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Top 5 Best Beach Colleges

By posted May 1, 2012

If you wear flip-flops even when it’s snowing, if you want to surf after studying, if you keep your boogie board with your books, then these schools are for you.  Nothing’s better than finishing your reading assignment while sprawled out on a beach towel, or working off some stress by hitting the waves.  The following schools are top not only for academics, but for beaches and surfing.

1. University of California, San Diego
UCSD offers the ultimate combination of beach and academics – even the professors surf!  The ocean is within walking distance, and the Rec Department offers surfing classes.  If you have more than a casual interest in the ocean, UCSD is home to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, one of the largest centers for ocean research in the world.

2. University of California, Santa Barbara
There are several beaches within walking distance of campus, and over a dozen more in Santa Barbara and neighboring Ventura and Carpinteria.  Santa Barbara also has a bumping party scene for students who want to experience the true California surfer bro lifestyle.

3. University of California, Santa Cruz
It’s hard to beat the UC’s for academic quality, value, and proximity to beaches.  UC Santa Cruz is located near what surfline.com calls “the single most diverse surf area in the state.”  The school offers beginner and intermediate surfing classes, and even features a spring break trip to Baja California.  For those who want to casually enjoy the beach, Santa Cruz has an old-fashioned beach boardwalk.

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Top 5 differences between the SAT and ACT

By posted April 23, 2012

Just like the smart phones iPhone and Blackberry, the SAT and ACT are similar but have many crucial differences.  One important step of college admissions is deciding which test to take.  You should take into account not only which test your dream colleges prefer or require, but also how suited you are to preparing for each test and succeeding on it.  Someone who does well on the SAT might get bad ACT scores, or vice versa.  While generally a person’s score on each test won’t differ too much, there are exceptions.  So get to know the key differences and find out if the SAT or ACT is best for you!

Did you miss the Top 5 similarities between the SAT and ACT? Check that out here.

1. The Science section - The SAT has three multiple-choice subjects: Math, Reading, and Writing.  The ACT has a fourth multiple-choice subject, Science.  The SAT Writing section is the relative equivalent of the ACT English section.  The ACT Science section requires more “content knowledge” than the other three section on either test.  However, many of the questions test your ability to analyze information presented in tables, graphs, and charts, a skill that is not heavily content-based.  Basic math skills are needed to answer many of the questions.  So even if you don’t have a strong background in science, you could still score well on this section of the ACT.

2. The SAT Writing vs. ACT English format - The SAT writing section has 3 question types: improving sentences, improving paragraphs, and identifying sentence errors.  The ACT English section only has one type of question format, yet some find it a little trickier than the SAT formats.  For ACT English, you will be given passages with numbered underlined words or sentences.  The numbers in the passage correspond to the numbers of the questions, which will test you on a number of English-related topics, from basic punctuation to logical placement of ideas.  The SAT Writing section only has a handful of questions where you may have to consider an entire passage (improving paragraphs).  All ACT English questions are part of a passage, so context and meaning play much bigger roles.

3. Number of multiple choice answers - All multiple-choice questions on the SAT have 5 answer choices; all multiple-choice ACT questions have only 4.  This of course means that the odds are more in your favor when guessing on the ACT.  Additionally, 1/4 point is taken off on the SAT for an incorrect answer, while no points are lost for a wrong answer on the ACT.  Even if you cannot definitively eliminate any of the four choices on an ACT question, it’s still in your best interest to guess.

4. Vocabulary questions - The reading section of the SAT is divided into passage-based questions and sentence completions.  Sentence completions require you to pick the vocabulary word that best completes the sentence.  The ACT Reading section only includes passage-based reading questions.  While you will not be directly tested on vocabulary on the ACT, a strong vocabulary is very beneficial for the passage-based reading questions, as well as the English section.

5. The essay - On the SAT, the essay is considered part of the Writing section and is mandatory.  On the ACT, the essay is optional and is called ACT Writing, not to be confused with ACT English, which is multiple choice.  But before deciding to ditch the essay on the ACT because you can, check with the colleges you are applying to.  Some require you to write the essay anyways.  It’s probably in your best interest to complete it.

 Still not sure which test to take?  See how Grockit can predict your score on the SAT or ACT!

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Top 5 similarities between the SAT and ACT

By posted April 19, 2012

The test prep and college admissions process can be confusing to navigate.  Preparing for tests is often one of the most stressful aspects of this hectic time.  The SAT and the ACT are like the Super Bowl of standardized tests.  But which one to take when it comes to the Big Day?  The SAT and ACT have their differences, but they are surprisingly similar in a few general ways.  Here’s some basic information to get you started on your journey to your dream college.

1. Overall content - Both the SAT and ACT test essentially the same skills in reading, math, and writing.  Probably the biggest difference people notice is that the ACT also has a science section, but many of the questions are more math-based, asking you to interpret a chart, graph, or other information.  The science section isn’t as content-based as you might think.  Another content difference is that the SAT has sentence completions (vocabulary questions), and the ACT does not.  However, vocabulary is still essential to understanding reading comprehension questions on the ACT, so again this is not a huge difference in overall content.

2. Multiple-choice format - Both tests use the multiple-choice format for all questions except for the essay.  (The essay is optional on the ACT, but most people choose to complete it.)  The only difference is that the SAT gives you 5 choices for each question, and the ACT gives you 4.

3. Length - Both tests take about four hours to complete, although they are divided up differently.  Technically the ACT test is 3 hours and 25 minutes, and the SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes, but you will be at each test for roughly the same amount of time.  Each of the 4 ACT subjects has its own section.  The SAT subjects are divided up into shorter sections, and you will jump around from subject to subject.  There are 3 sections each of reading, math, and writing, and one experimental section on one of the 3 subjects that will not be scored.  You will not know which section is unscored when you take the test.

4. Colleges’ test acceptance - All schools accept either test, so there’s no need to worry that your dream college prefers one test over the other.  That being said, you might have better study opportunities available to you depending on each test’s popularity in your part of the country.  Traditionally, students on the West and East Coasts tend to take the SAT and students from the Midwest tend to take the ACT, but there is no rule either way.  Pick which test you take based on which one you feel more comfortable with.

Try this ACT science question for practice.  Read more »

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Top 10 Things to Know to Interpret Your SAT Score

By posted March 26, 2012

When it comes to undergrad college admissions, students are often confused by their SAT score reports and have difficulty telling a good SAT score from a bad SAT score, whether they qualify for college scholarships or have scores that are good enough for their dream college’s admissions requirements. Here’s the basic info you’ll need to interpret your score, even if you’d rather be watching the latest Channing Tatum movie!

  1. The SAT is not simply scored by adding the total questions correct. Instead, a “raw score” is calculated which is then put into a “scoring formula” to achieve a final “scaled score.”
  1. The total scaled score on the SAT range from 600 through 2400. You get 200 points in each section just for sitting the test!
  1. The SAT percentiles vary from year to year. The percentiles are not grades like in school, but have to do with the comparison of groups of students from year-to-year. You can find the latest data on College Board’s site.

Grockit uses percentiles in its SAT skill data – check out your personal profile to see how Grockit predicts you’ll do on the SAT.

  1. The SAT is different from the ACT. If you’ve taken the ACT, you’ll remember your score is between 1 and 36. The SAT is out of a total of 2400, so don’t worry about comparing the two tests.
  1. There is -1/4 for each wrong answer. That means you should make sure to answer every single question as long as you can eliminate at least one answer choice.
  1. You get no points off for an omitted question! If you really cannot eliminate, leave a question blank. Too many omitted questions, however, will hurt your score by not allowing you to earn as many points as you need to get into the higher percentiles.
  1. You will also receive an individual scaled score for each section. Your individual scaled scores are available for Math, Writing, and Reading separately as well, out of 800.
  1. The Writing score includes the essay. And the essay is worth 25% of your Writing score! Make sure to practice it before test day – you can find sample prompts on College Board’s website.
  1. If you want a paper score, make sure to request it! According to College Board’s website, students who register to take the SAT online and wish to receive a paper score report in the mail in addition to the online score report must request it when they register.
  1. The first 4 score reports are free! When you sign up for the SAT, you can choose colleges to receive your scores automatically. Unless you have a deadline quickly approaching, you may want to wait until you receive your score and then send it to the schools yourself.

Feeling confident about your SAT scores, but not sure if they’re good enough to get into your dream school? Check out Grockit’s newest feature, School Match.

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Top 5 essential tips for multiple choice success on the SAT

By posted March 22, 2012

Preparing for tests involves not just SAT practice tests and SAT review, but also knowledge of SAT test-taking strategy.  The majority of the SAT test is multiple-choice, so learning some tricks to beat the SAT will make the difference between good and bad SAT scores.  Follow these top 5 tips for conquering multiple choice on the SAT and you’ll be on your way to your dream college!

1. Know your odds.  Each correct multiple-choice answer on the SAT earns you 1 point, each blank answer earns you 0 points, and each incorrect answer loses you 1/4 point.  If you can eliminate one choice, the odds are in your favor to guess.  You have a 1 in 4 chance of getting the point.  Think of it this way: if you skip 4 questions, you will get 0 points.  If you guess on 4 questions and get 1 correct and 3 wrong, you will gain 1/4 point (1 minus 3/4).  Use this knowledge to your advantage when you take the test!

2. Use process of elimination.  Process of elimination allows you to narrow your choices and improve your odds.  Take this common testing strategy a step further and physically cross out answer choices you know aren’t right with your pencil.  This will allow you to keep your thoughts organized and not waste time reconsidering an answer choice you forgot you had already eliminated.

3. Read through all the choices.  This may seem obvious, but it can be tempting to pick the first answer choice you read that sounds right when you’re pressed for time.  This will come up more in reading and writing, since there is more gray area as to which choice is the best.  Sometimes an answer choice that seems true does not answer that specific question in the best way.

Test your SAT math skills with this SAT multiple choice practice question and see if you’re ready to ROCK the SAT!

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Explaining Hardship on College Applications

By posted March 8, 2012

Colleges understand that some students must cope with difficult circumstances that result in lower grades or SAT scores. If you are one of those students, don’t be discouraged; you can still get into your dream school. By explaining your situation on the college application, either in a personal statement or an addendum, you can actually enhance your chances of admission.

1. What to Include
If you faced any hardships that affected your academics, include a description of the circumstance and the ways in which it affected your GPA and/or test scores. If you or a family member were seriously ill, if you faced economic hardship, if you had to move frequently, these are all worthy of including on your application.

2. Essay or Addendum?
Personal statements are meant to encapsulate who you are as a person and a student.  If you can write about a topic more central to your personal identity, just include explanation of hardship on an addendum or additional space included in the application packet.  If you feel that the hardship played a central role in shaping who you are, or if you have truly meaningful conclusions to draw from your circumstances, it might be a good topic for the personal statement.

3. How to Frame an Addendum
The point of explaining personal hardship isn’t to get the admissions officer to have a pity party for you. Rather, you want to simply explain the reasons for any deficits in your application. State your circumstances and their consequences in a straightforward, professional manner.  If you were hospitalized during your senior year, you can merely state the illness and the length of time it affected your GPA; admissions counselors don’t need to know every detail of your travail.

Find out how Grockit can help you prepare for the SAT! 

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Best Strategies for SAT Sentence Completion

By posted March 1, 2012

Sentence completion can be one of the more difficult parts of SAT test prep for students who do not have strong vocabularies.  However, there are many strategies to use to ace the SAT reading section, even without learning every SAT vocabulary word.  The next time you have to fill in a one- or two-word blank, keep these tips in mind:

1. Read the Sentence Carefully - All of the information you need is right there in front of you; it’s just a matter of finding it.  Sentence completion sentences offer lots of clues about the meanings of the missing words, so make use of those clues by reading the sentence thoroughly.  Note words that indicate contradiction like “but” or “though,” and pay attention to the relation of different concepts mentioned in the sentence.

2. Mark Pluses and Minuses - Once you’ve read the sentence carefully and found clues about the words, mark a + or a – in the blank to indicate what kind of word you’re looking for.  If the word is used in a positive context, mark a plus.  If the word is used in a negative context, mark a minus.  You can also use pluses and minuses to indicate whether the words should be synonyms or antonyms.

3. Fill in Your Own Words - Before you look at the answer choices, use your own words to fill in the blank.  This strategy will force you to pay attention to the context of the sentence.  It will also help prevent you from being distracted or intimidated by the answer choices.  If you know roughly what words you’re looking for, process of elimination will be much easier.

Need more help on the SAT? Send Katie a message and find out how to set up private tutoring. Read more »

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10 Study Tips to Ace Standardized Tests

By posted February 23, 2012

  1. Sleep! Get plenty of rest not only before the big tests but also on a regular basis months before testing. It’s very tempting to cut ZZZZ time in order to get more done but a tired mind does not function optimally. Tired studying is actually just a waste of time. Better to sleep first- even for just an hour- and then study. Furthermore, make sure your sleeping environment is comfortable and cozy so that it calms the mind, nurtures the soul and encourages sleep. It’s possible these days to get fantastic college bedding sets very reasonably. Once your bed is comfortable and you are getting enough nourishing sleep on a regular basis grades and test scores will improve.
  2. Eat properly! A tired mind performs just slightly worse than a starved mind. Thinking brains demand a substantial amount of glucose. Without a proper balanced diet that includes plenty of plain water to stay hydrated your body can’t deliver glucose properly to your brain. Fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and proteins are all essential for cellular function. Eating good food is as basic as sleeping and equally important.
  3. Exercise. Ok, now when does anyone have time to exercise? Especially with all that eating and sleeping! Make time. An elevated heart rate increases blood flow to the brain and releases endorphins that improve mood and attitude. This makes studying more productive and increases retention.
  4. Multiply the hours in the day. That’s right, time is not constant, not if you have friends. One person has only 24 hours in the day but 3 people have 72 and so on and so on. Study with friends in person and electronically to divide the work up and increase the amount of material covered. Moreover, teaching each other is one of the most effective ways to really learn. The person doing the explaining is forced to organize their thoughts and the person receiving the information must respond.
  5. Don’t underestimate the power of your own voice. Repeating things aloud increases retention. Recording your own voice and listening to the information while you sleep can help improve memorization.
  6. Use rhymes and funny sayings as memorization cues. Having fun developing these even helps increase retention rates.
  7. Take practice tests. Standardized testing is just that, standardized. Taking practice tests familiarizes the brain with the formats. It’s possible to even learn how to game the tests. Everyone is different so only by taking the tests will you improve your scores. These tests can determine your life so practice them until taking them is as easy as reading a good book.
  8. Take at least one study course for every test. Study courses provide valuable up to date information about the tests and how to study for them. The courses also provide discipline and structure to the large amounts of information.
  9. Get excited about studying for these tests! Want to graduate in three years or get into a dream college with a scholarship? Standardized tests can be the key that opens valuable doors. Unlike regular course work that can drag on for years and years, these tests are short and sweet. Studying for them is also nothing compared to a job at McDonalds. Look at these tests as a really big shortcut to getting ahead in life.
  10. Start test preparation as early as possible and put yourself on a study schedule. These tests are too big to cram for. Make the schedule so that you can cover everything with a few days to spare. This way if something comes up you will still get your test prep finished. Take any extra time to review the most difficult sections.
This post was written and submitted by the blogger at http://www.rhl.org/blog/

 

 

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Top 10 Tips for SAT Writing, pt 2

By posted February 13, 2012

This top 10 list gives some of the most common grammatical patterns on the SAT as well as some general strategies to keep in mind. Here’s the second half of the Top 10 Tips for SAT Writing, pt 1.

6. Make sure your modifiers are placed correctly. -  The modifier that typically shows up on the SAT writing section is located at the beginning of the sentence and is followed by a comma.  A modifier is a dependent clause (cannot stand on its own as a sentence) that must be directly followed by the noun it describes.  Here is an example of a modifier used correctly:

Running through the forest, the boy tripped on a branch.

The modifier “running through the forest” describes the noun that directly follows, “the boy.”

Here is an example of a modifier used incorrectly:

Running through the forest, the branch was tripped on by the boy.

The placement of words indicates that the branch is running through the forest, when we know it is in fact the boy who is running.

7. Keep verb tense consistent. - Generally you want to keep all the verbs in a sentence in the same tense on the SAT writing section.  If you are working on improving a writing passage, usually you can refer to the sentences around the one in question and keep the tense the same. However, there will be cases in which different clauses refer to different time periods and different tenses are appropriate.  When dealing with verb tense and only one verb, remember to look for clue words in the sentence that indicate when the action took place.

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