Sign Up for Free Demystifying the College Application Online Workshop
Join us November 7 for a free online workshop featuring LB Kussick, owner of Kussick College Coaching, and Andrea Liddane, Founder/Executive Director of Liddane Tutoring & Learning Services. With the uncertainty surrounding SAT and ACT scores, it’s become even more important to look at the college application process holistically. In this workshop, high school sophomores, juniors, and family members will learn about the current college admissions landscape, including the long-lasting impact of the pandemic on higher education and college admissions. We’ll also cover how to build a college list, whether to test or not to test, and the essential components of the application process. Additionally, we’ll discuss how AI can both help and hurt a student’s college applications, and what colleges mean when they look for “rigor.” Finally, we’ll provide useful resources for researching colleges and a few key things to know about financing. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from the experts! Register.
October Rigor
Given that many colleges are no longer accepting SAT and ACT test scores, the focus on class rigor and GPA is even more critical to the admissions process.
And this is the time of year when grades that started out high in September start to slip. Hiring a tutor to help navigate challenging classes can support students in learning the content as well as performing to the best of their abilities. It is also a way of relieving some of the stress and pressure experienced by students and their families.
At Liddane, we understand that keeping up with schoolwork can be challenging. That’s why we offer personalized tutoring services that are tailored to your needs. Our experienced tutors can help you stay on track with your studies and provide you with the support you need to successfully navigate classes.
Whether you’re struggling with a particular subject or just need some extra help managing homework, our tutors are here to help. We offer one-on-one tutoring sessions that are designed to explain complex content, reinforce academic concepts, and stay on track. Our tutors are experts in their fields and have years of experience working with students of all ages.
We believe that every student has the potential to learn and find success. That’s why we work hard to provide you with the tools and resources you need to achieve your goals. From essay writing to doing your personal best in classes, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your academic goals.
Join us this week for Demystifying the College Application Workshops.
We are proud to be able to partner with companies and schools eager to help students get the best chance possible of realizing their college dreams.
Our free Demystifying the College Application Workshops online workshop is a great opportunity for high school sophomores, juniors, and family members to learn about the current college admissions landscape. The pandemic has had a long-lasting impact on higher education and college admissions, and it’s important to stay informed about the latest developments.
One of the most important steps in the college application process is building a college list. This workshop will provide valuable insights into how to build a college list that is tailored to your needs and preferences. Another important consideration is whether or not to take standardized tests. The workshop will explore this topic in depth and provide guidance on how to make an informed decision.
The essential components of the application process will also be covered, including how AI can both help and hurt a student’s college applications. Additionally, the workshop will explain what colleges mean when they look for “rigor.”
Useful resources for researching colleges will be provided, along with key information about financing. It’s important to understand the financial aspects of college applications so that you can make informed decisions.
Our online workshop is an excellent opportunity to learn about the college application process and gain valuable insights into how to succeed in this competitive landscape.
Components of the College Application
Hello Juniors, now that fall is officially in full swing, it’s time for the Class of 2025 to think about college applications. There are many facets to the college application, all of which are unique and important to pay attention to. Sign up now for our free webinar on Demystifying the College Application Process.
TOP 8 MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE COLLEGE APP
Top 8
What is it?
Rigor/curriculum
The classes a student takes that are available to them in their school. Colleges look for students who are taking and excelling in challenging classes that are available to them. Colleges will weigh this against the level of classes available at the student’s high school.
GPA
Every college has their own algorithm to calculate a student’s GPA. Often this will remove elective classes and be calculated solely on the student’s academic subjects (math, English, science, etc.)
Test Scores
Due to COVID, most colleges have gone test optional, meaning that a student is not required to submit a test score, but may do so if they have taken the SAT or ACT. Students submitting test scores should do so if their test score is in the 50th percentile or higher of the college’s requested score range.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Student’s extracurricular list for sports, clubs, service activities. This is a great place for students to show their ingenuity during COVID and how they were able to still participate in their activities under social distancing rules.
Personal Statement
“The Big Essay,” a 650 word max personal statement where the student is asked to share a personal story which gives colleges insight about their life, personality, and personal values.
Supplemental essays
Colleges will ask the students supplemental questions such as “Why have you chosen our college?” or “How can you help add to the diversity of our institution?” This is a further chance for students to give colleges insight into their lives, and to express why they are a good fit for the college and vice versa. Usually 250-300 words max.
Additional/Optional essays
Colleges may ask students “Is there anything else we should know about you?” or “Are there any life circumstances which have impacted your grades and/or curriculum?” This is where a student can express any extenuating circumstances that may have impacted their high school career, such as an illness or injury.
Letters of Recommendation
Colleges will expect students to submit letters of recommendation as a part of their application. It’s best practice to get 1 letter from a counselor, 1 letter from a humanities teacher, and 1 letter from a STEM teacher. Students should ask teachers who can speak best to their character and work ethic, and remember, it may not even be the class in which you got your best grades. Also remember that these letters are written for students as favors from teachers, so be sure to ask early, be deliberate in your ask, and to thank your teachers for their letters of recommendation.
MORE ABOUT THE PERSONAL STATEMENT
The student will be asked to submit a narrative style essay personal statement to give colleges more insight into their lives and values. This essay is usually 650 characters max. This style of writing is to be done in the first person, and should center around events in a student’s life, lessons learned, obstacles and challenges they have encountered and growth that has come from experience. This essay is where the student should show some vulnerability and give the schools insight into their character. With testing now being optional or even test blind (not requested at all), and extra-curricular activities disrupted, the importance of essays has taken on more significance for many college admissions committees.
WHERE CAN I FIND HELP?
LB Kussick from Kussick College Coaching and Liddane Tutoring & Learning Services both provide support for college applications. LB offers college coaching and support for the whole application, while LTLS offers college application tutoring, as well as SAT and ACT test prep and mock tests.Lastly, we feel so strongly about getting a good start on college applications and essays, that if you are unable to work with us, we will refer you to someone who can support you! Give us a call or shoot us an email if you have questions!
Planning for SAT ACT Changes Fall 2023
Students who will be taking the ACT/SAT this year know there will be some major upcoming changes to testing.
We are here to help navigate the process. We believe fall will get booked up early. The SAT is filling almost as soon as it opens.Given that the SAT is going digital this winter/spring, we understand that people will be rushing to take the SAT/ACT this fall before the changes kick in. The best way to manage this sometimes-challenging process is to stay on top of it. We are here to help.
Summertime and the College Essay
For high school juniors and seniors, summer can be a rush of jobs, practice, friends and needing down time to explore interests and ideas. It can also be a really generative time for thinking about college application essays. A student’s college application checklist contains all of the obvious pieces: grades, scores, activities, coursework. However, the overall picture, including essays, personal statements, and supplemental questions, can be challenging to pin down. Who is the student? What are their strengths and interests? What will they bring to the campus community? How will they contribute to the culture and mission of the school? Summer is a time when students have experiences they want to write about for their essay. Combining experience with navigating the application process is what our team at Liddane does so well.
Representing these more subtle aspects of a person can make writing a college application essay challenging for strong students as well as those who struggle with executive functioning skills or a less than “perfect” story to tell. Showing the true nature of oneself in a way that is compelling can be an incredible hurdle for many.
LTLS college application tutors have been trained to draw out the best elements that represent the student. Many people know how to write a good essay, but the expectations for college applications are unique. Having a qualified outside person step back and look at the entire application helps focus the writing and elevate the application toward a multi-dimensional view of the student. A trained eye can direct students toward distinctive topics and divert them from those that are overused. In an effort to tell a more complete story, college application tutors coach students to use their precious word count carefully and effectively. We want your student to feel positive about the story they are bringing to the table. Our one-on-one tutors are here to work with them. Fall dates for our Demystifying the College Application Process webinars about the entire process are open for registration now.
How to Navigate Summer, High School Students and the College Application Process
Applying for college can be a stressful time for both students and their families. You may feelburdened by the many choices, requirements, and deadlines that come with this important decision. How can you balance summer downtime, academic goals, interests, and economics without feeling overwhelmed? This especially applies to families who do not want to be hovering around their teenagers' heads all summer but know that this important process should be happening right now.
We can help navigate through the college application tasks (and, hopefully, take the edge off of the stress) with our Demystifying the College Application webinars as well as our college application tutoring. Using our team of experienced tutors to work with students over the summer to prep and be ready for the process and the school year takes the pressure off of families and provides support for this very important summer work. Let us know how we can help!
Student Success with College Applications
Student Success with College Applications
At Liddane Tutoring, we acknowledge that applying to college is complex. We believe the college application process should be less about stressful conversations and more about self-discovery. We understand there is no one-size-fits-all package which is why our goal is to support families of diverse means and backgrounds. We provide a variety of services to ease the stress of the college application process including group workshops, informational sessions, test prep, multi-year individualized support packages, and hourly task-specific troubleshooting. Here is what one of our previous students had to say about their experience with Liddane Tutoring:
“Working with Liddane Tutoring was the best decision I made when it came to college applications. I believe I have accomplished some of my best work with their guidance. I felt so encouraged and supported during the entire process, and even after our first session, I noticed an improvement in my writing. Working with them gave me the confidence to tell my truth in my writing, and I know the applications I submitted stood out because of that. My tutor believed in me and for that I’m beyond grateful. I highly recommend working with Liddane and I’m so thankful for the help they’ve given me!”
- Grayce C.
Get a head start on your college applications this summer! Come work with our college application experts to utilize summer to its fullest potential. With most schools going test optional or test blind, the written portion of applications has become even more critical. Sign up for our virtual application workshops to experience a small group dedicated to supporting students in their college essay and application process. Students review all components of the application process including essays, activity lists, and recommendations. REGISTER NOW.
College Prep Success
The Liddane Tutoring family is proud of all recent high school graduates and honored to be part of their college application process. Luke is a recent high school graduate who along with his mother Shannon, were thrilled with his college selection. He was accepted into Hofstra, Arizona State, Loyola Chicago, UW Bothell, and the University of Illinois with merit scholarships! Parents have seen the growth in their students from working with Liddane Tutoring. Tanya has been a client of ours since 2012 and has seen how our tutors have established a relationship and adapted to the specific learning needs for all of her children:
“Our tutor navigated our oldest through high school and into college and is now guiding our youngest through high school in a similar fashion. They adapt to his unique learning needs and help him develop his behavior and social skills, while teaching him empathy and awareness of the larger world around him."
- Tanya B.
Listen to the advice of others and get a head start on your college applications this summer! Come work with our college application experts to utilize summer to its fullest potential. With most schools going test optional or test blind, the written portion of applications has become even more critical. Sign up for our virtual application workshops to experience a small group dedicated to supporting students in their college essay and application process. Students review all components of the application process including essays, activity lists, and recommendations. REGISTER NOW.
The Digital SAT
As you may have heard, the SAT is going digital. The PSAT will switch to a digital platform in the fall of 2023, and the SAT will change to digital in the spring of 2024. While you may have some concerns about this new format and what your student can expect to see, there are some exciting changes we are looking forward to! This new test will be shorter, 2 hours and 24 minutes rather than 3 hours and fifteen minutes, which means less cognitive endurance will be required. Students will be able to take the test multiple times without as much mental strain or fatigue as before. It will also allow students more time per question and the ability to receive their scores faster than ever. While the testing content will remain relatively the same, in the verbal section, reading passages will be significantly shorter. On the other hand, the questions will be tougher. Another change is that, in the math section, a calculator (Desmos!) will now always be available. Compared to the ACT, the digital SAT will allow a 60.5% increase in the amount of time per question on the verbal section and 59% more time on math. There are considerably fewer reading problems in the math section, and the percentage of questions from geometry and trigonometry will increase. Accommodations will also be better and they will be linked to your student’s access code. Accommodations include text to speech; talk to text; the ability to change the speed of speech, font, and color; extra breaks; and time and a half to complete the test. Some other tools available to students with or without accommodations are a testing timer, reference sheet of commonly used formulas, a mark for review feature, and the ability to annotate text. For students who cannot test on a computer, a paper test will still be available.
Ways to prepare: Taking a mock test can help establish a baseline. After the baseline is determined and areas for improvement are identified, students can work with a tutor to study efficiently and learn test taking strategy. If your student is a junior next year, they will have the unique opportunity of being able to take the paper AND the digital test to see which medium they prefer. One thing you can currently do is download the Bluebook app from the College Board. This is the official app for taking the SAT, and College Board currently offers four full digital practice tests (with promises of more to come!). The digital SAT is being administered now internationally, which will bring even more information about the new test in the future.Let us help you navigate this change. Learn more.
Grade by Grade College Prep Timeline
GRADE 10
Prioritize getting good grades in the most challenging classes you can handle.
Take the PSAT/PLAN for practice.
Hone in on 2-3 activities that you like best and think about how to pursue them in greater depth throughout high school. Step up and engage!
Make a plan for your community service hours so that are productive and don't look like you are checking off a list. It’s more fun and rewarding doing it this way too!
Plan your summer: relax and have fun but think about doing something productive as well:
Summer camps
Volunteer
Summer academic programs
Take a class
Explore an interest
Work
Practice your sport or special talent
If you are an athlete and want to play college sports, you may want to start reaching out to coaches now, depending on your sport.
If you want to pursue the visual arts, fashion, or any degree that might require a portfolio, start saving pieces for your portfolio now.
Don’t stress; make it fun and commit to what you love to do.
GRADE 11
Same as grade 10, and …
If you think you might be interested in a specific college degree program as a direct admit freshman, such as business, engineering, architecture, computer science, nursing, physical therapy, etc., research what the requirements are and make sure you have taken the highest-level courses in the relevant subjects. Explore extra-curriculars and electives that offer insight into these areas of study, or shadow a professional.
If you will be applying to selective colleges, or Honors Colleges within a large university, make sure your classes match the requirements, such as foreign language, 4 years of lab science, etc.
Attend college fair programs in Seattle.
Attend college representative meetings at your school.
Show demonstrated interest to colleges you think might be on your list.
Start thinking about what you are seeing and hearing and what is important to you. What are your values? What kind of academic and social environment aligns with your values?
Start visiting school campuses and explore different kinds of campuses. You do not need to travel to do this. For instance, Seattle University is modeled similarly to other Jesuit universities. Their mission and approach to education is similar throughout. UW is similar to other state, flagship, research universities. University of Puget Sound is a great example of a small, liberal arts education.
Build relationships with teachers so that they know you when you ask them for recommendations. Ideal time for asking for recommendations is at end of Junior year.
Decide if you want to test and, if so, decide which test, ACT/SAT, is better for you. Register early to take the tests (they fill up!)
If you need accommodations for standardized testing, apply for them months in advance. It can take 10 weeks to get approval.
Prepare for ACT/SAT (on own or test prep), take first test in Feb/March.
Other exams: AP, IB. Consider timing so that all testing isn’t happening at the same time.
Don’t stress: you WILL find a best fit college for you!
Summer: make it productive, and begin your applications! Have drafts of your essays completed by start of Senior Year. It will alleviate a lot of stress and anxiety.
GRADE 12
Continue to take challenging courses and don’t let your grades fall.
Make decisions regarding ED, EA, Regular Decision and Rolling Decision.
Finalize your essays, activity lists, brag sheets into counseling office, teacher recommendations, etc. Your first application deadlines will likely be the beginning of November.
Re-take ACT/SAT if needed/wanted.
Arrange to have standardized test scores and high school transcript sent to colleges by their deadlines.
Financial aid forms (FAFSA and PROFILE) can be submitted as early as October 1.
If you have accommodations, make sure your testing and evaluations are current within three years.
Do not slack off after submitting or getting acceptance letters. Colleges can rescind these offers and often will put students on notice if their grades fall off.
Plan to visit colleges between April 1 and April 31 if you will be needing to make a choice, or between January and April if you were accepted Early Action.
Co-authored by our friends at Kussick College Coaching.
Final Exam Season : Tips for Student Athletes
The demands and realities of student athletes’ schedules and being the best student possible can be a challenging juggling act, especially during finals. Intentionality delivers results. Here are some of our tried-and-true tips for exam season success. The Liddane Tutoring team believes you can navigate these challenges more easily using suggestions below, with support from coaches, teammates and study support people to kick it out of the park! If you need individual support, let us know how we can help. Good luck!
Plot out a study calendar. Spend 15 minutes writing down the steps for what you need to do and when. Be as specific as possible.
Consciously map out team practices, extracurriculars, and whatever else you have going on, especially prior to tests. Add to your calendar for visual reminders.
Set meetings with teachers now. Keep a running list of questions so meetings can be as productive as possible.
Figure out your study support people. Reach out to a classmate or bring together a group of friends who will truly help you study. Create a team study group of other players who will encourage you to use your time wisely at tournaments or away games. Encourage them back.
Tutors can really help before tests. If you decide to work with one, set those appointments. Keep a running list of questions going and send it ahead of time if you can so your tutor can be best prepared for you.
Review the class syllabus to understand what will be asked on the tests. What are the big questions?
Make flash cards/study cards (Quizlet or paper–whatever works best for you).
Review and explain the content to someone else.
Take care of yourself during exam periods. As much as you are able, eat well, drink water, get enough sleep, deep breathe, and move your body.
SUMMER ENRICHMENT 2023
Liddane tutors stand out for engaging and empowering learners - a great fit for a summer of ramping back up for school. Whether you’re preparing for a hard math class or looking for a safe summer camp, private tutoring offers flexible and, yes, even fun summer enrichment activities that are still full of high-quality learning.
[button url="http://www.liddanetutoring.com/events#signup"]Register for summer classes here
[/button]Looking for live support? Contact us for a complimentary consultation.School didn’t exactly go as planned this year. Maybe COVID-era online classes were confusing, complicated, or vague, and the year ended up much harder than you thought. On the other hand, maybe a class was suspiciously easy, and you’re wondering if your student is ready for a return to regular school with full homework, hard deadlines, and no more pass/fails. Either way, summer 2021 is an opportunity to reset and get back on track towards lifelong learning through enrichment opportunities.
Summer learning can fill in knowledge gaps and build confidence so that students are prepared to re-start school in earnest. However, it can also bring up a number of questions. How to stay flexible while the public health restrictions are still in flux? What to study and how much? How to balance getting outside, seeing friends, taking vacations, and a much-needed overall break with the looming worries of catch-up?
Families are understandably looking into a wide variety of options for summer activities that are also meaningful learning opportunities. On top of the usual challenges of finding direction, structure, and flexibility, there’s still uncertainty about business re-openings and safety measures for group gatherings. If you’re weighing Liddane Tutoring vs. online classes, summer camps, or large tutoring companies, here are some factors to consider in whether we’re the right fit.
FIND A TRUSTED ADVISOR
Most families who choose Liddane Tutoring cite the emphasis on a strong personal relationship as the most important reason for their choice. If students have a hard time engaging in class or are looking to re-engage with their love of learning, Liddane tutors stand out for empowering students and often become trusted advisors, mentors, and coaches over time. This consistency and in-depth personal attention continue to be of benefit when working online.
WHAT TO STUDY, AND HOW MUCH?
Another factor to weigh is the personalized instruction that a student may need. A teacher may be able to help with identifying gaps in a student’s skill set and providing suggestions for summer studying. If a student is a strong independent learner, they may be able to take a self-assessment through a Khan Academy course. But even advanced learners may be frustrated if they’re spinning their wheels. For others, feeling stuck may be so frequent that they’re tempted to give up. If a student has been missing problems or assignments, it can take some investigation to identify the specific reason, and thus find the right solution. Tutors frequently work with students in math, for example, to identify whether they need to work on reading comprehension for word problems, spotting what formula applies to the situation, or the understanding of an algebra concept itself. It might also be a matter of taking effective notes or setting up efficient homework sessions to absorb the material.
Assessing the student’s needs and guiding them through a step-by-step plan helps keep summer study realistic and manageable. Getting support from an education expert can help strike a balance between a parent’s fears of “nothing at all” and a student’s fears of “every waking hour” for study on the summer calendar. With direction, families are better able to plan appropriately for next steps.
STRUCTURE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN GETTING IT DONE
Once you’ve determined that some summer learning is a good idea, it’s important to set up structure to make sure it materializes! Often, a plan that we hope to do “sometime” turns into “never” if it isn’t given a time, a date, and a place. After a year of remote school, it’s even more clear that personal attention can make the difference between students showing up or checking out - physically and mentally.
If it sounds like a battle to negotiate the who, what, when, where, and how of accountability, independent study or large remote classes may also be a challenge. A tutor can step in to help.
FLEXIBILITY IS KEY
If you’re thinking of signing up for classes but holding out until you know if that long-awaited vacation will happen, engaging a private tutor may offer both the structure and the flexibility you need. Cancellations for private sessions may be made up to 48 hours in advance, and rescheduling may be done with your tutor directly once you are paired. Our tutors are not tied to rigid curricula and can tailor lessons to adjust to personal strengths and needs. Flexibility involves many pieces, from rescheduling to time slots, but can also include the ability to meet online to avoid transportation hassles. By connecting with a local tutor in the Seattle area, the option for face-to-face sessions may be available once COVID restrictions are lifted, as well.
Flexible, short term classes can be especially appealing if you’re wondering about summer camps for fun enrichment opportunities but you’re unsure about making a long commitment to a rigid schedule. Our tutors offer fun classes in their favorite topics - like chess, music theory, philosophy, journalism, Dungeons & Dragons, movie reviews, horror stories, and more - all summer long. Many of these fun classes allow drop-ins or private sessions to accommodate changes in summer schedules.
[button url="http://www.liddanetutoring.com/events#signup"]Sign up here[/button]Whether it’s studying for a hard math class or summer enrichment, contact us today to find the right tutor for you.
WHAT DOES SUMMER TUTORING LOOK LIKE?
Many people think that tutoring is defined as help with homework, but that’s not true. So, what are the possibilities of working with a tutor in the summer?
While we appreciate the playful lightness that summer should bring, working with a tutor in the summer can also be a very positive experience. For those who enjoy reading or writing, a tutor can explore genres, encourage creativity, and answer questions that often take a backseat during the hectic pace of the school year. Tutors can teach students how to take notes, to annotate text, and practice the art of thesis statement writing. They can provide feedback on writing that is specifically directed toward students’ needs. With a tutor, students may read short stories and explore the nuances of good writing. They might set reading goals and discuss book topics, run book groups, or work on adding sensory detail to storylines. The possibilities are many and co-creating with students helps with buy-in and engagement.
The beauty of summer tutoring is that sessions can be completely individualized. Times and dates are much more flexible than they are for organized classes or book groups. Vacation weeks can be accommodated, and students can double up during less busy weeks.
The other advantage of summer tutoring is that it gives students a chance to review or preview content and realize their potential. Especially in the wake of online learning and all that the Covid pandemic has meant for schools, many students have a weak understanding of some part of the curriculum. Issues seem especially prevalent in the area of math. Were you first learning about fractions when school switched to online? Did you learn algebra while distracted by the upheaval and you’re now realizing that your knowledge is shaky? Re-taking an entire third grade math or algebra course isn’t likely necessary. After all, you do understand the basics. But if you were able to review numerators and denominators and x+y=z with a tutor, you could skip over the pieces you absorbed the first time around and fully focus on the parts that you missed. A tutor can encourage you to change mixed numbers into fractions and figure out the slope on a graph as many times as it takes to master it. No shame, no stupid questions, no pressure. It’s summer, so there is time. Tutors work to build confidence so that students return to school feeling empowered and ready for the next steps.
Summer is a time for intellectual exploration and tutoring can be used like a personalized “camp.” Setting up a schedule that fits, tutors can help students learn about percentages and ratios or how to explore topics that they find interesting. Would you like to research a topic like cars, artists, beekeepers, or World War II? Summer allows the freedom to learn for the sake of learning rather than for the sake of school, and tutors can empower students along the way.If you are interested in learning more about what summer tutoring could mean for your student, please reach out! We'd love to hear from you.
WHO ARE YOU? COLLEGES WANT TO KNOW.
A student’s college application checklist contains all of the obvious pieces: grades, scores, activities, coursework. However, the overall picture, including essays, personal statements, and supplemental questions, can be challenging to pin down. Who is the student? What are their strengths and interests? What will they bring to the campus community? How will they contribute to the culture and mission of the school?
Representing these more subtle aspects of a person — along with meeting the many, many college deadlines and checking all of the boxes — makes the college application process challenging for strong students as well as those who struggle with executive functioning skills or a less than “perfect” story to tell. Showing the true nature of oneself in a way that is compelling can be an incredible hurdle for many. Families or friends may offer to help, but being impartial and evaluating what comes through the entire picture can prove to be a daunting task.
College Essays are a Different Beast
LTLS college application tutors have been trained to draw out the best elements that represent the student. Many people know how to write a good essay, but the expectations for college applications are unique. Having a qualified outside person step back and look at the entire application helps focus the writing and elevate the application toward a multi-dimensional view of the student. A trained eye can direct students toward distinctive topics and divert them from those that are overused. In an effort to tell a more complete story, college application tutors coach students to use their precious word count carefully and effectively.
Tackling the To-Do List
And, finally, because the various deadlines for schools, scholarships, testing, and honors programs are spread across many months, tracking each piece is hard for many students, especially those with executive functioning challenges. Our philosophy is that students benefit most from managing these deadlines to the best of their ability. However, having an outside person assist with tracking during a time when school responsibilities additionally increase can provide a sense of assurance for students and their parents.