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Best Test Prep Programs from Reviews.com
December 28, 2017reviews.com: The Best ACT/SAT Test Prep Courses
- Kaplan SAT/ACT Prep Most Practice Tests
- The Princeton Review Best for One-on-One Attention
- Khan Academy Best Free SAT Prep
- ACT Online Prep Most Engaging ACT Prep
By 10th grade, all students should be proficient in the subject matter on the ACT and the SAT. That doesn’t mean they’re ready to take the test. Edward Carroll, a standardized test expert and tutor at The Princeton Review, said it best: “The SAT, more than anything else, shows how well you take the SAT.”
Think about it like this: A high school basketball player knows how to shoot a free throw, but shooting free throws in the driveway isn’t the same as sinking one during the fourth quarter of the state championships. That’s why we practice, practice, practice.
Taking the SAT or the ACT can feel like suiting up for the state championships. The best test prep courses will help students prepare for that feeling, to acclimate them to the test and its oddities, and help them practice — so when the clock is running down, their practice kicks in.
“The best test prep programs not only prepare students for the test, but also help enhance their knowledge of the subject matter covered in the test. They offer personalized learning that helps build on the student’s strengths and shore up their weaknesses across subject areas, so students feel confident they are prepared for and can do their best on the test.”
Paul Weeks Senior VP for Client Relations at ACT
Kaplan and The Princeton Review are both huge names in the test prep world. We liked Kaplan’s $299 basic program and its video-centric materials. But we loved the number of practice tests it came with: It sends 8 practice tests in its Big Book of SAT Practice Tests (if you’re studying for the ACT, it has a similarly giant book called the Big Book of ACT Practice Tests). The Princeton Review is also $299 for the basic program and stood out for having the simplest way to connect with one-on-one help. The basic program includes three hours of chat help, and it’s easy to buy more by the hour ($50 per hour) and a lot simpler than trying to hire a tutor.
Our top pick for SAT prep app is Khan Academy — a nonprofit online learning resource with courses in just about anything. For its SAT Prep, it partnered with the creator of the SAT, the College Board. Take a few diagnostic tests, plug in your test date, and get a customized study plan. The materials include video lessons and seven practice tests written by the College Board.
The best ACT prep app is ACT Online Prep. Like Khan Academy, ACT Online Prep partnered with the creator of the ACT (which is also called ACT). This program was the most fun — tons of games and quizzes to take — and had a continually updating expected score that kept us motivated.
Scholarship Tips from Reviews.com
December 28, 2017reviews.com: The Best Scholarships Search Platforms of 2017
College is the most expensive it’s ever been. With tuition rates rising an average of 3.5% every year, the average undergraduate now finishes their degree with over $37,000 in student debt.
Scholarships are one of the best ways to reduce these growing costs and scholarship search platforms exist to help students find the most relevant ones. These platforms compile large databases of available scholarships and provide filters to allow students to maximize their searches.
Reviews.com created the guide to review the best scholarship search platforms and instruct students on how to use them effectively to find as many opportunities as possible.
To determine the best scholarship search platforms, they spent over 200 hours researching 17 of the most popular sites across five core metrics including search functionality, scholarship availability, ease of use, application tools, and additional helpful resources.
According to their research, the best scholarship search platform was Fastweb. They scored the highest out of all 17 platforms because they were the easiest to use, had the most tools, and had among the most available scholarships with the highest dollar amounts. This search engine is best for most students including high school, undergraduate, and graduate.
They also recommend Cappex. This platform scored consistently high in the most important categories of scholarship availability, ease of use, and tools. It is the best and best for students who want to be able to apply for and track the status of a large number of scholarships.
What they cover:
- The major challenges students face when searching for scholarships
- How the right search engine can help students overcome these challenges
- What students should know before applying for a scholarship
- The most important features of a great scholarship search platform
- The best scholarship search platforms of 2017
- Advice on early preparation to qualify for scholarships
- Tips on applying for scholarships
- Their full methodology and scoring process
The Simpson Promise
November 13, 2017If you thought attending Simpson was out of reach, we’ve got great news for you!
The Simpson Promise offers you the chance to obtain the excellent educational benefits and life-changing campus experience of Simpson College at a price you can afford.
The Simpson Promise covers the full cost of tuition (inclusive of Simpson, federal and state gift assistance) for qualified students from Iowa families with a 2016 family adjusted gross income at or below $60,000.
A lot of people talk about making college affordable. Simpson is doing something about it with this bold new initiative.
Don’t qualify for The Simpson Promise? We have something else for you! click here
To be eligible for The Simpson Promise, you must:
- Be an Iowa resident – 2018 graduate of an Iowa high school
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than July 1, 2018, and be eligible for federal aid
- Reside on campus
- Have a 2016 family adjusted gross income at or below $60,000
- Be a full-time, accepted, incoming first-year student
Simpson is committed to providing the grant/scholarship amount awarded to the student in their first year, for all four years at Simpson, provided they are in good academic standing and complete the FAFSA. Students are responsible for the costs of room, board, and fees.
The Simpson Promise represents our dedication to the success of our students. It is, in fact, the heart of our mission, and it has been that way since we were founded 157 years ago.
Summer Programs at George Mason
November 11, 2017Youth Leadership Conferences
Mason is excited to partner with the following student leadership conferences to offer outstanding high school and university scholars the opportunity to participate in the following experiences for elective college credit.
- Envision Career & Leadership Programs
- Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program (HOBY)
- Washington Journalism and Media Conference
- Washington Youth Summit on the Environment
These programs have been approved by our faculty, and students who qualify can receive college credit for “Special Topics in Leadership.” Scholars enrolled in 4- to 8-day programs earn one (1) college credit, while programs that run 9 days or longer are eligible for two (2) college credits. This is elective Mason credit and generally transfers to other four-year colleges and universities, but we recommend that students and parents check with the college/university they are applying to or attending if they are interested in how the credit would apply.
General Information
How are students selected?
Students are selected to represent their school and state through our academic partnerships. Nominations may be made by high school educators or students are identified by George Mason University through information we receive about students interests and/or academic ability through college entrance exams, or through data from NRCCUA (National Research Center for College and University Administrators), which conduct high school interest/career surveys. Educators are invited to fill out a nomination form for any of our student leadership opportunities and students will be contacted to confirm their nomination.
How are students evaluated?
The course, Special Topics in Leadership is a “Pass/Fail” course and students are evaluated based on their experiential learning opportunities throughout the week. Conference faculty will monitor their active participation in simulations, contributions to discussions and demonstration of leadership and critical thinking skills in group and individual settings. Students will receive feedback on their progress throughout the conference.
How do I enroll in Mason college credit?
Scholars must “opt in” and apply for the elective credit by contacting the conference Office of Admissions and completing the online enrollment application, as well as answering the required questions on the Student Information Form. This must be done no later than the end of the second day of the program session. Students enrolling for credit must be capable of doing college-level work and have completed the 9th grade at the time of the program. Students are asked to provide a self-reported GPA and complete the required questions and student leadership essay prior to conference participation. Tuition is $100.00 for one (1) credit and $200.00 for two (2) credits. Payment will be made to the specific conference. Students who do not meet the requirements for college credit will be refunded the credit tuition amount
Northeastern University Torch Scholars Program
November 1, 2017
Each year, nearly 500 nominees from across the United States vie for 15 Torch Scholarships.
Torch looks to school counselors, teachers, mentors, clergy, and community workers to find deserving Torch Scholars.
Torch Nominators are non-family members—adults and professionals in or out of the school setting who know the student on a personal level. Nominators should be prepared to answer questions about the candidate’s family obligations, motivation, and emotional readiness for college. Please take a moment to think about the promising young people in your life who might benefit from the Torch Scholars Program. You may nominate more than one student in the same academic year.
Nominate a Student
We’re glad that you’re considering nominating a student for the Torch Scholars Program. Nominating a student requires two steps:
- Nominators must first create an account at this link.
- Once your nominator account is created, you will be directed to the portal where you can submit a nomination. You can also use this link to go directly to the nomination portal once your account is created. The Nomination Form should take about 30 minutes to complete.
The deadline for nominations is January 1. Nominees must have submitted an application to Northeastern Undergraduate Admissions by January 1 to be considered for the Torch Scholars Program.
Please note: You will not be able to save your progress on a nomination. To aid in preparing your nomination, we have created this document with the questions you will be asked to answer as part of the nomination process.
Visit website: https://torch.northeastern.edu/
ACT – SAT Conversation Table
October 22, 2017Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program
September 3, 2017
Contest begins in August and ends in September, or until One Thousand (1,000) eligible Entries are received (“Contest Period”).
- ELIGIBILITY: The Sallie Mae Bridging the Dream Scholarship Contest (“Contest”) is open only to the first One Thousand (1,000) legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia who (i) are currently enrolled as a high school junior or senior; (ii) plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school within one year of high school graduation; (iii) are under the age of 18; and (iv) are nominated by a high school counselor, school official or community organization leader with personal knowledge of the student (each, a “Nominator”) in accordance with these official Rules (each, an “Entrant”). Employees of Sallie Mae Bank (“Sponsor”), Scholarship America (“Administrator”) and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies (collectively, “Related Entities”) and members of their immediate family or household of each are not eligible. Void where prohibited by law. This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
- SPONSOR: The Sponsor of this Contest is Sallie Mae Bank, 300 Continental Drive, Newark, DE 19713.
- HOW TO ENTER: Nominators go to https://www.scholarsapply.org/bridgingthedream to submit a nomination. Nominators must provide entries (each, an “Entry”), consisting of (i) personal information including student name, phone number, email address, postal address, grade level, (ii) two (2) written statements consisting of no more than two hundred (200) words each which address the evaluation criteria (as set forth in Section 4 hereof), including academics, community service, personal achievement, and financial need. Limit of one (1) Entry per Nominator during the Contest Period. Total limit of one thousand (1,000) Entries during the Contest Period. Administrator’s computer system shall be the official time-keeping device for the Contest. Sponsor is not responsible for Entries that are lost, late, misdirected, illegible and/or incomplete due to computer or electronic malfunction or other error. Use of robotic, automatic, or macro devices is not valid for Entry. Any Entry that is submitted with the use of a robotic, automated or macro device will be void. All Entries become the property of the Sponsor upon submission and will not be acknowledged or returned and the Sponsor and/or Administrator has the right to dispose of the Entries at Sponsor’s discretion. By submitting an Entry, each entrant agrees to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and the Scholarship America Privacy Policy. Unreadable, inaccurate, unintelligible, or Entries which otherwise do not comply with these Official Rules will be disqualified.
- By submitting an Entry, each Nominator consents to receive from the Sponsor and/or Administrator an email notifying such Nominator that his/her Entrant is a potential Scholarship winner. Nominators, by entering this Contest, and Entrants, by accepting a Scholarship, acknowledge that Entries may be posted at Sponsor’s website or social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter or SallieMae.com at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor has no obligation to use or post any Entry submitted. The use of all or a part of any Entry content by Sponsor or any Related Entity does not have any effect on the winner selection process. Entries posted are the views/opinions of the individual Nominator and do not reflect the views of Sponsor in any manner. Nominators, by entering this Contest, and Entrants, by accepting a Scholarship, grant Sponsor and the Related Entities a worldwide, irrevocable, exclusive, assignable, transferable, unqualified, unrestricted, royalty-free license and right to edit, modify, publish, use, reuse, distribute, display, copy and otherwise exploit the Entry content or any part thereof (with or without the Entrant’s name and city/state), and any materials based thereon or derived from, in any manner and in any media (whether now known or later developed), for any lawful purposes whatsoever (noncommercial or commercial), including, without limitation, for use in the commercial packaging and point-of-sale materials, or for promotion, marketing or advertising of Sponsor, or any Related Entity, each of their respective brands and/or products in any medium (whether now or hereafter known) throughout the world in perpetuity without further permission, notification, consideration, or payment to the Entrant, except where prohibited by law. In addition, Nominators, by entering this Contest, and Entrants, by accepting a Scholarship, forever waive in favor of Sponsor all rights of “Droit Moral” or “Moral Rights of Authors” or any similar rights or principles of law that may preclude the use of an Entry (or any part thereof) as granted herein, or require Nominator or Entrant’s permission to use the Entry (or any part thereof) for the purposes stated herein.
- JUDGING CRITERIA: Five (5) Winners will be selected on or about the month of October from all Entries received during the Contest Period, one from each of the following four regions: Region 1: Indiana, Michigan, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Wisconsin; Region 2: Puerto Rico, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont. Region 3: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Region 4: Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Alaska, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon and Idaho. The fifth Winner will be selected from among the eligible Entries whose nominated student resides in one of the five following counties in Utah: Davis County, Salt Lake County, Tooele County, Utah County, or Weber County. All Entries that are in compliance with all terms and conditions of these Rules will be judged on the basis of the following criteria (based on information provided by the Nominator):
- Academics (25%): Students who excel academically and demonstrate commitment and determination to achieve academic success.
- Community Service (25%): Commitment to the community and/or helping others in school or in the community.
- Personal Achievement (25%): Having faced challenge or adversity and overcome it.
- Financial Need (25%): A funding gap that may prevent them from attending.The Winners will be determined by judges from the Administrator’s staff who will rank each eligible Entry on the basis of a composite score based on equal weighting of the criteria (the Entrants nominated in the highest-scoring Entries in each of the five geographic regions shall each be a “Winner”). In the event of a tie, the Entry that receives the higher score for “Academics” will be declared the Winner. In the event of a further tie, the Entry that receives the higher score for “Community Service” will be declared the Winner. In the event of a further tie, the Entry that receives the higher score for “Personal Achievement” will be declared a Finalist. In the event of a further tie, the Entry that receives the higher score for “Financial Need” will be declared a Finalist. In the event of a further tie, Administrator in its sole discretion shall choose a Winner based on an evaluation of which Entry is superior overall taking all categories into consideration. The Contest contains no elements based on chance. The standards applied during the judging process focuses on assessing each entry’s properties. By the mere submission of an Entry by a Nominator, an Entrant acquires no automatic right to be awarded a Scholarship, nor any other right except for the right to have such Entry reviewed and evaluated subject to these Official Rules. The decisions of Administrator shall be final. Neither Sponsor nor Administrator will correspond with Nominators or Entrants about the determination of the winner other than as expressly provided in these Rules.
- FIVE (5) SCHOLARSHIPS: Five (5) Scholarship Winners will receive Twenty Five Thousand Dollar scholarships ($25,000.00) each. Scholarship awards are payable in equal disbursements to the Winner’s school for up to eight (8) semesters, to cover the cost of qualified tuition, fees, books and supplies. Scholarship awards may not exceed the total of such qualified costs. Scholarship awards are for undergraduate study only, unless the Winner’s undergraduate tuition costs are fully funded, in which case the Winner may request to have the Scholarship applied to qualified graduate school expenses. ALL EXPENSES, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF SCHOLARSHIP NOT SET FORTH IN THESE RULES ARE THE OBLIGATION OF EACH GRAND SCHOLARSHIP WINNER. No assignment, transfer or substitution of any Scholarship is permitted by a Scholarship Winner. Entrants agree that if a Scholarship Winner is found to have violated these Official Rules, or otherwise does not meet the eligibility criteria, such Scholarship will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate Scholarship Winner from among all remaining eligible Entries, based on the judging criteria set forth herein. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any Scholarship for a different Scholarship of equal or greater value, in its sole discretion. Sponsor is solely responsible for providing the Scholarships. Limit one (1) Scholarship per household. Total value of all Scholarships: $125,000.00.
Gates Millennium Scholarship
September 3, 2017DESCRIPTION
The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective, full scholarship for exceptional, Pell-eligible, minority, high school seniors. Starting in 2018, the scholarship will be awarded to 300 top student leaders each year with the intent of promoting their academic excellence through college graduation, and providing them the opportunity to reach their full potential.
AWARD
Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance* that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
BASIC ELIGIBILITY
To apply, students must be:
- A high school senior
- From at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
- Pell-eligible
- A US citizen, national or permanent resident
- A minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
Additionally, a student must plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a US accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
An ideal candidate will have:
- An outstanding academic record in high school (in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
- Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
- Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)
STAMPS Scholarships
August 22, 2017The Stamps Family Charitable Foundation partners with visionary colleges and universities to award multi-year scholarships that enable extraordinary educational experiences. Scholars receive annual awards that range from $72,000 to $5,000 (four-year awards total an average of $288,000 – $20,000) with additional funds for enrichment activities such as study abroad, academic conferences, and leadership training. The Stamps Family Charitable Foundation and partner schools evenly share the costs of the awards.
The unique benefit that all Stamps Scholarships include is an enrichment fund, an additional monetary fund for Scholars to use in their academic and professional development. They may use the award to study or volunteer outside the United States, conduct research, or participate in a leadership program or academic conference. We like to think of this part of the award as the “dream fund.”
Where to Apply
Applying for a Stamps Scholarship is easy: just apply to one or more of our partner schools. If you qualify, you’ll automatically be considered for a Stamps award. The majority of our partner colleges and universities don’t require a separate application for the Stamps Scholarship, but the application deadline and award process varies from school to school along with the amount of the award. Expect an interview (or two or three) to be part of the process.
Visit the website of the school or schools of your choice to find out more about their unique application process and deadlines.
Criteria & Eligibility
The Stamps Foundation, with its partner schools, seeks students who demonstrate academic merit, strong leadership potential, and exceptional character. We support exceptional young people with promise and vision who are eager to make their contribution to the world and have the work ethic to make their dreams a reality.
Leadership development is at the core of the Stamps Scholarship program. Leadership potential is also a key part of the selection criteria for receiving a Stamps award. And, Stamps Scholars receive a separate financial award to participate in leadership activities of their choosing.
The Stamps Foundation welcomes and supports students from all backgrounds and areas of study. Financial need is not a consideration. At some of our partner schools, international students are eligible for the Stamps Scholarship. Students should check directly with the program that they are interested in to view eligibility requirements.
Stamps Scholarships are not transferable to other colleges or universities.
Selection Process
A student must apply directly to one or more of our partner schools to be considered for the Stamps Scholarship.
At certain schools, the Stamps Scholarship Program is part of an umbrella program for scholars, such as the Foundation Fellows at the University of Georgia or the Carolina Scholars at the University of South Carolina.
In many cases, students who apply by certain deadlines (often the early or ‘scholarship’ deadline) using the normal freshman application for admission will be automatically considered for the Stamps Scholarship. In some cases, however, our partner school may request a separate application for consideration of the Stamps Scholarship.
Speak with an admissions counselor or visit the website of the school or schools of your choice to find out more about their unique application process and deadlines.
The Stamps Foundation does not accept Stamps Scholarship applications.
Robertson Scholarship
August 22, 2017The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program invests in young leaders who strive to make transformational contributions to society.
Purpose
The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program’s investment begins with the selection of a diverse community of undergraduate students who demonstrate extraordinary potential. We provide these young leaders with exceptional benefits and a distinctive set of shared experiences:
- Four-year scholarship, including undergraduate tuition, mandatory fees, room and board
- Unique access to the academic and extracurricular offerings at both Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill
- Three summers of domestic and international experiences
- Customized leadership and professional development opportunities
- Extensive community of Robertson Scholars, alumni, and staff
During this journey, Robertson Scholars learn to create change, foster collaboration, turn their passions into action, and have a palpable impact in their communities. The experience of being a Robertson Scholar helps students become thoughtful, creative, lifelong contributors to society – the kind of citizens and leaders prepared to meet the unprecedented challenges of our interdependent world.
History
The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program was created in 2000 through a $24 million gift from Julian Robertson, a 1955 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his wife, Josie. Inspired by their sons, one of whom graduated from Duke in 1998 and another who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2001, the Robertsons believed that each institution offered a distinctive undergraduate experience, but that the combination of the two promised a breadth and depth of resources that no other university could match.