QUIZ: How many students apply to 7 or more colleges?

We always say it's a great idea to apply to 8-10 colleges. But how many students actually do?

We thought we'd try something different this week and see what you think is the national percentage of high school students who apply to a minimum of 7 colleges.

Click here to test your knowledge, and find out the national percentage vs. the percentage of our students here at Ensphere (there's a pretty big difference)!

After making your best guess, don't forget to download a copy of our College List Checklist so that you can make sure you're on track to maximize your chances of admission and your financial aid opportunities.

Remember, putting together a well-balanced list of colleges is one of the most nuanced and strategic parts of the college process, and we are here to help!

If you have any questions or want to sign up for our upcoming Ensphere Family Events, simply email erin@enspherecps.com or call the office at (724) 745-0305.

Have a great week,

Erin, Director of Student Services

Ensphere Family Events: January-July 2016

Our 2015 family events were a big success, and we are very pleased to announce our upcoming season of events!
 
The 2016 season will include, among others:

• "How to Succeed as a Student Athlete!"
• "Do I Have the Right Colleges On My List?"
• "The College Essay & Application Workshop!"
• "Which Offer Should I Accept?"

Join us at these events and more to make sure you have everything you need for a successful college journey. We believe successful college planning involves identifying a career path, picking the right college, graduating on time, and having a written plan for funding college. Our family events are designed to support you in each step along the way.

As a bonus, if you missed some of our events from this year, we are providing brief video versions of our more popular topics. Click here to view them (more coming soon)! 

Check out our calendar for more details on our full schedule of upcoming events for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors!

To save your spot at an event, please email erin@enspherecps.com or call (724) 745-0305.
 
We hope to see you in the coming months!

Erin, Director of Student Services

The $250 Referral Contest!

 

They say the best things in life are free. What about free money? How does $250 sound?

As you know, we are always looking to assist more families in their college planning journeys.

 

You can win $250 by replying to this message with the names & email addresses of 5 friends, neighbors, or family members whom you think would benefit from our workshops/webinars. We will introduce ourselves and invite them to an upcoming event.

 

The first two people to send us 5 qualified* names will win $250!

Plus, as usual, we will give you another $100 for every referral who becomes a client of Ensphere.

That money can be used for college books, tuition, or anything in between.

 

More importantly, you will be helping a family start the journey towards successful college planning.

On that note, check out the schools our hard-working seniors have been accepted at so far:

• Albright College
• California University of Pennsylvania
  
• Duquesne University
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Kent State University
• King's College
  
• Liberty University
• Michigan State University
• Ohio Northern University
• Purdue University
  
• Robert Morris University
• Saint Vincent College
• Seton Hill University
• Thiel College
  
• Truman State University
• University of Akron
• University of Pittsburgh
• Virginia Wesleyan College
  
• Washington & Jefferson College
• Waynesburg University
• West Virginia University

... with many more to come!

 

So, what are you waiting for?

Rob, College Planning Specialist

* Qualified families: families with students in 10th, 11th, or 12th grades who are headed to college 

College Planning Tricks & Treats!

Before we get to our awesome new Halloween video, let's review a few announcements and reminders for families:

Congratulations, Seniors!

Early acceptances have started to roll in, and we are pleased to share that our seniors have been accepted at the following schools so far:

• King's College
  
• Michigan State University
  
• Robert Morris University
• Saint Vincent College
• Seton Hill University
• Thiel College
  
• University of Pittsburgh
• Virginia Wesleyan College
  
• Waynesburg University

... with many more to come!

Seniors, keep up the good work. Remember, our goal is to have all applications submitted by the end of next week. Email erin@enspherecps.com if you need any help!

SAT & ACT Scores

If you took the SAT earlier this month, scores were released this morning! Log on to your College Board profile to see how you did.

Remember to email your fall SAT & ACT scores to erin@enspherecps.com so that we can update our records.

Note: Virginia Tech recently announced that next year they will accept scores from the ACT or new SAT, but not the current version of the SAT. We do not expect many colleges to follow suit but will keep you posted as we hear any updates. Juniors, let us know if you are interested in applying to Virginia Tech, and we can set up a time to discuss how this may affect your testing timeline.

Family Events

Click here to help us plan our 2016 calendar of family events! Let us know which topics you'd like to see covered. We appreciate your ideas and feedback.

When you're finished, make sure to click here to enjoy our new video!

As always, please reach out to us at 724-745-0305 if there is anything we can help you with!  

Erin, Director of Student Services

The New PSAT: What's Changing?

Next week, many students will take the new PSAT, modeled after the redesigned SAT, for the first time. For most of you, this will be a new testing experience and your first real look at the changes ahead. So, what can you expect?

Length

The new PSAT will be 35 minutes longer than the previous version of the test. Testing time will now total 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Sections

According to the practice materials released by the College Board, students will complete 4 sections in total: Reading, Writing & Language, Math - No Calculator, and Math - Calculator Permitted.

Here's the breakdown of timing vs. the number of questions for each section:

• Reading: 60 min., 47 questions
• Writing & Language: 35 min., 44 questions
• Math - No Calculator: 25 min., 17 questions
• Math - Calculator: 45 min., 31 questions

Changes to the Reading Questions

One notable change has many students excited ... the removal of the sentence completion (obscure vocabulary) questions! The only vocabulary questions you will see are "vocabulary-in-context" questions, in which you must determine how a certain word is being used within the context of a full reading passage. Most students find these questions to be much easier.

Obscure vocabulary questions are gone, but the new test has added some questions that require students to read charts and graphs. These may look intimidating at first, but the questions are actually very straightforward. Just make sure to pay attention to how the graphs are labeled!

The new test will also include pairs of evidence-based reading comprehension questions. From time to time, you may be asked to complete a follow-up question where you identify the line numbers that serve as evidence for your answer to the previous question. When you see these paired questions, it may be helpful to work backwards using the line numbers offered in the answer choices of the second question.

Changes to the Writing Questions

The writing section of the new PSAT looks exactly like the ACT's writing section. Instead of revising isolated sentences, students will now make improvements to sentences that are embedded within long passages. Many students like having that additional context to better understand the sentences they are revising.

If you've been studying grammar concepts for the current version of the SAT, you'll be happy to see that the grammar concepts being tested are pretty much the same.

Changes to the Math Questions

Math is getting harder! Luckily, timing is fairly generous for these sections.

The "no calculator" questions will resemble the types of questions featured on the current version of the SAT. (As many students have recognized, you don't really need a calculator to solve the math questions on the current SAT.) But it may feel tedious to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions and quadruple-digit numbers by hand, so brush up on your arithmetic skills!

The "calculator permitted" questions will cover more advanced concepts than what you've seen on previous tests, particularly in dealing with quadratic functions. However, you may have covered these topics more recently in your high school math classes, leaving them fresher in your mind. Definitely bring your graphing calculator on the day of the test, and make sure you're comfortable with using it!

Scoring

Goodbye, point penalties! The new PSAT and SAT will no longer deduct 0.25 points for each incorrect answer. This means you absolutely should put an answer for every question, even if it's a random guess. If you run out of time at the end of a section, pick your favorite letter and bubble it in for the remaining questions.

One change that's a bit confusing is the new scaled scoring system. Reading and Writing will now be combined as a single subject score, while Math will continue to be calculated as its own subject score. On the new SAT, this means you can score up to 800 in Reading & Writing and 800 in Math, for a total of 1600.

The PSAT, in an attempt to more accurately predict your SAT performance (taking into account the PSAT's shorter length), will lower the maximum scores that you can receive. Your final score will range from 320-1520 in total, meaning you can score up to 760 per section.

How to Prepare

The College Board has released one full-length practice PSAT with full answer explanations, which you can download by clicking here.

It's also a good idea to check out the first few lessons on Method Test Prep, under the "New SAT" course. The topics and practice questions covered there will look very similar to the new PSAT questions.

Note: if you are a junior who has been studying for the current version of the SAT this fall, don't get too distracted or discouraged if the new PSAT feels very different to you. Instead, think of it as a sneak peek at the new SAT and just another opportunity to practice your test-taking skills. Right now, it's more important to focus on getting ready to perform your best on the current SAT before the test changes in the spring.

Happy studying!

Erin, Director of Student Services

College List Checklist: how many safe options, solid matches, and reaches should I apply to?

Last week, we looked at why it's critical to apply to 8-10 colleges (minimum). But that's just the first step!

Putting together a well-balanced list of colleges is one of the most nuanced and strategic parts of the college process. If built correctly and coordinated with your family's college funding plan, the right list of colleges will make a tremendous difference in maximizing your financial aid opportunities.

Let's review the checklist that we use as a starting point for our students:

Public vs. Private Schools & Need Met

As we discussed last week, different schools take different approaches to the financial aid process. This means that applying to a variety of schools will give you a better chance of seeing a variety of offers. For this reason, your final college list should include a mix of public and private schools, some with a good track record of offering students generous need-based aid and merit aid.

Admission Difficulty

Generally, it's best to include 2-3 safe options, 4-5 solid matches, and 1-3 reaches on your list. Keep in mind that what may be a safe option for one student could be a reach for another. So how do you know if a school is a safe option, solid match, or reach for you?

Begin by comparing your GPA and SAT/ACT scores to those of accepted students at the schools on your list.

If you are comfortably above the averages, the school may be a safe option for you, meaning you have a very good chance of getting in and a good chance of seeing a generous merit aid offer.

If you are around the school's average numbers, it is most likely a solid match for you. This means you have a solid chance of acceptance, although it's not a sure bet.

Numbers below the school's averages mean that the school is likely a reach for you. While you may have a slimmer chance of acceptance, you never know what may happen!

Of course, there are factors that affect your admission chances beyond GPA and test scores. For example, schools like Stanford are reaches for anyone. Essays, extracurriculars, interviews, and recommendation letters can also help or hurt your chances of admission. We can help you to determine exactly where a school may fall for you.

Remember, solid matches should make up the core of your college list. If the bulk of your list is shooting too high or too low, you may end up with only a couple of acceptances or end up with schools that are not the ideal fit. I always tell students to imagine the worst-case scenario, in which you are accepted by your safe options, accepted by only half of your solid matches, and rejected by all of your reaches. Will you still have a good selection of offers remaining?

Early Admission Options

It's a great idea to apply to some schools that you'll hear back from earlier in the year (as long as the offers are non-binding). Getting early acceptances and scholarship offers can be a weight off your shoulders and can also give us a sense of how competitive your application looks to schools, in case we need to make any last-minute adjustments to your list.

Have questions or need help with your college list? Contact us by email or by calling the office at (724) 745-0305. We're always happy to help!

Erin, Director of Student Services

How many colleges should I apply to?

The school year is under way, and our students are hard at work! Seniors are submitting college applications, while sophomores and juniors are learning about careers that are a good fit, preparing for the SAT & ACT, and researching colleges. It is a very busy (and exciting) time!

In looking back at our results from last year's seniors, I was struck once again by how critical it was for our students to apply to the right number and the right balance of schools.

Today, let's revisit the importance of the college list and why having the right schools can make a huge difference.

As most of you have heard me say many times by now, we recommend applying to 8-10 schools. Why so many? Let's start by taking a look at some interesting numbers:

On average, our students who applied to 8 or more schools versus those who applied to only 5 schools ended up with more than double the number of acceptance letters and nearly $8,000 more from each school.

Students who applied to only 5 schools could expect to pay $23,429 per year at their #1 school ... while students who applied to at least 8 schools had significantly lower out-of-pocket costs at just $17,087.

But remember, it's not just about having the right number of schools. Having the right balance of schools is equally important.

Your final college list should include a mix of public and private schools, some with a good track record of offering students generous need-based aid and merit aid. Different schools take different approaches to the financial aid process, so applying to a variety of schools means you have a better chance of seeing a variety of offers. A variety of offers can make a difference during the negotiation process.

We also encourage you to think about schools' difficulty of admission when finalizing your list. Ideally, your final list will include 2-3 safe options, 4-5 solid matches, and 1-3 reach schools, based on your GPA and test scores. (More on this next week!)

Ultimately, our goal is to help you maximize your financial aid opportunities while finding the college that's the best match for your career goals.

Let's have a wonderful school year!

Erin, Director of Student Services

Want more SAT/ACT prep? First 2 families to reply win seats to a live online class!

We're excited to be offering 2 free seats to a live, online SAT/ACT prep class hosted by Method Test Prep!

We will award seats to the first two families to reply to this message with the name & email address of a friend, neighbor, or family member whom you think would benefit from our workshops/webinars so that we can introduce ourselves and invite them to an upcoming event.

Winners will be able to select the class of their choosing ($399 value) from Method Test Prep's fall offerings. This means you can pick the class that fits your schedule and focuses on the subject area(s) you need the most help with.

Classes will be taught by live SAT/ACT instructors and will include access to recordings of lessons and additional practice tests.

Is it really possibly to "study" for the SAT and the ACT? The answer is YES! (Remember to check out our 2014 & 2015 students' results!) On average, our students who spend time preparing for the tests are able to raise their scores by 4 points on the ACT and 229 points on the SAT.

Again, if you are interested in a free spot at a live, online prep class of your choosing, simply reply to this message with the name & email address of a friend, neighbor, or family member whom you think would benefit from our workshops/webinars.

Seats will be awarded to the first 2 people who respond.

For all other students and families, if you still need to schedule your initial student meeting with me to get started with our 20-week online SAT & ACT courses, please reply to this email or call us at (724) 745-0305.

Erin, Director of Student Services

Our blog is one year old!

Our blog is one year old!

It's been a great year, and to celebrate, we've compiled 10 of your all-time favorite blog posts:

What do you believe?

RESULTS: 2014-15 College Admissions & Financial Aid Cycle!

71% of Recent College Grads Still Receiving Financial Help From Parents

Where Are You Going, and How Will You Get There?

8 Steps to Acing the College Admissions Interview

SAT & ACT: Do I really have to take both? (See our 2014-15 numbers!)

4 Tips for Getting GREAT College Recommendation Letters from Teachers

Does the PSAT Matter?

College Costs & Financial Aid

3 Biggest Misconceptions About the SAT & ACT

Remember to let us know if you have any friends or neighbors who might enjoy our blog!

Mike, Debbie, Erin, Chris, Jeremy, and Rena

SAT & ACT: Do I really have to take both? (See our 2014-15 Numbers!)

"Do I really have to take both?"

It's a question we hear from many students every year at the start of SAT/ACT season. And our answer is, "Only if you want to maximize your chances of getting into the best school with the best possible financial aid package for you."

The numbers speak for themselves. On average, our students who took only one of the two college entrance exams received an average financial aid offer of $16,250 from each school, with an offer of $16,800 from their #1 choice.

Compare that to students who took both tests! Students who took both the SAT and the ACT received an average of $22,000 per school, with an offer of $27,000 from their #1 choice.

Why might this be the case? Students who take both tests have the chance to tackle the same content in different forms. Some students find that the structure of one test simply suits their strengths better than the structure of the other test does. You can then decide whether you want to focus on studying and retaking your better of the two tests. Students who score significantly higher on one test can submit just their best scores to colleges, a tactic that has benefited many of our students.

Furthermore, students who perform equally well on both tests can still submit both sets of scores to colleges, providing the school with more evidence confirming that the student is a good academic fit.

As our rising juniors work hard to prepare to take the SAT and ACT for the first time this fall, we'd like to share some other fun facts and interesting statistics from our 2014 & 2015 graduating classes. Click here for the full results!

Remember, colleges prioritize GPA and test scores when determining how much merit aid a student will receive, so it's important to show the best numbers possible.

 As our results show, these are tests that you can and should study for. Students who took advantage of our SAT & ACT resources raised their scores by an average of 229 points on the SAT and 4 points on the ACT. A boost of that magnitude will make a huge difference when colleges make decisions about admissions and financial aid!

If you still need to schedule your initial student meeting with me to get started with our online SAT & ACT courses, please email erin@enspherecps.com or call us at (724) 745-0305.

Erin, Director of Student Services

P.S. Join us on September 10th for our family event, "SAT & ACT Steps to Success!" Admission is free to all Ensphere families (or $99 per student for non-Ensphere members). Seats are filling up fast, so let me know ASAP if you'd like to reserve your spot!

Tuition Hikes at State Schools: Watch Mike on KDKA-TV!

What was Mike doing on Friday evening?

Mike sat down with KDKA money editor Jon Delano to talk about expected tuition hikes at state schools.

The local schools affected include Cal U, Clarion, Edinboro, IUP, and Slippery Rock. Pitt and Penn State have yet to announce their expected tuition increases.

For Mike's thoughts and more, click here!

If you'd like to schedule a meeting with Mike to review your family's college funding plan, please reply to this email or call (724) 745-0305.
 
Remember our four steps to a successful college journey: determine the student's career path, find the right-fit school, graduate on time, and develop a plan for paying for college and beyond.

Let us know if you have any questions; we are here to help!

Erin, Director of Student Services

P.S. In case you missed last week's announcement, we've published our event calendar for the upcoming season! Some events are expected to fill up very quickly, so email or call the office to save your seat.

Ensphere Family Events: July-December 2015

This year's events have been a BIG hit, so we are happy to announce our upcoming season of events for Ensphere families (and guests)!

We've heard your requests, and this season's events will include, among others:

• "Let’s Plan Ahead: Time Management & Study Skills!"
• "What Are Colleges Looking For On My Transcript?"
• "SAT & ACT Steps to Success!"
• "All About the Financial Aid Process!" 

Join us at these events and more to make sure you have everything you need for a successful college journey. We believe successful college planning involves identifying a career path, picking the right college, graduating on time, and having a written plan for funding college. Our family events are designed to support you in each step along the way.
 
Check out our calendar (click here) for information on upcoming events for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors!

 

What have families been saying about our events?

Very informative. - Janet K.

Great session. Extremely helpful. - Karl S.

I would like to take the time to thank Erin for an absolutely flawless presentation last week. From content to delivery, I was so impressed with her enthusiasm and knowledge of her subject. I find working with Erin a true joy! – Monette S.

Content very helpful and worthwhile. - Cindy H.

 Nice job. Informative, to the point, and helpful. - Kim M.

Great presentation today! - Monica K.

Very helpful. - Ciara H.

I just wanted to take a minute and give credit where credit is due. You did a fantastic job tonight, Erin, in giving the presentation, "What are Your Chances?". I, along with my son and daughter, found the information presented not only very informative but very helpful as well. My daughter said, she wishes she could have known the information she learned tonight back when she was a freshman in high school as a motivator. I told her "I've been telling you all along." She said, "I know Mom, but no offense, but coming from you isn't the same and is kind of like nagging, but hearing it from someone else in the industry is motivating." Anyway, great job Erin! My kids have been trying to do their best, but I think they're feeling a little more flame under their butts after tonight to do even better if they can. Thanks again! – Joan S.

--

To save your spot at an event, please email erin@enspherecps.com or call (724) 745-0305.

 
If you know of any friends or neighbors who might benefit from the Ensphere experience, you can reply to this email or click here, and we'll extend an invitation.
 
We'll see many of you in the coming months!
 
Erin, Director of Student Services

Summertime is a great time to get ahead!

Ah, summer. The most wonderful of seasons. A time that frees up about seven hours a day for high school students to laze around and enjoy themselves by going to the pool, playing video games, or sleeping in until the clock reads PM. Definitely not the time to be thinking about college ...

OR IS IT?!

The fact of the matter is, summer is an essential time that should be used to students' advantage when it comes to preparing for the next phase of their lives. Although there are commitments that everyone has, such as a club sports team or family vacation, there's still so much more free time available to you than in the remaining nine months of the year, since you don’t have to be in a classroom from 8:00-3:00 five days a week.

Some of those freed up hours can be used to your benefit by the time the freight train that is the final semester of senior year pulls onto the platform to whisk you away to college.

Here are some things that students should consider doing with the rest of the summer:

PURSUE A PASSION

More than ever, colleges are interested in admitting students who are the kind of motivated, passionate individuals that will help a campus thrive.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be an All-State basketball player who can also perform Beethoven’s 5th on the violin, but admissions officers are searching for something that makes a student stand out.

Using your free time over the summer to shadow a Physical Therapist, intern at Pitt, or work on your art portfolio are the types of activities that will be looked at favorably on a college application.

Career Cruising should have given you an idea of some career paths that might interest you, so you can use that as a starting point when considering what you are going to explore this summer

RESEARCH SCHOOLS YOU'RE INTERESTED IN

With the power of the internet, you're able to learn a great deal about schools from the comfort of your air-conditioned living room, at no cost.

Using our "School Selector" tool on Career Cruising, you can compile a list of schools that fit your academic needs. You should then visit the schools' official websites, where you can learn everything (really, everything) else you could want to know, ranging from how many dining halls there are on campus, to what the male-to-female student ratio is, to the school’s motto. Some colleges even have interactive campus tours that you can take online.

Also, take the time to visit the school’s secondary sites, like the Athletics site, Student Newspaper, or Facebook page. These will give you an even better idea of the campus culture and whether the school may be a good fit for you.

KEEP YOUR MIND SHARP

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Your brain is a muscle, it has to be exercised to keep it strong?"

Everyone has had that moment where you’re sitting in your first math class after summer vacation and the teacher asks everyone how to solve for X and no one has any recollection of the steps involved to do so. Knowledge fades over time if you aren’t required to use it for anything.

However, if you use Method Test Prep consistently over the summer, you can keep your mind sharp so that when your teacher asks these questions on the first day of class, you can be the hero they always dreamed would walk through their door.

Method Test Prep is very helpful in preparing for the SAT and ACT, and everyone knows how important those are when it comes to getting a foot in the door at the school of your dreams.

The more time you spend on the site, the more familiar you will be with the content and format of the exams, thus raising you scores and your chances of being accepted to the right colleges. Seems like a no-brainer, right?

So, what will you do to make the most of your summer? Leave your comments below!

Jeremy, Data Specialist

Happy Summer! $100 Summer Special!

We hope your summer is off to a great start! At Ensphere, we had a great turnout at Saturday's workshop on college essays and applications. Rising seniors, if you weren't able to make it, we will be holding one more workshop for you on July 11th.

A special congratulations (and thank you) to Ciara, our first student of the 2016 class to send me a college essay for review!

Summer Special

Our company grows best when families send their friends to our webinars to learn more about how to identify a career path, pick the right college, graduate on time, and develop a plan for funding college.

In honor of the start of summer, we are offering a $100 gift card to all our families who send a friend to our next online webinar.

 

Your friends can register here! If they're not able to make one of our upcoming dates (July 7th & 8th), they can still sign up to watch a recording of a past webinar.

Email or call to let us know if you've referred a friend to our webinar, so we can make sure you get your gift card!

Questions or comments about college admissions and financial aid? Leave your comments below!

Complete the contact form on the right for insider secrets on how to send your student to the college of their dreams, without going broke!

Erin, Director of Student Services

RESULTS: 2014-15 College Admissions & Financial Aid Cycle!

Our class of 2015 graduates has a lot to be proud of, and we are very excited to share their accomplishments with you!

For freshman year alone, our students received, on average, $20,904 in financial aid from each school at which they were accepted!

Even better, the average freshman-year financial aid award from a student's #1 school was $24,357.

So how much will college cost for our students?

While the average annual cost of attendance at the schools our students applied to totaled a whopping $45,329 ... our students' out-of-pocket costs averaged less than half of that, at just $20,972.

Impressive! But there's so much more to celebrate.

For the full results of our 2014-2015 college admissions & financial aid cycle, check out the infographic that we put together for you:

To view the full-sized PDF, please click here.

Congratulations again, 2015 grads! From SAT/ACT prep to choosing the right schools to working with us to develop a college funding plan, you should be very proud of your hard work.

To all of our Ensphere families, thank you for letting us continue to be a part of your college planning journeys.

Erin, Director of Student Services

P.S. The upcoming college application season is quickly approaching! Do you know any families with students graduating in 2016 & 2017 who could benefit from our services? If so, please refer them to our website and let them know about our upcoming workshops & webinars!

What’s new about the Elite Scholars Program?

The new Elite Scholars Program—the first local program of its kind—provides the next level of personalized guidance to families who are targeting Ivy League and “Tier One” schools, with a focus on long-lasting career success.

The added services include everything your family needs for success:

• Identification of Student’s Right-Fit “Tier One” Schools
• 10 Hours of Individual SAT/ACT Tutoring With a Focus on Strategies for Scoring 2000+ and 30+
• Strategic Coursework Plans With a Recommended Reading List
• Unlimited Revisions and Personal Conferences for Developing Successful College Essays
• Resume/Extracurricular Planning for Student’s Targeted Schools
• Weekly Phone Conferences to Keep Students and Parents On Track
• And much more!

If this sounds like the help your family needs, we’d like to invite you to come by the office to find out whether the Elite Scholars Program is the right fit for your family.

Click here or call the office at (724) 745-0305 to let us know what works best for your schedule.

Mike Giffin, President

ANSWERS: 15 Surprising Facts About Ivy League and “Tier One” Schools

Here are the answers to yesterday's quiz!

1. How many Ivy League schools are there? Bonus point if you can name all of them! There are 8 Ivy League schools: Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. (Note: all of the Ivy League schools accept the Common Application.)

2. What is the oldest school in the U.S., and when was it founded? Harvard University, founded in 1636, is the oldest school in the U.S.

3. How many applications did the Ivies receive this year, and what percentage of applicants were accepted? This year, the Ivy League schools received over 261,150 applications in total. Keep in mind, the applicant pool is largely a self-selecting group of students who have strong credentials. This year, only 8.7% of those applications resulted in acceptance letters. The rejections included thousands of straight-A students with perfect SAT/ACT scores. (This doesn't mean perfect test scores are a requirement, but you need to be an extremely strong candidate in order to rise to the top.)

4. Can you name 5 non-Ivy League schools that would be considered "Tier One" schools? Popular answers often include Stanford, MIT, Duke, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, Amherst, Notre Dame, UCLA, UVA, NYU, and many, many more!

5. Which school publishes the oldest collegiate daily newspaper still in existence? The Yale Daily News is the oldest still in existence. It has been printed five days a week since January 1878.

6. Which school was the only Ivy not to close during the Revolutionary War? Dartmouth!

7. Which Ivy does not require students to take any core classes? There are no mandatory core classes at Brown University. Outside of the courses required for their specific degree programs, students are expected to design their own educational paths. Around 20% of students at Brown double major.

8. Does your "demonstrated interest" in a top school affect your admission chances? Yes, demonstrated interest can make a difference! Highly selective colleges want to admit students who are likely to enroll if admitted. The level of interest a student has shown in a particular school can improve the student’s chances of admission, although demonstrated interest counts for much less than test scores, GPA, and admission essays. Demonstrated interest can include visiting the campus, attending local information sessions, or even simply requesting information on the school's website.

9. Which two Ivy League schools have the largest enrollments? Cornell and Columbia are the largest, with enrollments totaling over 20,000 students each.

10. Which Ivy League school has the smallest enrollment? Dartmouth is the smallest, with a student body totaling around 6,000.

11. Which school has educated more U.S. presidents than any other university? Bonus point if you can name them! A total of 8 presidents earned undergraduate, business, or law degrees from Harvard University. Those presidents are: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

12. How many years of your high school transcript are closely looked at by Ivy League and "Tier One" admissions officers? Ivy League and other “Tier One” schools look closely at all four years of a student’s high school transcript, and they want to see that the student is taking harder courses each year. Grade trends are carefully considered: upward trends are looked upon much more favorably than downward trends.

13. The president of which university coined the word "campus?" In the 1770s, Princeton University’s president John Witherspoon coined the word “campus,” which is Latin for “field.”

14. Who founded the University of Pennsylvania? The University of Pennsylvania was founded by Benjamin Franklin. (Notable alumni include Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Tory Burch, William Carlos Williams, Mark Pincus, John Legend, and Elizabeth Banks.)

15. In what year did Brown University change its name to Brown University? Bonus point if you know how much tuition cost during that year! The College of Rhode Island was renamed Brown University in 1804, after a $5,000 donation to the school from Nicholas Brown, an alumnus and prominent Providence businessman. At the time, tuition was only $5!

If you're interested in finding out whether our Elite Scholars Program may be right for your family, visit our website or email erin@enspherecps.com.
 
To ensure that every family in our Elite Scholars Program gets the special attention they need, we are limiting the number of families we’re accepting for the upcoming school year.

Erin, Director of Student Services

QUIZ: 15 Surprising Facts About Ivy League and “Tier One” Schools

 

Mike says you’ve asked tons of great questions in the past two days. Today, we thought we’d have some fun and ask some questions of our own!

 

Email erin@enspherecps.com by the end of the day with your best guesses. We'll send a special prize to the winner(s). Keep an eye out for the correct answers tomorrow! 

1. How many Ivy League schools are there? Bonus point if you can name all of them!

2. What is the oldest school in the U.S., and when was it founded?

3. How many applications did the Ivies receive this year, and what percentage of applicants were accepted?

4. Can you name 5 non-Ivy League schools that would be considered "Tier One" schools?

5. Which school publishes the oldest collegiate daily newspaper still in existence?

6. Which school was the only Ivy not to close during the Revolutionary War?

7. Which Ivy does not require students to take any core classes?

8. Does your "demonstrated interest" in a top school affect your admission chances?

9. Which two Ivy League schools have the largest enrollments?

10. Which Ivy League school has the smallest enrollment?

11. Which school has educated more U.S. presidents than any other university? Bonus point if you can name them!

12. How many years of your high school transcript are closely looked at by Ivy League and "Tier One" admissions officers?

13. The president of which university coined the word "campus?"

14. Who founded the University of Pennsylvania?

15. In what year did Brown University change its name to Brown University? Bonus point if you know how much tuition cost during that year!  

Is your student thinking about any Ivy League or “Tier One” schools?

To ensure that every family in our Elite Scholars Program gets the special attention they need, we are limiting the number of families we’re accepting for the upcoming school year. 

Visit our website or email erin@enspherecps.com to find out whether our Elite Scholars Program may be right for your family.  

Erin, Director of Student Services

Introducing our NEW Elite Scholars Program …

The world of college admissions has become increasingly competitive and difficult to navigate.

Working with hundreds of families since 2004, we’ve seen that more and more families are feeling lost, particularly when it comes to getting their students into the Ivy League or “Tier One” schools of their dreams.

We’re pleased to say we have the solution.

Our new Elite Scholars Program—the first local program of its kind—provides the next level of personalized guidance to families who are targeting Ivy League and “Tier One” schools, with a focus on long-lasting career success.

You may be wondering, “Is this program available to new and current members of Ensphere?”

The answer is YES!

However … to ensure that every family in our Elite Scholars Program gets the special attention they need, we are limiting the number of families we’re accepting for the upcoming school year.

Visit our website and email erin@enspherecps.com to find out whether our Elite Scholars Program may make sense for your family. 

Mike Giffin, President

You’re the first to hear the news!

It’s here, it’s all come together, and as Rena would say, it’s AWESOME!

“Mike, WHAT are you talking about?” you ask.

I’m talking about our new Elite Scholars Program, a hands-on college entrance program with targets of Ivy League and “Tier One” schools.

It’s going to be big … and you’re the first to hear the news!

If you want to learn more, visit our website and email erin@enspherecps.com.

I’ll be back tomorrow with all the details.

Mike Giffin, President

BIG news is on the way!

We are cooking up something BIG here at Ensphere.

For the past 12 months, we've been developing a new "Elite Scholars" program for families targeting Ivies & Tier One schools, with a focus on career success.

Interested in learning more? Stay tuned for our program launch next week. We are excited to share the full details with you.

In the meantime, here's what students should be up to right now ...

Freshmen and younger:

Join us on May 20th for our event, "What Should I Be Doing This Summer?" Find out how you can maximize your time during the summer to prepare for college admissions success.

If you need help choosing courses for next year, let us know. We can set up a quick phone conference with you.

Sophomores:

Get ready for the SAT and ACT! In particular, you should plan to take the SAT at least once in the fall, before the test changes.

Remember to use your "Method Test Prep" tools. NOW is a great time to work through the 20-week course online. Contact Erin if you need any help.

Juniors:

Finish the year strong! Your junior-year grades are very important. Remember to start talking to teachers about letters of recommendation.

Continue scheduling college visits and researching colleges' websites for admission requirements.

If you are retaking the SAT/ACT in June, make sure to let us know when your new scores come in.

Check in with Erin regarding your college list if you still have not sent it to us.

Seniors:

Congratulations on your hard work! Enjoy the rest of your senior year.

Parents of seniors, we will be reaching out later this month to begin scheduling appointments to refine your cash flow plan to pay college expenses for the fall semester.

Please refer to the email we sent at the beginning of the month regarding next steps and loan programs.

We also hope to see our seniors and their families on Saturday, May 16th for our Senior Graduation Celebration! Call the office or email erin@enspherecps.com to save your seat.

Mike Giffin, President

4 Tips for Getting GREAT College Recommendation Letters from Teachers

Letters of recommendation are an often-overlooked part of the college application process. Although many students don't take this step seriously, letters of recommendation can have a significant impact on your admissions chances.

Here are four tips for getting recommendation letters that will wow the admissions committee and give you the best possible chance of getting into your dream school.

Tip #1: Plan ahead!

As with all steps in the college planning journey, preparation is the key to success. Every college has different application requirements, so it's important to know what you will need.

Make sure you know how many letters are required ... and how many of those letters must come from one of your junior-year teachers. Some colleges will specify exactly whom they want to see letters from. Other colleges may be more flexible or may even say that recommendation letters are "optional." (Remember, when a college says part of the application is "optional," you still need to do it if you want a good chance of getting in!)

Tip #2: Build relationships with your teachers! 

The best letters come from teachers who know and like the student on a more personal level. The more a teacher likes you, the more likely they are to spend time giving the letter a personal touch.

When reading thousands of recommendation letters, it is easy to see which ones are "copy-and-paste" form letters versus ones where the teacher has a lot to say about a student. If you want your teachers to be able to gush about what makes you so special, you have to get to know them.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by simply showing your teachers that you care about their classes. Show up to class prepared every day. Participate, listen, and ask questions. You don't even need to be the most vocal student in class to build a good relationship with your teacher. If you feel more comfortable asking questions or asking for help one-on-one after class, go for it!

Simple interactions before and after class can also make a big difference. Don't rush past your teachers in the hallways; smile and say hello! Ask your teachers how their weekends went. Talk to them about your athletic and extracurricular activities. At the end of class, comment on what you learned that day. It's as easy as saying, "Thanks for the great class! ____________ was helpful/interesting. Have a great day!" It's just about showing that you are interested and making an effort.

Of course, you will probably connect with some teachers better than others. That's okay! As long as you're able to build good relationships with a few teachers, you should have enough options when it comes time to request letters of recommendation.

Tip #3: Ask in advance!

College application season is a very busy time of the year for teachers. Some teachers are asked to write 100 (or more) recommendation letters each year. It's important to get on your teachers' lists as early as possible, so as not to delay your admissions decisions.

Many schools have a process where the student makes a formal request online. Still, it is a great idea to talk to your teacher in person about your request, to make sure you are on his or her radar. In fact, I would recommend speaking with your teachers in person during the second half of your junior year, to give them a heads up.

It helps to say something about why you'd like this particular teacher to write you a letter ("I gained a lot from being in your class, and you helped me to grow as a writer/thinker/etc."). Ask if your teacher would be willing to write a positive letter of recommendation for you as you apply to colleges this year. In almost every case, the teacher will say yes. When your teacher says yes, remember to say thank you!

Tip #4: Say thank you!

When your teacher agrees to write a letter of recommendation for you, you should follow up your conversation with a personal thank you note. Acknowledge your teachers' busy schedules, and let them know how much you appreciate their help in the college process.

Don't wait for your teacher to finish the recommendation letter before sending your thank you note. Thanking your teacher right away shows your appreciation, serves as a reminder of your conversation, and helps you to stand out from the other students.

Later in the year, remember to let your teachers know where you've been accepted! Teachers love hearing updates from their students. Share your happy news in person, and write another thank you note to let them know how much their time and effort made a difference.

Erin, Director of Student Services

3 Biggest Misconceptions About the SAT & ACT

With several testing dates around the corner, let's clear up three of the most harmful misconceptions about the SAT and the ACT.

Misconception #1: Guessing is bad!

Many students ask me whether it's ever okay to guess on the SAT.

It's true that the SAT deducts one-quarter of a point for every multiple-choice question that you answer incorrectly. This worries a lot of students, who would prefer to omit questions rather than guess incorrectly. It feels scary to think that you might be penalized for your wrong answers.

But it's not as scary as you think! As long as you can eliminate one answer choice, you have a 25% chance of guessing correctly. At that point, even completely random guessing will earn you more points than you lose.

Assuming you guess right on just one of four questions, you will earn 1 point, while losing only 0.75 points. You've gained points this way! Omitting those questions, though it may feel safer, will actually do more harm.

Misconception #2: The ACT is for math/science students!

I hear this one all the time. Although the ACT does include a "science" section, you do not need to study scientific concepts or vocabulary in order to do well on this part of the test.

The questions are based on your ability to read science-focused passages, tables, and graphs. For this reason, I actually consider the ACT's science section to be another type of reading section. Timing on the science section can be tough, so as always, practice makes perfect.

Content-wise, the two tests are very similar. The biggest differences between the SAT and the ACT have to do with how the tests are structured. Some students prefer the SAT's testing format, and others prefer the style of the ACT. That's why we strongly recommend that every student take both tests at least once. Maximize your chances of earning the best score possible.

Misconception #3: Colleges don't like seeing that you took the test more than once!

This one is simply not true. These days, more than half of all high school students take the SAT and ACT at least twice. In fact, I've known students who sat for the tests five or six times and still got into the most competitive schools in the country.

Many colleges will superscore, taking into account your highest scores from each section, regardless of testing date. You also have the option to submit only your scores from your best testing date. You won't be able to mix and match sections from different testing dates, but this method of score reporting is an option if you're really worried about a particularly poor set of scores.

Of course, it's not a great idea to retake the tests over and over without studying in between. Without preparation, most students do not see significant gains from one testing date to the next.
The SAT and ACT are the kinds of tests that you can and should study for in order to perform your best.

Remember to use our free online lessons and practice questions, which you can access from the "My Plan" section of your student profile page.

Erin, Director of Student Services

Students, What's Your Financial IQ?

In today’s automated and internet-based world, where information is readily available with just a few clicks on a phone or computer, many of us, especially students, are still financially illiterate.

Many teenagers hold part-time jobs and don’t understand the information on their paychecks and W2s or even how to file a tax return. These same students are about to enter college and will be faced with making decisions for themselves on many levels.

Students, are you ready to make basic decisions about money? Here are the basics every college student should know.

How to open and balance a checking account

The basic concept of a checking account is a powerful tool. Students need to understand the basics as well as the fees associated with checking accounts. Is there a minimum balance that needs to be maintained? What are the fees, and what is the cost? Does the account pay interest? Can I get a debit card with my checking account? What are the transaction fees associated with a debit card?

What is a loan?

Many students will have to borrow money to help pay for college. Do you understand the mechanics of a loan? What is the interest rate? Is it a fixed rate over the life of the loan or a variable rate that is tied to some market rate? Is the loan interest compounded? What are my payment options? Interest only? Interest and principle? What is the term of the loan? 10 years? 15 years? 20 years? When do I have to start making loan payments? What happens if I cannot make a payment?

Credit Score

A credit score is the basis of all borrowing in the United States, such as obtaining a credit card, buying a car, obtaining a mortgage, and getting insurance to cover your car, home, or life. A bad credit score will cost money. A great credit score will open doors. It is important! Do you understand that missing loan payments or making late payments can negatively impact your credit score? It is important to understand how to create and maintain a good credit score.

Credit Cards and Debit Cards

Credit cards can get students into a lot of trouble. A credit card is not the same as a debit card. If you are using credit, you are taking out a loan subject to fees, interest, and payment terms. You must make payments on a credit card just like any other loan. For debit cards, there must be money in your checking and savings account that is associated with the debit card.

Savings

Our society is more into spending than savings. How do you prioritize the following each month? Taxes, debt payment, savings, lifestyle? Most people put savings last, when we should be putting savings first. Yes, we have to pay our bills, but shouldn’t we also pay ourselves first? Without adequate savings for emergencies and goals, people resort to credit cards and loans. It is important for every student to get into the habit of saving, whether it is $5 or $50 a month. Learn to focus on needs, not wants.

Compound interest

Einstein said that compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. To realize the magic, you need to start saving and investing early. Understanding the power of compound interest is the basis for financial success in later years. The reverse of compounded interest? Increasing debt! You don’t want to be paying interest on interest on credit card debt. You want to be earning interest on interest on your savings.

Understanding gross versus net wages

Many students do not understand that what you will be paid is not what you will receive. There are mandatory deductions from every paycheck, such as social security taxes, federal, state, and local taxes, unemployment insurance, Medicare taxes, health insurance, etc. Before making decisions on borrowing and loan payments, understand what your net wages will be every month. Understand how much of your net wages will have to be allocated to loan payments. Understand how payroll deductions work and what adjustments you can make to maximize net wages.

Budgeting

In order to pay yourself first and use compound interest to your advantage, students will need to understand how to create a budget for themselves. Do not use credit for “wants.” Save first, and then buy. Credit should not be used for short-term wants, such as entertainment, video games, clothing, etc. Credit and loans should be reserved for purchasing something that will have and maintain value over time.

Ensphere College Planning Services