Category Archives: CollegeTips

Do you want to participate at international conference?

Posted on by
Reply

Model OSCE Conferences in Vienna/Belgrade

in:  Conferences   |   08.10.2013

Deadline: 24 October 2013
Open to: citizens of the 57 OSCE countries age 18-30, fluent in English and interested in international politics
Venue: 14-17 January 2014 in Vienna, Austria; summer/autumn in Belgrade, Serbia; and 4-5 December 2014 in Basel, Switzerland

Description

Switzerland will assume the Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2014. In accord with the leitmotif “Creating a Security Community for the Benefit of Everyone”, Switzerland pursues three overarching objectives:

  1. fostering security and stability in Europe,
  2. improving people’s lives, and
  3. strengthening the OSCE and increasing its capacity to take action.

As part of its third objective, Switzerland wants to strengthen the voice of young people and enhance their involvement within OSCE structures. To achieve this goal, Switzerland will organise a Model OSCE series in which one delegate from each of the 57 OSCE participating States will be invited to participate. The participating delegates will be involved in the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship throughout the entire presidential year: By means of simulations of two specific OSCE decision-making bodies, the delegates will get familiar with OSCE structures and -themes. The participants will have the opportunity to acquire and develop various skills in diplomacy and negotiation, public speaking, communication, problem resolution of international issues, and critical thinking. They will improve their team-work and leadership abilities and meet other young people from the 57 OSCE participating States.

The first Model OSCE event will be held in Vienna from Tuesday, January 14, to Friday, January 17, 2014. The delegates will step into shoes of their own countries’ ambassadors to the OSCE and kick-off negotiations on a “Youth Action Plan”.

The second simulation will take part in summer/autumn in Belgrade. The delegates will continue their negotiations in the role as “foreign ministers” of their own countries and conclude them by taking a decision on their “Youth Action Plan’s” content.

During the OSCE Ministerial Council organized by the Swiss Chairmanship taking place in Basel on December 4-5, 2014, the 57 delegates will have the opportunity to meet the foreign ministers of the OSCE participating States and present their “Youth Action Plan”.

Between the two simulations, the delegates will reach out to their own networks by consulting preliminary results of the draft-“Youth Action Plan”. For that purpose, they will include wider groups of interested young people and raise awareness of OSCE themes.

The preliminary schedule for the first simulation taking place in Vienna will be sent to the delegates in December 2013.

More information about the OSCE is available HERE.

Costs

All costs related to the Model OSCE (costs of travel, board, lodging, and participation) will be covered by the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship.

Eligibility

They strongly encourage young people aged 18-30 to submit their applications. Participants must be citizens of one of the 57 OSCE participating States (see list HERE), fluent in written and oral English, interested in international politics, and ready to engage their time and ideas in the framework of this project throughout the year of the Swiss OSCE Presidency.

One delegate will be accepted per OSCE participating State. The simulations will be held in English, and no translation into other languages will be provided. After selection of participating delegates, they will soon be invited to provide initial input regarding the content of a “Youth Action Plan”.

Application

Model OSCE registration is open until October 24, 2013. After October 24, registrations will only be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Please complete the application form AVAILABLE HERE and attach your CV and motivation letter. Your motivation letter should contain the following information:

  1. the reason why you want to participate in the Model OSCE,
  2. a description of relevant experiences in the field of international youth politics,
  3. the contribution that you would bring to the Model OSCE personally.

Further information on the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship can be found on the Swiss OSCE-Chairmanship Webpage HERE.

For any additional questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Fanny Charmey at fanny.charmey@sajv.ch.

The official website is AVAILABLE HERE for further details.

What the College Board’s 2013 SAT Report Just Revealed

Posted on by
Reply

You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple.

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

In this letter I’ve written about countless ways and reasons to be financially prepared for college.

After all, without proper financial preparation, students and their parents can easily be saddled with decades of debt.

That said, a recent study came out about academic preparation for college that turned my head.

It was the College Board’s just-published annual report on college and career readiness…and the first paragraph alone pulled no punches about what’s in the rest of the report.

– Scott

Why Are National SAT Scores Languishing?

Here’s the first paragraph from the report…

“The College Board’s 2013 SAT ® Report on College & Career Readiness reveals that fewer than half of all SAT takers in the class of 2013 graduated from high school academically prepared for the rigors of college-level course work. This number has remained virtually unchanged during the last five years, underscoring a need to dramatically increase the number of students in K–12 who acquire the skills and knowledge that research demonstrates are critical to college readiness.” (emphasis by the College Board)

Not only has it been bad for the past five years, it hasn’t even improved.

Let’s take a closer look into the numbers.

  • 57% of SAT test takers did not meet the benchmark for college and career readiness. That number has remained the same for three years, and it’s slightly up from five years ago when it was 56%.
  • Those who met the SAT benchmark were far more likely to enroll in a four-year college or university (78%) than whose who did not meet the benchmark (46%).
  • Those who did meet the SAT benchmark were five times more likely to earn an A grade average during their first year at school.
  • Those who met the SAT benchmark were twice as likely to complete college (57%) than those who did not (27%).

There were some bright spots. Specifically, more minorities took the SAT exam last year than any year, and SAT scores by minority students continues to rise.

But overall, the numbers aren’t good.

I point this out for two reasons. First, the report is actually very constructive in its tone. It offers many ways individuals and institutions can increase SAT scores.

Second, while SAT scores are trending down, SAT prep courses are becoming more and more popular.

Now, first let me say that I’m not blaming the abundance of SAT prep courses for stagnant and declining SAT scores. There are a lot of courses out there, and some of them play a big role in helping students increase their SAT scores.

But far too many SAT prep courses waste students time with filler materials taught in an overcrowded classroom. And the price tag for that can reach four digits!

And therein lies the intersection of financial and academic preparation for college.

If you worry that your child may be one of the 57% of students whose SAT scores indicate they are not fully prepared for college, I highly suggest you read the College Board’s report.

And if you worry about choosing the wrong SAT prep course, here are a few ways to measure the best SAT prep courses from the hundreds out there…

  • Track record of how much students have improved after taking the course (This is the main benefit).
  • Efficient time spent in the classroom. No filler or wasted class time.
  • Convenience. Many courses now run obscurely timed class schedules that make it very difficult to make. Other classes won’t even give you a make-up class if you miss. Some of the very best SAT prep courses are self-study, and require no class time whatsoever.

Also, don’t be shy to ask a SAT prep provider some tough questions. After all, you’re shelling out a lot of money for a very important cause.

Ask providers how courses are taught and by whom. Ask them about class size limits. Ask them about results – how much better do students do on their SAT after taking their prep course?

One more thing – Ask if they offer a guarantee.

Those are just a few tips. We’ll cover more on the subject in future College Made Simple stories.

To your successful college pursuits,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC

Have a plan for changing the world? It’s time to learn how to DO it! Realize your start-up plan with this online course.

Posted on by
Reply

About this course

 

Taking your great ideas and making them a reality is never easy. The Start-Up Lab helps you stop dreaming and start DOing, introducing you to the crucial steps necessary to get moving. This course is designed for people who have a concrete start-up idea as the course supports the actual implementation of relevant first steps. We help you focus your idea to have broader social relevance. The course provides resources and knowledge from inspiring leaders in the start-up community and offers insight into the learning experiences of other emerging social entrepreneurs. It challenges you with questions that every entrepreneur has to answer in the early phase of starting up and gives you key opportunities to exchange and discuss your ideas with other course participants who are also implementing their social ventures. This course is focused on helping you maximize on the impact you can create with your start-up.

DOing it!

The course consists of seven chapters divided into 3-5 units each. These units cover key steps social entrepreneurs need to tackle during the first months of establishing a new venture:

  1. Your idea: Add relevance and value.
  2. Your plan: Manage your project.
  3. Your legal context: Start on the right foot.
  4. Your finances: Build a strong sustainable business case.
  5. Your organization: Design your structure and operations.
  6. Your communication: Reach your target market.
  7. Your network: Build successful collaborations.

How does this work?

The course is hands-on and best suited for participants who have a concrete plan for a social venture that they want to kickstart. While you participate in the DO School Start-Up Lab, you’ll be simultaneously implementing your venture. As you work through each chapter, you’ll be experiencing the course material first hand, and make real decisions affecting the future of your start-up. Peer discussions will support you during this process.

Who is teaching?

The course is developed and taught by members of the DO School team who are working daily with emerging social entrepreneurs from around the world to create positive change. Some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs and practitioners will be interviewed and share their experiences. Moreover, a range of case studies give you insight into the learnings of DO School Fellows and alumni who started out their ventures just like you do. Online peer discussions and feedback complete your learning experience.

FAQ

Who should take the course?

The DO School Start-Up Lab is geared towards participants who already have a concrete plan for a social venture that they want to kickstart. We are focused on incubating projects with a strong social component, whether they’re businesses, non-profits, arts initiatives, or campaigns. While we’ll help you focus your social goals, this is something you should be interested in from the outset.

How much time will I need to participate?

Implementing a real social venture takes commitment and time – the more of both you have, the higher your chance to succeed and leave a positive impact on your society. It will take between 2 and 3 hours per week to work through the latest chapter and you will want to devote extra time discussing your ideas with peers, doing on the ground research and actually implementing your social start-up offline.

Will I get a certificate? Is the DO School accredited?

A course certificate will be awarded to participants who become active peer discussion participants, reviewing other people’s work and regularly handing in their own worksheets and progress documentation for peer review. In the end, your up-and-running social venture will be the best measure of your learning success.
The DO School community

Successful participants who gain the course certificate will get the opportunity to join the DO School Fellow and alumni community and become part of a global network of social entrepreneurs.

 

ENROL WITH EMAIL

Our 4 Strongest Tips for the College Essay Process

Posted on by
Reply
 

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

Right now, all over the country, college-bound seniors are working their way through the college application process.

For so many, the process is all-consuming, especially when it comes to the personal essay (which many times can be 3-5 pages long).

After all, it can come down to the essay to literally make or break your chances of getting into the school of your dreams.

Whether it’s the Common Application or the school’s own application (the Universal Application doesn’t require an essay), a good essay could get a student over the hump into the school; a bad one could hurt the chances of an otherwise strong candidate.

So how does your student get their college essay to stand out from all the others? Keep reading…

– Scott

Our 4 Strongest Tips for the College Essay Process

1. The Essay Format

The opening line in the introductory paragraph is your make-or-break opportunity with the admissions counselor. Capture his or her attention with an interesting thought… and close the lead paragraph with a statement that opens up the essay’s main point.

The next few paragraphs or so are the example copy: the specific, vivid details that illustrate the essay’s theme.

Close the essay with a single paragraph: a conclusion of insights and takeaways.

2. Intellectual Curiosity

Specificity matters. Rather than state academic interest in English and the classics, explain your specific interest in The Great Gatsby, for example.

To be even more specific – and to be distinguishable from the competition – draw some parallel between the book and an observation your child has made.

3. The Right Way To Edit and Proofread

The normal college essay contains many unnecessary words. After your student has taken his or her mind off it for a few days, read back through the essay and remove any words and statements that don’t need to be there.

Also remember that “meandering” statements are admissions killers. Why use 30 words if you only need 10? Proofreading: Spell check the essay, then ask someone with a better knowledge of grammar than you to read the essay… red pen in hand.

4. Be Honest

Be aware that colleges are increasingly using plagiarism checking technologies to monitor essays turned in by prospective students.

In fact, one such technology sniffs out essay plagiarism on the internet well enough that it’s being used in schools all over the world.

Best of luck on your students’ essays…

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC

The 3-step Process That Can Drastically Cut College Costs

Posted on by
Reply
Dear College Made Simple Reader, No question about it – figuring out how to pay for college is a major stress for so many families. It’s not just the ever-rising tuition costs, either. There’s all the attached spending and “hidden costs.” Plus, if you have two or more children in school at the same time, the costs of going to top schools can really appear prohibitive. Today let’s take a 3-step process than can drastically reduce your overall college costs – and make even the best schools more affordable. – Scott

1. Go to the Schools “Where You’re Wanted” What I’m talking about here is matching up your student’s particular skill, interest, or background with a school that needs it. It’s not just about star athletes, either. It might be that your child is involved in an extracurricular activity that’s highly valued at a particular school… or at a school that’s grossly under-represented in that field. In some cases, schools could be looking to enroll students from regions where they simply don’t have enough students. The point is, most college admissions are driven by a desire for diversity as much as by quality screening. And if you spend the time to identify what your star qualities are, and where they’ll be most appreciated, you’ll find that colleges are willing to pay top dollar for these attributes. That means bigger financial aid rewards for you – and a stronger bargaining position, if it comes to that. Which brings us to the second point…

2. The Financial Aid “First Offer”: Take a Moment… Many families don’t realize that financial aid offers often aren’t the end of the discussion. They can simply be the starting point of a negotiation. Now, to be clear, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes a school has a set formula, and won’t stray from it. Sometimes the school will have a plethora of applicants with your star qualities, and thus won’t extend themselves to keep you in the mix. At times, though, a simple letter explaining why you think you deserve greater help can result in a better offer. You’ll need to do your homework. Research what your school’s average financial aid package is, and see how yours stacks up. If yours is smaller than average, you’ve got a great bargaining chip. Likewise, if another school has made a stronger offer, you can use that as leverage. In this instance, a safety school offering a full scholarship isn’t as effective as a school of similar rank offering a better package. And, while it doesn’t need to be mentioned in any letter challenging your financial aid package, it will always help if you know you’ve got the star qualities the school seeks. (By the way, as a client of College Planning Network we would address this negotiating process in an appeal to the school.)

3. Cut Down On Your Years in College The best way to cut down on college expenses is to cut down on the time you spend in college. How can you do that? Most schools accept AP credits in lieu of college courses. That means, if you take the AP test and school above a 3 or 4 (out of 5), you’ll get credited as if you’d taken the relevant course at the college. This can reduce the number of classes you need to graduate – thus reducing the amount of time you need to spend in college. Each school treats AP credits slightly differently, so make sure you know how your preferred university rewards AP credits. Don’t want to graduate early – prefer to have the full college experience? AP credits can still come in handy – you might be able to attend your senior year part-time, for instance, and save nearly as much. The important thing to remember is this: most colleges charge by the course credit. The more credits you have in the bank heading in, the more you can save. Follow these three steps, and you may be able to save thousands on the total cost of college. To your successful college search, Scott Weingold Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Japanese Language Program in winter 2014, with scholarship opportunity

Posted on by
Reply

Japanese Language Program in winter 2014

in:  Camps   |   30.09.2013

Introduction

Following up on it summer 2013 program, the Meiji University Japanese Language Education Center will offer a short-term Japanese Language Program in winter 2014.

The program cultivates study of Japanese language, culture and society from various aspects.

Highly motivated participants can expect Meiji University’s up-to-date educational, media and support facilities to meet their every need. Japanese students will support your study of Japanese and join various events with you.

Why not come to central Tokyo and Meiji University this winter to learn “living” Japanese and Japanese culture?
Get ready for the exciting new experience that awaits you!

 

Apply Here

  Application Period: 2 September <Mon> -10 October <Thu> , 2013

 

Program Leaflet  –  Download Program Leaflet.

Program Length

13 February <Thu> – 27 February <Thu> ,2014

Eligible Participants

Undergraduate or Graduate students

Scholarship

Japanese Language Program has been selected as one of Student Exchange Support Programs (Scholarship for Short-term Study in Japan) sponsored by JASSO.
Meiji University will offer a scholarship on the last day of the program to participants who are either undergraduate or graduate students of Meiji University’s partner institution and meet requirements set by JASSO.

After applying for the program we will send the application materials to your e-mail address within 2 weeks. To apply for the scholarship, applicants need Official Transcript of the previous semester (With seal of your university on it. It has to be written in Japanese or English.)

Please be advised that JASSO’s final decision if the applicants can grant the scholarship or not will be done at end of January 2014. We cannot inform if applicants can grant the scholarship or not before paying the fee of the program.

Program Levels

Beginner’s 1 Class: 
For students with very basic knowledge of Japanese who can read Hiragana and Katakana. Can understand and use the basic Japanese. JLPT N5 level.
Beginner’s 2 Class: 
For students with basic knowledge of Japanese, able to understand and use beginner’s level Japanese.
JLPT N4 level.
Intermediate 1 Class:
For students understanding beginner’s level Japanese and who have started studying intermediate level Japanese. JLPT N3 preparatory level.
Intermediate 2 Class: 
For students understanding Japanese which is used in everyday situation for a certain degree. JLPT N2 preparatory level.

*JLPT: Japanese Language Proficiency Test
*The class will be decided at the placement test conducted on the orientation.

Number of Participants

55 students
(13-15 students/class. A class will be cancelled if there are fewer than the minimum required number of participant. )

Program Contents

  • Japanese Language Class (45min×42classes)
  • Field Study/Activity (3hours×2times)

*We will issue certificates of completion to the participants of the program.

Student Supporter

Undergraduate and graduate students of Meiji University will support throughout the program. They will join the Japanese class and accompany the participants to the field study and activity.
Offering an opportunity to communicate with students on the same generation is a big feature of this program and attracts favorable comment from participants from the past year program.

Supporting the affected areas hit by the earthquake and tsunami through sending the picture books

In the program participants will study about the earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan on March 11, 2011. Participants will send a picture book with a letter to the kindergarten located in the affected areas to support the areas and the people.
We would like to ask your cooperation to bring the picture book (no second hand book) from your country with you and help the post-quake reconstruction.

Schedule (tentative)

 

Fee

 

*We may not be able to arrange the homestay due to your special requirements or circumstances. In that case, we will inform you one month before the program starts. Homestay Company will arrange a hotel instead and extra charges will be added. It is different from Course A’s hotel.
*You cannot change the course after paying the fee.

Application

  1. Please apply online from this website
  2. To decide which class is appropriate for you, please take Online Japanese Level Check Test. Meiji University will send you the information about the test to the e-mail address that you have registered. Please take the test within one week. (Scheduled date of sending the Japanese Level Check Test: 15-18 October, 2013)
  3. Applicants will be informed of the application result and the payment procedure via E-mail by middle of November. The due date of the payment will be within 7 days after receiving the e-mail.
  4. After the payment, we will send the homestay application form to students who have applied homestay. Please send it to the homestay agency.

Cancellation Policy

Please be advised that once your application has been accepted and you have paid the  fee, the following cancellation policy applies.
If you notify Meiji University in e-mail by:

・Nov 15, 2013 (Fri) <Japan Time> you will be reimbursed for 100% of the fees.
・Jan 15, 2014 (Wed) <Japan Time>you will be reimbursed for 50% of the fees.
・Feb 5, 2014 (Wed) <Japan Time>you will be reimbursed for 20% of the fees.
・Feb 6, 2014(Thu) <Japan Time>you will not be reimbursed of the fees.

– The cancellation policy applies for any reason whatsoever.
– Any handling or service fees incurred for refunding the fee will be borne by the applicant.
– It will take 2-3 months to reimburse the program fees.

 

Visa

Meiji University will not provide assistance in obtaining a visa except in the case of students of Meiji University’s partner institutions.

Please check the website of Ministry of foreign affairs before applying the program.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html

* Cancellation policy will also apply for the cancel for not being able to take obtain the visa. Please confirm about the visa before paying for the program.

Notes

  1. In the event that maximum capacity has been reached for a particular class or program, you may be unable to enroll.
  2. The program schedule printed on the promotional leaflet may be subject to change.
  3. Participants in the program are required to purchase at their own expense traveler’s insurance to cover the period of their stay in Japan. Please Submit the copy of insurance certificate before the arrival.

Past Programs

Japanese Language Program (summer 2012)

Japanese Language Program (summer 2011)

Japanese Language Program (winter 2011)

Japanese Language Education Center/ International Student Office, Meiji University
1-1 Kanda-Surugadai,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo,
101-8301,Japan
TEL：+81-3-3296-4488
FAX：+81-3-3296-4360

Key Tips for the Financial Aid Application Process

Posted on by
Reply

You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple.

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

Did you know one of the most common mistakes families make in the financial aid application process is waiting to file taxes before completing the FAFSA?

We see it every year. Families wait until April – income tax month – to complete their FAFSA form.

Because financial awards are often first-come first-serve, you’ll want to fill out the FAFSA as close to January 1 as possible (that’s the earliest you can submit your FAFSA).

In other words – if you want the best shot of getting state or federal money, the sooner you submit a correct application, the better.

Of course that also means filing your taxes as soon as possible. I’ll talk more about that, and offer a few more important tips, in today’s College Made Simple.

– Scott

Key Tips for the Financial Aid Application Process

Taxes. As I mentioned, the earlier you submit your FAFSA, the better. That means providing your best approximations and estimates of income and taxes — based on pay stubs, W-2s, etc. Consider using your prior tax returns and current year-end pay stub to get estimated figures.

Remember, you can always make changes to your FAFSA — after your taxes are finalized. You do that by going online to the FAFSA web site and filling in the correct numbers.

By the way, a common tax error is reporting your taxes due instead of your total income tax. They sound similar but there is a difference.

Read the instructions carefully, and always consult a licensed tax advisor for any tax-related issues.

Follow the directions. While the FAFSA can seem confusing to many people at first, detailed instructions are provided for most questions.

Take note: Make sure you don’t leave any items blank on the FAFSA form. If the appropriate response is zero, then enter zero. Blanks could delay the processing of your financial aid information.

Also, when reporting income or writing dollar figures, do not write cent value. The reason: the extra digits can be counted as dollars. For example, $432.95 is read as $43,295.

Understand the EFC, income and assets. As you are probably aware, income typically counts against your Expected Family Contribution (your “EFC” – which is the amount of money the Department of Education believes you have available to pay for schooling) much more than assets do.

You’re expected to pay a higher percentage of income than of assets – exactly how much depends on who is doing the paying – the student, a parent, or another family member.

In other words, the smaller you can legally make your income, the better your financial aid package will likely be.

Also keep in mind that it’s the student who is expected to pay the highest percentage of income and assets – so reduce these (money that your child/student has) first.

Be honest. You may be tempted to fudge the numbers – even just a little bit – on the FAFSA. Just know this: the government could impose fines and up to 5 years of jail time, AND you could be required to pay back moneys received.

Worst of all, you may be declared ineligible for any aid going forward. In the end it’s just not worth it.

Finally, when it comes to the financial aid process, by all means, do as much research as you can.

And if you’d like the feedback of professionals who understand the “ins” and “outs” of the financial aid space, feel free to take us up on our Free College Funding Analysis, which we make available to help families determine a proper course of action as to what would be best for them in their particular situation.

It’s 100% free, and the worst case scenario is that you’ll learn exactly where you currently sit – and if there’s anything at all you can do to better your family’s situation.

To your college success,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

A New Trend in the SAT and ACT

Posted on by
Reply

You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple.

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

While the SAT is just as popular as ever, more and more students are now taking the ACT.

In fact the ACT just moved past the SAT for the first time ever.

According to The New York Times, 1,666,017 students took the ACT in 2012 – that’s about 2,000 more than those who took the SAT.

But that doesn’t mean the ACT is overtaking the SAT.

It turns out there’s a new trend toward taking both tests, in light of today’s college-bound students aiming to put their very best foot forward.

What’s more, this trend has students taking their better test a second time… sometimes even a third time.

So what are the biggest differences between the SAT and ACT – and should your child take both?

Let’s examine these questions…

– Scott

Breaking Down the SAT and ACT

First things first: you aren’t likely to score differently on these two tests. In study after study, students who took the ACT and the SAT scored in extremely similar percentiles on both.

And, since both tests are graded on a curve – your final score is basically just your percentile converted to another number – you aren’t going to cheat the system by choosing one over the other.

Keep in mind – today, virtually every college accepts both tests. The SAT is more prevalent at elite universities – but submitting the ACT won’t hurt your chances of admission. (In fact, a number of states now require high school students to take the ACT.)

That said, here are some key differences between the ACT and the SAT to consider…

1. Aim

The ACT tries to test knowledge of high school subjects – hence, the questions tend to be considered more straightforward. The SAT, by contrast, attempts to identify reasoning skills.

Rather than just test general knowledge, the SAT tests problem-solving and comprehension. Therefore SAT questions are considered slightly more obtuse than ACT questions.

2. Sections

The ACT has four long sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. The SAT has 10 short sections, broken down into Writing, Critical Reading, and Math. The SAT has a greater emphasis on vocabulary, while the ACT focuses more on grammar.

3. Time

The ACT is 2 hours 55 minutes, with 215 questions, all multiple choice. There is also a 30-minute optional essay. The SAT is 3 hours 45 minutes, with 170 questions. Some questions in the SAT math section require answers to be written in a grid as opposed to multiple choice, and there is a 25-minute mandatory essay, which is at the beginning.

4. Essay

The ACT tends to give rather specific prompts for its optional essay (“What should X do about Y?”), while the SAT gives prompts that are more vague and more open (“Why do you think X acted this way?”).

5. Scoring

The ACT is entirely multiple choice – save the optional essay – while the SAT has a mandatory written section, and the aforementioned math section that requires answers be written in.

Also, the ACT has no penalty for wrong answers (reminder: answer every question – an entire point will be deducted if you leave an answer blank), while the SAT penalizes ¼ point for every wrong answer (another reminder: only guess in questions where you can eliminate one of the four options).

Finally, the ACT uses “Score Choice” – which only recently has been adopted by the SAT. That means your student’s “bad” score doesn’t have to be included on college applications.

As you can see, each test will appeal to slightly different students. It’s worth looking into whether your desired colleges have a preference for the SAT, the ACT, or both. But remember, you can’t go wrong with either.

To your successful college search,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC

Tuition Saving Tips

Posted on by
Reply

from Fastweb.com

by Elizabeth Hoyt

Tuition Saving TipsSeptember 04, 2013

Oh, tuition. Some consider it a nasty word and rightfully so. It’s expensive and can hang over a student’s head throughout college and for years to come.

But there are ways to save on tuition – you just need to become savvy about it. It takes time and effort, but when you’re talking about that much money, it’s more than likely worth what you put into it.

Here are some simple ways to save money on college tuition:

1. Apply for Scholarships and Grants

Since you’re on Fastweb, that’s half the battle! Now you just need to apply for as many scholarships as possible.

Remember, the trick with scholarships is, the more you apply for, the more likely you are to win one!

Doubtful? Students really do win scholarships through Fastweb and we have a Wall of Fame to prove it.

Check it out – you could be the next winner!

Make sure you apply to any of your scholarship matches on Fastweb – it’s a great resource that matches you to the scholarships so you don’t have to do any searching on your own!

There are millions of scholarships available and, no matter what type of student you are, there are scholarships out there for you! You just need to take advantage of the opportunities provided and keep applying.

So many scholarships remain untouched every year because of a lack of applicants, which means the money is out there, you just need to put in a little effort to obtain it.

Similar to scholarships, grants are often considered “free money” because it’s essentially financial aid that doesn’t require repayment.

The main difference between a grant and a scholarships is that a grant is more likely to be need-based, while a scholarship is more likely to be merit-based or have more specific eligibility qualifications.

Both grants and scholarships can come from federal or state government, the college you’re attending or, even, private and non-profit organizations.

Find out the types of grants you’re eligible for and apply for all grants you meet the requirements for. After doing some research, you may be surprised at how many you meet the eligibility requirements to apply.

There is one stipulation with grants and scholarships, alike. Some require partial or full repayment if, for example, you drop out or don’t finish the semester the grant or scholarship was awarded.

In addition to Fastweb, your teachers, guidance counselors and financial aid office will be able to assist you in any questions you may have regarding where to apply, how to find grants and scholarships and evaluate your eligibility.

2. Summer Enrollment

If you enroll in summer courses each year, the length of time you’re in college will decrease. Also, you’re more likely to graduate within four years, which many college students are not able to do. This certainly saves money in the long run!

Depending on the college, summer courses are often cheaper than those in the fall and spring semesters.

3. Take More Credits Per Semester

This may not sound like it will save you money, but if you take the maximum amount of credits each semester, you’ll be sure to graduate on time, if not earlier.

Make sure you balance your course load in terms of difficulty level so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.

But, remember, the closer you are to graduation, the closer you are to no longer having to pay tuition bills. Graduation means no more tuition, which is a great thing!

4. Financial Aid

Ever heard of the FAFSA? If you haven’t, the acronym stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

While the government giving you money sounds like a great idea, keep in mind that it’s usually in the form ofstudent loans that need to be repaid.

However, the good news is that taking out financial aid won’t charge you interest until you’ve graduated, which likely means you’ll be in a better financial situation (such as having a job) to repay the loans.

Fastweb has many resources on how to evaluate the right types of financial aid for you and answers to common financial aid questions so that you are able to make smarter student loan decisions.

5. Work-Study Programs

Many students don’t realize that they qualify for work-study. Actually, most do. Begin the process of finding out if you qualify by filling out the FAFSA form and meet with a college financial advisor to go over your options.

Most work studies consist of a few hours a week, working for the college at a reception desk or tutoring underclassman.

The money you would typically earn from whatever hours you put in the job is usually applied as a credit to your tuition bill. It’s really not a bad gig, especially considering you can earn tuition money from it.

So, why not just get a part-time job instead? Work study programs ensure that the money you earn goes directly to paying tuition, so you don’t have to deal with decisions of how to spend the money. Basically, it eliminates the temptation to spend your earnings on frivolous items.

It does take time and effort but you can save on tuition. Just research, apply and repeat as necessary!

Affordability + adventure when you earn a degree abroad

Posted on by
Reply
International Universities Day

International Universities Day
SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2013 12:00PM – 8:00PM EDT

Does attending college outside the country sound appealing? Join us on September 10th for International Universities Day, a free online event devoted to helping U.S. students decide if this experience is right for them. Log-in anytime between 12:00pm-8:00pm EDT to chat live with universities around the world, gain advice from study abroad experts, and video chat with current students earning their degree abroad to hear about their experiences. And enter to win a $1,000 scholarship!

Advantages of Interning Abroad
3:00 PM EDT
Speaker BioNadia Mubashar

Website Director, Go Overseas
University of Surrey Video Chat
3:00 PM EDT
College [Redefined]: 5 Key Facts about Study Abroad
4:00 PM EDT
Speaker BioJill Kruidenier

College Relations Manager, IES Abroad
Bath Spa University Video Chat
4:00 PM EDT
So You Want to Study Abroad. Now What?
5:00 PM EDT
In this session we will cover the reasons why earning a degree abroad may make sense for you and go over some differences between domestic and international education. This will include, but won’t be limited to, a discussion of the admissions process, on campus experience, and life after graduation.
Speaker BioTodd Worsham

International Business Development Manager, StudyAbroad.com
Study in the UK: 10 British Phrases You Need to Know
6:00 PM EDT
The British Council will be presenting study options in the UK including the British university system, funding your time abroad and the visa process.
Speaker BioJoey Kirk

Education Officer British Council