Susan Lee College Prep

03/01/2022

For all students and parents interested in learning more about the UC experience, UC is holding a virtual event:

Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Time: 7:00-8:30pm, PT

For more information: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/35798/

02/07/2022

It will be interesting to see if this bill actually passes, and if so, the impact on college admissions and even alumni donations at elite colleges.

It has support from the ACLU and the group seeking to end affirmative action.

02/03/2022

SAT & ACT

To take, or not to take?

In this unprecedented, test optional admissions era, the option to forgo weeks or months of prep and sitting through 4 hours of testing on a Saturday morning seems like a boon for high schoolers. But many still wonder: do colleges REALLY mean optional is, well, optional?

The short answer is YES! Many students are being accepted even into the Ivy League schools without test scores. BUT, before you begin celebrating, that's not really the whole story. These are usually students whose academic records are stellar and/or who have some noteworthy talent or accomplishments.

The best way to think of this is from the perspective of colleges: the vast majority shifted to a test optional policy ONLY in response to a global pandemic that has continued to make access to testing unreliable and inequitable. This means that most colleges pivoted RELUCTANTLY and still feel more comfortable seeing that test score. (collective sigh, I know) It provides one more data point that makes a student a stronger candidate in their eyes. Dartmouth College's Dean of Admissions suggests this very clearly in episode 1 of his Admissions Beat podcast.

Moreover, merit aid and other scholarships are still more within a student's reach with a strong score.

This does NOT necessarily mean that all students should take the SAT or ACT. Like students with severe test anxiety: I recommend prepping for a couple months, and if there isn't a substantial score increase, stop and use the time to strengthen your profile in other ways. Students should start with taking SAT & ACT diagnostic tests and seeking out a test prep expert to review both the scores and student application before deciding. Many decisions are going to be nuanced, depending on the strength of a student's application. Please message me if you would like help .

The SAT and ACT may eventually become a thing of the past if colleges feel that they have enough evidence of student success even without test scores. But until then, in general, it can only help a student's application.

01/26/2022

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

On the heels of wrapping up the 2021 college applications, I've been thinking about how best to help students be better prepared. Most students begin the application process unaware of the types of questions they'll be asked, but like with anything in life, foreknowledge and preparation will ease the process and pave the way for strong, effective essays.

Following is a sampling of a question type that is challenging for most students. See if you can find the common theme:

(1) List the titles of the books, essays, poetry, short stories or plays you read outside of academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school. (Columbia University)

(2) Explain how a book you’ve read has helped you to understand the world’s complexity. (Wake Forest University)

(3) A list of books you have read during the past twelve months. (Harvard University)

(4) Discuss how a piece of art (painting, literature, photograph, etc.) or popular culture (song, comic book, etc.) helped you realize something new about yourself or the world. (Arizona State University, Barrett Honors College)

The common theme? Yes, READING! Some questions allow for other works of art, like #4 above, but the point is that colleges want students to be well-read. Many scholarship and educational program applications, as well as alumni interviews, also include such a question.

So what does this mean for your college-bound child? Make time for independent reading! It may be challenging during the school year, so at the very least, they should carve out time during breaks and vacations.

If getting your child to read is challenging, do remember that everyone has multiple interests, so they should start with whatever topic/genre they gravitate towards. And don’t forget nonfiction! In addition to books, they can read articles, journals, research papers, etc. And if they’re still resistant, they can start with a podcast, documentary, or even YouTube video because many of them provide suggested readings.

But just reading alone isn’t the point. Note questions 2 and 4 above: they’re meant to ferret out if students are REFLECTING and how they are IMPACTED. So – as if all this weren’t enough to cause you heart palpitations – I would strongly encourage students to keep a record of their readings. It can be as simple as a Google doc, just jotting down a quick summary and their thoughts on various aspects of the reading. Or even creating a voice memo on their phones if writing causes them a nightmarish visceral reaction, like it does for my 13yo son.

I hope this post launches your child on a reading journey that is deeply meaningful and inspiring!

08/27/2020

THE UPSIDES TO VIRTUAL LEARNING

Virtual school has officially begun for most students, and I know it's high anxiety for many, as well as us parents. If it's anything like my son's first couple days have been, it's completely understandable.

Though I've been teaching virtually for many years now, I know it's not for every student, and it certainly is less than ideal for large groups. BUT, there are actually many upsides to embracing this time and learning modality. Here are just 3:

1) Teaches Independence.
Most public and private school education is instructor-centric, and students rarely encounter opportunities for self-directed learning. This is not setting up students for success in college, when no one will be holding their hands any longer. Highly selective universities admit students who take initiative for deeper learning as well as apply their knowledge outside of school. Stanford calls this "intellectual vitality". The updside to virtual learning is the chance to select your own assignments or work independently without a teacher hovering. Many teachers also assign optional work. Many children will need guidance for the first several weeks (maybe months!) to help them on this path toward independence. In their free time, help them come up with ideas to do further independent research and teach you about it!

2) Teaches Flexibility.
My son got a little upset when his independent learning time for a particular class actually turned into live learning for an hour. He likes schedules and planning ahead, which is great, but he also doesn't always respond well to unexpected situations or changes. Virtual learning requires all of us to shift how we understand and experience school and learning. Our responses to unfamiliar, new situations determines our future success because as we all know, life is full of ups and downs. So, a lack of familiar faces in our child's class is an opportunity to navigate interactions with strangers and also make new friends. A new platform instead of Google Classroom is a chance to learn new technology.

3) Teaches Appropriate Virtual Behavior & Interactions.
As we all saw during this pandemic, many jobs and tasks can be done virtually if we are creative. Now that many businesses have seen this, the move to virtual will probably only escalate. As businesses become more global, virtual meetings have become the norm. This means that children must learn appropriate online behavior and effective communication skills, even how to build rapport with teachers. We teach our kids to speak clearly and look directly at the person they're speaking to; these are even more important online.

It will be hard at first, but don't be discouraged! Show grace to yourself and your kids – we are all learning and adjusting. I personally think it's ok if kids, especially younger ones, are unable to sit through an entire lesson just yet. Or if they are distraught about virtual lessons. Take it day by day, do a little more each day, and they'll get there!!

07/16/2020

No matter what career students end up with, reading comprehension and analytical ability are the most important skills they will need.

I’m thankful that my 12yo son loves reading, but I’ve been trying to get him to move beyond Percy Jackson, which he’s been reading over and over obsessively. Now some may disagree with me on this, but I believe it’s important to encourage kids to read a variety of genres and media. I’m ok with him revisiting certain books, but I do want him to expand his tastes and discover different worlds (just like I want him to expand his taste buds beyond butter and cheese pasta!! 😊).

After a lot of cajoling, I finally got him to start “The Call of the Wild.” Yes, there was a lot of complaining initially: “It’s sooooo boooorrring!!” BUT look at him now! He’s been reading for the last 30 minutes straight!

I know many parents are panicking right now because so many schools are shifting to either all virtual learning or some hybrid form. Many students did not do well with the virtual modality, and many parents weren’t able to support their students. It was a disaster for many.

So If you are faced with this situation again and you are able to support your child through virtual learning and would like to supplement, one place to start is with supporting their literacy. One thing I’ve found is that my son doesn’t do well when starting a new and unfamiliar type of story. He’s more inclined to warm up if I read with him.

I know the last thing many parents want to do after work and cooking and cleaning and running errands is read with their children. But if your child is resistant, it may help for you to do this activity together. It’s an opportunity to talk and give them attention, while actually strengthening their reading skills! Ask them critical thinking, open ended questions. Make connections to real life and current times. Discuss the setting and characters’ feelings. And if you can, stretch the story into other extended activities, like creating a google slide of the history and culture of the setting.

We are living through extraordinary times, and I know the start of the school year may be challenging. I will continue posting activities and methods for parents to support their kiddos.

Hope we can all survive this school year!! 😃

05/22/2020

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DROPS SAT/ACT


Many of you may have heard by now that the UC system will be dropping the SAT & ACT for admissions consideration. You can read the official announcement here: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/university-california-board-regents-approves-changes-standardized-testing-requirement?utm_source=fiat-lux&utm_medium=internal-email&utm_campaign=article-general&utm_content=text


UC is currently working on designing a new standardized test to replace the SAT/ACT, which may be launched for freshman admission in 2025. But if a new test is "either unfeasible or not ready," UC will stop the use of any standardized test altogether starting with 2025 fall admissions.


There is some confusing language around this decision, so here are the major points and how they impact students:


1) TEST OPTIONAL for students entering college in fall 2021 & fall 2022 –
Current 10th and 11th graders MAY submit SAT/ACT scores – if they wish – for admissions consideration, scholarships, post-enrollment course placement, state eligibility for admissions guarantee (Eligibility in Local Context). Students who choose not to submit a test score will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process.


2) TEST BLIND for students entering college in fall 2023 & fall 2024 –
Current California 8th and 9th graders will NOT need to take SAT/ACT for admissions consideration. However, they may submit a test score for scholarships, post-enrollment course placement, or state eligibility for admissions guarantee (Eligibility in Local Context). Non-CA resident students may be able to still submit a SAT/ACT score for admissions, but we need to wait for further details on this.


3) 2025 & Beyond –
Current CA 7th graders and younger will take the new UC endorsed test for admissions consideration ONLY if one has been approved. Otherwise, students will no longer need to take any standardized test for admissions. Non-CA resident students will also take the new test or follow some other approach, but we need to wait for further details on this.


4) The SAT Essay & ACT Writing tests (essays) have been eliminated as an admissions requirement starting with fall 2021 admissions. So, even current 11th graders do not need to take the essay test, which means money saved.


The bottom line is that the use of SAT/ACT for UC admissions will eventually be eliminated, replaced by a new test or no test at all.


A few thoughts on other ramifications of this UC decision:


1) For now, the UC policy shift does not seem have impacted the use of PSAT in junior year for National Merit Scholarships consideration. So those who have a very strong record of academics and extracurriculars could still prepare to take the PSAT during October of their junior year. I would recommend doing so by no later than the summer after 10th grade.


2) Whether or not current 10th and 11th graders should take the SAT/ACT will be a nuanced decision, depending on factors such as ethnicity, competitiveness of the major at a particular campus, actual test score, family's financial and personal circumstance, etc. While no test score does not disadvantage students, a strong score could boost a student's chances because it's one more piece of evidence that admissions officers have to understand a student's academic potential. Many students will still be submitting scores, so again, depending on a student's individual profile, s/he may still want to take the SAT/ACT. Students should consult with their school counselors or a professional college consultant as to their individual situations.


3) UC has shifted to this policy in order to create greater equity among various economic and racial groups, but this now creates a new burden on CA students who desire to apply to non-UC schools as well. Unless more selective and highly selective colleges shift to test-optional or test-blind admissions, CA students may need to take 2 standardized tests. It will be interesting to see how the UC policy impacts other college policies.


4) It is uncertain how the individual UC campuses will now weigh applications without a SAT/ACT score. What will they emphasize more? Will they start requiring letters of recommendation? The elimination of the SAT/ACT or possibly any other standardized test seems to indicate that the UC is moving even more towards holistic admissions. There will be greater consideration on other aspects of an application, like extracurriculars or perhaps on more rigorous classes (e.g. APs). Will this mean that academically strong students will feel pressured to take on even more AP classes?? We just don't know yet.


While the college admissions process was undeniably broken and inequitable, the UC policy change also creates much uncertainty. We will need to wait to see what other announcements come forth from individual campuses as well as other colleges.


In the meantime, please feel free to private message me with any individual specific questions!

05/13/2020

NEW COVID-19 COMMON APPLICATION QUESTION

The Common Application is the primary platform through which many students will apply to most colleges. It was just announced that the following new question (250 word limit) regarding personal impacts of Covid-19 will be added to the application this year:

“Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. Do you wish to share anything on this topic? Please use this space to describe how these events have impacted you.”

School counselors will also have the opportunity to share details that will help admissions officers understand each school’s academic context, such as:

Grading scales and policies
Graduation requirements
Instructional methods
Schedules and course offerings
Testing requirements
Your academic calendar
Other extenuating circumstances

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR STUDENTS?

Here are at least 3 ways this question impacts applicants:

1) If you or you family is facing extenuating circumstances that have negatively impacted your ability to fulfill your academic responsibilities, take the SAT/ACT, or continue extracurriculars or summer opportunity, this is an opportunity to describe your personal circumstance. For example, you have additional family responsibilities because your parents are still working, you don’t have easy access to technology, you’re sharing a home with multiple family members and have no quiet space to work, online classes have not worked well for you, your parents lost income, etc. Admissions officers need context to understand your application and, very importantly, empathize with you.

2) If any of your first semester class grades were less than ideal but were on an upward trend before your school transitioned to P/NP, take this opportunity to describe in detail your efforts and perhaps any concrete, supporting examples. If you’re planning on asking this class teacher for a letter of recommendation, it’s important to ask him/her to note the specific ways in which you had made strides. This is important because admissions officers give great weight to students’ academic efforts and accomplishments.

3) Unfortunately, the reality is that this question could also potentially hurt or be stressful for applicants. If your life has not been meaningfully impacted by the coronavirus, if basically the only change for you has been that you’ve had to shelter at home and there has been nothing that has significantly impacted your academics and extracurriculars, admissions officers may very well wonder what you did with all the time on your hands. They know that online learning for many schools (in particular public schools) has not been the same level of rigor. Is this fair? No, but we all know that college admissions is a broken, unfair process. So it’s important that students and parents understand the implications of this question. Does this mean that students should be taking on new things or scrambling to simply fill their time? No. But one thing that most colleges look for is how you are showing kindness and compassion and impacting your community, whether that be your family or strangers. That’s something to think about. Or take your talents and interests to the next level through technology. Find new ways to improve yourself. The point is that if you’re primarily whittling away your time with Netflix, it will be obvious to admissions officers.

For further details regarding this question:

With instant access to more than 800 colleges and universities around the world, the Common App is the most seamless way to manage the application process.

05/07/2020

While American high school seniors will be missing out on walking and a traditional graduation, here are a couple wonderful, unique virtual opportunities to celebrate with all graduates across the country! This might be a distressing time, but the class of 2020 will forever remember when the world suffered and rose together, hopefully creating a more beautiful, caring world.

https://graduatetogether2020.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxpTjcouaeQ

America honors the class of 2020

04/23/2020

If you haven't yet heard, another big announcement in the world of SAT/ACT and college admissions: Cornell moves to "test optional" for 2021 applicants. Important highlights:

"We anticipate that many students who will have had reasonable and uninterrupted opportunities to take the ACT and/or SAT during 2020 administrations will continue to submit results, and those results will continue to demonstrate preparation for college-level work.

In Cornell’s review during the 2020-2021 application cycle, results from the ACT or SAT might still be a meaningful differentiator in particular for students who:

- live near or attend a school that will be open, and where testing will be offered, or who live near a testing center that will be offering more testing seats or dates than they did in 2019; and

- have not experienced lost income for one or more of their household providers or other significant new hardships and losses during 2020."

And for those who CANNOT take the SAT/ACT, Cornell says they "will consider with increased scrutiny their other application documents, looking for different evidence of excellent academic preparation, including."

So what does this mean? I stated in a previous post that colleges will be wondering what a student did during the pandemic shutdown, and Cornell is the first college to at least candidly state that it will, in fact, be scrutinizing this on applications. Basically, if your family isn't poor or hasn't been extraordinarily impacted by Covid-19, Cornell (and most other highly selective schools) is expecting you to take the SAT/ACT. They know that many high schools are shifting to P/NP and many students are going to slack off, so they are going to rely on that test score to differentiate.

Whether or not this is fair or ethical during this crisis – especially considering the cancelled test dates – is another matter. The point is, despite all the hoopla about colleges shifting to test optional for at least the next application season, many current juniors will probably still need to take the test.

If they haven't yet done so, the first step is to take a diagnostic SAT at Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/sat and a diagnostic ACT using this official test http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/Preparing-for-the-ACT.pdf.

Students can then decide which test to prep for based on those scores. But a word of caution: students should NOT make a choice based solely on those scores unless there is a clear difference. There are many factors to take into consideration, such as how they typically perform on school and other standardized tests, their reading and math skills, etc. If you'd like help making this decision or would like to discuss the important factors that play a role in deciding on a test, feel free to post a comment or message me for a no-cost consultation.

For students who HAVE prepped and taken tests but aren't seeing results, again, feel free to reach out. I am currently offering a no-cost, 30-minute session for new students.

I know this is an extremely stressful time for juniors, so please feel free to reach out with any questions!

https://admissions.cornell.edu/news/cornell-university-suspends-actsat-testing-requirement-2021-applicants

Cornell University Suspends ACT/SAT Testing Requirement for 2021 Applicants The SARS-COV-2 pandemic emergency has led to many SAT and ACT administration cancellations. Due to this extraordinary circumstance, students seeking to enroll at Cornell University beginning in August 2021 can submit their a...

04/17/2020

There is not nearly enough attention paid to the coronavirus impact on students, from preschool to anyone in higher ed. Whether students were at a community college or a 4 year college/university or a graduate school program, their world was turned upside down. And this summer and fall are still marked by great uncertainty as all schools are scrambling to ascertain what changes need to be made.

There is a lot of angst and anger directed at colleges, and much of it is probably justified, but they are also facing tremendous challenges that many of us don’t see. Here’s a great article delineating some of these issues to help us better understand what they’re dealing with. (If you are paywalled, please post a comment and I’ll try to copy and paste it. It’s quite long.)

With so many variables in play, academic leaders are struggling to determine when to reopen their campuses and whether to move fall courses online.