Why SAT Scores Might Be Decreasing

Why SAT Scores Might Be Decreasing The average SAT scores for the high school class of 2011 fell across the nation, according to the College Board (the creator of the SAT) and an article in the New York Times. The average, national reading score fell to a record low of 497, a three-point decrease from 2010. The average writing score dropped two points to 489, and the average math score fell one point to 514. The College Board believes that a more diverse group of students caused this decrease, mainly students whose first language is not English. Nearly 27 percent of the roughly 1.65 million students who took the test came from a home where English is not the only/primary language, which is an increase from 19 percent 10 years ago. However, others believe that changes in the test caused the decline. Robert Schaeffer, public education director of FairTest, a nonprofit group that is critical of standardized testing, said he believes the decreases were caused by the nations high emphasis on high-stakes testing programs. These high-stakes programs can add more pressure to the SAT, which could either improve or decrease students scores. Also, younger students are taking the SAT, hoping to get a head start on the college process. Traditionally, high school juniors and sophomores do not perform as well on standardized tests as high school seniors. [RELATED: What Does SAT Stand For?] Students with only three years of high school English scored an average of 464 on the reading section, compared to an average score of 556 for students who took Advanced Placement or honors English. Schaeffer also believes that the No Child Left Behind act and other federal education laws have made the tests more difficult. How many wake-up calls do policy makers need before they admit that their test-and-punish strategy is a failure? Schaeffer asked. Policymakers need to embrace very different policies if they are committed to real education reform. The SAT has three sections (math, reading and writing), which are scored from 200-800. The highest possible combined score is 2,400. The combined, average score was 1,500 in 2011, compared to 1,506 in 2010. The writing section was introduced in 2005, and students writing scores have been declining every year since then. However, math and reading scores have remained fairly steady over the past 10 years. Math scores have remained between 520 and 514. Reading scores have averaged between 508 and 499. Despite the average SAT scoredecline, the number of high scores is actually increasing. On the math section, the number of students who scored at least 700 out of a possible 800 has increased more than 20 percent since 2007. The SAT and other standardized tests like the ACT are designed to indicate how well a student will perform during his or her freshman year of college. However, there has been much debate about how accurate that actually is. Many educators have long believed that a students high school grades are a better indicator of college grades than standardized tests. However, the College Board recently tried to create a tangible scale to predict future grades. For the first time, it estimated that the combined score of 1,550 means that students will have a 65 percent chance of averaging at least a B-minus in college. About 43 percent of the Class of 2011 test-takers met that mark. [RELATED: How is the New SAT Scored?]

Upgrading Your Gear Must-Haves For the Intermediate Guitarist

Upgrading Your Gear Must-Haves For the Intermediate Guitarist Suzy S. Is your guitar gear stage-ready? If youve been playing for a while and youre ready to start performing, your set up might need some upgrades. Follow this guide from guitar teacher Nathan D. and enjoy rocking out   So perhaps youve been playing steadily for a few months to years, and youre taking this whole “guitarist” thing seriously. Maybe you now have a band, and want to start playing out. Theres plenty of necessities to get or upgrade guitar gear as you start to go a bit more pro, and countless sticker-shock options as well. What do you need to know before going on a crazy, card-maxing shopping spree? Ideas For The Road A floppy gig bag will need an upgrade, so definitely buy a hard-shell case to protect your instrument. Consider the hardships of packing your guitar into your tour vehicle and traveling. It will pay for itself after a hard drop out of a van door or trunk, or even a single pass through the TSAs often brutal gauntlet. Buy a few supplies for your case. I keep a spare string winder, a pack of strings, a tuner (or pitch pipe, as they dont need batteries that can leak if left unchecked), and a few extra picks. A pen and some paper wont hurt, either. You never know when youll have to trade info with a promoter and run out of business cards (bar napkins easily get thrown out). If you live in dry climates, I shouldnt even have to tell you to have a humidifier in your guitar case. However, if youre going on tour or vacation, its not the first thing you might think to pack. You dont know what the weather will be from state to state (or continent), so its worth the twenty dollar or more investment. Suggestions For The Active Stage Rocker Consider installing strap-locks onto your instrument, especially if youre in an act that flails around a lot. Be aware of the current size of the strap screws in your instrument. You may be drilling a deeper or wider hole for larger screws to properly secure the locks. Have it done by a pro if you dont want to potentially split your body apart (or ask a reliable carpenter friend). Its not worth putting strap-locks onto a guitar strap that will break at your next practice. Please dont repair your straps with duct tape. If it looks shoddy, get a new one. Also, if you notice that your shoulder gets fatigued after wearing your guitar for an hour, immediately upgrade to a wider strap with some padding. If youre tired of pulling your cable from your amp (regardless of its length), become entangled with mic stands and bandmates, or have ever pulled your amp to have it fall directly onto pavement, you might be a candidate to go wireless. There are budget packages that run for only a couple hundred dollars or less, just check the reviews on your favorite retailers websites. Its incredibly fun to run the full distance possible through or around your audience while playing, whether its an outdoor show or in a bar. Playing With Power Heres the big one: your practice amp probably wont cut it live. Even if a microphone and PA is used in conjunction with it, relying on a tiny, low-watt amp and/or stage monitors doesnt always work out very well. Dont be the player on stage that insists on using a microphone on a 20 watt amp, constantly glaring at the poor sound guy, angrily shooting a finger repeatedly upward, and yelling to crank you up in the stage mix. Youre going to need at least a couple hundred watts to be loud enough. If you cant hear your playing while on stage with drums and other instruments (and actually want to play with a band), youll need a new, more powerful amp. Prepare to shell out several hundred dollars to a grand (or more). Note the differences in buying an all-in-one versus a speaker cabinet setup and separate amplifier (or head unit). You can always upgrade the amp if you buy separate units, but in any case you can always upgrade the speaker(s) down the line. If youre handy, you can also build your own speaker box with plans found online. Dont rule out using a small yet powerful amp to power any speaker box, as my $300 200 Watt ZT Lunchbox (its the size of a lunchbox) is actually powerful enough to power my 4X12” Marshall cabinet. However, its built-in 6.5” speaker actually is enough for me in most small venues. Bring your instrument to the store to try out different amps, dont just go by reviews. You dont want to pay return shipping on a 100 pound amp if you decide to buy online without even trying it in person. Your sound doesnt need compromises, plus your wallet could take a big, non-refundable hit for a simple mistake. When you purchase or construct a new, more powerful amplifier setup, you can always keep your little old amp for low-volume practice, or sell it to a beginner. For more great amps check out this list from Music Skanner. Last Words To You Rockers My final, very important advice is have ear protection. Your ears are your most important organs as a musician. Tinnitus is not fun. Im in my early thirties and I have already started developing it in my left ear, and sometimes it wakes me up at night. Theres plenty of options in foam, rubber, and silicone models that are under twenty dollars. That being said (and hopefully heard), a wide assortment of guitar gear possibilities await you. Has some of that anxiety calmed of what to do next? I hope some of these suggestions help you out. Youre at an exciting stage of being a musician! Keep playing! Nathan D. teaches guitar, bass, drums, and more in North Wales, PA. His specialties include  rock and heavy metal styles, but he teaches every genre.  Learn more about Nathan here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Andrew_D_Hurley

Reasons to Attend a Small School

Reasons to Attend a Small School Youve probably been well-briefed on the main differences between small schools, large schools, and medium-sized schools. Other than the obvious fact that they each have a vastly different-sized study body, the various factors that come along with them ultimately produce atmospheres that are simply better suited for certain personalities. The question is: how do you know which one fits your personality? The size alone may not be enough to answer that for you, so it is important to investigate the cultures and unique aspects these different types of colleges offer. Here is some great information onbig schools vs. small schoolsthat you may want to check out. However, it is very possible that you could like the idea of a small school, but actually find yourself discontent with that kind of campus once you arrive. Or vice versa, you could very well hate the idea of a small school but then discover it does, in fact, match your needs. Better to figure this out in advance, right? Regardless of your immediate feelings on the subject or rumors you have heard about it, here are some reasons to take into consideration that would indicate a small school is a good place for you. Youre on the shyer side: Although this may seem like a fairly obvious indicator, there is more reasoning to it than just avoiding intimidation by big crowds. No matter where you attend college, your journey is going to begin with a freshman orientation designed for you to mix and mingle with as many peers as possible. Being a freshman in general automatically gives you an advantage wherever you are to get to know these people easily and develop bonds quickly. But for those students who are more introverted and less confident about outwardly socializing with strangers, a small school gives them the opportunity to be a part of more close-knit communities within the overall one, giving them the opportunity to feel connected to an even smaller fraction of students before they are released into the complete group of incoming freshmen. For example, orientation groups will be divided into much smaller numbers of students than would be the case at a large school, dorm floors will each contai n significantly lower numbers of residents, and dorms themselves will be much smaller than the overwhelmingly packed ones you would find elsewhere. Large schools split students up into these same communities within communities, but they do not have the luxury of making these communities as condensed as small schools are able to. Rather than throwing students into major meet-and-greets first thing that can leave a shy person feeling quite overwhelmed, small schools provide a way for you to feel like youre already a part of a tight group before you enter those bigger mingling events so you can have an established support system beforehand. You may also want to check out this information on colleges with small class sizesas well. You want a close relationship with your advisor: The bigger the school, the bigger the challenge you face when trying to create a familiar rapport with a faculty member. Advisors in particular are integral parts to managing your academic experience and quite important to the stability of your path to graduation. They will be able to help you at any school regardless of size, but if you really want to get to know this person and are hoping they will become someone you can frequently go to without having to remind them or your class history every time, youre going to have better luck at a small school. In accordance with the tinier student body, each program/major will be more of a close community as well. You will become familiar with much more of your fellow classmates in this program than you would at a large school and your advisor will likely be the same person every time you visit the advising office. Sometimes, schools have too many students in each program to assign just one ad visor to all of them, so it is a huge perk to be able to work with the same person consistently every semester. Even if this small school has two or three advisors for your program, you are still more likely to be recognized by them since you are amongst a smaller crowd of students who are coming to them so regularly. Subsequently, getting on a first-name basis with these people will be an easier feat. You hate buses and/or get lost easily: This may seem like another give-in, yet it is truly something to think about. If this is an issue for you, you must think hard about how often it will play into effect if you attend a large school. Missing a class because you misunderstood the bus route or just got turned around walking through the east side of campus is not something you want to experience often. At a small school, your campus can be pretty easily figured out by glancing at a map and the limited paths you can take to get to various buildings will become engrained in your mind very quickly. With every dorm, class, restaurant, and entertainment venue located within walking distance of each other, youll feel much more relaxed if you do get lost at some point early on because the next turn you make will probably get you back to a familiar point, rather than a completely different side of campus. Plus, youll be incredibly thankful if youre ever running late and can just run to your designated location rather than searching for your car keys or waiting for a bus. You like the small town feel: When youre on a small campus, youre essentially living in a small town. You will know mostly everyone and mostly everyone will know you. The latest news and gossip will circulate quickly and even if youre by yourself, youll rarely feel left out of this strongly connected community. Most college campuses tend to have that comforting feeling of connection, but a small schools comforting vibe is always prominent, no matter where you are or what youre doing. Inside jokes about the campus and new endeavors the school is undertaking will be quickly talked about and bonded over between you and your peers, whether youre in class with people you never hang out with or in your dorm lounge with people you see every single morning. Small schools make it easy for everyone to be heard and know theyre on the same page with each other, regardless of whats going on with everyone personally. If youve ever dreamed of living in a place where everyone knows your name and the re are little to no secrets, a small campus will fit you well. Answer a few questions about yourself to determine whether or not these reasons apply to you. If they do, you may want to take a closer look into the world of the small campus. Figure out what is right for your personality and habits instead of just blindly following brochures. A plethora of things can be positive, but that doesnt always mean they are specifically good for you. You may also want to check out these top 4 reasons to attend a big school as well!

Put a Little Love In Your Heart for You - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Put a Little Love In Your Heart for You - Introvert Whisperer Put a Little Love In Your Heart for You One of the 4 relationship building blocks I outline in the blog and programs is about giving support to the other person.   When we support someone, it is an act of love, especially if we do it without any expectation of receiving something in return. Our ability to give and receive love starts with loving self â€" often a hard thing for some people to do or to admit to.   As we go through life, we get “scuffed up” by various situations, which can take a toll on our self-worth.   You have to love self so you can love others because if you don’t, you will always be looking for something from someone else.   It’s a thirst that is never really quenched. And what if you don’t love and respect you?   Change your internal dialogue about you.   Sounds simple but it can be a habit for many.   Some people don’t even realize it but its part of their ongoing way of talking. The deal is, every time you say or think something negative about you, your brain believes it.   I have a friend who constantly says she’s stupid.   I know she’s not.   I finally pointed it out to her and she hadn’t even realized she was doing it.   She did admit that’s how she felt fairly often.   My point to her was that she had convinced herself she was stupid and how that translated into holding her back in so many ways. The best analogy for this that I can think of is to think of yourself as a glass of water.   The water is the love you give and receive.   The glass is your capacity to love and if you keep your glass small because you don’t love yourself, you won’t be able to contain much love.   Love is a truly powerful and uplifting feeling. So, isn’t it worth it to increase the size of your glass?   It allows you to give and receive more love. So, as we go speeding into this weekend, be aware of your internal dialogue to you about you.   Do you have some changes to make? -So you can increase your capacity to love?   This may be a challenge but it will totally be worth it. Love yourself. Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

The Quick Guide to Studying Art

The Quick Guide to Studying Art Everything You Need to Know About Studying Art ChaptersLearning to Draw at Secondary SchoolDegrees in Art and DesignThe Best Art and Design Schools in the UKOur Advice for Success in Your Studies“Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad.” - Salvador DaliDo you love contemporary art, graphic design, or animation?There are plenty of ways to study art. Art schools welcome tonnes of students every year hoping to become illustrators, designers, etc.In this article, we’re looking at how you can become an accomplished artist. Whether you're interested in the visual arts such as ceramics, printmaking, fine arts, or digital media, there are plenty of schools for the art and went of ways to students to take art classes in a variety of disciplines. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Na tashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLearning to Draw at Secondary SchoolWhether it’s for fun or to get onto an art degree and become a professional artist, lessons at school are a good way to get into art. For many students, they'll have studied art at primary school and secondary school as art and design is obligatory in the UK until GCSE, meaning that they'll have to opt for art once they're in Year 10.Most artists will have learnt some art at secondary school. (Source: dietmaha)GCSE ArtDuring Year 10 and Year 11, pupils study GCSEs. Students have to study English (English Literature and English Language or a single English GCSE), Maths, and Science (Combined Science or Individual Sciences).Pupils can choose their other GCSEs, including art. Not every school will offer the same GCSEs but they all have to offer at least one Arts GCSE, one Design and Technology GCSE, one Humanities GCSE, and one Modern Foreign Language GCSE.If you're thinking about studying art at university, you should definitely opt for art at GCSE so that you can study an Art A Level or BTEC.A Level ArtOnce you've finished obligatory schooling, you'll have the choice to continue your studies at sixth form (if your school has one) or a college. Since A Level art is a requirement for most art degrees, you'll probably want to pick it as one of your A Levels if you're serious about continuing your art studies after you've finished further education.Since you'll need three or four A Levels to get into university, you'll also have to study some other subjects and ensure you get good grades in them too!BTEC ArtIf you'd prefer something more vocational, th ere's always the BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. With BTECs, you'll only usually study one of them since they are considered to be the equivalent of three A Levels.As you can see, students have a few options when it comes to studying art in secondary school. Arts education might be dwindling in obligatory education, but if you want to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts, you're going to have to study art at school.Degrees in Art and DesignThere are a good number of academic options for those wanting to become artists or designers. To become an illustrator, graphic designer, or artist, there are specific degrees you can study.Fine artDesign studiesCinematics and photographyCraftsArt historyThere are some incredible universities where you can study art in the UK. (Source: greymatters)You should apply to degrees based on what you like, what you want to study, and the job you’d like in the future.A degree isn’t essential for becoming an artist or designer but they can be useful in terms of learning techniques and how to use the tools used in the industry and an opportunity to meet other artists and be inspired.While many people might say that you can't teach art, it doesn't hurt to have a better understanding of techniques, a knowledge of art history, and connections in the industry who could help you further your career in art.  However, a lot of illustrators and designers start their careers without a degree and you need to have your own artistic identity and the necessary technique to meet your clients’ demands.While degrees and qualifications are nice, a good portfolio is probably one of the best things an artist can have!The Best Art and Design Schools in the UKIf you want to get a degree in art or design, you’ll probably want to go to the right university or school of art. It’s important that you choose the right course and university.It's important that you choose the right art school or university to study art. (Source: Foundry)Some universi ties are more famous than others, both nationally and internationally. Here are some of the most famous in the UK:OxfordNewcastleLancasterLoughboroughLeedsUniversity College LondonManchester MetropolitanBrunel University LondonNottingham TrentEdinburghKentArts University BournemouthGoldsmiths, University of LondonAberystwythWestminsterKingstonSouthamptonHeriot-WattCoventryUniversity of the Arts, LondonHow can you find out if it’s a good art school?There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a school or university. Keep in mind that these are just universities with a good department of art in the UK, you could always study abroad in an art institute and get your bachelor of arts degree from another country.Every art department is different so make sure that they specialise in the specific type of art you want to do. There are many different areas of study when it comes to art degrees so make sure you do your research.Don't forget that you don't necessarily have to study in the UK, either. There are plenty of great art universities around the world and many that offer full degree courses in English.  That said, if you choose to study an art degree abroad, it'd also be an opportunity to learn a foreign language, greatly improving your career prospects.Take the drawing classes you need here.Our Advice for Success in Your StudiesOur first tip, before you start your studies, is to choose the right school or university. The wrong school could cause you to lose your passion for art and design in general. You wouldn’t want to attend an animation course if you’re only interested in fine art. Art and design require a lot of personal investment and it can be difficult to study art and design if you’re not passionate about it.A portfolio is essentially an artist's CV. (Source: CallyL)Once you’ve got onto a course, you’ll need to get ready to start the course. The goal of an art school isn’t to make you an expert in advertising. Higher art education i s designed to provide students with the skills to work independently or as an employee.It’ll be up to you to make your own portfolio once you’ve finished your degree and show potential employers and clients what you’re capable of. You’ll be working on this portfolio throughout your degree which is why you might want to try different styles and techniques.You’ll have the opportunity to get advice from professionals in an art school. Once you’ve left, you’ll need to be ready to work so make sure you’ve made the most of your time there.Find out more about surviving art school.Spend time visiting exhibitions and learning more about the art world, especially art history. Going with others is a great way to make friends and connections for later on in life and it’s also a good way to relax and gain inspiration for your own work. Make sure you make the most of your time as a student!You could also learn more about art with private tutorials from one of the many talented t utors on Superprof.  There are three main types of tutorials available: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, and each comes with its pros and cons in terms of learning and cost-effectiveness. What's right for one student may not be right for another so take your time to find the right kind of tutor and tutoring.Face-to-face tutorials are taught with one student and one tutor and they tend to be the most cost-effective type since every minute in the lesson is spent focusing on you as the student. Additionally, the tutor will also spend time outside of the lessons finding resources and planning the time they'll spend with you.Online tutorials are similar to the face-to-face tutorials but take place either on a call or via webcam. Since the tutor won't have the travel costs to worry about and can fit more students into their schedule as a result, online tutorials are usually cheaper than face-to-face tutorials.Finally, group tutorials are classes with one teac her or tutor and multiple students. However, with group tutorials, you and a group of friends could get in touch with a private tutor to plan lessons that you'll all attend together. These tend to be the cheapest per student per hour since the cost of the tutor's time is divided amongst the students in attendance.

Though, Thought, Tough, Through, Thorough - 5 Confusing English Words

Though, Thought, Tough, Through, Thorough - 5 Confusing English Words There are a few problems that seem to consistently come up in my English classes. One of these is confusion among the words Though, Thought, Tough, Through and Thorough.The problem usually comes up when we are reading a lesson together, and we come across one of the words. Students will often get to a word like tough and say the word thought or though.There are two reasons why these words are difficult. First of all, they look a lot alike. Youve basically got the letter t (and sometimes r), surrounding the letter combination ough in slightly different arrangements.Secondly, the letter combination ough makes a different sound depending on the word.Though sounds sort of like thow, thought sounds like thawt, tough sounds like tuff, through sounds like threw, and thorough sounds like therrow. It turns out that the letter combination ough is one of the most unpredictable in the English language, with 6 to 10 possible sounds they can make, depending on the dialect.Honestly, thinking about it makes me wonder how native  English speakers dont get confused by them. Especially though, tough and thought. They look almost exactly the same, but make completely different sounds!Yet somehow we never get them confused, without ever having to think about it.So what do you do if youre someone who is trying to learn English? Im not sure theres an easy way to fix this problem. Even my most advanced students make mistakes with these words.My suggestion for now is to be aware of the ough letter combination, and when you come across it, pay careful attention to the context. Luckily, each of these words have very different meanings, and its highly unlikely that the word tough can be substituted for the word thought in a sentence.Want to keep learning? Read our guides to English idioms or English phrasal verbs. ilias thanks Ric Thanks a lot, really helped me LOIEnglish Awesome! Karen Bartels You could add the word trough to your list. Lin Andre Nathan Soo, how can this article hel p me? Grammar nazis? LOIEnglish It isnt about the grammar but more the pronunciation. The pronunciation for these words is unique in each word and can cause a great deal of confusion if you mispronounce them using the wrong sounds. Guest Could you please show us an example? Duncan B See guys, English is tough language, BUT, it can be solved through tough thorough thought though Sorry LOIEnglish Ha! Very good. fargok Lovely. Adrián González If you said but, why would you use though later in the sentence? LOIEnglish Youre right that it isnt grammatically correct however though is often used at the end of speech as an afterthought, similar to .well. For example: I like the red shoes but not the black.though.they might work with the purple dress. Thiago Dos Santos Leite Awesome! I do too mainly when Im writing ?? Andika Maulana lieur aing ?? i dont feel so good

Huntington Learning Center Offers College Application Tips

Huntington Learning Center Offers College Application Tips Fall is an important time for high school seniors applying to colleges, and Huntington Learning Center is proud to be a part of the college journey for so many students across the nation. Huntington encourages all students to reach for their goals and pursue higher education, which will equip them with skills and knowledge that will last a lifetime. Co-Founder and CEO, Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center reminds parents of high school seniors that fall is not only prime season for finalizing those college application packages, its the best time to retake the SAT and ACT. Teens who took the SAT or ACT in September and October have gotten their scores back now, and if they feel like they could have done better, theres still time to try again before college applications are due, Huntington says. Many colleges consider students superscore, which is the combined highest individual section scores across any test dates (check with individual colleges/universities to confirm their SAT or ACT score-use practice and whether they consider highest section scores across test dates, single highest test date scores, or something else). So, even students who performed well on one section of the SAT or ACT but not on others should consider a retake in December. Huntington also encourages students who need individualized SAT or ACT prep help to contact Huntington about its highly successful test prep programs. Every year, we work with thousands of students to help them raise their college entrance exam scores and get into the colleges of their dreams, she says. In a study of Huntington students graduating high school in 2018, the average increase for students after completing a prep program was 226 points on the SAT (a 22% increase) and 5.3 points on the ACT (a 24% increase). Of the Huntington students surveyed the average scholarship offered was $57,200, and the total scholarships awarded to Huntington students surveyed was $140 million (results are based on a survey of 4,157 Huntington students graduating in 2018). Huntington offers a few tips for teens getting their college applications ready this fall: Review financial aid information. Seniors should have submitted their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after October 1 as possible and should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to three weeks (depending on whether submitted online and how it was signed). Make sure this information is correct, as it is what colleges use to calculate your financial aid offer. Finalize the college essay. If the college to which your teen is applying requires an essay, now is the time to make it shine (and ask at least one person to review/edit it). Remind your teen that a first attempt should not be considered the final draft that he or she submits with an application. Complete applications if applying early decision/early action. Many schools have November deadlines for early decision/early action applicants, so if this is your teens plan, he or she should get those application packages in order. Register to retake the SAT/ACT if needed. Registration for the December 1, 2018 SAT is November 2. Registration for the December 8, 2018, ACT is November 2. Contact Huntington about an SAT/ACT prep program. Huntington offers customized premier, 32-hour and 14-hour programs, perfect for teens who need to brush up on one exam section or are seeking a comprehensive prep program. Make sure all materials are ready to go for each college. This includes the completed application itself, transcripts (sent directly from the guidance counselor to each college), letters of recommendation from teachers and mentors, SAT/ACT/Subject Test scores, the essay and any other supporting information required. Allow for sufficient review time. Applying to colleges requires a lot of effort. Make sure your teen takes the time to carefully review his or her entire application package to make sure nothing has been overlooked: signatures, supplemental material, fees paid, etc. For more information about Huntington Learning Centers SAT/ACT prep courses and one-to-one tutoring programs for high school students planning to go to college, contact Huntington Learning Center at 1-800-CAN-LEARN or visit www.huntingtonhelps.com to find a location near you. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2018 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

5 tips on preparing your child for secondary school

5 tips on preparing your child for secondary school When the time comes for our child to start secondary school it can be both an exciting and terrifying time; for both the parent and the child. All of a sudden our little ones go from being young and carefree to having responsibilities; a new chapter in their lives has begun. As parents we spend time worrying about how they will manage, whether they will make friends and if they will cope with their homework. But we did the same when they started primary school for the first time; we just don't remember that far back! How would they cope without us? Would they eat properly? Would they make friends? But just as they settled into the routine of primary school, they will settle into their new 'big' school. There are of course ways to make the transition from primary to senior school smoother. Here are five ways to help your child prepare for secondary school and ensure that their new chapter begins smoothly and successfully. 1. Talk about the changes they will face One of the biggest changes your child will face is moving from the top class of the primary school to the bottom class of a secondary school. Of course it is perfectly natural for your child to feel nervous, but knowing you are there to listen to their anxieties will help them feel more secure.Their secondary school will also probably be much larger than their primary school. Explain that it is perfectly fine to take some time to get used to finding different relevant places at the school and that all of the children in their new class will be facing the same challenges. With secondary school comes more responsibility so it's a good idea to have a chat about the expectations that come with going to a bigger school. Homework will be more difficult and more often that what they are probably used to, lessons will need more concentration and they will have deadlines that they will need to stick to. Try easing them in to more responsibilities over the summer with a few extra tasks such as keeping their bedroom tidy and helping out with other chores. 2. Consider their feelings Your child will almost certainly have mixed feelings about their upcoming transition. Encourage them to talk to you about their feelings and share their concerns with you. Talk through any issues with them, whether it be about making new friends, bullying or how they will get to school. Reassure your child that their fears and apprehensions are perfectly normal and that everyone has the same worries on their first day of school. Try to be positive about any challenges they will face and talk through some solutions to help put their minds at ease. 3. Be prepared for the first day The first day of school will be filled with mixed feelings and the last thing you or your child need is to be worrying about something you haven't done or something you have forgotten to buy. Make sure you have all of their uniform ready, their sports bag full with everything they will need and their school shoes polished and ready to put on in the morning. Also, make sure their school bag is packed with the necessary stationary your child will need at their new school. Most secondary schools will expect children to have: pencil case pencils pens erasers rulers calculator geometry set It's a good idea to let your child choose their own school bag; just make sure it's ready and packed for the first morning of the new school. An early night will ensure your child is calmer when they wake up and less stressed as late nights can bring morning moodiness. Also make sure they have a good breakfast and are ready with a packed lunch or school dinner money; whichever they have chosen. 4. Encourage them to get into a routine Routine generally takes away stress so it's always a good idea to encourage a good daily routine for your child to get into. Bed time should be at a standard time every night during the school week and your child should get used to making sure they have everything ready for school from the night before. Morning routines should also be in place. Getting dressed, brushing their teeth, eating their breakfast, preparing their packed lunch, eating their daily vitamin and leaving at the correct time each morning will alleviate any stresses. The same kind of routine should also apply for after school. Your child should have a set time and place to do their homework each afternoon, time for any after-school activities and time left aside for them to relax and do what they like to do. It's a good idea to have a calendar on your fridge to remind your child of the different preparations they have to do for different days. 5. Plan the journey together With the transition from primary to secondary school comes more independence and many children starting secondary school will probably be making the journey there on their own. Of course, if you are anything like me you'll probably want to go with them on the first day just to make sure they make it there on time and are happy with their route. It is not a bad idea to go through the route a few times beforehand and talk about alternative ways to get to school should the normal way not be viable one day. Make sure the route is the safest, avoiding bigger roads where possible even if it means adding a few extra minutes to their journey. Whether they are walking, cycling or taking the bus to school make sure your child feels comfortable with their route before the first day. Most children now also have mobile phones, so make sure your child has any emergency numbers they may need already in their phone directory. Talk to your child about safe places they can go if they can't get home and who best to call should there be a problem. If they have a friend who lives nearby and goes to the same school, it may be a good idea to arrange for them to travel together. Also, if your child feels uncomfortable it may be a good idea to travel with them for the first few days until their confidence grows.