Are You College-Bound?

Top 5 Tips to Help You Prepare For College Life During Application Season


Obtaining a college education requires a lot of time, effort and careful planning by parents and students working together. But, preparing for college is much more than the flurry of activity during those last few months of a student's senior year. In many cases, college preparation actually begins before high school, and it is never too early to start thinking about what kind of college experience you or your parent is looking for and how the college preparation process works.

Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels, offers simple tips to help students prepare for their college entrance exams and develop the skills needed for lifelong success.

1. Start Early – Consider taking summer enrichment classes for key subjects like math, reading and creative writing. Nothing shows that you're serious about academic work like dedicating the last few weeks of your summer to intellectual and academic pursuits. Also, during your Junior and Senior years, take courses that relate to the major that you would like to pursue in college.

2. Prepare for Tests - November provides the perfect opportunity to take a prep course or obtain academic assistance to prepare for the SAT and ACT winter exams. If you have not already taken the SAT or ACT, it is important to spend plenty of time preparing for these standardized tests. Spend at least a few minutes each day reviewing vocabulary or practicing math problems.

At Sylvan, our college prep experts will tailor a personalized plan that builds the skills, habits and attitudes to your needs in order to score higher on test day and apply to college with confidence. Our highly personalized and targeted approach focuses on the exact skills needed to successfully answer test questions. For many students, skills can be mastered to raise test scores in as little as five to twelve weeks.

3. Don't Miss Opportunities - It's important that students take charge of their education. Seek out opportunities proactively rather than reactively. As you prepare for college and admission tests, look for classes and other resources like free, SAT/ACT improvement sessions and practice tests provided by Sylvan Learning, SchoolMathPrep.com and SylvanMathPrep.com.

Such resources are excellent opportunities to practice and assess your skills while preparing for college. There are many great resources that you can utilize for your benefit. Fully engage in the resources of the library, guidance counseling center, teachers' office hours, tutors, after-school programs and fellow students. Make sure to get the best education possible by using all of your school and personal resources.

4. Seek Support and Help from Your Family - The college preparation process can be stressful for you – and for your parents. Your parents want to help you reach your goals and act as a resource during this critical time. To help navigate the college prep process, encourage your family to attend a free, college prep workshop for parents.

Sylvan Learning will be offering "Test Stress: A Parent's Real Guide to College Test Prep," dedicated to helping families navigate through the SAT/ACT and the complex college admissions process. The free, interactive parent seminar on November 9th will feature advice from Sylvan educators and leading college admission experts, college coaches and guidance counselors to help parents understand how to create a successful plan for the test-taking season. The seminar will be hosted by the PNC Bank at 101 Walter E. Foran Blvd in Flemington and will also feature advice from their financial advisors on how to tackle the money issues that college brings to a family. Families can then use Sylvan's free, customized College Planner, Parent Resource Guide and High School Tracking Program to ensure their teenagers are college admission ready.

5. Enjoy the Journey – Have fun and enjoy the rest of your summer, but make sure that you keep yourself active. Take an extra-curricular class, get a job or consider volunteering at a variety of community-based organizations or charities. These initiatives can allow you to learn more about potential careers and areas of interest. The last weeks of the summer months can be an excellent time to help you prepare for college while providing compelling experiences to use on your college applications.

Make the most of the remainder of your High School career. Take the challenge. Use these simple tips to prepare for the next phase in your academic life and enjoy the years of discovery ahead!

For more information and back-to-school resources, visit www.SylvanLearning.com. To learn more about Sylvan's school fundraisers, free parent seminars and Sylvan's SAT/ACT Prep program, email sylvan4127@verizon.net .

Educators interested in securing the free math resource for their schools are encouraged to visit www.SchoolMathPrep.com.