Do you like Facebook? Do you like making money?

If you like Facebook AND making money, are you aware that you can get a job doing both? The world of social media is very hot these days - but you don't need me to tell you that. What you might not know is that there are jobs out there that will allow you to use those skills that you use...every day!

Check out this link: Five Jobs for Facebook Addicts!

Since we're on the topic of jobs...

You might not want to say these things at a job interview!


43 Weird Things Said in Job Interviews

(As much as they shock me and make me laugh, I can totally picture someone saying it.)

Need some summer cash? Avoid the scams!

Hi all,

It seems like there's been a jump in spam coming to my mailbox recently, and I've noticed that some of them are offering jobs. The scammers have become wise to the fact that with the downturn in the economy, lots of people have fallen on hard times, and they might be easy prey to a scam. If you're looking for some quick cash this summer, heed this simple warning:

If it looks too good to be true, it is.

And while you're thinking about jobs (and scams), check out these tips from Career Builder and CNN about scams that describe job offers.

Don't be ashamed if you need money

Even though we're cruising toward the middle of July (eek! "middle of July" = "almost August") and beyond Test Essay Prep's "June is College Financial Aid Month," I think we should continue the conversation!

The article "10 Tips for Getting More Financial Aid" is a good one because it puts some of the things you might have seen about Financial Aid into perspective.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/paying-for-college/2009/06/16/10-tips-for-getting-more-financial-aid.html

For example, if you feel ashamed asking for financial aid, don't. Please don't. Millions of students & families can't afford to pay for a college education, but it doesn't mean it's out of reach. In my family, we have a sort of motto, "the least someone could say is no" - and I think it works well here. If you're worried what someone will think of you for seeking financial aid, then they're not there to help you and they're not your friends.

A Very Happy 4th! (on the 3rd!)

I feel very patriotic this weekend...as I'm sure are all the folks sitting in traffic today who had the day off!

What does July 4th mean to you?

To me, it means celebrating all the hard-won rights that I have today because at one point, someone else in the U.S. didn't have them...and a reminder that a lot of people still fight for their rights.

Michael Jackson Dead? What?

This morning I woke up and was totally in disbelief. I had to ask myself, "Did Michael Jackson really die yesterday?" and half of me replied, "Yes," and the other half of me didn't want to believe it. Then I turned on the TV and it was a flood of info - actually too much - b/c no one knew anything new.

I just really thought we'd all be much, much older when this day came.

How much money do you need for college?

That's tough to say, depending on what your tastes are. No matter what, you'll definitely need a place to live, food, tuition and other school fees (like books or the bus system) - and keep in mind that many of these costs are non-negotiable.

On top of that, if you want a bigger meal plan or to live off-campus - or if you just spend a lot of money on stuff, then the sticker price of college goes up. Want a boyfriend or girlfriend? Be prepared to shell out some dough.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2009/06/09/how-much-money-should-i-borrow-for-college.html
This article will help you get started.

June is College Financial Aid Month

Ok, well.....June is NOT College Financial Aid Month, but it has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Totally believable. Even though it's the middle of summer, it's never too late to get a jump on saving what money you can from your summer job, if you're lucky enough have one. I hear it's tough to find a job this summer - too much competition.

We're taking it upon ourselves here at Test Essay Prep to designate the month of June College Financial Aid Month! All this month we'll be featuring articles and ideas to get the most financial aid that you can, and believe me, you're gonna need it.

Winning the Financial Aid Game:
The basic goal is to pay as little as possible, so that means winning as many scholarships and grants because you don't have to pay back the money. If you take out loans, you'll have to pay every penny in the future - with interest, which means that you'll pay extra just for the service of borrowing the money.

Keep checking here for more tips and trends!

Good luck on this weekend's SAT!

Just a quick note to wish you lots of luck on this weekend's SAT (if you're taking it, of course!) - this is the last exam before the summer....

College is Awesome

but - don't just take my word for it - go!

Here's a list of some 'things you'll discover in college'. Enjoy!

College Campuses - Constantly Changing

and just think - you can have a part in changing a college by bringing new, innovative ideas and your great personality to the campus.

Unfortunately, not all changes are good. But check out the U.S. News & World Report blog article on the factors that are changing the look and feel of college campuses, such as high tuition, first-year experience classes, or new ways to learn. Do these changes attract you to college or make you reject the idea?

For The Ladies! The Scoop on Women's Colleges

Women's colleges aren't completely obsolete. A few are still around, even though females outnumber males on college campuses. Here's an article that describes some great reasons to attend a women's college: http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2009/03/11/the-changing-face-of-womens-colleges.html

I didn't attend a women's college, but I know a few women who did, and they're better women for it. They're smart and empowered - perhaps you'd like to be, too?

Murder at Wesleyan

It's scary and heinous to think that someone would stalk someone so vehemently on two college campuses, convince himself that she shouldn't live, and then take her life.

Deadline to Register for June 6 SAT is in a few days....

The deadline is May 5 and it's coming up soon!

Current Events Quiz!

It's time for another current events quiz! Wow your teachers and your friends with your knowledge about what's going on in the world.

Don't worry, you can thank me after you get into college.

Current Events Quiz!

Well, it's the day after income tax is due...check out this current events quiz about taxes, "tea" and some other news flashes.

Current Events Quiz!

How much do you know about yesterday's news?

Take this quiz on current events and find out!

Deadline to Register for the May 2 SAT is Tomorrow!

If you plan to take the SAT on May 2, then make sure to register by tomorrow!

On This Day: March 24

To make a long story short, in 1989, the Exxon Valdez ship ran aground in Alaska, creating a monstrous oil spill that damaged wildlife for years to come. What do you think is the responsibility of corporations to the environment?

Even Unemployed Folks Go to School!

So that means you'll have a lot of competition for college admissions - so be prepared by knowing what your grades and test scores should be.

Is a rejection really the end? A new article says no.

It's almost time for my Spring Break, and I can't wait! But - I haven't been neglecting my duties as The Ivy League Tutor, no.

I've been thinking about how it seems like Spring might really be here, even if I don't see much evidence. There's threats of snow all the time! Maybe I shouldn't call them threats. "Promises?"

I've been also thinking that this is the time that high school students find out their college futures.
I ran across an article from U.S. News & World Report explains how a rejection letter might not be the final word. My suggestion, though, is to not be too eager or annoying about appealing a rejection from a college, because annoyed admissions officers could take a "well, since you asked, the answer is no" kind of attitude, and you've made a bad name for yourself. The article doesn't really go in depth into how to appeal a rejection, so I suggest proceeding with a LOT of caution.

Wanna Job? The Top 10 Hardest Jobs to Fill

I came across this article not too long ago, and it's a Top 10 list of the hardest jobs to fill by staffing firms like Manpower, the largest employer in the U.S (or something like that - they give people temporary jobs). Anyway, I would have thought that the reason why the jobs are hardest to fill is because they're so undesirable (read: crappy) when in fact the jobs are actually hard to fill because a person needs some specific training like engineering or accounting.

So, my suggestion is to become one of those desirable types by getting that training in college.

College Endowments Plunge!

This article is a must read! What it basically says is that colleges, because their endowments aren't generating as much money as they used to, are having to adjust. While college administrators don't want to increase tuition or cut financial aid, these are actions they might have to take.

What it means to you:
the competition for getting into college just got a little bit tougher.

Be prepared - do as best as you can on all parts of your college admissions exams, including the Writing Section. Especially the Writing Section - those points count!

On This Day: March 10

Alexander Graham Bell called Watson on the cell and asked "Where U At?"

Ok, it didn't happen exactly that way. What Bell said was "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you." But - what are some ways that the telephone has changed the way people live their lives on a daily basis? Sounds like the start of an interesting essay....

Deadline for March 15 SAT Coming Up!

The deadline to register for the March 14, 2009 SAT is Tuesday, February 10. Please note that the CollegeBoard website lists this SAT as an SAT test only - no subject tests will be given on that date.

So register and continue studying!

Wanna earn 100,000 or More a Year???

The other day I saw some ads for websites that cater to people who want jobs that pay $100,000 or more. I mean, I'm one of those people, so of course, I pricked up my ears. The ads also say that they want only "100K quality people" - and here I saw yet another reminder why being a strong writer is important: most of those jobs require someone to use his or her mind, not the backbone, for the work. If you haven't already noticed, jobs that require a backbone don't pay all that well.

So - to get a high-paying job, you need to be able to write! Now, a fantastic SAT essay for the Writing Section isn't gonna automatically land you a high-paying job. But the whole point of a test essay is to show that you have the ability and capacity to think and write quickly, coherently, AND under pressure. And those are the attractive skills that any person needs in order to earn a high salary. Any questions???

Inauguration Day!

You know, I've never seen the major news networks spend an entire day, 15-20 hours or so, to an inauguration. Ever. I know it's momentous, but I was wondering how they would fill all that time! And somehow, they all did.

I went through a range of emotions today:

worried - for the safety of all those people standing around as well as the Obama family

sad - that it has taken so long for an ethnic minority to be elected to such a post as President of the United States

overjoyed - that millions of people could assemble peacefully with no significant incidents or problems (stunning)

fortunate - to be able to watch the inauguration live on the first day of school with my new class of students

What are your impressions of inauguration day? What do you think is the future of the United States? Who smells a great standardized test essay? If you feel inspired, write! Jot down some of your ideas, opinions - you'll be able to recall them better in your mind on Test Day.

Martin Luther King's Birthday

So, today is Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday, and I'm interested to know how high schools take a moment to reflect the impact that his work in civil rights has affected students. I know little kids will color pictures of him and learn a little about him. But I feel like older students have a better ability to know what nonviolent protests are about and what civil rights are for. And since it's been a little while since I was in high school, what activities do high school students do?

Holidays are funny things, especially when birthdays are officially commemorated. It never is about the actual day of the birthday but then it becomes a political event. I bring you "Lee-Jackson-King Day" which was celebrated in Virginia until 2000.

Back to Reality

I'm still writing "2008" on everything, so I think I'll give myself another week to get it right. In case you haven't heard, the economy is really tanking, and that is usually a motivator for people to return to school. This means that people who left school to work might return to college to finish a degree and potentially use that degree to earn more money. It also means that more graduating high school students who could enter the workforce will instead opt for college. Now, what does all of this mean to you???

1) Getting into college will be much more competitive.
2) College won't be any less expensive since the demand is higher.

Because of these two factors, you as the applicant will need to be as competitive as possible in order to set yourself apart, and that means having strong writing skills. Being a strong writer makes you attractive to colleges. Writing skills could also win you scholarships to make paying for college a little easier.

हैप्पी न्यू इयर

For some reason, the "transliteration" feature was turned on, but I like it, so I'll leave it the title, which only says three little words:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!