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Camp children learning through experience. Play gives children a wide range of skills and helps them develop physically, emotionally & intellectually. Kids learn by doing, living, and experiencing things for themselves. It’s one thing to watch life on a computer screen yet, quite another to experience real life.

Overnight camps can be expensive, even if the experiences are worth it. You can afford to send your child to summer camp just consider the following thoughts.Free Camp

Families that in the past have sent their children to private upper end overnight camps, especially on the east coast, are now looking at alternatives that might be far less expensive. One suggestion is to look in the midwest for a camp that might offer very similar activity programs at a cost 25-30% less than the equivalent east coast camp.

For many you may need to change your private camps look to alternative programs that might be similar to what you have done in the past yet less expensive. This is just a matter of shopping on the internet for price. See Swift Nature Camp as a wonderful value camp.Adventure Camp

Parents can also choose a less expensive overnight camp program, such as a YMCA or a even a church program. These summer camps can save sometimes half compared to a private camp.

Park Districts also offer a day summer camp. These are usually the most cost effective, however, day camps generally do not offer the same array of activities and benefits that an overnight summer camp provides.

Summer camps do have discounts and campership programs, but seldom are these programs FREE. Each summer camp decides how to run their own discount program, so it is important to ask the camp director how to become a part of their particular program and see if it will help make camp affordable for you.

If these areas still leave summer camp out of the question the ACA (American Camp Association) recommends: * Parents should inquire into whether the camp participates in income-eligible subsidy programs, for instance through Title XX. * A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses for qualified dependents that are necessary to allow parents to work, look for work, or to attend school full time. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information. * In certain circumstances, day care expenses, including transportation by a care provider, may be considered dependent care services and paid with pre-tax dollars. Visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for more information. * Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: The IRS allows an income tax credit of up to $6,000 of dependent care expenses if you have two or more dependents (up to $3,000 for one dependent). The amount of the credit is based on your adjusted gross income and applies only to your federal taxes. This applies to qualifying day camp expenses as well. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information.

All camps are not the same and cost is often reflected in quality of programs. Do your homework to ensure a quality experience for your child. Camps can cut costs by useing volunteers while others have paid staff. Generally speaking camps have more control over paid staff. Also asl about counselor-to-camper ratios to determine how many campers are sleeping in each cabin with how many children. It’s best if counselors are over 18.

Be sure to ask the director about the actual, true total cost of the camp. This should include not only tuition, but transportation, canteen and spending money, laundry, off-site trips, and uniforms (if required). Ask the director about how much of a deposit is required and if it is refundable. When must the camp fees be paid in full? Ask about what the policy is if the family’s plans change and they withdraw the child from the program before the start of camp. What if problems arise during camp and the child must come home?

Camp is all about Safety. You want to be reassured that your child will be safe and will return home at the end of camp. Be sure your camp is an accredited member of the American Camp Association. The ACA ensures that over 300 standards are met in their accreditation process.

Lastly, It is important to try to remember what it is like being a kid. Summers are long! The experiences at summer camp create a lifetime of memories. Many adults fondly recall their camp days. Do what you must, but don’t let this summer pass your child by without a Overnight Summer Camp experience.

All high school students have to go through the SAT test. If you are hoping to go to Harvard, you will need to get a pretty high score.

In this article, I will tell you about two very important points regarding SAT advice and preparation.

First: Where schools like Stanford are concerned, what is considered an acceptable SAT score?

Additionally, it is easy to be puzzled about the best way to get ready for the SAT. Surely you want to prepare in the most efficient way without spending money needlessly.

1. Clearly you will want to get a high score, but exactly what does this mean?

I always recommend an SAT score of 2100. Try to get 700 on each section in order to be considered acceptable to an Ivy League school. If you get less than 700 on anything, it will bring your application into question.

As an admissions officer, I can tell you that we almost always accept students who have a score of 2100 or more. The only time we would not is if there are serious academic weaknesses. For example, very weak transcripts might cause us to reject an applicant with a high SAT score.

2. Keep track of your improvement. If you score badly the first time you take the test, take it again. Keep a record of your scores, and be sure to strive for improvement each time you retake the test.

Click here for more SAT test taking advice!

3. Realize that admissions officers favor the SAT over the ACT.

ACT is a better test than SAT in a lot of ways. It is an extremely challenging test. Be that as it may, when the admissions office is comparing two very similar candidates the test taken will make a difference. If one has taken SAT and the other has taken ACT, the student who has take the SAT will be preferred.

As you prepare, you should keep your focus on two priorities: Early start and sample tests.

1. While you are still in 7th grade, take the SAT for the Duke TIP. Be sure you take the PSAT at least one time before taking the NMSQT. By doing this, you can practice without taking a chance.

2. Be careful of becoming involved in prep programs and SAT courses that make exaggerated claims. When I was in high school, I took the Kaplan course. I really only remember some very creative flashcards that helped improve my vocabulary by a little bit. My parents paid $1000 for that program. My advice to you is to sit in on a few sample courses before you make a commitment to any.

3. Haunt your local bookstore to get copies of all the tests. Take as many sample tests as you can. You can get them all, from Princeton review to Barron’s, so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity. Taking sample tests will make a big difference to your score. The more comfortable you are with answering the types of questions asked on the test, the better your score will be.

Click here to learn how high school extracurricular activities are graded in admissions!

If you are hoping to be able to express yourself completely on the Common App, you will probably be disappointed. It is a limited document that provides a small amount of space for answers and information. Additionally, you may submit supplemental materials, and two essays. One of your essays should be specific to school. The other one can be generic.

By following these Five Essential Tips, you will be able to produce an essay that will greatly enhance your chance of admittance in a top school.

1. Paint a clear picture of yourself. Tell about your personality and accomplishments. This is much more effective than telling a good story.

An applicant may submit a very wonderful essay recounting childhood experiences and family tales; however, this sort of essay does not tell the examiner the two things that are necessary in determining whether or not to admit an applicant.

-The essay should tell about the applicant’s accomplishments. -The essay should give a clear, well-rounded picture of the applicant’s personality.

For these reasons, the applicant was put on the wait list. Of course, the essay was not the sole reason for this decision, but it was one of the reasons.

Click here for more Ivy League admissions advice

2. Blow your own horn!

Many overachievers tend to be overly modest. Even though, they have had tremendous accomplishments, they tend to soft-pedal them. They say things like:

“Of course, there are lots of applicants who are more deserving of Harvard placement than I.”

Or

“Being accepted to Stanford will be the luckiest day of my life! I know there are others who have worked just as hard to earn it.”

Don’t say that kind of thing.

Naturally, you don’t want to be full of yourself and lord your accomplishments over others, but be equally careful not to be too modest. You have accomplished a great deal, or you wouldn’t be applying to a prestigious school. Make the most of your accomplishments. Be proud of the prizes you have won and the goals you have achieved. Put your best foot forward.

Click here to learn how to transfer to Stanford

3. Make it personal.

Sharing appropriate anecdotes about your life is very effective and memorable. The essay about the family that adopted dogs is a case in point. Even though it didn’t help that applicant, I still remember it. If you share stories of your life in a way that showcases your personality and your accomplishments, it will go a long way toward getting your application accepted.

4. Talk about your achievements. Don’t point out your shortcomings.

The only exception to this is if you failed at something several times but kept trying until you succeeded spectacularly. If your failure caused you to try harder and prevail, include it. If not, leave it out.

Your childhood accomplishments, while charming, are not pertinent to your essay unless they led to further accomplishments in your high school career. If winning a prize for the best science project in 6th grade led you to enter and win a national competition later on, be sure to point it out. If not, omit it.

5. Don’t mention people you know at the school unless it is important to the story you are telling.

Many times I have read essays with this kind of statement prominently displayed:

“I know Fred Smith, who is a freshman here at Harvard. He is a very dedicated student, whom I deeply admire. That is why I am most interested in attending Harvard.”

If you happen to know the name of one of a professor or well-known alumnus, it is not helpful to insert it in your essay.

If you need to mention a person’s name because it is necessary to the sense of the story you are telling, do so. Otherwise, it is best to avoid it.

All high school students are familiar with Advanced Placement (AP) tests. Some students we are addressing are international students (click here for more information). Others are involved in IB programs. However, most students we are addressing will take AP classes and tests.

Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind about AP tests:

1) Take lots of AP classes. The more the better. It looks good on your transcript, and it tells prospective colleges you have high academic ability.

2) Begin taking your AP tests right away. They aren’t that difficult, and it’s good to get them under your belt.

3) Only take a few AP tests. You only need a representation of your ability and a few high scores. You don’t have to have perfect scores for Harvard admittance. For GPA, SAT and AP scores, you just have to pass a certain level.

4) Taking too many AP tests can mess up your average. It is better to take a few tests and really concentrate on making the best scores possible than take a lot of tests and do well on some and not so well on others. Some schools, like Yale, prefer to see a good showing on a few attempts rather than a scattered showing on multiple attempts.

5) When you fill out your Common Application, be sure to note which AP tests you plan to take. Even though you have not yet taken a test, the fact that you plan on it looks good on your application. Many people are not aware of this little insider’s tip.

Click here to learn how to transfer into Harvard or Stanford

Remember these three tips: Take a lot of AP classes. Get your tests out of the way early. Go for a few high quality test results, rather than lots of mediocre test results. By using this strategy, you will do well.

Any college that is considering you will be impressed by high AP scores. Your high performance on these tests lets schools know that you can handle the demands of high-level college work. Ivy League want students who show academic excellence.

Click here to learn more about Ivy League AP test taking tips!