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NYC ERB Prep

January 8, 2013

Stephanie Sigal helps NYC students prep for the ERB, a kindergarten admissions test.

While The Ivy Coach does not offer NYC ERB tutoring, we recommend Stephanie Sigal, M.S., CCC-SLP. The ERB is known in NYC as the kindergarten admissions test for private schools. However, the ERB (Educational Records Bureau), is really the agency that administers a test that they call the ECAA – the Early Childhood Admissions Assessment. It’s ike the College Board for the SAT…just high school students don’t walk around saying that they have the College Boards on Saturday. It’s possible their parents and grandparents do, though. It shows their age.

The ECAA uses subtests of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). Presently, the ERB is using the WPPSI-III (for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade), but an updated WPPSI-IV was released in September 2012, which is reportedly more child friendly and fun. It is anticipated that the ERB will make the switch in the near future. Presently, eight subtests of the WPPSI 3 are administered to preschoolers. These include four verbal subtests (vocabulary, word reasoning, comprehension, and similarities) in addition to four “performance” subtests (picture concepts, matrix reasoning, block design, and coding).

In the coming days, we’ll go through what these various subtests of the ERB entail. In the meantime, have a question on NYC ERB prep? Send questions our way by posting below and Stephanie will answer them. Looking forward to hearing from you.

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ERB Prep

December 30, 2012

At The Ivy Coach, we don’t work with parents of prospective kindergartners interested in gaining admission to selective kindergartens (though we do recommend Stephanie Sigal for ERB prep). Yes, if you live outside of Manhattan, you read the above sentence correctly. For Manhattanites, parents stress out about getting their kids into the very best kindgergartens. And we think it’s a little bit silly. But we do understand that getting into the right kindergarten is important to getting into the right elementary school. And we understand that getting into the right elementary school is important to getting into the right middle school and subsequently the right high school and — wait for it — college. We know it sounds ridiculous but your sixth grade math grades do matter as you seek to get into the advanced math course at your school. The advanced math students don’t become advanced math students by luck overnight.

ERB Test Prep, ERB Testing Prep, ERB Prep Expert, Expert on ERB Testing, ERB Testing Expertise

Manhattan parents of prospective kindergartners, we recommend Stephanie Sigal for ERB prep.

Many parents in Manhattan still believe that highly selective colleges recruit more out of schools like Exeter and Andover than they do out of public schools. Was this the case a long time ago? Yes. It absolutely was. Is it the case now? No. Ivy League colleges seek out public school students. They want public school students and their admissions statistics entirely reflect this shift from generations past. So Manhattan parents, know that your child doesn’t have to go to Dalton to get into Dartmouth — no matter what the Dalton admissions officer tells you.

If your child getting into the best kindergarten matters, then by all means do what you think is best to try to get them in. Stephanie Sigal is excellent for ERB test prep in Manhattan (the ERB is the admission test for kindergarten). But if you think these parents are a bit too stressed and obsessed, then you have our assurance that it’s ok to relax and live a little. You can still get into a great college without even going to kindergarten whether or not the Dalton admissions officer says as much.

Categories: Admissions Process, Standardized Testing Tags: ERB Kindergarten Prep, ERB Prep, ERB Preparation, ERB Test Prep, ERB Testing Prep

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Redesigned The Ivy Coach Site

May 9, 2012

University Admissions, College Admission, Ivy League Admission, Getting Into College

The Ivy Coach site has been redesigned. We hope you enjoy the new look and find learning information about the college admissions process through the site a breeze.

You’ll notice today that we’ve unveiled a redesigned website for The Ivy Coach. On the freshly designed site, you’ll be able to watch college admissions videos, read blogs on the latest news in the highly selective college admissions process, check out our compiled and comprehensive annual Ivy League statistics, peruse our service offerings, and read about various highly selective universities, among many other options.

We hope that you enjoy the redesigned website for The Ivy Coach by Pixel Juice Productions and find it easy to navigate and research information about the college admissions process. We’ve long been of the opinion that we should share (some) of our expertise with not only our clients but with anyone interested in improving their (or their child’s) odds of getting into a highly selective college. Our website has done that for the past decade but we think our redesigned site does a better job of presenting it to you.

Check back here for our regularly updated college admissions blog posts to learn about what you shouldn’t write in a college essay. Or what you should ask in a college alumni interview. Or what not to include on your activity sheet. Or how a teacher letter of recommendation can be more effective in persuading college admissions officers. Or to learn about the latest college admissions scandal (hi, Claremont McKenna College).

We look forward to offering you advice and expertise now and going forward…

Categories: Admissions Process Tags: College Admissions Website, Getting Into College Website, Ivy League Admissions Website, Ivy League Website, University Admissions Website

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First Generation University Applicants

April 20, 2012

College Admissions Movie, College Application Movie, First Generation College Applicant Movie, First Generation Movie

There’s a new independent movie out about first generation university applicants.

First generation university applicants are students who would be the first in their families to attend college. At The Ivy Coach, we offer pro bono college consulting to a select set of students, some of whom are first generation college applicants. In our experience, we’ve found these students to be hard workers who are diligent in their studies and will make great sacrifices to achieve their dreams. Those are the very kinds of students we love working with.

There’s a new independent film current screening about first generation university applicants, so be sure to check out the first generation college applicant movie trailer. The film shares the story of many first generation applicants who are so passionate about continuing their educations beyond high school, so they can go further than where their parents before them have gone. It’s truly very inspiring!

The film also features Richard Kahlenberg, a Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation who writes on a variety of topics in education. In the film, Kahlenberg states (correctly) that while SAT scores may go up with one’s family income, this is not because wealthy kids are inherently smarter. It’s because they get great SAT tutoring and have the resources to properly prepare for this all-important exam.

Be sure to check out the indie! It reminds us of the “Freakonomics” movie and “Waiting for ‘Superman.’”

Categories: Admissions Process Tags: First Gen College Applicants, First Gen University Applicants, First Generation Applicants, First Generation College Applicants, First Generation University Applicants

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Preschool Admission

April 1, 2012

A ridiculous preschool in Manhattan is now requiring DNA testing of toddler applicants. Shame, shame on them (image by Alfred Hutter).

If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you know where we stand on the preschool admission process. It’s absolutely absurd! In Manhattan, admission to preschool is as competitive as the Duke-UNC rivalry. Parents on the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side will do anything to ensure that their two and a half year-old gets admitted to the preschool of their dreams. You read that right.

But the competitive preschool admissions process in New York City is nothing new. What is new is DNA testing for preschool admission! You read that right, too! According to the NPR piece on preschool admission, at the Portsafillo Preschool Academy, all preschool applicants now need to submit DNA at the door. And why’s that? Well, apparently the school’s headmaster, Rebecca Unsinn is a former pediatric neurologist and she believes that there are genetic markers that can predict future success.

We’re not about standing against science. There probably are genetic markers that can predict success. But the fact that this ridiculous preschool headmaster on a major power trip is requiring DNA from the 12,000 toddler applicants for 32 slots is shameful. Since Rebecca Unsinn is a neurologist, that means she went to medical school and she swore by the Hippocratic Oath. How is requiring DNA from toddlers to search for genetic markers to predict success doing no harm? How is eugenics in the best interest of humanity?

Ms. Unsinn also claims that students at her ridiculous school learn C++. That’s right. The computer language. Right. We’re sure three year-olds are coding right in between snacks of apple juice and graham crackers, that is if they’re not too busy getting their DNA evaluated to see if they’re fit to be the next President of the United States. Ms. Unsinn, we help students earn admission each and every year to the most prestigious colleges in America – from Harvard to Dartmouth to Duke and Stanford. Your preschool and you — are an utter joke to us. Shame on you and shame on Porsafillo Pre!

April Fools! You really thought this was real?! Got ya!

Categories: Admissions Process, Parents Tags: Admission to Preschool, Getting Into Manhattan Preschool, NYC Preschool Admission, Preschool Admission, Preschool Admissions

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College Application Extra Material

February 24, 2012

College App Extra Material, Bonus Material for College Applications, Supplemental Material for College Apps

Don’t send unnecessary extra materials with your college application. Elle Woods didn’t really get into Harvard Law (photo credit: Jerry Avenaim).

Including college application extra material is always a risk. From time to time, parents send us these big books filled with accomplishments of their child. Sometimes, these books even have glitter on the covers. Sometimes they’re filled with news clippings, photocopies of awards, photographs of trophies and ribbons, and other accomplishments. Once, we even got a book that included a copy of every award and report card the kid earned since kindergarten.

Would you be surprised to learn that some applicants send such weird things along with their applications? Why would anyone think that sending such accomplishments and weird “extra material” would help one’s case for college admission? Why would a parent think that an article about winning a scavenger hunt as a ten year-old would push a student over the edge? Or a cute photo of the applicant at nine in a pirate outfit? Oy vey. These materials would definitely not help! In fact, it would only hurt one’s chances! The student would be regarded as weird in a bad way! A very bad way.

Don’t ever send such superfluous material that has utterly zero relevance to your chances for college admission! If you otherwise have an outstanding application and you include a book like this, we promise your chances for admission will be severely hurt. No question about it. So don’t submit weird extra material with your college application. “Legally Blonde” was a movie, as we’ve previously stated in our newsletter on college essays. Don’t submit your activity sheet on pink paper (even though it’s submitted electronically so this would be rather rough!). Don’t include glitter. This is not the way to stand out. Well, you might stand out…but not in a good way! Just take our advice on this one. We promise we’re right. And seriously — no glitter!

Categories: Admissions Process, The Application Tags: College App Extra Material, College Application Extra Material, Extra Materials with College Application, Supplemental Info for College Apps, Supplemental Material and College Admissions

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Ivy League Scholarships

February 20, 2012

Ivy League scholarships are myths. For years, we’ve rolled our eyes when parents brag about how their child received a full scholarship to Princeton. Or a full scholarship to Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Harvard, Penn, Columbia, or Cornell. The fact is, the eight Ivy League colleges don’t offer “scholarships.” If by scholarship, these folks mean financial aid, then the answer is yes — Ivy League colleges all offer financial aid. But scholarship implies merit. If these parents knew that Ivy League colleges don’t offer scholarships but only financial aid, would they still be as boastful?

Ivy League Scholarships, Scholarships at Ivy League Colleges, Ivy League University Scholarships

When in line at a grocery store (or anywhere else for that matter), don’t tell people you got a full ride to an Ivy League college. There’s no such thing unless by full ride you mean full financial aid (photo credit: Joseph Barillari).

It’s one of the differentiating factors of the Ivy League for athletes in particular. Ivy League athletes don’t receive scholarships. They’re recruited, yes. But they don’t pay lower tuition costs because they happen to be recruited athletes. There are no athletic scholarships in the Ivy League and it’s one of the pivotal reasons why Ivy League schools often cannot compete with their Division I peers. But, at times, they can compete. At times, the underdog has its day. Jeremy Lin is a Harvard grad. Historically, Princeton has staged remarkable runs in the NCAA Tournament. In spite of not receiving athletic scholarships, Ivy League athletes make a habit of proving they belong at the top of their sport.

So if you’re a mom in the grocery store wearing a Princeton sweatshirt, bragging to the lady behind you in line how your son just received a “full ride” to Princeton, think twice. The lady in the grocery store might know that Princeton does not offer full rides…unless of course by “full ride” you mean full financial aid! If that’s what you’re bragging about, then go right ahead! Like Bill O’Reilly, we just want to keep people honest!

Check out this post on Ivy League Tuition Costs.

Categories: Admissions Process, College Athletes, Ivy League, University Tuition Tags: Full Ride to Ivy League, Ivy League Full Ride, Ivy League Scholarships, Scholarship to Ivy League, Scholarships to Ivy League

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Deferred Applicants

February 19, 2012

Deferred College Applicants, Deferred University Applicants, Deferred Ivy League Applicants

Deferred applicants must be proactive if they hope to beat the odds and get in during Regular Decision.

If you applied to a college via Early Decision and you were deferred but still seek to gain admission, make sure you do something about it. In college admissions you’ve got to be proactive. Does that mean calling admissions officers every hour on the hour? No. That would be harassment. Does that mean sending freshly baked pies to the office of admissions? No, that’s just plain weird. If you are one of the deferred applicants, the trick is to be proactive in a smart, tactical way.

If you become an Intel Science Talent Search semi-finalist, that is information that you should absolutely share with admissions officers at the college that deferred you. That’s the kind of information that can absolutely turn a deferral into an acceptance. If you publish a book that makes the “New York Times Bestseller List,” you should definitely share that important information with admissions! By the way, if you happen to write a book that lands on the “Bestseller List,” there’s a very good chance you’ll have an offer of admission in your inbox later that day. That’s the kind of tidbit that admissions offices can brag about. We’ve got a “New York Times” bestselling writer in our incoming class! We can hear it now!

In addition to updating the admissions office at the college that deferred you with your significant accomplishments (note: this does not include updating them on every little accomplishment in your day to day life — don’t do that as it’ll only hurt you!), you should write what we call a “letter of enthusiasm.” In a creative way, write to your regional admissions officer and let them know how much you still want to go to the school that you committed early to and write why you would be an integral component of the incoming class. This letter can go a long way! And so can a call from your guidance counselor so speak to your guidance counselor. Cultivate a great relationship with him or her so that your guidance counselor will go to bat for you!

Check out our newsletter on Deferred Applicants or this blog on Advice for Deferred Applicants.

Categories: Admissions Process, Early Decision / Early Action Tags: Deferred Admissions Decisions, Deferred Applicants, Deferred College Applicants, Deferred Students, Deferred University Applicants

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International Students and College Admission

February 4, 2012

For those Americans who believe that international students are taking slots at our nation’s top universities away from deserving American students, they should know that these very international students are the reason why many American students can afford to attend college. How’s that, you ask? Well, international students pay the full cost of tuition. They don’t receive financial aid. And many American students do indeed get financial aid. How do you think a university can afford to let students attend for reduced costs…or even for free? “Full-pay” International students (which is essentially redundant) indeed help offset these costs!

A piece in “The New York Times” published today about international students and college admission by Tamar Lewin points out that more than a quarter of the class at the University of Washington gets a free ride largely because of the full-pay tuition from international students. And that’s how the University of Washington can continue to admit low income students from the state of Washington! Does it seem unfair for applicants from China to take slots away from Americans at our universities now? Not so much, we’re guessing you’re thinking.

International Applicants and University Admission, Admissions and International Apps, International Applicants and Ivy League Admission

At the University of Washington, like many universities across the nation, international students who pay the full ride offset the cost of American students who can’t afford full tuition.

According to the same college admission piece in “The New York Times,” “There is a widespread belief in Washington that internationalization is the key to the future, and Mr. [Michael K.] Young, [the university president], said he was not at all bothered that there were now more students from other countries than from other states. (Out-of-state students pay the same tuition as foreign students.) ’Is there any advantage to our taking a kid from California versus a kid from China?’ he said. ‘You’d have to convince me, because the world isn’t divided the way it used to be.’”

Mr. Young at the University of Washington isn’t alone either. The University of Washington isn’t the only state school more inclined to admit a full-pay international student over a partial-pay student from another state. And they’re not wrong to do it. It just makes simple financial sense.

While you’re here, if you’re an international student, check out this post on the Student Visa Interview.

Categories: Admissions Process, College Admissions, International Students, University Tuition Tags: College Admissions and China, College Admissions and Tuition, Global College Admissions, International College Admissions, International Students and College Admissions

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