Hello all,

I haven’t updated this blog in quite some time.  But current circumstances certainly deserve comment!

I am continuing to tutor, although students and I no longer meet in the house.  Instead we meet outside on the deck, keeping a physical distance, and we mix that up with virtual meetings, using Zoom or another communications platform.  I’ve found that tutoring in that fashion works well.

More problematic these days is the whole process of preparing to go to college.  When and where and how will college admissions tests be given in the fall of 2020?  Will colleges suspend their admission test requirements?

Recently I’ve also been helping students write their college application personal essays.  That’s one requirement that has become more important than ever. 

Contact me if you would like to discuss your particular situation.

Raymond Barglow
Berkeley

An application essay can help you gain admission to the college of your choice, provided that the essay is thoughtful and well written.  Most colleges regard the essay as quite important in determining which academically qualified students they actually admit.

Your grades in school and SAT or ACT test score will be essential too, of course.  But a personal essay provides a more intimate and in-depth glimpse into who you are, and that can stand strongly in your favor.  Here in California, for example, the UCs give a lot of weight to your responses to the two essay prompts. serious dating sites for marriage

As tutors who work one-on-one with students, usually after school hours or on week-ends, we are well positioned to witness the strengths as well as the weaknesses of American education.  And we recognize that often our schools, public and private, are not educating well.  Continue reading →

Some critics argue that the obsession of the American educational system with standardized tests does more harm than good.  These tests, including the ACT and SAT, measure learning only in numerical terms. But can a number tell us how much a student really understands? And should performance on a standardized test such as the SAT or ACT count so much in determining college admission?   Although a student does not do well on a test, he or she may still have an interest in learning and a great potential to learn. Continue reading →

Preparing for college is a project that many high school students, along with their families, find challenging, if not bewildering. What classes should I take to maximize my chances of getting into a college of choice? What extracurricular activities and community service will best strengthen my college application? Should I take the ACT or SAT? Should I take both of these tests? Should I attend a large university or a small liberal arts college? How many colleges should I visit during my junior year? Should I ask a teacher to write a personal recommendation for me? Can my family afford to pay for my college education? Continue reading →