The Last Class Wednesday Blog

Okay!

December 5th is D-Day for my SAT and LSAT students. I wish you guys much luck. Please do not forget these items:

SAT LSAT
Picture I.D. 2 Pictue I.D.'s
Ticket Ticket
2-3 No 2 Pencils Pencils and Pen (No.2)
Calculator Your calm demeanor
Good eraser
A stimulant to keep you awake during the breaks.


Please get to your respective test centers by 8 a.m. Stay close to the registration tables. Stand-bys await your tickets, but get there early.

The Kingston group, your Pizza Hour is at the office. Place your orders now-is it Pineapple/Chicken or Meat Lovers? We can all discuss the woes of the exam...

Now that classes are out-it is all about the applications. Those looking at the January exam-yes, that score will still be counted...

Will the blog continue throughout the holidays-absolutely...Is the office open till midnight? Absolutely not...

A few more colleges have graced my office-check out Cazenovia and Loyola in Maryland. As for boarding schools-look at Shattuck St. Mary and Cushing.

My Mobay students, sorry I missed you on Friday, but it was called FATIGUE! I will be there on Wednesday, God's willing!

Read more »

The wednesday-Friday US/Canadian High School Fair Blog

Hi Students and Parents:

What a resounding success! I am so proud...We were commended by all the representatives who visited us from overseas. They said what polished and articulate students we had at Versan...So to my SSAT group, cheers! Now, let's work towards those high grades for the December exam!

To the Mobay group travelling in, we applaud your efforts and will see you on Sunday when you join with the Kingston group...

As for applications, let's all now get them ready!

Read more »

The North Carolina Wednesday Blog

Hi readers!

It is raining cats and dogs in North Carolina (Hurricane Ida on the move) but that has not dampened my spirits in researching the schools. I hope that my SSAT students are studying ferociously and those who did the SAT on the 7th are recuperating...

I have seen 6 schools so far and slated to see 3 more tomorrow. Each school had a distinct flavor and as we say "to each his own!"

North Carolina Schools:
I found Queens University of Charlotte a gem. It is a small school with a strong sports program, particularly soccer. Their strong majors are Nursing, Business, Psychology, Environmental Science and English. One of their professors has recently won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel"Oliver Kitteredge." Students travel a lot abroad, fully funded by the school. I admired the personal feel of the school and the close interaction between the President, faculty and students.

Davidson was a pleasant surprise! It was a powerful academic dynamo and I was surprised to see the humongous research perpetrated by the undergraduates. 80% get into the medical school of choice. Their Honor Code system works well and they hold Division I in most sports! Beautiful campus. Good financial aid packages...We have had a number of Versan students at this school. Those doing Art and Art History should seriously look here, as well as Medicine...

University of the North Carolina School of the Arts -anyone for great film-making, dance and theatre design, acting, music, make-up and costume production? This is the place. Quiet location but to show the depth of the talent found here, Cirque du Soleil asked these students to work on their set design..Only rivalled by Carnegie Mellon's Theater Program...a winner.

High Point University felt like being at the Ritz Carlton. Great for Business and Communications. I won't say anymore, visit their website. Be irreverently shocked!

University of North Carolina, Charlotte - is probably the largest I have ever seen. I believe the sororities and fraternities reign here. Great sports community..but great at the sciences, engineering, race-car design (Nascar is close by)....interesting place but huge...even Metereology is offered. Occupational Therapy and Sports Science is big. Great multicultural diversity...

Tomorrow I see Duke, Wake Forest and UNC Chapel Hill. There will be a Thursday blog for those schools.

Elon was the quiet religious storm. It boasts a strong Christian culture but was a school that catered personally to its students. Surf and Turf in the cafeteria? $100000 given to students to create portfolios and invest...Two strongest departments:Business and Communications. Ranked as one of the top 5 journalism schools in the country. One of the only schools in North Carolina where students work with cadavers in the science department.

See you tomorrow with the final report from North Carolina schools.

Read more »

The 8 p.m. Wednesday Blog

So dear readers, it is Montego Bay's office at the end of my last consultation that I belt out today's blog.

As always on a Wednesday, I try to keep all readers up-to-date. I want to introduce two universities to your growing lists of schools (I know, but as international students, the wider the net, the bigger the scholarship haul)...

University of Mary Washington caught my eye because of the cost-is this for real $19000 for an international student? In the state of Viriginia? (Well, we will try to forget that the Democrats lost there last night.) Sports of note: Soccer, Swimming, Field Hockey, Tennis, Track and field, Equestrian, Rowing, Basketball.

Majors of note: Modern Languages, Historic Preservation (one of the finest in the country), Pre-Veterinary, Psychology, Business, Art and Business Accounting.

They also won the National Debate Championship in 2009.
____________
Pitzer University in California is the second university I wish to advertise. It is one of the Claremont California schools in a great location. Known for its laid-back approach, hippie-like setting, Pitzer students are truly unique.

For my Water Polo students, this is a school to look at! They also boast for Math junkies, the unenviable major of Financial Engineering. And Management Engineering-two lucrative post BA careers...Hinting!!!!

Sports are: Basketball, Swimming, Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Golf, Softball and Volleyball.
____________

Next week, I will be visiting schools in North Carolina, so my blog will be written and dispatched from cool North Carolina. Feel free to e-mail me at sandra@versan.org. I will answer all queries while on tour.

__________
This Saturday is another SAT exam. Brace yourselves, prepare and go to bed early. Do go for the gold! 8 hours of rest...The stand-bys, get there early. I will be at the Priory center.

My SSAT are taking their exam next Saturday, the 14th. So to Rachel Phillips, Maria Mair, William Knibb-best of luck. I would love to have some of you there to cheer them on. Your parents can leave you there and I will drive you back to class as we still continue on..

GRE classes in Kingston are now officially Saturdays: Maths: 10:30 a.m. at Shortwod and Verbal at 5 p.m.-the office.

I will not be around to teach my GRE/LSAT next week so the make-up sessions will be this Saturday the 7th from 5 p.m and the 17th from 6-9.

SAT or ACT? If a weak SAT score is in place, try the ACT. I will import a few texts for students.

We are about to link Facebook and Twitter to our blog. Happy Reading those magazines for words, particularly Harper's, New Yorker....

See you next Wednesday! John Green of Montego Bay, you made my day. Khamal Clayton, good luck with your MIT interview and I suspect Matthew Tomlinson, you should be wrapping up yours...Hope all went well! Jodecia, no more sorrow-glad to see you are in chirpier spirits...Welcome to consultations, Ms. Gayle from Mannings...

Read more »