Day: March 1, 2019

AP Classes: How Many are Enough?

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

Is more better?  And how would you even know?  Well, some terrific folks in college admissions actually have tried to quantify “enough.” What Are You Taking Junior Year?  I often see kids in sophomore year to plan for junior year classes, test prep, extracurriculars…  and to figure out how to strike a balance among all […]

A Student’s Story: Northeastern’s Co-Op Program

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

If you ever want to talk to someone who is enthusiastic about the university he is attending, you should spend a little time with Ryan Bacon. Not only is he enjoying his collegiate experience, but he’s already able to recognize the value he is receiving from the path he has chosen at Northeastern University. We […]

Buzzword: Creativity and Cognition

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

Among cognitive skills, creativity is sometimes looked down upon as being both frivolous and beyond our conscious control. On skeptical days, we can associate creativity with quixotic, abstract, and unpredictable art. Even if we value creativity deeply, we often believe such insights come from invisible muses, innate talent, or some particular kind of childhood. Almost […]

After Class: Affinity Groups

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

Here’s a quiz. Do you know what these acronyms stand for? ASA GSA BSU BAG FLO In high school, you may get to know these collections of letters as shorthand for affinity groups. An affinity group is a set of people who share a common background or characteristic that is an important part of their identity. […]

Calculating the Probability of College Admissions

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

Here’s a fun math problem:  If a college applicant applies to 20 schools, each with a 5 percent admission rate, what is the probability that she will be accepted to at least one of those schools?  Is it 5 percent? 100 percent? Hint: It’s not 100 percent, but that’s what many students believe, an example […]

Breaking the Beat

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

I awoke with the sun on Monday morning, refreshed and aligned with the world. I was exultant to learn that three Americans had won the 2017 The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017 . Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young won the prize for “for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling […]

Back to School Brain Fog: There’s a Nap for That

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

Fresh notebooks. New backpacks. Summer turning to autumn. A looming zombie apocalypse. Ahh…back to school! With your kids just returned to school but with minds still stuck in summer, their bodies may also be lingering in a different time zone. Even if family travel didn’t take you to different coasts or foreign shores, it is […]

ACT Time Changes

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

In a move that makes the ACT somewhat less accommodating to students with accommodations, ACT has changed its extra time policy . Through June 2017, students taking the ACT with writing had six hours to complete the four sections that comprise the composite score (English, Math, Reading, and Science) and the essay. Students will now […]

ACT or SAT? Pick One, Don’t Take Both

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

 ACT or SAT…or both? More and more students in the DC area are no longer taking just the SAT for college admissions. The ACT is on the rise. The number of ACT test-takers area-wide has doubled in the last three years.   Many students find that the ACT is simply a better test for them, and […]

Attention Rising Seniors: Time to Start Your College Essay!

Posted by: admin on March 1st, 2019

As we enjoy this beautiful summer, I’m sure some of you rising seniors tingle with anticipation when you think, “Next year I’ll be a senior!” Right now, you’re probably directing your attention to fun in the sun, and perhaps, avoiding summer learning loss by getting involved in college programs, internships, or even service projects. But […]