Ask for the interviewer’s business card and send a thank you note.
• If possible, try not to schedule the first interview at your top-choice school.  You will be more confident after you’ve had some experience.
• Smile, relax, and remember to breathe!

Without actually memorizing their responses, students should be prepared to answer typical interview questions (which are often comparable to the prompts for college essays), such as “Why are you interested in attending this college?” “What would you change about your high school?” or “How would your best friend describe you?”  Participating in mock interviews with family and friends is a great way to get feedback and overcome pre-interview jitters.

Interviews are a two-way street—they are not only a chance for colleges to learn more about an applicant, but also for the student to explore whether the college is a good match.  The first step is research; students must become familiar with the college prior to the interview so that they can ask meaningful, pertinent questions, such as “What are the most distinctive things about your school?” “What new buildings, facilities, or programs are planned for the campus?” or “What kinds of students are most successful and happy here?”  Avoid asking questions whose answers can easily be found in the college’s catalog or website, such as “How many students are enrolled?”

College interviews don’t have to involve sweaty palms and a pounding heart.  Practice and preparation will allow students to calmly share their opinions about books, movies, and current events, how they spend their free time, and especially their academic motivations and aspirations.  Both students and colleges should embrace the opportunity to get to know each other as more than just a set of statistics and facts.

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process.  Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at (818) 781-3476 or moredcon@sbcglobal.net.

College Prep: Tackling the College Admission Essay

BY MARILYN MORRISON

There is nothing more terrifying to a high school senior than sitting down to write the essay portion of a college application.  The challenge of describing oneself in 500 words or less is indeed daunting, but the essay (also known as a personal statement) is a critical part of the college application.  It gives students an invaluable opportunity to share something new and insightful about themselves with the admission officers.

According to the College Guide published by the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (http://www.acm.edu/uploads/cms/documents/acm-writing-essay.pdf), “the essay is the living, breathing part of your application to a college.”  It is what distinguishes one applicant from another, especially at highly selective colleges.  If a student has written a successful essay, he or she will be able to answer “yes” to the question “Is this something that only I could have written?”

Selecting a Topic

Personal statement prompts vary from college to college.  Some are open-ended, such as the ubiquitous “Tell us something about yourself” or “Why do you want to attend our university?”  Others ask unusual thought-provoking questions, such as “Define success,” “What is your favorite word and why?”, “Describe a character in fiction or a historical figure that has had an influence on you and explain that influence,” and “You have just completed your 300-page autobiography.  Submit page 217.”

In On Writing the College Application Essay, author Harry Bauld declares “There are no good or bad topics for college essays, only good or bad essays.”  That said, Bauld goes on to identify nine overused topics—including foreign travel, sports, and the death of a pet—that often result in trite, superficial essays.  The goal is to describe yourself in your own words and to add something to the facts presented elsewhere in your application.

As you brainstorm essay topics, think about your character traits, personal values, and meaningful experiences, and remember these strategies:

• Make sure to answer the question that’s being asked.
• Don’t try to second-guess the admission officer—write about what’s important to you, not just what you think the college wants to hear.
• Keep the focus of the essay on you, even if you’re writing about how someone else has influenced your life.
• Be careful when tacking controversial subjects; the person reading your essay may not share your beliefs.  Express your opinions honestly, but avoid displaying an intolerant or offensive attitude.
• Don’t worry if you haven’t overcome major obstacles or endured a tragedy in your brief lifetime.  Often the most creative, dynamic, and revealing essays are ones that deal with ordinary small moments in a student’s life.

Style Matters

While the content of the college admission essay must be compelling and captivating, grammar and spelling do count, and admission officers respond to well-crafted pieces that follow these classic guidelines:

• Begin your essay with a strong opening sentence that will arouse the reader’s interest.
• Describe why you did something, not simply what you did.
• Show it, don’t tell it!  Use vivid descriptions that make the reader see it, smell it, taste it, feel it, and hear it.
• Don’t use fancy words from the thesaurus or SAT prep just to impress the admission officer.
• Don’t write in broad, general terms—use details to make your writing come alive, and include plenty of supporting examples.

Final Tips

• If you’re using one essay for several colleges, check to make sure that you haven’t used the name of another college in your essay by mistake.
• Follow each college’s rules about length, headings, etc.
• Don’t get overly creative.  The admissions officers at Colorado College advise students to “avoid gimmicks of any kind.  Writing on a ball is cute, but it doesn’t fit in your folder!”
• Have at least one adult read your essay and give you feedback.  Is the essay a clear reflection of who you are?
• Proofread your essay several times, and then ask someone else to proofread it.
• Be sure that your own voice comes through.  Never let anyone write your essay for you.

Crafting a strong personal statement requires self-reflection and introspection.  It is undoubtedly hard work, but the secret to success is allowing plenty of time for the writing process: brainstorming, drafting, revising, getting feedback, and proofreading.  A good essay is the way to help colleges get to know you as a unique individual who is more than just a compilation of grades and test scores.

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process.  Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at (818) 781-3476 or moredcon@sbcglobal.net.

Notre Dame escapes St. Francis: Battle of Knights comes down to end

BY PARIMAL ROHIT

Even Cardinal Roger Mahoney’s presence on the St. Francis sideline was not enough to save the Golden Knights (5-1) from agonizing defeat, as Sherman Oaks Notre Dame rebounded from a mistake-filled game to defeat their La Cañada brethren, 28-24, in a key non-league battle in front of a packed house here at Freidman Field on Friday evening.

In what was the Battle of the Knights, Notre Dame overcame three first quarter turnovers and a 14-point deficit to extend its winning streak to four games and improve to 5-1 overall.

 

Capping off a 91-yard scoring drive late in the fourth quarter, Knights’ quarterback Ryan Kasdorf’s 10-yard touchdown run with 3:49 remaining in the game gave Notre Dame its only lead and proved to be the game-winner.

 

“In the first-half, we were making a lot of mistakes,” Kasdorf told My Daily Find after the game. “We knew we could move the ball and our defense would step up if we just got it together in the second half. The offense and defense just clicked in the second half.”

Things were not clicking very well for the Notre Dame offense in the first quarter, when Kasdorf threw two interceptions on the Knights first two possessions – both to St. Francis star player Dietrich Riley, who returned the first interception 64 yards for a touchdown.

Before St. Francis’ final possession of the opening quarter, Notre Dame had eight first downs on its first three possessions, while St. Francis had zero yards of total offense through the first 11 minutes of the game, yet it was the Golden Knights had a 7-0 lead entering the second quarter.

After a Notre Dame penalty negated a Kasdorf 34-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, the Golden Knights forced a Knights running back Kenneth Boggs to cough up the football on at the St. Francis 19 yard line, the third turnover of the first quarter by the visiting team.

Riley capitalized with a two-yard touchdown score with 9:11 remaining in the second quarter, extending the St. Francis lead to 14-0.

Notre Dame immediately responded on its next possession, as Boggs chipped away at the St. Francis defensive line capped off by his three-yard touchdown run with 5:02 remaining in the half, cutting the Golden Knights lead to 14-7.

The Golden Knights took a 17-7 lead into the locker room on a 32-yard field goal conversion at the halftime gun, but failed to capitalize on its first possession of the second half, when Riley fumbled the ball on the St. Francis 23 yard line within the first 60 ticks of the third quarter. That turnover allowed Notre Dame to cut the St. Francis lead to 17-14 after Boggs found the end zone on a two-yard run.

St. Francis quarterback Ryan Posthuma gave his team life again with a 7-yard touchdown run to give the Golden Knights a 24-14 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Boggs responded for Notre Dame on its ensuing possession, cutting the St. Francis lead to 24-21 with 10:58 remaining in the game.

The Golden Knights were unable to respond on its next drive, as the Notre Dame defense forced St. Francis to punt the ball midway through the fourth quarter. A beautiful punt pinned the Notre Dame offense on its own 9 yard line.

However, Kasdorf connected with Boggs on a 55-yard pass play to set up a first-and-10 at the St. Francis 22-yard line. Then Kasdorf ran the ball on a quarterback option for 12 more yards, to set up a first-and-goal on the St. Francis 10 yard line.

Running a fake to Boggs, the Notre Dame offensive line opened up a seam for Kasdorf, who ran right through it for a 10-yard touchdown run on the keeper to give the Knights its only lead of the game, 28-24, with 3:49 remaining.

The Golden Knights had an opportunity to respond, as Posthuma took over on offense at the St. Francis 20 yard line and led his team into scoring position with an option play of 14 yards and three pass plays of 13, 12 and 26 yards, respectively, placing St. Francis in the red zone with just under 90 seconds remaining in the game.

However, Postuma fumbled the ball on a quarterback keeper on the Notre Dame 8 yard line with just over one minute remaining in the game, and the Knights recovered the ball to end the St. Francis scoring threat and preserving the come-from-behind victory.

Despite the fumble, Posthuma had a solid game for St. Francis, completing 18 of his 25 passes for 224 yards and rushing for 101 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Riley was not much of a factor on offense, rushing for only 29 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries while catching 6 passes for 71 yards; but, he also finished the game with two interceptions for a total of 114 return yards, including one taken down field for a score.

Kasdorf was 10-of-17 for 194 yards and two interceptions, with 54 yards and one touchdown on nine carries for Notre Dame. His backfield teammate, Boggs, rushed for 121 yards and scored three touchdowns on 22 carries.

“Once we stopped making mistakes, we were able to score a few times,” Notre Dame head coach Kevin Rooney said after the game. “We had a hard time stopping (St. Francis). Dietrich Riley’s a heck of a player, and once we stopped throwing it to where he was, that helped a whole lot. It’s good to win tight games.”

Notre Dame returns to the field next week in another tough match-up, this one at home against Chaminade at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23. The Knights then begin league-play in a premiere match-up against Crespi, also at home, on Oct. 30.

Parimal Rohit is an avid writer who loves covering politics, sports, entertainment and anything else under the sun. Currently, he writes for Buzzine Magazine, Campus Circle and India West. In addition to writing full-time, Parimal is also a staff member of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. Prior to becoming a journalist, Parimal worked in sports, entertainment and criminal law. A graduate of UCLA, he has a Master’s in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco and a law degree from Loyola Law School. Contact him parimalrohit@gmail.com

Sharpen your number 2 pencils…it’s college testing time!

BY  MARILYN C. MORRISON

Many parents, students, and educators would like to see standardized testing de-emphasized in the college admission process, but these exams are an inevitable hurdle that most college-bound students must overcome.  While formal test prep is not mandatory, it is important to be prepared.  Students should at least be familiar with the format of the questions so they are not reading the instructions for the first time on the day of the test.  Taking practice exams will help students become comfortable with the pacing of each test, and will ensure that they know important details like whether or not there is a penalty for guessing.

These practice exams can also help students decide whether they are better suited for the SAT Reasoning Test (www.collegeboard.com) or the ACT (www.actstudent.org), a more straightforward curriculum-based test.  The SAT has fewer questions but lasts longer and has more sections, deducts points for incorrect answers, and might appeal to students with strong vocabulary skills.  The ACT includes more advanced math content (through trigonometry), emphasizes grammar and reading skills, and contains a science reasoning section.  Colleges will accept either exam.

Whether students choose to prepare using a long, slow buildup or in a last-minute crash course (definitely not as effective!), there are many approaches available.  Disciplined, self-motivated students can study using a book, a software program, or an online course.  Most choose to enroll in a class or receive one-on-one tutoring, often in their home.  Families shopping for test prep will want to consider price, convenience, the philosophy of the test prep company, and customer service.

Many students choose to do their test prep over the summer when they are not as overwhelmed with a hectic schedule of homework and extracurricular activities.  Others prefer to coordinate their test prep so that it ends just before the exam date, giving them momentum and fresh memories of the strategies they’ve learned.  Most students take the SAT or ACT for the first time in the spring of their junior year, and then again in the fall of their senior year, if necessary, in time to meet the college application deadlines.

 The SAT, in particular, is certainly coachable, and scores usually do go up, but only if the student does the homework and follows the test prep program, including taking all of the prescribed practice or diagnostic exams.

 There is no official limit on the number of times that a student may take the SAT or the ACT, but according to the College Board, “Research shows that taking the test more than twice won’t help you significantly improve your score.”  This year, the College Board is implementing Score Choice, which allows students to select their best SAT results from a single sitting to submit to colleges.  (The ACT has always offered the option of sending scores from a single test date.)  But beware: many colleges have announced that they will not accept Score Choice and will require applicants to submit all scores from all tests taken.  In any case, students’ time is probably better spent on academics or extracurricular activities than on endless testing and re-testing.

And what about the students who just don’t test well, no matter how much prep they have?  Luckily, there are over 815 test-optional colleges that make admission decisions about substantial numbers of applicants without using the SAT or ACT.  The complete list at www.fairtest.org includes such highly selective colleges as Bates, Mount Holyoke, Pitzer, and Connecticut College.

In any event, students should always remember that these tests are just one component of their college applications.  Other pieces of the puzzle—such as good grades in challenging courses, dedication to extracurricular activities, excellent teacher recommendations, and a well-written essay—often carry more weight with college admission officers.

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process.  Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at (818) 781-3476 or moredcon@sbcglobal.net. 

College Prep: The Parent’s Role in the College Admission Process

BY MARILYN C. MORRISON

After years of volunteering in the classroom, cheering from the sidelines at the soccer field, and ferrying kids from music lessons to the orthodontist’s office, parents often find it difficult to know where to draw the line in their involvement in the college admission process once their children are in high school.

 Overzealous moms and dads who ask too many questions on college tours, write their child’s essays for them, and refer to their child’s application as “ours” can actually hinder a student’s college admission chances.  Some college admission officers have begun complaining that parents are too involved in the process.  They theorize that the problem stems from today’s parents living vicariously through their children, or worrying about being “out-parented” by more aggressive parents.  For many families, college is the first time that a child has faced rejection, and parents sometimes fall victim to the mistaken belief that the name of the college their child ultimately attends has a direct correlation with the quality of their parenting skills.

 An article published in the “College Times” magazine by the College Board in 2001 suggested three appropriate roles for parents to adopt in the college application process:

• Coach – in sports, a coach offers encouragement and expresses belief in the child, but never plays the game for the child, no matter how much he or she is struggling
• Consultant – in business, law, or medicine, a consultant poses analytical questions and offers an opinion based on experience and training, but the client can choose whether or not to take the advice
• Executive Secretary – in an office, an executive secretary gathers the material necessary for his or her boss to do the job; does some of the legwork and handles the logistics of a project; watches for errors and makes suggestions; and keeps a close eye on calendars, schedules, and deadlines

 The key is remembering that college is your child’s project and decision.  The choices can—and should—be made with your guidance, input, and support, but this is the first real adult decision your child will make.  Your child is the one going to college now, not you, and it’s important that you try not to take over the process.

 Here are some of the things you can do to help without overstepping your bounds:

 

• Offer support and encouragement.  Establish the expectation of college, as early as elementary school.  Expose children to stimulating experiences, but don’t push them to do things they hate, or to choose to do something just to “look good” on a college application.  Help your high school juniors and seniors with interview skills, or arrange for another adult to do mock interviews.  Be a good “coach” and let your kids know that you believe in their potential.  Keep an open mind, and encourage your child to do the same.
• Educate yourself about colleges.  Attend all college-related parent meetings at your child’s school.  Make sure that your child is meeting the course requirements for graduation, as well as the college entrance requirements for public and private universities (a good example of the “consultant” role).  Show interest in and awareness of many colleges (not just famous ones or your own alma mater). 
• Assist with logistics and organization.  Maintain a file of certificates and awards your child receives throughout high school.  Provide a dedicated space in your home for college materials, along with files, notebooks, baskets or shelves to organize it all.  Help students arrange college visits, but don’t plan trips without their input and buy-in (remember the “executive secretary” role?).  Make sure to save copies of all materials that have been are submitted, whether on paper or electronically. 

 

By limiting your participation to the roles of Coach, Consultant, and Executive Secretary, you’ll allow students to maintain control of their own college search and applications.  Respect their wishes and feelings, and with any luck they’ll give some consideration to yours!  Your guidance, support, and love—plus a lot of cheerleading—will certainly make your child’s path to college easier.  As a Kaplan, Inc.’s guide for parents wisely reminds us, “Your job is to dry the tears, not cause them.”

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process.  Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at (818) 781-3476 or moredcon@sbcglobal.net. 

It’s never too early to plan for college

BY MARILYN C. MORRISON

Students in elementary and middle school should start planning for college now. “That sounds crazy!” you might protest. “My kids are still in Cub Scouts, T-ball, and tutus!” It’s not farfetched, however, when you realize that early planning is actually the best way to reduce stress and anxiety about college admissions while simultaneously increasing a student’s chances of being a strong applicant in a progressively competitive pool. This early college planning is all about developing students’ solid study skills while nurturing their individual passions and talents.

Try following these steps to help students make the most of their childhoods as they grow into curious, interesting citizens:

• Establish the expectation of college in your home. Talk to your children about when they will go to college, not if.

• Show your children that you value education. Set clear expectations for their behavior regarding school and homework. Treat school as their “job”-try to schedule dentist appointments and vacations so that your children don’t have to miss class.

• Help your children develop good study habits. Make sure they have a quiet, well-lit place to study, and time to do it. Provide resources such as paper, pens, a dictionary, Internet access, software programs, and a library card.

• Read, read, read! Encourage your children to read, and read to them as long as they’ll let you. Demonstrate your own love of reading and share your reactions about the books you’ve read. Subscribe to the newspaper and discuss current events.

• Keep in touch with your child’s teachers and guidance counselors. This gets more difficult as children get older, but it’s vitally important in every grade. Always attend Back-to-School Night, teacher conferences, and parent meetings.

• Expose your children to new and enriching experiences. Take advantage of local museums, concerts, library events, parks, nature centers, craft fairs, farmer’s markets, art galleries, and other free or low-cost activities.

• Support your children’s hobbies and interests. In elementary and middle school, you can let them experiment, but by high school, encourage them to choose one or two things to which they can show commitment, dedication, and leadership. Remember that there are no right or wrong hobbies, as long as the student is passionate about them.

• Encourage a healthy balance of school and play. Becoming an academic “machine” is not the pathway to college acceptance.

• Introduce students to a variety of college campuses. Here in Los Angeles, there are many opportunities to attend concerts, art shows, and sporting events on local campuses. When you’re on vacation in another part of the country, stop at a college campus to visit their museum, eat lunch in the cafeteria, or just walk around. Also, look into the many summer camps that are held on college campuses.

• Keep an open mind about colleges at all times. Don’t try to choose one yet, and discourage your child from doing so. Be open to colleges that are not famous brand-name schools, and be especially open to considering small liberal arts colleges. Make sure that your goal is finding the right fit for your child, without using anyone else’s measure of which college is “best.”

• Save money for college! Start as early as possible, even if it’s just a little at a time. Ask grandparents and other relatives to contribute. Don’t ever think that your child should not apply to college or won’t be able to attend just because you don’t have the money, or you think it will be too expensive. A private college with a high sticker price and good financial aid can cost less out-of-pocket than a state university that offers little financial aid.

By establishing good study habits and academic expectations early, and encouraging your children’s individuality and passions, you will be doing more to prepare them to be strong college applicants than if you focus only on their grades or push them to participate in activities that don’t interest them. Remember to begin college planning now, but save college searching and deciding until 11th and 12th grade. Don’t panic-this is a case where “slow and steady wins the race.”

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process. Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at (818) 781-3476 or moredcon@sbcglobal.net.

SENDING YOUR CHILD TO COLLEGE, PART I

The Difficult Job of Letting Go

BY MARILYN C. MORRISON

“My baby is leaving home!”  This realization is often the beginning of an emotional roller coaster for parents as their children prepare to start college in the fall.  The summer between high school and college can be a confusing time, as families deal with the practical logistics of the move while coping with the jumble of feelings brought on by this momentous rite of passage.  Emotions run high for everyone in the family and can range from elation, pride and excitement to worry, sadness, and guilt.

This summer of transition is filled with contradictions.  Fresh from high school graduation, teens commonly vacillate between clinging to the past and asserting their independence.  One minute they’re hugging Mom and Dad, and the next minute they’re arguing about curfews.  It can be a shock when children suddenly become short-tempered or even downright nasty at home, a phenomenon described as “spoiling the nest” by Laura Kastner & Jennifer Wyatt in their book “The Launching Years.”  It’s basically nature’s way of making the upcoming separation easier for both parent and child-in other words, if things are too wonderful and loving, it will be harder to leave.

Parents are often disappointed when they discover that their child prefers to spend the summer hanging out with friends than with family.  Teens are well aware that their circle of friends will soon be broken up, and are anxious to spend every possible moment with them.  This is especially true for those students who are involved in a romantic relationship.  Meanwhile, parents are frequently sitting at home trying to plan “one last time” for those special family traditions, be it the 4th of July picnic at the lake, or the annual horror movie marathon.  Conflict is inevitable, and survival requires patience and a sense of humor.  Every family’s experience is unique, but the following tips should make the summer before college go more smoothly:

Life Skills

• Make sure that your child knows how to do laundry, sew on a button, and make airline, bus or train reservations.
• Teach teens about banking, including writing checks, using ATMs, and balancing their accounts.
• Discuss the use and dangers of credit cards, because freshmen will be bombarded with offers of free credit cards on campus.
• Work out a budget with your child, including how much money you will be contributing each semester, and how often you will send or transfer it.
• If they will be in apartment-style housing in college, demonstrate a few basic recipes and cooking techniques.

Out With the Old, In With the New

• Many students want assistance with sorting and packing their belongings, while others won’t let you anywhere near their room (and almost all of them procrastinate getting the job done).
• Cleaning out old toys and mementos represents letting go of their childhoods. Even teens who are excited about the prospect of starting fresh and being adults may need to part with their belongings in stages. After a year or two in college, those keepsakes might not seem so important.
• Let adolescents take the lead in making the decisions about their move to college. Some may want your help in choosing bed linens, shower curtains, or desk lamps, but others want to do it all themselves.
• For some students, a big going-away party is appropriate, but many prefer to celebrate with a special family dinner at home or a favorite restaurant.

College Business

• Make sure that your student pays attention to letters and email from the college. There are often important forms that must be completed during the summer, such as housing requests, health insurance waivers, loan documents, and orientation and registration materials.
• Students should fill out their own roommate questionnaires. Parents’ preferences for music, cleanliness, and bedtime are irrelevant now-your child is the one going to college!
• Don’t wait until the last minute to make hotel reservations, as those near colleges tend to fill up quickly around drop-off day.

The next article will continue with more on the topic of moving day and dealing with an empty nest.  In the meantime, expect mood swings (yours and theirs!) as you treasure the time you spend with your college-bound teen this summer.

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process.  Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at  moredcon@sbcglobal.net.

What You Need to Know Before Hiring A Tutor

BY MELANIE ROME

Let’s face it — these are tough times.  Los Angeles has been especially hard hit by cutbacks in funding for public education. This translates to  larger class size and reduced student services. The reality is your child may not be getting the kind of attention necessary for academic success.

Frequent interactions between student and teacher are a very important factor in learning, and ultimately a critical component in academic success, but no matter how wonderful a teacher is, most often the demands are too great for the teacher to sufficiently reach all students. In public high school, where classes have 30 plus students, the likelihood of positive student-teacher experiences is diminishing as schools struggle to operate with less and less money.  Private school may have a smaller ratio, but it is still difficult to meet the needs of every student.

So what is a parent to do?  Some are going outside the system to help their children succeed academically by hiring tutors or engaging tutoring services which may include getting help for their child in one or more subjects or college admission test prep, like the SAT.

I want to pass along some helpful guidelines and information that may assist in your decision making process when it comes to hiring a tutor.

When you first approach the idea of hiring a tutor, get into the mindset of a consumer interested in purchasing a product. Keep in mind that although tutors or tutoring companies are about education, but they are also in business to make money.  With this in mind, approach the process as you would if you were going to purchase any type of service.  Dealing with your children’s issues can be an emotional time, but try to remain rational.

According to the Educational Industry Association (EIA) there are four main reasons parents have for wanting to hire a tutor:

REMEDIATION:  As in “surprise” when your child comes home with a “D” on his/her report card in a certain subject.  The goal, according to EIA, for getting a tutor in this situation is “to focus on filling gaps in specific skills in specific subjects, usually in math, reading or writing.  As more basic skills are mastered, tutoring sessions can be spent teaching more grade level skills, thereby increasing achievement and self-esteem.”

MAINTENANCE: You may want to hire a tutor, for example, as your child makes the transition from middle to high school.  Often this comes as rude awakening to a student in terms of academic expectations, study skills and the like.  A tutor can assist in areas such as study habits and time management skills.

ENRICHMENT:  This may be helpful for a gifted child, who for example, needs to be a little more challenged and would benefit from an acceleration of “skills development in certain subjects or skill area.”

TEST PREP:  For the purpose of this article I will focus on college admissions test prep.  This is an area that causes a tremendous amount of anxiety in both parents and students.

When hiring a tutor, the EIA suggests the following:
1.    Check with other parents in your neighborhood. Chances are a good tutor is
working right next door!
2.    Check with your child’s teacher or school principal.
3.    Look in the yellow pages for learning centers.
4.    Check flyers in the local library, pediatrician’s offices, children’s consignment
stores etc.
5.    On-line searches may result in locating tutors in your area
6.    Check with the local Better Business Bureau for a list of tutoring programs. In
addition, the BBB maintains a list of businesses that consumers have lodged
complaints against. You can check to see if a local company has been flagged
with complaints.

When you have a person or company(s) in mind.  Here’s the kind of questions EIA recommends you should ask:
•    How many years have you been a tutor?
•    What are your qualifications?
•    Can you provide references?
•    What assessments do you conduct?
•    What supplies and materials do you provide? What will my child need to
provide?
•    Will you provide private tutoring?
•    What is the cost?
•    Are there hidden fees?
•    Will I have a contract?
•    How can I get out of the contract?
•    How will you know what my child’s needs are?
•    Do you have a particular teaching philosophy?
•    How will you communicate with me?

Hiring a tutor for a college test prep, like the SAT and/or the ACT, takes further investigation. The National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) recently released a discussion paper titled, “Preparation for College Admission Exams.”  The report states, “The existing academic research base indicates that, on average, test preparation efforts yield a positive but small effect on standardized admission test scores.  Contrary to the claims made by many test preparation providers of large increases of 100 points or more on the SAT, research suggests that average gains are more in the neighborhood of 30 points.”

Alana Klein, a spokesperson for College Board, the organization that administers the SAT, further corroborated that “studies show that short-term, commercial test preparation does not help students become more prepared for the test or increase test scores significantly.  There are no shortcuts, tricks or ways to cram for the test.”  In addition, Klein stated that “scores tend to increase about 30-40 points upon taking the test a second time.  That research includes all students including those who take prep and those who do not.”

Certainly, an important part of taking a test is having a relaxed, confident student. If any kind of  test prep can help improve the student’s self esteem regarding test taking abilities, then it was a positive and worthwhile experience.  Always remember, “Knowledge is power.”  Be a careful and cautious consumer because it all boils down to the fact that it is your money, and most importantly, your child.

Melanie Rome, M.A. is a College Admissions Counselor in private practice. Contact her at melaniemrome@yahoo.com or visit her website: www.melanierome.com.