How to Write Well Quickly

            Writing a paper is hard enough, but writing a whole paper in twenty-five minutes can seem like a nightmare. On the SAT, it’s not enough to be a great writer. You also have to be able to think quickly and avoid distractions. The best way to prepare for the writing portion is to practice, practice, practice. But practice aside, here are four tips which could alleviate some of your stress and maybe earn you a few extra points.

Editing is Everything. Of course, editing is the last part of the writing process, but I mention it first because it’s so important to remember that the best writing is actually done in editing. You’ll maximize your score if you go into the exam expecting to spend a large chunk of your writing time in the editing phase.

Knowing that you will have time to edit gives you the chance to put your ideas on paper without having to deliberate for fifteen minutes about your first sentence. On top of that, it’s only in editing that you can step outside your own head and start to imagine how your sentences will sound to others. If you don’t understand your own writing when you read it back, how can you expect your readers to understand it?

“As Abraham Lincoln Said…” You may have heard this one before, but it’s still good advice: go into the exam with a little bit of Abraham Lincoln already in your back pocket. Or Albert Einstein. Or your sixth-grade English teacher. The point is, you know that the SAT wants you to back up your claims with specific examples from history or from your life; why not come to the test with examples at the ready?

Remember, the essay readers don’t care what examples you use, they care how well you construct your sentences and paragraphs to get your point across. Coming to the test with examples in mind isn’t a form of cheating. It’s a form of thinking ahead. It saves you time during the exam, and you end up with a stronger paper as a result.

Start with an Outline. As far as the outline goes, the important thing is that you have one—it doesn’t really matter what it looks like. It may seem like you don’t have the time in a twenty-five minute period to write a complete outline, but believe me: having an outline makes the writing portion of the test that much easier. In my experience, the five-part structure is a great model: introduction, three body paragraphs, conclusion. Three clear body paragraphs is a solid amount of writing for a twenty-five minute period. It’s enough space to build an argument but not so much space that you run out of things to say.

But no matter what outline structure you use, introductions and conclusions are key. The specific arguments of your essay should be mentioned in your introduction, and the major themes should be represented in your conclusion.

And how do you make sure your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion relate to each other? You guessed it: editing.

Talk to Yourself (But Not Literally). So you’ve brought your Abraham Lincoln, you’ve written your outline, and you remember to leave time to edit. What about the actual writing? Strangely enough, this is the easy part. You make clear arguments every day without even thinking about them. Really, all it takes to write well is to forget you’re writing at all—to tap into your everyday eloquence. One way to do this is to imagine explaining your essay to an invisible audience, preferably someone you trust.

There’s no such thing as a magic formula for writing a great SAT essay. But if you come to the test prepared with examples, write a solid outline, treat your argument like a conversation, and remember to edit, you can’t go too wrong.

Why are standardized tests so important? (SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, etc.) - Part 2

Why are standardized tests so important? – Part 2

As an SAT and  ACT tutor I've encountered many students who think that college entrance exams are truly evil, or are government conspiracies, or are more painful than root canals. While I can definitely sympathize with these beliefs - it wasn’t too long ago that I was a High School student who clung to similar theories - I've come to really appreciate in recent months the logic of standardized tests (for instance the SAT and ACT for undergrads, and the MCAT, LSAT, and GRE for grads.) More and more I understand the role they serve in the admissions process. Obviously, they give institutions a concrete, although imperfect, measure with which to group students. But I also appreciate the linearity and innate logic within the exams. Indeed, to be perfectly honest, I've developed an admiration, that's spilled over into love, for standardized tests. Like many whirlwind romances, I never anticipated this fiery passion I'd develop. We started out merely as unknown acquaintances -then they charmed me and stole my heart.

Now give me a moment to explain myself. It may seem odd that I've developed a love for inanimate objects that I hated not too long ago. So I'll explain.

 I truly enjoy teaching the ACT and SAT, and I find it fulfilling to impart knowledge to others. Whenever I'm teaching, I feel like I'm improving the world in my own little way. So in this respect, it makes sense that I've grown to like the SAT and ACT in part because they've been the subject matter of my teaching. It's like the experiments with the rats - rat hears bell at feeding time - bell is associated with food. So under this theory, teaching is interesting to me - therefore the SAT and ACT become something I like.

Still though, I think there are innate characteristics that I enjoy about the ACT and SAT. Here are the big ones: firstly, they are more or less predictable - the more practice tests you take, and prep sessions you complete, the more familiar and predictable the exam becomes. In time, you can see these tests tricks coming from a mile away. Improving then is simple - the more you study, the more you understand the test.

Furthermore, while I think the SAT and ACT each have their own shortcomings, they do a fairly good job accomplishing what they say they do, something I can appreciate about anyone or anything. They DO give colleges a crude approximation of a student’s level of understanding of some basic academic concepts. Students who get 10’s, 11’s, and 12’s on their SAT essays (out of 12 points) are generally better writers; they show a greater proclivity for language and writing, and will probably have an easier time in college classes. Students who score well on the Math section similarly show a mastery or a competency in basic algebra and geometry that will serve as a vital foundation for college level mathematical thinking.

Importantly, standardized tests don't exactly convey true intelligence; if they did, how would an almost instant jump in scores afforded by prep classes be possible? A few tutoring sessions and classroom lectures can bump a student’s overall SAT score by more than 200 points. Also many variables - like amount of sleep before test day, level of distraction, blood sugar levels, etc. - wildly affect performance. Neither do the SAT and ACT measure interpersonal intelligence, diligence, or study habits, factors perhaps more important to college success than reading and writing skills. Again though, they do offer a crude approximation of college readiness.

So they're easy to master, if you put in the time, and yet they're still useful for colleges.

Can there be an easier set up for students? A test that is at first difficult, but can be understood by anyone who puts in the time, and yet that is still viewed as important by the gatekeepers of your future.

So while the SAT is an imperfect exam, it's not a bad deal for students, if you weigh it all out. Plus I find it fun (does that make me a nerd?)

So, a student hoping to gain admission into a competitive college, or pay for college with scholarships, must understand the realities of a situation, and prepare for the realities, ideal or not.  There are definitely worse things in life.

Why I like working for Victory Step!

 I've held jobs or internships pretty consistently since I was about 16 years old. I've gained life experiences in all of them. Each work environment has improved my abilities as a person in some way or another.

To be honest though, more often than I'd like, I've found myself poorly positioned in these jobs on the tedium vs. reward continuum. Many of these jobs or internships have been way more boring and difficult than they've been useful in my financial or intellectual development.

As I analyze my time at Victory Step, I realize that it's been these past mixed experiences that have given me a greater appreciation for the work environment at this company. I'm also in a skilled position, doing something useful in the world, and using my talents as a test taker and teacher to help students. I enjoy my job now, and I like my boss a lot. But like many, I haven't always been so lucky.

My first "real" job was at Genghis Grill (before that I'd spent summers answering phones and filing documents at my Mom's office.)  It had been one of my favorite restaurants as a kid, mainly because they offered the colorful Jones sodas, and created what seemed to be a fun and exciting dining environment. Now while I sometimes enjoyed my time during my shifts, mostly in getting to know the various interesting personalities of my bosses and coworkers, I was naive to assume that working at a "fun" restaurant is just as exciting as eating at a "fun" restaurant. I worked as a host, and was charged with taking customers to their seats. It was fun to people watch, and I developed a deeper understanding of just who Genghis Grill's customers are. When I wasn't bored to tears rolling silver wear or cleaning tables, I entertained myself thinking and observing

Unfortunately, not all was sunshine at Genghis Grill Mongolian Grill. As a host, I was the lowest paid staff member in the "front of the house" as this was the only job available to someone under 18 who can't, according to state law, serve alcohol. I made seven dollars and something per hour even though I often did all of the same work that the servers did - taking drink orders, delivering food, bringing condiments, etc. And because I made a lot less money doing essentially the same amount of work, I was supposed to be given a small percentage of the tips that waiters received each night.

At first I was not diligent in following up on and collecting these tips. I thought that they were automatically added into my bi-weekly paycheck. After my first two paychecks, I did some calculating and realized that the tip outs weren’t being included.  I went and talked to one of the managers only to find out that they were kept in the back office (duh!) - even though no one had told me.

We went to the back, and he forked a small pile of cash over - something like 30 or 40 dollars, which by my figuring was about 250 dollars short. I talked to another manager, who had nothing to tell me. That’s all the money that’s there. Thats your tip out.

 Cooooool, I thought. Not only am I doing a server's work for a host's pay, the one financial perk of the job is getting stolen from me. From then on out you can bet I picked up my tips diligently after every shift! Still I felt wronged and taken advantage in a way that didn’t go away.

Later, I figured out who ended up stealing the money. There were three or four managers who had access to the back office at different times so it was impossible to conclusively point the finger at anyone. Yet I talked to a few other employees and we all concluded the same thing: it was probably "Steve." Although personable, Steve was a sketchy guy and I found out that other employees had noticed first hand money getting "lost" when he was in charge. I personally knew he had more or less flexible morals after the first or second day I was working for him,  when he told me got kicked out of High School as a ninth grader for  beating a classmate to within an "inch of his life" for making fun of him for being a "white boy." I also once heard him conducting a drug deal on the restaurant's phone. He was an entertaining coworker, if lacking in moral scruples.

My time with the managers at Genghis Grill contrasts greatly with my time working for Victory Step. Varun (Victory Step's Founder) has been an excellent boss, and embodies important traits that my manager at Genghis Grill was lacking. Importantly, after working closely with Varun for over a year and a half, I know that he brings integrity into everything he does. He has a very well defined moral compass when it comes to his employees and clients, and will always go the extra mile to make a customer satisfied; he expects the same of his employees.

Unlike the managers at Genghis Grill, Varun pays his employees fairly and treats us with respect. Not to sound corny, but he also cares about us as individuals. I was very sick not too long ago and he insisted on finding a replacement for me for one of my shifts, even though I told him I could make it. He's just a generally decent guy, which makes a huge difference in a boss.

I also think his integrity and high expectations shine through in the whole Victory Step experience. As I said, we always give 110% to deliver on what we promised, as there's no gimmicks or shortchanging in our results. I can appreciate Victory Step so acutely because it compares so favorably to the subpar places I've worked at before.