College Admissions

The mystery and anxiety surrounding college admissions have never been greater. Students and their parents navigate the maze of applications, testing, essays, and interviews each year, receiving conflicting information about what, when, and how to do it. Lauren is working to change that.

Her columns as the National College Admissions Examiner for examiner.com dispel common myths, reveal strategies and pointers, and lessen anxiety by offering sound advice. One subscriber recently emailed, “Thanks for your work--I thoroughly enjoy your articles. You are a wealth of college admissions information!”

Click on the image to view the column

Lauren’s book Goof-Proof College Admissions Essays provides a step-by-step process for crafting an essay that connects with admissions officers. In it, she not only explains what makes great content, and offers specific writing strategies to make an essay stand out, but she also reveals the common mistakes made by students in this high-stakes essay.

Test prep is big business, and it’s not all created equal. Some students have the motivation to work through 800-page prep books, and others are willing to spend thousands of dollars on a months-long course. Then, there’s everyone else. Lauren created SAT Bootcamp to bridge the gap between those extremes. After writing SAT, GRE, MCAT and other test prep for clients such as Kaplan and McGraw-Hill; and the book SAT Writing Essentials (LearningExpress, 2006), she knew there was a better way to teach students how to take the test, and maximize their scores. Developed and led with math teacher Karen Needler, the four hour workshop covers the entire test, and includes a Basic Training Manual that includes all presented material plus a grammar review, Bootcamp Vocabulary list, and complete practice sections.

Lauren is currently working with college counselor Marilyn Emerson on The Sane Parent’s Guide to College Admissions. The book covers every aspect of the admissions process, and gives parents clear advice on how to get involved. You’ll learn a parent’s role in testing, high school course selection, college research, and more. The authors discuss the fine line between involvement and over-involvement, and how to achieve the right balance. Check back for information about publication date and author appearances.

Services

Please contact Lauren for more information on any of the following:

Admissions essays: Lauren is available for one or multiple sessions, in person or via email, to assist with essay development or to evaluate completed essays.

SAT tutoring: Using data from PSAT or SAT scores, Lauren can create a personalized study plan for the Critical Reading and Writing sections of the SAT.

SAT Bootcamp: Currently offered six times a year in the Burlington, Vermont area, SAT Bootcamp can travel! Lauren and Karen are also developing the workshop for the Internet.

Check www.satbootcamp.us for updates.