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Written by Robert Kennedy

Have you ever started a project only to realize after a while that you really didn't know what you were doing? It's kind of like the guy who opens the box with 100 parts. Some assembly required. Does he read the directions? Probably only when he gets stuck.

 

Choosing a private school is a project. A major project. Get it wrong and you will have a very unhappy child who hates her school.  It's also possible that your child won't even get into a school. So, before you get that sinking feeling that you are doing it all wrong, let's look at some of the signs that ppoint to that conclusion.

 

You are not using the services of an educational consultant. I know they are not cheap. But you need expert advice for such a major decision. It's like buying a house or writing a will. You wouldn't make those kinds of decisions and sign contracts without an attorney's advice, would you?

 

The difference between you and the consultant is that she knows her schools. She knows the admissions staff. She knows the schools' reputations. She's connected and knows whats going on.  That's what she does for a living. You may think that a certain school is a great fit for your child but you will discover that you are missing several important aspects. Your consultant will be aware of what the school offers but even more importantly she will have your requirements in mind. Selecting schools when you use a consultant...

Written by Robert Kennedy

Selecting schools which fit your needs and requirements takes a lot of time and effort just by itself. But once that part of the process of choosing a school is finished, you need to focus on the admissions processes for the three to five schools which you have selected. Use this admissions checklist to keep you and your child on track. There is much detail, plenty of forms to fill out and a standardized admissions test to prepare for.

 

I have put admissions testing at the top of my checklist simply because it needs as much advance preparation as your child can give it. While standardized admissions tests are just one of several tools which the admissions professionals at each school will use to assess your child, they are an important part of the assessment process. Most schools use the SSAT and ISEE. But there are other tests out there as well. Once you have narrowed your choice of schools to the magic three to five number, review the admissions requirements carefully. With luck you will dsicover that all the schools on your list use the same test. That will simplify matters enormously for both you and your child.

 

If, on the other hand, you end up with two or possibly three different tests, you will have those additional test registrations to schedule, register and pay for. Scheduling works best when you start as far in advance as you possibly can. The SSAT opens its registration on August 1 and offers...

Written by Robert Kennedy

The other day I heard about a father who was bemoaning the fact that his nineteen year old son was a mess. The gist of this father's complaint was that he had done so much for his child but nothing seemed to be appreciated. Let's take a look at what happens when you are an over-indulgent and over-protective parent.  

 

The term "velcro parent" describes the kind of parent who sticks close to his child to protect him. The "helicopter parent" is constantly hovering around her child to protect him. Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines a helicopter parent as "a parent who is overly involved in the life of his or her child".   While there is no entry for "velcro parent", one can only assume that it will not be long before there is.

 

Velcro and helicopter parents do not want to let their children go. They cannot stand the thought of them failing or getting hurt. Yet when it comes to educating your child, isn't that really what it is all about? You have to let go, otherwise your child will not become independent. You will also teach him that whenever anything goes wrong Mommy will fix it. They will fail. They will get hurt. Teaching them how to cope with life's hurts and failures is what good parenting is all about.

 

It's a fine line we tread between being too involved and not involved enough. Teaching your child to ask for help and that you are always approachable...

Written by Julia Zhou

Ever wish you could pick the brain of A+ students?  Well, we did it for you — we spoke with dozens of students and educators to find out their secrets for success.

Everything they had to say is compiled here.  There’s short term techniques to get you started on your way as well as long term tips to maintain your achievements.

Happy studying!  And remember — grades aren’t everything.  Use them as a tool to measure your learning, not as a goal in and of themselves. 

Different study strategies work better for different people, and knowing your learning style will help you understand which study methods work best for you. Take this 20 question quiz to find out your learning style!

- Aaron Harris, Harvard alum and CEO of Tutorspree

If you write notes by hand, have a black pen, red pen, blue pen, and green pen handy. If you take notes on the computer be prepared to change the color of the text. When the teacher gets to a number or date you need to remember, write the numbers in red. If your professor throws out an important term or definition, put the term in blue. And if you need to remember places or famous names, put them in green. Everything else, keep in black.

When you study, memorize the important colored words and the “black words” will follow. Then you are able to identify the answer instinctively on the test, since...

Written by Robert Kennedy

Here are a dozen or so boys' schools' public thoughts about themselves and their missions.

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