Author Archives: adminLisaM
5 Questions to PSAT Prep Success
Coming from LEAP, where we pride ourselves on increased ACT and SAT scores of students in our program, it may sound counterintuitive that we advise most rising juniors not to prep for the PSAT. (This is not the advice we give for ACT and SAT prep!) See, most families who are questioning whether or not to prep for the PSAT are doing so with the National Merit Scholarship program in mind. The bar is high to qualify as a finalist, as we talked about in an earlier post on PSAT and National Merit basics. Essentially, finalists are the top 15,000 scorers from … Continue reading
What’s the “Write” Option?
Students who don’t like to write are often looking for outs when it comes to writing. The ACT calling their writing or essay portion of the test “optional”, often feels like it’s ripe for opting OUT of the dreaded essay. I caution students who are ready to take the easy way out. Round One Let’s take an actual LEAP student who took the ACT twice. First round, the student earned an ACT composite of a 26 which is a good score. The national average for ACT is a 21 and this student scored at the 84th percentile. Furthermore, this student … Continue reading
5 Tips to Jump Start Paying for College
While students begin scouring resources determining their best-fit college, parents are left scratching their heads on how to pay for it. With a few simple steps, parents can begin to get a grasp on paying for college and available financial aid. 1. Determine Cost of Attendance (COA) Many families go to the school website, look up cost of tuition, add room and board and run with that number forgetting the cost of college includes fees, books, travel and personal expenses. Be sure you add all the numbers to get the COA. You can also find this information on College Navigator – … Continue reading
What’s a Parent To Do?
In short: Not Much! I know that answer disappoints multitudes of parents of college bound high school students. The intentions of parents vary from just wanting the best for their kiddo to the “helicopter” parent to those living vicariously through their child. The bottom-line is your child needs to OWN the college selection, application and admission process. Getting to Know You Colleges are wanting to get to know THE STUDENT. It will be the student, not the parent, heading to school and the college needs to be the best fit for the student. Therefore interaction directly with the college needs to … Continue reading
Must Ask Financial Aid Questions
Whether you’re a junior visiting colleges or a senior comparing aid packages to make that final decision by May 1st, you need to be asking questions. Juniors Asking questions early in the college selection process will assist you in ruling in or out a possible school for application. With college being more expensive than ever and far outpacing inflation, the family’s ability to pay and the college’s generosity must be considered. Don’t simply rule out private schools, as they often have a lower Cost of Attendance than the publics as detailed in my previous post Why Pay Sticker Price for College. … Continue reading
Cutting the Cost of College Visits
This week I was interviewed by FOX Business for an article they did for their online news with tips on tips for doing the college visits affordably. It’s a challenge for all families. Many find they need to budget not only for the college visits, but for ACT and SAT testing as well as applications. It all adds up! You can read the article on the FOX Business website by clicking here. For tips on how to make the most of your visit when you are actually on campus, read our previous post.
Wait List Purgatory
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) cites an increase in college applications at 73% of schools and 25% of students applying to 7 or more colleges. More Apps + Uncertain Economic Times = More Wait List Students How Does the Wait List Work? Instead of the usual thick or thin envelope indicating acceptance or rejection, you may just receive a postcard you need to return, if you choose to accept a spot on the school’s wait list. 48% of schools indicate they use a wait list and this number is up. Students who once would have been admitted are being placed on the … Continue reading
Tips for Getting ACT Extended Time
You’ve never finished a PSAT, EXPLORE or PLAN test within the allotted time. Performing your best on the ACT is daunting task, because you most always require additional time at school. Quit stressing and apply for extended time on the ACT. You never know, you may just qualify and can relax a bit! Who Qualifies and How Students with physical disabilities, hearing or visual impairment, those who have diagnosed ADHD, psychiatric conditions or learning disabilities may apply for extended time. Before you apply for accommodations, you’ll need to register online for your ACT test. As with everything in the college selection and application process, … Continue reading
Knowing This, I Would Have Enjoyed the Ride
Our guest blogger this month is Maria Marballi, Ohio State freshman and former LEAP student. One year ago, I was asking myself what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I had to pick a college, and in order to pick a college; I had to select an area of study of which to narrow down the selection of vastly distinctive universities that lay in front of me: all with different positives and negatives, strengths and weaknesses. This meant a few things: anxiety, peer pressure and angst. Senior year was a collaboration of learning how to … Continue reading
AP Credit without the Class?
With sights set on college admission, adding AP classes and tests to your resume might just give the needed edge for admission. AP classes are viewed favorably for college admission by 85% of selective colleges. Being part of the 30% of high school students who take one or more AP exams, or better yet the 60% of those students who scored a 3, 4 or 5 on the exam, can make you a standout. Do You Have Time? Available time can be a factor in choosing to pursue AP classes. Not only are you dedicating a period each day to the class, … Continue reading
