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Looking Forward to Prepare for the School Year
June 4, 2020
Looking Forward: Preparing for Senior Year
July 23, 2020

Stand Out to College Admissions

college admissions pandemic

The pandemic continues to impact the college admissions process, so it’s important to think about your applications from a holistic perspective. Don’t let that scare you! Embrace the new opportunities to highlight all you have to offer. 

Shifting the Spotlight from the ACT and SAT

Students and parents wonder if taking the ACT or SAT (or submitting scores from already-taken tests) is necessary. Many colleges remain test optional, and some (like the University of California system) are test blind. For most students, taking a test is still a good idea. According to the Los Angeles Times, “many college counselors haven’t much altered their advice: Keep studying. Take the exams. And, unless they’re disastrous, submit your scores.” Corinne Pinsof-Kaplan of Launch College Counseling is strongly encouraging her students to take the ACT or SAT because of the unpredictable landscape. “What if the schools on their list don’t stay test optional?”

That said, for a variety of reasons, skipping the ACT or SAT may be a better choice for some students. But without that data point, how can you show colleges that you’re a stellar applicant? Honestly, even students who are able to submit very good ACT or SAT scores should be asking this question. Pinsof-Kaplan says colleges are promising to be more flexible in light of the pandemic-related barriers. You are more than a test score—show that to schools! 

Showcase Your Strengths, Talents, and Contributions

Pinsof-Kaplan and Sara Miller, a former assistant director of admissions at Purdue, agree that juniors and seniors should also ask themselves this question: How am I making good use of my time? Schools want to know that you’ll be a contributing member of your class. They want to see that you’ve already established good habits, and that you’re engaging in activities that reflect your interests. When you spend your time productively, it’s easy to show schools that you’ll be an excellent addition to their student body. You’ll also have more interesting—and authentic—experiences to write about in the more-important-than-ever college application essays.

Get to Work

Volunteering on a regular basis is a wonderful way to support your community, build relationships, develop a worldview, learn teamwork and leadership skills, and recognize your own privilege. There are all kinds of volunteer opportunities available to students, or you can create your own like Michael Arundel of Orland Park did.  

Think about where you can take initiative with your extra-curricular interests. For example, if you’re an athlete, create your own plan for staying in shape and continuing to grow in your sport. Creative arts students can host their own show, teach others, or even team up virtually with other artists to collaborate on projects. Whatever your “thing” is, find ways to practice it that will be beneficial to you and others. These experiences will highlight your talent and dedication on your college resume.

On the academic side, show your commitment to learning and challenging yourself. With all of the online learning options available right now, it’s easy to find a course to get ahead. Or take a summer elective class you might not have time for during the school year. If you’re taking AP classes, get a head start by previewing topics and concepts. Community colleges offer a wide selection of classes (earn those college credits!). 

The Power of a Passion Project

Finally, consider exploring a new or established interest in a structured way. A summer passion project involves choosing a topic of interest, studying it in depth, and designing a creative project that shows what you’ve learned. Let’s say you’re interested in environmental sustainability. You could study composting, set up your own bin, design and carry out an experiment, and present your findings in a YouTube video. 

A summer passion project can also lead to a more consistent and action-oriented study of a topic. Focused, goal-driven work over the summer might lead to a part-time job or volunteer position (e.g. setting up composting at your school). One of our students is thinking about studying computer science in college, so he’s working with a tutor this summer to complete a passion project diving into the subject. His work will enable him to build skills, and also help him decide if computer science is indeed a good fit. And that will influence the colleges and programs he pursues. 

The possibilities are limited only by your imagination! Completing a passion project doesn’t just provide you a way to showcase your interests to schools (what a great college essay topic!). It also gives you the opportunity to practice critical thinking, executive functioning, curiosity, and researching—all skills that will help you succeed in college and beyond.

Give us a call if you need some extra help building your college resume. From passion project to application essay to summer school support, we can provide you customized guidance!

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      Kimberly Pilot

      Tutoring Director

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      Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below.

      My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways.

      I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals.

      On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches.

      Sarah Tracy

      Tutoring Director

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      312-260-7945 x104

      stracy@nurturingwisdom.com

      Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below!

      A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much!

      I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee.

      On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors.

      Shannon Crassweller

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      Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below!

      My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world.

      My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today.

      On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.

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