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15 February 2010
The Scholarship Handbook Review by Kweller Prep SAT
1 of 1 found this helpful The Scholarship Handbook, published by the College Board, is an amazing resource and a MUST BUY. Searching for college scholarships is a tedious process and requires energy, a lot of dedication and help from someone who knows how scholarships work." The Scholarship Handbook is an excellent starting point for the scholarship search. You can get additional one-on-one assistance with navigating the Scholarship Handbook at Kweller Prep Educational Center.
I started the scholarship process after I had gotten into NYU, Early Decision, and realized that downside of getting into a top-ranked private university is that you have to come up with the money to pay for it! This epiphany led me to begin the scholarship search. The first scholarship I applied for took me over 50 hours and 3 weeks to complete.
At first, the scholarship application process seemed pretty impossible. I had to write an essay ---- --but I had writer's block. I had to get two letters of recommendation --but I had no idea who to ask. I had to submit a FAFSA; I hadn't even filled one out! I needed to send in my final transcript --but I had stopped going to AP Spanish as much after I got my early decision acceptance I did, however, really want to make some money--and I do mean "make." Well, I applied to about 30 Scholarships. I won two. The two I won covered over half my NYU Tuition.
The scholarship applications got easier over time. I knew what to do; I created a system: I filed completed applications, recycled essays, and reused recommendation letters. The process was painful, but worth every minute. Looking back, I realize that I really could have benefitted from having someone to guide me in my scholarship search. Things would have gone a whole lot faster and smoother. Today, I am using my expertise to help young people in this grueling process. I offer scholarship essay editing as part of Kweller Prep. You live and you learn. But when it comes to the college scholarship application process, you really learn!
Looking back, the grueling process was worth every minute.
The key is to treat the scholarship search process as a job--one that pays really, really well. Otherwise, you just won't do it. Remember, this is perhaps the only time in your entire life where you can basically just write an essay and get $50K for it. No job in high school, or even college for that matter, will ever pay you so well. The time to apply for college scholarships is in high school. You only get to go to college--on scholarship--once! You won't have this window of opportunity again! Go Apply! Kweller Prep will help and edit! Start applying today!
Final Tips:
Remember to treat this book as you would treat the yellow pages--- start with the directory of scholarships various scholarships out there, which are carefully categorized in the first few pages. With a highlighter in your hand and several post-its nearby, you should begin to outline the types of scholarships located within this book that best suit your interests.
Apply widely. Don't be afraid of applying for the `interest in" scholarships. Be generous! Applying for a scholarship that wants you to show an `interest' in nursing does NOT mean that you must become a nurse if you win that scholarship. After all, no one can force you to become a nurse! However, if you have any interest in the field (do you like bio?) you may be qualified for the scholarship. Showing an interest in the field (even as little as a 1% interest
15 February 2010
Caveat Emptor! Book Buyer Beware!
6 of 6 found this helpful I was very disappointed with this book, but I guess beggars can't be choosers. I needed more real, released exams for my students, and the official SAT Guide made sure to provide it. However, neither my students nor I were prepared for just how many errors exist throughout this edition. I truly feel that the College Board rushed to release its 10 Official Exams. I can't tell you how many errors I found in the math, reading, and writing sections. Some blogs even speculate that the `typos' may exist on purpose so that College Board can maintain its high levels of confusion with the SAT. (One math problem had 3 typos!) As I learned in Law School, "Caveat Emptor!" or "Buyer Beware."
Another aggravating aspect of this book is that the new edition has 7/10 exams that can be found directly from the old edition, except the new edition costs several dollars more. I found this particularly unfair to students who strive to study from the most updated material, when in reality, it's not so updated. This year, many students had to pay almost $25 for a book containing only 3 new tests, when they thought the College Board was selling 10. The only major difference is that now, tests 3-10 have lots and lots of typos. I can't help but wonder why the almighty College Board couldn't hire someone to proofread the book properly before it went to print.... unless the errors may in fact not be so 'unintentional.'
In conclusion, The Official SAT Guide is only good if you go through the questions with a highly knowledgeable friend or a reliable tutor. (May I suggest Kweller Prep for those living in the tri-state area?) Aside from the yellow errata sheet (that only some books provide), I found dozens of mistakes, which was quite aggravating as a tutor. I can only imagine how confusing it must be for students. I do, however encourage this purchase; there are 10 official exams, and you can at least benefit from that.
A book review by Frances Kweller, founder of Kweller Prep SAT: Intense Prep for Intense Kids!
15 February 2010
Read Her Standardized Testing Advice! By Kweller Prep
There are some truly amazing books out there and this is one of them. I am the founder of Kweller Prep Intensive SAT Tutoring, College Prep, and more. I buy this book for nearly all my students. Just read it in moderation. Elizabeth Wisner-Gross is candid, funny, and as straightforward as an expert in college admissions can get. Sometimes the truth hurts to hear, but I am incredibly grateful that Ms. Gross is offering some of it. I work closely with a team of extremely talented former admissions officers, college counselors, and some of the best SAT tutors in the industry, and the advice Ms. Gross offers, in particular her insight on standardized test preparation (Chapter 4: Helping your Child Excel at Standardized Testing), resonates very closely to my own. As stated in Secret 83 (page 89), "The secret to test preparation is practice, practice, practice"--and Kweller Prep Intensive SAT tutoring and More.
Please note, I am not by any means saying a parent should follow ALL the advice here, but a lot of the standardized testing advice is very strong.
Reality is that oftentimes, the SAT exam is what holds many kids back from getting into their dream schools. For instance, several of my talented athletic students had their coaches and school counselors make it clear to them that they "just" needed a better SAT score to be eligible for a wide array of sports scholarships. Hearing this news by December of senior year can be devastating; it is too late by then to adequately prepare for the SAT and thus these kids get locked out of certain opportunities they could have had if they only started preparing for the SAT earlier.
Many first-generation students, particularly those pupils where English is not the primary language spoken at home, are very disadvantaged by thinking that they can take a brief review course like Princeton or Kaplan (8-12 lessons, 4 tests) and perform they way they would like on the SAT. (By the time the May scores are released, it is too late to even register for the June administration of the SAT, and they are stuck taking the October SAT as seniors... so much for an enjoyable last year of high school) My students at Kweller Prep prepare for the SAT 6 months before the exam. They take anywhere from 20 to 40 proctored practice tests under my supervision. Nearly ALL of them score above a 2000 on the SAT (95%). Some kids increase their score by as much as 500 points. Their confidence invariably goes up, and they improve their grammar, English and math skills permanently. The fact is that the SAT is NOT FAIR. Sometimes, you need to fight fire with fire.
Interestingly, my highest testers (99%) do not speak English with their parents at home. The proof is in the pudding; they key to performing well on the SAT is, as Ms. Gross says, "Practice Practice, Practice." This explains why my kids score so well. The only part she left out was going to Kweller Prep Tutoring and Educational Services in Forest Hills.
I understand and respect that some reviews claim her advice to be too extreme, but some of it is very strong, and very on target. This is an evil, evil test. I do not think we should be mad at Ms. Gross for the testing advice she offers, but rather focus on how incredibly unfair the SAT exam is, and how there is so little that we can do about it. Just read everything in moderation. Good luck navigating the ever so convoluted college admissions process.