1) crashcourse

john green’s “crashcourse” us/world history youtube series

this series is fantastic if you’re looking for a learning source that won’t put you to sleep. i actually studied for my ap us history exam by watching the entire series. yes. that’s right. all __ episodes. all 48 episodes. all nine hours. i am not sure i can recommend this method, but i can say that i got a 5 and that john green’s voice echoed in my mind as i bubbled in my scantron. not only does john green have tons of resources for us history, but he’s also great for world history and “big history,” or the history of everything. check him out!

2. smithsonian history explorer

smithsonian history explorer

the website’s not the most intuitive, but the information here can be extremely helpful for anyone looking to interact digitally with history. you can examine artifacts up close and watch videos on the same material you’ve been reading about in your textbook. watch the cotton gin in action or hear the great jazz composers for yourself! this can be a fun, easy supplement for learning, especially if textbook learning isn’t the best way for information to stick in your head.

3) old maps online

old maps online

you know that feeling you get when you’re alone, and you’re sipping your coffee, and you’re contemplating life’s intricacies, and you realize you really want to see an old map? it’s a pretty common feeling. really. the old maps online portal is just the place to find, like, really old maps. you can gain access to high-quality historical maps from libraries around the world…and if you happen to have an old map lying around, you can add to the database yourself!

4) digital history

digital history

this is an awesome resource for quick summaries of events in us history. this interactive timeline spans from the first native-americans to the 21st century. there are short summaries of important supreme court cases (a must-have if you’re studying for the ap test), printable quizzes on each unit, writing guides, digital stories, and even historic music. pretty cool stuff.

5) library of congress

library of congress

the library of congress sounds very far away from your us history classroom, but in reality, it’s super relevant and has tons of helpful resources. there are tons of neat little bits of history like original speeches and letters, old newspapers, maps, and film. this can be especially convenient if you’re working on a research project and are in need of primary resources.

6) ourdocuments.gov

ourdocuments.gov

this website is pretty simple and straightforward. it lists 100 milestone documents in us history from the national archives. not only can you see pictures of these original documents, but you can also read detailed summaries about each document and download the transcripts. the summaries can also link to further resources–convenient if you’re conducting research for a paper or project.

7) usa 20th century history game – free

usa 20th century history game – free

unlike the previous items in this list, this one is an app. usa 20th century history game is a game…about…usa 20th  century history. this one’s just a fun app to download if you want to brush up on when events happened. the app’s major focus is the specific dates of events (something you might find useful during exams). you can test yourself on four levels (easy, core, hard, and advanced), and for some reason the app’s mascot is a turkey. obviously the better version of angry birds.

8) khan academy

khan academy

khan academy started out primarily as a math resource, but it’s since grown to include lots of subjects in the humanities, including history. subjects include american civics, ancient and medieval history, the renaissance and reformation, the enlightenment, the revolution, and the 20th century. the videos are super informative and easy to understand–check it out!

9) wolfram alpha

wolfram alpha

you might associate wolfram alpha with math and science, but surprisingly, it’s equally relevant with history. you can find the data range associated with a particular historical period and even compare different historical periods. you can compute the modern worth of a certain amount of money centuries ago. you can look up specific historic figures and battles and events–and while you won’t get any emotional context, you sure will get the numbers.

10) american revolution interactive timeline – free

american revolution interactive timeline – free

this is actually a really awesome app. designed by the museum of the american revolution, the app is basically an interactive timeline of the revolutionary war. you can learn about specific events, as well as detailed information about the artwork, weapons, clothing, objects, and manuscripts from the museum’s collection. the graphics are beautiful, and the videos and podcasts are pretty engaging. the app is also “award-winning,” apparently, which must mean something good. except when it comes to bieber and stuff.

the post ten revolutionary digital history resources appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

you can never escape.

taking the sat before transferring to a four-year university isn’t a subject that’s touched upon often. while the vast majority of sat-takers are high school juniors and seniors, there is also a considerable percentage taking the sat from a community college.

college admissions for transfers is very similar to regular college admissions–and much of the same requirements apply. while some colleges will grant exceptions, most will require the sat even from transfer students. for those considering transfer, this requirement can be daunting, especially since it’s normally associated solely with high school upperclassmen.

you’ll have to confirm whether or not your college requires test scores from transfers–especially if you’ve already earned your associate’s degree. there are many who do and many who don’t, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.  before applying to a school, find out what the institution is looking for in transfer applicants. you can get a good idea by looking at a school’s common data set. the common data set is a document that four-year schools across the country complete that contains lots of information on such topics as admission criteria, freshman academic profile, campus safety and transfer admissions. you can often find a college’s common data set by googling that term and the name of the institution.

it shouldn’t be a scary thing! because you don’t have a high school to guide you through the process, it might be a little bit less straightforward, but it’s still very much doable.

getting started

registration is a very simple process. just go to the college board website–and you can register from the home page.test dates, prices, and practice questions are all easily accessible from there–so everything’s really straightforward! as for testing sites, there are thousands across the country. you might have to go to a local high school to take the test–maybe even the high school where you graduated.

alternatively, you can go to your local high school and pick up an sat booklet and physical registration form. (all of this applies to the act, too, if you’d prefer that over the sat. register here.)

preparation

prepare for the sat just as you would if you were in high school. you can sign up for local prep classes, research practice tests, buy some guide books etc. definitely do not be afraid to reach out to your college for resources. prep groups at your community college can help tremendously when preparing for the big day.

how much does it matter?

it’s important to remember that–while sat scores often factor into your admission, they aren’t nearly as important as they were in high school. according to one nacac survey, the most important factor when considering transfer applicants is your grade point average. for those transferring after one-two semesters, sat will be a little more important, but the further away you are from high school, the less essential it becomes. your academic performance in the classroom will attest far more to your college readiness than your sat score.

takeaway

don’t be discouraged about your less traditional path. according to one survey by the national association for college admission counseling, a third of students end up transferring to other colleges or universities. transfer is becoming more and more common, so you are far from alone. many colleges are extremely welcoming towards non-traditional students, especially ones who have utilized their late start to prove their motivation and ambition.

good luck!!

the post taking the sat after community college appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

anyways! here is a list of eight powerpoint alternatives sure to make your big presentation a hit!
 

1) prezi

this is one of the more popular powerpoint alternatives, this is a dynamic presentation software that’s beautiful to look at and fairly easy to customize! (oh no, i’m starting to sound like a commercial again… )

prezi is cloud-based, syncable across all your devices, and it already has 50 million users! all of its presentations involve a lot of motion–zooming in, sliding sideways, etc–so it’s easy to keep your audience engaged. plus, the blank template basically allows you endless possibilities as far as design goes.
 

2) slidedog

this is a seamless presentation software which can really keep your classmates on their toes! slidedog is different from other presentation-makers because it’s basically a playlist of your digital media. it’s not exactly a slideshow-maker, but you can integrate previous prezi or powerpoint files into your slidedog playlist–plus any other files you want to include. you can even have your classmates follow along on their own tablets or computers–and have them respond to polls, etc.
 

3) animoto

this is a different take on presentations–instead of a traditional slideshow, animoto lets you create an engaging video slideshow for your next project! this one’s pretty cool–and it can still be pretty flexible. it’s technically a video, but that doesn’t mean you can’t talk during your presentation. you can pre-record your voice for your slideshow (using a separate program) or mute the volume and talk live. there are tons of sample presentations on the website, and they’re all beautiful.  it’s also an app, so you can work on this on your phone or tablet!
 

4) wevideo

yet another video creation website that can help you make some dynamic presentations! wevideo is pretty easy to use and employs a storyboard-style development process which is easy for beginners to use. better yet–if you’re working on a group project, wevideo has a collaboration feature, so your friends can pitch in. let’s just hope you don’t end up like this poor girl.

5) canva

canva is kind of like a renaissance man–er, website. it’s a little bit of everything. you can create flyers, posters, graphics, etc–but for the purposes of this article, we’ll focus on its presentation-creating software. it’s amazingly simple to design clean, visually-pleasing slideshows with this website. you can collaborate with anyone, anywhere–and design across platforms on its app.
 

6) powtoon

powtoon is really, really awesome. this is another video presentation website, but the difference here is that you can customize fun animations into your video. you can animate  figures to talk and present an idea… you can literally make your bullet points pop and move and captivate your audience. the options are endless. the result is a nifty, engaging video that you can have lots of fun with. there are over 11 million powtoons created so far, so they’re obviously doing something right–try it out!
 

7) haiku deck

haiku deck is an absolutely gorgeous and easy-to-use presentation maker! really painless and especially useful if you’re in a rush and don’t have time to learn and use something more complex. making presentations on this site is actually–dare i say–fun? you can work on either your computer or ipad; select from tons of eye-catching images; and browse through the gallery to get inspired by other presentations.
 

8) projeqt

okay, this one is a really cool find. using projeqt, you can make non-linear presentations by connecting live tweets, blog feeds, youtube videos, audio notes, etc. you can weave together multiple presentations and customize this across multiple platforms. it’s pretty easy to use, and it’ll definitely make you stand out, as opposed to a typical powerpoint presentation.
 

takeaway

part of really setting yourself apart in the classroom (and eventually in the workforce!) is constantly seeking newer and better ways to accomplish a task. if you really want to get that “a” while flooring your teacher in your next presentation, trying one of these out (or something else new) might serve you well!

did it work out well for you? let us know in the comments! we’d love to hear your success stories.

the post rock your school presentation: best alternatives to powerpoint appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

unfortunately, mastering your focus is something that often takes a lifetime of effort…well, most of us don’t have a lifetime (or even a day) to finish our (most likely procrastinated) work. so, while you won’t ever be able to have 100% control over your focus, you can definitely learn how to work around pesky attention spans to get your work done.

follow these tips for the next time you have to get down to business.
 

1) get rid of the distractions

the most obvious step? get rid of all those pesky distractions! turn off your phone. shut your door. tell your friends not to chat you up for “x” amount of time.

don’t wander into the dark abyss of the internet. if you do have to use the internet for certain parts of your studying, lump all of those parts towards the end of your study session. create a checklist on what exactly you need to look up on the internet and cross off each task as you go. this will help prevent you from time-consuming social media sites like facebook and twitter.

in any case, don’t become this guy.

2) create a reward system

positive reinforcement, yeah! set a solid reward for every landmark that you make while studying. for example, after every two pages read, treat yourself to a chocolate! if you can’t trust yourself not to cheat, ask a family member to withhold all the delicious chocolatey goodies in the house. or, if you want to avoid gaining five pounds, snack on something healthy and delicious instead like….like…uh…i’m not the best person to turn to on these kinds of decisions…

3) study well-rested

pretty self-explanatory. no use studying while you’re still half-asleep! not only will you be a lot less productive, but you’ll remember less and you’ll get distracted more!

if you’re feeling a bit tired, get up and move around a bit…or take a short nap. in any case, you’ll be so much more efficient with an rested, alert head on your shoulders, no matter how pressed for time you are.
 

4) create a punishment system

it’s not as bad as it sounds.

for those of you who don’t respond as well to positive reinforcement…negative reinforcement could work for you, too! seriously, it’s not terrifying and can actually be pretty useful–though it should probably be used for more desperate situations.

if you’re really attached to your money, perhaps sacrifice a certain amount of money to be at stake. have a trusted family member check up on you every hour or so. if they see that certain tasks have not been completed, have them take a certain amount of the money. again, this sounds a bit extreme, but if you’re the type that will only work when something you care about is at risk, this could be effective. (god, that sounded so creepy.)

the “money” could be swapped out for candy or dish-washing duty or anything else that matters to you. (just as long as you aren’t trading siblings!)
 

5) study with an timer

hey, this one actually works pretty well! if you’re crunched for time and have to plow through some mandatory reading, keep a timer going. if you’re reading a textbook, for example, challenge yourself to finish each page within 2-3 minutes. that’s 50 pages in less than 2 hours. keep a timer to stay on track. the app seconds is perfect for this–you can set it so that it counts down from 2 minutes…the added pressure of seeing the time slip away will pressure you to stay focused.

6) take short breaks

everyone needs to relax occasionally!

and that doesn’t just apply to kitties getting a shoulder rub! when you’re studying, don’t tire yourself out. take short breaks for a more effective study session. the pomodoro technique–where you work in 25-minute chunks, followed by 5-minute breaks (and 15-minute breaks every hour)–is especially effective.

a warning, however: don’t take so many breaks that you lose focus. keep your breaks short and sweet. if you over-use them, you can quickly slide into procrastination.
 

takeaway

you’re not completely at the mercy of your attention span! when you employ these tips, you can get done studying quickly and way more effectively.

so, get going!

the post how to master your focus appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

there are dozens and dozens of majors to choose from. so…how do you know which one is for you? try out these tips to narrow down your search and help you on the way!

1) what are your career prospects?

this is the the most obvious step, but–what are you career prospects? a huge differentiation to make is whether you are solely pursuing your interests or whether you’re looking for a purely practical career option. are you looking more for something that will purely satisfy your interests or something that will make you the most money? of course, these can often be the same thing. it’s all a matter of balance.

career choice is extremely complicated, however, and often it’s difficult to get an idea of what you want to do in your life until after college–and after you’ve explored many of your interests. because so many people are unsure of their future careers, oftentimes a better question to ask is…

2) what are you passionate about?

ah, the dreaded question. but it’s absolutely what you want to ask yourself when you’re deciding on a major! knowing what you’re interested in doesn’t have to be all that specific, either. what classes are your favorite? what do you do in your free time? knowing where your true interests lie can help guide you toward a major that you might want to consider.

of course, major choice isn’t always about what you’re most interested in, but there are plenty of people who–not knowing what they’d like to do as a career–simply choose a major that they’ll enjoy. who knows? you might find a promising career path after taking a few classes that you love.

take a look at this list of common college majors to get an idea of the huge variety of options you can choose from.

3) talk to friends and family

this one sounds obvious, but it’s actually so helpful! don’t be afraid to ask friends and family about their opinions on future major choices. adults especially who have already been through the process can be especially helpful with their own past experiences.

don’t be afraid to reach out and ask, “hey, i’m confused about what i should major in. any advice?”

4) try some of these online quizzes!

sounds trivial, but there are so many online tools out there that can be incredibly helpful when looking into major choice.

majors

• mymajors is one of the most specialized tools available–geared towards finding you a major you’ll love!
• majorfinder provides you with an extremely detailed analysis of your strengths and interests–and what career would be the best fit. although i already know what my major will be, i took the test–and the majors it listed were all majors i’d considered in my past…and the #1 choice they gave me was the one i’d already selected!

careers

• shobia career finder – a great tool to narrowing down your career search.
• what career is right for me? – the website name speaks for itself. full and comprehensive guide to finding a career that will fit your interests and goals well.
• career test center actually uses personality typing to match you up with a compatible career.

5) if all else fails, apply undecided!

according to research by the university of laverne, 50-70% of undergraduates switch their majors at least once–and colleges know this. don’t feel pressured to choose one if you really feel like you’re not ready for a commitment.

that sounded like a line from a chick flick.

anyways! there is not disadvantage in admissions if you choose the “undeclared/undecided” box. of course, admissions officers might like it if they can get an idea of what you want for your future–but applying without a major will never be the ultimate deciding factor in your decision. the only way it might hurt you is if there is a special program/school at the school for your future major. if you apply without a major, you wouldn’t be admitted to that program–though you would still have a chance at being admitted to the school.

takeaway

there are dozens upon dozens of potential majors out there! no matter how much you worry, there will always be one that will fit you and your future well…so don’t stress about it! in any case, applying undecided is not something to fear or be ashamed of. don’t feel pressured to choose a major you don’t really want–just to fill it out on your application!

good luck, and happy hunting!

the post i don’t know what to major in! appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

there were definitely a few tears. as well as…an embarrassing amount on stanford-related youtube channels to unsubscribe from.

i admit i ate a little more ice cream than was necessary.

okay, a lot more.

um, yeah. basically. but here’s the thing! it’s been a week, and i’m feeling fine. i’m refocusing, i’m right here writing this article, and i’m even consuming normal levels of ice cream.

for those of you who have been rejected by a college early, you might recognize the feelings after that fateful day: dejection, shock that a dream has barred its doors to you forever, insecurity that you might not just be good enough for any college

but those feelings are normal…and your life is far from over! there are tons of healthy ways to handle rejection. don’t let yourself sink into a pool of endless misery. you’re worth way more than that. so…if decision day didn’t work out the way you’d wanted it to, take heart and follow these tips to handle rejection!

1) don’t take it personally.

a college’s decision not to accept you is not a reflection of yourself. these colleges are receiving thousands and thousands and tens of thousands of applications—way, way more than they have space to accept. these days, colleges are receiving way more applications than they’ve ever had before—mainly because the common app has made it fast and convenient for kids to apply to ten or more schools at once.

this is not an evaluation of how worthy you are as a person. this is a matter of schools just not having enough beds to house every qualified applicant. this is even more relevant if you applied to a college that is ranked in the top 25.

many of the elite colleges are huge “crapshoots.” in other words, it’s a gamble. when acceptance rates start dropping below 20%, who gets in and who doesn’t becomes more and more unpredictable. you could do everything in your power to be the best person you can be and still be rejected just because the admissions officer reading your application was having a bad day. some of the best applicants can get rejected, while less qualified applicants can be accepted. the admissions process can almost seem like a lottery—based on factors beyond your control like luck and chance.

so please, please, please do not think you are any less of a person because of a decision some group of adults made at a table thousands of miles away.

2) be happy that you tried.

this may sound trite, but it’s all too true. you should be proud that you got rejected because at least you tried. you stepped beyond your comfort zone and tackled an application that probably scared you beyond belief. you tried your best and you tried something new. you dared to leap for the moon. and hey—you may not have reached it, but as the old saying goes, you could’ve landed among the stars instead.

it is much better to be someone who tries and fails rather than a person who is too scared to try and fails by default. as h. jackson brown jr. once wrote, “twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”

3) use this as a lesson to improve

take this rejection as a great opportunity to reflect upon your application, see where it can be improved, and move on to better and greater things! look over your essays again. seeing them anew after these past few months could warrant some changes you’d never thought of before. have them go through a few rounds of reading by close friends or family members. look at your list of extracurriculars and add anything new. see if they can be worded a bit differently.

especially if you were rejected early decision, this isn’t a chance shared by many others. once you leap into the regular decision process, you are different from other applicants in that you are now a veteran. you’ve been through the process before. you have a bit more experience, and the whole ride—the whole ordeal of waiting and opening letters—will seem a lot less scary the second time around. be grateful for this opportunity!

4) maybe it wasn’t meant to be.

just as the title says. there are tons of stories out there about people getting rejected from their prestigious “dream schools” only to go to a different school and realize they would not have been as happy if things had gone right the first time.

try making a list of the reasons why your (ex) dream school may not have been your best fit. if you’re not completely over your rejection, it’ll help you move on. take this rejection as good luck. for me at least, it wasn’t until after my stanford rejection that i realized how much of a better fit other schools would have been—especially for my career path.

5) you are not alone

as a mid-90’s michael jackson once said…you are not alone! you are one among tens of thousands of high schoolers who were rejected. it’s not as if everyone was accepted, and the admissions committee singled out your application and decided you were lame. (unless! unless…maddi slowly backs out of the room as the truth of her rejection letter descends upon her.)

in fact, there are tons of people at your school who were also likely rejected. heck, you probably have parents and other family members who also have had experience with rejection. that said, it’s wise to..

6) talk it out!

talking with someone about your frustration, your fears, and your worries can be surprisingly helpful! at the risk of sounding like your therapist, it’s much easier to deal with your feelings when you’re talking about them aloud. friends and family members who have experience with rejection in the past—or maybe even now, if they’re your age and also dealing with college—can help more than you can imagine.

it might seem embarrassing, but talking it out is not nearly so intimidating as it sounds. there’s no shame in just, you know, letting it g—

i am so sorry. i had to.

7) eat it out! work it out! live fully and breathe.

and, alas! the most important tip of all. just move on! eat some of your favorite food, maybe try exercising some of that stress away. live fully because this really is your only life (unless you believe in reincarnation, which is a whole different story…but anyways). college does not define you. sure, a nice one can look pretty on your resume, but ultimately, the institution you attend will not determine your success in life. that’s up to you! your drive. your will to succeed. the whole purpose of life is to be happy. just remember that. true happiness is never going to be determined by what college you go to!

so just breathe…and move on! finish your other apps and don’t stress out. you’re going to be just fine.

the post how to handle college rejections appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

no. no, it’s not pizza. not this time. (that’s getting a bit cheesy, to be honest.) the solution is: speed reading! speed reading is a technique pioneered in the 1950’s, which has recently found a spike in popularity.

basically, the average american reads around 200-300 words per minute. most of this time, however, is taken up—not by understanding the text—but by moving from word to word.

speed reading eliminates efficiencies in reading, and surprisingly, you can learn to speed read while retaining comprehension levels.

so. how do you gain access to this magical skill?! it’s actually not as hard as you’d think. follow these easy tips, and if you want even more guidance, there are tons of more detailed guides online!

disclaimer: though speed reading can really speed up your reading ability, you should make sure you aren’t losing comprehension on the way. there are some critics of speed reading that claim you can’t retain as much information when you’re going over 500 words per minute. therefore, you should try to restrain from training yourself to read too quickly. this isn’t a race. this tool can be great if you’re running out of time, or if you’re a little too slow of a reader for comfort, but like anything, it should be used with discretion. this technique—like regular reading—still requires your full concentration. especially on the sat.

start to speed read!

1) measure where you are!

a good place to start is to find out how slow or fast of a reader you are! this way you can more easily measure how much you should improve—and even start setting goals. these websites have great tools to measure how many words per minute you can read as of now.

• staples – what speed do you read?
• ace reader – free reading test
• my read spead – quick test

2) stop subvocalization.

if you are like most people, you say the words aloud in your head when you are reading. this can seriously hinder your speed. you can actually read a lot faster without the subvocalization, but once it has become a habit, it’s very difficult to shake off.

try this trick: repeat “a-e-i-o-u”  or simply count in your head as you’re reading. this will force you to stop speaking in your head…another step closer to reading faster!

3) use your peripheral vision

normally, we read by focusing on one word, then moving to the other. then the next. and the next. here’s the trick, though: you don’t have to just read one word at a time. if you are in a time crunch, peripheral vision is the key to reading faster! when you use your peripheral vision, you can focus more on a few words at once. surprisingly, you can understand more at once—with high comprehension, if you’re doing it right. a helpful trick is to split up a paper into three vertical sections by drawing two line from the top to the bottom. when you’re reading a line, read the first section of words in one chunk.

you can also use the “z method.” this method tosses line-by-line reading altogether! instead you read one line, cross over the subsequent line diagonally, and read the third line normally. this is actually surprisingly effective and can be a huge lifesaver in a time crunch!

there are tons of helpful tools which can help you immensely on your speed reading journey… check out these websites and apps!

websites

• spreeder
• iris reading
• legentas

apps

• outread – speed reading
• acceleread speed reading trainer
• quickreader
• velocity
• flash reader

takeaway

and that’s about it! speed reading isn’t a cure-all to your qualms with the critical reading section, but it can sure help you with time management. just make sure you’re still focusing! this can also carry on to your everyday life. you’ll be able to read more books at a faster rate than before…so you’ll be one step closer to becoming hermione granger!

the post speed reading: how it can help you ace sat critical reading appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

this gif sums up emotions fairly well:

but as the year goes on and spring seems just around the corner, you might think: how important are my grades, really?

especially for early action applicants, the pressure to do well in school lessens considerably after an acceptance. suddenly, first semester grades may seem irrelevant. suddenly, you’re falling asleep on classes. suddenly, you’re booking trips to fiji in the middle of january. suddenly—

alright, here’s the real deal:

first semester senior grades vary in importance from person to person. they are not as important as, say, junior year grades, but they’re still worth caring about.

the midyear report

many colleges ask for something called the midyear report. “what is the midyear report?” you ask, as you recline on your pile of tardy notices. 

this is a transcript of your first semester grades sent out by your school counselor! many colleges require it, but there are also many institutions which do not. on the common app, you can check which schools actually require a midyear report under the “school forms required” section. for all other colleges, you can just visit their website!

just a warning, though: don’t feel safe just because your college doesn’t require a midyear report. many high schools have policies which require that counselors send off midyear reports to all colleges you are applying to…even if the institution does not require it!

context, context, context!

so what is the actual purpose of the midyear report? colleges don’t want to see you slacking off senior year! as mentioned before, these grades will vary in importance depending on the context of the application. take a look at these three applicants, for example:

since joanna has had an upward trend so far—despite bad freshman year grades—colleges will be paying additional attention to her first semester senior year grades. because trends of improvement are so important in admissions, it’s extra important to concentrate during the first semester of senior year if you had spotty grades as an underclassmen. this will prove that you’re academically competitive, regardless of your past.

darwin has had a fairly consistent record, so the midyear report isn’t as important in his application. this does not mean first semester grades are pointless and he can go book that flight to fiji, however! if a college—and especially a more prestigious institution—requires the midyear report, chances are they will be looking at your grades. in darwin’s case, however, unless this semester’s grades are extreme outliers, his midyear report won’t hold nearly as much weight as joanna’s.

theodore’s midyear report will also be more important in his application. like joanna, theodore’s grades show a pattern of change…but theodore’s isn’t as positive. in his case, the midyear report will be important for admissions officers because it’ll determine if his performance junior year was a small slip-up or part of a larger trend.

obviously, these three characters don’t come close to encompassing every possible applicant scenario, but you get the idea! there is no concrete answer to “how important are my first semester senior grades?” everyone’s file will be different.

a good rule to live by is this: just try your best!

alright, alright. it’s groan-inducing for a lot of seniors, i know! after all, isn’t senior year supposed to be fun?

still, though you should enjoy your last moments of high school, don’t relax so much that you totally forget about your grades.

allowing your academic performance to suffer can lead to a rescindment of your acceptance—or even academic probation for your freshman year of college. that would just…well, that would suck.

if you’re looking for ways to boost your grades, the video below offers some tips, even if your goal isn’t to get straight a’s.

so, hang in there! don’t automatically fall into paranoia because your first semester grades aren’t perfect, but don’t give up on school, either!

enjoy the holiday season!

the post first semester senior grades: how important are they? appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

well, okay. maybe not.

why is eating right so important anyways?

according to recent studies, eating unhealthily is linked to a 66% risk of productivity loss! and according to the world health organization, your productivity levels raise by 20% on average with adequate nutrition. the nutrients you intake via consumption will ultimately be absorbed into your bloodstream and help power your mind.

especially on the day of a big test, this is vital to remember. you are no different than an athlete on the day of his or her big race. your muscles need nutrients to work at their optimum performance, whether this performance is physical and mental.

basically, what you eat is broken down into glucose, which helps fuel much of your mental functions. certain foods help release this glucose into the bloodstream quicker than others, while others help release the glucose at a slower, more optimal rate. if glucose is released too quickly, eventually your blood glucose level will be too low, and you won’t be able to concentrate well. therefore, the food that you eat and the ways in which it helps facilitate this is vital to your productivity! according to brain researcher leigh gibson, “the brain works best with about 25 grams of glucose circulating in the bloodstream — about the amount found in a banana.”

glucose isn’t the only important source of energy, either. tons of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients work together to fuel your body. your job is to pick out the types of food which will deliver them the best.

pick up the right habits

eating isn’t just in the food itself. having healthy eating habits also have a lot to do with your brain’s performance and productivity.

you want to regulate your glucose levels, so try not to binge eat. it’s hard to resist not devouring an entire pizza when you’re being bombarded by stress, but this could be counterproductive and actually increase your stress!

instead, graze slowly all throughout the day. this can be extremely vital on days (especially weekends before big tests) when you’re stuck at home and have to study for large periods of time.

also, check those portions! by reducing the size of your plate and being less full, you can become significantly more productive. you spend less time eating unnecessary amounts of food, while avoiding the discomfort and subsequent lethargy of overeating.

surprisingly, you may find that food on a smaller plate will fill you up more than the same portion on a bigger plate. in fact, there’s a whole movement dedicated to encouraging people everywhere to eat from smaller plates. check it out.

eat the right food!

there are tons of foods out there that have the right nutrients to optimize brain power and mental performance! the kinds of food you should indulge in are often high in antioxidants, low in fat, and high in other nutrients. foods like salmon and other fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, for example, while sunflower seeds are great to chew on to maintain energy.

others are filled with vitamins, protein, and minerals like iron. some even help relieve muscle tension, ease stress, and speed up your metabolism.

check out this list of foods which are guaranteed to be optimal for your mental performance! if you incorporate some of them into your daily diet, you can significantly improve your focus and productivity. not to mention, you’ll be healthier for it.

berries

• blueberries
• raspberries
• strawberries

fruits

• watermelon
• papaya
• tomatoes
• figs
• raisins

nuts

• almonds
• cashews
• pistachios

veggies

• avocados
• olives
• carrots
• eggplant
• garlic
• dark, leafy greens

dairy

• eggs
• dark chocolate
• yogurt

seeds

• sunflower seeds
• pumpkin seeds
• sesame seeds

other

• brown rice and other whole grains
• oily fish
• green tea
• cheese
• popcorn (not buttered)

stay away from overly sugary, caloric foods. they will increase drowsiness! these foods are often the most tempting…

…but if you establish a routine of healthy eating habits and choices, they’ll be much easier to resist.

good luck and happy eating!

the post food for thought: maximizing mental performance through your diet appeared first on magoosh blog | high school.

there are tons of great resources out there as you study for the sat! the sat writing section can be difficult to study for—especially the essay section. here are tons of online tools you can use to set you on that road to your ideal score!

1) writer’s digest

writer’s digest has tons of great articles with loads of valuable writing tips. it even has a “2nd draft critique workshop”—editing services which give you feedback on your writing. though this service has a price, it can be great if you’re looking for some constructive criticism. it also has writing tutorials, free webinars, and a great community where you can submit questions. though much of the website is geared more towards fiction writers, it is still a valuable resource for anyone looking to hone their prose.

2) the american scholar

what better way to improve your writing than to read good writing? the american scholar contains tons of amazing articles, academic essays, and fiction writing. if you expose yourself regularly to quality writing, then some of it will ultimately sink in. this doesn’t have to come in the form of this one website, either! try browsing through other academic journals or top newspapers like the new yorker or the los angeles times.

3) grammar book

this website is basically god’s creation. it is beautiful. it contains basically every grammar rule and even covers punctuation! it contains free online quizzes for those of you who need help with the nitty-gritty rules. you know it’s reliable because the author of the website, jane straus, has even published a #1 bestselling book: the blue book of grammar and punctuation.

4) grammarly

what! another grammar website?! why, yes! you can never have enough grammar when it comes to the sat writing section. this website is a proofreader. it checks for all your grammatical errors, and it’s really pretty neat.this can really come in handy if you’re practicing writing essays and want grammatical suggestions on your writing. just copy and paste your essay into the text box..and voila! automatic feedback is generated.

5) grammar girl

yet another grammar site!

all of these sites, however, have something a little different to offer, so i do not regret it. grammar girl has tons of awesome articles on grammar, but they’re written in a very easy-to-understand, fun way. in comparison to grammar book, grammar girl is a bit less formal.

6) paper rater

paper rater, well. rates your papers! like grammarly, this is a great way to get feedback on your writing. it’s free and provides writing suggestions, while also checking for grammar and plagiarism. how much better can this get?!

7) mit opencourseware

mit has some great online writing courses for free! explore rhetoric, expository writing, general essay-writing, and much, much more all under top professors. the website format makes it easy to access course materials and reading. and in your free time, you can also explore all the other courses, which range from mathematics to business to the social sciences.

8) owl purdue

okay, so i snuck another grammar website on to the list. this one’s absolute gold, though. teachers love this resource, so chances are, you’ve already happened upon this one in your english class. “owl” stands for “online writing lab,” and it houses tons of writing resources and lessons covering punctuation, grammar, rhetoric, essay-writing, etc. it even has tons of “vidcasts”—dozens of videos covering lessons in an easy-to-understand manner.

9) udemy writing course

this particular course on udemy has over 200 ratings and an overall 5-star score. udemy has tons of awesome courses, and this one in particular seems like a great one for writing. though it costs money, it can be a worthwhile investment. taught by cathy presland, an experienced author and entrepreneur, the course contains over 19 lectures in 1.5 hours of material. though a lot of the material here is geared more towards fiction writers, it is still very relevant to essay writers. after all, good writing—no matter the topic—often traces back to quality storytelling. a lot of the writing rules covered are universal.

10) wordpress

the best way to improve as a writer is to write a lot. it sounds obvious, but “practice makes perfect” is a platitude many people overlook. a great way to start practicing your writing regularly is by starting a blog. you don’t have to be a brilliant writer to start one, and it can be a lot of fun, especially if you gather a following. you’ll be gradually improving your writing even while it seems like nothing more than a fun hobby. wordpress is the most popular blogging/website platform on the internet, and it has a great community. try it out!

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