education archives - magoosh 2022年足球世界杯举办地 - 加拿大vs摩洛哥欧赔 //www.catharsisit.com/blog/category/education/ tue, 03 dec 2019 18:06:12 +0000 en-us hourly 1 //www.catharsisit.com/blog/files/2021/04/cropped-magoosh-favicon-32x32.png education archives - magoosh 2022年足球世界杯举办地 - 加拿大vs摩洛哥欧赔 //www.catharsisit.com/blog/category/education/ 32 32 why we should all embrace english language learners //www.catharsisit.com/blog/embrace-english-language-learners/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/embrace-english-language-learners/#respond tue, 03 dec 2019 18:06:12 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=6323 from berkeley’s position as the nation’s first sanctuary city to san francisco’s recent high ranking on immigrant integration in the new american economy’s cities index, the bay area (home to magoosh hq) has long been known as a beacon of inclusivity. when it comes to our attitudes towards language learners however, our promise of welcome […]

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]]> from berkeley’s position as the nation’s first sanctuary city to san francisco’s recent high ranking on immigrant integration in the new american economy’s cities index, the bay area (home to magoosh hq) has long been known as a beacon of inclusivity. when it comes to our attitudes towards language learners however, our promise of welcome sometimes falls short.

in my work teaching students english over the last 15 years, they’ve often revealed to me how quickly native english speakers can be to ridicule them.

as native english speakers, we often take for granted just how hard a language like english is to learn, and can be quick to shame those still gaining proficiency. but it doesn’t have to be this way.

the trouble with english

the stakes are high for english language learners of all ages. about 20% of california public school students are english language learners, the highest proportion in the country. universities use exams like the test of english as a foreign language (toefl) to make admissions decisions, and various countries use the international english testing language system (ielts) exam as a component of their immigration process.

generally, my students work incredibly hard to improve their english skills, and research has shown that it takes seven years of full immersion and focused study to be able to function at a high level academically or professionally.

if you’re thinking that seems like a lot of effort, you’d be right. just how hard can english be to learn?

consider the case of “articles” (a, an, the), the most commonly-used english words. if you are a native english speaker, you use these words without thinking. but imagine having to explain the differences between:

  • “i ate cake.”
  • “i ate a cake.”
  • “i ate the cake.”

without “a,” it seems likely that you had a reasonable portion of cake, like a forkful or a slice. but with “a” it seems as though you had the whole cake! with “the,” it seems like you’re referring to a specific cake. it’s common to first use the article “a” when mentioning a noun and then in the very next sentence switch to the definite article “the” to talk about the very same noun:

“my dog got on the table and ate a whole cake. fortunately, the cake was tiny.”

this switch occurs because the cake has been identified; we’re all thinking about the specific cake that the dog gobbled up!

the “pronunciation police” and other challenges for language learners

though language errors can make for good laugh fodder, mistakes can have dire consequences for students who are being evaluated by professors, employers, or people they meet on the street.

it can be scary to communicate in another language. there’s the frustration of being inarticulate, the embarrassment of mispronunciation, and the feeling of being a perpetual outsider.

on the flipside, i have seen the joy my students experience when they can hold their own in english-speaking settings, gain the opportunity to participate in the communities in which they live, and get a chance to see how much they’ve learned about english, another culture, and themselves along the way.

if you’d like to provide constructive feedback to a language learner, but are unsure of how it will be received, ask first! repeated exposure is the fastest way to improvement, and the more we encourage language learners to practice their new skills with us, free from judgment or ridicule, the better the odds they will gain the confidence needed to improve their abilities.

3 ways we can all be more welcoming towards language learners

as an educator, i believe in the power of inclusive communities. and i also believe we can do more to support the english learners among us:

  1. resist the urge to judge someone struggling to speak english.
    english learners are going to make mistakes and can have difficulty conveying their intended meaning. this doesn’t mean the person does not care about learning english and it certainly doesn’t mean they are not trying.
  2. invite english language learners in your school or community to join you.
    language learners are often isolated, making it much harder to learn english. i always encourage my students to take a risk and socialize, but we as neighbors, classmates, and coworkers can also help by being the first to extend an invitation.
  3. try learning another language yourself!
    most importantly, i’d urge you to put yourself in the shoes of a language learner. find out the most common, non-english language spoken in your neighborhood (there are over 100 in sf alone!), take a class, and use your fledgling skills as a (humbling) opportunity to connect with your neighbors.

language learning is much more complex than memorizing words and grammar. beyond a significant intellectual challenge, it requires embracing failure and rejection, making my language learning students some of the most courageous and resilient people i know.

we should all applaud language learners, not mock or discourage them. when cultures and communities not only genuinely welcome newcomers in their midst but also invite their full participation, all are humanized in the experience.

tell us, how was your language learning experience? if you’d like some help, head over to our toefl or ielts blog for free resources!

 

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]]> //www.catharsisit.com/blog/embrace-english-language-learners/feed/ 0 two marketers retake the sat: a product experiment //www.catharsisit.com/blog/two-marketers-retake-the-sat/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/two-marketers-retake-the-sat/#respond tue, 19 nov 2019 00:38:59 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=6276 how we’re building customer empathy and improving our sat prep product by putting ourselves in our students’ shoes. when you picture the average sat test taker, an image of a stressed-out teenager likely comes to mind. and yet, here we are, two woefully unprepared thirty-somethings who will be sitting for the official sat exam on […]

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]]> how we’re building customer empathy and improving our sat prep product by putting ourselves in our students’ shoes.

when you picture the average sat test taker, an image of a stressed-out teenager likely comes to mind. and yet, here we are, two woefully unprepared thirty-somethings who will be sitting for the official sat exam on december 7th, 2019.

update: in an unexpected curveball, the college board canceled our december sat registrations as they only allow testing for reasons other than its “intended purposes” during the march, may, and october test dates. lesson learned on our part – we should have read the fine print! we’re committed to seeing this experiment through and will be replicating test day conditions (proctor, timed sections, and all) and taking a second practice sat exam (from the college board themselves) on december 12th, 2019. stay tuned for our results!

why retake the sat?

so that we can stop talking in the third-person, the two marketers in question here are jessica wan, our vice president of marketing, and kemi bello, one of our content marketing managers. we’ve decided to retake the sat, for the first time since our initial high school attempt many moons ago (13 and 20 moons respectively, to be fully transparent), for a number of reasons.

first, we want to use our prep and test-taking experience to check any assumptions we’ve been making about our customers, our product, and the overall test prep experience, spot any blind spots in our marketing, and, ideally, be better marketers as a result of this experiment.

although we invest heavily in our marketing efforts at magoosh (for example, our marketing team forms a third of our full-time staff at magoosh), we know and are excited by the fact that there’s still so much we have to learn. in fact, we frequently hear from students who tell us that they wish we advertised to them more so that they could choose us as their study partner earlier in their prep journey.

we hope to use this experiment to listen to the feelings that come up for us as we ask ourselves the same questions our students ask of us: where do i even begin studying for the sat? what test score should i be aiming for? how do i structure my time? where do i turn to for help when i’m stuck on a problem? how do i deal with the fears that come up as i’m studying?

second, we want to build better products and improve upon what we believe to be the best affordable online test prep option by trying on our own test prep for size. although we already ask every new magoosh employee to use our products as a part of their onboarding process, we wanted to challenge ourselves a step further and prep not just on a trial or sample basis, but towards an actual test and score goal that reflects how and why our students use magoosh.

a number of the magoosh test prep experts on our content team have made it a regular practice to retake the standardized exams they help our students prepare for as a means of staying up on the latest content and ensuring our suite of magoosh prep products are the absolute best they can be.

as marketers, although we serve as the product messengers to and from our customers, we realized we can be even better advocates for the product if we actually used it ourselves. though this might seem like an obvious practice for any company, popularized in the saas world by the term “dogfooding,” it can be challenging to put into practice when your customer base is of a different demographic or at a different life stage than your team.

most importantly, we want to be better magooshers and build empathy with our customers by walking a literal mile in their shoes.

every week, when we share stoke from our students in our team meetings, we’re consistently blown away by the discipline, resilience, and courage of our students as they embark on journeys to pursue the education of their dreams. some of them share how they’ve been able to overcome crippling test anxiety and cope with rejection after rejection from their dream schools, while others tell us how they manage to juggle dedicated study while parenting a toddler and thrive academically despite tremendous socio-economic odds.

in short, studying for a standardized test can be a stressful experience, and test scores often stand as a barrier to the already uphill battle today’s students face to attain a quality education.

while our short experiment absolutely pales in comparison to the real experiences (and real stakes involved) for high schoolers, we hope to emerge from this test prep experience always carrying the perspective of our students close to mind.

three study habits of our most successful students

before we dive into our specific study plans, we wanted to remind you (and honestly, ourselves) that there is absolutely no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to how to study for the sat (or arguably, anything). analyzing a sample pool of roughly 5,000 high school students who have studied with magoosh, our data scientist sam learned that the most successful of them tend to share three common characteristics:

  1. good students study consistently over time. they don’t cram, nor do they study sporadically, and even the shortest 20-minute daily study block can add up to tangible score improvements over time.
  2. good students balance learning with practice. they are not passive studiers, who read or watch a lot of content without trying it out themselves, and they are not solely stubborn practitioners, who march on through countless practice questions without stopping to understand the material and strategize for each study session.
  3. good students focus on learning from their mistakes. they know what their strongest and weakest areas are and choose the discomfort of honing in on their areas of greatest potential.

our study plan to retake the sat and what we’ve learned so far

before we dive in, an acknowledgment of the privilege that comes with this experiment:

it’s important for us to name that, unlike high school students around the world whose hopes are pinned on getting into their dream college in the us, jessica and i have no life outcomes resting on our performance on the sat next month. we’re both college graduates and tech sector employees who have the resources and company blessing to experiment as part of our roles, and, though we’re not the content experts at magoosh, still benefit from the support and access to knowledge of our peers. we recognize that access to affordable, quality test prep is a barrier to so many students around the world, and hope that magoosh can continue to chip away at leveling the educational playing field.

to glean the most from this experiment, jessica and i will be embarking on parallel study paths that mimic the decision that many students are faced with: should i use free sat resources or splurge on a paid sat prep product? jessica will be taking the paid route, using our magoosh sat premium product to study, while i (kemi) will be embarking upon the free route, sticking with some combination of our magoosh high school blog, sat & act youtube channel, and our free sat prep and flashcard apps.

in our experience, most students only spend a month or less actually studying, so we kicked off our 1-month sat study plan with a sat practice test from the college board to set our score baselines and inform our study focus. jessica scored a 1390 (out of 1600 total) on her practice test, while i scored a 1380. to be fully transparent, our practice test was taken on company time, and our sat registrations and jessica’s magoosh premium account were paid for by magoosh.

it’s now been roughly 10 days since our sat practice test, and we have exactly three (gulp.) weeks before taking the official sat.

so far, i have…yet to study, which has already helped me empathize with students who tell us that the hardest part is finding the time while juggling a million other high schooler responsibilities, laugh/cry. jessica has found that juggling a full-time job and a family makes for a stressful study experience, and that “cramming doesn’t work.” we’ve both learned that thou shalt not be hungry whilst taking the sat, as we really struggled with this during the 3+ hour practice sat.

you’re invited! join us on our sat study experiment.

whether you’re a marketer or ux researcher interested in our product learnings and takeaways, or a student looking to learn the pros and cons of free vs. paid sat prep resources, we look forward to sharing our sat study journey with you.

we’ll be sharing updates within this blog post both before and right after our official test day on december 7th, as well as a final report back on our official scores and (hopeful) score improvements.

how did it go? our experiment results

our score improvement:

  • jessica’s november 7th sat score: 1390 (750 – verbal, 640 – math)
  • jessica’s december 12th sat score: 1470 (740 – verbal, 730 – math)
  • jessica’s score improvement: +80 points!
  • kemi’s november 7th sat score: 1380 (740 – verbal, 640 – math)
  • kemi’s december 12th sat score: 1450 (760 – verbal, 690 – math)
  • kemi’s score improvement: +70 points!

our study experience & takeaways:

jessica’s total study time: 1.9 hours
kemi’s total study time: 1.5 hours

jessica’s top learnings:

don’t underestimate practice tests! taking even one practice test fully helped with the feeling of timing – what pace is appropriate to get through everything. i felt this most keenly on the writing and math (no calc) sections. coincidentally, they’re the shortest sections.

remember that the sat is a marathon and it tests your ability to focus. you really can’t get distracted or you lose precious time. having a positive attitude and a feeling of confidence is helpful to get you through the marathon. once doubt slips in, it’s easy for that doubt to persist and affect your performance.

kemi’s top learnings:

confidence is key! i felt a huge difference in my mindset on my second vs first try (i felt less stressed, more sure of my answer choices, and wasted less time hemming and hawing over unsure questions), and i think that had to do with two things: 1) i reminded myself incessantly that the test wasn’t a measure of how smart i was (maybe silly but for me, huge) and 2) i felt relief because i knew what to expect – the college board resources and first practice test helped me get a handle on the question format, timing, and which questions types i struggled with most.

speed matters; it’s not enough to simply know the content. each section felt like sprinting a marathon, and i had to be really mindful of pushing myself to answer questions quickly. the challenge there is that there are purposefully placed trick answer choices and i sometimes had to sacrifice getting a question right in order to answer it quickly, or vice versa, and i feel like this directly impacted my score.

have you ever taken on an experiment like this to put yourself in the shoes of your customers? we’d love to hear what you learned in the comments!

 

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]]> //www.catharsisit.com/blog/two-marketers-retake-the-sat/feed/ 0 changes coming to the 2020 act: what students need to know //www.catharsisit.com/blog/2020-act-changes/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/2020-act-changes/#respond tue, 08 oct 2019 19:52:58 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=6248 big changes are coming to the act in september 2020! read on to find out what they are, hear our benefits and drawbacks, and what students should do to prepare. what changes are coming to the act? the act is introducing three major changes to the test, starting in september 2020: students will be allowed […]

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]]> big changes are coming to the act in september 2020! read on to find out what they are, hear our benefits and drawbacks, and what students should do to prepare.

what changes are coming to the act?

the act is introducing three major changes to the test, starting in september 2020:

  • students will be allowed to retake specific sections of the act rather than the entire test, at a lower (yet undetermined) price than taking the full test at a price that is lower (yet undetermined) than that of the full test.
  • students will get a new offical act “superscore,” a combination of their highest scores from each subsection derived from all times they sit for the act. it’s unclear if the act will be pulling superscores only from test dates following these changes or also from tests taken before september 2020.
  • in addition to the standard paper and pencil version, students will also be given the option to take the act online at a test center on national test dates and receive their scores in 2 business days (versus the 6-8 week score wait time for the paper version).

why is the act making these changes?

according to act officials, they believe these changes will help students save both time and money, as well as offer students faster score results.

when are these changes taking effect?

starting next september, though an exact date has not been provided.

higher scores, more inequality: magoosh’s take on the 2020 act changes

here at magoosh, we’re committed to reducing barriers for students as they pursue their educational dreams. we’re hopeful that the changes announced today by the act, if rolled out with transparency and the best interests of students in mind, will give high schoolers more opportunities to get into their dream college by putting their best score forward on their college applications.

however, there’s a chance this plan could unintentionally provide even more of an advantage to those students who have the means (time and money) to take the act multiple times. in the wake of the college admissions scandals, we all need no reminders about how inherently unfair the college application process can be, particularly for low-income students and students from marginalized backgrounds.

that said, the act’s move to allow students to retake just those individual sections they need improvement on, at a reduced cost to them, could play a meaningful (though incomplete) role in helping to level the college admissions playing field. a 2018 study from the national bureau of economic research found that retaking the sat substantially improved scores and college enrollment rates, particularly for underrepresented minority students. some high schools already cover the cost to allow their students to retake the act for free, and we hope that more schools will follow suit.

section-based act retakes could also help students use their already limited study time more effectively by focusing their test prep on specific topic areas. we also hope that the introduction of official act superscores, following the established practice of many colleges that already assess students’ highest scores across sections, will help reduce the test anxiety by easing the pressure riding on a single exam sitting.

on a more logistical note, given the high stakes of scores on admissions outcomes, we wonder how the act will keep students informed and ensure that the rollout of these changes will be smooth. schools with greater resources are more likely to move on and share this news with their students first, further favoring those who already have an academic and income advantage. we also wonder how university admissions offices will receive this news, and if they plan to treat superscores the same or differently than single-sitting act scores.

advice for high school sophomores and juniors planning to take the act:

most importantly, don’t panic! remember, especially if you’re a senior planning to take the upcoming act on october 26th, that these changes are still a year out, and there are no changes being made to the current act test or score format.

also, if you’re planning on taking the act next fall, it’s important that you stay informed around when and how these changes will take effect. your best bet is to follow the act’s official newsroom. we’ll also continue sharing in-depth tips around how to prepare for these act changes on the magoosh act blog as soon as we learn more information. still have a question about these act changes? reach out to help@www.catharsisit.com at any time to chat.

how do you feel about these upcoming changes to the act? do you have any questions about the act changes or how to prepare? drop them in the comments and we’ll get back to you!

 

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]]> //www.catharsisit.com/blog/2020-act-changes/feed/ 0 20 sat & act student perspectives on the college board’s adversity score //www.catharsisit.com/blog/student-perspectives-adversity-score/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/student-perspectives-adversity-score/#respond mon, 20 may 2019 17:05:21 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=6101 last week, the college board announced that they’re rolling out the addition of “adversity scores” – a proxy of socioeconomic status – to the overall score reporting for sat test takers. we shared our magoosh perspective (and concerns) with you, and we’re back today with responses from our students who are currently or formerly studying […]

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last week, the college board announced that they’re rolling out the addition of “adversity scores” – a proxy of socioeconomic status – to the overall score reporting for sat test takers.

we shared our magoosh perspective (and concerns) with you, and we’re back today with responses from our students who are currently or formerly studying for the sat and act. the majority of students we heard from disagree with the college board’s adversity scores, but for a number of different reasons. students also brought up important questions the college board has yet to address, such as how they plan to take into account international students and if they plan to communicate this change directly to students.

students who agree with the college board’s adversity scores:

“honestly, i think it’s a great move. this can even out the playing field and show who can rise out of poverty and want more for themselves.”
– anonymous, studying for the act

“i think it’s a great idea that everyone should support especially student athletes”
– anonymous, studying for the sat

students who disagree with the college board’s adversity scores:

students have the right to know their adversity score

“i think there are pros and cons but [the] college board has not disclosed the 15 factors. if they are not transparent with how exactly they are measuring adversity, why should the public be expected to accept it?”
– annie, nevada, studying for the sat

“not a fan. hiding scores from students and parents will cause lots of problems.”
– anonymous, studying for the sat

“i wholly agree that if the college board’s plan to assign “adversity scores” to students is implemented, then the whole process should be completely transparent to the parents and students involved.”
– jonathan mccormick, studying for the act

adversity is too subjective and nuanced to accurately measure

“our society is too focused on scores, numbers and data and not enough focus is placed on the human. it’s sad. kids are constantly measured every step of the way and not allowed to just be a human who tries their best.”
– anonymous, studying for the sat

“ultimately, i think the problem with the “adversity score” is that you can never get an accurate representation of adversity from simple things like race and income.”
– timmy, studying for the sat

“i don’t believe that letting the college board do this is a safe idea. it’s too ambiguous and doesn’t actually level the playing field for students with different backgrounds. ”
– anonymous, studying for the act

“as a student myself, i feel it is not fair to consider the crime rate of the school in the “adversity score because the crime rate of the school may or may not affect the student.”
– princy, studied for the sat

college admissions is stressful enough

“i really hope that the college board cancels this plan, because the college admissions process is stressful enough and flawed enough as it is and this will only make the situation worse. students are now going to be even more stressed about this adversity score that they don’t even know.”
– anonymous, studying for the act

adversity scores could breed more cheating and corruption

“simply the fact that only colleges can see this adversity score and students can’t opens the door to so much unfairness and possibility of even more corruption in the college admissions process.”
– anonymous, studying for the act

“bad idea. it’s up to the person, not the environment. plus, this opens up a whole [n]ew path for cheaters.”
– anonymous, studying for the sat

“i am 100% against this adversity score. also, the fact that they’ve only “tested” this (whatever that means) on only 50 colleges, one of them being yale, doesn’t make me feel better at all, especially considering that yale was one of the colleges involved in the college admissions scandal that recently occurred.”
– anonymous, studying for the act

“i don’t know all of the factors that [the college board] plan to take into consideration, but i believe that what it comes down to is whether or not the student is rich. i think this is going to be a secret signal to separate rich kids from poor kids and, obviously, colleges would prefer to admit richer kids since their parents will be able to donate more to the school and this is simply unfair.”
– anonymous, studying for the act

“lowering” standards will not level the playing field

“i think this is a bad step for the college board. by assigning an “adversity score”, the college board is assuming that economic factors have a role in the score that a student receives. however, it is in my opinion that anyone, no matter their social and economic background, can dedicate themselves to achieving their goals. by putting in the effort and hard work, a student will receive the score they deserve, and this has nothing to do with where they come from.”
– catherine, studying for the act

“now, if we have a 1600 score and we don’t get into the choice colleges, we can blame our parents that they are too rich. it is another way of water[ing] down the college standards.”
– ryan, california, studying for the sat

“the idea of assigning these “adversity scores” to students to me raises concerns about whether there will be lower academic standards for students of disadvantaged backgrounds. don’t get me wrong. i would love to see more students from disadvantaged backgrounds achieving academically–but they should get there because they reached the original standard of academic skill, not because the standard was lowered specifically for them.”
– jonathan mccormick, studying for the act

“it’s a very unfair message. how much you study and try should be what is reflected by your score. to give an unfair advantage to people who don’t try is doing the opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish.”
– anonymous, studying for the sat

“i think it is unfair. two students could get the same score, but because [one] has had a harder life, they can get more attention, even though they did the same on the sat.”
– anonymous, studying for the act

student questions for the college board about their adversity scores:

“i am an international student. i find myself wondering how they will be getting the required information to calculate this score for all of the places all over the world where international students write [for the sat] from.”
– adri, south africa, studying for the sat

are you planning to take the sat or act soon? if so, what’s your take on the college board’s adversity score? let us know in the comments below; we’d love to hear from you!

interested in interviewing a magoosh sat expert or student? reach out to press@www.catharsisit.com.

 

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]]> //www.catharsisit.com/blog/student-perspectives-adversity-score/feed/ 0 #morethanascore: our magoosh take on the college board’s move towards “adversity scores” //www.catharsisit.com/blog/adversity-scores/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/adversity-scores/#respond thu, 16 may 2019 18:48:09 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=6097 at magoosh, we believe that students are more than a score. following their announcement to start using “adversity scores” to measure the socioeconomic position of sat takers, we commend the college board for acknowledging how systematically unfair the college admissions landscape can be to students from marginalized backgrounds and for taking steps, as a leader […]

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at magoosh, we believe that students are more than a score.

following their announcement to start using “adversity scores” to measure the socioeconomic position of sat takers, we commend the college board for acknowledging how systematically unfair the college admissions landscape can be to students from marginalized backgrounds and for taking steps, as a leader in the field of standardized testing, towards greater equity.

that said, this approach of an “adversity score” raises concerns for us as a company committed to improving access to college for all students.

our concerns

the choice of the college board to hide the adversity scores from students and parents themselves, while sharing them with colleges for admissions purposes, is ethically concerning, even if well-intentioned.

this lack of transparency leaves students and parents in the dark about how – and how accurately – they are being represented to admissions committees. in the likely instance of an error in computing a given adversity score, students and parents are being refused the agency to advocate for themselves, perpetuating the same inequity that the college board is trying to alleviate.

more importantly, scoring adversity doesn’t solve the problem of alleviating adversity.

while important for colleges to take the various nuances around privilege and access into account when making admissions decisions, as education advocates, we should continue to invest in approaches that tangibly level the playing field for students – well before their senior year of high school.

proven approaches include increasing access to mentorship for students from underserved populations, providing free meals so that no student has to prioritize studying over hunger, and providing funding for complementary academic and test prep support in and out of the classroom.

our recommendations

if they choose to move forward with this program, magoosh strongly urges the college board to make adversity scores and associated data fully available to students and parents, with enforceable avenues to address concerns and correct mistakes as they arise.

we’ve been fortunate to learn from the work of some of our nonprofit partners, including oliver scholars and strive for college, who work daily to level the playing field for students. we encourage the college board to stay devoted to its advocacy for increased equity in college admissions while looking to the robust field of educators, scholars, and advocates for more effective means of ensuring that all students, no matter their background, are able to access the college of their choice.

here at magoosh, we truly believe in the transformative power of education and very much acknowledge that our current educational system falls short of making that promise of transformation available to all students.

we’re constantly thinking of ways we can better support our mission and would love to hear from you – how do you feel about the college board’s adversity score effort? let us know in the comments below!

interested in interviewing a magoosh sat expert? reach out to press@www.catharsisit.com.

 

the post #morethanascore: our magoosh take on the college board’s move towards “adversity scores” appeared first on magoosh 2022年足球世界杯举办地.

]]> //www.catharsisit.com/blog/adversity-scores/feed/ 0 how (and why) to #thankateacher during teacher appreciation week //www.catharsisit.com/blog/teacher-appreciation-week/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/teacher-appreciation-week/#respond thu, 09 may 2019 20:06:54 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=6086 as my senior year of high school flung one curveball after another my way, i walked away with deep appreciation for one particular teacher of mine. i learned i was an undocumented student, and thus couldn’t apply to many of my dream colleges, and i had a mysterious nerve injury in my right arm, forcing […]

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]]>

as my senior year of high school flung one curveball after another my way, i walked away with deep appreciation for one particular teacher of mine. i learned i was an undocumented student, and thus couldn’t apply to many of my dream colleges, and i had a mysterious nerve injury in my right arm, forcing me to sit out my final season on our varsity tennis team.

through it all, mr. davis, my calculus teacher, was a source of refuge. his classroom always felt like a safe space in the midst of the chaos that was now my life, and best of all, he constantly made me and my classmates laugh. i channeled yoda during a year-long, hoodie-wearing phase, during which he took to calling me “o hooded one.” his passion for math was infectious, and he was a pivotal influence in my decision to major in math in college.

so why celebrate teachers this week?

while it’s true that our education system in the united states is rife with challenges, it’s also equipped with countless teachers and educators like mr. davis who are driven by the desire to do well by their students.

in recognition of that, in 1985 the national parent teacher association established the first full week of may as teacher appreciation week, and the national education association joined them to celebrate the tuesday of that week as national teachers day.

here at magoosh, as former teachers and students ourselves, we admire educators across the world who work to create environments where their students feel safe, supported, and empowered to learn. 

though it’s important that we as students, parents, and a society at large show our appreciation for teachers on a regular basis, we believe that weeks like this provide an ample opportunity to remind ourselves to shower teachers with some well-deserved praise.

how can i show appreciation to a teacher of mine?


glad you asked! “thank you” is a powerful sentence, and taking a few minutes to send a note to even one teacher who made a difference in your life – no matter if they taught you in first grade or your junior year in college – can be so meaningful.  

not sure what to say? we’ve got you! copy the email template below and make it personal. think back to how this teacher made you feel and the words will flow.

teacher appreciation email template:

hi _____,

it’s teacher appreciation week, and i wanted you to know that i’m thinking of you! i was your student in [year] at [school], and these days i’m ___________.

i just wanted to say thanks for being so ___________ and for making me feel _________ in your classroom. i still remember when you _________________!

no matter what you’re up to these days, i hope you know you are appreciated and that you’ve truly made a difference in the lives of many of your students, including mine.

take care,

_____________

can you think of one educator who made a positive impact on your life? show them some appreciation in the comments below, or better yet, send them a thank you note!

thank you for joining us in appreciating teachers and educators,
the magoosh team

 

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]]> //www.catharsisit.com/blog/teacher-appreciation-week/feed/ 0 lessons from tennessee: 3 ways schools can help students retake the act or sat and improve their scores //www.catharsisit.com/blog/3-ways-schools-help-students-retake-act-sat/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/3-ways-schools-help-students-retake-act-sat/#respond fri, 18 jan 2019 23:53:55 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=5904 high school seniors in tennessee are making an impressive case for the power of second chances through record-breaking results in retaking the act. it’s no surprise that it was an educator, thomas h. palmer, who first shared the advice of “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” trying new things, failing, and learning […]

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]]> high school seniors in tennessee are making an impressive case for the power of second chances through record-breaking results in retaking the act.

it’s no surprise that it was an educator, thomas h. palmer, who first shared the advice of “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” trying new things, failing, and learning from your mistakes is a common thread of any student journey – whether you’re a high school student or simply a student of life.

in the spirit of second chances, in 2016 tennessee passed state house bill 1537, or the tennessee student assessment transparency act, offering its high school seniors an opportunity to retake the act for free, making it the first state in the country to do so.

this school year, three out of four high school seniors in tennessee participated in the program, dubbed “act senior retake.” more than half of those 53,478 students improved their act score over their last attempt as high school juniors. even more inspiring, those score improvements mean that thousands more high school seniors are now eligible for free money for college via tennessee’s hope scholarship program.

but the benefits of retaking the act don’t stop there. the 2018 act senior retake cohort also saw a higher number of students reach college-readiness benchmarks across math, english, science, and reading, preparing those students to head straight into college coursework without having to spend more money or time taking remedial college classes.

so how can your school district follow in tennessee’s footsteps?

3 ways your high school can support the act or sat retake efforts of your juniors and seniors:

1. let them know (early!). encouraging high school students to take the act or sat as juniors allows them a chance to gain familiarity with the test content, helps them assess their strengths and weakness, and affords them a longer runway of time to prep for the act or sat before the whirlwind of college application season.

2. help them prep. there are many free and low-cost resources available to students and teachers alike to help study for the act and sat. here at magoosh, students can prep for free using our flashcards and mobile apps or by checking out free content on our blog and youtube channel. students looking for low-cost sat or act prep can also check out our affordable online plans.

3. foot the bill. at $64.50 and $67.00 respectively (as of early 2019), the sat and act are a financial investment for students and their families, and each retake can put an additional burden that some families financially cannot afford. if it doesn’t already, in addition to educating families about fee waivers available for lower-income students, encourage your district to consider paying for students to retake the act or sat free of charge. this can help ensure that the educational dreams of students are rightfully not dependent on their pocketbooks.

retaking the act or sat as a high school senior is a great opportunity for students to learn from their mistakes and find the best type of test prep for them. research on the sat shows that retaking not only improves scores, it also increases the likelihood of a student attending a four-year college.

watch magoosh student nikolai explain how he took his act score from 24 to 33 over the course of several retakes:

as you can tell, at magoosh we’re passionate about helping students increase their test scores without breaking the bank, so they can go far in exploring their educational dreams. studying for the act or sat is an investment in money and time for students and their families, and we applaud efforts like this one by the tennessee department of education to make standardized testing more affordable and accessible for their high schoolers.

if your school is thinking about ways to help students prep for the act or sat, we’re here to help!

there are plenty of free resources for teachers on our schools blog or you can find out how to bring magoosh act/sat prep to your campus.

whether you’re a high school student, teacher or administrator, we’d love to hear from you – what are your thoughts on schools helping their students retake the act or sat?

 

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]]> //www.catharsisit.com/blog/3-ways-schools-help-students-retake-act-sat/feed/ 0 june and august sat tests 2018 scoring and cheating scandals: what students, parents, educators need to know (and how to get help) //www.catharsisit.com/blog/june-august-sat-test-2018-controversy/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/june-august-sat-test-2018-controversy/#respond thu, 30 aug 2018 01:12:02 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=5368 scandals have you worried about your june or august sat results? email us at retakesat@www.catharsisit.com or call our advice hotline at 510–495–0535 to get some guidance from test prep experts on what’s best for your personal situation. so what actually happened with the august sat test? shortly after the saturday august 25th sat test date […]

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]]>

scandals have you worried about your june or august sat results? email us at retakesat@www.catharsisit.com or call our advice hotline at 510–495–0535 to get some guidance from test prep experts on what’s best for your personal situation.

so what actually happened with the august sat test?

shortly after the saturday august 25th sat test date in the us, numerous reports from students began circulating online alleging that questions from the reading section on the august test were similar or identical to questions from the october 2017 international sat administered in asia. other students claimed the entire august sat test had been recycled by the college board, and was identical to the october 2017 international test.

though the college board has never released an official version of the october 2017 asia test, questions and answers from that test had apparently been leaked online, and some students could have come across that material — knowingly or unknowingly — as part of their test preparation for the august exam. if the allegations are true, it’s also possible that some students could have taken the same sat twice if they happened to have sat for both the international october 2017 and us august 2018 administrations (some international students travel to the us for the sat as there is no alternative august testing date abroad).

wasn’t there an issue with the june sat as well?

this week’s sat woes fall on the heels of the #rescorejunesat scandal, in which a process called equating led many students to see their scores drop substantially from previous test dates though they answered fewer questions incorrectly.

the college board has historically used equating to make sure that the scaled scores between different tests are comparable, so a score of 1350 on one sat should mean the same thing as a 1350 on another administration of the exam. typically, raw scores and their corresponding scaled scores are close between sat tests offered in different months. however, in june, some students reported that they got 5 to 10 more questions right on this test, but received lower scores than they did on earlier spring tests. it wasn’t a subtle difference and students understandably felt cheated out of a fair sat score.

why are students upset?

the august sat test:

students are understandably worried that their scores will be at a competitive disadvantage to other students who may have previously been exposed to the material of the august test. for rising seniors especially, the stakes of competition are incredibly high as they prepare to begin sending in their college applications in the coming months.

following the college board’s response this week, students are newly worried that a significant jump in scores due to increased hard work and honest test prep on their part may now unfairly flag them for score cancellation and possible banishment from future sat administrations.

for rising seniors especially, the stakes of competition are incredibly high as they prepare to begin sending in their college applications in the coming months.

the june sat test:

intuitively, it’s hard to wrap one’s head around seeing your score drop on a test on which you answered a higher proportion of questions correctly than your previous attempt. the scores on the june test, while technically accurate, did seem scaled to a harsher degree than previous tests; it makes sense that students are angry.

though some students have already made plans to retake the sat in october, or switch to the alternative act instead, other students and their families may not have the funds and/or time juggling multiple responsibilities to invest in retaking the sat yet again.

both sat tests:

students have also voiced concern about how their scores and the general air of scandal around the june and august sat tests might lead college admissions staff to view their applications in a less than favorable light.

overall, many students and parents are feeling increasingly convinced that the college board’s guarantee of a sat testing experience that is consistent and fair for all students is a broken promise, one that threatens to hinder students from achieving their college dreams.

are these student concerns valid?

where a student decides to go to college is a huge decision, and it’s absolutely valid for anyone who took the june or august sat to be nervous about circumstances out of their control that threaten to hinder the strength of their college applications. though one bad sat experience is arguably one too many, at the end of the day, it’s unlikely that very many students will be negatively affected by the june or august sat test controversies.

for students who tested in these months and are content with their scores, there’s no need to panic or feel pressured to retake the sat. we’re truly happy for you and wish you the best of luck with your college applications!

what should students who feel they were negatively affected by either the june or august sat do now?

and yet for students who are unhappy with or nervous about their scores with the june or august sat, and are planning to retake or perhaps switch over to the act, we completely empathize with the fact that this is a tough and unfair spot to be in at the start of the school year.

we advise these affected students to take a deep breath, register for the next test date as soon as possible, and if they’d like, take us up on our offer of free prep for students affected.

for students — or parents and educators — who are feeling overwhelmed by all this controversy around the june or august sat and simply don’t know if they should be worried or not, we have test prep experts on standby to offer them free advice for their unique situation.

how can parents and educators support students affected by the june or august sat?

it’s important that each individual student assess what they feel is best for their unique situation, and this is especially true for high school seniors who are juggling so much right now with college application deadlines in their near future.

the most important thing you can do for the student or students in your life is to help ease their panic around these june and august sat controversies and talk them through what, if anything, they should do next.

remind your student(s) that test scores are only one part of the application process and a test score doesn’t define who they are or how far they’ll go in their educational journey. there is still time to improve other parts of their application: their senior year grades, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and more, and colleges look at the whole package of a student in determining acceptance.

if you’d like some help with how to talk to your student or child about this controversy, feel free to email us at retakesat@www.catharsisit.com or call our advice hotline at 510–495–0535 for some personalized suggestions; we’re here to help.

why, as a test prep company, does magoosh care about these controversies around the june and august sat tests? why offer free test prep and personalized support?

an unfair sat or any other standardized testing experience hurts all students. low-income, minority, and otherwise nontraditional students are often hurt the most by lack of access to test prep, widening an already vast gap in educational equity.

we’re offering free prep accounts and advice help to any student, parent, or educator affected by either the june or august sat controversy simply because it’s the right thing to do. we already know that household income is a strong predictor of sat scores, and we don’t feel it’s fair for students and their families to incur an additional financial burden in preparing to retake the sat because of compromises to the test that are out of their control.

so if you’re feeling anxious, stressed, confused about your june or august sat experience, or you know someone who is, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at magoosh. we’re here for your success, whether that’s a conversation for advice or free access to our sat and act prep, so don’t let a little controversy dull your shine.

sincerely,

the magoosh team

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]]> //www.catharsisit.com/blog/june-august-sat-test-2018-controversy/feed/ 0 how to study better by taking more breaks //www.catharsisit.com/blog/study-breaks/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/study-breaks/#respond wed, 14 mar 2018 17:25:33 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=5134 to make your studying more effective and keep your energy up, take short 10-15 minute breaks every hour or so during your test prep. here’s what to do (and what not to do!) during these quick study breaks.

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]]> you know that feeling when you’ve been studying for awhile and you realize that the last several sentences you read didn’t even register in your brain? despite our best efforts, we humans can only focus for so long before we start to feel drained.

the solution? take short 10-15 minute breaks every hour or so during your test prep.

you’ll return to your studies feeling energized and ready to soak up even more knowledge. just be careful to avoid breaking for too long, as that can be counterproductive and make coming back to studying even harder!

here’s what to do (and what not to do!) during these quick study breaks:
 

1. instead of sitting still, get moving!

studying requires a lot of sitting in the same position, so wake yourself up by doing the opposite. getting your body up out of your chair will make you feel re-energized, and the endorphins will help melt away your stress. not sure what to do after you stand up? try:

  • stretching: there are a lot of quick yoga videos online that require nothing more than comfy clothes and a little bit of space. since people tend to hunch over while studying, consider finding a video that focuses on opening up your neck and shoulders.
  • cardio: jog around the block, alternate one minute of jumping jacks with one minute of burpees, dance to your favorite song…whatever floats your boat and gets your heart pumping!

 

2. instead of napping, breathe!

you might be feeling the urge to lay your head on your desk and fall asleep. but, as tired as you may feel, sleeping now will only make you groggier and less motivated. don’t give in just yet! instead, try:

  • relaxing breathing techniques: close your eyes and try breathing in through your nose for a count of four, then out through your nose for a count of four. this will signal to your brain that you are safe and help you relax. (side note: this also works during the standardized exams!)
  • meditation: find a guided meditation video online, or just sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed as you acknowledge (but don’t engage with) your thoughts as they move through your mind.

 

3. instead of feeding your cravings, fuel your body!

feeling hungry? as tempting as it is to reach for fatty, sugary, processed foods right now, your body (and brain!) will appreciate some healthier options. try fueling yourself right with whole foods like fruits and nuts. not feeling those? try some string cheese or hummus. chances are you’re probably in need of a good old fashioned glass of water, too. it never hurts.
 

4. instead of checking social media, organize your workspace!

social media has a way of breaking you out of the zone in a way that is more distracting than productive. the updates on your phone aren’t going anywhere, so if you’re looking for a mindless activity to keep yourself occupied, try organizing your space instead. make sure that your desk is tidy and uncluttered. move distracting objects out of reach (and out of sight!). sharpen your pencil, remember to write the date on your notes, put away the pile of clothes on the floor…you’ll be happy you did!
 

5. instead of dreading your remaining prep, plan your reward!

staying motivated can be challenging, especially when you’re in the middle of a long study session. rather than thinking of all the work on your plate, think of what you’ll do to celebrate when you’re done with today’s study session. some ideas:

  • catch up on all the social media notifications you’ve been ignoring
  • spend some time with your friends or family
  • watch your current favorite show
  • listen to music or a podcast
  • cook a nice meal or bake something delicious
  • read a book that has nothing to do with school
  • sleep

 

setting your studies aside for a few minutes could actually help you learn more in the long run—so enjoy those breaks!
 

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]]> //www.catharsisit.com/blog/study-breaks/feed/ 0 the best cities for grad school //www.catharsisit.com/blog/best-cities-grad-school/ //www.catharsisit.com/blog/best-cities-grad-school/#comments tue, 21 mar 2017 08:30:24 +0000 //www.catharsisit.com/?p=4651 read our list of cities that exist at the rare intersection where opportunity, quality academics, and robust social life meet to help you decide where to go for grad school.

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here at magoosh, we know grad school hopefuls have many factors to weigh when considering different programs: how prestigious is this university vs. that one? what’s the cost of tuition and how much will i make after graduation? can i afford to live near campus? what if i need a break from studying, to grab a drink with friends? will i even have friends?

it’s overwhelming. that’s why we set out to identify the very best u.s. cities for grad school life—cities that exist at the rare intersection where opportunity, quality academics, and robust social life meet. our goal: to make the task of narrowing down grad school options less daunting.

to identify the best locations, magoosh experts analyzed federal data for 117 cities* that are home to the top 150 american universities. our experts examined 12 key factors—specially tailored to the needs of graduate students—to determine where prospective students can expect to find a well-rounded place to call home sweet grad-school home. among the data sets we crunched and analyzed: “bars, restaurants and entertainment options per capita,” “median salary for grad degree holders,” “research funding at surrounding universities,” “average monthly costs,” “walk score,” and much more.

continue reading to find the top ranking cities, a few key facts and findings about the top 25 cities, and a full explanation of our methodology.

*we use the term “cities” to refer to both cities and towns—just for simplicity!

the rankings

rank city total score (out of 100) economic score (out of 50) social life score (out of 30) academic environment score (out of 20)
1 clemson, sc 78.22 42.11 19.99 16.12
2 ann arbor, mi 77.78 38.91 21.66 17.22
3 new york, ny 77.77 30.55 30.00 17.22
4 boulder, co 77.32 37.04 24.16 16.12
5 seattle, wa 76.29 39.35 22.50 14.44
6 hanover, nh 76.20 31.47 25.83 18.90
7 pasadena, ca 75.92 35.64 24.16 16.12
8 berkeley, ca 75.65 27.32 28.33 20.00
9 provo, ut 75.56 45.83 17.50 12.23
10 durham, nc 75.28 33.33 25.83 16.12
11 los angeles, ca 74.70 33.32 24.16 17.22
12 hoboken, nj 74.64 29.63 30.00 15.01
13 state college, pa 74.52 31.47 25.83 17.22
14 princeton, nj 74.36 29.63 25.83 18.90
15 nashville, tn 74.06 42.11 15.83 16.12
16 oxford, oh 73.41 41.19 19.99 12.23
17 palo alto, ca 73.15 31.49 21.66 20.00
18 chicago, il 72.85 31.47 24.16 17.22
18 madison, wi 72.85 34.25 24.16 14.44
20 houghton, mi 72.77 33.32 30.00 9.45
21 iowa city, ia 72.68 35.18 24.16 13.34
22 columbia, mo 72.67 42.11 20.00 10.56
23 villanova, pa 72.49 37.49 19.99 15.01
24 ithaca, ny 72.40 24.07 28.33 20.00
25 providence, ri 72.21 30.54 28.33 13.34
26 philadelphia, pa 71.92 33.32 24.16 14.44
27 new haven, ct 71.92 30.54 24.16 17.22
28 lincoln, ne 71.74 41.19 19.99 10.56
29 charlottesville, va 71.29 35.18 19.99 16.12
30 newark, de 70.82 37.49 19.99 13.34
31 cambridge, ma 70.55 26.39 24.16 20.00
32 amherst, ma 70.17 32.39 21.66 16.12
33 cincinnati, oh 70.08 41.19 18.33 10.56
34 san diego, ca 70.07 35.64 19.99 14.44
35 new orleans, la 69.89 32.39 24.16 13.34
36 atlanta, ga 69.80 34.25 18.33 17.22
37 pullman, wa 69.72 38.88 17.50 13.34
38 davis, ca 69.45 37.50 15.83 16.12
39 fayetteville, ar 69.44 43.05 15.83 10.56
40 minneapolis, mn 69.33 32.39 22.50 14.44
41 denver, co 69.26 37.04 19.99 12.23
42 west lafayette, in 69.25 31.47 21.66 16.12
43 san francisco, ca 68.53 29.63 26.67 12.23
44 cleveland, oh 68.23 39.34 18.33 10.56
45 chapel hill, nc 68.23 35.18 15.83 17.22
45 durham, nh 68.23 35.18 15.83 17.22
45 storrs, ct 68.23 36.56 18.33 13.34
48 lawrence, ks 68.03 33.31 24.16 10.56
49 columbus, oh 67.75 33.32 19.99 14.44
50 athens, ga 67.57 38.40 15.83 13.34
50 austin, tx 67.57 34.24 19.99 13.34
52 irvine, ca 67.41 29.63 21.66 16.12
53 ames, ia 67.40 35.18 21.66 10.56
54 washington, dc 67.32 28.70 22.5 16.12
55 coral gables, fl 67.12 33.79 19.99 13.34
56 east lansing, mi 66.94 33.32 17.50 16.12
57 south bend, in 66.84 35.17 18.33 13.34
58 richardson, tx 66.66 40.27 15.83 10.56
59 st. louis, mo 66.56 33.79 18.33 14.44
60 stony brook, ny 66.49 28.70 21.67 16.12
61 hempstead, ny 66.48 28.70 28.33 9.45
62 college station, tx 66.37 36.10 15.83 14.44
63 baltimore, md 66.10 33.32 18.34 14.44
64 malibu, ca 66.02 29.63 24.16 12.23
65 fort collins, co 65.74 35.18 20.00 10.56
66 lexington, ky 65.72 39.33 15.83 10.56
67 dallas, tx 65.55 40.27 15.83 9.45
68 williamsburg, va 65.36 27.30 25.83 12.23
69 champaign, il 64.80 31.47 19.99 13.34
70 norman, ok 64.79 38.40 15.83 10.56
71 pittsburgh, pa 64.52 27.31 19.99 17.22
72 auburn, al 64.35 39.34 11.67 13.34
73 houston, tx 64.07 36.56 14.17 13.34
74 boston, ma 63.89 26.39 24.16 13.34
75 worcester, ma 63.69 34.25 19.99 9.45
76 dayton, oh 63.14 41.19 14.17 7.78
77 santa barbara, ca 62.97 25.47 24.16 13.34
78 salt lake city, ut 62.69 37.96 14.17 10.56
79 bloomington, in 62.49 29.16 19.99 13.34
80 raleigh, nc 62.49 33.32 15.83 13.34
81 eugene, or 62.48 29.15 19.99 13.34
82 tulsa, ok 62.03 38.41 14.17 9.45
83 fairfax, va 61.85 29.63 21.66 10.56
84 st. paul, mn 61.83 32.39 19.99 9.45
85 tallahassee, fl 61.75 34.24 14.17 13.34
86 south orange, nj 61.67 27.78 21.66 12.23
87 medford, ma 61.39 26.39 21.66 13.34
88 tuscaloosa, al 61.38 37.48 11.67 12.23
89 santa cruz, ca 61.31 25.47 22.50 13.34
90 riverside, ca 61.11 37.50 15.83 7.78
91 binghamton, ny 61.10 26.38 24.16 10.56
92 albany, ny 61.09 30.54 19.99 10.56
93 waco, tx 60.92 39.8 11.67 9.45
94 blacksburg, va 60.92 27.30 17.50 16.12
95 winston-salem, nc 60.84 33.33 14.17 13.34
96 oxford, ms 60.64 34.25 15.83 10.56
97 gainesville, fl 60.34 30.07 15.83 14.44
98 waltham, ma 60.28 26.39 21.66 12.23
99 syracuse, ny 59.99 30.55 19.99 9.45
100 burlington, vt 59.72 22.22 24.16 13.34
101 tempe, az 59.71 33.32 15.83 10.56
102 bethlehem, pa 59.06 29.62 19.99 9.45
103 baton rouge, la 58.98 34.25 14.17 10.56
104 rochester, ny 58.78 28.23 19.99 10.56
105 athens, oh 58.41 31.46 17.50 9.45
106 milwaukee, wi 58.32 30.54 18.33 9.45
107 corvallis, or 57.85 27.30 19.99 10.56
108 newark, nj 57.40 25.46 24.16 7.78
109 newton, ma 57.23 26.39 15.83 15.01
110 tucson, az 57.12 35.17 14.17 7.78
111 troy, ny 56.92 26.37 19.99 10.56
112 knoxville, tn 56.66 36.09 10.01 10.56
113 new brunswick, nj 56.02 25.46 20.00 10.56
114 manhattan, ks 55.55 29.16 15.83 10.56
115 fort worth, tx 55.36 34.24 11.67 9.45
116 columbia, sc 53.42 30.07 10.01 13.34
117 college park, md 52.96 21.29 18.33 13.34

 
winners, download your “best city for grad school” badge here.

 

some key facts and findings about the top 25 cities

please note: the select facts and findings listed below represent only a part of the metrics that contributed to each city’s final score. for a full list of metrics considered, please see the methodology section below.

at a glance:

  • grad degree holders can expect to make the most in palo alto, ca, where master’s and doctoral degree holders make a median salary of $113,834. the story is different in bloomington, in (ranked #79 on our list), where the median salary for grad degree holders is $38,911.
  • provo, ut ranked #1 in the category of economics with average monthly expenses there rounding out at $3,209. compare that to new york, ny with an average monthly spending estimate of $5,014. clemson, sc was a close second for best economic score with average monthly expenses of $3,280.
  • hoboken, nj and new york, ny tied for the #1 ranking in the category of social life, each with a total of 34,085 restaurants, bars and arts/entertainment options to choose from—thanks in large part to each area’s proximity to manhattan. each city has a “walk score” of 95/100 and 89/100 respectively.
  • palo alto, ca (home to stanford university), ithaca, ny (home to cornell university), and berkeley, ca (home to uc berkeley) all tied for the #1 spot in the academic environment category. out of the three schools, stanford has the most research funding (r&d expenditures) at a whopping $1.02 billion in funding, according to a 2015 u.s. news and world report study. cornell comes in second at $954 million.


  1. clemson, sc

clemson is a small, lush city tucked up in the northwest corner of south carolina. it’s home to the clemson university, which is famous for its world-class football program (the clemson tigers) and is the reason the city got its nickname: “tigertown”. clemson, sc earned its number one place atop this list for its nearly perfect economical score (thanks to its low average monthly expenses), its vibrant social community of students, low crime rate, and its impressive academic standing. clemson university is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the u.s. and in 2015, princeton review ranked the city of clemson no. 1 in “town-and-gown” relations with the university (that means the community and university are the best of friends).

  • top ranking university in this city: clemson university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $57,697
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,280
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 1017
  • walk score: 76/100

photo used with permission from clemson university

 

  1. ann arbor, mi

ann arbor is the sixth largest city in michigan and home of the university of michigan—one of the foremost research universities in the u.s. the university is located near the downtown area where you’ll find a large restaurant scene, art museums, and … lots of books. ann arbor, in fact, ranks as the no. 1 u.s. city for number of booksellers and books sold per capita. but don’t worry, even if books aren’t your thing, umich’s sports teams have an impressive standing in the big 10 conference and they always put on a show for their diehard fans. you’ll find yourself yelling “go blue!” in no time.

  • top ranking university in this city: university of michigan
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $61,529
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,665
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 493
  • walk score: 50/100

photo attribution: flickr user ian freimuth

 

  1. new york, ny (tie for #1 best social life)

while not the most affordable city on this list, new york is certainly the most lively. if you’re looking for a place to work hard and play hard, this city is the grad school location for you. not only is new york city home to five of the top 150 universities in the u.s., it also has more than 34,000 outing options. graduate students would really have to try to be bored in this city.

  • top ranking universities in this city: columbia university, new york university, fordham university, yeshiva university, the new school
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $72,389
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $5,014
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): $34,085
  • walk score: 89/100

photo used under license from shutterstock.com

 

  1. boulder, co

a mere 30-minute drive from the bustling hub of denver transports you to boulder—a place to experience another side of co life. the city is a thriving community of arts, shopping, hiking, student life, and laid-back hang-out vibes. the downtown area, split down the middle by high-energy and pedestrian-friendly pearl street, runs right along the university’s campus and offers plenty of activities for grad students looking to unwind. (the city’s proximity to excellent skiing doesn’t hurt either.) as for academics, boulder also has you covered. the university of colorado boulder ranks #92 on the top 150 list and comprises nine colleges and over 150 academic programs.

  • top ranking university in this city: university of colorado boulder
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $58,559
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $4,045
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 628
  • walk score: 58/100

photo attribution: flickr user let ideas compete

 

  1. seattle, wa

famed for its iconic space needle, unrelenting rain, coffee scene, and beautiful summers, seattle is also marked by the presence of numerous academic institutions such as the university of washington, seattle university, and seattle pacific university. the university of washington (founded ca. 1861) is nationally ranked and is one of the oldest schools on the west coast. the campus, home to large blossoming cherry trees in the spring and summer, is a quick 15-minute drive (or 30-minute bus ride) to downtown seattle. there, you’ll find plenty to explore—from bookstores, to cozy cafes, to must-visit locations like pike place market.

  • top ranking university in this city: university of washington
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $71,933
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,882
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 5367
  • walk score: 73/100

photo used under license from checubus / shutterstock.com

 

  1. hanover, nh

located on the western side of new hampshire with a scenic view of the winding connecticut river, hanover is a relic of early american and new england style. its access to outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, skiing and—of course—its proximity to a premier ivy league school, make this city a haven for graduate students. whether you’re staying close to campus with a visit to the upper valley shopping center, or getting away by taking a short drive to lebanon, vermont, you’re sure to discover new places to unwind, study and explore.

  • top ranking university in this city: dartmouth college
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $67,252
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,980
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 427
  • walk score: 66/100

photo attribution: flickr user josue mendivil

 

  1. pasadena, ca

just a 20-minute drive from downtown la is sunny pasadena—a small city tucked up against the foothills of the san gabriel mountain range. this city is home to caltech, an excellent school with an extremely competitive acceptance rate (which averages about 11% each year). if you can get into one of their highly selective programs, well, first off: congratulations. second: you’ve found yourself in an awesome city. pasadena’s downtown area provides an escape from the la hustle where you can find world-class shopping to fit any budget, boisterous bars, and delicious restaurants. similar to la, it’s not cheap, but it is a lot of fun. need a study break from caltech? easy. the downtown area is a quick 15-minute bus ride away.

  • top ranking university in this city: california institute of technology (caltech)
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $77,470
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $4,165
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 26,483. note: this number takes into account pasadena’s close proximity to downtown la (20-minute drive, 30-minute bus ride).
  • walk score: 66/100

photo used under license from angel dibilio / shutterstock.com

 

  1. berkeley, ca (tie for #1 academic environment)

want to experience the bay area, but are worried the san francisco fog just isn’t your thing? welcome to berkeley. this city is the location of america’s no. 1 public university, uc berkeley, and—of course—magoosh hq. situated above the san francisco bay, berkeley is a small city of eucalyptus trees, redwoods, and a famously-funky downtown. heralded by many as one of the birthplaces of the 60s hippie movement, berkeley has continued to carry its alternative reputation with pride. telegraph avenue, located right next to campus, is probably one of the few places you’ll be able to bump shoulders with world-renowned scholars, critically-acclaimed authors, and people dressed head-to-toe in hemp all in the span of one block. berkeley is also a convenient 30-minute ride from downtown san francisco using public transportation.

  • top ranking university in this city: university of california, berkeley (cal)
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $62,483
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $4,669
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 7977. note: this number takes into account berkeley’s close proximity to san francisco and oakland (30 minutes on bart to sf, 10 minutes to downtown oakland).
  • walk score: 81/100

photo used under license from shutterstock, inc.

 

  1. provo, ut (#1 most economical city)

the third largest city in utah, provo is a welcoming community set along the bank of utah lake. the city was ranked by forbes in 2015 one the best small- and medium-sized cities for business and careers, and is a focus area for technological development in utah, with a handful of billion-dollar startups headquartered in its downtown area. provo is also home to brigham young university (byu), which is the third largest private university in the u.s. and operated by the lds church. approximately 99% of the student body is a member of the lds church, and because the church subsidizes student costs at the university, tuition is shockingly low compared to other schools’ at just $6,880 for lds grad students and $13,760 for non-lds.

  • top ranking university in this city: brigham young university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $59,764
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,209
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 425
  • walk score: 47/100

photo used under license from johnny adolphson / shutterstock.com

 

  1. durham, nc

graduate students at duke university are sure to be pleasantly surprised when they find that downtown durham—filled with shopping, dining, nightlife, local breweries and museums—is a mere 20-minute bus ride from campus. given duke’s academic prestige and durham’s vibrant social scene, this city is sure to be a grad student hit. whether you’re conducting research in one of duke’s world-class facilities or hanging with friends in the renovated american tobacco entertainment district, we’re sure you’ll find ways to stay busy in durham.

  • top ranking university in this city: duke university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $56,054
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,527
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 659
  • walk score: 28/100

photo used under license from sean pavone / shutterstock.com

 

  1. los angeles, ca

  • top ranking universities in this city: unviersity of california, los angeles (ucla), university of southern california (usc)
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $68,568
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $4,165
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 26,483
  • walk score: 66/100

 

  1. hoboken, nj (tie for #1 best social life)

  • top ranking university in this city: stevens institute of technology
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $92,238
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $4,461
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 34,085. note: this number takes into account hoboken’s close proximity to new york city (20 minutes on the subway).
  • walk score: 95/100

 

  1. state college, pa

  • top ranking university in this city: pennsylvania state university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $60,535
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,563
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 200
  • walk score: 68/100

 

  1. princeton, nj

  • top ranking university in this city: princeton university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $83,831
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $4,311
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 460
  • walk score: 71/100

 

  1. nashville, tn

  • top ranking university in this city: vanderbilt university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $59,718
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,159
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 2662
  • walk score: 28/100

 

  1. oxford, oh

  • top ranking university in this city: miami university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $63,429
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,210
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 2588. note: this number takes into account oxford’s proximity to downtown cincinnati.
  • walk score: 44/100

 

  1. palo alto, ca (tie for #1 academic environment)

  • top ranking university in this city: stanford university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $113,834
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $4,835
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 2422
  • walk score: 57/100

 

  1. chicago, il (tie for #18)

  • top ranking universities in this city: university of chicago, loyola university chicago, depaul university, northwestern university (nu’s b-school is located in nearby evanston)
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $68,190
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,729
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 11,562
  • walk score: 78/100

 

  1. madison, wi (tie for #18)

  • top ranking university in this city: university of wisconsin, madison
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $56,310
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,605
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 1135
  • walk score: 48/100

 

  1. houghton, mi

  • top ranking university in this city: michigan technological university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $47,750
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,278
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 84
  • walk score: 75/100

 

  1. iowa city, ia

  • top ranking university in this city: university of iowa
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $55,689
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,494
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 269
  • walk score: 43/100

 

  1. columbia, mo

  • top ranking university in this city: university of missouri
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $52,974
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,271
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 262
  • walk score: 29/100

 

  1. villanova, pa

  • top ranking university in this city: villanova university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $74,749
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $4,052
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 649
  • walk score: 43/100

 

  1. ithaca, ny (tie for #1 academic environment)

  • top ranking university in this city: cornell university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $45,625
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $4,464
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 179
  • walk score: 67/100

 

  1. providence, ri

  • top ranking university in this city: brown university
  • median salary for grad degree holders in area: $60,425
  • average monthly expenses (housing + everyday costs): $3,703
  • total “outing” options (restaurants, bars, arts & entertainment): 2681
  • walk score: 78/100

 

 

our methodology

to identify the best cities for grad school, magoosh analyzed federal data for 117 cities in the u.s. these cities are home to the 150 top national universities according to u.s. world and news report. each city was examined in three major areas—1. economics, 2. academic environment, and 3. social life—and then given a score based on how it stacked up against other cities in each category. for simplicity’s sake, we’re using the term “cities” to refer to both university cities and towns.

we assigned a weighted score to each city based on how well it performed in 12 key metrics spread across the three major categories outlined above. each of the metics was chosen with the specific needs of graduate students in mind. the 12 metrics were graded on a 100-point scale—100 being the most favorable situation for grad students. we gave most weight to the category of “economics” (50%), assigned a weight of 30% to “social life,” and 20% to “academic environment”. this decision was based on feedback we received in a survey of magoosh grad students asking which areas mattered most to them when considering university locations. the data were collected using each city’s metropolitan statistical area.

to rank each city, we took the sum of its scores across the three major categories and made that its final score. each city’s placement was determined by how well its total score out of 100 compared to other cities’ total scores.

below is a breakdown of how each of the 12 metrics was weighted across the three major categories.

economics (50 pts)

  • rate of unemployment: full weight (~5.56)
  • job growth: full weight (~5.56)
  • median salary for person (aged 25+) with master’s degree or higher: double weight (~12.51)
  • monthly housing costs: full weight (~5.56)
  • average monthly expenses: triple weight (~18.03)

    • note: this is an average of the monthly expenses for three groups: single adults, married couples, and married couples with one child—based on common grad student demographics.

  • childcare costs: half weight (~2.78)

social life (30 pts)

  • “outing” options per capita (per 10k people): full weight (~12.5)

    • note: outing options took into account the number of bars, restaurants and cultural/entertainment venues per city

  • walk score: full weight (~12.5)
  • crime rate: half weight (~5)

academic environment (20 pts)

  • highest ranked university in area: full weight (~8.34)
  • total research funding (r&d expenditures) in area: half weight (~3.32)
  • percent of population with a bachelor’s degree or higher: full weight (~8.34)

 

sources: we created this study using data collected from the u.s. census bureau, bureau of labor statistics, federal bureau of investigation, u.s. news & world report, numbeo, walkscore.com, and careertrends.com.

if you’re interested in seeing the full data set, write to us at press@www.catharsisit.com. we welcome your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

 
 

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