So, I'm delighted to see this article about the movement towards later start times! I would add, however, that the quality of sleep matter as much as the hours of sleep, so put your devices away at bedtime. The glow from the screens, plus the mental activity required to process information from your phone or iPad will keep your brain wired and make it harder to wind down.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Sleep, Glorious Sleep!
When I was in high school, I pulled more than one all-nighter, writing papers but I also had to wake up at 5am to meet my school bus in time. I often made up the extra sleep by taking a nap on the bus--it was a 45 minute ride. Even back then, I had a suspicion that this early start time was not healthy.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
The New SAT
The Internet is abuzz with news that The College Board is rolling out an update to the SAT, after overhauling the exam in 2005 by adding two sections and increasing the end of the point scale to 2400. The new new version will launch in 2016.
Here's a look at what's changing this time:
- The print format remains but students in some locations will be able to take the exam on a computer.
- The exam will consist of three parts: Evidence-based reading and writing, math and the essay.
- 50 minutes will be added to the exam time, for the essay portion.
- The exam will return to the 400-1600 point scale.
Those are the overarching changes to the exam. For more specific changes, head over to the source: https://www.collegeboard.org/delivering-opportunity/sat/redesign
The SAT has always been a controversial entity, and a change of this magnitude only fans the flames. The College Board's rationale for redesigning the exam is to make it more democratic, and for the exam to more realistically reflect what American high school students are learning. The exam will look more like the ACT which is a less popular exam but has been gaining ground on the SAT in the past few years. (I took both exams in high schools! The ACT was definitely easier than the SAT but it also had more familiar content than the SAT.)
The College Board also hopes that the redesign will give a leg up to low-income students who do not have the advantage of taking expensive prep classes. The test fee will also be waived for students who qualify, and Khan Academy will provide free test prep.
Sounds pretty good, right? But I'm inclined to agree with Randolf Arguelles, who argues in the Wall Street Journal that democratizing the exam will make it less effective as an admissions tool. In the United States, despite the widespread adoption of the Common Core, there is no national curriculum, there is no standard of grading, there is no uniform measurement tool across states. The SAT allows universities to compare "apples to apples," as Arguelles says in his article.
The chief complaint about the SAT has been that it doesn't measure real world knowledge but what is "real world knowledge"? The concept is subjective and a matter of opinion. I believe success in college is predicted by three things: a sophisticated vocabulary, reading comprehension and study skills. The SAT covers all three of these things, which are useful across all disciplines, no matter what major you declare. This is not elitist. What is elitist, however, are expensive test prep programs that shut out low-income students, which reflects the "real world," as well--access is equal to advantage. This is why test prep is already made available for free or at low cost in low-income areas.
In New York City, free test prep is offered by APEX: http://www.apex-ny.org/education_programs.php
In Fairfield County, some school districts offer low-cost test prep. Stratford, for example, offers a course for $105: http://www.stratfordk12.org/Content/SAT_Prep_Courses.asp
As a tutor, I am committed to offering affordable test prep, and general academic tutoring, and will work with a family's budget!
Here are two more stories on the new SAT, plus one just for laughs!
Nancy Cavillones is a writing coach based in West Redding, Connecticut. She is available to coach students on application essays and AP English essays as well as general academic tutoring in ELA and Social Studies for grades 5-12. Coaching is available online and in person. Tutoring is only available in person. Contact her today for rates and availability. ctwritingtutor@gmail.com
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Writing Well Always Counts!
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Let me tell you something else. In graduate school, I scored the highest grade on a midterm in my statistics class, and one of the highest on the final. No one was more surprised than me, trust me. Okay, so maybe statistics is more about data analysis than crunching numbers but still... it's numbers and there is math involved. *Cue Brain Ache*
It was my writing skills that saved me and made me the star. In statistics, there is a surprising amount of writing involved. The data is not just analyzed in conversation--you have to be able to describe the analysis in writing, using clear, precise language, then develop a sound argument that supports your analysis of the data.
When I was a high school teacher, at a vocational high school, a question I fielded frequently was really a complaint: "Why do I have to know how to write? I'm going to be an IT professional!" My husband is a Systems Administrator and he writes almost everyday, since he has to write documentation for the systems he builds and manages, I would tell my students, sometimes to their dismay. I love winning an argument!
Whether you are a data analyst, an IT professional, a businessperson, or in countless other fields that require some form of writing, solid writing skills pay off. Technical writing, qualitative writing, letter writing-- your ability to communicate is important.
Nancy Cavillones is a writing coach based in West Redding, Connecticut. She is available to coach students on application essays and AP English essays as well as general academic tutoring in ELA and Social Studies for grades 5-12. Coaching is available online and in person. Tutoring is only available in person. Contact her today for rates and availability. ctwritingtutor@gmail.com
The Common Application and Standing Out
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The Common Application has become popular with students because it streamlines the application process and allows students to apply to multiple schools, more efficiently. Instead of filling out and writing essays for each school on his wishlist, a student completes one application and sends it to multiple schools. It has become popular with colleges because students of color, as well as students with financial need, are more likely to apply to schools they might not otherwise consider. However, the downside to the ease of using the Common Application is that students may face more competition at these colleges.
As always, standing out in a crowd of applications will depend on your essay. Let's face it-- most of the applications submitted will not have much diversity across applicants. Grades will be good, test scores will be high, extracurricular activities will be abundant and impressive. The essay is where a student will shine. The essay is a student's chance to separate herself from the pack. The essays, across the field of applicants, will be unique, reflecting the personal experience of applicants but a well-written essay will really stand out.
Admissions officers read hundreds, if not thousands, of application essays. When I taught high school English, my eyes used to glaze over after reading 30 essays, with 100 more essays to go. I can't even imagine what would happen if I had to read hundreds of essays! But a well-written essay always made me perk up and take notice. It was refreshing to read a well-crafted essay with a developed voice after reading essays riddled with grammatical errors, cliched phrases and disorganized ideas.
I love these writing tips from David Ogilvy, of the advertising firm Ogilvy and Mather, via brainpickings (one of my favorite nerd websites of all time):
Write the way you talk. Naturally.
Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.
Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification,attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass.
Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning — and then edit it.
Nancy Cavillones is a writing coach based in West Redding, Connecticut. She is available to coach students on application essays and AP English essays as well as general academic tutoring in ELA and Social Studies for grades 5-12. Coaching is available online and in person. Tutoring is only available in person. Contact her today for rates and availability. ctwritingtutor@gmail.com
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