Blog by Ivy Tutors Network

Charter schools are independently operated, public schools founded by educators, community groups, or private organizations. They are so named because they operate under a ‘charter’, which is a specialized term - essentially - meaning a performance-based contract.

It was the fall of our daughter’s senior year of high school, when it seemed that our whole lives hung on a frightening precedent of college audition season.

The National Merit Scholarship is a scholarship program that recognizes outstanding academic achievement combined with exceptional performance on the PSAT, or Pre-SAT.

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) includes various math topics that evaluate a student's quantitative reasoning and problem-solving skills. The math section involves algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and data analysis. Familiarity with these key math concepts is crucial to excel on the SHSAT.

The best performing arts schools are ones that nurture creativity in their students, giving them the ability to not only excel in their desired art form, but in any other sector of the work force, if they so choose.

The Walker School prides itself on the balance of academics and the whole child experience. The school focused on the individual needs of all students. Students and families form strong connections with administrators and teachers, which leads to not only academic success but also, to becoming well rounded citizens of the world. Valuing thoughtfulness and tradition, the school is distinguished by their three language requirement, which really sets them apart from other schools.

The University of Birmingham is one of the largest universities in the UK, offering a truly phenomenal education at one of the original Red Brick universities. Birmingham is a member of the Russell Group, an elite cadre of research universities in the UK, and has a wide-ranging alumni network. Despite all that, for many Americans admission to the University of Birmingham is much more accessible than other peer institutions. It is based almost solely on academic performance, and does not require the fives on AP tests that Oxbridge does for many fields. Additionally, both the University itself and Birmingham in general are much more affordable than other highly ranked options.

The London School of Economics and Political Science, better known as the London School of Economics or LSE, is among the most renowned universities for social sciences in the world. Whether you aspire to become a world leader, a bank executive, head of an NGO, or an academic thought leader, graduating from LSE will undoubtedly enhance your abilities and opportunities. With a three-year undergraduate degree structure (for most fields) and an alumni network envied by institutions worldwide, there are plenty of reasons to choose LSE for your studies.

The SHSAT Discovery Program is a summer course for students from low-income households who scored just below the cut-off scores on the SHSAT. These 3-5 week programs give students the opportunity to make up for their missing points and show that they are prepared for the academic rigors of the Specialized High Schools.

As a parent or educator, one of your primary goals is to help your students learn effectively. However, not all students are able to learn effectively, especially when they are stressed or anxious. Stress can greatly impact a student’s ability to learn, as it hinders their access to higher functioning parts of their brain. In order to facilitate better learning in such students, it is important to find ways to lower their stress levels. One tool that has been found to be effective in this is active listening.

Interviews can be one of the most important pieces of the admission process. In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know private school interviews, and how you and your child can take advantage of this opportunity to engage directly with the schools you are applying to.