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What’s Common about the College Application?

by triedtutoring | September 3, 2022 | College Admissions, College Prep | 0 Comments

The college application process might seem straightforward at first; you gather all the information you need, complete the online application, and press the submit button. Unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward. Here’s what you need to know about the college...

Back to School for Juniors

by triedtutoring | August 26, 2022 | Back to School, Study Skills | 0 Comments

By the time students reach junior year, they likely know their way around the building and can open a locker in five seconds flat. However, junior year has the reputation of being the most challenging year of high school for a reason. For one, this tends to be the...

Help with High School Entrance Test Prep

by triedtutoring | June 28, 2022 | Study Skills | 0 Comments

If you're considering private high school for your student, you're not alone. About 10% of high school students nationwide attend private school. When applying to private school, many admission departments require test scores to evaluate where a potential student...

Avoid Summer Learning Loss

by triedtutoring | May 4, 2022 | Study Skills | 0 Comments

Past researchers have identified a consistent trend of learning loss over the non-instructional summer months with a decline in academic achievement during summer months. They note a steeper decline for math than reading, and a greater learning loss for students in...

Test Prep for Grad School

by triedtutoring | April 20, 2022 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Pursuing a career in the medical, teaching, or business fields? Don't trash those test prep books just yet! These professions, to name a few, often require testing for graduate admissions or licensure, and we can help! We have worked with many students as they...

SAT Changes on the Way

by triedtutoring | March 22, 2022 | Test Prep | 0 Comments

Beginning in 2024, US students can say goodbye to pencils and scantrons as CollegeBoard ushers in a new digital testing format with significant content and time changes. The class of 2025 and beyond will be affected by these changes. While we're not sure what it all...

Factoring Test Optional into Test Prep

by triedtutoring | March 15, 2022 | Test Prep | 0 Comments

As colleges decide to continue with test optional admissions or mandate test scores, students aren't sure what to expect when it comes to prepping for the SAT and ACT. Should they prep for the test and try their best, or not stress it if they can apply test optional?...

Setting New Year Goals

by triedtutoring | January 3, 2022 | Study Skills | 0 Comments

It’s 2022! Inevitably, every New Year brings discussion of resolutions. Many of us write a long list of resolutions to share with our friends and family. A quick scan of your Facebook news feed will reveal many of your friends’ goals for 2022. Unfortunately, according...

The 123s of College Admissions During COVID

by triedtutoring | October 7, 2021 | College Admissions, College Prep | 0 Comments

The below interview was conducted in the fall of 2020 but the information/advice continues to be relevant during the 2021 college admissions season. For seniors (class of 2022), the advice remains the same. If you have an SAT/ACT score that falls in the average or...

Back to School—Avoiding the Homework Battle

by triedtutoring | September 12, 2021 | Back to School, Study Skills | 0 Comments

It’s that time of year again—changing leaves and cooler weather are on the horizon and our news feeds are filled with smiling children toting backpacks for the first time. While this seems like a beautiful scene, it often quickly devolves into the dreaded “homework...

How to Request Accommodations for the SAT or ACT

by triedtutoring | Aug 6, 2020 | SAT/ACT, Study Skills | 0 Comments

You might be surprised at the number of accommodations available for standardized test takers. The long list includes familiar accommodations for students with learning disabilities, such as extended time and added breaks, as well as accommodations for students with...

Back to School: Making the Most of Virtual Learning

by triedtutoring | Jul 31, 2020 | Back to School, Study Skills | 0 Comments

Update: Current return to school schedules can be found on the Fairfax County Public Schools website, Prince William County Public Schools website, Loudoun County Public Schools website, and Arlington County Public Schools website. The start of this school year will...

SAT Prep for High School Freshmen and Sophomores

by triedtutoring | Jul 7, 2020 | SAT/ACT, Test Prep | 0 Comments

Prepping for the SAT or ACT two to three months before the test date can feel a little overwhelming. That's why parents ask us all the time how their students can get a jumpstart on test prep freshman and sophomore years of high school. There are certainly ways to...

Planning for Success: Setting Career Goals, Part 4

by triedtutoring | Jun 29, 2020 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

The difference between a senior in high school considering a major for the first time and a middle school student setting career goals is the process in which they make the decision. If you have not thought much about your future before heading off to college, you...

It’s Time to Apply for College… is it Smart to Apply Early?

by triedtutoring | Jun 18, 2020 | College Admissions | 0 Comments

Regular admissions, rolling admissions, early decision, early action… all of these terms refer to college application deadlines. Unfamiliar with the college lingo? Take a few moments to read our previous blog post and learn all about each deadline option. Then, read...

Community Service During COVID-19

by triedtutoring | Jun 3, 2020 | College Admissions | 0 Comments

Community service is noticeably different now with many organizations and non-profits closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn't mean you can't still serve the community. It just requires a little time and creativity. Beyond the desire to serve others...

Plan A, B, and C: Comparing and Ranking Career Choices, Part 3

by triedtutoring | May 29, 2020 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

On average, Americans change jobs 12 times during their lifetimes and work less than five years in one job.* Since you will most likely work in more than one field throughout your career, it's important to prepare for more than one job. When creating a career plan...

Why Take the SAT in a Test Optional World?

by triedtutoring | May 22, 2020 | SAT/ACT | 0 Comments

Update: This post was originally written in May 2020 and was updated November 2021. Throughout the spring and fall of 2020, there were many SAT and ACT cancellations. As a result, nearly all colleges adopted a test optional policy for Fall 2021 admissions. Many...

When Should I Prepare for and Take the SAT or ACT? Part II

by triedtutoring | May 10, 2020 | SAT/ACT, Test Prep | 0 Comments

In the last blog, we talked about questions to consider when planning your SAT and ACT test dates and preparation for those tests during junior and senior year. You can check out those questions here. Now that you know what to consider, it's time to put that...

When Should I Prepare For and Take the SAT or ACT? Part I

by triedtutoring | May 1, 2020 | SAT/ACT, Test Prep | 0 Comments

Many students and parents ask when the SAT or ACT test should be taken and when test prep should start. There are many factors to consider and it can vary based on the student’s starting scores and goal score. Below are some things to consider. Take a practice test...

Changes to College Admissions After COVID-19

by triedtutoring | Apr 24, 2020 | College Admissions, College Prep | 0 Comments

Never in our lifetime have schools closed on a global level because of a viral pandemic. Students have experienced many unexpected changes this year, from schools closing three months early to the administration of AP exams at home instead of in the classroom and the...

The Benefits of Online Tutoring

by triedtutoring | Apr 13, 2020 | Study Skills | 0 Comments

I admit that, when it comes to tutoring, I am old school. I like meeting with a student face-to-face, sitting down at the kitchen table or grabbing a latte at a local coffee shop with a ten pound pile of books. Prior to COVID-19, online tutoring felt more like a...

Learning Outside the Classroom

by triedtutoring | Apr 9, 2020 | Study Skills | 0 Comments

With the closure of Virginia schools from mid-March to August due to the coronavirus pandemic, students will have five months off from in-person classroom instruction. The structure and support schools provide students will be sorely missed, and the risk of falling...

Virtual Learning- It Just Got Real!

by triedtutoring | Mar 19, 2020 | Study Skills | 0 Comments

As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through the nation, the disruption and chaos it has caused can be felt in every facet of our lives. Requirements of social distancing have wreaked havoc on the public school system, resulting in school closures for at least a month....

What Does It Mean to Be Waitlisted?

by triedtutoring | Mar 18, 2020 | College Admissions, College Prep | 0 Comments

When college decision letters start rolling in, the anticipation of being accepted or denied admission can feel overwhelming. The response in this letter could determine where you spend the next four or five years. But what if your response is “waitlisted"? How long...

College Campus Resources

by triedtutoring | Mar 8, 2020 | College Prep | 0 Comments

Living on a college campus is a unique and exciting experience. After the college years, you won’t have the opportunity to live in a building with hundreds of other students your age, or enjoy lunches and dinners you don't have to cook. While the dorms and dining hall...

Test Taking Tips

by triedtutoring | Feb 28, 2020 | Midterms, Study Skills | 0 Comments

If there is one thing students are familiar with, it’s exams. All kinds of exams; the ones with multiple choice answers, true/false questions, an essay or two, and yes... even math exams! While it's important to understand subject content, it is also helpful to apply...

The Benefits of Community College

by triedtutoring | Feb 18, 2020 | College Prep | 0 Comments

Update: This post was originally written February 2020. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families and education across the world. With continued uncertainty of how colleges will adhere to CDC guidelines in the fall of 2021, community college is a stable...

Should I Take the ACT or SAT?

by triedtutoring | Feb 12, 2020 | Choosing the Right Test, SAT/ACT | 0 Comments

One of the questions we are asked most frequently is “should I take the ACT”? I always tell juniors that they should try both the SAT and the ACT. Even if you do not take an official test, you should at least take a practice test of each to get an idea of the...

Opportunity Knocks: Choosing Career Paths, Part 2

by triedtutoring | Feb 3, 2020 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Years ago, employees prepared for one career with one company and retired after 30 years of working for that company. Today, there are no guarantees when it comes to a job, no promises that you will be employed with a company until you’re ready to move on. The more...

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