The A-List Tutoring Services

Gearing up for Summer: Get off that couch and go!

alist — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:10:06 +0000

In the midst of a hectic school year we are all familiar with the fantasy of summer that awaits us: sleeping in until noon, lounging by the pool, and 3-hour mid-day naps on repeat. Although there is plenty of time to tan during the vacation, there are so many vast opportunities that high school teens should take advantage of before going off to college.

One of the most rewarding, enriching, and beneficial is finding a program at a university either abroad or in the US. Colleges around the world offer fantastic programs that allow students to taste the college experience for a summer, not to mention it looks great on the resume.

Summer college programs allow students to further develop an idea of not only where they would like to go to school, but also the type of location, size of university, and areas of study in which they are interested. Superficially, when applying to college in the fall of their senior year, this experience demonstrates to colleges that students are experienced in immersing themselves in a university setting and eager to undergo the transition that awaits them.

Check out these sites for extensive, comprehensive lists of various summer college programs:

http://www.teenink.com/Summer/

http://educationunlimited.com/

Programs fill up quickly, be sure to sign up before spring deadlines!

Finals Study Tips!

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:22:49 +0000

We’ve all experienced the overwhelming stress that is starting the process of gearing up for finals. Here are some helpful tips to keep you on track, focused, and productive during your rigorous studying!

1) Study In Small Increments

It’s important to not spend too much time focusing on one subject. Our suggestion is to study a couple chapters at most of one subject, say for 25-30 minutes, and then move on to entirely different material. This way, you stay stimulated by the change in subjects and are able to retain more of what you’re brain is working for.

2) Take Regular Breaks

Regular breaks are crucial to productive studying. Remember that after an or hour two your mind needs a rest. Grab a snack or watch 15 minutes of TV to recuperate and regroup before your next study session. Brain food during this time can go a long way. Try eating fruit and healthier snacks – excessive intake of caffeine can dehydrate you and actually become counterproductive in the studying process. Your brain needs real, healthy meals in order to stay properly stimulated.

3) Make a Schedule

Depending on the type of studier that you are, sticking to a realistic schedule will keep you on track and in good shape for finals. For the week before your finals, make a schedule that reflects the order in which you will be taking your finals. Don’t try to overextend yourself — If you’re not a morning person, don’t wake yourself up at 7 am to study. Understand your body and study habits in order to create a productive and helpful track for yourself.

4) Allow Yourself Down Time in the Evenings

It’s important that you don’t wear yourself out by studying 24/7. If you create a schedule as suggested, you should be able to study enough during the day that you can relax at night with some television and a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep is the worst thing one can do in preparation for finals. Let your brain recuperate and lounge after a long day’s work.

5) Don’t Think You Can Cram

Starting in advance is crucial to a positive finals week experience. Not only will you be more relaxed and confident the night before, but your ability to recall learned information is improved with extended periods of studying. Don’t harm yourselves by dedicating the night before to one subject; take your time and start earlier in order to attain better scores.

For additional tips check out this article from Teen College Education: http://www.teencollegeeducation.org/2010/01/crunch-time-study-tips-how-to-study-for.html

End-of-Quarter Grade-Raising Tips

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:34:23 +0000

As the first quarter of the school year winds down, many students realize they would like to make a final push to get their grades a little higher than they are now. No only can the following tips be utilized in the next few weeks to get to that next grade level, but they’re important ideas that should be followed throughout the school year.

1) Have you turned in everything?

Sometimes when students fall behind early in the quarter it is difficult to recall that one or two homework assignments that were skipped. Not all teachers will take it upon themselves to inform you of this, so it is important to go back into your syllabi, binders, and planners and make sure you are up-to-date on all of your assignments. Although you may not receive full credit for its tardiness, the extra 20 points can be the difference between a B+ and an A-.

2) Begin working on end-of-quarter projects now!

Often times teachers tend to leave the big papers or projects for the last couple weeks of the quarter. Save yourself some stress and begin working and researching these topics now! If your teacher has not passed out a formal rubric or guidelines for the assignment, inquire about it and make sure you’re a step ahead!

3) Make a to-do list for the upcoming quarter

During Quarter 1 a student becomes familiar with each of their class’s expectations, paces, and workloads. Although sometimes this takes a period of adjustment, making a priority list or schedule for future quarters can be extremely beneficial. Write down your strengths, weaknesses, time necessities, and dates for each of your classes. Getting organized now will make completing tasks for the next quarter even easier to handle!

4) Utilize your planner!

Planners are your friends. A helpful tip is to spend an hour or two each Sunday and prepare your planner for the following week. Sifting through your syllabi for each class and writing down important dates of homework assignments, papers, labs, and tests will keep you organized and less stressed! Even a color code for types of assignments can breakdown the work loads too!

5) Keep track of your schedule

As the quarter comes to a close, as do important extracurricular events like sports games, performances, and other commitments. Although these things require your attention in addition to your school work, remember to incorporate them into your planning for studying and test preparations. Confirming times with coaches or instructors will assist in the stressful few weeks of a jam-packed schedule!

The Best Summer Review Tips

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:33:13 +0000

Summer is a great time to brush up on old concepts, especially in foreign languages and math. It’s important to keep your skills honed and fresh for a new year that will build on everything you’ve already learned.

For foreign language studies we suggest taking the time a couple times a week to review different verb tenses. Go through an old text book or online study site and refresh yourself on the steps for forming different verb conjugations and tenses. These concepts only get more complicated as you advance in your language and it’s important to have the fundamentals down.

For math review, whether it’s for school or SAT, it’s beneficial to refresh yourself on tricks that help make problems easier. For example, being able to easily recognize different types of triangles and other geometric shapes will speed up difficult problems. These concepts not only come up in more difficult math levels, but are also just as prominent in physics and math-based sciences. Reviewing algebra fundamentals will help gearing up for these classes much easier.

For extensive math exercises, visit: http://www.khanacademy.org/exercisedashboard

The Rules of Resume-Building for College

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:29:40 +0000

Gearing up to apply to college is a stressful endeavor. One of the most time-consuming things I found was beefing up the resume. Not an easy feat. Every April since tenth grade, my parents would slyly slip into any given conversation, “So Amy, how are you spending your time this summer? Found a job yet?” Like clockwork, I immediately became irritated and annoyed. “I’m responsible, get off my back!” I groaned. But the truth is that it was a little more difficult for me to find something valuable to spend my time doing as I was a kid that despised camp and refused to be shipped off for the summer. So, last year, when my parents started on their usual path of questioning, I had to face my demons and decide what I was going to do over the summer.

1) Don’t be afraid to try something out of your “comfort zone.”

I’ve always been hard working (academically and otherwise). If I start something, I have to finish it, and I most often give everything my “all.” Throughout high school, I was a passionate photographer and loved anything in the visual arts. When the spring of my junior year arrived and I began looking online for companies that were hiring in art-related positions for a summer internship. I found a small online magazine looking for a photo intern. After two interviews, they offered me the job, however 4 weeks later, before I had even started, they dumped me to avoid the hassle of employing a high school student that couldn’t receive college credit in return for free labor. I was devastated to lose such an ideal way to spend my summer. Bummed out, I soon found a new position at the American Idol music department through a family friend. Although it wasn’t my first choice, I learned a LOT and the job opened my eyes to the entertainment world, which piqued my interest in establishing a major in Communications.

2) The right fit could be right under your nose.

A couple months into senior year, after avidly working on endless college essays and applications with the A-List Tutoring Services in Los Angeles, Alexis and Ashley (the company’s owners) asked if I’d like to become their assistant for everyday errands and other tasks. I happily took on the job, anxious to gain a few pennies in my pocket. However, over the course of six months I established myself at the A-List and took on bigger roles for the company. From marketing strategies to social media coordination I was able to truly serve the company in larger ways, gaining more respect and responsibility.

3) Be willing to work your way up. It’ll pay off in the end.

Through this long and grueling college process, I learned the value in making connections and putting myself out there to take on new challenges in the real world. Although creating a college resume may seem daunting, there’s nothing like writing about things you’re proud of, things you’ve given your full heart and energy to. By immersing yourself in new fields, whether it starts with your passion or just your need for a summer job, one can truly find success in accomplishing new and exciting experiences, and a great resume!

Study Skills are Life Skills

admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:38:45 +0000

As the co-owner of a private tutoring company, The A-List Tutoring Services LLC in Los Angeles, and a teacher, I find that my students constantly ask, “When am I ever going to need this in real life?” The “this” they’re referring to usually has something to do with math or something in science.

And it’s a really good question. When are you ever going to need to know how to solve 2x+10=5 in “real life”?You probably won’t. And despite what parents, in an effort to prevent their kids from dropping out of middle school, have been saying for centuries (“Uh…honey…you’ll use Algebra II when you…uh…you need it all the time!”), it’s just not necessarily true. What students need “in real life” are solid life skills and they’ll get those skills from solid study skills.

Good time management skills, good organizational skills, good interpersonal skills, good memorization skills, reading skills, and notetaking skills will take you very far–in high school, in college, in your first jobs and ultimately in your careers.

THE 1ST ELEMENT OF SOLID STUDY SKILLS–UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Many students have no concept of what it means to be personally responsible. They don’t see value in the daily, often seemingly mundane, aspects of their academic life. Whether it’s homework or making a meeting with a teacher, it all seems sort of unimportant. You do it because you’re supposed to get a good grade, or because your parents want you to get a good grade…but what you don’t realize is that doing homework well and thoroughly illustrates a work ethic, a drive, and a desire to do well beyond just sitting in class and “listening” to a lecture. Scheduling a meeting with a teacher shows leadership ability, and an effort to take matters into one’s own hands. These are all things you’ll need well beyond your high school graduation.

KEY FACTORS OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

1) Communicate with your teachers — try not to feel intimidated by them. They want you to do well and if you’re struggling, they’re expecting you to come to them.

2) Accomplish ALL daily tasks for your classes. Homework is no less important than tests and quizzes. In fact, do well on your homework and even if you struggle on a test or quiz, your grade will still be in good shape.

3) Participate in class.

4) Take charge of your schedule and your time, don’t expect your parents to do this for you. If you have after school commitments, or something that is causing you to miss school, you’re in charge of completing any missed assignments. Stay on top of things.