Your A+ Roadmap to College: Part Two (Sophomore Year)

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Last updated May 7, 2021

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In Part One of our Roa Portrait of a happy asian male student standing with arms folded in university dmap to College series, we mentioned that getting an early start on college admission planning is a good idea. Sophomore year of high school is not too soon to begin thinking about your future college career. While we recommend beginning your research in 10^th grade in order to cut down on stress, this is an ongoing process that will continue until your college applications are submitted in your senior year. Starting early allows time for “course corrections” if you hit unexpected roadblocks.

Our last article presented an optimized standardized testing and test prep schedule. However, testing alone doesn’t get you that acceptance letter! Here are a few guidelines to help you be productive in between preparing for the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT.

Start gathering college information. Before you start anticipating what schools will accept you, it makes sense to decide which of them meets your standards. To make an informed decision, you need data—the more, the better.
- The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League school. However, for a physics or astronomy major the University of Arizona (listed in U.S. News and World Report’s top ten schools for space science) might make more sense. Are there certain professors you are interested in working with?
- Do you want to travel or stay local?
- Are you looking for a busy city campus or a more secluded location?
- Look at college websites. Collect catalogs. Read informational articles. Check out college guides such as the Fiske Guide.
Attend college fairs. This is almost a subcategory of the above recommendation. In addition to gleaning information from the internet and highlighting features in catalogs, get out and meet some people who can answer your questions. You don’t necessarily have to travel. Did you know that over 400 schools were represented at the Philadelphia National College Fair this past October?
Research financial aid information. The average tuition for a four year college—a “moderate college budget”—can be anywhere between $25,000 and $50,000. Maximizing your financial aid package is a crucial part of managing educational costs. Mom and Dad may be shouldering a lot of the weight on this one (providing financial information and filling out forms, for example). However, you can help by researching scholarships and knowing each college’s policies. Do you know the difference between needs-blind and needs-aware admissions, for example? Have you looked at the cost difference between commuting and living on campus? Does your major fall into a scholarship-rich category like STEM?

Planning ahead for your academic future means that you can take time to fully investigate opportunities that interest you. It means you can consider important decisions without feeling rushed or under pressure. The time you devote to researching colleges is an investment in your future.

At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our focus is always on you. Our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive functioning, or achievement in any other school subject. If you would like more information, our Client Service Directors Anne Stanley and Susan Ware are available to answer questions and provide solutions. You may reach either of them by calling A+ Test Prep and Tutoring at 215-886-9188.

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 2024-02-15
 
 
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   Kenneth Greenspan 
 2023-11-28
 
 
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   Leah Reinhard Peshek 
 2023-11-15
 
 
   I just wanted to thank A+ for helping my son achieve his goals. He worked with 2 instructors Andrew and Barbara for both the SAT and AP exams. Whatever they did it was magic! Not only did he get the results he wanted- he surpassed them. It was hands-off for me, he scheduled and communicated with his instructors on his own, which taught him responsibility and accountability. Yet, their lesson follow-up emails kept me in the loop. I can’t recommend them any more highly. If you decide to use them you won’t be disappointed, you will see a student who is better prepared for their studies as well as any tests they choose to take- they even seem more mature and confident. A+ I’m giving you an A+ Thank you so much, Leah Reinhard.
  
 
 
       
   Rebekka Hartwell 
 2023-10-28
 
 
   We had a great experience with A+ Test Prep and Tutoring. I appreciated that the tutor tailored the sessions around our daughter's needs and worked with her strengths. I can definitely recommend this program to anyone needing some extra support.
  
 
 
       
   Rhiannon Kelly 
 2023-08-31
 
 
   My son needed assistance preparing for an exam. We reached out to A+ test prep and they were wonderful. They were able to schedule him for tutoring without an delays. Their knowledge, assistance and guidance speaks volumes. A+ exceeded all outlets expectations. Thank you
  
 
 
       
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 2023-07-06
 
 
   The tutors were terrific, very thoughtful and really understood my child's needs in terms of studying. The hours worked well with our schedule and the homework assigned was super helpful!
  
 
 
       
   V Penz 
 2023-06-22
 
 
   A+ Test Prep provided superior tutoring custom-tailored to meet my son’s specific needs and learning style. His SAT score increased by 160 points with 12 hours of tutoring!!! That put him well-within range for all of the schools to which he is applying. A+ truly listened to make sure they exceeded our expectations starting with matching our son with Rob. He is an experienced tutor who set goals and developed a specialized plan. Rob taught clear, structured, organized lessons, helped my son plan his practice and homework, and taught test stress-management and relaxation techniques. These lessons also helped fill-in gaps from the pandemic.  The writing, reading and math lessons and strategies  Rob taught gave Dylan a strong foundation of critical-thinking skills which will serve him well in college, the work-force, and beyond.  A+ staff, including Rob, gave prompt, detailed and insightful feedback after each session. You will get ENORMOUS value for your financial investment with A+.  I investigated 6 other tutoring companies and am confident A+ was the best for tailoring their tutoring to a program that best fit my son’s learning style!!
  
 
 
       
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 2023-05-26
 
 
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 2023-05-04
 
 
   We chose A+ for Preparation to help our daughter prepare for college entrance exams. May daughter had Pam for the verbal portion of the exam. Pam was amazing! She asked about extra-curricular activities and demonstrated genuine interest in my daughter's role as a student in and outside of the classroom. Pam also noted how important these activities are to colleges. John was the tutor for math and science. He helped my daughter feel comfortable and confident in her skills. My daughter's ACT composite score went up 5 points! I would highly recommend A+ for Test Preparation!
  
 
 
  
 
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