The SAT exam began testing a student's writing ability in 2005.  Even the worst wordsmith shouldn't get too concerned about this section of the exam since it only counts for 10% of the total score.  However, It may very well be the most useful section of the test.  That's because the writing skills it helps to hone are critically important to any student wishing to be successful in college, where papers are assigned on an almost weekly basis.

Don't over think it.

You only get 25 minutes to write the SAT essay and it comes right at the start of the test. Don't spend too much time trying to craft a scholarly masterpiece. Most important is to read and make sure you understand the writing prompt, which is usually a famous quote, or a stated idea. Read over the prompt and question several times in order to make sure you know what they're asking.
Then organize your thoughts quickly and begin writing. Students shouldn't worry about making it a perfect piece of writing or the most original thought ever put on paper. The people reading your student's essay know they're on a time crunch. They're simply looking for competent writing, insight and the ability to think on their feet.

Use real-world examples to illustrate your points.

Nothing will prove to a scorer more that your student understands the point of the question than if they're able to use examples from current events or history to back up their opinion. Make sure your student attempts to include this kind of proof in their essay.

If your student can't come up with examples to back up one opinion, it doesn't hurt to take the opposite viewpoint and see if they may have more luck there.

Remember this isn't a declaration of a life philosophy. Even if they don't personally agree with what they're writing, it may make for a better more thorough essay if they go against their instincts.

Go long... but not TOO long.

A good length for an SAT essay should be four to five well developed paragraphs. Don't let your student think that quantity automatically equals quality. There's always going to be the temptation to write a novel in hopes that the scorers will be impressed with how much you were able to get done in a short period of time.

A good score will almost always be more likely if the essay is well plotted, well thought out and backs up its points intelligently... and all of that can be done in five paragraphs or so. Also if your student is writing a 3-page essay, that probably means they didn't take sufficient time to brainstorm and organize their assignment. 25 minutes is more than enough time to do this, plus compose a 5-paragraph essay worthy of a good score.

And remember to leave time at the end to review for any glaring errors or omissions.

Don't stress out... it's only 10%!

While the essay section of the SAT is one of the most useful and applicable sections to future college life, don't allow your student to get TOO hung up on it. Good writing skills are always a huge advantage for students. But even if they're not quite present yet at the time of the SAT, they can always be developed down the road. If writing isn't your student's strong suit, make sure they know that they still have 90% of the SAT left to make up for it.

Don't allow their stress to negatively affect their performances on other sections of the test as well. Set the correct expectation that every part of the SAT is important... and there are always opportunities to make up for weaker sections as they go.

“If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4CollegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!”

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Excerpts taken from Jodi Polster Education Director, College Planning Network, LLC

The cost of a higher education is on the rise.  The cost is being outpaced by just about everything in society today - the cost of food, gasoline, goods and services.  The three main reasons - the value of a college education is more important than ever, a college workforce is one of the most expensive to hire, and colleges are spending lavishly to try to attract your child.

The value of the education exceeds the expense

Recent studies have shown that workers with college degrees make on average 44% more than workers with only high school diplomas. According to U.S. News and World Report, the best estimate for what a student's college education is actually worth over an entire career is around $300,000. So even as the cost of tuition at schools increases, it's still more than likely that whatever you end up paying for college, your student will end up making it back and then some.

This fact hasn't been lost on students.  Today 7 out of 10 high school students enroll in college with the hopes of getting better jobs and earning more money.  Of course this leads to a natural supply and demand situation.  A college education is HIGHLY in demand.  Not just from employers, but from the students themselves that want it.

Colleges are of course well aware of what their services are worth and therefore as college graduates continue to be hired for better jobs with bigger salaries, it's their natural inclination to charge more.  After all, you can't argue with the numbers.  As long as the "value" of a college education is worth more than what a college charges you for it and because there's only a certain number of students schools can accommodate each year, they'll keep on raising their prices as long as the demand for those spots exists. 

A college faculty is one of the most expensive workforces to hire

The cost of putting together a qualified faculty to dole out that education to all these students is growing higher and higher. Remember what I just pointed out above.  The cost of hiring an educated workforce is rising every year.  And the workforce a college or university is hiring is among the most highly educated you can find.  The majority of instructors will have Masters degrees and doctorates.   And those accolades earn a healthy paycheck. 

According to www.salary.com, the median salary for a typical liberal arts professor is $80,000.  Those with tenure and who publish work can expect to earn much more.  In fact, in 2009, CNN ranked college professor as the 3^rd best job in America. Depending on the size of a school, a college faculty can number in the hundreds.  And with an average salary of $80,000 or more, that can add up to a hefty payroll very quickly. That's not to mention the hundreds of other jobs a college has to pay for.  Coaches, librarians, admissions counselors, dining staff, maintenance crews, etc... Managing a college's workforce is no less of an undertaking than managing one of a major company.  And no less expensive either.  Hence why your costs continue to rise...

Colleges are spending lavishly to try to attract your student 

Take a minute and think about all those glossy, beautiful looking promotional materials schools have been mailing you over the past few months. What's on the cover?  A new stadium?  Perhaps a modern looking student center?  Or a newly built academic building with all the bells and whistles you could imagine?  Well there's good reason for that.

Schools are spending more and more money on campus amenities in an effort to attract students.   Things like fitness centers, modern on-campus apartments, athletic facilities, computer labs, new cafeterias and other dining options... these are the new pieces of eye candy colleges are putting front and center in their marketing plans.

And of course, all of these fancy new attractions cost money.  And lots of it.  So where's that money coming from?   Sure there's private fundraising and donations... but much of that tab is paid for by you - the tuition holders.

Every student wants to attend a school with the best facilities, academic, athletic, living or otherwise... but keep in mind those pretty looking buildings aren't paying for themselves.   Not to mention things like organic fruit in the cafeteria, free Wifi all over campus or a new treadmill in the gym.  

These perks get passed onto you in your bill.  The more updating a college does, the more it'll cost you to attend. 

Remember, to weigh the cost of what a school offers next to what your student really needs to have.   A great education should be at the top of the list.  Everything else is a nice bonus... but one you'll have to be willing to pay for.

If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4CollegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!

[1] Excerpts taken from Scott Weingold, College Made Simple - The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC

Most families do not realize there are several types of application plans offered by colleges and universities.  Deciding which is best for your child, will help determine what schools to apply to, and the timelines that need to be adhered to when applying to specific schools. Before deciding on which type of application plan is right for your child, you need to thoroughly understand the difference. 

There are two types of application plans, Non-Restrictive Plans and Restrictive Plans.

Non-Restrictive Applications Plans allow students to wait until May 1 to confirm enrollment.  These include:

·         Regular Decision is the application process in which a student submits an application to an institution by a specified date and receives a decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time. A student may apply to other institutions without restriction.

·         Rolling Admission is the application process in which an institution reviews applications as they are completed and renders admission decisions to students throughout the admission cycle.  A student may apply to other institutions without restriction.

·         Early Action (EA) is the application process in which students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the institution's regular response date.  Students who are admitted under Early Action are not obligated to accept the institution's offer of admission or submit a deposit prior to May 1.  Under

non-restrictive Early Action, a student may apply to other colleges.

Restrictive Application Plans:  These are plans that allow institutions to limit students from applying to other early plans.

·         Early Decision (ED) is the application process in which students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely will enroll. While pursuing admission under an Early Decision plan, students may apply to other institutions but may have only one Early Decision application pending at any time. Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment.  The institution must notify the applicant of the decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time after the Early Decision deadline.  Usually, a non-refundable deposit must be made well in advance of May 1.  The institution will respond to an application for financial aid at or near the time of admission.  Institutions with Early Decision plans may restrict students from applying to other early plans.  Institutions will clearly articulate their specific policies in their Early Decision Agreement.

·         Restrictive Early Action (REA) is the application process in which students make application to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the institution's regular response date.  Institutions with Restrictive Early Action plans place restrictions on student applications to other early plans.  Institutions will clearly articulate these restrictions in their Early Action policies and agreements with students.  Students who are admitted under Restrictive Early Action are not obligated to accept the institution's offer of admission or to submit a deposit prior to May 1. 

If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4CollegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!