How To Select, Prepare, and Perform on the SAT & ACT

Your number #1 priority this summer is to prepare for your official standardized test at the end of August or beginning of September.

This is what you should do:

  • Select a standardized test to take (SAT or ACT)
  • Register for the exam
  • Study your face off
  • Take the exam
  • Never look back

Let me remind you why I recommend this strategy in case you start to waver on implementing any of these steps:

  • An SAT or ACT score is a top 3 criteria for college admissions
  • Summer provides maximum time and flexibility to study
  • Studying for this test in the middle of junior year is a disaster
  • Ability to maximize energy, sleep, and hydration before test
  • Fewer distractions and potential scheduling conflicts
  • Less-crowded testing sites
  • Results provide an early indicator of what tier of colleges to consider
  • Potential to score well and never take test ever again
  • Ability to re-test later in the year if things don't go as planned
  • If a re-test is necessary, the bulk of studying is already done
  • Ivy League...
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PrepWell Podcast - Ep. 19 | How To Help Your Child With Their Summer Plans

prepwell podcast Feb 09, 2020

Show Notes:

In this week’s show, I try my best to help you, help your child, figure out what to do this summer. If you’ve been following this podcast for some time, it shouldn’t take much to convince you how important summer experiences can be for your child - not only to make their college application look better - but for real life as well. 
 
I know, it’s not easy to figure out what to do with teenagers over the summer. Especially if they don’t drive, or work, and you do work, and everything seems so expensive. That’s why I’m recording this podcast - to give you some ideas. Yes, this is challenging time - and yes, colleges are expecting bigger and better things from students as competition grows. It means that it will take more effort and planning on our part. No problem. Ill show you how to make it happen. I believe the effort will be worth it - no matter how things end up in the college admissions process.  
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Will Erin Get Into Princeton?

 

As a college admissions counselor specializing in students with big ambitions (e.g. Ivy League, Military Service Academies/ROTC, Athletic scholarships), I have seen dreams realized, shattered, and everything in between.

Case Study

In this case study, I reveal what goes through a college admissions officer's mind as they review an application. What do they care about, what do they disregard, what jumps out, and what factors might seal the deal (for good or bad)?

In this blog, I review Erin's profile. Erin is a junior at a public high school in CA. She's an elite soccer player, near straight-A student, member of student government, and involved in community service.

Sound familiar?

Many parents of talented 9th and 10th-grade athletes tell me similar stories. They want to know their child's chances. 

Here's how the story goes:

Hi, Phil. I've heard you're the expert in helping kids get into highly-selective colleges by mentoring them early in their high school careers. Can I tell...

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PrepWell Podcast - Ep. 18 | How is Your Child Wired?

prepwell podcast Feb 01, 2020

Show Notes:

Ive identified three different types of teenagers and likened each one to a lightbulb: (1) Bright Bulb, (2) Flickering Bulb, (3) Dim Bulb. Where does your child fit into this paradigm? How can you use their status to help them through these formative years?

Here is what I discuss in this episode:

0:01:40 What are the three different types of teenagers?
0:04:35 The Bright Bulb
0:07:45 The Dim Bulb
0:10:45 The Flickering Bulb
0:16:02 How are the Bulbs distributed?

If you want to support the show, here are 3 immediate steps to take: 

  1. Subscribe to the podcast where ever you listen to podcasts
  2. Follow me on Instagram or Facebook
  3. Give us a review
  4. Share this episode with a friend
  5. Join our mailing list
  6. Enroll your 9th or 10th grader in the program

Follow us:

Podcast Host: PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil Black, has spent a lifetime cracking...
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Is it Worth Pursuing an Athletic Scholarship?

The Dream

Many young athletes today aspire to play Division I sports in college. This dream is fueled, in part, by the prospect of securing the ever-elusive "full-ride athletic scholarship".

The dream often originates as early as 3rd or 4th grade, when young athletes are shunted onto "elite" travel teams if they show above-average skill for their age. Unfortunately, once this train leaves the station - it's hard to get off.

For the next 4-6 years, most weekends and holidays are dedicated entirely to the sport - no matter the cost, travel, time, or energy required. And the beat goes on for years - with an unwavering devotion. Parents and children are equally afraid to step off the train for the fear of missing out.

Though rarely admitted in public, most parents mistakenly assume that their child is on a path to some type of athletic scholarship. They don't really know what this means exactly - and are afraid to ask too many presumptuous questions - but they sure hear a lot of chatter...

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PrepWell Podcast - Ep. 17 | Is Your Child Apathetic About The College Admission Process?

prepwell podcast Jan 26, 2020

What I discuss in this episode: 

In this episode, I review some of the reasons why a teenager might be less-than-enthusiastic to begin thinking about the college admissions process in 9th or 10th grade. I then give suggestions on what a parent can do to help turn the tide.

0:02:20 Why focus on 9th and 10-graders?
0:02:54 Reason #1: Fear
0:03:34 Reason #2: Social Proof
0:04:45 Reason #3: No curriculum
0:05:08 Reason #4: Immaturity
0:05:31 Reason #5: No Role Models
0:06:01 Reason #6: Too many distractions
0:06:32 Reason #7: Short-term perspective
0:07:06 Reason #8: Ill-prepared parents
0:07:50 What can parents do to motivate their children?
0:08:22 Option #1: Rely on your high school
0:09:00 Option #2: Become Subject Matter Expert
0:09:30 Option #3: Do nothing
0:10:24 Option #4: Enroll in PrepWell Academy
0:15:52 How to use PrepWell Academy with your child
0:16:40 Finding the right time,...
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Will "Pretty Good Pete" get into UPENN?

 

As a college admissions counselor specializing in students with big ambitions (e.g. Ivy League, Military Service Academies/ROTC, Athletic scholarships), I have seen dreams realized, shattered, and everything in between.

Case Study

In this case study, I reveal what goes through a college admissions officer's mind as they review an application. What do they care about, what do they disregard, what jumps out, and what factors might seal the deal (for good or bad)?

In this blog, I review Pete's profile. Pete just finished his junior year at a big public high school in NY. He has a pretty good GPA. pretty good SAT score, has taken pretty hard classes, is a pretty good lacrosse player, and has pretty good extracurricular activities.

Are you getting my drift?

Pete is "pretty good" at just about everything. This is the profile of a lot of high school students these days.  That's why we call him "Pretty Good Pete". He has a closely-related friend named "Pretty Good Pamela."

The question...

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PrepWell Podcast - Ep. 16 Should Your Child Specialize In Their Sport?

prepwell podcast Jan 19, 2020

Show Notes:

Today, I make the case for sports specialization - the process by which families decide that it’s in the best interest of their son (or daughter) to focus exclusively on one sport - and so they drop all the others (along with other extracurriculars in many cases)
 
For example, a boy who has always played football, basketball, and lacrosse while growing up (all in different seasons), decides to drop everything but lacrosse in 10th grade.  Or, a girl, who has played volleyball and softball growing up - decides to go all-in on soccer in 9th grade. 
 
Is this a good idea? What does the timing look like? What are the advantages and potential drawbacks of this strategy? 
 
Now, If your child is not an athlete, then you might not get as much value from this episode, but I still think there are a lot of great lessons to be learned. The episode is geared toward families who have children who have grown up playing multiple sports, and...
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How Did This PrepWeller Get Into Every College He Applied To?

Wait, what?

"Wait, what? Jimmy got into Berkeley? Are you serious? My son has the same GPA and SAT scores - maybe even better. He took just as many weighted classes as Jimmy. Why didn't my son get in?  They both have the same profile."

This is one of the most common questions I hear from the PrepWell community and from random people around the water cooler, lacrosse field, and locker room.

I'd like to shed some light on this question by comparing three students that I counseled privately this year in my Private Mentoring program.

[FYI: I run a program where I work closely with a handful of PrepWell Academy students who opt to move from the online program to a full-service program in junior year].

What accounts for the difference in outcomes?

There are several factors at play here (e.g. extracurriculars, leadership, letters of recommendation, demonstrated interest, major preference, parental involvement, etc.)

However, I believe the biggest difference-maker is when a student...

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PrepWell Podcast - Ep. 15 | Why Colleges Love Leaders and How Your Child Can Become One

prepwell podcast Jan 12, 2020

Here is what I discuss in this episode:

0:01:03 Why do colleges seem to love leaders?
0:04:13 How can you help your child become a leader?
0:05:55 Why is it so important to start early?
0:07:23 What happens if your child waits too long?
0:08:20 Can 9th and 10th graders become leaders?
0:09:44 What about starting your own club?
0:11:10 What about a Shark Tank Club?
0:12:05 Don’t make this mistake
0:12:45 What about Captains of sports teams?
0:14:37 How your child’s job demonstrates leadership
0:15:15 Students who lead their families
0:15:45 Tried-and-True leadership opportunities
0:16:30 How important is leadership to military programs?
If you want to support the show, here are three immediate steps to take.   
  1. Subscribe to the podcast where ever you listen to podcasts
  2. Follow me on Instagram or Facebook
  3. Give us a review
  4. Share this episode with a friend
  5. Join our mailing...
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