John Baylor Test Prep: Archive

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It’s that time of year, it’s choosing season for selecting a college. How do you decide? Let JB help you through the process with selecting a school. This is a major life decision, make sure that you have all of the information that you need!

Feb 7th

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As you prepare to select the college of your choice, it is important to keep in mind upcoming deadlines. JB talks about upcoming important college admission deadlines to help you along the way.

Jan 30th

Seniors: you can still help your chances for...

Many families are scared that they may not be able to afford college costs. We don’t blame them- $13,000 to $60,000 is the range in annual college expense (least expensive in-state college to most expensive private universities and colleges). The applications should be in by now- both the college applications and FAFSA form. However, there may be opportunities to improve your eventual...

Jan 24th

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JB gives you tips to make sure that you make the most out of your college years. Watch this to make sure that you go into your college experience with a game plan!

Dec 8th

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This is Part II of JB’s tips on how to write great college entrance essays. Use these JBTP tips to create the best essay that will help you get to the best college for the lowest cost!. Make sure to first watch Part I posted last week!

Nov 28th

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Now is the time to write those college entrance essays. Use these JBTP tips to create the best essay that will help you get to the best college for the lowest cost!

Nov 22nd

Job or Extra-curricular: which pays better?

When determining whom to admit and at what price, colleges primarily consider the Big Three: grades, scores, and one extra-curricular skill. Merit-based scholarships are the product of true achievement in these three areas. For example, Nebraska Wesleyan gives students $5500 per year for a 22 on the ACT, about $1500 more per year for every additional 3 points on the ACT, and more money for other...

Nov 14th

ACT can hold the key to a school's future →

Sep 2nd

Jul 11th

Jul 1st

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Obviously volunteering is a great thing to do, but find out how to make the most out of your efforts when selecting a college.

Jun 29th

Champions are Made During the Off-season

At JBTP, we like to say that Champion College Applicants are Made During the Off-season. The Common Application asks applicants to list summer schools and programs attended since the ninth grade as well as extracurricular activities, community service and summer employment. Many colleges also ask the student to elaborate in application supplements. So plan productive high school summers,...

Jun 14th

Extra section on the June 11, ACT

On occasion the ACT will have an extra section on the test for the purpose of trying out new questions. This extra section does not affect the score itself. You students, though, do not know which section is the experimental one, so you try hard on it. Apparently the June ACT is a common test for this practice. By the way, every SAT test has a section that tests out new questions and which...

Jun 13th

Great High School Graduation Speech

Here’s one of the better high school graduation speeches I’ve ever read. It was given at my alma mater this past weekend by Joe Kahn, a NY Times Pulitzer Prize winner from the Class of ’83, the class ahead of mine: http://www.mxschool.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/Joseph_Kahn.pdf. It speaks to the value of challenging yourself in high school, college, and your career.

Jun 7th

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Technology is here, and it’s great, but it can be a distraction. Find out how to use technology without letting it interfere with the ‘Big Three’ and your pursuit of greatness.

Jun 3rd

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Rejection, it happens; but when it does, find out why this is not the end of the world in the college selection process.

May 19th

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When choosing a school, find out why bigger does not always mean better. JB discusses what to look for when evaluating an institute of higher learning.

May 5th

America's Most Important Profession

A great article espousing the importance of those belonging to America’s most important profession: teachers. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/opinion/01eggers.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

May 3rd

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More and more colleges are using wait lists as part of the process of accepting applicants. Although we never like to wait, it is still better than being rejected. Find out how to make the of this situation.

Apr 26th

Are you on a wait-list?

In an October, 2010 report, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) found that colleges have increasingly placed students on wait-lists. The jump, 35% to 39% over the last five years, has been accompanied by many colleges using wait-lists that previously had not. Do not despair: wait-list status still gives you a chance. Plus, in the last three years, the percent...

Apr 20th

What highly selective college admissions has...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/college-daze-the-insanity-of-the-application-process/2011/03/24/AFK8MRYB_story.html?fb_ref=NetworkNews My favorite quote from the article: Kat says that in his son’s application essays he must “talk about his innermost thoughts,” Ferguson shudders at this “compulsive self-exposure”: “He’s a 17-year-old boy! I wanted to tell her: Seventeen-year-old boys do...

Apr 12th

Acceptance, rejection, and wait-list letters from...

Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134916924/Amherst-Admissions-Process?sc=emaf

Apr 11th

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As you think about colleges, you are probably thinking about a major. What type of major? Liberal arts? Business? Focus on a trade? Obviously your major is of great importance, but there are many factors to consider before you make your final selection. This is part three of a three part series in helping you to determine what major is right for you!

Mar 10th

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As you think about colleges, you are probably thinking about a major. What type of major? Liberal arts? Business? Focus on a trade? Obviously your major is of great importance, but there are many factors to consider before you make your final selection. This is the first of a three part series in helping you to determine what major is right for you!

Mar 3rd

AP Courses

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses are the gold standard for selective college admissions. Take them whenever feasible and be sure to take the AP test at the end of each course. Two or three AP courses your junior and then senior year would be a nice number. Then that AP score in May is pure gold for differentiating yourself in the admissions pool- and AP tests are...

Feb 18th

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As you think about colleges, you are probably thinking about a major. Obviously your major is of great importance, but there are many factors to consider before you make your final selection. This is part two of a three part series in helping you to determine what major is right for you!

Feb 17th

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AP classes are obviously more challenging, but they can save you tons of money when it is time to start college. Find out how to take advantage of the AP offerings. It’s even possible to benefit without taking the AP class!

Feb 10th

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Spring break is just around the corner. Make the most of this opportunity by planning visits to prospective colleges. John discusses how to take advantage of spring break to help select an institution of higher learning.

Feb 3rd

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Looking for a way to set yourself apart from other applicants when applying for a college? Make sure that you volunteer! Volunteering is a great way to make sure that you stand out when your application is reviewed. Don’t just volunteer though, make sure you get the most out of the experience. Watch this video to find out more!

Jan 27th

Juniors: It’s College Visit Time

Hello Juniors: it’s the beginning of that fun season- test taking season. Our recommendation is for you to take the test twice this spring and then twice more in the fall: a total of 4 happy shots at the ACT test (or the SAT test, or you might try both). Once you take either test, you will experience the marketing season. Glossy college brochures will soon fill your mailbox. I know it’s...

Jan 24th

Volunteering: stay committed and local

I call volunteering ‘The Second Best Paying Job a High School Student can have.’ The best paying job is jumping your ACT or SAT score through rigorous and fun Preparation. But volunteering can also pay you a robust sum in scholarships. Some families pay a fortune so junior can be altruistic abroad over the summer. Don’t spend the dough. Admissions officers often don’t come from silver spoon...

Jan 16th

ACT Prep Class Helps Raise Scores

Emily Hacket Aurora News Register, December 8, 2010 John Baylor’s ACT test prep program has become increasingly popular among students. There are about 15 currently enrolled for the Dec. 11 ACT test date. The program consists of twelve 45-minutes online sessions. There is also 10 to 20 minutes of homework to complete each evening. Students can come in before or after school each day. Aurora...

Jan 2nd

A Wild and Crazy Guy Can Help You Succeed on the...

by Jarrett Suddarth Student at York High School, York, NE Every student in high school fears taking the ACT, but with the help of John Baylor and his Test Prep course that fear can become courage. The John Baylor Test Prep course runs for 12 sessions over lunch before each ACT test date. The courses cover everything you will need for the test. I recently took the ACT test for the second time...

Dec 29th

Mistakes To Avoid On Your College Application

Here are some common mistakes made by students when applying to college. #8 Lazy applications. About 80 percent of college applications are now done online. Don’t mention Grinnell in an essay waxing about the virtues of Oberlin. Be sure to proofread again. And don’t forget that some schools require supplemental essays. #7 Generic Recommendations. Selective colleges typically require...

Dec 22nd

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Now is the perfect time to take action to maximize your financial aid. Don’t wait until spring, start today!

Dec 2nd

For those skeptical of the value of college, Thomas Friedman’s article and Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s comments in Thursday’s NY Times are must reads. Here’s the article’s bottom line: “There are barely any jobs left for someone with only a high school diploma, and that’s only valuable today if it has truly prepare…d you to go on to higher education...

Nov 24th

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Find out how chasing privately offered scholarships is a great way to make some quick cash for college!

Nov 18th

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Another college selection option that may be suited for you. Hurry though, deadlines for early action are fast approaching!

Nov 11th

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JB talks about the Early Decision option; but hurry, the deadline is quickly approaching if this option is for you.

Nov 9th

ACT scores help school to rebound

Madison High class of 2010 achieves highest scores in 10 years By JERRY GUENTHER Regional editor MADISON — There’s some good news coming from the Madison Public Schools system this school year, including the highest ACT scores in 10 years at Madison High School. Thirty students — or 56 percent — of the Class of 2010 at Madison High School took the ACT college entrance exam. They achieved the...

Nov 4th

National Student Clearing House

School leaders: there’s a reasonably priced service, The National Student Clearing House, which allows high schools to track their graduates’ college going rate, graduation rate, and much more. Check out this sample report: http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/highschools/pdfs/ST_sample_report.pdf As you try to further inculcate your culture with a college-bound mentality, it might be...

Oct 27th

Maximizing the college visit: JBTP tips

This is a larger topic worthy of multiple blog posts, but here are some tips to enhance the value of college visits: 1. Visit when the college is in session- you want to see live classes. 2. Miss as little high school class and activity time as possible- don’t fall behind in a high school class so you visit a few colleges. Visit when high school is not in session or apply and then visit in...

Oct 21st

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What Tests to Take and When

All colleges now will accept either the ACT or SAT. I recommend that students focus on one and take it four times- twice junior year and twice in the fall of senior year (the December senior year score is typically the last one considered for admission or financial aid by selective colleges). Colleges only see your highest score and never learn how many times you took the test. If a student is...

Sep 23rd

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Making Your High School Summers Count

Aug 2nd

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Tips on making the most of your college visit during the academic school year.

Jul 21st

College Admission- more competitive than ever

Despite the current recession, colleges, particularly highly regarded private colleges, are seeing a huge jump in the number of applicants. Penn has experienced a 22% increase in applicants, largely from out of state students. These applicants are also more qualified than in the recent past. Schools now have the ability to be even more selective about who receives scholarships and who will be...

Jul 13th

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Visiting colleges during the summer.

Jul 11th

8 Hours of Shut-Eye

Students have consistently heard that getting eight hours or more of sleep is a good guideline to follow. But recent studies have found that it is paramount in the development of a young brain. The human brain is not fully developed until the age of 21, and sleep contributes substantially to its the furthered progress. Children that have a lack of sleep showed a larger gap in performance than...

Jul 6th

529 Savings plan: tips for Mom and Dad

There are eight good reasons the 529 savings plan is the best college saving plan. Generally these 529 perks are valid only if used for legitimate college expenses, including books tuition, room, and board. 1) The 529 savings have a minimal effect on financial aid. Only 5.64% of 529 funds count toward your expected family contribution whereas a full 20% of a standard student saving account...

Jun 24th

If you thought the June 12 test was difficult:

A few JBTP students have told us that the June 12, 2010 ACT was especially rugged. The ACT itself claims that there is never an attempt to diverge from established trends on the test. Thus, according to the ACT, this ACT test should not have been tougher than ones in the past. However, parents can request a copy of the June 12 ACT at http://www.actstudent.org/scores/release.html. Just go...

Jun 15th