For many families, private school seems unreachable financially. While it is not an ideal situation for everyone, there are more aid structures in place than ever before to help pay for your child’s education. The average tuition for a National Association of Independent Schools day school is $18,397 per year, but as we know, prices in the DC area tend to be higher than much of the rest of the country. In general, the cheapest options are independent religious schools (not associated with the Episcopal Church or a Roman Catholic Diocese), but by no means are these a poor education. Many of these small Christian schools make it their mission to offer tuition as low as possible.

The Cost of a Private School Education

To be even more specific, the least expensive option by far is available for members of a Catholic diocese – either the Arlington, Baltimore, or Washington archdioceses. The Catholic church will help pay for tuition with its regional funds, in some cases offering schooling as low as $2,500 a year in elementary school and $6,000 for high school after aid is factored (the Avalon School, for example). The rates are higher for those who are non-Catholic or not a member of a diocese, similar to how state universities treat out of state students. Those families are not paying taxes in-state, so they do not receive the discount.

The more expensive schools can reach upwards of $35,000 or higher, with extra fees for those with a boarding option. In 2012-2013, The Madeira School, for example, charged $38,297 for day students and $50,437 for its boarders.  Most yearly tuition payments fall into the $20,000 range, from Barrie to Congressional. Even the priciest of schools will say that they do not want to preclude students based on finances alone, and they boast large financial aid budgets to help those in need.

Financial Aid at Private Schools

By the numbers, financial aid has also grown tremendously in the past decade. On average, private schools dedicate 12% of their overall budget to providing these funds.  With more assistance available than ever before, it’s important to know the process and the terminology if aid is a necessary component of your school search. Not all schools are able to offer it, but those that do are very upfront about the process and what they can offer realistically in terms of assistance. Some schools offer few students a greater amount of aid, such as $10,000 per year.  Others will offer smaller awards such as $2,000 per year, but divvy them up to a greater number of students.  It’s appropriate to ask the school about their average aid package amount.

Most financial aid is needs-based, which usually means the tuition cost is looked at as a percentage of your total income. Certainly, families with lower means will be first priority, but more and more schools across the country are reporting a huge increase in financial aid requests from parents earning more than $150,000 per year.  Overall, tuition was up 4% in 2012 from 2011 and in just five years, average tuition increased 24%.  Families that could have afforded a $25,000 school a few years ago now need aid to keep their child there.

How Financial Aid Works at Private Schools

As always, it is very important to be as honest and forward with the school as possible. Be aware that most financial aid is awarded on a year to year basis, and there may be no guarantee of aid down the line. Any concerns should be worked out before enrollment, and schools will appreciate your open communication and professionalism.

The good news is that the need for financial aid is not taken into consideration during the application process.  Students are accepted, waitlisted, or denied based on the strength of their application.  Financial aid is a separate consideration.  A student is not denied admittance because he or she needs help with the costs; however, it is common for students to decline enrollment if the aid package isn’t significant enough or within the family’s means.

Financial aid is expected and normal for many private school families. Even in the top flight of schools in the DC metro area, normally 20-25% of the student body receives aid of some kind. Nationally, the average financial award according to the NAIS is $2,772 for day school and $7,744 for boarding school. It’s important to note that there are also merit scholarships available at some schools. This kind of aid depends on grades or a particular talent. Always ask if there are additional scholarships available in addition to traditional financial aid awards. Bank loans are also available under the right circumstances, but if your finances are tight, don’t give up until you’ve exhausted your options within the financial aid system – you’ll be surprised how much a school is willing to help.

How to Get Financial Aid at a Private School

The financial aid application itself is almost always submitted at the same time as the application for enrollment. The most popular financial aid form used by schools is the School and Student Services form (SSS) provided through the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools, which has over 1,400 member schools). Some schools use other processes and other forms, such as the Private School Aid Service (PSAS), Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST), and Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS), but all follow a similar format and will ask for the same financial information.

The core of the SSS form is a Parent Financial Statement (PFS). The PFS can be mailed to the school, but is most easily submitted electronically. The PFS is considered the “common application” for financial aid since it is used by so many private schools, similar to the Common Application for undergraduate study which covers nearly 500 universities and colleges. The PFS gathers in one place relevant financial information regarding income, expenses, family size, tax and business information, and assets. Once the PFS is completed, the form is sent only to the schools that you have listed. Schools use your PFS only as a starting point in calculating financial aid awards. Many schools will want additional forms filled out to aid in their decision.

Be aware that there is a $35 fee to fill out the PFS, and be sure to submit the application by the school’s deadline. Often aid is awarded on a first come, first serve basis, but keep in mind that many schools already have 12% of their budget dedicated to financial aid for this very purpose.  If you feel overwhelmed, the school’s admissions office is almost always happy to help.

Know Financial Aid Deadlines and Apply Early

Michele Velchik, Director of Financial Aid at Flint Hill School, offers some additional insight into navigating the financial aid waters. “Unfortunately, most families are not aware of the deadline, and this is very bad.” The school tries to give away all of its available aid to those who have filled out the forms on time, so if a great student comes along after the deadline and needs aid, usually none is available. She also adds, “The best families build relationships with the aid office at the school.  Honesty and open communication are essential.”

Financial aid awards are not negotiable per se. Usually schools rely heavily on third party analysis (Flint Hill uses FAST), but if there is new information to add to the situation that wasn’t calculated before, such as a death in the family or a sudden health issue, the school is able to reevaluate the situation. Ms. Velchik also points out that even though aid is reassessed on a year to year basis, any school worth its salt will never abandon a student once they’ve agreed to give aid. Once you’re in, you’re in, and the school does everything in its power to help pay for your education. The calculus is very specific, and the school will not expect you to pay what it knows you cannot afford once it has seen your PFS. Ms. Velchik adds, “Remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help. If a parent feels overwhelmed, we’re happy to work through the first form together.”

I have always been a note-taker. I make notes and lists for everything, from my to-do list to my weekly and yearly goals. Notes and lists help keep me organized and help keep me sane. I keep a notebook by my nightstand, in my purse, and pretty much with me at all time in case I need to jot something down. I remember everything by writing it down.

Despite my natural inclination towards notes, my notes have not always been extremely helpful, especially in school. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always taken notes in class. Ever since I can remember, I would take pages upon pages of notes. But the problem was that there was no rhyme or reason to the notes. They were just a mixed jumble of words with no flow or organization what-so-ever.  My notes would make no sense to anyone who wasn’t me at that very moment. So, what would happen is that even though I learn best by writing things down, I would go back to review my notes and they’d look Greek to me. I’d then spend the 24 hours before any major test with my nose crammed in my textbook attempting to absorb months’ worth of information, writing nothing down. As you can guess, the technique was less than spectacular and my grades suffered.

Luckily for me, this horrendous study habit ended when I learned about Cornell Notes and I was forced into using them.

Trying a New Way to Take Notes

I still remember when my 10^th grade social studies teacher, Mrs. Bork, got in front of the class on the first day of school and informed us that we would be required to use Cornell Notes in her classroom. There was a unanimous groan amongst the students, myself included. Not only were we going to be required to use these notes, we were going to have note checks that accounted for 25% of our grades. It sounded awful.

But we all became a little more open to it when she told us that, “in the first two years of college I never even opened a text book, because my notes were that good and useful that I could just study from them. I was on Dean’s List the whole time.” It seemed a little too good to be true. I had been taking notes for forever, and yet I still resorted to cramming my brain full of information at the last second before any major quiz or test.

I decided I would give it a try.

The Academic Impact of Cornell Notes

The impact was almost immediate. Though I began only using Cornell Notes in my social studies class, soon enough I started using the technique in every other class from Algebra II to English. When I went to open my notes to study before a test, I was no longer met with the ramblings of a possible sociopath. Rather, my notes were clear, organized, and super useful to study from. I used the textbook as a study guide rather than the sole resource for studying. Sure enough, my grades leaped. I went from having a 3.4 my freshman year of high school to a 3.9 my sophomore year.

I continued to use Cornell Notes my junior and senior year as I took number of AP classes. I went from decent grades to graduating with honors. The nights before my AP Exams I didn’t try to shove information from the textbook into my head; rather I reviewed my notes and went into the exams feeling confident and ready.

How to Use Cornell Notes

My junior year of high school, I began working as a tutor with the AVID program for students who had the potential for academic success, but lacked the organizational skills necessary. The first lesson was always Cornell Notes.

Like me, many students approach the idea of revamping their note-taking style with several groans. However, those who begin to use Cornell Notes statistically see a jump in their grades.  A study by Wichita State University in 2008 showed that when students switched to using Cornell Notes, on average their scores increased by 17% and these same students had a significantly easier time answering critical thinking questions.

So how do we use Cornell notes? The first step is to take a piece of paper and fold it lengthwise at about the 1/3 mark. This column is going to be for your headings or major ideas and is known as the Cue Column. The other column will be for your notes. At the bottom you have a Summary Section.

One of the biggest mistakes students make when using Cornell notes is that they think that they are stuck to this structure. When in reality, the best way to use Cornell notes is by diversifying the method to meet your needs. So, for example, in math I may work a problem in the Cue Column, and write the steps I was taking in the note taking area. I wouldn’t always use the summary section if it wasn’t applicable. However, for Spanish I may use the Cue Column for vocabulary words and the note taking area for their definitions. I may use the summary section for any key facts that I was asked to memorize for the test.

To study, students can bend their paper in half to reveal either only the notes side or the Cue Column. This creates instant cue cards – easy to study and easy to follow.

When to Use Cornell Notes

Many students argue that Cornell Notes aren’t applicable for every subject. However, I disagree. Throughout my high school career, undergraduate degree, or graduate classes, I have not found a time when I could not use Cornell Notes. I have found that using Cornell Notes when reading a textbook greatly increases my understanding of the material. I have also found using Cornell Notes to create step by step directions in labs or math classes to be extremely beneficial.

As I mentioned earlier, many students come to the table with negative feelings towards Cornell notes, so there are a few things that parents and educators can do to help encourage students to use this technique. The first is to lead by example. Try making your grocery list or to do list in the Cornell style. Put the recipe in the cue column and the ingredients in the notes section or put a larger item in the cue column with the steps necessary in the notes section. When students are exposed to Cornell notes, they’ll often be more receptive towards it. Another thing to do is to have weekly note checks. Do this on Sunday night, which is a good day to get caught up.

If your student is still struggling with Cornell notes, try having a professional talk to them. Sometimes working with an organizational tutor or a school counselor can help students embrace a new studying technique.

Does your child get easily frustrated by new or challenging material in school?  Have you noticed a decrease in your son or daughter’s motivation towards school?  All too often kids feel overwhelmed by global expectations and large, general goals.  And when miracles don’t happen overnight, confidence and motivation take a nosedive.  This can be particularly true for children with perfectionist tendencies.  These kids want to ensure everything is just right before moving on.  Setting clear expectations and specific goals along the way will allow kids to understand the steps they need to take and what is needed to successfully reach a larger goal.

Set Clear Expectations with Kids to Set Them up for Success

Let your child know what is expected up front.  Make it clear and break it down into small chunks.  Praise proper completion of each step along the way.  Sounds simple, right?  Well, for those of us with strong executive function skills it is, but for our kids, it’s often easier said than done.  If your child understands what is expected of them and what is needed to meet a goal, they are much more likely to be able to reach said goal.  We often assume kids understand what is expected or necessary but in reality, it may feel very fuzzy and unclear to them.  When setting expectations or outlining steps for achieving a goal, confirm that your child fully comprehends the steps and expectations.

After all, how can your child succeed if he or she does not know what is expected?

Make Sure to Tie Praise and Effort Together, Not Praise and Grades

What did your child do right today?  While it may be in our nature to point out the wrongs and the negatives, it’s more important to praise the positives.  Be sure to point out the good and praise effort, especially on a hard day.  Praising effort equates rewards with hard work, rather than grades.  This is important for instilling resiliency in kids.  This positive encouragement will help keep your child on track for achieving goals, rather than leaving them feeling defeated after a rough day.  Work to make specific goals attainable; this way you can praise your child for accomplishing steps along the way to reaching the bigger goal.

Providing Consistent Feedback is Key to Keep Students on Track

Praise the positive and reprimand the negative.  But remember, especially when reprimanding, be consistent and specific.  Consistency helps reinforce clear expectations and allows your child to understand what is expected to achieve a goal.

Bottom line, work with your child to break down large and seemingly overwhelming tasks into smaller, specific goals, which are attainable.  Praise your child along the way for accomplishing smaller tasks.  Your student will feel motivated and achieve those milestones, which once felt overwhelming, in no time! If, however, you find that the parent-child relationship is hindering your child’s academic progress as it often does, I encourage you to learn about Educational Coaching – goal and action oriented tutoring.

If there is a section that the average student dreads most on the SAT, it is the Critical Reading. Why? Well, because of the “critical reading.” Try saying those words around any high schooler and notice the unconscious subtle curl of their lips.

SAT reading passages are usually dry, complex, and insipid (there’s an SAT word for you.) To contend with this, many students are recommended to employ “tricky” strategies for the reading passages to save time and preserve attention. Some of these tricks include reading the questions first, skimming the passage, and reading the first and last line of each paragraph. In short, these tips are awful.

The SAT Critical Reading section does not test your understanding of a passage’s plot; it tests your understanding of its meaning – a huge difference. Want to know how to get a better score on the SAT Critical Reading? Read the passages.

“But there’s not enough time to read the passage and answer the questions.”

The first excuse a student throws is that there is not enough time to read all the passages and get to the majority of the questions. Yes, pacing is a skill that has to be mastered on the SAT to get a high score; however, this doesn’t mean skimming the passages to gain time for answering questions. Again, the SAT tests your understanding of a passage’s meaning.  Students often don’t realize that by devoting adequate time to reading the passages, they gain a much better sense for the meaning of a passage thereby cutting down time spent answering questions while improving accuracy.

Let’s look at the test. The longest Critical Reading section is 24 questions and 25 minutes long. A sample section I’m looking at right now has five sentence completion questions followed by two short paragraph-long passages with two questions each, and two longer passages with six and nine questions, respectively. Let’s assume that the sentence completion section takes five minutes to complete (this is being very generous), leaving 20 minutes for the reading passages. In these particular passages there are 1314 words total. The average reading speed of a high school student is about 250 words per minute. (I’ll even slow it down a bit to 225 words per minute account for the extra focus required to get through the dullness of these passages and the length of the test.)  Therefore, the passages in this particular section would take just under six minutes to read. That leaves about 45 seconds to devote to each question – well more than enough time to read the question and answer choices, recall information, and even refer back to the text to make answer selections.

Why “Tricky” SAT Reading Strategies Backfire

What happens when students employ these aforementioned “time saving strategies” is that they get to the questions and, because they do not grasp the meaning of the passage, they end up referring back to the passage and reading select parts for each question, often more than once, so much that it would have been quicker to simply have read the passage in the first place.

These “tricky” strategies may help if you are reading to determine the plot line, but, again, you’re looking for meaning. SAT questions are going to ask you things that require contextual understanding, not a regurgitation of what is written. You’ll be asked about the authors’ attitudes, opinions, and assumptions; characters’ motivations; rhetorical devices; and main ideas. To do well, you must read and understand each passage fully. For the majority of critical reading questions, you should be able to provide your own version of an answer to every question without even looking at the five answer options.

So, if someone recommends a time-saving strategy for the Critical Reading section that involves anything less than reading the passages in their entirety: beware. Instead, prep time should focus on honing active reading strategies and understanding the meaning behind the passages.

Thinking about a private school?  It’s always a good idea to cast a wide net.  Consider a vast array of schools, anywhere from five to ten.  Your initial list can always be narrowed down the line.  As you create your list, beware of a few common obstacles that seem to trip up even the most seasoned parents.

1.  Putting all the eggs in one basket

Sometimes, parents will have one school in mind that they view as perfect and all their energy goes into getting in to that single place. Don’t let unbridled optimism get the best of you.  Put lots of eggs in the basket so that you and your child are not disappointed if that top school doesn’t work out.  Focusing on one school even though there may be others that are just as good or even better matches is never a good thing.

2.  Relying on reputation as “the best”

  It’s been my experience that parents begin the school search process with preconceived notions about the best schools for their child.  This information is often based on what they hear from their friends, blogs such as DC Urban Mom, and other internet sources.  Top tier, nationally-recognized schools may be good for your child and they may not be.  Think of it this way:  Let’s say you go to the mall in search of the perfect pair of jeans.  You wouldn’t try on only the most expensive designer jeans; you’d probably try on many different brands and styles in order to find the one pair that looks best on you.  In other words, you want a selection.  The same goes for schools.  Brand name may not always be best.  Remember, private school is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.

3.  Having too many “reach” schools on the list

  This is the biggest mistake parents make.  Many schools are highly competitive with low acceptance rates.  Be sure that your initial list doesn’t include too many “reach” schools.  You will also need to have “target” schools and one “safety” school on your list just to be sure.  Last year, I had a mom come to me in March after her daughter had received denial letters to all three schools to which she had applied.  Upon examining her grades (which were excellent) and her SSAT scores which weren’t so good, I would have encouraged her to apply to at least one or two less competitive schools, but at that point it was too late.  She ended up enrolling in her local public school.

An educational consultant can help you to determine how your child might fare when it comes to schools on your list.  Just be sure you are considering a variety of schools that fit your child’s needs.  More on this topic in my upcoming book, A Parent’s Guide to DC Area Private Schools.

There are a lot of “buzz words” in education right now. Collaboration, differentiation, and ‘project-based learning’ are just a few. All of these words are rooted in one general idea: providing students with a more interactive, hands-on, student-based learning atmosphere. These words and the idea behind them are being integrated into schools in both the private and public sector at all age levels, and are backed by a significant amount of research. Studies have shown not only a direct correlation between student-based learning and intrinsic motivation but between intrinsic motivation and overall student achievement both in college and post-grad life. This means that students who are in classes with a student-centered focus are often going to college with better critical thinking, problem solving and writing skills. These students are also earning higher marks and typically find employment quicker after college.

What is a Flipped Classroom?

One of the most progressive ideas being implemented is the idea of a “flipped classroom”.  The flipped classroom allows for students to receive direct instruction at home through means of lecture slides or online videos, while doing the activities that support learning in class. In other words, students get the traditional class at home and their homework in school. The goal of flipped classrooms is to allow for more individualized support in the classroom, meaning that mom and dad have to do less teaching at home.

The idea has been highly disputed by both educators and parents alike. Those in favor cite the fact that the percentage of students passing both English and math at the high school level jumped significantly in classes that switched to the flipped approach. They also note the fact that the discipline cases in those classrooms dropped significantly when classes flipped. Students in flipped classrooms have reported feeling like they’re receiving more interactive learning and say that they enjoy going to school more.

What are the Downsides?

However, there are plenty of educators and parents who are not in favor of the flipped classroom. One of the biggest complaints is the idea of at home direct instruction. Parents have complained that a flipped classroom relies on the use of the internet and even more heavily on student motivation. If a student doesn’t go online and watch the lecture, then he or she will be lost in class the next day. Students have complained that online lectures are impersonal and that not being able to ask a question immediately detriments their learning.

While public opinion is up in the air about the validity and effectiveness of flipped classrooms, one thing is certain: they are here to stay. Both Fairfax and Arlington County have held or are holding teacher in-service days on how to implement flipped classrooms, and a number of independent schools have already begun employing the technique. With more and more websites and services such as KhanAcademy.com, launching daily and more educational YouTube videos being uploaded per day than ever before, it is clear that the trend of online learning is in for the long haul.

The Flipped Classroom and Self-Regulation

So what does this mean as parents and educators? Well, it can mean a lot of different things, but one thing is sure, the classroom is evolving. The results of this evolution are going to vary depending on the student. For some students who are in favor of technology and can easily regulate their attention at home, a flipped classroom may be a great solution for individual attention. However, for students who struggle with their attention, especially when at home surrounded by distractions, the flipped classrooms method is going to pose some problems. For these students, or students who may not learn best behind a computer screen, it may be worth considering having a private tutor work one on one with the student to cover the lecture material. Often, students who struggle with regulating their attention or who feel that the online lecture approach is impersonal do best working with a professional individually. If the student is really struggling with attention, try taking the online lecture or homework outside of the home. Sometimes a trip to the library can help to limit distractions.

The long-term verdict on flipped classrooms is still out, but parents should expect to see more of it. With the move to e-textbooks and the bring-your-own-device program in place, the flipped classroom method is likely the next technology initiative to take many of our schools by storm.

Does your son fully grasp the material he is learning in the classroom but struggle to complete assignments on time? Maybe he does his assignments but cannot find his completed work on the due date? Does your daughter spend hours “studying” for her tests – reading her text book and notes over and over again- only to go in on test day and completely blank on the material? If you can relate to any of the above, working with an Educational Coach may be just what your child needs!

The Value of an Educational Coach

I often hear from parents that their son or daughter is opposed to working with a tutor. Many kids adamantly state they can manage their school work on their own; this is especially true for those who can grasp the content of their courses, but rather are tripped up by the logistics of holding it all together. It is these logistics that an Educational Coach helps with. From helping students to set up organizational systems that work, to teaching time management and how to break down big assignments, to learning those invaluable study skills to become an active learner, an Educational Coach may be the ticket to academic success. Rather than providing content support like a traditional tutor, an Educational Coach works with a student to teach those invaluable executive function skills that are crucial to success both in and out of the classroom.

If your son or daughter plays sports, they are used to working with a coach. In fact, they expect to work with a coach in order to improve their skills. From Little League to the Pros, athletes work with coaches on a regular basis in order to perform to the best of their abilities on the field. Think of Educational Coaching in the same way – a coach to help your child perform to the best of his ability in the classroom. Educational Coaches work with students on executive functioning skills, helping them with organization, time management, and study skills. Is your son or daughter into technology? Perhaps he or she would be more open to using an electronic calendaring system or app on the Smartphone. Times are changing and there is no ‘right’ way to organize and plan.

Here are a few things an Educational Coach could help your student with:

• Set up an organized binder system for managing the paper flow to and from school
• Explore calendar options (including technology!)
• Teach the skills for knowing how to break down big projects and tasks into manageable chunks
• Teach active reading strategies and note taking skills
• Develop study skills

So if you’ve got a child who grasps the content but is struggling with holding it all together (and poor grades or lack of motivation are on the rise) consider working with and Educational Coach. Knowing what to do and how to approach it is the first step!

Jason King is at the top of his game when it comes to preparing students for the SAT. As an Educational Connections tutor, Jason typically helps his students throughout Northern Virginia achieve impressive score gains through his holistic approach. I recently asked Jason to share some of his test prep experience as well as his expert opinion on some SAT topics that parents and students are often curious about.

Nick:                What is your favorite part about preparing students for the SAT?

Jason:              There are usually two types of SAT prep students – the ones that don’t think they’ll do very well and those who feel like they just need help getting past a certain number. For the first, I love being able to give them strategies and pointers that help them do better than they ever expected. Especially when there’s a concept they never thought they’d “get” that suddenly becomes clear. For the latter, I love the look when they finally see where they were making the errors that were keeping their scores down.

Nick:                What do you find to be the biggest hurdle for most of your SAT prep students? Why do you think this is?

Jason:              The main hurdle seems to be them believing that they’re not good in a particular subject on the test or that they’re just not good test-takers in general; that, for whatever reason, they are simply incapable of doing well on the test. I think this primarily stems from a weakness in a subject or insecurity in general. I’m a firm believer that looking at the test not as a judgment of the student’s abilities, but as a puzzle or game that requires certain strategies in conjunction with general knowledge to successfully conquer will help most students.  Once they see it’s not as much about what they may or may not know, but rather how to find the best answer for what the question is asking, then they generally have less of this confidence block.

Nick:                If your students only took away one thing from your time spent preparing them for the SAT, what would you want it to be?

Jason:              This is a tough one! If I must choose a single take away, I suppose it would be to read each question and answer carefully, looking for clues therein to help eliminate bad answer choices and find the best possible answer instead. But since each student has different strengths and weaknesses, this answer will change to best fit the individual student.

Nick:                For parents of students who will be taking the SAT in 2-3 years, what advice do you have?

Jason:              Students should start reading outside of school assignments and building a Vocabulary Bank of unfamiliar words. Reading builds grammar skills, writing skills, and comprehension skills, so that’s half the test right there. Work with your kids, asking detailed questions about what they’re reading, both in terms of what’s going on in the story as well as how the story was constructed by the author. Similar to a Vocabulary Bank, begin a Math Rules Bank of hard to remember rules and laws so they can refresh these oft-forgotten rules leading up to the test. Finally, work on timed writing. Completing an essay overnight is entirely different than completing one in 25 minutes; it’s a new, often not well-practiced skill.

Nick:                Is there anything productive that students can do to prepare for the SAT if they’re starting late in the game, i.e., the test is in a couple of weeks?

Jason:              Read advanced articles (The Economist, science journals, etc), and review them with their parents. These will have advanced vocabulary and compositional structure. Also begin compiling a list of forgotten or uncertain math rules (exponents, coordinate geometry distance formula, midpoint formula, etc). Complete a section or two each night in a prep book then review them the next night trying to look for why their mistakes were made. Note if mistakes are repeated on certain question types, if so, these are the candidates for skipping.

Nick:                Do you believe that the SAT accurately measures a student’s readiness for college?

Jason:              Honestly, I think the SAT mostly measures the student’s ability to take the SAT. That said, in a broader sense, the retention of concepts over the years and the ability to receive and apply new information are both necessary for college. The math sections show that the student has mastered an earlier idea and can expand on it. The reading comprehension sections show that the student can be presented with entirely new information and extract the pertinent ideas. If either of these areas is lacking, that will be a serious liability in college.

Nick:                 A recent study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) entitled “Preparation for College Admissions Exams” states that commercial SAT prep, on average, garners students score increases of around 30 points and recommends that students use books or the internet independently to prepare themselves for the test. What are your thoughts on this recommendation from the NACAC?

Jason:              I think it would take an exceptionally self-aware student to guide their own preparation. I have had students who put in a lot of time studying on their own who mostly want me to check their answers and explain some questions/answers to them. They usually don’t have the score increases I see with students willing to follow our program. While the test isn’t entirely strategy, a strong strategy is needed. Recognition of troublesome question types, avoidance of attractor answers, bolstering of weak subject areas, and determining the quickest ways to answer questions (as opposed to the most thorough way to answer questions) are areas that most students will not be able to master on their own. The student has to do the work, but even the greatest minds need some guidance and direction sometimes.

Questions about the SAT? Interested in working with Jason? Drop me a line at nick@ectutoring.com

Do you want to write an essay that is worth reading; one that your audience will remember? Step one: forget everything you’ve ever learned about writing an essay. Okay, I may be being a bit melodramatic. You still need appropriate grammar, syntax, spelling, and formatting. But as for the generic boring cluster that begins with “In this essay I am going to be discussing ___ by looking at x,y, and z,” throw that out the window because it’s nothing but a one way ticket to Snoozeville not only for you but for anyone tasked with reading it.

Remember Your Private School Admissions Audience

The biggest mistake students make when writing an essay is that they forget who their audience is. Your audience, be it a teacher, an administrator, or an admissions committee, has likely read hundreds if not thousands of student essays. This means that you are going to have to do more than throw in a few SAT words to impress them. The key to writing an essay worth reading is writing an essay that has not been written before. It needs to be your own story, not the story you think they want to hear.

One of my favorite things about writing is that there is no right or wrong answer. An essay isn’t a scantron that you have to correctly bubble in or risk some computer incorrectly grading you.  You can’t just play eenie miney moe and hope for the best. Writing is personal. It’s written by one individual and read by another. But all too often students, especially in the application process, forget this. They write the essay they think that the admission committee wants to read when in reality it’s an essay that the committee has probably already read a million times.

The Importance of the Topic

What is the root of this cause? The topic. If your topic is flawed, cliché, generic, or boring, it doesn’t matter how well crafted your essay is it will be forgotten. When approaching your admission essay, think of it this way: when the admission committee begins reading your essay they’ll view you as just a number, but when they finish it you want them to view you as an individual student.

So, how do we accomplish this? It’s simple: don’t write the essay you think an admissions committee wants to read, write one that YOU would want to read. If your own essay bores you, it’s highly likely that it will bore everyone else.

Let’s say that your topic is to discuss an extracurricular activity that has played a large impact on your life. A lot of times students are tempted to write what they think the admission committee want to hear. “I love to volunteer because it has taught me to be appreciative of what I have,” or “I love National Honors Society because it allows me to combine my love of academics with my love of service”. While both of these are wonderful extracurricular activities, unless you are truly passionate about either and have specific details to intertwine into your narrative, it’s going to come off dry and predictable.

When describing their ideal student, one of the top words used by the Director of Admissions at some of DC’s top private schools is “passionate.” Admissions Committees are not looking for a cookie-cutter student; rather they are looking for a student who genuinely loves something and will share that love with other students. So if you love to spend your weekends driving fourwheels or riding horses or making short films on iMovie, write about that because I can assure you that your natural enthusiasm will read a whole lot better than the stale and generic “I love to volunteer” response – unless that is actually what you spend your weekends doing.

Don’t believe me? Consider these two opening paragraphs. You tell me which one you want to keep reading?

1. “’Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ These famous words were spoken by John F. Kennedy, one of the best politicians of all life. John F. Kennedy led America and has become my role model. He encouraged me to get into politics which is why I joined student government. When asked what extracurricular activity has had the largest impact on me as a person, I immediately thought of student government. In this essay I will discuss how student government has impacted me as a person by growing my leadership skills, developing my social connections, and making me take academics more seriously.”

2. “I don’t ride for blue ribbons or Olympic gold, although I respect and admire those chosen few who do. I don’t ride for the workout, although my trembling muscles at the end of a good lesson indicate otherwise. I don’t ride because I have anything to prove, although I’ve proven a lot to myself along the way. I ride for the feeling of two individual beings becoming one, so perfectly matched that it’s impossible to tell where rider ends and horse begins. I ride to feel the staccato beat of hooves against dirt echoed in the rhythm of my own heart. I ride because it isn’t easy to navigate a creature with a mind of its own around a course of solid obstacles, but in that perfect moment when horse and rider work as one, it can be the easiest thing in the world. I ride for an affectionate nose nudging my shoulder as I turn to leave, searching for a treat or a pat or murmured words of praise. I ride for myself, but for my horse as well, my partner and my equal.”

Just thinking about private school (a.k.a. independent school) options can feel overwhelming especially in the DC area where there are so many to choose from.  Various questions cross parents’ minds such as “Is it worth the cost?  Will my child fit in?  How different will this school be from public?  Co-ed vs. single sex?  And should religion play a part in my child’s daily routine?  It’s easy to understand how the selection process can be daunting.

And to be honest, is all of this work worth it?  The vast majority of parents with children currently in private schools would say that it is and for most students, I agree.  Private schools can offer small class sizes, plenty of individualized attention, opportunities for leadership and involvement, and most importantly, a distinct learning environment.  Private schools are particular about crafting a specific academic community and you will find that each school has its own individual culture.

Not Just One of Many

Perhaps the most important reason parents consider an alternative to public education is class size.  With the exception of Catholic schools, private school class sizes in the 8-18 student range, with some going as low as 4 to 6 per class. In addition, it’s not just small class size that’s appealing, but also the fact that there are more faculty members such as counselors, learning specialists, and college placement advisors.

With small class sizes and a low student to teacher ratio, the faculty is able to build a strong rapport with each student and tailor instruction to maximize success on an individual level. Teachers have more time to develop personal relationships with their students, and, with fewer families to worry about, most administrators are up to date on each individual child.  Students report that they feel like they’re part of a small, special community.

A Distinct Culture and Focus for Each Family

Just like each family, you will find that each school has its own set of values.  For example, some schools highly value liberal, progressive education while others take a more conservative approach.  If you drill down, you will find some schools that value arts education almost as much as academics.  While one path at private school is highly rigorous and “all-in,” there are entire schools dedicated to helping students who need a lot of academic support along the way, like Commonwealth Academy in Alexandria. Many private schools have comprehensive programs committed to offering the right support structure for every kind of learner. From here, we see that private schools can offer everything from a rigorous college prep curriculum to a more relaxed, stress-free approach with a large safety net of academic support.

The variety of course and extracurricular offerings that the private school world can offer is significant. For instance, at The Barrie School in Silver Spring, students can start taking equestrian at the age of four. At Washington Waldorf in Bethesda, handiwork like blacksmithing, woodworking, and book binding are integrated into the high school curriculum. At Ad Fontes Academy in Centreville, you can have a hyper-traditional, “old school” Latin and Classics-based education. Some schools shun technology, like Westminster in Annandale, while at Flint Hill in Oakton every student receives an iPad or laptop. Families can pursue an international baccalaureate education at French International or Washington International, or they can get a straight-forward, rigorous, nationally-recognized education at St. John’s or Gonzaga.

There are also non-traditional education models within the private school world. At Emerson Preparatory in DC, for example, there are no extracurriculars offered at all. Students are given college-level instruction during block periods and are free to pursue athletics, the arts, and even lunch on their own time. The arts-focused education at The New School is so different and groundbreaking, it could become the future of education. This doesn’t even include the wealth of learning differences schools, from The Lab School to Siena, which are specifically tailored to help students with all various learning needs.

A Broad Range of Options

In short, the private school world could not be more different when you look at all of the options available. Although schools are in the business of educating our youth, they are just as diverse as every individual family.  From traditional Catholic schools like Holy Cross to schools that include gardening and farm work like Butler and Burgundy Farm, there is a fit for almost every student imaginable.  As consumers, parents have the luxury of picking and choosing a school that aligns with their educational philosophy.

On the flip side, private schools also have the luxury of being able to choose which families are a part of its community. Families that are accepted generally value a strong education and are active in their children’s lives. When the parents and the school are on the same page, everything flows more smoothly and students receive the best education they can get. Since each school gets to handpick which families will be involved, you will generally find that students and parents are highly committed at a private school.

In a private school setting, with more teachers per student, it’s easier for faculty to assert that respect, hard work, and friendship are the norm. When a student looks around and sees his peers turning in homework and being trained to respect authority, he is more likely to do the same.  Students are expected to concentrate on their studies, and when all of a student’s friends are doing it, it’s much more likely that he’ll see it as a worthy exercise. It’s not to say that all students are buckled down and highly focused; it’s more likely to be the case when parents are investing a serious amount of money each year for education.

A Big Fish in a Small Pond

To many parents, the lure of private schools goes far beyond academics.  They see that their child has a greater opportunity to become a leader in a small environment.  Whether it’s starting a club or diving deeper into an academic field, private schools have more freedom to adapt their curriculum and allow students to drive their own studies. These leadership opportunities help build a college resume for students starting early. In essence, it’s easier to be a “big fish in a small pond”.  Opportunities for leadership skills can translate into confidence and real world executive and social experience.

There is often more flexibility with extracurriculars and athletics as well. With a smaller student pool, it’s easier to make a sports team and still compete at high level in independent and preparatory leagues. In addition to teams that require tryouts, most private schools also have “no-cut” sports so that everyone is given the chance to play. Students who would not make their local public school team can enjoy the experience of competitive high school sports. Many have the chance to excel when they wouldn’t make the cut in a pool of 2000 students. Private schools in general have less bureaucracy and red tape, which allows for a lot more adaptation and flexibility when it comes to both academics and extracurriculars.

Private School – Not For Every Student

Although private schools come with many advantages, they can also be costly. The bottom line is that although most every student can benefit from a more individualized classroom environment, there are overachievers who do perfectly well in any type of environment. Some thrive in large classrooms and high schools of 2,500 without skipping a beat.

As parents, we must ask ourselves if the cost (some independent schools carry hefty price tags of up to $30,000 per year) is worth it. They only way to know is to actually visit schools in the area to see what they can offer and to then weigh those factors against your child’s personality and your pocket book.