Laura’s TIP of the Week
Ace the Game
When it comes to the grammar section, imagine you’re in the thick of the World Series of Poker. Put on your best poker face, and concentrate on the hand in
front of you. Certain types of mistakes trump all others. Look first for mistakes in pronoun and subject/verb agreement, as these are the Royal Flush of
grammar errors. You do not need to memorize lots of grammar rules, but to win this game you do need to understand the rules of pronoun and subject/verb
agreement. Like a game, look first at the pronouns and verbs underlined and make sure all are correct. THEN, and only then, look at the other underlined
words or phrases for mistakes. The stakes couldn’t be higher: ace this game and your prize is a college acceptance letter!
For a list of the commonly found grammar errors, email us for WilsonDailyPrep's Grammar Keys.
Exercise of the Week
Find the error:
Each of the eagle chicks eats as much as it can during a single feeding but stores a large amount of undigested food in their crop, an organ located near the
base of the neck. No Error
Answer: A pronoun is underlined in this sentence. Look at this word first. “Each” at the beginning of the sentence is a tricky little word because it is singular,
and "Each" is the subject of this sentence. (The subject is NOT found in “of the eagle chicks” because this is a prepositional phrase, and subjects are never
found in prepositional phrases.) So, the error is “their”; the correct pronoun should be “its”. Another trick to finding the correct pronoun is to look for
consistency within the sentence. There is an “it” earlier in the sentence that is not underlined, so you want to stay consistent and singular.
Weekly Word
Languid (adj.): Having an aversion to physical exertion or effort; pleasantly lazy
Languid Louise never did her homework when she got home from school, preferring to sit on the
couch and watch TV instead.
Emily’s Pearls of Wisdom
Breaking News! The Common Application Board of Directors announced this week that it has changed the essay questions for the 2013-14 application. Why
is this big news? Because the Common App has tossed the beloved last essay option that allowed a student to write on a topic of his or her choosing. Now,
students must pick a specific question and answer eloquently and insightfully.
Here are the 5 NEW questions:
• Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds
like you, then please share your story.
• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
• Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
• Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
• Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Next week I will discuss briefly how to address these questions so that a student can shine.
Any questions? Email Emily at AthenaAdvisors@optimum.net. And, if you find this newsletter helpful, pass it along to a friend and check
out www.wilsondailyprep.com.
College Spotlight
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology, in downtown Atlanta, is the premiere engineering school in the south. By no means a walk in the park academically,
Georgia Tech cranks out well-prepared engineers, computer scientists and architects by the thousands, often depositing them in well-paying jobs and
excellent graduate programs. The huge campus covers almost 500 acres, and the architecture, which includes magnificent Georgian Revival structures,
reflects the southern setting. Every kind of engineering is offered, including Civil, Nuclear, and Biomedical. Business programs are gaining popularity and
future patent lawyers fill the Pre-Law program. Requirements at Georgia Tech include credit hours in social science, science, humanities, math and history,
so students graduate with good writing and critical thinking skills, increasingly valued in engineers. The Co-op program designed to provide real work
experience for undergrads also helps some students manage their tuition bills. Greek life dominates the social scene, but a student need not be a member
to participate in the weekend festivities. GT also fosters a diverse student body, even though more than half hail from Georgia. Students are not known for
their political activism and some might even call the typical student a nerdy sort, but when it comes to GT sports, the lab rats become the “Rambling Wreck
from Georgia Tech” and championship teams in several sports bring everyone out of the library and into one of several athletic facilities. If you are a serious
student, serious about training for a lucrative job in the tech sector, take a look at GT. If the workload becomes overwhelming, remember that Florida’s
beaches are only a half-day’s drive away!
Total Enrollment: 17,800
SAT CR: 580-680/ Math: 650-750
ACT: 27-31
IMPORTANT DATES
February 14th: January SAT scores released
Next SAT Dates:
March 9th Registration Deadline: Feb. 22nd (late registration)
May 4th Registration Deadline: April 5th
Next ACT Dates:
April 13th Registration Deadline: March 8th
June 8th Registration Deadline: May 3rd
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