high school Archives

Tutor Approved Study Tips for Finals

December 12, 2017

You’re surrounded by dozens of pages of notes from the last three months, you’re no longer sure what hour of the night it is (or is it morning?), and those two blissful weeks off for winter break feel tortuously far away.

Odds are, this situation sounds uncomfortably familiar. Perhaps you’re that student and you’re feeling the pressure, or you’re the parent of that student and you’re feeling it, too.

Either way, it’s officially finals season, but “finals” don’t need to be synonymous with “cramming everything you supposedly learned this past semester into the night before the one test that counts the most.” Follow these study tips, and you’ll be well on your way to ending this first term with grades that you can be proud of and your sanity still firmly intact.

Plan ahead of time. Be smart about this, but make it realistic. There’s no point in committing to studying one or two hours a day every day if you don’t actually have the time or stamina.

Take into account all responsibilities you have on your plate after school—sports, extracurriculars, the daily homework you still have, even being the family dog walker. If you set unrealistic expectations for yourself and you fail to reach them, you’re only going to feel worse.
Instead, commit certain days of the week to studying, figure out what your windows of opportunity are (this is where keeping an updated planner really comes in handy), and block those time frames off for studying. If you realize you have less time to commit than you otherwise would have thought, that’s okay, too.
A few extra hours of studying ahead of time here and there whenever you can get them will still save you from a few panic attacks later on. That being said, don’t forget to schedule a little time each week for something relaxing! Save most of your downtime for the upcoming break (and I promise, it will come), but keep in mind that it’s just as important to prioritize feeling grounded as it is to study.

Ask for help. From your teachers, from your parents, from your classmates, from us at Sage, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Push aside any feelings of pride, embarrassment, or confusion you have, and go to whomever you feel comfortable asking for help.
Your teachers are here for you, and after all, they’re the ones who know exactly what will be on the test, so who better to ask than them? Seek out their help in class, during lunch, or after school. If there is anything at all that doesn’t make complete sense to you, however big or small, make sure you get clarification ASAP.
And if you ask once, but it still doesn’t make sense, ask again! There’s a reason all this new material needs to be reviewed. It isn’t always easy, but you don’t—and shouldn’t—need to figure it all out on your own.

Buddy up … if it truly helps.

If you need to ask a friend to clarify a math lesson, ask them.
If you focus better when you study with someone else who can keep you accountable or motivated, then set up a study session and get out the good snacks.
Another way to take advantage of friends or classmates? Teach them. Often times, teaching the material actually helps you better understand something or commit it to memory. Even pretending to teach your cat could help, as long as your mind is really engaged with the information at hand.

Designate a specific space for studying. Find a place where you feel comfortable and focused.

Whether it’s your bedroom, the library, a cafe, or at a picnic table in a park, you want to make sure you can go somewhere consistently and feel confident knowing you’ll be able to focus. This way, you condition your brain to associate that space with being productive and getting your work done.
Most importantly, you’ll want to find or create a space for yourself with little to no distractions so that you can truly take advantage of the time you’re putting aside to study.

And on the topic of eliminating distractions, PUT AWAY YOUR PHONE. You can do it. Really.

Turn off your wifi connection, put your phone on silent or “do not disturb,” or better yet, power it off completely.
If you really feel like you need to, put it entirely out of reach somewhere or give it to someone else for temporary safekeeping.
Remember, you won’t be swearing off Facebook or Instagram forever. Friends and followers will always be there, but your chance to study for finals won’t be.

Don’t sabotage your own time and lose sight of what’s most important right now.

Flashcards are your friends. They’re a classic for a reason. Though they certainly aren’t for everyone, they are a tried and true method of reviewing material.

Quizzing yourself with flashcards can be both an effective and convenient way of memorizing information, especially if finding one specific study spot isn’t easy for you to do.
This method is also especially great if you’re a visual learner, and you can customize your material however you see fit.
Consider making flashcards by hand or through Quizlet, a free online service, and smartphone app.

Whether you create hard-copy or digital cards, you can carry them with you just about anywhere. This makes dividing up your studying easier, especially if your busy schedule doesn’t allow for setting aside big blocks of time.

Take study breaks. Some people may work well by plowing through two solid hours of studying, but not most of us.

For every half or full hour you’re working, give your brain a break. Get up and stretch, go eat something to refuel, take a power nap (15 to 20 minutes is the recommended sweet spot, but don’t go over), or do anything else that allows you to mentally relax.
Studying is draining, and it’s important that you pace yourself and keep your energy levels up in a healthy way. Set a specific amount of time for each break. Too short, and you won’t feel ready to get back to the books. Too long, and you’ll lose momentum and motivation.
Try fifteen minutes of a relaxing activity for every one hour of studying. Keep yourself on track and set a timer for periods of studying and relaxing.
It’s also generally a good rule of thumb to stay away from your phone, computer, or other forms of tech during your periods of respite. So if you think you’ll be too tempted to stop looking at just one more photo on Instagram after your break is up, find an alternate activity.

Get quality sleep. The reasons for this one are seemingly endless, but you know enough on your own about the difference between a well-rested you and a foggy-brained-and-grumpy you to understand why a good night’s rest is so important. No matter how much information you think you can cram into your brain late at night, it’s not worth the heavy cost, which often includes undoing everything you managed to learn earlier in the day. Trust me on this one, and don’t exhaust yourself. More than anything, you need to be alert on test day.

Just start! This is both the easiest and hardest thing to do.

Remember that in the end, the best course of action is simply starting somewhere.
Anything is better than nothing, and as long as you get the ball rolling, you’re headed in the right direction.
If you feel like this is the point at which you need the most help, reread the above tips.

Come to Sage. Lastly, for assistance with all of these study tips and more, our experienced tutors are here for you! Take advantage of our one-on-one tutoring, bring a friend (or two, or four) to customize your own small-group tutoring, or join one of our special review sessions this coming weekend before finals. For more information about Sage’s specially-created finals study sessions, take a look at our main website page, or shoot us an email.

Most of all, we at Sage Educators wish you a sane and successful end to this semester, as well as very happy holidays! We look forward to seeing you in the new year, with a fresh semester ahead.

Advice for Students Applying to Private High Schools

December 5, 2017

As a former middle school student in the Bay Area, I remember being completely overwhelmed when I realized that I had to choose one high school (out of 15+ options) at which to spend the next four years of my academic career. Ten years later, as a tutor for Sage Educators, I am frequently asked about the private high school application process. Here is a list of pointers to help you with the process!

1. Consider You

Before even looking at high schools, it is important to assess your goals, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. Start the process by asking yourself:

What do I want out of my high school experience?
What do I want to do after high school?
What are my greatest strengths and weaknesses as a student?

Answering these questions will allow you to make the best possible decision for your personal and academic growth.

2. Make a List

Make a list of all of the high schools that you are interested in. For extra guidance, write down a few pros and cons about each high school. The high school experience is shaped by many factors. A few special things to consider when narrowing down on the right school for you might include: the school size, how many AP/honors courses are offered and which ones, the different clubs you could participate in, the athletic opportunities, the depth and breadth of the art and music programming, etc.

3. Shadow

Shadowing gives you the opportunity to spend a day at a high school with current high school students. Both public and private schools have shadow programs. Shadowing is extremely important in the high school application process for two reasons:

It gives you the opportunity to gain insight into your prospective high school’s day-to-day activities and campus vibe.
It shows the high school admissions department that you are interested and excited about applying to their school.

4. Standardized Testing

Most private high schools require you to take some form of standardized test. Make sure that you know your high school’s requirements before signing up for and taking tests. Check guidelines set forth by the high schools to which you are applying. When in doubt, contact your prospective high school’s admissions department. Here are two charts that show the tests required for some of the high schools in the area for the 2018-2019 school year:


Secular High Schools	Standardized Test
	HSPT	SSAT	ISEE
Marin Academy		Required	Accepted
Branson		One Required	One Required
The Marin School	All Tests Accepted but NOT Required
The Bay School of San Francisco		Required	Accepted
San Francisco University High School		One Required	One Required
Drew School		One Required	One Required
The College Preparatory School of Oakland		One Required	One Required
San Domenico School		One Required	One Required

Catholic High Schools	Standardized Test
	HSPT	SSAT	ISEE
Marin Catholic	Required
Saint Ignatius High School	Required
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory	Required
Mercy High School, San Francisco	Required
Convent & Stuart Hall High Schools	Required
Archbishop Riordan High School	Required
Immaculate Conception Academy	Required

For schools with orange fields that say “One Required,” schools require either the SSAT or the ISEE and do not state a preference between the two tests.

Use these charts as a guide; however, make sure to double check with your prospective schools for the most up-to-date information.

These heavily weighted and often difficult exams require studying, practice, and dedication. Students and parents alike have found Sage’s expert test prep courses and one-on-one test prep to be extremely helpful. Our educators are familiar with the application process and teach strategies, skills, and concepts that help students prepare and excel.

5. Letters of Recommendation

Some high schools require letters of recommendation. Some do not. Regardless, a good letter of recommendation will never hurt your prospects in the application process!

The key to getting good letters of recommendation is making sure that you have at least two dependable adults in your life (other than your parents) who will speak highly of you. Good people to ask include: teachers, coaches, family friends, and prominent community members (such as Girl Scout Troop Leaders, Youth Pastors, 4-H Leaders, etc.).

I recommend asking for a letter in person. Follow up your in-person request with an email that lists the date the letter is due, where it needs to go, a few things about you (to refresh their memory and strengthen your letter), and any additional formatting requirements or forms for the letter. In addition to this, always make sure to thank the person writing your letter!

6. Application Form

Make sure that you take your time filling out your application form! Proofread everything! No one likes typos (including admissions departments). Answer essay questions thoughtfully and truthfully. Especially for students who will not interview, these essay responses allow admissions committees to garner a picture of your wonderful personality and fittingness for their school. Note your accomplishments and get specific about the experiences that have shaped your character.

7. Interview

Interviews allow school personnel to get to know you in a more personal way. The best way to rock your interview is to prepare yourself: dress professionally, brush up on your knowledge of the school, practice your answers to common interview questions.

Make sure that you are wearing professional looking clothing. One major tip is to abide by the school’s dress code requirements. If the school requires boys to wear a collared shirt and pants that are not jeans, you should be dressed in a collared shirt and pants that are not jeans. Presenting yourself professionally can go a long way.

In addition to looking sharp, you should prepare for a few basic questions. The most standard questions that high schools will ask are these:

Why do you want to go to our school?
What extracurricular activities do you participate in?
Is this school your top choice?

Schools will also ask you about your talents and interests. Make sure that you feel comfortable talking about your interests in a professional manner. For example, if you have listed that you are a competitive swimmer, they will likely ask you about your recorded times on various events.

8. Be yourself!

Most importantly, throughout the entire process, just be yourself! If you work hard and trust the process, you will end up at the right school for you!

Sage Educators leads results-driven test prep courses that aim to familiarize students with the structure, timing, and concepts of the exam. Our curriculum offers unique strategies and skill-building exercises. Lessons are taught in small classroom sizes or one-on-one for optimum support and are customized to meet the current and growing skill levels of all students.

To learn more about test prep with Sage, contact us today.

3 Tips to Start the School Year Off Right

September 18, 2017

The school year has started, homework is mounting, and you’re already thinking of how to get extra credit. The September “adjustment period” of learning your new schedule, testing the class expectations, and staying on top of the wonderful blend of academics/extra-curriculars/friends probably has you collapsing in your bed and hiding under the sheets.

Luckily, there’s hope.

Here are a few quick strategies, from a teacher with nearly ten years of experience, that will help you succeed no matter the new classroom climate you may be facing.

1. Be Prepared Nobody likes getting to class and realizing they forgot their materials, lost an assignment, or plain stumbled out of the gate by misunderstanding something simple. Teachers are human—and if they see you are trying to stay organized and overcome early-season challenges, they will be willing to listen and accommodate moving forward. But preparedness requires responsibility, always in advance of what’s coming, so give yourself time to get ready.

Sage Advice Don’t hesitate! Take 10 minutes at home to lay out your materials. Visualize what you will need for the following class day. Make a plan. Feel confident knowing you are walking into class and delivering exactly what’s expected. If you need help: ask. At Sage, we value individualized one-on-one time, and so it makes sense that you should also give yourself a moment, every day, to assess what’s coming next. It will help you stay prepared.

2. Talk With ALL of Your Teachers Give yourself five minutes to talk to them before or after class. Establish a “working” relationship that will help you both build trust and establish a “getting to know you period.” If you need strategies for how to start, put yourself in their shoes and imagine that you have to get to know a new student. By forming rapport and opening up to your teachers (and not just your favorite ones), you are giving yourself an entryway for negotiating “mutual benefits” that will pay off later in the school year. It’s never a bad idea to ask questions such as “Is there anything I can do to help myself succeed in this class?” At Sage, we think being in close communication with your teachers and knowing the expectations of a class is essential to your own success. Take the time.

Sage Advice Many colleges require two letters of recommendation, one each from a STEM subject and one from the humanities. If either one is a “stronger” subject, work on speaking with teachers in a variety of fields to help bolster your recommendation arsenal. Make sure you’re speaking with teachers at appropriate times, too.

3. Be Your Own Advocate Speak up and look for opportunities to succeed! If you’re feeling overwhelmed during study periods, don’t ignore homework, instead, if you need a mental break, try to prioritize, plan, or organize. At Sage, we emphasize planning based on individual needs and understand that all free time can’t be used for academics. Accommodate accordingly and work smarter, not always harder! Help is never far away.

Sage Advice If you’re unsure of how to best use study periods (or free time when you’re at school), talk to an adult and see if you can volunteer other ways. Librarians can always use assistants, teachers frequently appreciate aides, and if you feel like you’re finding it hard to focus when you should be working, give yourself 20 minutes of hard effort, and 10 minutes to relax the brain, get a snack, or unwind… then repeat as needed. It helps to let teachers know if you feel overwhelmed with your outside responsibilities or expectations too. Don’t feel overly guilty if it feels like “too much to manage”. All it takes is trust in your own voice.

Tag: high school