WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO LEARN IN HIGH SCHOOL TO PREP FOR COLLEGE

1. The First Rule: There are no tricks or favors to get into college; but remember that colleges are looking for interesting and hardworking students.

2. Academics: English/writing, Math, and a strong Science foundation, Solid Alg. and Geometry foundation for humanities; calculus in high school for science and math majors. Take bio, chem., physics starting in middle school and honors or AP or college classes in high school. When you enter college, you’ll have choices about majors and directions. Don’t get locked into specialty fields in high school, you’ll limit yourself when you get to college.

3. Work Ethic:

• Express ideas in a formal essay format using good grammar, mechanics, and word choice.
  
• Do all of the problems, review sections, get old texts and do practice exercises, take multiple chapter reviews and review of other subjects to see what you’ve retained.
• Apply knowledge, don't fill in the blanks.

4. Build a solid foundation: The Project

• A. Colleges are looking for students who are excited about something. Americans have become overweight, lazy, and just plain stupid. Young peoples' interest in politics, environment, international affairs, education, or improving themselves intellectually seems to be waning. Teachers don’t require students to start initiatives because they don’t have the time to monitor the projects. Students and parents are too busy to conceive interesting ideas and don’t take the time to complete them.
• B. Select an idea that you are passionate about. If you don’t have any ideas, pick up the paper and read the headlines, stories too. Watch the news. Ask parents and others about issues or problems that need to be fixed. In your research phase, you’ll come across all kinds of ideas.
• C. Find a mentor to help you think through the project. That can be a school teacher, counselor, college prof, scientist, writer, journalist, retired professional, grandparent, etc. Pick up the yellow pages to call people in the field who may be able to guide you as you plan your project.
• D. Most projects will take 2-3 years to complete. Start early. Spend 2-3 months brainstorming; 1 month narrowing your topic based on interviews and research; 3-12 months working on the project production; 3 months on the followup, evals, write ups; 2 months writing press releases; 3-6 months doing public outreach
• E. Why do this? When you complete this project, not only will you be a leader in the industry, you’ll be the utmost expert. You’ll get notoriety, publicity, and press for your portfolio. And most importantly, you’ll know how to do just about anything upon completion of the project. You won’t be afraid to try something you’ve never done before or to enter new territory. It opens your mind so you can really start looking at career options for you.

5. GPA

• A. Still one of the #1 factors in college admissions
• B. Take the most difficult classes, challenging is a better word.
• C. Take AP, IB, classes if they’re offered at your school
• D. Take community college or university classes

i. Take the entire series if you plan to have courses articulate to the college when you enter, if you want to have the classes replace courses you’ll need to take in college, then make sure your high school doesn’t include the college classes on the transcript or considers them part of high school requirements. Colleges don’t like double dipping.

ii. Make sure that the college classes you take will be accepted by the colleges you’re interested in before taking the classes.

6. SAT AND ACT

A. Standardized tests are not going away anytime soon.

B. That said, these tests will the single most important tests you’ll take for college admissions

C. So, roll up your sleeves and learn how to take the test.

D. Use the SAT or ACT practice tests and take them under similar test environment. Use a timer, work in a quiet space, remove dictionaries and other devices from your desk.

E. Review all missed questions and consider the answers. Learn how to look at the test from the test writers’ perspective, it’ll help you improve your scores.

F. Take the practice tests as many times as you need to get your scores in the general area you need to before you take your tests. You don’t want to take the SAT or ACT 12 times; practice for a year or two, if your plan allows, and then take the test just a few times.

G. Your scores will not improve on their own. To improve verbal skills, you need to improve your vocabulary, reading fluency, reading comprehension- break trouble areas into subsections such as these in order to improve and work on them.

And finally...Let us reiterate rule #1 of this entry: There is simply no trick to replace the benefits reaped from genuine hard work!

Smart parents are setting up free child care in their homes

Imagine what you could do with the money you’d save if you didn’t have to pay for child care? For many, that could be $5,000 or more per year! In this economic climate, innovative parents are setting up programs in their homes and inviting a few other paying students to join their children. With the tuition they receive from the other students, they can pay for the teacher salary, materials, and other expenses.

Besides saving thousands of dollars per year, your children will have the opportunity to learn to read and write, get involved with math and science, and explore virtually all subjects you set up for them. One of the amazing benefits of setting up your children’s program is that you design the curriculum based on what you want your children to do each day. If you’re short on time, you can purchase a preschool curriculum.

In addition to giving your children a head start when they start kindergarten, you’ll also benefit by having in-home help. Your teacher can make meals for you and the children, run the laundry, and do light housekeeping before or after the program each day. Now wouldn’t you love to have these additional benefits? If you’re looking for help in setting up this program, The Working Mother’s Guide to Free Child Care in Your Home! is filled with forms, fliers, and advice to get you started. The author, Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy, is available online to guide you through the entire process of setting up and establishing your very own program.

3 Simple Steps to Selecting Best-Fit Colleges for your College-Bound Kiddo

Choosing the best-fit colleges today is a whole different ball game than back when we went to college. Many schools offer many courses of study- but we can be sure that every school doesn't offer every degree, and it's important to make sure that your child has many good options. So how do you know which colleges offer the majors that your children are interested in?

One of my clients, Debbie Z., a high school graduate, recently approached me regarding her four-year plan for Business Marketing at UC Santa Barbara- just before she was going to enter as a freshman! Because she hadn't done her research beforehand, she was devastated to find out that UCSB doesn't have a business marketing major. To avoid nightmares like this one, your soon-to-be-freshman needs to do his/her research!

1. Select all of the possible majors that your children are interested in. They can take career tests to point them in the right direction. That way if they have a few options, they can change majors without having to transfer to different colleges. After selecting their majors, they can search for colleges that offer the specific degrees that they're interested in.
2. Ask your children to begin their searches by visiting websites like www.collegeboard.com. These sites allow students to search for colleges by desired major. To start with, make a list of about 15 to 20 colleges. They can then begin narrowing the list by choosing colleges based on their locations.
3. Check out the college websites with your children. Read more about the departments and programs. You'll quickly see that not all colleges are equal. One might offer a business administration degree while another offers a school of business with seven majors. Then look at the statistics regarding life at that school (living arrangements, geography, potential for local activities, etc). And finally, visit your child's top five colleges! Nothing is more explanatory than first-hand observations and tours.
   

Choosing the right college takes time and effort, but the payoff is well worth all the effort spent! If you're going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on college expenses, make sure that the fit is right for your kid. High school guidance counselors as well as private college advisers can shed light on your plan today- don't wait until you realize your major isn't offered at the school of your choice- speak with Merit's Online College Advisors today to get a leg up on the decision-making process.

UCs will no longer require SAT II Subject Tests in 2012!

It's about time! The UCs have taken a bold step in reducing the number of standardized tests needed to apply to college.
Starting with the class of 2012 (10th graders this year), students will no longer be required to take or submit the SAT II Subject tests. All students will still need to take the SAT I or the ACT with writing.
Students who will be graduating in 2010 or 2011 will still need to take and submit the SAT II if they plan to apply to the UCs. Good news for sophomores and younger students! For SAT prep resources visit College Advisory @ Merit World!

How many after-school activities does your child really need to do?

ProjectMERIT

As a college advisor, I recommend that students start projects and continue to work on their projects all through high school. By doing these independent projects, students learn leadership, entrepreneurial, communication and coping skills -- skills that will help them in college, career, and beyond.

College admissions officers are intrigued by students who start non profits or rally friends to help families distressed by a hurricane. They like to see that a student had the initiative to do something that was not required of them. While college admissions officers like to see students involved in after-school or extracurricular activities, they don't want to see a list of 15 activities on their application forms.

So how many activities is enough? Try to keep extracurricular activities down to just one or two. That way, your child can focus on doing a good job and making a difference rather than spread themselves out over too many activities. College admissions committees don't want a Jack of all trades, master of none.

The old school philosophy encouraged students to be "well rounded" so students would join sports teams, clubs, non profits, and more. Unfortunately, these students didn't have time to participate and get involved because they just didn't have the time to go to all of the events. So, don't push your child to take too many activities, just a few of their favorites so they can master them. Encourage them to do a project!

Secret to getting your child into Top Colleges!

Besides GPAs (grades) and SAT/ACT (standardized tests) scores, what are top-ranked college admissions officers looking for in their incoming students? They're looking for outstanding, curious, interesting students. Long gone are the days of recruiting bookworms and science nerds. Colleges want to build a class of students who are bright and innovative. That's why doing a project is the best kept secret to getting your child into the best colleges.

By doing an independent project -- not something that is required for a class and not a community service -- your child will position himself to stand out among his peers. Rather than write about how he hopes to save the planet someday, your child could write about how his project is saving the planet. Personal statements, essays, and interviews are more interesting when students can discuss how and why they started their projects. They give the students talking points -- and that gives them an advantage in the admissions process!

If you're worried that your child can't do a project on his or her own, check out this book "Beat the College Admissions Game: Do a Project!". The book walks students through the entire process of doing a project from brainstorming to completion. And if your child needs help or support along the way, Merit College Advisors can guide them through any part or the entire process

What everybody ought to know about Study Skills!

If you're like other parents, you know your children aren't doing all they can to prepare for tests. As an educational consultant, I work with hundreds of students who claim that they study best by reviewing their notes the night before an exam, and then blame their low test scores on their poor test-taking skills. Unfortunately, students don't get much in the way of training to prepare for tests. When they get low test scores, it's most likely because they simply don't know the material! So how do you teach study skills? It's really simple; read on.

Tell your children that they need to prepare for tests FOUR days before the exam. That doesn't mean that they will be studying around the clock for four days, it just means that they should engage with the material for about 30-60 minutes per day, for four days prior. Here's why. If your children block off time in their planners to complete one task to prepare for an exam, they'll have time to absorb the concepts, practice using them, and still have time to meet with the teacher if they have any questions. For instance, if they're preparing for a vocab test, they might do the following. Day 1: Define the words and write sentences; Day 2: Make flashcards and practice them; Day 3: Take a practice exam; Day 4: Write new sentences for the vocab they're still getting incorrect.

By giving your children the skills to ace a test, you're really giving them the key to success. After all, students' grades are largely dependent on quiz, test, and final exams. Teach your children how to study so they can enjoy the great feeling they'll experience when they get A's in class!

If you wish to learn more merit has some excellent education services focused toward accelerating the learning process. Call us at 831.462.5655 to talk to Susan our Director or stop by our college advisory.

SAT and ACT deadlines coming soon!

If your child will be taking the SATs or ACTs this fall, sign up now to avoid late fees. Most colleges will accept the Sept, Oct, Nov, and Dec scores for 2010 applications. Apply online and pay by credit card.

Here are some resourceful links to help you plan accordingly.

SATs: www.collegeboard.com
Test Date: Oct 10
Regular Registration: Sept 9
Late Registration: Sept 23

Test Date: Nov 7
Regular Registration: Oct 1
Late Registration: Oct 15

Test Date: Dec 5
Regular Registration: Oct 30
Late Registration: Nov 12

ACTs: www.actstudent.org
Test Date: Oct 24
Regular Registration: Sept 18
Late Registration: Oct 2

Test Date: Dec 12
Regular Registration: Nov 6
Late Registration: Nov 20

If your child needs SAT or ACT prep, check with local tutorial companies and set this up soon. Merit offers SAT/ACT prep; call (831) 462-5655 or visit www.meritworld.com

4 things every student needs to do to protect themselves from H1N1 (Swine flu) virus!

Whether you're sending your child to preschool or college, you're probably concerned about how to protect them from getting the H1N1 virus. The schools and colleges, and even the government, are setting up plans to minimize the impact this flu season will have on their students. Here's what your child can do to stay healthy amidst those infected with any kind of ailment.

1. Cough into your shoulder or shirt sleeves; don't cough into your hands.

2. Wash your hands before touching your eyes or mouth, and especially before handling food.

3. Stay away from people who are sick -- especially those who are coughing and/or sneezing.

4. Use Clorox-type wipes to disinfect doorknobs, computer keyboards, cell phones, and anything that you touch.

10 Things College-bound Students need to pack!

Most freshmen pack way too much and end up buying the things they really need once they arrive on campus. Girls especially over pack clothes -- and the wrong types of clothes -- when they head off to college. They only need to bring a few dressy outfits and shoes because they will live in their comfy sweatpants and sweatshirts. If they insist on packing high-heel shoes, only bring one, or two at the most. Flip flops and tennis shoes are really all they need.


Consider the 10 things listed here, and they're good to go!

#1: Medicine (Tylenol, Nyquil, Sudafed, Pepto Bismol, Bandaids)

#2: Phone Numbers (doctor, dentist, optometrist)

#3: Computer (desktop or laptop) and Printer

#4: Thumbdrive (2 GB+)

#5: Bedding (sheets, blankets, pillow)

#6: Shower slippers

#7: Toiletries (enough to last the term)

#8: Key ring for Student ID, mail box key, and room key.

#9: Lamp (for desk or reading in bed)

#10: School supplies (binders, paper, pens, stapler, tape, paperclips, backpack)

How to say goodbye to your college freshman

So you thought saying goodbye to your toddler was difficult when you drop them off at preschool; try saying goodbye to your college freshmen as they begin new lives without you. Now that I've done it twice, once at Stanford and again at Claremont McKenna College, I'd like to share some tips to help you get through it.

Make a list of 3 things that you would like to do with your children before they leave. This starts the dialogue about creating memories together. Then, mark your calendars to ensure that you both make time to do these special things. You can do simple things like taking a walk in a favorite park, shopping for photo albums or frames, or having lunch at a local restaurant. If you'd like to create a more meaningful event to mark this time, go through old baby photos and put together a photo album of their lives. That way, if they get homesick, they can look through their photos. My daughters both wrote autobiographies during their senior year of high school to reflect on their first 18 years of life before they begin their new lives in college. I especially enjoyed helping them select and scan the photos. We now have keepsakes!

By spending time reflecting on their childhood and early teen years, it helped us come to terms with the next phase in their lives. They, too, appreciated the time we spent together remembering their first 18 years. I believe it paved the way for the close friendships I have with both of my daughters today. I talk to them every day; I think our relationship is stronger now that they've moved on.

What courses are considered in my child's GPA?

While this may seem like an easy calculation, trying to determine your child's high school GPA for college admissions can be confusing. Most colleges consider only 10th and 11th grade courses in their GPA calculations. Summer courses taken before 10th, 11th, and 12th grade are usually included. Your high school will usually list the courses that colleges will accept on the high school website. Only include courses that colleges will consider in the GPA calculations. Classes like PE, health, and Introduction to Computers are usually not accepted. Your child's high school transcript will automatically calculate your child's GPA for your state. Just to be sure there are no mistakes, inquire with the guidance counselor to understand what courses were included in the GPA.

If your child took AP or IB courses and received passing scores on exams, these courses may receive weighted grades. In other words, an A will be given a 5.0 instead of a 4.0. If your child took college classes, those courses will be weighted on the same 5.0 scale. Check with the college admissions officers to make sure that they will accept all weighted classes because some colleges (like the University of California and California State University) will only accept a specific number of weighted courses for application purposes.

Mistakes happen, so meet with the guidance counselor to make sure all of your child's classes and college courses are included. If the college application requires that you enter your GPA, carefully read the guidelines to determine which classes you can include.

Here's a quick way to make sure your child is on track in high school

Worried that you may find out that your child is on the wrong track in high school when it's too late? Meet with your child's high school guidance counselor right away. Make sure your child is taking the most rigorous courses available to him/her. By taking the most challenging classes offered, he/she will demonstrate personal drive and academic prowess. Top colleges prefer students who seek college-level classes to prepare themselves for success in higher education.

Don't let your child be one of those who find out in their junior year that they should have taken more sciences or languages. Discuss your concerns with your counselor. If your child struggles in the most difficult classes, seek tutorial support before dropping to the lower-level classes. If you'd like professional advice from a college advisor, check Merit's Online College Advisory services.

Three easy steps to get your child to do homework first!

If you're like most moms of school-aged students, getting them to do homework is probably a battle on the home front. Naturally, you prefer that they complete the homework so you know that it's done. Kids, on the other hand, prefer to take a break and put if off until later, a lot later. They often misjudge how long it will take to do an assignment and most kids don't know how to prepare for tests or quizzes. So how do you convince a student that they should do there homework first?

By using a Merit Planner, your children will learn how to get their homework done in three easy steps. First, ask your children to enter in all of their classes at the approximate times the classes take place (for the semester). Second, ask your children to enter their assignments on the dates that they are due (not on the day they are assigned). This helps them to prioritize their responsibilities. And third, ask your children to block off time to do each task for every assignment including studying for tests, working on projects, and completing homework.

Your children will quickly see how much time it will take to do their homework and study for tests. I'm always happy to see that the students block off time to get the work done earlier in the day so they can be sure to get it done before bedtime. When they realize that they won't get their work done when they start after dinner, they'll be the ones to make the change in their routine.

For more information visit www.meritworld.com

What every parent needs to know about guiding students through the college application process

As college application deadlines quickly approach, tension between parents and their college-bound seniors often escalate. Naturally, you want your child to get into the best colleges and you know that your high school senior should be spending every free moment checking out colleges, writing personal statements and essays, and studying for the SATs/ACTs. But, whether they're clueless or procrastinating, if you're like most moms of college-bound students, you're probably pulling out your hair as you try to get them to get started. And when they finally get on board and realize what they need to do for each college application, even the most level-headed seniors will feel the stress. As their stress mounts, you'll need to take some deep breaths and build up some callouses to help you through the next few months.

Many parents succumb to the pressure and fill out the application forms for their children. Don't do it. Students need to complete their applications on their own; it's part of growing up and getting ready to move on. Instead, you can help by setting up a time to meet so you can both discuss colleges, deadlines, essay topics and letters of recommendation. Be prepared to have them put the deadlines in a planner or on a calendar to prioritize where to get started. Then, they'll block off time to complete each task for every college. Making time to get the job done is important and this step is often overlooked; it is the most important step in the process. Finding time to complete each task in any senior's fall semester will be a challenge. But once your child sees what needs to be done over the next few months, he/she will own some of this responsibility -- minimizing the nagging and reminding that you will have to do.

The key is to let your child block off time to do all of the steps required to submit the college applications, finish regular school homework, and participate in after-school activities or work. It's easy to blow off writing a college application essay if you think you can do it tomorrow or next weekend, but students who have taken the time to organize their schedules for the entire college application process, know what they need to do. By putting the responsibility of completing college applications on your child, you can be a supportive mom who offers a shoulder massage or cookies when things get stressful instead of the nagging mother who reminds them that they are behind schedule.

If You Don't Choose Your Children's Classes, You'll Hate Yourself Later

Budget cuts are hacking away at the integrity of our public schools. High school counselors are often overloaded with students. This is detrimental to our children because then, the counselor’s goal becomes less about setting up a tailored college track for each student and instead, focuses on keeping the line moving. When the counselors' goal is to make sure that a student just graduates high school in four years, many average students get put on the graduation track as opposed to the college-bound track. Parents can no longer sit back and take for granted that their children's academic future will be mapped out for them. The best way to ensure that your children receive a stellar education is to take those courses that top college admission committees like to see on transcripts and the best way to get in these courses is to complete their four-year high school plan before they enter high school.

By selecting all of the courses your children will take throughout their high school tenure, your child’s counselor will recognize that your child is on the college track. You can create a plan with your counselor during the school year and encourage your child to understand and embrace it. That way, each year when students are required to make requests for the following year's classes, your child's choices will already be in place.

I recommend that parents email their counselors prior to enrollment dates, requesting specific classes and teachers during the spring and summer and before counselors are overwhelmed with the rush of all the latecomers. Roll up your sleeves and mark your calendar now!

How to get the most out of a College Tour

One of the best ways for your children to know whether or not a college is a good fit is to tour the college with a student guide. Walking around the campus, visiting classrooms and facilities, eating in the dining halls, and mingling with the students will give you a feel for the college life. Remember, the student guides are paid to sell you on the school and they recite a memorized pitch as they walk backwards along a predetermined path. While this speech is informative, you'll get the most out of the tour if you walk along side the guide and ask your own questions.

Ask the student guide how difficult it is to get into general ed classes. If your children know their majors, inquire about the department and research opportunities. Make a list of the guide's favorite professors and classes. Ask about the social life, school spirit, and other things you're curious about. This is probably your best opportunity to get an insider's view of the college so be prepared -- write a list of questions!

Psst! Give your child a head start -- Prepare for the PSAT!

Should your child prepare for the PSAT? Yes, I recommend that students start taking the PSAT in 9th grade. That way, they're better prepared to take it in 11th grade when the scores are used to determine Merit Scholarships. By preparing for the PSAT, your child will increase his/her odds of scoring in the top 1-5% in the nation. Merit Scholars and Semifinalists have an advantage in the college admissions process.

This preliminary SAT was designed to give students a taste for the real SATs. It is given every October at local high schools, and if your high school doesn't offer the PSAT, you can sign up to take it at another school. There is a nominal fee ($13), and the good news is that college admissions committees don't see these scores.

How to Ensure College-Bound Classes for your Highschool Student in the Midst of Nasty Budget Cuts

With budget cuts hacking away at the integrity of all public schools, high school counselors are often juggling more than twice their regular load of students. When the counselors' goal is to make sure that students graduate in four years, many average students get put on the graduation track instead of the college-bound track.

Parents can no longer sit back and take for granted that their children's academic future will be mapped out for them. A great way to ensure that your children receive a stellar education, and take the required courses that top college admissions committees like to see on transcripts, is to complete their four-year high school plan before they enter high school.

By selecting all of the courses your children will take throughout their tenure in high school before they enroll, the high school counselor will undoubtedly recognize that your children are on the college track. You can discuss the plans with the counselors during the school year and encourage your children to understand and embrace them. That way, each year when students are required to make requests for the following year's classes, your children's plans will already be in place!

I recommend that parents email the counselors their requests for specific classes and teachers before the deadlines for students to submit their lists in the spring and again during the summer when the counselors are organizing and setting up fall classes. Roll up your sleeves and mark your calendar now!

Why would a Harvard MBA student pay $204 for a $20 bill?

Irrational Behavior Happens to the Best of Us.

Why would a Harvard MBA student pay $204 for a $20 bill?

Harvard Business School professor, Max Bazerman found a fail proof way to take money from Harvard MBA students. On the first day of his negotiations class, he waves a $20 bill in the air and declares he will be auctioning it off. There are only two rules to the auction: First all bids must be in $1 increments and, second the winner will walk away with the bill, but the runner-up must honor his or her bid leaving the situation empty handed.

As Professor Bazerman begins the auction, the MBA Harvard students are at the edge of their seats- anxious to make a cheap $20. The auction rapidly takes off as as hands are flying up throughout the classroom. Within no time the bid is up to $10 and climbing, around the $12 to $16 students notice the trend and the volume of bidding falls out completely till there are two bidders left.

Now one would think this shouldn't get too out of hand; these are intelligent business students that are going to change the world. However, neither wants to be out $16. So it goes on to $21, $22, $23, $50, $100 the record is $204.

Lesson? Loss aversion is a powerful force to recon with, as it beckons irrational behavior, be it in a classroom auction or when making important decisions such as choosing a college. By gauging your commitment and controlling your anxiety, you can prevent this from fogging up your decision-making perception! Fight loss aversion and help ease a college's decision to accept a student by encouraging them to Do a Project.

At Last, We Can Make Money For College Shopping!

Yes, it is true and it works nicely. I was browsing through the web a while back and came across this site www.upromise.com, but I wasn't sure about it. Not enough to sign up...until today. I found this post Save For College While You Shop - by my friend JoJo it inspired me to register, and I encourage you as well. You can save some serious dollars, and it's FREE!

Upromise is a website designed to help save money when buying everyday expenses we already incur. Shopping online yields receive 25% of any purchase from 600 participating stores. Just sign up and start saving. Make sure you are signed in to Upromise before purchasing anything online. Download the toolbar to make is easy.

Register your credit cards so that every time you dine out at a supporting venue, 8% of your costs goes toward college. Still skeptical? You could just become a preferred diner. eTrust is Upromise's privacy provider, which is a highly reputable company. Rest assured, your card numbers won't be phished out by some computer hack.

You could also use Upromise to pay off your loans. Just link to your Sallie Mae account. Find out more.

Why College Admission is a Daunting Process

Introduce Yourself to Merit!

If you are stopping by the blog and happen to read a post about us, we want to hear from you!

Take a second to tell us a little bit about yourself. We want to hear your story! Who are you? Are you a parent? Student? Journalist? What was a college experience you previously had?

If you're already familiar with Merit, then tell us what we could do to better serve the aspiring college community.

We would love to field any questions, concerns, or college inquiries. Our Director is a seasoned college adviser and has tons of valuable information she would love to share.

Free College Advice!!!

Merit is Offering the First Consulting Session On the House!

Must Act Soon - Offer Expires September 31, 2009

-Make an appointment for your child today!
-Ask all your pressing college admissions questions.
-Take advantage of a chance to sit down with a seasoned advisor.
-Merit admits students to the most selective college institutions.

Applying for college can be overwhelming and stressful, but don't get discouraged because it is an extremely important part of your young adult's life.

Merit highly recommends that you do a thorough investigation before jumping into a 4-5 year lifestyle decision- Know before you go!

Important Directions:

To redeem this consulting session with Susan Tatsui-D'Arcy, the Director at Merit Educational Consultants:

1. Click on this link or the picture above

2. Fill out:

• a. "Personal Details"
• b. "Billing Address" - (Reminder: This session is 100% FREE, we don't charge you for it)
• c. "Contact Info" - (Phone number)

3. Use promo Code: giftforafriend

4. Ask a free question or set up an appointment.

You may also call to make an appointment!

Susan Tatsui-D'Arcy
831.462.5655
Take control of your future with a Free Consulting Session!

How does Obama's 'Race to the Top' affect my children?

President Obama announced his education reform plan yesterday. His 'Race to the Top' is designed to provide federal grants to schools by linking teacher pay to student achievement, easing limits on charter schools, and setting up national academic standards. By requiring states and districts to compete for the $4.35 billion, Obama hopes that this will "incentivise excellence and spur refurm and launch a race for the top in America's public schools." Concerned with how the US will compete with India and China in the future, Obama plans to start the race now.

What does this mean to you? For now, nothing. If Obama's incentives work and teachers strive to win the grants, your children may benefit from the competition created amongst the teachers/school districts. But for now, the federal government will be mired in politics and committees. So how can you ensure that your children receive a comprehensive education that prepares them for college and/or successful careers? Support your teachers, schools, and president, but you'll need to take your own children's education into your hands. With recent budget cuts in education, guidance counselors have received pink slips so many parents will be responsible for setting up their children's academic plans. Your children need a well-thoughtout program that begins with preschool and ends with 12th grade. Meet with your school's principal to discuss the curriculum framework and what will change with the impending cut backs. Unless you know what your high school requires for graduation and colleges require for admissions, your child may miss important classes and other requirements.

While waiting for educational reform, you can set up an after-school program in your home to give your children the academic skills they need. Assess what your children are learning in school and supplement their education with an enrichment program after school. Merit Academy offers curriculum for parents to use to enrich their children's academic foundations and build necessary skills. Our Educational Consultants can help you assess your children's academic levels and develop individual programs to improve their skills. By taking control of your children's education now, you won't have to worry about budget cuts or educational reform. Support Obama's Race to the Top so that future generations will benefit from it.

Do state and federal cuts hurt my child's educational future?

When you hear about states issuing I.O.U.s to employees and states borrowing moneys from local government, you've got to wonder how your child's schools are going to deal with the budget deficit. As your child's only true advocate, you need to get involved. How? Call your school's principal and set up a meeting to discuss on what areas the school plans to cut back. If these budget cuts will directly affect your child, take action. Don't sit back and complain about these changes, you can ensure that your child gets an excellent education, even in tough economic times.

If your child will benefit from an enrichment program that builds reading, writing, math, science or foreign language skills, then set one up! You don't need to pay high costs for tutoring or expensive programs, set it up for your child, right in your home. I did just that for my daughters and they're now at Stanford Medical School and Claremont McKenna College! Use Merit Academy's Preschool or Elementary School Curriculum and set up an after-school program. That way, you don't have to worry that your school or teachers aren't teaching specific concepts. Just have your own teacher work with your children at home.

You can set up this program just the way I did. Read about how I set up the most amazing preschool for my children, right in my home, and I didn't have to pay a penny for it! I even wrote a book to show other moms, just like you, how to do it. Check out "The Working Mother's Guide to FREE Child Care in Your Home!". By using Merit's curriculum and this book, you'll be able to set up the perfect program for your children.

Besides giving your child a first-class education, you'll also receive extra benefits from your teacher like preparing dinner, doing laundry, and running errands. I did this for 9 years and all of my friends thought I was a millionaire! Don't let state or federal budget cuts hurt your child's chances of getting a solid education! Start your own program now!

Merit Sent Students Off to the Following College Institutions

Our List of Selective Colleges Speaks for itself:

Stanford University
Harvard University
Yale University
Johns Hopkins University
Cornell University
Brown University
Duke University
MIT
Princeton University
Claremont McKenna College
Pomona College
Scripps College
Harvey Mudd College
Pitzer College
University of Southern California
University of Pennsylvania
University of California Los Angeles
University of California Berkeley
University of California San Diego
University of California Santa Barbara
University of California Davis
University of California Santa Cruz
University of California San Francisco
University of California Irvine
University of California Riverside
Santa Clara University
Lewis and Clark University
Cal Poly
Mills College
Occidental College
Chapman University
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
Pepperdine University
Wesleyan University
Georgetown University
Emory University
Morehouse College
Northwestern University
University of Chicago
Bates College
Berklee College of Music
Boston College
Brandeis University
Boston Conservatory
Emerson College
Northeastern University
Tufts University
Columbia University
New York University
Juilliard School
Marist College
Syracuse University
Wake Forest University
Oberlin College
Reed College
Whitman College

How to Beat the College Admissions Odds!

Want to boost your students’ acceptance percentages to selective colleges? As you know, colleges are looking for outstanding students – those who strive to take the most rigorous courses and ace the SATs. But why aren’t those students admitted? Colleges are accepting students who are “engaged” and “interesting.” That’s why successful students start projects. I would be happy to give a seminar (for free) for your students and families to show them how projects will help with college admissions. Preview a video of my seminar.

If each of your college-bound students should do a project, their acceptance into top-choice colleges would increase significantly. Your percentage of seniors accepted at selective universities will double. To learn more about projects, check out this book Beat the College Admissions Game: Do a Project! to see how powerful a project can be in the admissions game. The book is very affordable and it walks the students through every step to complete a project. And, if they hit road blocks, they can work with Merit’s College Online Advisors to get over the hump! It won’t require that you or your teachers add more on to your already overwhelming workload, and it will double your students’ acceptance rates!

Besides helping your students to get into their first-choice colleges, your students will be taking the initiative to fix problems in our society. Please contact me at 831.462.5655

Give your students this tip to give them the edge they’ll need to get into their first-choice colleges!

Seniors: Start your college application essays now!

If you're a college-bound senior, use your summer break to get started on your college application essays and personal statements. Go online or call the admissions department at your prospective colleges to get the prompts. Spend a few days brainstorming about what you would like to discuss and how you want to position yourself. Draw up an outline and a rough draft, then write several drafts over the next two months. Ask your high school English teacher and other good writers to edit your essays. Give yourself several days between edits so you have time to get away from them and take a fresh look each time you work on them.

The Common Application, used by almost 400 colleges and universities nationwide, is online (collegeboard.com) and ready to start now. This requires one 150-word essay and a second essay that is minimum of 250-words. Each college's supplemental application form will also require essays; check with each college's website or the CollegeBoard.com's website to organize your supplemental essay topics. The UCs and CSUs will be ready to start in September but you can only submit between November 1st and 30th. The CSUs don't require any essays; the UCs require two. Go online to universityofcalifornia@edu/admissions to get essay topics. The UC essays/personal statements allow a maximum of 1000 words for both essays.

If you have any questions about essay topics and need help writing your essays, Merit offers excellent tutors who help students find their voices and polish their writing skills. Call (831) 462-5655 or use our online College Advisory service.

Child Care for FREE?

In this economy, everyone is trying to find ways to cut back expenses. One way to cut back costs and increase benefits is with child care. When my children were toddlers, I set up a preschool program in my home that gave my daughters a head start in school (they're at Stanford Medical School and Claremont McKenna College now). By hiring a teacher to run the Merit preschool curriculum (available online), my daughters received excellent educational preparation. By inviting a few other paying children to the mix, their tuition covered all of the costs. Not only did I receive this preschool program for both children for FREE, the teacher also prepared dinners, did the laundry, and cleaned the house! I wrote the book The Working Mother's Guide to FREE Child Care in Your Home! that comes complete with forms and advice! http://bit.ly/4eciE

Want to read about my story? Check out http://www.freechildcare.org/story.php

Want your high school to host ProjectMERIT Seminar?

Concerned that your high school student may be missing out on college admissions tips now that public high school guidance counselors have been pink slipped thanks to budget cuts? Invite Susan Tatsui-D'Arcy to speak at your high school to give advice about how to get in to top colleges -- for FREE! She is the author of Beat the College Admissions Game; Do a Project!. Check out this 30-minute video presentation to see one of her seminars: http://bit.ly/DOMhc. Students who do projects stand out among their peers and they get in to top colleges and win large scholarships!

College 4-year Plan Saves Thousands of Dollars!

When college-bound students layout their 4-year plans, they save parents thousands of dollars because they graduate in four years instead of five or more. Merit College Advisors guide students in selecting best-fit majors and help the students understand department and general education graduation requirements. These students start college with a complete understanding of the courses they need to take so they aren't set back because they missed a prerequisite along the way. They also know when to participate in internships, research projects, and work study programs. Students who start college with a solid plan take full advantage of opportunities available to them. If students want to spend five or six years in college, they should be working on a Master's Degree or PhD, not a Bachelor's Degree.

Beat the College Admissions Game: Do a Project

Can student projects help solve our economic crisis? College advisor has a solution: ProjectMERIT!

While President Obama has inherited an economic disaster, everyone from nonprofits to corporations are pressuring him to finance their programs. Americans are hopeful that he will lead us out of this recession and they’re sitting tight waiting for him to solve our problems. When Americans think that the problem is too big to for them to fix, and they put blame on others, they become complacent. Our founding fathers developed this great nation with people who worked together to create a better place to live. With thousands of issues that need to be fixed, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and stop complaining. And more importantly, it’s time for our youth to step up to the plate and go to bat for their future.

By giving students the opportunity to take on special projects, they can fix many of the problems without spending the billions of dollars proposed by the current administration. When these students reach out to their communities for support and volunteer their time, they can raise funds to finance just about any endeavor. This is exactly what Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy, a college advisor and author of Beat the College Admissions Game: Do a Project!, is doing. She guides college-bound students to do a project to improve their chances of getting into top universities in the country. Here’s how she’s doing it.

With so many students with 4.0 GPAs and perfect SAT scores not getting into their first choice colleges, Tatsui-D’Arcy recommends that they do projects. Students who do independent projects dazzle admissions officers with their leadership skills, passion, and drive. When these high school seniors write their personal statements and application essays, they can enthusiastically describe how they started their project and what obstacles they overcame to achieve their goals. That’s much more impressive than simply discussing dreams of doing something important someday or volunteering at a non-profit organization.

Students select projects and work closely with Tatsui-D’Arcy. Peter Livingston engineered a brake-lighting system to warn drivers that the car in front of them is slamming on its brake, not just tapping on it. Jaclyn D’Arcy founded Kids 4 Hydrogen to promote hydrogen fuel cells. Rebecca Kassel successfully passed a law in California (SB966) to reduce the amount of prescription drugs that enter our water systems. In an effort to end gang violence, Harry Weston organized a Tru-School Hip Hop Concert and entertained at-risk students at juvenile halls. The students complete their projects during 9^th through 12^th grade, and many continue on in college.

Tatsui-D’Arcy says projects not only help the students get into their top colleges, it also makes the students more confident and responsible. They realize that their efforts accomplished something that needed to be fixed, and they learned that with good organization and tenacity, they could do anything. So, Tatsui-D’Arcy helps students select their projects based on their personal interests and desire to make a difference. She has lists of special projects and brainstorms with the students until they find the perfect fit. By working with students online across the United States and in her Santa Cruz office, Tatsui-D’Arcy’s think-tank program: ProjectMERIT, is changing America --- one project at a time!

Just in case the government can’t solve all of our problems tomorrow, our college-bound students now have the opportunity and motivation to do projects to make America great. They gain the experience to solve the problems of today and tomorrow. Tatsui-D’Arcy’s book and her Beat the College Admissions Game: Do a Project!online College Advisory services are available on her website at www.meritworld.com.

###

05.28.2009 - CSU’s New Campus-wide Impaction Rules and How it will Effect You

May 2009 Newsletter

For the first time in California State University (CSU) history, many of the 23 campuses will not be able to offer admission to eligible California residents. State budget cuts have forced the CSU system to operate for several years with considerably less funding while frosh applications have increased by 20 percent and transfers by 36 percent. So far, only six campuses have declared “Impaction” status: Cal Poly SLO, CSU Fullerton, CSU Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona, San Diego State, and Sonoma State; however, many others have considered new and more rigorous admissions criteria for the incoming 2009 and 2010 classes.

Most of the six CSU campuses listed above will give priority to high school students who live in the same county as the university as long as they meet eligibility requirements and apply within the appropriate deadlines. Until just a few years ago, this policy, which has always been in place, had not impacted admissions because most CSU campuses were able to accommodate their applicant pools. But now that the CSU’s have more applicants than they can admit, they are enforcing new admission standards.

After the CSU’s admit their regional applicants, they will consider students from other areas within California. Transfers and military veterans will receive special consideration and placement. The out-of-area applicants with the highest GPAs and SAT scores will be admitted in the next wave of reviews.

Even if your preferred CSU campus is not currently impacted, some of their majors may be. Students whose majors are impacted may be admitted in a “pre-major” status, which allows them to take lower division courses in their major before they apply to the impacted major. Students who attend colleges that don’t offer “pre-major” status may not be permitted to take lower division courses in that major, which will delay their graduation date. By keeping their GPA’s as high as possible, these students can increase their odds of getting into their preferred majors.

Students who are set on attending a particular CSU can enroll in a community college nearby the University campus. By doing so, they establish residency in the area and have the opportunity to improve their grades at the college level. This is one of the easiest ways to get into any of the impacted CSUs.

For more information about individual CSUs, call their admissions offices to get the latest news about their 2009-2010 application season. Apply early to improve your chances of getting in to your top colleges!

Can student projects help solve our economic crisis? College advisor has a solution: ProjectMERIT!

While President Obama has inherited an economic disaster, everyone from nonprofits to corporations are pressuring him to finance their programs. Americans are hopeful that he will lead us out of this recession and they’re sitting tight waiting for him to solve our problems. When Americans think that the problem is too big to for them to fix, and they put blame on others, they become complacent. Our founding fathers developed this great nation with people who worked together to create a better place to live. With thousands of issues that need to be fixed, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and stop complaining. And more importantly, it’s time for our youth to step up to the plate and go to bat for their future.

By giving students the opportunity to take on special projects, they can fix many of the problems without spending the billions of dollars proposed by the current administration. When these students reach out to their communities for support and volunteer their time, they can raise funds to finance just about any endeavor. This is exactly what Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy, a college advisor and author of Beat the College Admissions Game: Do a Project!, is doing. She guides college-bound students to do a project to improve their chances of getting into top universities in the country. Here’s how she’s doing it.

With so many students with 4.0 GPAs and perfect SAT scores not getting into their first choice colleges, Tatsui-D’Arcy recommends that they do projects. Students who do independent projects dazzle admissions officers with their leadership skills, passion, and drive. When these high school seniors write their personal statements and application essays, they can enthusiastically describe how they started their project and what obstacles they overcame to achieve their goals. That’s much more impressive than simply discussing dreams of doing something important someday or volunteering at a non-profit organization.

Students select projects and work closely with Tatsui-D’Arcy. Peter Livingston engineered a brake-lighting system to warn drivers that the car in front of them is slamming on its brake, not just tapping on it. Jaclyn D’Arcy founded Kids 4 Hydrogen to promote hydrogen fuel cells. Rebecca Kassel successfully passed a law in California (SB966) to reduce the amount of prescription drugs that enter our water systems. In an effort to end gang violence, Harry Weston organized a Tru-School Hip Hop Concert and entertained at-risk students at juvenile halls. The students complete their projects during 9th through 12th grade, and many continue on in college.

Tatsui-D’Arcy says that the projects not only help the students get into their top colleges, it also makes the students more confident and responsible. They realize that their efforts accomplished something that needed to be fixed, and they learned that with good organization and tenacity, they could do anything. So, Tatsui-D’Arcy helps students select their projects based on their personal interests and desire to make a difference. She has lists of special projects and brainstorms with the students until they find the perfect fit. By working with students online across the United States and in her Santa Cruz office, Tatsui-D’Arcy’s think-tank program: ProjectMERIT, is changing America --- one project at a time!

What should college-bound students be doing during this recession?

When students see news flashes about college grads working at McDonalds because they can’t get jobs, high school students may begin to rethink their own goals. Unemployment just hit an all-time high since the Great Depression. In this unpredictable economy, many high school students are wondering how their parents will finance their college education. Nobody knows when this recession will end, or if we’ve actually hit bottom yet.

Many California state colleges have reduced the number of students they can admit, and they’ve slashed the number of courses being offered. Community colleges are unsure whether they can afford to continue their winter and summer sessions.

Even though the future may seem bleak, college grads still earn over $200,000 more than those who didn’t finish college. This recession is not here forever. When we pull ourselves out of it and begin to prosper as a nation once again, it will be those students with college degrees that will be leading the way.

In this tight economy, private colleges are offering more full-ride scholarships to under-represented minorities and to families that make less than $60,000 per year. Which students benefit from this? Those who stand out from their peers.

What these admissions committees want are students who also excel outside of the high school setting, students who demonstrate true creativity, initiative, and leadership, students who show the potential to become the next Bill Gates or Hilary Clinton.

How can you convince colleges that you have this level of talent and potential? The best way to do it is with an independent project—unlike a class project that consists simply of posters and presentations or volunteering at a local soup kitchen, an independent project is an original undertaking outside the classroom that reflects the student’s vision, initiative, tenacity, and leadership.

What could this project be? Ideally the project should reflect a student’s current passions and future aspirations. Students can start businesses, organize non-profits, write publications, produce films, conduct experiments, advocate for change, publish their own books, or build innovative alternative energy models.

When students do projects, they become confident leaders. Their projects not only help them get into top-ranked colleges and receive scholarships, they also make a difference in their community. And, in this economic climate, it may be the students who help bring us out of this recession.

Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy is the college advisor at Merit Educational Consultants, LLC and author of Beat the College Admissions Game: Do a Project!. You can purchase this book at Meritworld and meet with her online or in person. Call (831) 462-5655 to get started now!

Press Release: Working Mother's Guide to Free Child Care

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release!

Working mother shares tips on how she set up free child care for her children in her home!

With an unpredictable economy and announcements about massive layoffs, those of us who are employed don’t want to rock the boat at work or at our children’s day care centers. According to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&R) in 2005, child care costs between $3,000 and $9,000 for each child per year, which is approximately 9-40% of family incomes (depending on marital status and state).

Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy, author of The Working Mother’s Guide to FREE Child Care in Your Home!, successfully set up child care for her two daughter and it really didn’t cost one penny. Not only did her daughters receive amazing academic preparation, her caregiver also prepared dinner, folded laundry, and ran errands! She wrote this book to show other working parents how to eliminate their child care fees and turn their homes into ideal preschools.

By inviting just a few children to join yours, their tuition covers all of your expenses (teacher wages, materials). You can create your own curriculum based on your children’s interests or you can use Merit Academy’s curriculum (available at www.meritworld.com). Tatsui-D’Arcy’s daughters started kindergarten top of their classes and went on to Stanford University and Claremont McKenna College. She says the best part about the preschool program was having it focus on her daughters; she didn’t have to abide by a long list of rules and pick-up policies of the day care centers. When she arrived home each night, her daughters greeted her with happy smiles, dinner was sitting on the table, and laundry was folded and put away.

In this uncertain economy, every family could benefit from having their own child care program in their home. Parents can work away from home because the teacher organizes the classes and works with the children. By setting up day care hours to accommodate your schedule; parents reduce their stress as well as their child care bills.

To learn more, check out these links:
Tatsui-D’Arcy’s Story
The Working Mother's Guide to FREE Child Care in Your Home!
Testimonials
Preschool Curriculum

Contact Info:
Kyle Millerick
Ecommerce Director
webadvisor@meritworld.com
(831) 462-5655

Educators

We have enclosed information about our tutorial, college admissions, and college advisory programs to post for teachers and/or parents to see. We offer a unique tutorial program that helps students to become more organized and build academic skills so they become successful in the classroom. Each one of our students is placed with tutors (one-to-one) based on their academic needs and learning styles. The students are either tutored here at Merit (in Soquel) or at the student’s home.

Students who have completed projects in the past have positively impacted the community, while significantly increasing their chances of college admissions. Our students have captured the attention of local publications, and discovered innovative ways to market themselves to the colleges of their dreams. Merit’s College Advisory offers a personalized service to support students prepare for college admissions.

Some of the unique benefits that the students receive at Merit are learning time management and organizational skills, and how to study for exams. All tutorial sessions begin with the tutor reviewing the student’s planner. To remain organized we ask students to enter all classes, all assignment due dates, AND when they plan to complete school work in their planners. By helping the student to learn how to plan the various stages of their research for papers or projects, we hope to instill good study skills. Often times, the student’s primary problem is disorganization.

Our tutors specialize in specific areas in order to be able to help the student with difficult concepts, homework and test preparation. After our Diagnostic Initial Session with our Educational Consultant, an Individual Tutorial Program is designed to build a strong academic foundation and to help the student with homework and to prepare for tests. We work with the classroom teachers to make sure assignments are turned in on time and that long-term projects are carefully scheduled in the students’ planners. Our goal is to help get the students back on track as soon as possible.

High School Guidance Counselors

Are you planning to offer a college advisory seminar for college-bound students and their parents? It's an ideal way to answer all of their questions and organize the students' college application process in one setting. As the author of Beat the College Admissions Game: Do a Project!, I am available to speak about college admissions requirements and tips on how to get into selective colleges by doing a project. As you know, students who do projects stand out and their essays are more interesting than those who don't.

If you would like to learn more about our seminars and how we can help to educate your students and parents about the college admissions process, please call me at (831) 462-5655 or email me at info@meritworld.com. We can also email you a free ebook version of our book Beat the College Admissions Game: Do a Project!.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Get your child organized!

Get your children off to a new, organized start this year by using Merit’s Planner to help your children decide when they’ll complete their homework and chores, and learn how to monitor their progress.

When your children know that you are actively aware of their day-to-day responsibilities, they’ll be more prone to completing their tasks and being honest. Ask your children to enter in their planners, all classes, after-school activities, appointments, and other scheduled meetings. With all seven days displayed in equal columns and each day divided into 15-minute increments, the Merit Planner gives students the opportunity to plan when they’ll do homework, study for tests, and hang out with friends. Most kids are unrealistic about how long it will take to complete homework assignments or to study for tests. Typically, they underestimate by 50%. By asking your child to block off time in his planner to complete each assignment, he’ll begin to see how much overall time is needed to get everything done by the end of the night.

The biggest problem for most students is planning how to do a large project. Most kids wait until the eleventh hour and cram to finish it way past their bedtimes. Besides causing unnecessary stress for the entire family, your child isn’t learning how to produce quality work – he’s just throwing it together to get it done. By using the Merit Planner, students can plan ahead. Simply enter the project due date in the planner and work your way backwards. Assign short tasks to do each day and then show your child when he actually needs to get started in order to finish it on time. This gives the students the opportunity to schedule tasks for big projects around regular homework, practices, and social events.

After your children have entered in their Merit Planners scheduled activities and blocked off time to get work done, all they need to do is that day’s tasks. Because it’s all blocked off at the actual time they’re supposed to be doing it, you can help monitor their progress. As they complete each task, they will highlight it to indicate that the job is done. They’ll enjoy this wonderful feeling of highlighting tasks as they get things done throughout the day. Unlike a homework or chores list, the Merit Planner allows the students to designate time to do each task. That way if there is too much going on in one day, your child can cross off the task and move it to another day.

Have Family Meetings once a week to motivate your children to use and follow their planners. By reviewing their progress and making sure that they’ve completed homework, studied for exams, and finished chores, you can reward them with privileges. When they ask if they can play or go out with friends, simply ask to see their planners. If everything for that day is highlighted, then they’re free to go. If not, just tell them to ask again after they are done. To make sure that they don’t erase tasks to hide them from you, check their planners often so you are aware of what’s going on in their lives.

You’ll find that your children will become better students and more responsible when they use the Merit Planner. If you would like guidance in teaching your child how to use the planner, set up an appointment with Merit’s Advisors. You can purchase the Merit Planner at www.meritworld.com

Meritworld Educational Services

MERIT exists as education institution that focuses on the provision of educational advisory to the general public. We provide consultation to both parents and students in engaging and advancing the student's future, an individualized approach for personal interests.

MERIT ACADEMY

Within the MERIT family, we provide a comprehensive educational approach through the Merit Academy, an independent school. The Academy provides a carefully designed courseload that incorporates the core learning desires of the students and embraces the full spectrum of learning from Merit Academy's kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum. Our approach and educational philosophy extend from Merit's Story.

The Academy is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) (for grades 9th-12th).

EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY

In addition to the Academy, MERIT also offers comprehensive educational services that enhance skills and provide guidance for students who want a greater education. These services extend from study skills to private tutoring, college admissions through graduate school, and even home schooling curriculum and alternatives.