We are less than 2 months out before the school year starts. It’s important that students take an appropriate time to rest from their studies and enjoy some of the summer fun; however, it’s also important that students use this free time to add to their academic resumes.

A student’s academic resume is an important component to their college applications. It contains the student’s GPA, class rank, leadership experiences, extracurriculars, and more.

Students can utilize the summer to add volunteer and community service experience to their resume.

The importance of volunteer work depends on the school, yes, but volunteer work can never hurt one’s academic pursuits. Not only does service work build character, but it also distinguishes you from others in the pack, especially if your volunteer work aligns with your academic interests.

If you’re reading this blog and are not sure where to volunteer, here are a few suggestions where you can always volunteer.

 

• Houston Food Bank  -Get a sense of fulfillment by distributing food to families in need.

 

• The Ronald McDonald House -Greet families at check-in, host meals and activities, or simply bake cookies. There’s always a way for you to help these children feel at home.

 

• RSVP of the Texas Gulf Coast –Support the elderly and disabled through home delivered meals.

 

• Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts –Volunteers may serve as tutors, mentors or board members, or may assist with special events, marketing or fundraising activities.

 

• Star of Hope Mission -Some volunteers work directly with clients – some with adults; others with teens and tweens; and still others with our children, infants through elementary-school-age. Other volunteers prefer service opportunities that are behind-the-scenes or administrative.

 

Volunteering is extremely rewarding and beneficial to one’s sense of self. No matter the organization, volunteers are needed and appreciated.

Be safe and help others this summer.

 

 

 

 

Last week, ACT announced there would be upcoming changes to the test starting in September 2018 for students who are approved for extended time.

Below is the official announcement.

 

ACT National Extended Time and ACT Special Testing Timing Code 6

Examinees approved for National Extended Time or for Timing Code 6 will have 50 percent extended time for each section of the ACT, with a hard stop after each section. Examinees will no longer have to self-pace through the four multiple-choice sections over the allotted five hours. All examinees in the test room will begin the same section at the same time and have the same amount of time to complete that section.

Timing for the writing test isn’t changing. If taking writing, examinees will continue to have 60 minutes (50 percent extended time) to respond to the writing prompt after completing the multiple-choice tests.

 

There are positives and negatives to this change. It depends on the student and their perspective. For instance, taking the ACT self-paced reduced anxiety for some students knowing they did not have a time restraint for each section. It also allowed students to strategize and use more time on their “weaker” sections .

However, having a time restriction can also help students balance their time. Some students use too much on time on a section hurting their overall score in the long run.

Students can still take the self-paced ACT for the June and July ACTs. At Firat Education, we know the best and most efficient test strategies to help students with their scores whether they’re prepping for the ACT this summer or in September when the changes go into effect.

 

Marielle is another one of Firat Education’s shining stars.

In 2015, she worked one-on-one with Ibrahim to find the best fit school for her personality and interests. Our College and Career Assessment analyzes and deduces which schools around the country are best suited for you.

It provides a list of potential majors and programs and their perspective schools. Our assessment of Marielle showed she’d enjoy a city environment on the west coast. Marielle liked the possibility of studying at USC. She followed Ibrahim’s plan and worked on improving her ACT score.

Currently, Marielle is in her junior year at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles She is majoring in Business Administration and recently completed an internship with Binder Dijker Otte, working with their Management Advisory Services Team.

She’s excited to graduate next spring and remembers how she “studied for [her] AP US History exams with Ibrahim, and they would get distracted and continue talking about the topics because they both enjoyed the subject so much.”

Marielle truly believes “Firat Education granted [her] the opportunity to attend an amazing university” which makes us feel truly special. Marielle continued by stating that she “genuinely felt like everyone there believed in [her] and wanted [her] to succeed.”

 

#Admissions events are winding down for the Summer but now’s the time to reflect on all of the events you’ve attended so far. From #OpenHouses, #CampusTours to #PreviewNights, we’re sure you’ve had quite the #admissions journey. Think about everything you liked about each school you visited but also about what you didn’t like. What factors are non-negotiable for you and determine all the factors you look for in a school that you see as #thebestfit for your child. Don’t forget to check out @FiratEducation’s #FiratGuideOnlinePackage on our website to help you in your decision-making process.

 

For our 10 year anniversary, we highlighted 10 student’s accomplishments and asked about the impact Firat Education had on them. 

Ryan was one of the first students at Firat Education in 2009. When he was at Firat Education, Ryan showed his intelligence and willingness to learn and grow.

He came to Firat Education specifically to help get him prepared to take the SAT/ACT. Ryan labeled himself as a “bad test taker,” which many of students classify themselves as. Ryan proved to be extremely smart but needed help with test taking strategies and time management.

Practice makes perfect, and as Ryan continued to practice his test taking, he became more comfortable with the tests and his scores continued to increase.

Ryan graduated from University of Georgetown in 2014 with a major in Finance, minoring in Economics and took a number of classes in Computer Science.

After graduation, Ryan moved to San Francisco and began working at Uber Elevate. Ryan adds, “Basically, we’re building out a network of flying cars to move people around the city much faster to avoid massively congested areas.”

Ryan believes Firat Education helped him most with his test preparation and helped mold a “new mental framework for the SAT.”

Since it was early in the Firat days, Ibrahim tutored Ryan in all subjects and “helped him break it down into its core components.”

“I far exceeded my own expectations. By unlocking the test, he set me on the path to where I am today. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

It’s amazing to help these students meet their college and career goals, but it is extremely rewarding to hear they exceeded their own expectations.

It’s a busy start to the week with #PreviewNights and #CampusTours! Rather than trying to attend all of the #CampusTours and #OpenHouses out there, narrow down your choices according to factors and offerings important to you. That way, you attend only the ones pertinent to you. @thefiratguide is a great foundation to start narrowing down your choices. We want to help you #findthebestfit for you and your child!

And we’re off to the races this May with plenty of #OpenHouses and #CampusTours to check out this week! Start the month out strong and familiar yourself with your schools’ of interest #admissions process. It’s never too early to learn about a school. Every #OpenHouse and #PreviewNight is an adventure of its own. Get to know all the schools you want to help you #findthebestfit for your child.

#Admissions events are back in business this week! Be sure to check out the various #CampusTours and Meet and Greet’s from different #admissions teams! Get a head start on your 2018-2019 research and visit all of your schools of interest now! Narrow down your choices so you make sure to #findthebestfit for your child. A lot of different factors go into your child’s success. Make sure the school you choose, meets all of them for you.

No #admissions events this week! Take this time to reflect on the events you’ve attended and the schools you’ve liked so far. Lists are your friend! Make lists of what you liked about each and concerns or questions that were left to answer to research. This week’s focus is on those taking the #ISEE on Saturday. We wish you all the best of luck! If you’ve yet to take it and are planning to for a different school, be sure to contact us for #testprep to help you get ready for it.

#CommonReplyDates everywhere! Be on alert this week because numerous @HoustonISD schools have #EnrollmentDeadlines this week! Make sure to reach out to #admissions teams to ensure you have all of your paperwork in. Schools are very much about deadlines so create a checklist to make sure your child is good to go! Don’t forget many schools are featured in @thefiratguide to help you in your decision-making process.