Jessie's Blog

nutsANDbolts

The ACT evolves: harder science and math

Founder Jed Applerouth of applerouth, a trusted test prep firm, recently posted this blog. SOURCE: applerouth.com Founder Jed Applerouth of applerouth, a trusted test prep firm, recently posted this blog. SOURCE: applerouth.com

Applerouth is a test prep firm with which many of our students have had success. Founder Jed Applerouth, recently posted this blog detailing how the SAT is not the only test to undergo recent and significant changes. In the May 2016 testing date the ACT was found to have upped the rigor on the science and math sections. If your student is preparing for the ACT they need study accordi…

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FAQ's — Working with Jessie & CompassU

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I help my child define a path to success?

The path to success for your student leads to the college that will provide them with the best academic and personal experience, all at a cost that makes financial sense. Jessie and her team at CompassU work with you and your student to find their best match.

What are some of the ways you can help my family navigate this process?
  • Identification of Personality Traits and Potential Career Paths
  • High School Course Selection
  • Standardized Testing…

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Can We Afford College? How Much Does it Cost, Anyhow? — Meet Bertha, The Financial Elephant In the Room

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College aid formulas expect parents to contribute up to 47% of their after-tax income to pay for college each year. —Troy Onink SOURCE: Forbes

Last week an email came across the IECA Talklist regarding a high-achieving student who was graduating from a private high school but who couldn’t afford to attend any of the schools to which he had been accepted. He had had a significant financial aid package at his secondary school.

While we talklist folks don't know the specifics of this case, we kn…

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College Visit Follow-Up Dos & Don'ts

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The truth, straight up: Students that engage proactively land in better places. And, they feel better about things, too.

Visited a campus? Met an admissions officer at a college fair? Have a collection of college rep and tour guide business cards? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, there is a next step, and it isn’t to let the cards migrate under the seat of the car, fall to the bottom of the backpack, or end up under your bed in the pile of college marketing glossies.

Is your goal to…

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Testing — Tie a String on Your Finger

stringThe Spring testing season is upon us. Each student's testing schedule is unique. Some have chosen to only prep for the SAT or ACT. That said, if your student is planning on applying to highly selective schools, your student's AP and SAT Subject Test scores matter more than you may suspect. Schools with admissions rates 30{475f6e8ad7be3161114314a988b7e8f491719bdeedead1da50322e1eadee8259} or less fall into these categories. The more competitive the admissions rate, the more these additional test s…

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ACT or SAT? — Three Considerations for Each

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The landscape of standardized testing shifts more often than the faults running beneath California.

Like it or not, standardized tests play a significant role in an applicant’s file. In 2015 the ACT underwent “quiet” changes and in a few short weeks the new SAT will go live, in a “loud” way. Sometimes less information is more, so here are three considerations for each of the tests.  

Knowing your students strengths will go a long way when deciding which standardized test is right.

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The New SAT and Your Student

Illustration by Roger Chouinard, NYTimes Illustration by Roger Chouinard, NYTimes

THE NEW SAT AND YOUR STUDENT

This recent NY Times article gives a nice overview of what to expect. While we are recommending that the Class of 2017 skip the SAT and focus on the ACT, it is always prudent to be informed and know your options.
"What’s true of the writing section is true of the new SAT in general: There’s much more to read. “The most fundamental change is that there are many, many more words,” said Aaron Golumbfskie, education director fo…

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When I Grow up I Want to Be a Doctor

After careful deliberation and lots of texts, Anna chose Pitt over Lehigh, Lafayette, Fairfield & Muhlenberg. After careful deliberation and lots of texts, Anna chose Pitt over Lehigh, Lafayette, Fairfield & Muhlenberg.

A few thoughts on combined programs:

Baccalaureate/MD & Baccalaureate/DDS

A doctor. A dentist. These are not uncommon answers to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

One of our students this year, in fact, got to choose between two acceptances. She first earned admission to the Muhlenberg College/University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine 3-4 BioDental Program.…

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When Should My Student Start Their College Essay?

Stack of college applications. How will your student bring their application alive?

 

 

Has your student started thinking about college application essays? Have you? If your student is currently a junior, the time to engage in the process is now. You heard right — late spring and through the summer make for the best essays.
It's the one part of the app where the applicant completely controls the voice, that makes it a really valuable document for us. When you’re applying to an institution with thousands of students who have th…

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