Archive for August, 2010

3 Ways to Get into the College of Your Choice (Including SAT Prep)

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Almost 70 percent of high school students receive an acceptance letter to the college of their choice. You may be wondering what these students have in common, and it’s not only good grades. Building a student record that wows the admission board requires a well-rounded student. While a high grade point average certainly plays a role, focusing on other areas is just as important.

Get High SAT Scores

Part of obtaining high SAT scores has to do with knowing the information on the test, but the rest is about how to take a standardized test. SAT prep courses can help you accomplish both. There are also SAT prep guides to help guide you through the process. These classes and books help you practice taking the SAT and teach you tips and tricks to obtain the score you need to get into the college of your choice. Most students who take a SAT prep course score higher on the test than those who do not take the course. Statistically, students who take a SAT prep course after taking the SAT will score higher on the second SAT test than the first one.

Take AP Classes

Getting good grades in regular classes and getting good grades in AP classes are two different things. Obtaining an A in an AP class sets you apart from the kids who are pulling As in general classes. If your high school offers AP courses, register for at least some of these courses to beef up your college application.

Get Involved

Beyond taking SAT prep courses to boost your SAT score, you also have to participate in extracurricular activities. Balancing good grades, a high SAT score, and a sport or civic activity makes you well rounded, which is the kind of student the college of your choice is looking to admit.

Why 12-Step Programs Don’t Work For Everyone

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Although there are many different alcohol and drug addiction recovery programs, none are more popular than the 12-step program. However, just because this program is the most popular does not mean it is the right choice for everyone.

The first step turns off many immediately: admitting you are powerless over alcohol. While it is true that alcoholics have become dependent on alcohol, this does not equal powerlessness. If it did, there would be no true way to ever recover from alcoholism unless alcohol actively decided it was done with you. Since alcohol has no free will and those who wish to be sober do, this first step is faulty and often a problem.

Another thing that most people don’t know is how much of a factor God plays in the 12-step program. While many people are faithful and religious, there is a large portion of the world who is either atheist or agnostic. For those who don’t believe in God, the 12-step program will provide weeks and months of hurdles to overcome before the topic of drug or alcohol abuse is even broached. Since many addicts don’t have that much time to waste, those who don’t believe in God should avoid the 12-step program entirely.

Finally, regular meetings after completion of the program are strongly recommended. These meetings work for those who have the time to dedicate to them. However for recovering addicts who live a particularly busy life, making these meetings can be a chore. For these people, a solution must be found that is permanent and requires no maintenance, and that is not the 12-step program.

Although many people have successfully recovered from drug and alcohol abuse using the 12-step program, it is not right for everyone. For those looking for help, it is strongly recommended that they find a program that tailors to their specific needs.