Blog Archives

Opportunity to take SAT in 2020

4/16/2020

CollegeBoard announced on April 15, that they will have an SAT each month, starting with August. While the date in September is yet to be confirmed, the rest are August 29, October 3, November 7 (US only), and December 5.
Students can register for these administrations starting in May, exact date to be confirmed. Students can get early access to register for August, September, and October if they already registered for June or are In the high school class of 2021 and don’t have SAT scores
CollegeBoard is also working on at-home SAT testing, if the test centers don't reopen this fall, which they are already doing with at-home AP (Advanced Placement) exams
More details about this announcement, click here.

TrinityScholar's Key Takeaways

Juniors--Why you should continue preparing SAT/ACT.
Although many universities have already announced that for Fall 2021, they will go with “test optional” or waive the requirement of SAT/ACT results, if you do have a decent result to share, it could bring you some advantages in the decision process. Without a standardized test result, we can imagine how difficult it will be for the Admission Committee to make the decisions. Therefore, if you have a decent result, it will make it easier for them to decide if you are academically qualified for the school and reach a conclusion.

Also, no standardized test result means they need to rely heavily on your official transcript. If you happen to be someone who didn’t pick up upper school works in time, then this might be at your disadvantage. A good SAT/ACT result can be a good support for your low or not that ideal GPA.

Younger Students
We know that the influences of COVID-19 will not just disappear but linger for a couple of months or even years. Therefore, prepare yourself early on after entering high school will be a better idea. Moreover, if you can have a satisfied score in junior or even sophomore year, then you don’t need to worry what would happen to later tests no matter it’s test format change or sudden cancellation. You can also plan your extracurricular life better to give yourself enough time and space to demonstrate your unique characters to the colleges to get a better shot.

TrinityScholar SAT Class Schedule

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
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TIPS ON APPLICATION ESSAYS

4/14/2020

Writing each application is the responsibility of the student. We encourage students to consult with parents, teachers, and your TrinityScholar counselors regarding the topic, organization, and effectiveness of the writing. It is imperative that the essay be the student’s own work. Although your TrinityScholar counselor is available to help; however, there should be enough time provided for appropriate editing. Here are a few questions we receive frequently regarding college essays: Why is the essay so difficult for students? Often there is complete freedom in the answer. Students find it difficult to talk about themselves (don’t want to brag). They struggle with “saying what they (the colleges) want to hear” Some just hate writing essays!

Why do colleges ask you to write an essay?

To get a small glimpse into what makes you “tick”.
To evaluate your skills as a writer.
To gauge interest in the school – ie: “What is it about X college that made you want to apply?”
To get a sense of the strengths and passions you might bring to campus.

What should the essay reveal?

Originality; your own unique view or a particular episode in your life.
Some aspects of yourself that does not appear elsewhere in the application.
A lesson learned, a core value, a greater understanding, the benefit of some kind of experience (ie: a job, a journey, a family reunion) work very well.
The effects of particular people, objects, cultural background, works of art or literature, local or international events on the student. (Stress the impact of these things more than the things themselves -- how have these made me who I am?)

What to avoid?

Platitudes and clichés (or paternalism in community service essays!)
“My coach, my hero…” (or other athletic essays that may end with --“and through this experience, I learned the values of hard work, determination, and giving 110% ”)
Being overly critical… it’s ok to look skeptically at any issue, but be thoughtful about it.
Length! If an app says that the essay needs to be 500 words, 550 may be ok, but 900 is not.
Essays that don’t ultimately reflect back on you: “my dad/mom, my hero” in which only the parent is spoken about and no sense of the student is given.
Flatness. The key to a great essay is in the details: “My dad taught me how to cook” vs. “Slicing red bell peppers into thin, crescent moons, my father said ‘a sharp knife is the most important tool for any cook…” Which creates a more vivid scene?
Gimmicks. Highly risky. Sometimes lists, recipes, poems, and other non-traditional responses go over well, but it’s a subjective process; you never know how these kinds of essays will be received. Discuss such responses thoroughly with your college counselor before submitting them to a college.

Here are sample essay topics:

Discuss the influence of a person, work of fiction, experience, or event of international/local importance on you.
Think up a question you think should be asked in a college essay—and then answer it.
What’s the worst mistake you’ve ever made?
If you had $10 and a whole day free, what would you do?
What is it about [name of college] that makes it a good choice for you?
You have just completed your 300-page autobiography, please share with us page XXX.
If you could meet any one person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?

How your TrinityScholar Counselor Can help:

Talking things through. We can offer suggestions or provide an angle for your essay that you have not considered. These conversations often lead to interesting options.
Reviewing your writing by checking for obvious errors in grammar, usage, and style. Plus we can give feedback as to the overall tone and effectiveness of the essay. We would also help you better organize your stories and you want to make sure that your voice is the one that is heard.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
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Sample Application Check List

4/14/2020

Most of the time, students would apply to more than one school, so here's the sample check list to make sure you won't miss anything.

COLLEGE INFORMATION

Name of the school
Telephone
Website
Information Requested on (date)
Application Requested on (date)

APPLICATION FORMS

Application Deadline
Early Decision/Application Deadline
Secondary School Report Due by:
Turned into them on:
Separate Part I?
Mailed on:
On Common App? Supplement?
Application fee $
Application mailed on
1st Teacher rec. given to whom on which date
2nd Teacher rec. given to whom on which date

TESTING

# of Subject tests required
Writing test? Other specific tests?
Subject test scores released on
Official test scores requested
From ETS on

INTERVIEW & VISIT

Required/ Recommended?
Campus or Alumni?
Campus App’t on which date at where
Alumni Interview on which date at where
Campus visit planned on
Tour at
Info session at

SUPPLEMENTARY INFO

Type:
Mailed on:
Add’l recommendation from:
Given on:

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
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Application Interview: Sample Questions

4/14/2020

QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED

Why are you considering this college?
How did you come to include us among your choices?
What makes you think this college and you are right for each other?
Where else are you applying and why?
Which is your first choice? (Don’t answer if you are not sure. If you are at the school you think is your first choice, then confirm that - but never give another name Wesleyan doesn’t want to hear “Vassar ”)
What do you hope to major in? Why?
What are your plans for the future? What do you expect to be doing ten years from now?
What have you liked or disliked about your high school?
If you were the Head of your school, what would you change?
What would you like to tell us about yourself?
What newspapers and magazines do you read? How often?
What books not required by your courses have you read recently?
What TV shows do you watch?
Tell us about your family.
How do you spend a typical afternoon after school? Evening? Weekend?
What extracurricular activities have you found most satisfying?
What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
Do you have any heroes, contemporary or historical?
How would your best friend describe you?
If you could talk with any one living person, whom would it be and why?
How do you feel about: the nuclear freeze, nuclear power, use of drugs and alcohol, advertising, gun control, the election?
What events have been crucial in your life?
What is the most significant contribution you’ve made to your school or community?
What is the most important thing you have learned in high school?
What do you consider to be your strongest majors or departments: What are the most popular majors?
What are other distinctive majors or programs, or other programs, off-campus (ie: study abroad, internships, Washington semester, etc )?
What are your admissions criteria? (ie: how much weight is given to courses and grades, test scores, activities, essays, the interview, etc ?)
How many (# and %) freshmen return for the sophomore year?
What is your policy concerning the granting of credit and advanced standing for AP tests?
What are some of your “overlap” colleges (other institutions which your applicants also consider)?
Explain the freshman advising system.
What percentage of students lives in campus housing? Describe the various types of residence halls.
What percentage of your students continues on to graduate or professional schools?
What do students do on weekends?
Do you have “no-need” or merit-based scholarships? What kind of student would be competitive for such scholarships?
Is it possible to return for an overnight visit on campus and/or visit classes?
How are these arrangements made?
What role does the personal interview, or alumni interview, play in your admissions decisions?
How important are extracurricular activities in the admissions process? How important is community service to you?
Many people get to attend exciting summer programs and travel, but I have to work; will that work against me when I apply?
What is your financial aid policy? Do you package preferentially? Is there a chance that I will be admitted, but denied aid?
How are you able to distinguish between the variety of transcripts you see? How can you tell the difference in grading policies?
Do you make admissions decisions based on perceived level of interest, and how do you assess that? What kinds of things can I do to make sure you know the level of my interest?
If I am submitting tapes of my acting/music, is that allowed? Should they be sent to a specific professor to review first?
What’s the one thing students say they wish they knew about this college before they enrolled?

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
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Admission Interview: Dos and Don'ts

4/14/2020

Students and parents should contact colleges in advance to learn more about visitation options. Some schools do not provide personal interviews, but instead, they offer group information sessions that are conducted at various times throughout the day. Campus tours are often given more frequently. It is necessary to make arrangements for personal interviews well in advance. Evaluative interviews mean that the interviews will play a role in the final admission decision. Informational interviews are only used as an opportunity to convey specific information and will not be used in the decision process. Some schools that tend to have high volume offer the opportunity to interview with an alumnus who lives in your area. While some admissions offices do not place the greatest amount of weight on these meetings, you do want to put your best foot forward and take advantage of the opportunity—a great interview may not help very much, but a poor one will certainly hurt your chances. Note: some alumni groups are better than others in terms of getting these interviews organized. If you are not contacted within a reasonable amount of time after your application has been sent in, don’t fret. Call the admissions office and ask about getting in touch with your area alumni representative. Students should remember the name and request the card of the person who interviewed them at a given college. This facilitates further contact between your school counselor and the college admissions representative regarding a specific student.

Admission Interview: DO'S AND DON'TS

Don’t chew gum!
Get prepared! You need to do plenty of advance study about the college you are visiting. “Lack of preparation” is the Number One complaint of college admission counselors. Be prepared to discuss intelligently exactly why you are serious about that particular college.
Do set an interview strategy for yourself; there will be some things you will want to know about the school and some things you will want the school to know about you. The strategy that you adopt should be consistent with the rest of your application. (eg: drama, athletics, research opportunities, community service programs, etc.)
Arrive early. Try to tour the campus before your interview. Once in the interviewer’s office, don’t sit until you are directed to do so, and don’t move any furniture.
Don’t say “like” and “you know” constantly.
Do take your lead from your interviewer, who might open the session with any number of questions, including some that are rather audacious: “Tell me about yourself!” “Why do you want to go to college?” “What do you expect to be doing ten years from now?” “Let’s hear about your most valuable experience?” “What do you think about (a current issue)?” “What are your strengths? Weaknesses?” “How would your friends describe you?” If the interviewer is relaxed, you may be, too. If your sense of humor and the interviewer’s mesh, go with it.
Smile; sit up straight; shake hands firmly; make good eye contact.
Don’t give disjointed one-word answers when asked a question. Provide your interviewer with complete responses. Be as concise as possible when the interviewer is simply trying to clarify a point . The dialogue should flow naturally. The best interviews are really just conversations.
Don’t take your parents into the interview with you.
Don’t say that you don’t enjoy reading or that you read very little. Reading and college are practically synonymous terms.
Don’t ask mundane questions. Try not to ask any questions that you could easily find on the web site, view book, or catalog.
Do be genuinely enthusiastic about particular activities, but beware of a bragging tone. There is a definite distinction between enthusiasm and cockiness.
Don’t come on too strong or appear over-anxious to impress. Remember that understatement is almost always the preferred style. And while we’re on the topic, don’t try to impress the interviewer with your family and friends. The fact that your father is a noted heart surgeon, author, or politician may be important, but your college interview is not the time to bring this up. To a skilled interviewer you are the important one.
Do tell your host about the dedication and steadfastness you’ve developed on the playing field; if you are an athlete and how all of this has had a positive effect on your schoolwork. However, if things weren’t so positive and the academics suffered a bit, admit it at once, but stress the importance of the “total learning experience”--on the field and in the classroom.
Do have a sense of what’s going on in the world. As a high school junior or senior, you should be reading newspapers and magazines, for example, The New York Times, Newsweek, or Time magazine. A well-informed discussion of current events with your interviewer may win you a few points. One never knows when one might be asked about a recent Washington appointment.
Don’t “knock” your high school experience. Telling your interviewer that your high school experience was beat, the education boring, the teachers uncaring, and the student nerds will only get you labeled a malcontent, a quality most admission officers dislike. However, thoughtful criticism of one’s school and the ways in which it could be better can generate interesting discussion, but beware of having an ax to grind.
Don’t play games with admission people. For example, pretending that this is your first interview so that you can be credited with your great social ease, telling half-truths about your extracurricular record, and/or leading the interviewer to believe that his school is your first choice are not appropriate or ethical. Admission officers, particularly experienced ones, are very perceptive individuals who have been through it all before and can quickly spot a phony when they see one.
Don’t be brutally honest. Your reasons for going to college might well be to earn a lot of money, improve your status, or make your family happy, but these are not reasons that will sit well with an interviewer, nor are they sound reasons—in and of themselves—for choosing any college.
Don’t try to extend the interview unnecessarily. The length of a session is not a measure of its success. The length of an interview is often determined by the number of interview appointments for that particular day. You will get a message from your host that the session is coming to a close.
Don’t judge the college by the interviewer (or tour guide). Sometimes students get “turned off” to a school because they didn’t like the interviewer. It would be regrettable if an entire institution were judged on a 30-minute session. Keep an open mind.
Do be courteous to everyone. Administrative staff and tour guides are important cogs in the admissions machine. They have access to admissions officers and will remember your kindness and your rudeness.
Terminating the interview may be as important as a good first impression. A “thank you for your interest and time” statement and a good, first handshake (males and females alike) with eye contact provides a good closure. If it was “great”, say so. “This was terrific, I really enjoyed talking with you. Thank you again! ”

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
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What's Common Application, CommonApp?

4/14/2020

"Should I use the common application?" ,one of the questions we hear often.
Our answer is “Yes,” but with a few caveats. The Common Application was created in order to eliminate a lot of the ‘busy work’ involved in applying to college; take advantage of it. Colleges pay a fee to be a member of the Common Application. If they didn’t believe in it, they wouldn’t pay to be a member. That said, cavalier use of this application is not in anyone’s interest. Do not use it to over-apply, but do use it as a timesaving tool, noting that each application can and should be personalized for each college. Use the Common Application in conjunction with a thorough investigation of the school, which may include a visit, a letter indicating interest, and an interview, among other things. When applying E.D. or E.A., use the school’s own application. The Common Application should never be the first point of contact between you and that school. Make sure that you tailor each application as much as possible to each individual school through the essay or personal statement. Also, double- or triple-check your applications to make sure that the right school is getting the right application. Finally, most colleges require a supplement to the common application, and these can be downloaded from the college’s page or the Common Application website. While some colleges say their supplement is optional, the reality is that your application looks better when you complete “optional” material.

After the Application is Mailed
This is usually a very trying time for students and families. You’ve done all the work, you’ve written a great essay, and you’ve gotten it all off in the mail well before the deadline, (We hope!!) Now what? Other than E.D./E.A. applications, which usually take 4-6 weeks to process, most regular decision college applications take anywhere from 8-12 weeks, depending on the volume of mail, data processing and reading procedures, and number of personnel on the college side. This time, when things are “up in the air,” can be daunting for seniors. Here are some tips for making it through these months and weeks:

Concentrate on your studies! Colleges do ask to see winter term grades; you can help yourself a great deal by putting in a little extra effort.
Follow up with all of your schools to make sure they received your application. Most colleges will send out a letter to you indicating that it has been received and is being processed. If you do not receive such a letter within 3-4 weeks of the deadline, give the admissions office a call to check on the status. Also, parents should check with their banks to make sure the application fee was deposited. Finally, the college counselors can always give a call to our contacts in admissions in cases where the application still is in limbo. With the amount of mail colleges have to deal with, the problem is usually that an application has been misfiled rather than lost or missing.
Keep colleges up to date on your progress since your application. Did you win an award at Founders Day? Cum Laude? Do a special community service activity? Make sure your schools know about these updates.
Use the time you would have spent on college searches and writing essays to re-connect with your friends. Senior year really moves quickly--even though it may not seem like it in October--so enjoy every moment!
Send thank you notes to teachers who were kind enough to write recommendations for you.

Decisions
And finally the time comes for the news to arrive.
Thousands of students race to the mailbox, log-on to websites, call a dedicated phone line and the next few moments can feel like an eternity. When you get good news--and you will--celebrate! But also, be considerate of those around you who may not have heard the good news you have. Still, be joyful. It’s a wonderful accomplishment to earn a place in college.

The key to how you will handle disappointing news is, of course, linked to the advice early in the process. Don’t apply to a college you don’t want to go to. If you follow this advice then whatever comes down the pike will simply be a decision. The bad news may sting and disappoint, but it won’t devastate. And it shouldn’t. So, focus on what your choices are rather than what they are not.

But can one always ‘move on?’ Not always. You may be angry, sad, confused, jealous—maybe all of the above. Yet, after some time passes you will put these decisions in their proper context, and hopefully you will understand them as part of a process, and not just the college process, but the process of growing up, finding a path to follow and looking for opportunity. In the face of college disappointment there are lots of people who will be in your corner: parents, college counselors, teachers, advisor, and friends.

Wait Lists
Because students are making more applications each year, and because colleges are much more conscious of their yield rate, students are finding themselves on wait lists more than ever. If this happens to you, take heart. Each year, we see many students accepted from waitlists, and we encourage you to take the following steps to enhance your chances:

Send the response card back immediately. Sometimes colleges gauge your interest in them by how quickly you reply.
Write a note to the admissions representative for that school underscoring how much you would like to attend the school, why you think the college is a good match for you, and any news about you that has taken place since you applied.
Let your college counselor know as soon as possible, what your plans are. Colleges rarely know whether or not they will use the wait list before May 1st, so it is often fruitless for us to make calls much before then. However, we will lobby on your behalf in late April and on into early May, when wait list action starts to heat up.
You might consider an additional letter of recommendation, most likely from a current teacher, indicating your excellence and growth during the year.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
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About Early Decision

4/14/2020

Applying ‘Early Decision’ – and to a lesser extent ‘Early Action’ – is an indication to a college that it is your No. 1 choice. That is, if you were accepted to every one of the schools to which you applied, you would attend that one. In applying Early Decision, you are also signing an agreement that binds you to that college should you be admitted. While there can be an advantage in applying early at some institutions, you should consider how much you really want to go to that college before making the big leap.

SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:

Does the school match the criteria I have set for myself? Does it offer the major I want?
Is it in a place I can envision myself living for four years?
Is financial aid going to play a big role in where I go to college? (If so, please discuss this decision thoroughly with your college counselor )
What do my parents think?
Have I taken all the standardized tests required for admission? (Many schools require the SATII subject tests; make sure you take those by the November test date and rush the scores )
Are my grades and standardized-test scores compatible with those of students usually accepted at the school? (If you are a postgraduate, you should talk to your college counselor before applying anywhere early.)
Have I looked around enough to know what else is out there?
Am I making an informed decision, considering all my options?

For certain students, the option of sending some kind of early application is advisable; however, you should know what the differences are before getting started.

Early Decision (E.D.) is a binding agreement between you and the college, by which you agree that you will attend the college should you be accepted. At many schools, E.D. applications are due by November 1st or 15th, but the dates and E.D. plans do vary, so read the applications closely. Normally, decisions are mailed before the Christmas holiday. If accepted under an Early Decision plan, you must withdraw your applications at all other colleges.

Early Action (E.A) roughly follows the same timetable as Early Decision, but it is not a binding agreement. If accepted to a college under an Early Action policy, you may still attend another college if you choose to. You have until May 1st to make your decision.

Rolling Admission is a process used mainly by large state universities, although not exclusively. Under a Rolling Admissions policy, applications are read on a continuing basis rather than all at once after a certain deadline. If you apply to a school with a rolling admission policy, we recommend getting that application in as early in the fall as you can.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
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The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition

4/7/2020

According to ETS, to meet the needs of students who are unable to take the TOEFL iBT® test at a test center due to public health concerns, the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test is now temporarily offered. The test is identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the TOEFL iBT test taken at a test center. It is taken on your own computer at home and is monitored by a human proctor online through ProctorU®.

Who's eligible for TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test

The test is offered in your country or location.
- As of April 2, 2020, the test is available everywhere that TOEFL iBT testing is normally available, with the exception of Mainland China and Iran.
Your computer must meet the equipment requirements for the test, including the installation of the ETS Test Browser and the ProctorU Systems Check.
You must have a room that provides an acceptable environment for the test.
In Taiwan, both on-site test and a at-home test are available and it's up to your choice . For now, it's still not sure if the test sites will be cancelled in the future.

Registration process of TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition

Registration Process of TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition

Key takeaways about TOEFL iBT Home Testing

The test will be exactly the same as the one you take at a testing center.
Students need to also register with ProctorU to select their exact test date and time.
Before the test, the Proctor will ask students to “show” them the testing environment to confirm no unnecessary items are in the room to prevent cheating.
During the test, the Proctor will “monitor” the student all the time.
After the test, students will get their Reading and Listening scores immediately.
The fee is the same, USD 190.

More information could be found on the website or should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.
We will continue to monitor the changes closely and share the updates. Join our Line Official Account (@mqz4477g) or subscribe to our newsletter to get the first hand news.

About AP Exam format this May

4/6/2020

College Board has released more information on the AP Exam this year as of last weekend:

The exams will only include topics and skills most AP teachers and students have already covered in class by early March.
Like many college-level exams, this year's AP Exams will be open book/open note.
Most exams will have one or two free-response questions, and each question is timed separately. Students will need to write and submit their responses within the allotted time for each question.
For most subjects, the exams will be 45 minutes long, and include an additional 5 minutes for uploading. Students will need to access the online testing system 30 minutes early to get set up.
Students will be able to take exams on any device they have access to—computer, tablet, or smartphone. They will be able to either type and upload their responses or write responses by hand and submit a photo via their cell phone.
Students taking AP world language and culture exams will complete two spoken tasks consistent with free-response questions three and four on the current AP Exam; written responses will not be required. There will be more details provided in the coming weeks to help students prepare.

We will continue to monitor the changes closely and share the updates. Join our Line Official Account (@mqz4477g) or subscribe to our newsletter to get the first hand news.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Reminders from TrinityScholar

Since this is a new test format for us all, we don’t know if there will be any tech issue during the test. We strongly recommend all students to take precautions that they should sign in earlier than the scheduled time to confirm everything’s good. If anything went wrong, make sure you attend the alternative test.
Using 2 to 3 questions to test the students’ understanding about the subject is challenging. This means the question might cover concepts from various chapters and the students need to have a better overall understanding to write sufficient answers. Make sure you go over all previous Free Response questions carefully and watch the Online AP Courses when you have the chance. They might give you more idea about how to write your answer.
College Board also provides free, on demand Online AP Courses, sharing teachings from US teachers, try your best to watch them and discuss with your tutor. They are the test makers, information shared by them should be able to give you more insight about the tests.
The testing schedule is extremely challenging to Taiwanese students as all tests are scheduled from mid-night to early morning Taiwan time. It is crucial to make sure you don’t get the date/time wrong and have sufficient rest the day before. Below is the schedule with Taiwan time.
Don’t worry too much if you would do well on this test. The situation applies to not only you but all students who are taking the exams this year. Just do your best and you’ll be fine.

AP Exam schedule 2020 Advanced Placement

More Resources from CollegeBoard

About AP Exam Security & Plagiarism

About Open Book Exam Tips
About AP Exam Schedule
About Online AP Courses (Collegeboard's youtube videos of all the courses, please be sure to spend some time on this).