WHAT NOT TO #&%/!@ WRITE IN AN ESSAY!!!

Split infinitive aside, a topic has come up in my work recently that earns much more attention: casual writing on standardized tests.

I probably take for granted that high school students are taught formal writing fundamentals in the classroom — I should punish myself for such idealism.

In short, students (as though you're following this blog religiously), you want to avoid the following marks, abbreviations, and shortcuts when writing an essay for either the SAT or the ACT…

Do not use an ampersand (&) or other symbol to represent the word
"and.” Write the words that compose a number out unless it is a year.
For example, don't boast, "I took 2 weeks off this summer to…." Write
out the word "two." It's fine to mention something like, "I took the ACT
in February of 2016…" because 2016 is a year. However, be formal
when writing out complete dates: "I took the SAT on January 23, 2016"
would be acceptable, whereas "…on 1/23/16" is a bit casual.

Ignore every texting convention you've ever learned. We are not
tweeting your way into college (yet).

You need to spell out the word "with" and not use the
ever-convenient "w/."

I know why students use these: they save time, or there is a mad dash to get to a conclusion before the clock stops on the essay section, or "my tutor didn't mention anything when I did it in practice," etc. Remember, these essay assignments are meant to test your rhetorical skill at arguing a point through the use of English, so please use the Queen's most formal dialect whenever you'd like to be taken seriously.

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WHAT COLLEGES WANT

June 23, 2023

Standardized test scores are very important, but they are not the end-all for your admission into college. Schools are looking for versatile, industrious students with a variety of skills and interests. Here’s three ways to make a good impression on your application. High grades in rigorous classes Good test scores show what you’ve learned and that you can perform under pressure, but high and increasing grades in challenging courses demonstrate an ongoing commitment to learning and improvement. Getting a high score on the SAT and ACT does not mean you can now lose focus on your classes. Continue to apply yourself, take honors and AP classes, and do your best. Dedication to activities Your extra-curricular activities are not limited to school-based sports and clubs. Demonstrate that you are committed to a cause, even if that cause is starting a savings account with your earnings from a part-time job. Volunteer work, involvement with a church or other community group, and summer school are all excellent ways to show your interests and character. You don’t have to be a member of every club in town; dedication to one or two causes shows that you’re an involved citizen. Awards and Talents School is a big part of your life, but it doesn’t define you. Your college essay provides the perfect opportunity to detail parts of your life that are totally separate from school. Describe the Awana emblem you’re most proud of, your guitar solo during the the battle of the bands, your prize-winning pies from the county fair—pick something that you’ve accomplished and that makes you happy. Let the admissions office know what you can do with your SAT and ACT scores, but also show them who you are by writing about your interests and talents.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM NEW CODA!

December 22, 2018

I want to take a minute to express my thanks to our clients, past and present, for making 2018 such a great year at NewCoda. We are wishing everyone wonderful (and hopefully relaxing) holidays, and we look forward to connecting again in 2019! There are a couple of items I just wanted to lay out, including next steps for juniors and seniors, as well as some exciting news and an interesting partnership: First, I would like to thank the Burlingame/Hillsborough community for granting NewCoda the best of Burlingame 2018 Award for BEST EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT ! We’re so proud to receive the honor and we will continue to serve the community as we have been doing so for the last several years. While not many of us consider going abroad for our undergrad or graduate studies, I recently heard of a growing trend in the college experience of American students. I engaged in a long conversation with Kevin Newton, founder of An Education Abroad. While the majority of the students place in European schools (mainly in the UK), there are a number of schools in other regions of the world, such as New Zealand, Australia, Israel, and South Africa. I duly brought up objections that I thought families would bring up (name value of a foreign university, cost and use of 529 plans, applicable education, etc) and Kevin walked me through each of those misconceptions. In the UK, for example, a student can complete a BA degree in only three years, with comparable cost to three years of private university in the states. Masters programs typically span only one year, and students can begin studying law as an undergrad (to name a few of the economic benefits). The return on the college investment sharply increases because a student can get in and out of the school in only less time. Also, aside from having a streamlined (and cost-effective) application policy, a number of these schools don’t stress the need for a broad array of extracurricular activities. In other words, if a student is having trouble filling out his or her pre-college résumé, applying to schools (such as the London School of Economics) can be even more advantageous, not to mention less competitive. This is something of worth to consider, and I thought I would pass this on. If you have further questions, please visit www.aneducationabroad.com and see the mechanics of that process. If you decide to sign up for a program, please use the code NEWCODA_EU. 2018 wrap up and next steps for juniors and seniors: With SAT and ACT scores now posted, let’s take a moment to make a game plan. If you are considering a retake of the ACT, the next date is February 9th, 2019. The next SAT isn’t until March 2nd, but that date will creep up faster than expected. Contact us if you are considering another test date. By the time you’re reading this, finals will be behind us. Just a reminder that we are here as a resource for academic support, whether it is English composition, Algebra 2, or BC Calculus. If you need some help maintaining a healthy G.P.A. feel free to reach out to schedule a meeting! If you’ve reached the end of this, thank you for reading! Thank you for such a great 2018! Sincerely, Ryan