Graphing can be one of the toughest skills for math students to master. In my decade of experience as a high school math teacher I noticed that a good sheet of graph paper can make a big difference. I’d run off a bunch of double-sided copies of this before each unit on graphing so it was Read More...
So your child says he hates to write. What’s a homeschool mama to do? Believe me, I feel your pain. Teaching writing classes for thirty years, I’m no stranger to kids who dread writing. With experience, though, I found some strategies that work. I love the challenge of convincing reluctant writers that they have something Read More...
The Advanced Placement (AP) program, offered by the College Board, allows ambitious high school students to take college-level exams each May that potentially qualify them for college credit at the college of their choice. Each college lists the AP exams and credit they will award for a passing score on their website. Just search for “AP credit” Read More...
“Getting a college scholarship is your new summer job.”
These words spoken by my mom (Debra Bell) shaped my four years of high school and eventually landed me a full tuition scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. She believed I could earn more money by developing a stellar transcript than by working a minimum wage job. . . and she was right.
You can design a high school plan that uniquely positions you to win a free (or almost free) ride to school. Here are the top three things you need to do to make that happen:
Ace the SATs. The new SAT is harder but it is easier to prepare for. You can take an SAT prep course or just work your way through all the free material on Khan Academy. But whatever you do, make sure you give yourself at least 6 weeks to prepare. A score of 700 or higher turns heads and pushes your application into the right pile.
Plan for letters of recommendation. Someone other than mom must validate your education, especially if you are home schooled. You can have a transcript full of honors classes but without an outside expert adding a stamp of approval the admissions board might question the level of rigor. The ideal candidate to write a letter of recommendation is someone with a PhD or an expert in your future field. If that fails, choose someone who is professionally accomplished or who has a connection at the school you are applying to. When you ask for the letter, type up a list of your achievements or things you’d like them to reference. And don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
Study your school. Every college and university is unique. I poured over Pitt’s website and memorized their core values. I knew what type of student body they were trying to foster. That information influenced my admissions essays and helped me on my interview. As soon as you know what school (or schools) you might be interested in, start tailoring your high school program to fit their vision.
There are thousands and thousands of scholarship dollars out there just waiting to be claimed. In the end, working on all those applications ends up being a very high paying summer job.
Bonnie Gonzalez’s current course offering As a professional counselor, teacher, and former homeschool parent, I want to give you some information which will help you to navigate the emotional angst that often comes with homeschooling teens. Teenage Angst and the Brain As a homeschooling parent, you have been the market leader in the field of Read More...
If Grit was simply will power or self-control eventually most of us would be exhausted and there would be few of us who would be able to keep up with the work. Although these characteristics are important, for the persistence needed to be gritty we need to develop a different strategy. The strategy of consistently Read More...
