Outside Reading

By Jonathan, IvyWise Tutor Students around the world are confronted daily with the topics of social and racial justice, whether in their own experiences and communities or, at the very least, in the news and on social media. Students who care deeply about these topics or want to learn more about them might be wondering how to integrate them into their own lessons. There are numerous resources, such as the Zinn Education Project, which provide grade-level-specific teaching materials that center racial and social justice across a variety of subject areas, including art and music, world history and global studies, economics, and even math.

Summer is a time to decompress, rejuvenate, and recenter with friends, family, and outdoor activities. It’s also a time to look ahead to the start of the school year, but often many students don’t start to think about the next semester until it’s looming just around the corner. Summer reading is a great tool to not only keep students engaged throughout the entirety of the school break but also as a last-minute back-to-school prep tool to plan for success in the weeks ahead.

As a former high school English teacher, I always tout the importance of reading as a means to improve one's writing, especially when it comes to the college essay. Author Annie Proulx perhaps sums it up best: "Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write."  Reading exposes you to different writing styles, diction, and sentence syntax which can influence, improve, and even inspire your own writing style.

The school year is coming to a close but that doesn't mean you should put down the books! At IvyWise, our counselors recommend reading at least one book a month outside of your already-assigned class reading, and the summer months allow for more leisurely reading. Summer reading is important because it provides you with the opportunity to explore topics in which you are interested while also expanding your personal library.

When it comes to your college application, colleges will look to see how you spent your time outside of school. In addition to your extracurricular activities, you may also want to list hobbies and interests that you commit a significant amount of time to. Reading is probably one of the best hobbies you can have - it can deepen your interests in a particular subject, help you become a better writer, and will prepare you for the often grueling reading lists in college-level courses.

By Rachel, IvyWise Principal College Counselor The end of the school year is just around the corner – seniors have made their final college choice, AP exams are impending, and for you high school juniors, it's time to start thinking about how to get the most out of your summer. First, let me say, congratulations on having almost completed what is arguably the toughest year in high school! Hopefully you've been focusing on academics, as your junior year grades are particularly important in the college admissions process.

College admissions want to see you exploring your interests and making an impact outside of the classroom, and that includes what you’re doing during your summer break. Planning a productive summer can help you better understand your college and career goals, and can help you stand out during the admissions process, too. While students should start planning their summer activities at the start of the year, it’s not uncommon for many students to wait until the last minute to decide how to spend their summer break.

Is the study of history – history? In recent years, only about 1% of college students graduate with a degree in history. In fact, between 2008 and 2017, the latest year with available data, the number of history majors has plummeted by nearly 30%.

With an increasing number of new technologies and an expanding global population, self-studying is on the rise. Education is no longer confined to just the classroom, and some would argue that the classroom model is outdated and does not meet the intellectual needs of individuals in such an interconnected society. Being an autodidact, or self-teacher, has become increasingly feasible due to MOOCs (massive open online courses), Internet encyclopedias, and more colleges and universities offering courses online.

Setting academic and college prep goals now is a great way to get students excited about their college prep and alleviate some of the stress commonly associated with planning for college. While it may not be time to apply to college yet, starting to think about academic and college prep goals now will make it easier for students to identify solid goals by the time application season rolls around. It will also allow them to relax over any upcoming breaks, rather than stressing about what they need to accomplish before school is back in session.

Latin American studies is an exciting and unique concentration that gives students a specialized global perspective. In these programs, students study the politics, history, culture, and language of Latin American countries and become experts on the many intricate and fascinating aspects of these nations. Students have the opportunity to graduate with an interdisciplinary major, and colleges across the country have developed programs and institutes that provide student bodies with highly specialized educations in the field.

You may be thinking that summertime is perfect for relaxing in the sun, hanging out with friends, and taking a break from school, but when it comes to college admissions, summer vacation is a crucial time for planning and working on application materials. Furthermore, summertime is an excellent opportunity to explore personal interests that can be emphasized on college applications. Here are some of IvyWise's suggestions for spending your summer vacation in a wise, productive, and fun way with some tips on how to get started!

For many rising seniors, the end of their junior year marks the beginning of the long, and often stressful, college application process. While the full Common Application and school specific supplements aren't released until August, some essay topics have already been revealed, and many students are taking the initiative to begin working on their application essays even before summer kicks off. While it's a great idea to get started as early as possible, there's much more than just essay brainstorming to complete the summer before senior year.

The school year may be coming to a close, but the college admissions process is just revving up for next semester’s high school seniors. While the summer is a good time to recharge, it’s also a great time to get on track for the college admissions process, no matter what grade you’re in. When it comes to college preparation, the earlier families start, the better.

For some international students applying to US universities, the SAT or ACT might not be the only test scores required as part of their application. Some colleges and universities might require international applicants to submit TOEFL scores, too. The TOEFL exam stands for “Test of English as a Foreign Language” and it is precisely that.

IvyWise KnowledgeBase IvyWise Newsletter Applying to US universities as an international student can be a daunting process, and the pressure surrounding college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT can cause additional anxiety. As an international applicant the stakes are high, with some of the US’s most elite colleges posting extremely low international admission rates. Test scores, while not enough to gain admission alone, are critical pieces of the college application process, and international applicants need to understand how to make the most of their test prep.

Compiled by Will Fitzhugh from The Concord Review The formal research paper in high schools has been steadily disappearing over the past two decades, and it shows no signs of revival. The accessibility of the Internet, larger high school class sizes, over-worked teachers, and a growing emphasis on alternative forms of research presentation has dwindled the traditional 15-20 page research paper to just a few pages and Power Point presentations. As the founder and editor of The Concord Review, I have spent the last 26 years championing the significance of the research paper.

The summer between junior and senior year is the prime time for college bound students to start brainstorming and writing their college application essays. The Common Application has already released the essay prompts for the 2022-23 application season, and with account rollover, students can get started on their Common App now, getting the bulk of the work out of the way before the start of the school year in the fall. What does it take to write a good essay?