Our Founder Gives Helpful Advice

Lately, many JLP students who are seniors in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have received multiple acceptance letters and are confused on how to pick the right school for them. This prompted us to jot down some quick tips on how to handle this situation.

Now that you’ve gotten those college acceptance letters in, how do you choose?

Many high-school students send out numerous applications to many different schools. Some students stick with the standard two-safe and two-dream school formula, while others apply to as many as possible. So, what happens when students get accepted in to more schools than they anticipated? Here is JLP’s advice on picking the most suitable college:

· * Visit, visit, visit and stray from the beaten path. Take the recommended student-guided tour, but once that’s over, go explore the campus on your own. Most visitors can walk right in to the academic buildings where classes are being held; peek inside the classrooms. With out a guide, go to the main drag where the other kids hang out and talk to other students about their experiences.

· * Decide how close you want to be to your family. Financially, is it better to be next to or live with your family? Will you be able to afford flights home for all of the holidays? Decide how important staying close is to you.

· * Choose which region you prefer. Do you favor an urban or rural, tropical or seasonal environment? These are important factors to decide; remember that you will also be LIVING here for the next four years. This is the beginning of your formative adult years.

· * Determine whether you will need a part-time job while pursuing your academic studies. Is there enough work in the town where you will be living? Find out if there is a strong possibility for part-time employment or if you would qualify for a work-study program.

· * See if students are satisfied. Don’t just look at the school’s website to decide if students are happy. With all of the survey and review websites offered today (Yelp or Yahoo, or even more specific ones like College Confidential), you can view different opinions and interact with current students and alumni in order to ask real questions about your intended institution.

· * Find out if they offer your precise program of choice. If you know you may want to study something specific, you better make sure your future university offers a program for you.

· * Essentially, follow your GUT; go with your instincts and it will lead you to your perfect match.

Disadvantaged Students Continue AP Climb

"Continuing a pattern from recent years, more students from low-income families are taking—and earning what is considered a passing score on—at least one Advanced Placement exam, a new analysis of results for the public high school graduating class of 2009 shows." (full article here)

JLP is now offering AP tutoring packages for Dade and Broward County students.

With Federal Stimulus Money Gone, Many Schools Face Budget Gaps

From the NY Times: "Federal stimulus money has helped avoid drastic cuts at public schools in most parts of the nation, at least so far. But with the federal money running out, many of the nation’s schools are approaching what officials are calling a “funding cliff.” (read full article here)

This situation puts the welfare and future of Florida students in a precarious place. Those families that can afford supplemental services such as tutors and after school programs are well advised to do so.

Failure rate for AP tests climbing

"The number of students taking Advanced Placement tests hit a record high last year, but the portion who fail the exams — particularly in the South — is rising as well, a USA TODAY analysis finds." (full article here)

Kids wonder when school restarts, but education system lies in rubble

"While Haiti's education ministry was being demolished by a bulldozer Friday, the country's children were wondering when they might see the inside of a classroom again.

Corpses were still being pulled from the mountain of concrete that was the building from which Haiti's school system was administered.(full article here)"

The tragedy in Haiti gives us a moment to really appreciate the system we have here, whatever problems there are.

At 100, she gets degree on deathbed

This is a truly inspirational story. It is never too late to achieve your dreams.

"It was Harriet Richardson Ames' dream to earn her bachelor's degree in education. She finally reached that milestone, nearly three weeks after achieving another: her 100th birthday." (read full article here)