Use Your Stress to Become a Success!

It’s that time of year when students are completing college applications and thinking/worrying about whether they’ll be accepted by their top choice colleges. A little stress is good, and can motivate students to make sure their applications are complete, and that they continue to study and finish their senior year with good grades. But how do students learn to manage stress, and turn it into success?

Here are a few techniques:

·       Embrace the anxiety – Everyone feels a stress in their life once in a while. Don’t let your student be afraid of it! In fact, studies show that a little stress can actually increase a test score.

·       Take a five minute breather – Sometimes the best thing a student can do is take a five minute walk, get the blood flowing and release some of the stress hormones!

·      Competition can be fun – Soccer games, talent shows and even school spirit week can teach your student that a little stress can lead to some fun competition! They can embrace a little stress and learn how to “use the force” for good!

·       Finish what you start – When your student doesn’t want to play in the big game, compete in the talent show or wear their school spirit proudly, encourage them to finish what they committed to initially! There is always a victory in playing the game.

·       Be aware- What makes a fun stress turn into an unbearable stress? Find the trigger and talk about it. What makes that application or test so stressful? How can you turn a negative stress into a positive one?

·       Remember, it’s worth it – In between checking on the status of the applications they sent, student should remember that they will get accepted into a college – even if it’s not their number one pick. They won’t stay a high school senior forever!

For more guidance on high school courses and activities, finding a college that’s a good fit, financing, deadlines and more, call Klaar College Consulting, 301-834-6888, Charlotte@cklaar.com.

 

PSAT is in: Now What

Many families have received or are about to receive the PSAT results for their 11th grade student . Most high schools present the results to students in their English classes and ask that the score report and booklet be taken home to parents. Unfortunately, most families will have no idea what to do with it. Read on for some suggestions.

1. Consider the score: Over my 15 years of practice with high school students, the most consistent response I get to "How did you do on your PSAT?" is "Awful!" No one explains to students that they still have almost two full years to go before the end of high school and that the number score is much less important than the percentile into which they fall.  For example, if a student sees a 58 on the Math section, he or she assumes that this is not a good harbinger for the SAT. If the student looked at the percentile for this score, 76%, she or he would have realized that this percentile puts him or her in the top 24% of the country. Further analysis of the section would show that the student completed all questions without using the strategy of leaving out questions for which at least one answer could not be eliminated. This lack of strategic approach to the PSAT made the student lose points for incorrect guesses.

2. Understand what to do with the booklet: The booklet is the actual test and the student can compare it to the right and wrong answers on the score report. By doing this, what was answered incorrectly can be examined to determine if it was a careless mistake or if the student does not understand a concept that is necessary to do better on the SAT. Once this analysis is done, the student should make a list of the missed questions that s/he does not understand and go to the appropriate teacher for an explanation of the concept so that there is an understanding of the concept or how to do the calculation.

3. Know that the PSAT is not identical to the SAT: The discrepancy between the two tests lies in the Writing section. There is no essay on the PSAT. The PSAT Writing section is simply a grammar test. Therefore, students who do not understand grammar will do quite poorly on this section of the PSAT. On the other hand, the student may have respectable essay writing skills in the sense that s/he can make a point and support it in a written argument, which will raise the Writing score on the SAT. This is not to say that grammar is unimportant; it is very important. Unfortunately, we have not stressed grammar in schools for many years and students are bearing the brunt of this decision. I advise students who want to do well to get a basic grammar book and study. Ask your English teacher to help you if you don't understand. Practice writing a standard five paragraph persuasive essay and apply this skill to the SAT.

4. Realize that if you don't read regularly, you will not do well on the Critical Reading section: Reading is a skill that must be developed over time. When students proudly announce to me that they "Hate reading" or "Never read," I suggest that they do 20 minutes of reading each night before bed and build up to at least 45 minutes of sustained reading in order to build the skill. I really don't care what is being read, just that the student is reading. Just as muscles will be weak without working out, reading will be weak without practice. Unless the student reads regularly, s/he will not be able to read quickly or with understanding and this will have a profound effect not only on the SAT score, but also on the likelihood of success in college where there is so much reading to be done often without feedback except for the test on the material.

The PSAT is a great tool but, like many tools, few understand how to properly use it for maximum effect. I hope that you will use it correctly and enhance your skills before the SAT.