A Way to Think About It and Write It!

Do you like Facebook? Do you like making money?

2009-07-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-07-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

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!)

2009-07-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-06-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-06-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-22T22:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-13T23:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

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....

2009-05-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

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

Current Events Quiz!

2009-04-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-08T20:45:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-30T01:12:00.000-07:00

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

On This Day: March 24

2009-03-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-05T15:47:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-25T10:20:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-02-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-02-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

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???

2009-01-26T08:45:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-20T21:40:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-15T11:38:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

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!

Do You Make New Year Resolutions? Include a promise to work on test prep in the new year

2008-12-29T19:19:00.000-08:00

The start of a new year and the end of the old one. Wow. It's a great time to reflect on the things you accomplished this year, what didn't go well, and what plans you have for the future.

I'm not really a fan of making resolutions, mostly because the word "resolution" seems to make it ok if you break a resolution in the first week after the New Year! I guess I just call them "goals" because it makes me work harder to meet them. If you use "resolutions" or "goals" or...something else, please include a promise to work on test prep in the new year.

Merry HanniKwanzaaChrismasFestivus!

2008-12-21T19:32:00.000-08:00

If you're celebrating a holiday this week, enjoy!

The Push to Winter Break!

2008-12-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

I think we've all been here before - we just came off of a great holiday, Thanksgiving (YUM!) and now it's time to work again for just a few more weeks until the next break. My advice is to keep focused and work on essay prep a little bit each day. Trust me, the work will pay off.

20 Days till the End of the Year

2008-12-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

...and now is a good time to start thinking about next year. When are you taking your college admission tests (SAT, ACT?)? How much time have you left yourself to study for it?

The next SAT is January 24th, and the deadline for it is December 26th, 2008.
The next ACT is February 7th, but the deadline for it is January 6th, and even then - ARE YOU READY????

You have so many resources at your disposal! Check out testessayprep.com for more details.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs Part Three

2008-12-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

In this post about jobs, I'm highlighting an article that describes blue collar jobs. "Blue collar" is a job classification that doesn't really mean much today, but it used to mean a labor-intensive job.

Landscaper
Metal Worker
Subway operator (these jobs are starting to look good to me - they've turned up on several lists!)

and, of course, more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/09/01/cb.new.blue.collar/index.html?iref=newssearch

The article calls them "new jobs" but, in my opinion, they're not really new.

Gobble Gobble

2008-11-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

Now that you're full of turkey.....

Catch up on some outside (non-classroom) reading when you wake up from your nap. Reading lots of different kinds of things can really help you pick up vocabulary quickly. So pick up a magazine - news magazines are great for this - and catch up on current events.

Enjoy your holiday!

Don't use SATs to rank college quality? So so true.

2008-11-19T20:00:00.000-08:00

The SATs were originally designed to predict a high school student's freshman year performance. However, when colleges started to compile and publish statistics on their students, parents and others began to associate SAT scores with the quality of the college.

I'll just say this: just because a college or university reports that its students have high SAT scores doesn't make the students brilliant or the school a place only for geniuses. It doesn't mean that the school is higher quality than a school reporting lower average SAT scores for its students. And most importantly, the school might not be the right school for you.

Source: "Don't use SATs to rank college quality"

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/17/hawkins.tests/index.html?iref=newssearch

Are you bilingual? Use it to your advantage!

2008-11-14T09:50:00.000-08:00

A lot of my blog posts in October were based on which jobs are hot - not now, but in the future.

This blog is mostly about writing in English, but if you are bilingual (you speak, read, and write in more than one language), you have so many opportunities ahead of you! I can't stress enough how valuable this skill makes you to potential employers. Be sure to put it on your college applications and your resumes.

There are many industries in real need of bilingual people, especially Spanish speakers, such as:

education
law enforcement
healthcare
every industry!

for more information, read this article: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/09/10/cb.industries.bilingual/index.html

Girls blinded for wanting an education

2008-11-12T19:07:00.000-08:00

I was completely outraged when I heard about two girls in Afghanistan walking to school who were blinded by some men throwing acid. Well, so that the emphasis is correct, I should write it this way: some men in Afghanistan threw acid on two girls walking on their way to school. See, the passive voice is useful because it lessens the impact of the person who is doing the action - in this case, some Afghan men who don't want girls to be educated.

According to the CNN article, the men targeted the girls because they were wearing school uniforms and used water guns to spray them with battery acid, which has blinded their eyes and burned their skin, not to mention burned through their clothes. I mention this story because education is important for everyone and it's important not to take it for granted.

The Election's Finally Here!

2008-11-03T18:42:00.000-08:00

I don't know 'bout you, but I'm completely exhausted by all the election ads and talking about the elections. I'm just tired. But - tomorrow is an important day, and if you won't be voting because you're too young, encourage someone else to go. If you're old enough and you're registered, then make sure to vote!

10 most popular majors and what they pay

2008-10-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

Check out this article - and then pick out the best major for you!

Economic Downturn Bad - Education is Always Good

2008-10-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what to make of this "economic downturn" - it's probably been coming for a while, and I'm no economist, so I won't speculate except to say this:

Whenever the economy gets a little worse, education becomes even more important.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs Part Two

2008-10-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

Last week I showed you an article that highlighted some jobs that were high paying and didn't require several advanced degrees or decades of experience.

This week, I'd like to share with you some more jobs - these pay about $50,000 per year.

For example:
Librarians,
Teachers,
Sales Representatives,
Subway operators

and more!
source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/09/24/cb.jobs.pay.fifty.thousand/index.html

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

2008-10-07T22:05:00.000-07:00

It's a fact: People with college degrees earn more over a lifetime than people with high school diplomas.

Jobs that pay well (about $70,000 per year) and don't require years and years of experience really do exist.

For example:
Advertising & Promotions Manager

Computer Systems Analyst

and more!
source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/08/27/cb.jobs.that.pay.70k/index.html

Why Writing Well is Good for Your Future: Your Job

2008-10-03T22:15:00.000-07:00

Even the jobs that don't call for a "writer" right there in the job description probably require some form of writing, and that means that you'll need to be able to put together a sentence or two, and fast.

Your boss won't have the time to look over your work, but you can probably rest assured that glaring misteaks in a memo or a presentation, or even a billboard will anger your boss because it makes him or her and the company look unprofessional and unprepared. Your reader will probably excuse one or two small errors, but a lot of errors or just one obvious, easy fix can cause your reader to lose confidence in you, your writing, and the message you're trying to convey.

So, save yourself some future embarrassment by learning this skill: proofread your work quickly. A quick readthrough of your writing before handing it in will catch a lot of small errors.

Did you catch "misteaks" in the previous paragraph?

Writers In Residence

2008-09-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

According to a BBC report from a few days ago, some schools have in-house writers to help young kids become better writers. It's fantastic, because then they learn to develop good habits. They also learn to shape their own writing style, and of course, learn to read. Do you think this kind of "scheme" as they call "plans" in Britain, would ever happen in the good ol' US of A?

School's In Session!

2008-09-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

As much as we don't want to believe it....

Today in History: September 11

2008-09-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

In the "Think About It & Write It!" guide, I describe the benefits of what I call "speed writing," where you write freely and quickly about a topic without worrying about grammar, punctuation, style - all the things that make people nervous about writing. I'm taking this day to do a little speed writing of my own to reflect on all the changes, both good and bad, that have happened since September 11, 2001. I have a friend who died on that day and I think throughout the year about his family and how even though these years have passed, the time probably doesn't lessen their pain. So I'm spending today hoping that all of the good that we do, even the little things, outweigh the bad.

Whew!

2008-09-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but this school year has crept up on me, knocked my feet out from under me, and swept me away! Things are starting to settle down now that there's some repetition, but time is always marching on:

The deadline to register for the next SAT is coming up quickly! According to the CollegeBoard, Next Friday, Sept. 19 is the LATE deadline for the October 4th exam, only a few weeks away! But don't worry too much - there's still plenty of time to work on studying and getting your essay writing skills in gear. I work well under pressure - do you?

SAT scores stay at lowest level in nearly a decade? I'm not surprised.

2008-09-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

I just read an article from a few days ago about SAT scores being so low. Who's surprised? Not this tutor. Not everyone can afford an expensive test prep program even though a LOT of kids want to go to college. The article shows a graph of dipping critical and math scores, but what's more important to me is the big dip on the graph for the Writing section. Students just aren't getting the info they need from schools to take a test, and teachers in schools shouldn't coach students to ace a standardized test. If they do, then they're not learning anything, and that's really unfortunate. What's also unfortunate is the sharp contrast in scores, with black students' scores being tragically lower than white and Asian students' scores.

Grammar strikes again!

2008-08-31T06:45:00.000-07:00

Even though I think grammar is useful, it doesn't mean that I think about it all the time. When an article comes up that directly is talking about grammar, though, I pay attention.

The BBC reported today that a corporation is about to make a huge change in the way it does business. Tesco is a huge supermarket chain in Europe, and now it's considering changing the "10 items or less" to "Up to 10 items" which is more grammatically correct.

What's funny to me is that there is this kind of "Grammatical Activism" in the air - I don't know much about The Plain English Campaign, but I'm impressed that those folks were powerful enough to make a difference - even if it means educating someone on the difference between when to use "fewer" and "less." And kudos to Tesco for realizing that even small changes might be important!

"Fewer" is for things that can be counted individually: "I would like more points on the SAT."

"Less" is for things that can't be counted individually: "I would like less stress in my life."

The Olympics are over.....sigh

2008-08-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

I always get this "let-down" feeling when something amazing ends. The Olympic closing ceremonies finished on Sunday, and it was the end to an Olympics that I think people will be talking about. In fact, I bet some people will be writing about it. Say....you could write about it as the subject of a test essay!

For example:
1) the perseverance of athletes winning medals against some tough competition
2) sportsmanship as part of the ideals of the Games
3) writing about your favorite athlete
4) examples of unsportsmanlike behavior at the Olympic games
5) China as a host to the world yet quelling protests and anything that stands in the way of a united, positive image.

and the list goes on and on! Here are only a few writing ideas to work into an essay.

Today's Oprah Show on The State of American Education: A "Shocking" Truth

2008-08-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

If you saw today's Oprah Show (a rebroadcast from months ago), then you saw failing, crumbling schools right here in America. You're supposed to be shocked. But anyone who's done even a bit of investigation into why U.S. schools are failing or why students aren't learning or whether it's even a good idea to send their children to public school already knows that American schools are in a lot of trouble.

I really would like to meet some people who were shocked by the show, because they have sooooooo much to learn! I was especially sad to see a parent crying on national television because her child goes to school in a poor school district, so the school can't afford resources for its students. A few students in a similarly lousy school building were taking photos of the awful physical condition of the building. They weren't doing it to shame their principal, which I bet is what happened anyway, but to simply call attention to their school.

I felt really bad for the young woman who was valedictorian of her high school and then was floundering once she was in college. She felt like high school didn't prepare her at all for what was coming up in college. I see Test Essay Prep as something that is trying to fill some huge holes. I'm scared that the problem of education is so big, that it will take some time to reverse the negative effects. In the meantime, though, students drop out of school, some graduate, some go on to college, some drop out there, and some graduate from college. High school students who see college as one of their life goals need to be prepared for everything that could happen on the way to that goal - the SAT (or even just the SAT essay part!) is just one of those hurdles that can change a future. It's a lot of pressure, and a lot to think about.

I See "Back-to-School" Ads Already!!!

2008-07-31T05:57:00.000-07:00

You know summer's about to take a turn for the worse when you see back to school ads on TV.

But I guess the ad folks know something: start early = early success. And that's why it's probably a good idea to start thinking about school and those standardized tests you'll be conquering in a few months. So when you're not shopping for clothes and notebooks in August, take a look at what Test Essay Prep has to offer. Keep checking back here, too, for announcements about what new things we'll be rolling out.

*sigh*

I can't believe it all starts up again in about a month! Thanks for your support.

The Ivy League Tutor

Have A Great Summer!

2008-06-16T17:38:00.000-07:00

I can't believe another school year is coming to an end. And it can't come soon enough! I know this probably isn't the time to think about the SAT, but find some books you've always wanted to read, find a shady spot to beat the heat or head to the beach, and read.

You'll be surprised how many words you'll pick up and different ways to write just by reading what other people have written.

If you need me, I'll be trying to finish the last Harry Potter book (yes, I'm still trying to get through it).

Free Look!

2008-03-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

This is the first post to accompany the ebook Think About It & Write It sponsored by Testessayprep.com! My name is The Ivy League Tutor and I'm really glad you've come to the site and the blog. Writing isn't easy - no. Writing ain't easy, and it's even harder to do when you're under time constraints and when the topic is something you have to write about. You might think you have to pretend to be an expert, but all you have to do for a great essay is write quickly and effectively, and show that you have an opinion and that you can support it. That's it.

Think About It & Write It is designed to show students how to write a good standardized test essay - quickly.

If you're interested in downloading the free look, go back to Test Essay Prep and register to download it the first session of Think About It & Write It. It's free! And you can't beat that.

A Way to Think About It and Write It!

Do you like Facebook? Do you like making money?

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

Need some summer cash? Avoid the scams!

Don't be ashamed if you need money

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

Michael Jackson Dead? What?

How much money do you need for college?

June is College Financial Aid Month

Good luck on this weekend's SAT!

College is Awesome

College Campuses - Constantly Changing

For The Ladies! The Scoop on Women's Colleges

Murder at Wesleyan

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

Current Events Quiz!

Current Events Quiz!

Current Events Quiz!

Deadline to Register for the May 2 SAT is Tomorrow!

On This Day: March 24

Even Unemployed Folks Go to School!

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

Wanna Job? The Top 10 Hardest Jobs to Fill

College Endowments Plunge!

On This Day: March 10

Deadline for March 15 SAT Coming Up!

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

Inauguration Day!

Martin Luther King's Birthday

Back to Reality

हैप्पी न्यू इयर

Do You Make New Year Resolutions? Include a promise to work on test prep in the new year

Merry HanniKwanzaaChrismasFestivus!

The Push to Winter Break!

20 Days till the End of the Year

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs Part Three

Gobble Gobble

Don't use SATs to rank college quality? So so true.

Are you bilingual? Use it to your advantage!

Girls blinded for wanting an education

The Election's Finally Here!

10 most popular majors and what they pay

Economic Downturn Bad - Education is Always Good

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs Part Two

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Why Writing Well is Good for Your Future: Your Job

Writers In Residence

School's In Session!

Today in History: September 11

Whew!

SAT scores stay at lowest level in nearly a decade? I'm not surprised.

Grammar strikes again!

The Olympics are over.....*sigh*

Today's Oprah Show on The State of American Education: A "Shocking" Truth

I See "Back-to-School" Ads Already!!!

Have A Great Summer!

Free Look!

The Olympics are over.....sigh