The English Clinic

Congratulations to students who have been admitted to their dream college! And to the students dealing with rejections: I promise you that you will learn a great deal and build a fulfilling future, wherever you attend college. Learning is, ultimately, the most important goal. All colleges provide rich opportunities for learning, inside and outside the classroom. I should also commend students for all the learning they have done in high school. Even if your high school grades (and profile, overall) did not garner you an admission to the most prestigious college, I assure you that you have developed skills and knowledge that shape you into a valuable, unique individual. By the way, for families of younger high school students, who have not yet applied to college, I would be happy to speak with you about how, through my tutoring, I can help your child to build strong skills and boost grades--and how to write a beautiful college application essay when it's their time to apply.

What is ‘Ivy Day?’ Your guide to elite college admissions’ big day Ivy admissions arent as easy as they used to be.

Posted by a friend. I wholeheartedly agree with him. The college admissions cycle is emotionally intense. I have seen this intensity while tutoring kids on their college application essays and, before that, on SAT prep. Some teens and their families will soon get good news. Many others will experience hurt and disappointment. Having worked as a professor for many years, I assure you that students will find their place in the school they will attend, even if it's not their first choice. As the UPenn Dean of Admissions writes in the article below, another college will be very fortunate to get the student whom UPenn rejected--and students will discover rich opportunities wherever they go. Good luck and congratulations to everyone who applied to college this year!

University of Penn Dean of Admissions: When Your Teen Doesn't Get In The choice to not admit a student doesn’t diminish the accomplishments, enthusiasm or aspirations that are real for that student.

I am proud and grateful to say that last month I was awarded the Rowan University Department of Writing Arts Adjunct Award for Outstanding Teaching. It is a pleasure teaching at Rowan University!

Hot off the press! I am proud to have a personal essay included in my friend Matt Goldberg's new anthology, "Rings of Kindness," a collection of essays celebrating the kindness and generosity of the human spirit. I can't wait to read the book! If anyone is interested in a copy, please reach out and I can put you in touch with Matt. I believe the book is on Amazon, as well. Interestingly enough, the theme of this book resembles one of the prompts for this year's Common App essay topics!

Have you had a chance to read this summer? Which book did you really enjoy?

Happy August! Please reach out if you would like to learn more about tutoring options.

Last week's meet and greet for rising ninth graders and their parents was wonderful. I am grateful for a student of mine who shared a lot of observations and insights about life in high school. Some key takeaways as we try to guide middle school graduates toward high school: you will have a lot more work in high school than you did before. Now would be a good time to think about time management strategies to implement when the school year begins. We also discussed how reading and writing will be important in many classes, not just in English. Lastly, I'm sensing a lot of interest in the future of the SAT, which will be changing formats in the spring of 2024. Stay tuned on that one. The College Board said they would start releasing more information and study materials in the coming fall. In the meantime, I can assure you that reading widely is always a good way to prepare. Please reach out if you would like more specific advice about how to prepare for 9th grade (or any subsequent grade). I'm always happy to talk to people.

Congratulations to this season's middle school graduates! This is an exciting milestone. If you live in South Jersey, I encourage you to attend the meet and greet I will host on Thursday evening (June 23rd). We will begin a conversation about high school and how to prepare for it. Please reach out if you would like to know more.

LOL!

Please reach out if you would like to know more about this.

The SAT will be administered digitally, effective Spring 2024 in the United States. That means that current 9th graders be the first group to take the exam digitally. The format will change, as well. The exam will be cut from three hours to two hours. Reading passages will be shorter and their content more varied, with only one question per passage. Students will be able to use calculators on all the math sections. It sounds like student who took the exam on a trial basis in November liked the new format. This is an important development. Stay tuned.

SAT going digital in shifting college admissions atmosphere The SAT exam will move from paper and pencil to a digital format, administrators announced Tuesday, saying the shift will boost its relevancy as more colleges make standardized tests optional for admission.

The new school year is underway. It's great to have kids back in the classroom. They need that. All kids were adversely affected by months of virtual or hybrid school, but no two kids are alike. I would love to talk to you and your teen about his or her unique strengths and challenges at this pivotal moment. We could develop tutoring goals specific to your teen's needs. Reach out if you would like to schedule a free consultation.

These essays are inspiring! Reach out if you would like to learn how to write a college application essay like these!

From the Heart to Higher Education: The 2021 College Essays on Money Each year, we ask high school seniors to send us college application essays that touch on money, work or social class. Here are five from this year’s incoming college freshmen.

Speaking as an educator and a parent, I love to think outside the box about ways to keep kids learning during the summer. Kids can learn from all kinds of activities. Below I share some ideas about movies, which offer all kinds of angles for enrichment. Some other activities with potential to keep kids thinking--and writing--include museums, music, and sports. I will post some ideas about those another day. Meanwhile, it's going to rain tomorrow--so you should watch a movie! (Do contact me if you would like to discuss how to maximize the educational potential of movies.)