If you are going to be working on your child’s college applications this Thanksgiving break, remember that there are many factors that lead up to college admission beyond the essays and recommendations that you will be sending along with the application. Colleges do not want students who are simply a list of high GPAs and test scores. They want students who are motivated and who academically challenge themselves as much as possible. The most selective…
Many parents are receiving their child’s SSAT test scores this week, and becoming frantic about the results. We hear parents telling us that their child is usually an A student, and they don’t understand why their child did not do better on the test. Many of the students who are typically getting all A’s are receiving 30%, 40%, or 50% on their SSAT test scores. We hear this time and again, and it is important…
I failed my first test when I was in middle school. It was on a chapter in Chemistry, which has always been my weakest subject in school. I remember how heavy that piece of paper felt in my hands as I slid it across the kitchen table to my mother. She looked at it with wide eyes, while I kept my gaze fixed on my chicken soup and twirled my spoon around the broth. “We…
Hi again, it’s Renee, the new intern at Boston Tutoring Services who previously wrote about having Chemistry trouble. I failed my first exam of the semester. Up until this point, I had never failed an exam in my entire academic career. Although I went to every class, and took notes diligently, there was something missing. I knew that, unlike my classmates, I wasn’t going to learn the material by simply sitting in class and listening…
The process of writing a top-notch college admission essay is a long and arduous one. Every senior in high school struggles with this component, and sometimes students feel defeated about their writing process before they even start. Students may not know what subject to choose or how to begin developing an appropriate essay. This is a very relatable problem, so if your child is having a hard time, do not take it as a sign…
Many students struggle to receive a high score on the verbal section of their test. One of the most important things to do to improve verbal scores is to work on vocabulary as often as possible. Students may want to cram in vocabulary cards last minute, but there should be a slow process of growth in order to develop the vocabulary acquisition skills they need to receive a high test score on these tests. On…
As a recently hired intern at Boston Tutoring Services, I am excited to help children get access to tutors, so they don’t have to struggle like I have with certain academic subjects. When I graduated high school, I was happy to begin the next chapter in my academic career. More specifically, I was happy to start the next four years of school without stepping near a science classroom. Little did I know, most, if not…
Your kindergartner has been in school for nearly two months now, and you are most likely eager to see a great deal of growth. Kindergartners develop literacy skills at different rates, so it can be frustrating if your child has not increased his or her skills to meet your expectations. It is important to remember that every child grows according to their own timetable. When I taught kindergarten, some students came in knowing all of…
Grab the tissues, stifle back the tears, and celebrate this new chapter of your life: your baby is going off to college. Parents experience almost as much stress as their children do when choosing the right school, and it’s no wonder why: We have all heard the horror stories of awful roommates, nauseating food, and questionable social activities that would raise an eyebrow. We hear your concerns, and we would like to give you the…
Now that October is upon us, you may be considering applying for private school for next Fall. Private School open houses are held this month throughout the state, and we urge you to spend time visiting schools to see where your child will feel they best belong. If you’re overwhelmed by where to start, click here for a searchable database of the state’s top private schools. When you visit private schools, it is important to…
