College Board ? of the Day

Read the following SAT test question, then select your answer.

Each of 5 men played a game of chess with each of 5 women, and then each woman played a game of chess with each of the other women. How many games of chess were played?

A) 20
B) 25
C) 35
D) 45
E) 50

Hint
First find the number of games played between the men and the women. Then find the number of games played between women. The sum of these two numbers is the total number of games played.

College Board ? of the Day

The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E.

Modern (A) vegetable farming ranges from small-scale,

low-technology production and local sale and (B)

vast commercial operations that utilize (C) the

latest advances (D) in automation and technology.

No error (E)

Hint
Pay attention to how conjunctions are used in the sentence.

College Board ? of the Day

Read the following SAT test question, then click on a button to select your answer.

The weights of 10 bags of apples range from 2.75 pounds to 3.15 pounds. If w is the weight, in pounds, of one of these bags, which of the following must be true?

A| w – 2.75 | 0.2
B| w – 2.95 | 0.2
C| w + 2.95 | 0.2
D| w – 0.2 | 2.75
E| w – 10 | 2.95

Hint
If w pounds is the weight of one of the bags of apples, then 2.75 w 3.15.

College Board ? of the Day

Part of the following sentence is underlined; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Select the option that produces the best sentence. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A.

As it is primarily a bird of New Zealand’s native forests, the kiwi also lives in scrub and native grasslands.

A) As it is primarily
B) Although primarily
C) Because it lives primarily as
D) It is primarily
E) It lives primarily as

Hint
Note the contrast between the “native forests” in which the kiwi “primarily” lives and the “grasslands” in which “the kiwi also lives.”

College Board ? of the Day

Question
Wednesday, January 23
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Dahntay’s ------- over winning the prestigious prize was ------- only by the fact that his father was unable to attend the ceremony.

(a) incredulity . . misconstrued
(b) ebullience . . tempered
(c) bashfulness . . extended
(d) satisfaction . . confirmed
(e) relief . . conveyed

Hint
The context of the sentence implies that Dahntay experienced mixed emotions during the award ceremony.

Applying for college: Be authentic, not bizarre

Applying for college: Be authentic, not bizarre
Email|Print| Text size – + By Linda K. Wertheimer
Globe Staff / January 15, 2008
Application deadlines for most colleges arrive this month and next. Students vying for a spot at a particular college may try to dream up inventive ways to stand out from the pack, but college admissions counselors and high school counselors advise proceeding with caution.

Here are tips to consider while polishing your application:

-- Show each college that you are a bona fide applicant and that you are not simply using the school to beef up a list of 20-odd possibilities. If you visited the campus or had an off-site interview, mention that and its effect in your essay. Prove why you’re a good fit, and it’s the right school for you.

-- Resist the urge to send in baked goods to the admissions committee. Cookies and brownies often come across as a bribe, and it’s more likely that student workers will eat the goodies, not the admissions counselors.

-- Unless you are applying to music school, do not send a CD of your violin playing or rock composition to the admissions office. Most admissions officers are not music experts and do not have the time or inclination to listen. Determined to show off your musical talent? Send the sample to the college music department.

-- Follow the application instructions, and send in only what is required. You can and should let your individuality show, but use the set parameters.

-- Humor in an essay is ok ifyou are funny. Run your attempt at levity by friends, teachers, and others. Creativity and humor are not always synonymous.

-- What may count the most? Earning the best grades you can in the toughest courses offered at your high school, and showing a great attitude, good work ethic, and leadership.

-- Be yourself, and you may be that lively, intelligent, and interesting 17- and 18-year-olds that the college of your dreams wants.

Want more guidelines? Check out “Steps to College” by the National Association of College Admission Counseling

Sources: Admissions officials at Harvard University; the University of Massachusetts-Amherst; Smith College, and Duke University; directors of guidance at Framingham and Wellesley High Schools; and the National Association of College Admission Counseling.

College Planning

Here are some web sites that may be helpful in your planning for college.
College Board -Everything you need to know about applying to college
Getting into College- About.com's College admission site.
Ed Soup Allows you to put in your information and have colleges contact you. This is a commercial site and you'll get a lot of places looking for your money.

How to Get Into College from about.com

Approximately 70 percent of college applicants get accepted into their first choice college. Ever wonder how they do it? The answer is simple: they made an effort. And you can too! All you have to do is follow these four easy steps:
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Two to Four Years
Here's How:

Get good grades. If you want to stand a chance of getting into college, you need to get good grades. The higher your grades are the better. Students with high GPAs get more attention from the admissions department and more financial assistance from the aid office.
Score high on the SAT. With a high GPA and a high SAT score, you may not only get into college, you could also be offered a free scholarship. You can increase your score by picking up a good SAT prep guide or by taking an SAT prep course.
Take AP courses. If your high school offers advanced placement (AP) courses, you need to take them. These courses will allow you to earn college credits without having to pay college tuition. They will also show admissions officers that you are serious about your education.
Get involved. Participating in extracurricular activities, charities, and community events will enrich your life and your college application. When picking your extracurriculars, choose something that you enjoy and/or have a passion for. This will make the time you spend on these activities much more fulfilling.

January Meetings

The first session of the SAT Prep course will take place tomorrow Wednesday January 9 after school (2:30-3:30) in room G22 at the Y. Please come and begin the road to college. Also, finish the first practice test in your SAT book.

Our regular monthly meeting of Princeton/Snowden 2009 will be Thursday morning Jan. 10, first period in the cafeteria. See you there.