![Want Better Grades? Try Holistic Learning
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I’m really excited about today’s lesson. The holistic learning system takes a love of learning and a love of wisdom and transforms difficult concepts into obvious concepts. I believe that any student applying the holistic system to education will do great. But I also understand that most students will not even attempt to try this out. Which is why I believe that a tutor or teacher who encourages, enlightens, (and maybe forces!) students to adopt this system can have just as positive an affect on student understanding and grades. If you hate reading (don’t worry, even though I love reading, I can understand your point of view), I have a video presentation that will cover similar topics that I talk about. After the break, I continue my discussion of AT and his holistic learning approach. AT’s Problem Now, don’t get me wrong, you do not need to have a problem to want to introduce a student to this method of learning, but AT absolutely had a problem. Problem #1 – Low grades AT consistently scored in the bottom of his class in math. This was not a new thing. It’s not like he woke up one day and was terrible at school. Normal things like carrying 1’s, adding fractions, and calculating circumference were difficult for him. Now, AT is no dummy. He just didn’t ‘get it’. Problem #2 – Low motivation These low grades really screwed up AT’s motivation. No human is perfect, and AT’s teachers have been dealt difficult cards. One the one hand, there is a boy who doesn’t do well on tests and who guesses on homework...
The Wrong Answer In Her Admission Interview A student of mine recently had the most stressful admission interview of her life. Luckily, we had spent several weeks preparing her for the task. After her interview, we had a chance to briefly chat about her experience. In short, she was very well prepared. One of the most predictable, yet difficult, questions she was asked was, “Why do you want to come to the Thammasat BBA program?” Her answer was fine, but typical, and in no way exceptional. “Thammasat is a very famous school and after going to open house and talking with my seniors I am convinced it will be the best school for me.” Why is this so typical? Let’s play a little game. On the SAT students have to do a “fill in the blank” section, so we will try one based on her typical response now: ______ is a very famous school and after going to open house and talking with my seniors I am convinced it will be the best school for me. a) Thammasat University b) National University of Singapore c) Harvard d) Oxford If you can play the fill-in-the-blank game with your response, then your response is too typical. So what should she have said? “I know that Thammasat is my first choice because Thammasat can help me achieve my goals. I hope to study accounting and work in a multi-national organization after graduation, and Dr. Lee’s advanced accounting courses are world-famous. He even selects certain students to compete in the international accounting competitions. In addition to Dr. Lee, the Association of Accounting...
Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is the culmination of your high school coursework. Each test, homework assignment, quiz and sick day affects your GPA. The classes you take, the quizzes you skip and the projects you succeed in effects your GPA. This something that takes 4 years. With all of this pressure on your high school grades, it is important to remember and recognize the sometimes-contradictory issues present in the GPA as a University requirement. All universities have GPA requirements. But just because you are not an A student does not mean you cannot go to a good school. As I mentioned before, good schools are those that are good for you. Additionally, admissions officers are well aware of the difficulty of the classes you are taking. Getting straight A’s in easy classes is not necessarily better than getting B’s in hard classes. The admissions officer is highly intelligent. You must take classes matching your ability. Getting a better GPA So if I make mistakes my freshman year, are my Ivy League hopes shot? Not really! Many colleges set a 3.0 as a baseline for freshman and transfer admission, though they might still consider students with lower GPAs. The trouble is that the GPA measure is terribly imprecise and hard to compare, because high schools are different throughout the world. Your GPA is very much dependent upon your high school setting and grading policies and the classes you have taken. You could study to get a better SAT, you could tutor your way through essays, but the GPA is all yours. What you need to realize is that worldwide,...
I am incredibly excited for today’s interview with Eric Dobler from Dobler College Consulting. Eric is a long-time admissions officer and college consultant based in New England, USA. I was able to bribe him with cookies and Thai food to spill the beans on the college admissions process. Dobler (Think Homer, not tasty, peachy goodness) is in a very awesome position. He knows the admissions process backwards and forwards and is able to guide all of us through that tricky process. Parents: Pay attention to this interview. It’s a bit long, if you want your kid to get accepted to the best universities, follow Eric’s advice. Students: I know you want to facebook and xbox, but set aside half an hour to learn the process, then stop reading lessons and freaking out and start enjoying life. Admissions Expert: Eric Dobler In today’s interview, you will learn: All about admissions consulting What counselors REALLY look for How international applicants change everything The anatomy of a perfect applicant Eric Dobler On “Getting Into University” Resources we mentioned Doing well on your application does not have to be an impossible process. The key, as Dobler mentioned, is to start early, have a clear goal, and focus on being a super rockstar. The key to anything in life is to find what you want to do and do that thing very well. You can find Dobler at Dobler College Consulting or on twitter @EricCDobler. Craig’s Final Word Like anything worth doing in life, the admissions process is worth doing well. All the tools you need are available: do well in school, pick schools...
I know you are stressed out. I completely understand. This is a very busy time. In fact, I have so many students freaking out right now. It’s a very busy time. The college admission season is scary. Super scary. And you can feel like you are all alone. But you are not. You are: freaking out about school, getting pressured from your friends, dealing with really hard classes, turning into adults, and writing those freakin’ essays. I understand your admissions problems I get it. And I just want to let you know, briefly, that it is going to be okay. It really will be okay. You just have to get through a few more hours, days, months. Before you know it, it will be out of your hands. The admissions bug will be up to the admissions officers. This is a short post. A reminder post. To let you know that it really will be okay. There are so many free, paid, and in-between resources for you to master your SAT, rock those essays, and get the financial aid you really need. I know you can do it. You know you can do it. So calm down, sit down, and kick some butt. ps. Getting in is hard. Duh. But once you are there, life is really, really good. You have freedom, options, friends, new family, and adulthood. Growing up surrounded by awesome people is something you absolutely must do. Do not stress, do not worry, just take this for what it is. You are in an exciting time. It can feel like the end of the world some...
Teaching Your Friends Equals Getting Awesome Grades You’re smart. You’re one step ahead of your teacher, and ten steps ahead of your lab partner. You’ve got the formulas down, you aced the pop quiz, and your teacher beamed with pride when she handed back your essay. You just cannot get that final awesome grade; you just cannot get that perfect score. You might be thinking, Hey, I’ve arrived… I’ve totally killed my grades; nothing left to do. You might say to yourself, Good work, self, now we just kick back and sail straight into the Ivy Leagues, leaving a trail of high scores and accolades behind us. Well, listen up: Stop saying that now. Don’t get cocky–it’s a trap. Even the smart kids can fall behind. Remember the Ant and the Grasshopper? The Tortoise and the Hare? The point is it’s a whole lot easier to fall behind than it is to catch up. So how do you stay on your game and make this high school thing a bit more interesting? Be prepared for get your socks rocked! Get Better Grades Tutoring. No, don’t hire a tutor (unless that tutor is me!), become one. Tutor your, ahem, academically-challenged friends or see if you can find some underclassmen that wants a leg up. Then tackle the ultimate challenge: scan the room for that stupidly hot airhead–you know the one–and make your move. Don’t be afraid–they’re in no position to turn down free help. This isn’t the quad, it’s the classroom. In here, they’re floundering and you’re king. Wait until a particularly dizzying lecture, then ask them to study with...
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