Grammar Week & The Power of Authentic Storytelling
New Prefix Quizzes Now Available!
I've just published my latest batch of prefix quizzes to help you master vocabulary building from the ground up. These targeted exercises will strengthen your word recognition skills for not only the word in context section, but also your general reading comprehension – many times big words can make or break your understanding of complex passages.
Each quiz features a flashcard warmup, followed by matching exercises for definitions and root words. Then, you've got an SAT-style fill-in-the-blank for multiple choice. These are a great way to expose yourself to words that could be on the SAT. Here are this week's prefixes:
- Inter- = between or among (e.g., interject, intercede)
- Mal- = bad or harmful (e.g., malaise, malignant)
- Mis- = wrong or incorrect (e.g., misnomer, misinterpret)
- Mono- = one, single (e.g., monotonous, monologue)
- Mono- (alternate use) = ruled by one (e.g., monarchy, monogamy)
- Multi- = many (e.g., multifaceted, multiplicity)
SAT Bootcamp Update: Grammar Week Begins
We're heading into Week 3 of our intensive SAT Bootcamp—Grammar Week! This week we're diving deep into the foundational grammar concepts that appear most frequently in the SAT Writing section. From subject-verb agreement to independent clauses, we'll cover the essential rules, trick answer patterns, and time-saving techniques that can boost your score significantly.
Success Story: When Authenticity Trumps Perfect Stats
This week, I came across a fascinating post from a student who was accepted to both Princeton and Columbia with a 1470 SAT score (which he didn't even submit) and no major awards. This Asian male from the East Coast attended a small private school that "definitely wasn't a feeder" to Ivy League schools.
What made the difference? Authentic storytelling and finding his unique niche.
Here are some key insights from his experience:
On Building a Cohesive Narrative:
"I applied as a humanities major and I made my WHOLE app about that... I think my narrative was being a language person, but I also used every available space in my apps to show another side and facet of me and my interests."
On Choosing Meaningful Over Impressive:
"I started a tutoring club that teaches language and mythology at my school for middle schoolers, and despite having more 'impressive' extracurriculars, I ranked that one higher up because it was far more meaningful to me."
On Being Yourself:
"I can wholeheartedly say I chose to be myself over obsessing over what might impress AOs [Admissions Officers], and that worked for me."
On Essay Strategy:
"I centered my personal statement on my hobby of writing and connected that to my family's tradition of storytelling... It wasn't a sob story or trauma dumping, so I think that's the main thing to steer clear of."
The Bottom Line: This student found his identity as "the language guy who wanted to use language to help others" and built his entire application around that narrative while still showing his diverse interests.
The Takeaway: Focus on What You Do Best
This success story reinforces what we've always emphasized: colleges want to see the real you, not a manufactured version of what you think they want to see. Your unique perspective, genuine interests, and authentic voice matter more than having the perfect stats or the most impressive awards.
As this student wisely noted about his approach to admissions:
"Think of it as pitching yourself and what you plan to bring for them to invest in you."
Action Items for July
It's time to get moving on your applications!
- Essays: If you haven't started your Common App personal statement, now is the time. Remember: authenticity over perfection.
- Common App: Begin filling out your activities section. Think about how each activity contributes to your overall narrative.
- Teacher Recommendations: These should already be in motion! If you haven't asked your teachers yet, reach out immediately.
Summer School Visits
How are those college visits going? We'd love to hear about any memorable campus experiences you've had this summer. Which schools have made the strongest impression, and what specific moments stood out? These authentic reactions often become great material for your "Why This College" essays!
Keep pushing forward, and remember: sometimes your story matters more than your stats. But good stats never hurt....
Mr. John
