PARENT TESTIMONIAL

"Several months ago our child was struggling in his Algebra class. Fortunately we remembered our meeting with you at the MoneyLive 2019 youth life skills event. You took the time to learn our (especially our child's) situation and plan an effective series of one-on-one tutoring/study sessions. The result: our child is ending the school year with much improved (a full letter grade) performance in Algebra. The Village is stronger because of you."

Parents of a Clear Lake High School student

College Admission Tell-All: Pavisha Sargunan
Edited by Jennifer Ledwith |jdledwith@scholaready.com 
(713) 553-6557

Current Scholar Ready students asked Scholar Ready's Class of 2020 and 2021 about applying for college admission and scholarships. 

Pavisha Sargunan graduated from Clear Brook High School on May 28. She plans to attend University of Houston-Clear Lake, located in Houston, Texas, where she plans to pursue a degree in Mathematical Sciences. I prepared Ms. Sargunan for her SAT. She also attended Scholar Ready's Essay Writing for College Admissions and Scholarships last summer.  

She has earned a full scholarship to the University of Houston-Clear Lake.  

Here are her lightly edited responses. 

You have to do all these things to get into college and get scholarships. Where's the right place to start?
I would start with researching all the colleges and universities you want to apply to. From there, look at whether each university has your preferred major and then look at the admission requirements for that specific university and major. I would also look at the cost of attending that school and the financial aid opportunities (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) the school has to offer.

How many colleges should you apply to? Is it better to throw everything at the wall to see what sticks? Or just pinpoint a few schools and apply to those?
It depends on what you're looking for. If you know you want to go to a specific school, I would apply to that school plus a few others just in case. If you aren't really sure of where you want to go, I would apply to a bunch of schools and see what sticks. You never really know if there's one school that offers you a full ride. Personally, UHCL was the last school I applied to (last minute too), and I just applied to see how much I could get in scholarships from the university. Now, I received a full ride and that's where I'm going, so you never really know what each school has to offer. 

How do you correctly judge a college when it's telling you what it can offer? How do you know what's real? How do you know how to evaluate the claims?
To make sure I was getting the correct details, I emailed the school with any questions I had about what I saw on its school-specific website and my student account. The staff was very nice and helpful, so I felt no pressure emailing them all of my questions. These staff members are very nice and are there to help all students in every way. 

Were the essays for the applications hard or easy?
The essay prompts were not hard to understand in my opinion. The hard part was mainly thinking about what exactly I wanted to write about with each prompt.

ESSAY WRITING FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
  • How to write a personal essay
  • How to build a scholarship plan (where to find scholarships and what to write about in other essays)
  • How to request letters of recommendation
  • Interview skills

SESSION I: June 7 - July 1 | MWTh | 9 am - 10:15 am  
OR
SESSION II: July 6 - August 3 | MWTh | 9 am - 10:15 am  

To register, call (713) 553-6557 or email jdledwith@scholaready.com. 

How personal should you get in your personal essay?
If you're looking to impress the school, I would get just personal enough to a point where you are comfortable with somebody else talking about your essay. 

How long should you wait for a response from the admissions office?
For rolling admissions, it took a couple of weeks from the time I submitted my application online to get a decision. In total, I applied to six colleges, 4 of which I had automatic admission to, since I am in the top 10% of my graduating class. The other two  colleges (both were not rolling) posted on their website when they would publish the decision, and I believe both of them published the decision by the day they said they would.  

What was it like if you got denied by a college that you wanted to go to?
Being rejected definitely hurt a little bit, considering I was really looking forward to the college's program for my major; however, I had the mindset of "if it was meant to be, it will happen." I knew that everything happens for a reason, and I just overcame the rejection by telling myself that I will still be going to a good college with a great program for my major, so everything will be okay. 

Were new criteria established for college admission since the COVID-19 pandemic? 
Due to the pandemic, many colleges and universties waived the SAT and ACT requirements. Also, the interviews took place online instead of in person. Other than those changes, everything else in the admission process stayed pretty much the same as before. 

What guidance would you provide to a tenth grader to help them be successful in high school and competitively prepared for college?
As a tenth grader, I would focus on my classes, making sure my grades are beyond just passing. I would also include making time to do a couple extracurriculars outside of academics. Colleges these days are looking for students who are more well-rounded. Make sure you keep your grades up while also participating in extracurriculars. Venture out and challenge yourself with all the opportunities life has to offer. 

PV Bound Cypress Park Grad: Don't give up when the applications start to seem like "too much work."

College Admission Tell-All: Toni Bryant: " Before entering college, I thought I would have to be perfect, but I realized everyone makes mistakes and needs help along the way."
Register for Classes


Summer 2021: The Hero's Journey 
June 7 - August 13
Midnight Madness Family & Friends Game Night: August 13
Scholar Ready Summer Symposium: August 14

Essay Writing for Scholarships & College Admissions
SESSION I: June 7 - July 1 | MWTh | 9 am - 10:15 am  | $125 to reserve your student's spot, $485 due June 15, 2021
4 seats remaining

SESSION II: July 6 - August 3 | MWTh | 9 am - 10:15 am  | $125 to reserve your student's spot, $485 due July 15, 2021
4 seats remaining

Class size: Limited to 4 students | 2 books | Recommended for high school classes of 2021 and 2022 | 100% Live instruction on Skype

Students will learn:
  • How to write a personal essay
  • How to build a scholarship plan (where to find scholarships and what to write about in other essays)
  • How to request letters of recommendation
  • Interview skills
 To register, call (713) 553-6557 or email jdledwith@scholaready.com. 
PSAT Preparation (The PSAT is scheduled for October 13, 2021)
Recommended for students who have completed Geometry
Class size: Limited to 4 students  | 100% Live instruction on Skype | 2 textbooks

Session I: Math: Geometry, Measurement, Proportions, Percents, Ratios
June 7 - June 24 | MWTh | 10:30 am - 11:45 am | $195 | SOLD OUT

Session II: Math: Linear Functions
June 28 - July 15 | MWTh | 10:30 am - 11:45 am | $195 | 1 seat remaining

Session III: Reading
June 28 - July 15| MWTh | 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm | $295 |SOLD OUT
Session IV: Math: Quadratic Functions

July 19 - August 5| MWTh | 10:30 am - 11:45 am | $195 | 1 seat remaining

Session V: Writing and Language
July 19 - August 5 | MWTh | 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm| $295 | SOLD OUT

Would you like to participate in all 5 sessions and the October 4 - 6 Test Review? Invest in a Class Pass! $1095
To register, call (713) 553-6557 or email jdledwith@scholaready.com. 

Summer Math and Literacy Program: THE HERO'S JOURNEY
Recommended for rising 8th, 9th, and 10th graders
Class size: Limited to 4 students | 100% Live instruction on Skype

Session I: Pre-Algebra & Fiction | 2 seats remaining
June 7 - June 24 | MWTh | 1 pm - 2:15 pm & 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm| $359

Session II: Linear Functions & a Graphic Novel | 2 seats remaining
June 28 - July 15 | MWTh | 1 pm - 2:15 pm & 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm | $359

Session III: Quadratic Functions & Non-Fiction | 2 seats remaining
July 19 - August 5 | MWTh | 1 pm - 2:15 pm & 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm | $359

Would you like to participate in all 3 sessions? Invest in a Class Pass! $729
To register, call (713) 553-6557 or email jdledwith@scholaready.com. 
About Scholar Ready 
Jennifer Ledwith is the owner of Scholar Ready, an educational services company. She meets with clients online or in person in Houston, Texas. She also studied Personal Financal Planning at Rice University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.
 
Scholar Ready tutors Math, conducts personal essay writing workshops, and prepares students for PSAT, SAT, and ACT exams. To learn more, visit www.scholaready.com and  http://www.youtube.com/scholaready .
 
Ms. Ledwith is the PSAT and SAT instructor at University of Houston-Clear Lake's Center for Executive Education. She also prepares students for the ACT. Learn about her upcoming PSAT/SAT preparation course.


Contact information:
(713) 553-6557