Standardized testing is stressful for many students and parents because it has such high stakes. At many U.S. and international universities, test scores are a major factor in admissions decisions. But taking a standardized test like the SAT or ACT doesn’t have to be stressful and scary.
College is a consequential decision, and the admissions process can be complex and stressful. To give families a head start, we at LifeLaunchr compiled this selection of insider tips from college admissions counselors in the country – people who have helped thousands of students find and get into great-fit schools.
LifeLaunchr now has a way to help parents and students to ace the SAT and ACT, through it’s partnership with Aspire Education Project. For over a decade, Aspire Education Project’s expert tutors have led the highly competitive San Francisco Bay Area tutoring market, helping students reach their college goals at schools including Stanford, Cornell, Duke, and the University of California, Berkeley.
Parents I speak to often ask “What’s the best university to study engineering?” or “Where is the best place for my daughter to study biomedicine?” There are many ways to answer this question. The answer I always give is: “It depends on your child.” I tell them to focus on fit, not rank.
For teens starting out in life after high school, or parents helping them, remember: your first gig after college doesn’t have to be your final “true passion,” but it does have to pay the bills so you can keep searching. So find a way to balance pragmatism and passion in your choice of college and major.
It’s the time of year when students have just picked the colleges they will attend, and when many are preparing for AP Tests. In the students we work with, we see the effects of college admissions stress every day.
Much of this stress is driven by parents who, out of the best of motivations, want to give their child the best. But the lessons students learn in the process can be harmful, not just to their college plans, but to their life.
So prioritize early, and prioritize often, to reduce college admissions stress. Here’s how.
Fewer than 50% of college-bound students graduate within six years, according to the U.S. Department of Educations’ College Scorecard. A mentor can help students develop a deeper sense of their personal needs and goals; develop a sense of possibility; and provide guidance with college admissions throughout the process.
For virtually every selective school, there are more students who meet the academic criteria than they can admit. A great college essay can help set you apart from all the others who might get in. Here’s how you can write a college essay that’s authentic, personal, and well-crafted.
On April 2, Aspire Education Project and LifeLaunchr presented a free webinar: “Your Roadmap to Stress-Free College Admissions.” Presented by test preparation expert, Sy Kim, Director of Programs at Aspire, and Venkates Swaminathan, CEO of LifeLaunchr, the webinar was a great overview of the college admissions process for parents and students, to help each student get into and can afford the college or program that is the best fit for them.
Standardized testing is a complex, and often overwhelming, issue for parents and students thinking about college. To help families with this, Linda King of The King Advantage and Venkates Swaminathan of LifeLaunchr presented “Tips for Stress-Free Standardized College Admissions Testing.” The webinar is a great overview of how parents and students can make the best decisions about standardized testing.