College Prep Guide South Jersey | February 2023

College Prep Guide

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Upper90Prep Seeking to Prepare Students for Future Academic Endeavors

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the pitch came to a close, Rick Kraemer has been coaching both boys’ and girls’ soccer for over 30 years, and he has applied those many lessons of empathy, encouragement, and discipline to his tutoring practice. Whether in Geometry, Algebra, or the SAT & ACT, he builds a relationship with each and every student and works hard to ensure a positive outcome, be it on a quiz, a math test, or the stressful SAT & ACT standardized tests.

There are no short-cuts to improving SAT/ACT scores. It takes time, practice, and guidance from someone who understands every aspect of every test section. Test taking strategies and time management are critical components of a sound test preparation methodology.

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Fun & Games

Sometimes it’s good to set aside everyday responsibilities and just – play!

Game Friendzy in Cherry Hill, with its sunny, spacious rooms, free parking, and complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks, is the perfect venue to relax, socialize, and play some games, whether it be bridge, mah jongg, canasta, or pinochle.

The gaming facility, located at 7 Carnegie Plaza, near the intersection of Springdale and Church roads, offers a wide selection of online and in-person social and competitive game sessions weekly.

Mah jongg, canasta, and pinochle are played in two-hour sessions Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm; Thursdays, 10 am-12 pm and 1-3

pm; Fridays, 10 am-12 pm, and Saturdays, 10 am-12 pm. Participants play two-, three, and four-person variations of each game, depending on attendance. Come alone or with a group of family or friends; no reservations are necessary. A facilitator forms tables as players arrive and is on hand to answer questions and offer guidance. All levels are welcome, including novices with a basic grasp of their game of choice.

For experienced bridge players, a sanctioned bridge game is on tap every Wednesday at 12 pm, while on Thursdays, 9:30 am12:30 pm, Game Friendzy hosts a novice bridge game for beginners that includes a brief lesson on duplicate bridge and bridge etiquette before the game gets underway, and a post-game board review with the director.

Those interested in a more casual bridge game can log on to their device of choice for Game Friendzy’s online social bridge sessions Tuesdays, 10-11:30 am,

please see GAMES, page 5

Important Changes to the SAT and ACT Coming in 2023

In the world of SAT and ACT test prep, a lot has changed in the last few years. Both exams were impacted by the pandemic, sparking a number of changes (to join some that were already underway). Rich Bernstein of the Cherry Hill and Turnersville Huntington Learning Centers, shares known SAT and ACT changes. “At Huntington, we’ve seen plenty of SAT and ACT updates, ranging from minor adjustments to sweeping overhauls,” Bernstein says. “Taking SAT and ACT tests in 2023 and 2024 will be different for students.” Here’s what parents and students need to know:

SAT updates

The SAT and all PSAT-related assessments are going digital. In January 2022, the College Board announced its plans to go completely digital. Here’s the timeline:

• The digital SAT will be offered at international test centers starting in March 2023.

• The digital PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/ NMSQT will be offered everywhere starting in fall 2023.

• The digital PSAT 10 will be offered everywhere starting in spring 2024.

• The digital SAT will be offered in the U.S. starting in spring 2024.

The digital SAT will be shorter. The current paper-and-pencil SAT is around three hours long and tests students in Reading, Writing and Math through four different sections. The digital SAT will be around two hours long, still testing students in Reading, Writing, and Math, but will only have two sections.

The digital test will be adaptive. The digital SAT will consist of two sections, Reading & Writing and Math, and each section will contain two parts, or modules. Students take the first module and their performance in that module will determine which questions the student will receive in the second module.

SAT School Day is going digital also. Some schools currently

administer the current version of the SAT (same format as the paper) on a computer during SAT School Day. In the spring of 2024, both the current paper-based SAT and computer-based SAT administered on SAT School Day will be replaced by the new digital SAT. Keep in mind the digital SAT released in 2024 will be very different than the versions currently offered.

The entire Math section of the SAT will allow a calculator. A graphing calculator will be built into the testing app or students can bring their own.Eventually, paper PSAT/SAT exams will no longer be offered. After the SAT suite transitions to digital in 2024, there will no longer be paper-and-pencil versions of the PSAT/SAT except for students with accommodations that require them.

Students can use their own computers. Students can take the digital SAT on a laptop or tablet (either a personal device or a school-issued device). If needed, they can request to borrow one from the College Board.

The shorter digital SAT will measure the same core knowledge and skills. The digital SAT will be more efficient in measuring what students need for college and career success. In the Reading and Writing section, for example, students will see shorter texts with one question each (vs. long reading passages with multiple questions per passage). For the Math section, word problems will be more concise.

ACT updates

ACT has not made any recent announcements about changes to the ACT exam. In the last few years, the company announced that several big changes would be forthcoming, including online testing and section retesting—the ability to retake individual sections of the ACT after sitting for the full exam.

REACH YOUR SAT/ACT GOALS AND GET COLLEGE READY WITH HUNTINGTON!

Higher test scores will help you stand out amongst your peers when applying to college and achieve success. Prep now to increase your college options and scholarship dollars. Call today!

• 1:1 personalized instruction designed to meet your needs

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Find a reprieve working at Summer Camp

This Winter, Summer Camp is Hotter than Ever!

We’re all experiencing the effects of these difficult, post-pandemic times. Especially young people. They are navigating post-lockdown life with the intense pressures of screenbased friendships, self-esteem in the volatile hands of social media, academic demands, as well as the societal effects of climate change, gun violence, economic inflation, and political nastiness.

But alas, many have found a great way to unplug, decompress and see life from a fresh vantage point- At Summer Camp! This winter has seen unprecedented numbers of campers enrolling in Summer Camp programs, by parents recognizing the need to pry their kids off their screens and regain their social skills. Many high school and college students have found a similar reprieve from the weight of worldly cares by WORKING at Summer Camp as well. With fresh air, sunshine,

laughter, comradery, friendships, responsibility, and a whole lot of FUN- it’s the ultimate summer job, and a great option to let loose, hone their lost social skills, and develop the work ethic and professionalism that employers are seeking.

In my new favorite book “The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure,” authors/researchers Greg Lukanoff and Jonathan Haidt bring to light the unintended consequences of how raising children has evolved in the past decade.

• Fragility: What doesn’t kill you makes you… weaker? Wasn’t it “What doesn’t kill you makes you STRONGER?” Young people have been taught and encouraged of late to be risk-averse. Attending or working at Summer Camp can be super-fun AND super-challenging. They meet new people, develop and nurture friendships, learn to compro

camps- persevere through the heat and “liquid sunshine.” Longitudinal research spearheaded by the American Camp Association is showing unequivocally that young people attending or working at Camp come out stronger, and more resilient!

• Emotional Reasoning: Always trust your feelings? We’ve all experienced negative, and even overwhelming emotions at times. To be emotionally healthy though, we need to learn to manage these feelings and not let them rule our lives and logic. At Summer Camp, any given day can be an emotional rollercoaster. There will be winning and losing, disagreements with friends, fear of failure, and disappointments like NOT getting your favorite blue ice pop! It’s REAL LIFE, in a structured, well-supervised setting where we turn stressors into growth opportunities, preparing young people for the inevitable challenges that lie ahead of them.

• Us vs. Them: That life is

a battle between good and evil people. Cancel culture has become normalized by what has transpired on the news, in colleges, and in the workplace, causing negativity and polarization. Meanwhile, there are huge commonalities of shared beliefs between all of us. While accepting differences in others can be difficult, good Summer Camps create a training ground to practice diversity, equity, and inclusion. Whether it’s the annoying kid on the bus, the kid that looks different, the kid with physical or emotional challenges, or even the quirky counselor, Camp creates an environment where young people learn to adapt and build an understanding and appreciation for the uniqueness of others.

It’s been a rough past few years, but a “covid silver lining” is the that families are now recognizing the significant effects on their children of increased screen time/social media, isolation, anxiety, depression, prescription drugs, and over the top

parental “safetyism” which has led to declining free play. Parents are actively seeking solutions, and they have found one in Summer Camp.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that Camps are filling up quicker than ever, so do your research and reserve your spots now! The word is out, that Summer Camp is way more than kickball, making bracelets, and cooling off in the pool. It’s the ultimate learning environment for young people, including young staff, to develop and practice the social skills essential for success in the 21st century. Nothing compares to the Camp Experience!

Andy Pritikin is the owner/director or Liberty Lake Day Camp, and a partner at Everwood Day Camp and Camp Southwoods. He’s the Past President of the American Camp Association, NY/ NJ, and the host of the Day Camp Podcast.

Coaches vs Cancer

Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast

Join us on Monday March 13th for the 25th Annual Coaches vs Cancer Tourney Tip-Off Breakfast! Guests will gather on the iconic Palestra floor for NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament pick discussions. Compare your brackets to those of the Philly 6 Coaches, TBA sports media personalities, and our host, Amy Fadool of NBC Sports Philadelphia!

We will be honoring cancer survivor and longtime Palestra janitor, Dan Harrell with the Dinsmore Award, which is given annually to an inspiring cancer survivor in the Philadelphia basketball community. Dan was the janitor at the Palestra for 23 years and took a special pride in maintaining that prestigious playing floor. We will also be honoring Neil French, with the Speedy Morris Service Award, which is given annually to a vol-

unteer who embodies Speedy’s commitment to Coaches vs Cancer and the Philadelphia sports community. Over the past eight years, Neil has helped raise over $108,000 at Maple Point Middle School with their annual Coaches vs Cancer double header.

If you cannot attend the Tourney-Tip Off Breakfast, our 19th Annual Coaches vs Cancer BasketBall Gala honoring Jay & Patty Wright. It will be hosted by Fran & Ree Dunphy and the Philadelphia City 6 Division 1 Men’s basketball coaches along with honorary chairs Thomas & Tracey Gravina. This must attend event presented by Independence Blue Cross, will be at the Bellevue in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 15th.

For more info on both events you can go to www.phillycvc.org

GAMES

continued from page 2 and Wednesdays, 6:30-8 pm. Game Friendzy also offers a full menu of in-person and online bridge lessons for beginner to advanced players, covering topics from basic bridge to bidding conventions to defensive techniques.

Visit the Game Friendzy calendar at www.gamefriendzy.com/ calendar/ to see all the bridge, mah jongg, canasta, and pinochle gaming sessions lessons, and fees or contact Game Friendzy owner Bernadette Hennessy May at 856-795-PLAY (5729) or info@ gamefriendzy.com .

The College Admissions Firm

Our goal is for you to achieve yours.

Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions (B.A./B.S./M.A./M.B.A./M.S./Ed.D./Ph.D.)

Upcoming Events

College Application Essay Writing 2-day Seminar (pre-registration required)

Sunday, March 19, 2023 / 4:00 - 5:30 pm (Day 1)

Sunday, April 23, 2023 / 4:00 - 5:30 pm (Day 2)

Cost: $75 per person for the two day seminar- Students must attend both days. This two –part seminar is a deep dive into writing a compelling college essay. Day one focuses on learning the process of approaching the essay question. Day two is a hands-on review and critique of your essay draft. Students will have a finalized college admissions essay upon completion of the seminar.

Held in person only at YARD Sciences - 801 S. Church St., Ste. 9, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054

Free College Admissions Workshop (pre-registration required)

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Held in-person and via Zoom at YARD Sciences - 801 S. Church St., Ste. 9, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054

Topics covered: How do I write a compelling essay? How do I select the best college for my major? What questions should I ask college admissions representatives? Where can I find scholarships?

Register for any of these events by using this QR code: or by going to www.pelhamadmissionsedge.com/events

Our students attend: Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Drexel University, Johns Hopkins University, Purdue University, and many other competitive institutions.

continued from page 3

However, section retesting was postponed, and no further updates have been made as to whether it might still happen. The same goes for online testing: no recent updates. As of now, the ACT is still a paper-and-pencil exam for students taking it in the United States. A computer-based version of the paper-and-pencil ACT is offered in some states and school districts on schoolday test dates only as well as at international testing centers. As for national ACT test dates, these are all still paper exams. The ACT content and scoring are the same for its paper-based and computer-based formats.

Learn more about SAT and ACT changes by visiting the College Board and ACT websites.

Taking SAT and ACT tests is important

Bernstein reminds parents that even with some colleges and universities being test-optional, taking SAT and ACT tests is worthwhile. “Strong SAT or ACT scores can open up opportunities for students to earn scholarships

and direct admission into certain colleges or programs within a university,” he says. “Also, strong scores can help strengthen a student’s overall profile, especially if they are trying to counterbalance a GPA that isn’t as high as they want it to be.

Scores help round out the picture for admissions officers of a student’s academic abilities.”

SAT and ACT test prep with Huntington is an excellent way to improve a score and open the door to more competitive colleges. “Huntington begins every program with a comprehensive evaluation that identifies a student’s strengths and weaknesses,” Bernstein explains. “We feel it is important to personalize each student’s SAT/ACT test prep program to their abilities and goals. In a Huntington test prep program, students strengthen their knowledge, learn test-taking tips that will help them on the exam, get comfortable taking practice exams and improve their confidence.”Learn more about Huntington’s exam prep tutoring for the SAT and ACT by calling 1-800 CAN LEARN.

About Huntington Huntington Learning Center is the nation’s leading tutoring and test prep provider. We offer customized programs in person, on-

line, and hybrid options. Our certified teachers provide individualized instruction in phonics, reading, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington’s programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Huntington is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Founded in 1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.HuntingtonHelps.com and for franchising opportunities, visit www.HuntingtonFranchise.com.

You can also call or stop in to either of our locations in Cherry Hill & Turnersville.

Cherry Hill Location: Turnersville Location: 1990 Marlton Pike East, NJ-70, 860 NJ-168, Suite 102 Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 Turnersville, NJ 08012 (856) 795-1933 (856) 227-0033