On Episode 256 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron discusses how much time students should be spending preparing for their ACT and SAT tests. He also makes suggestions about how much information to study at a time, when busy students should study and much more!

The Prepped and Polished Podcast

Tutoring Tips How Much Time to Spend on Your SAT and ACT Homework

On Episode 257 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron discusses how students can improve their ACT Science Test scores. He breaks down the different sections of the test, how best to approach them and much more!

Tutoring Tips: How to Improve Your ACT Science Score

On Episode 258 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron discusses when and where students should use a calculator on the SAT Math Test, as well as how to tackle the non-calculator section so your student can improve their scores on the SAT.

Tutoring Tips SAT Math Hacks Tips and Tricks to Catapult your Math Score

On Episode 259 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron discusses when and how students should study to boost their score on the SSAT Math Test.

Scott's Album

Tutoring Tips: SSAT The Number One Math Secret to Propel your Math Score

On Episode 260 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron talks about how to approach questions in the Quantitative Comparison section on the ISEE Math Tes so students can boost their scores.

Tutoring Tips: ISEE Math Number One Secret Tip to Propel Your Math Score

Alexis Avila talks to Jamie Cohen a NY City film producer turned teacher, and TED international teaching award winner. Jamie is the creator of the SOLE transformational leadership seminar,  a learning environment that relies on the use of technology, collaboration and encouragement as the basis for 21st-century learning.


P&P Episode 13: Jamie Cohen  "Life in the 21st Century Classroom'

Alexis Avila talks to Brian Ricks educator and founder of 101 Homeschool Ideas. Brian has a PhD from BYU in Educational Leadership and has over 12 years of teaching experience. He has homeschooled his children off and on for over five years. Brian is a homeschool expert who helps parents, children, and other educators come up with enriching homeschool learning activities.

P&P 15: Brian Ricks "Homeschooling 101"

In Episode 261 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron shares three tips that students can use to boost their GMAT scores about how to approach questions in the Quantitative Comparison section on the ISEE Math Test so students can boost their scores. 

The three tips are:

1. Create a Realistic Timeline:

Decide when you want to start and when you actually want to take the test.

2. Be prepared for the Quantitative Integrated Learning Section:

This is good for students who haven't taken math classes for a while, to give them time to study the way the questions are presented and practice problems.

3. Understand the order of the GMAT:

Tests can come with sections in different orders. Being aware of the orders of the test will help you work through the test more efficiently. It will also help you create "process of elimination strategies for different question types."

For More Information Visit: Prepped and Polished.com

Tutoring Tips: Three Tips for a 700+ GMAT Score

In Episode 262 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron shares three tips that students can use to boost their GRE scores.

The three tips are:

1. Create a Realistic Timeline:

Decide when you want to start and when you actually want to take the test.

2. Get in Plenty of Practice:

Taking practice tests allows students to see where they are with each section of the test. It also allows students to set goals and have time to work on meeting them.

For More Information about how the Prepped and Polished team can help you prepare for the GRE and improve your scores visit, Prepped and Polished.com.

Tutoring Tips Three Tips for a 330+ GRE Score

Alexis Avila talks to David McCullough, a Wellesley High School English Teacher for over 26 years. David’s commencement speech to the Wellesley High School Class of 2012 entitled “You Are Not Special” went viral on YouTube and garnered over 2.3 million hits. After creating a world-wide buzz, David went on to write his book, “You Are Not Special, and Other Encouragements”. David shares with us his powerful and incisive message about what a fulfilling life should truly look like.


P&P 22: David McCullough  "Finding True Greatness in the Selfie Generation"

In Episode 263 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron shares the differences in the Digital SAT's format and Structure.

Tutoring Tips The Digital SAT Format and Structure

In Episode 264 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron shares the differences between the Digital SAT and the ACT.

The main differences are:

1. The Digital SAT is taken on a computer and the ACT is a paper test. There is a digital version of the ACT but it is currently available for international students only.

2. The Digital SAT has adaptive difficulty while the ACT is a fixed test. The math and science sections of the ACT are getting more difficult. The Digital SAT adjusts to the test taker's answers and can get easier or more difficult depending on how the test taker is doing.

 3. The Digital SAT has multiple-choice questions as well as open-response questions. The ACT is all multiple choice.

For More Information Visit: Prepped and Polished.com.

The Digital  SAT Versus the ACT

In Episode 265 of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron shares the differences between the Digital SAT and the ACT.

The main differences are:

1. The digital SAT is shorter than the paper SAT.

2. There are more questions for the Reading Section on the digital version.

3. The digital version allows calculator use throughout the entire test. There is a calculator section and a no calculator section on the paper version.

4. The difficulty is adaptive on the digital version while the paper version's difficulty is random.

For More Information Visit: Prepped and Polished.com

#265 - The Digital  SAT Versus the Paper SAT

Alexis Avila talks to Sarah Ward who is co-director of Cognitive Connections, an executive function practice based out of Concord, Massachusetts. Sarah has over 15 years experience in diagnostic evaluations, treatment and case management of children, adolescents and adults with a wide range of developmental and acquired brain based learning difficulties and behavioral problems Sarah’s particular interest is in the assessment and treatment of executive function deficits. Sarah is a Past President of the Massachusetts Brain Injury Association. She regularly presents locally, nationally and internationally on the topic of executive functions. Sarah talks to us about executive function disorder and teaches us key strategies for improving executive function skills. Sarah’s Top 3 EF Strategies: 1. Pre-imagine the future and so a dress rehearsal for your day 2. Use an analog time clock so you can see time as a volume. 3. Follow OHIO (Only Handle It Once). Finish a task and see it through to completion so you don’t have to go back to it a second or third time. 

P&P 32: Sarah Ward "Strategies for Improving Executive Function Skills"

On Episode 266 of the new and improved Prepped and Polished Podcast, Alexis shares his academic struggles and how he was able to overcome them. 

We’ll discuss ways to achieve better grades in school such as: 
•	Finding the right social circles that will help you thrive. 
•	Finding mentors at school who will inspire you. 
•	Refining your study skills so that you put your best foot forward. 
 
Questions, Comment:
Contact us at www.preppedandpolished.com

Episode 266 - From Failing to Acing: The Secrets Behind My Academic Comeback

On Episode 267, Alexis Avila speaks to Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, founder and admissions consultant of Shemmassian Academic Consulting. As a Cornell University graduate and Cornell admissions interviewer, Shirag knows what the best schools are looking for in prospective students during admissions interviews.

On today’s episode Shirag and I talk about colleges that offer fantastic pre-med programs. If you’re considering becoming a doctor, you’ll want to tune into this episode. 

You’ll learn: 
• About Direct Med programs and why they are hard to get into. 
• What types of majors you should pursue if considering pre med
• One Ivy League that offers a direct med program
• The #1 reason that causes some pre med students to drop out

Shirag’s Words of Wisdom to students: 
• Start thinking of the populations that you’re interested in serving and the problems you want to solve. 

For another related conversation, check out podcast Episode 152, Shirag Shemmassian and How College Committees Evaluate Applications

And check out Shirag's blogs on medical programs! 
https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/how-to-get-into-medical-school
https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/bs-md-programs

Questions, Comment:
Contact us at www.preppedandpolished.com

Episode 267 - Shirag Shemmassian - Choosing the Right Schools for Pre-Med Majors

On episode 268, Alexis Avila speaks to returning guest Jared Cooney Horvath.

Our Guest:

Jared Cooney Horvath (PhD, MEd) is a neuroscientist, educator, and author of the best-selling book Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Insights from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick. 

Jared has conducted research and lectured at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, the University of Melbourne, and over 1,000 schools internationally. He has published 6 books, over 50 research articles, and his work has been featured in publications like The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, HBR, and PBS’s NOVA. 

Jared currently serves as the Director of LME Global, a company dedicated to bringing the latest brain and behavioral research to teachers and students. To inquire about working with Jared, or to learn more about his international award-winning Science of Learning programs (The Learning Blueprint for Teachers & The Learning Blueprint for Students), visit lmeglobal.net. 

On today’s episode Jared walks us through the best way to learn new material, the best way to practice and recall things you already learned, and gives the main reason why technology harms your learning. 

Check out my previous podcast with Jared, episode 208 on tips for better, fast learning: 

https://www.preppedandpolished.com/jared-cooney-horvath-faster-learning/

Episode 268 - Jared Cooney Horvath – The Best Way to Use Technology for Learning

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's show, Alexis is joined by Frank Bruni. Frank is an American Journalist and New York Times Best Selling Author. He talks about college admissions mania, the anxious parents of college bound students, and why top tier schools are rejecting even straight A students. 

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education! 

For more information visit: Prepped and Polished.com.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the show on iTunes!  


Episode 66 -Frank Bruni - An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's Tutoring Tips Episode, AP Instructor Anooj shows you how to get a 5 on the AP Calculus Exams like he did. You’ll want to pay attention to these tips! 

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education! 

For more information visit: Prepped and Polished.com.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the show on iTunes!

P&P Tutoring Tips Episode 109: "How to Get a 5 on the AP Calculus AB And BC Exams"

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's show, Alexis is joined by Gregg Cohen Founder of Campus Bound a company that helps a wide variety of students to apply to colleges throughout the United States. 

Fun fact about Campus Bound:
While the national average is 30% that students go to a different college after their first year, at Campus Bound their average that a student STAYS at the same school after first year is at 95%! 

Did you know that Merit Aid = Scholarships given by colleges used as a recruiting tool 

Did you know that need based aid = when schools look at family finances to determine aid amount

Greg’s advice to parents: Don’t be shy to ASK colleges for more money. Worse thing they can say is no. 

Greg’s advice for teens: Finding a school that is a best fit for you is what’s most important. 

More of Greg’s work can be found on the web: 

Website: www.campusbound.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campusboundMA
Twitter: @CampusBound
Instagram: @Campus_Bound

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education! 

For more information visit: Prepped and Polished.com.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the show on iTunes!

P&P Episode 164: Gregg Cohen  "How to Maximize Your Need and Merit Aid Scholarships"

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's show, Alexis is joined by teen mentor Mark Altman Founder of Mindset Go, a company that empowers students to find their voice to become the best versions of themselves and actualize their potential.

Marks advice for teens: It’s never too early to improve your skills (especially your communication skills) and improve your resume. 

More of Mark’s work can be found on the web: 

Website: http://www.mindsetgo.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindsetgo1
Twitter: @mindstgo_
Youtube: Search for “mindsetgo”

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education! 

For more information visit: Prepped and Polished.com.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the show on iTunes!

P&P Episode 168: Mark Altman "Helping Teens Build Positive Mindsets"

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's show, Alexis talks to return guest, to Todd Weaver, MBA, College Financial Aid Advisor, and Vice President of Strategies for College. Todd specializes in integrating the college selection process within cost management parameters for the families he works with. On today’s episode Todd gives us his best financial aid tips that parents must know. 

Tip 1: Get to know our EFC (expected family contribution), 
Tip 2: Families should have their financial planning done by onset of 10th grade 
Tip 3: File your forms by October of 12th grade

Listen to my other podcast with Todd Weaver Episode #65 How to Appeal Your Financial Aid Award 

Did you know? Todd Weaver offers a free evaluation of your EFC. Contact him at www.strategiesforcollege.com for more info. 
Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education! 

For more information visit: Prepped and Polished.com.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the show on iTunes!

P&P Episode 178: Todd Weaver "Three Financial Aid Tips Familes Must Know"

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's episode of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Terri of Prepped and Polished tells you the importance of knowing word parts to understand unfamiliar vocabulary. 

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education!

P&P Tutoring Tips Episode 185: "What You Need to Know About Word Parts on the SSAT and ISEE tests"

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's show, Alexis talks with Gina Biegel 
a psychotherapist, researcher, speaker, and author in the San Francisco Bay Area who specializes in mindfulness-based work with adolescents. She is founder of Stressed Teens, which has been offering mindfulness-based stress reduction for teens (MBSR-T) to adolescents, families, schools, professionals, and the community for over a decade.

Today, Gina shares how she uses mindfulness to help teens reduce their stress and live better lives.  

Did you know: Kids today are pre occupied with social media, which has changed the climate of communication among teens. Gina finds that social media often adversely affects teenage self-esteem, especially with females. 

Gina’s mindfulness tip: You should always bring mindfulness into everything you’re doing. 
Being mindful is being aware and paying attention to your senses. 

Gina’s other tips for reducing stress: Sleep better and reduce your social media time. Everything in moderation! 

Gina’s advice for bullying: Bullies want response and reaction, so it’s best to step away from those kids and not respond. And parents need to take action! go on your child’s social media and make sure your child is communicating with good people.  

Gina’s final advice for teens:
Pay attention to yourself and tune into your needs and wants. 
Quote: “I am enough, I am me with my gifts and flaws and for that I am grateful” 

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education! 

For more information visit: Prepped and Polished.com.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the show on iTunes!

P&P Episode 192: Gina Biegel "How to Help Teens Reduce Stress"

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's show, Alexis talks to Seth Perler , an educator and teen coach. Seth was a teacher for 12 years (several grades and subjects), has a B.A. in Education, an M.Ed. in Gifted Education, has worked with teens with substance issues for 15 years, and taught on a Navajo reservation. On todays episode Seth talks about tips to get disorganized students better organized in school and in life. 

Seth’s tips for organization: 

Declutter your bedroom and desk, simplify! The more stuff you have the more stuff you have to maintain! Downsize your environment. 

Have “homes” for things that are labeled! Keep electronics in baskets for example. 
Create systems for organizing their school work, homework and keep it in a logical place to find easily.

Do a Sunday overhaul, so once per week re do and organize all your folders, papers, planners
What is a Queue folder? 

The Queue folder is for everything current across all subjects. It’s a catch all for everything current. Ex) put paper that is due in a week in Queue, put science test review sheet in queue. 

Seth’s final tips for teens: 
Do not give up! #1 biggest problem will have is your own resistance. The key to overcoming resistance is to take baby steps and move inch by inch. The key to happy future is to do things you won’t like, like getting organized and writing papers. Push self beyond comfort zone consistently. 

Check out Seth’s youtube channel!
 
For another related conversation, check out my other podcast with Seth episode #162 on Strengthening your Executive Functioning Skills

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education! 

For more information visit: Prepped and Polished.com.

Please rate, review and subscribe to the show on iTunes!

P&P Episode 198: Seth Perler "Organization for Disorganized Students"

Episode 206:

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's episode of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, 

Alexis Avila talks with to Jon Pearson. Jon Pearson is an artist, writer, speaker, educator, and creativity guru. He has written over three hundred short stories and has been nominated for two Pushcart Prizes. He writes now for the same reason he played with his food as a kid – to make the world a better place. Jon also was a cartoonist for the Oakland Tribune, an extra for the New York Metropolitan Opera, a classroom teacher, a college professor, and is now a coach and consultant who has taught creative thinking and learning techniques to more than one million people around the world. Secretly, though, Jon is still eight years old and believes that courage, caring, and creativity will save the world!

Jon gives us tips on how to get out of your own head and make your creative writing pieces more creative and meaningful. 

What is creative writing about? Creative writing is more about imagination than writing. Writing isn’t just saying something but seeing stuff. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, don’t care what other think of you, and be brave, go deeper. If you just write you will get better. 

Can you make a living out of it? You can make a living out of being a creative person. You can write, speak, do art and sell things based upon your imagination. 

Misconception about writing? You don’t have to be a writer with a capital “W” to be a writer. Just write.

How can parents help? Parents should read to their kids! Jon’s parents used to read to Jon a lot. Don’t put a lot of pressure on your kids and encourage kids to use their imagination. It’s ok to write poorly at first, the key is to practice writing consistently.

How to overcome writer’s block? There is no such thing as writer’s block. If you feel like there is such a thing, remember it will pass, get comfortable in it and write some garbage and don’t care if it’s bad, the writing will get better eventually. 

Don’t try to write perfectly to overcome writer’s block. Write to find out who you really are in great detail. 

Jon’s tips for teens:

1. Believe in yourself no matter what! 

2. if you want to land on your feet, have fun and be of service 

3. Pleasure, mastery, values. Make a list under each category. And then write about these things on your list! 

4. Have fun, writing should be fun, it’s not easy but make it fun. 


For another related conversation, check out my podcast Episode 52 with Bonnie Singer on How to Overcome Writing Challenges.

For More Information Visit: preppedandpolished.com.

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education!

P&P: Jon Pearson "How to Become a Better Creative Writer and Think More Creatively"

Episode 212

The Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational and inspirational show that offers tutoring and test prep tips as well as interviews with celebrities and leaders in education. It is hosted by Alexis Avila, founder of Prepped and Polished LLC, a tutoring and test prep firm for K-college.

On today's episode of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Alexis brings back to the show Brian Lomax. Brian founded PerformanceXtra™ in 2009 with a mission of helping athletes achieve their goals and their top performances more consistently through a progression of mental skills that enables them to focus on what is truly important.  

Brian gives us his best tips on how to get tougher mentally. 

Brian’s advice for getting ready for high school:

1. Preparation. Get prepared mentally for what you are about to face in high school. 

2. Energy management. Don’t spend too much time expending energy all the time by studying and playing sports and spend some time on the recovery side. Relaxation, sleep is very important. 

Brian’s advice for teens getting ready for college:

It’s a big step being away from home for the first time. Get mentally prepared for it and be open to new experiences. 

Listen to my other podcast with Brian Lomax, our 4th episode! 

Using Your Mental Game to Ace Tests and Ace Life

To work with Brian check out www.performancextra.com

For More Information Visit: preppedandpolished.com.

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education!

P&P: Brian Lomax "Developing a Warrior Mindset"

Episode 226:

On today's episode of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaronshows you three common errors students make on the SAT and ACT and how to avoid them.  

For More Information Visit: preppedandpolished.com. 

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education!

P&P Tutoring Tips: "Three Grammar Mistakes Students Often Make on The SAT and ACT"

Episode 228: 

On today's episode of the Prepped and Polished Podcast Aaron of Prepped and Polished shows you traits perfect score SAT and ACT test-takers share in common.

For More Information Visit: preppedandpolished.com. 

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education!

P&P: Tutoring Tips "What 36 ACT and 1600 SAT Perfect Score Test Takers Share in Common"

Episode 243:

On today's episode of the Prepped and Polished Podcast, Aaron tells you what it takes to get a top score on the ACT exam. 
 
For More Information Visit: preppedandpolished.com. 

Enjoy, Thanks for Listening and remember at The Prepped and Polished Podcast, We Empower You to Take Control of Your Education!

P&P Tutoring Tips: How to Get a 36 on the ACT

Prepped and Polished Podcast is an educational podcast hosted by Alexis Andres Avila, Founder and CEO of Prepped and Polished. 
join me for brand new episodes with guests who are leading influencers in the world of education.

From Alexis: This season, I am diving deeper than ever, covering topics that are both timely and impactful.

For instance, I want to explore questions like: Why are today’s children experiencing higher levels of depression, anxiety, and unhappiness compared to previous generations?

More importantly, with the help of guest experts, we'll explore actionable solutions.

I believe that by fostering self-esteem, not only can we improve grades and test scores, but together we can also empower our children to achieve their life goals and dreams.

Stay tuned for powerful conversations that aim to make a difference.

What topics do you want to see covered in the podcast? Let me know in the comments if you have any topic or guest ideas. Would love to hear from you!

Prepped and Polished Podcast

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