Category: ReadyEdgeGo

  • How Colleges View Weighted Classes and Course Rigor

    How Colleges View Weighted Classes and Course Rigor

    How Colleges View Weighted Classes and Course Rigor

    While there isn’t an exact formula for getting into college, it’s important to understand how weighted classes, course rigor, and even the high school that you attend affect your overall college profile. Here’s how college admissions view course rigor and how it pertains to weighted classes and coursework.

    Factors to Consider

    Factor #1: How Do Colleges Rank High Schools?

    Colleges look at the high school you attended to gain a better understanding of the courses available to you. They then compare you to people with similar scenarios. Public colleges compare you to your classmates at the same high school—not others. While private universities offer some flexibility, they are still known to compare individuals from schools with similar socioeconomic demographics and similar course availability.

    Colleges generally compare you to your classmates at the same high school—not others.

    This does not mean you should attend another school nearby because they offer more APs. There would be no beneficial impact, as students would continue to be compared to their immediate peer group.

    Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

    It also doesn’t mean you should self-study for APs outside of what’s offered in hopes of looking better than your peers. Self-studying for AP exams is often perceived as manipulative, try-hard, and contrived to look good for college, rather than a genuine attempt to learn. Colleges measure students’ coursework and performance based on the curriculum offered and the grades earned, not the AP exam scores. Self-studying for APs does not factor in the same way as grades do in the evaluation process. You can read more about the value of APs and AP testing here

    Factor #2: What courses did the student take?

    Colleges will look to see how you challenged yourself in light of which courses were available to you. They expect students to balance weighted and unweighted classes so that you’re challenging yourself without over-challenging yourself.

    That means it actually looks bad, not impressive, to sign up for every AP and Honors course available to you, especially if you can’t earn A’s in that many challenging courses. That being said, more rigorous universities do have greater expectations for weighted coursework, as they’re looking for students who have already proven they can excel under a rigorous course load. 

    This means you should really know yourself before setting your sights on a Tier 0 school and enrolling in an abundance of weighted courses. If you actually have the proven track record demonstrating that you can earn an A in several Honors and AP courses at once, taking on a heavy load might be a difficult but strategic move. For most students, however, this is a huge risk that we strongly advise against, as earning low grades in weighted courses may hurt your chances of making it into a perfectly good school because you were aiming too high to begin with.

    That being said, what’s the ideal number of AP and Honors courses you should take?

    Pro-Tip: Take 2-4 weighted classes at any given time

    This is highly recommended, at least for those attending school in affluent neighborhoods with plenty of weighted course options. This is enough to open up virtually all college doors, so long as you do well in them. 

    Factor #3: How did the student do in the weighted classes?

    With many students focused on the number of weighted coursework they take, they undermine the importance of the grades they receive. Colleges always prioritize your grades over the list of classes you took. For this reason, Unweighted GPA is arguably considered the most important number in college admissions. It demonstrates a student’s performance in their classes without taking into consideration the rigor of course.

    Knowing which colleges to apply to can make you more strategic about which AP courses you take in high school.
    Photo by Damien Tait on Unsplash

    Taking weighted courses makes students look good for college only if they earn A’s in those courses, NOT if they struggle. Choose courses that you are confident will not overwhelm you; are you absolutely certain you can earn an A in each class you enroll in? Make sure to also ace your finals, as they often heavily impact your grades. 

    In addition, do not fall victim to the myth that getting a B in an AP class is similar to getting an A in a non-weighted class. Getting a B in an AP class is getting a B. End of story. Getting good grades (A’s) should always be your first priority. 

    Bonus Factor: What additional context may affect the student’s academic performance?

    In some cases, the grades and course load will not tell a student’s whole story. Life happens unexpectedly. It could be a bad fever during finals week or the passing of a loved one junior year. Colleges are willing to hear you out as long as you show a positive grade trajectory after the incident.

    Family background is another factor that can play a vital role in college admissions. For example, if you are the first in your immediate family to go to college, that can put substandard grades or lack of weighted coursework into perspective. 

    Pro-tip: Having a hard teacher rarely counts as valid context.

    Having a bad teacher or a hard teacher rarely counts as a legitimate educational hardship. After all, you’ll have plenty of hard professors in college, so admissions departments want to know you can succeed under those professors as well.

    How Colleges View Weighted Classes and Course Rigor Conclusion

    The good news is that colleges take an equitable approach to admissions by evaluating your performance in light of the number of opportunities you had available to you. This means no matter what school background you’re coming from, making strategic decisions about your coursework can send a strong message that you’re willing to push yourself academically while still earning good grades. 

    If navigating the maze of college applications still feels overwhelming, we can help. Our mentors come from admissions departments of top universities in the US, and they can offer customized advice to help you optimize your profile and boost your chances. Get started with a free consultation to meet our staff, make a connection, and discuss which of our services is the right fit for you.

    See you soon!

  • How To Choose Courses. The Power Of The Right Course Selection

    How To Choose Courses. The Power Of The Right Course Selection

    How To Choose Courses. The Power Of The Right Course Selection

    How to choose courses. Folks, it is time to discuss the power of the right Course Selection. This really ties into our theme for the year really well. A lot of the stress is caused by pressure from “outside forces” to take as many AP classes as you can or just throw in that extra year of foreign languages because it “looks better”.

    Let’s get into how you can make course selection a breeze. Also what colleges look for. Hopefully, this will also make your life a breeze.

    Rules To Choosing Your Course Properly

    How To Choose Courses Rule #1: Only take a class if you know you’ll get an A in it.

    No, not an A-. An A, which is 95 percent or better. If you don’t know for sure that you’ll get an A, you are letting yourself think that the worst you’ll get is a B. This is the exact kind of mindset that leads to B’s, C’s, and even worse.

    This is especially relevant to weighted and honors coursework. Remember, it’s not about getting B’s in an Honors or AP class. It’s about getting A’s because that’s what the top colleges, like the UC’s and the Ivies, are looking for. It is a MYTH that getting a B in an Honors or AP class is like getting an A in a Regular class. This is pure fiction when it concerns college admissions, where getting an A is an A, and a B is a B. Period. Believe us: we’d rather see A’s than B’s.

    So… how am I supposed to know if I can get an A in this class?

    There are a few things that you can base your predictions on. The first one (and probably the most obvious one) is historical coursework. If you’ve gotten B’s in non-weighted math coursework, DO NOT take advanced math coursework. That’s just setting yourself up for failure!

    Next, is your understanding of the teachers teaching the class. If you’ve heard that the teacher is notorious for losing graded work or handing out only 2 A’s per class per year, it’s probably not a good idea to take the class. Even if it demonstrates interest towards a major. A pro-tip is to not base your predictions on how someone else did in the class. A lot of students like to say, “well, my friend told me the class was easy.” Well, you are not your friend. Ironically, I also find that students too often compare themselves with “friends” who are more academically capable than themselves. This should not be the standard on how to choose courses.  Stop comparing yourself with someone who’s completely different from you in terms of intelligence, study habits, interests, and background.

    Parents: Your child is not your nephew or family friend’s son or neighbor’s daughter. Your child is infinitely unique, so stop comparing! Even if they’re twins!

    How To Choose Courses Rule #2: Only take a class if you’re genuinely interested in it

    Of course, this is aside from required coursework. What you decide to take should be in line with what you’re most interested in learning. This is especially true for weighted honors and AP coursework. 

    Another pro tip is if you take an AP course in a subject you have no interest in, chances are you won’t get an A in the class and will have less time on all your other classes. Too often students end up taking 3x longer than an average class just to get a B, sometimes even a C just to pass. Take this into account, especially when some of your other classes are more relevant to your major anyway.

    How To Choose Courses Conclusion

    1. Don’t take a class unless you know you’ll get an A in it.
    2. Take a weighted class only if you’re genuinely interested in it.

    Colleges are looking for genuine learners who have challenged themselves based on available weighted coursework. So how to choose courses has to center around that. However, top colleges dislike students over-challenge themselves – getting mostly B’s and some C’s, who are not genuine in learning but rather fall for the trap of taking more AP’s rather than less.

    We hope that this provides some valuable insight into how to release some of the stress you may have while making your college application profile even stronger.

    We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.

    We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn

    See you soon!

  • Test Taking Tips – The Best Way To Ace Your Finals

    Test Taking Tips – The Best Way To Ace Your Finals

    Test Taking Tips – The Best Way To Ace Your Finals

    Test Taking Tips – Education through Covid has been nothing if not something we all want to forget. We are so close and almost there. Before we get there, we have 1 tiny thing left to do. That’s right, ACE YOUR FINALS.

    A Final exam play a very important role in your GPA and therefore your college admissions. Seniors — REMEMBER — this semester’s grades absolutely do count, so make sure you ace those finals. Let’s get into some of the common issues and how to go about dealing with them.

    Listen to this podcast on test taking tips before reading this article.


    Test Taking Tips # 1 – Dealing with the Pressure

    Many people have test anxiety when it comes to a final exam test. While there are many causes for this, there is one way to deal with it best.

    Simulate the test. What’s the best way to prepare for a test? Take one just like it. Actually, take a whole bunch. Simulation experience is a proven method to calm your nerves and avoid stress when studying for a big test. Gaining experience acclimates you to the real thing. So, by the time you get into test day, you will feel like you’ve taken the final exam before, and succeeded. This will give you the confidence you need in order to remove anxiety during the real thing.

    Effectiveness here requires some planning. Try to take your first simulation 1 week (2 – 3 days at the minimum) before your actual final exam. The reason being you want to give yourself enough time to review and take another sim if your first test result was below your goal. For example, if you get a B on the sim test but you were aiming for an A, then that means you should take another sim test. Try to take as many as you need until you get an A.

     

    Tip # 2 – Know the material

    This may seem obvious, but in order to do well on your test you have to know the material. While it may be possible to take shortcuts a few times, that’s not a sustainable in test taking strategies nor conducive to actual learning.

    Remember results aren’t optimal when you procrastinate. We’ve noticed that students who procrastinate usually end up with a result that is only satisfactory, be it an A- or a B. We try to give ourselves credit by saying, “Well, I did pretty good for the time I was given.” To be honest, you didn’t. You did pretty okay for the time you gave yourself. Truth is, you knew there was a final exam coming at the beginning of the school year, and you chose to procrastinate because it was easy.

    Tip # 3 – Sustainability in learning 

    Same goes for sustainability in learning. More and more tests are cumulative, meaning it depends on your prior working knowledge. So if you cram for a final this semester, and then you need to take another final that’s cumulative next semester, you probably won’t remember the stuff from the first semester because you didn’t actually learn it. You just crammed it for a test. As a result, we see a lot of students tanking in the 2nd semester, getting borderline A’s the 1st and then a B in the 2nd.

    Okay, so how to get knowledge even if you don’t feel like you’re learning enough from the teacher?

    Tip # 4 – Create a Study Schedule 

    One of the best test taking strategies is to first, create a study schedule! Despite sounding cliche, it actually works. Just count back at least 2 weeks prior to your test date, and outline which subjects or chapters you want to cover each day. We generally recommend clumping subjects that you already understand well together, and reserving more time or days even for subjects you’re less familiar with.

    Test Taking Tips # 5 – Get some help

    Next, get some help! The earlier you recognize you need help understanding a concept, the earlier you need to ask for help. Be it your teacher or a trusty friend group (that actually knows what they’re talking about), or a tutor who can help you. Don’t be ashamed that you need help with a subject. This is YOUR future that you are cheating if you become worried at what others may think. 

     

    Test Taking Tips # 6 – Gathering Intel

    Chances are you don’t know everything you need to know about this final exam test. As a rule of thumb, ask your teacher about the format of the test 2 weeks prior to test day. Gathering as much intel not only prepares you for the real deal, it also boosts your relationship with your teacher, who likely will perceive your asking as proactive.

    If your teacher responds with vague answers, like “I’m not sure yet” or “it’ll be multiple choice”, push for more details:

    • How many questions will there be?
    • Is the test multiple choice or is there also free-response?
      • If both, how many questions will there be of each?
    • What exactly will be covered on the test?
      • Will it include any material from the book?
      • What about class notes?
      • Will there be anything included on the test that wasn’t covered in class?
    • Are there any practice tests or similar material that I should be using to prepare?
    • Typically, what do students do well on? How about not so well on?

    You might think that by asking teachers all these questions you are being nosy. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Remember that teachers want to see you succeed. They will see that you are interested in doing well and will give you as much information they can without being unfair. This includes information they may have forgotten to mention earlier or pre-emptive clarifications that will give you a benefit. This is the biggest action you can take to try and improve your chances at a better grade.

     

    Test Taking BONUS TIP — Start Learning

     The best students never study, or very rarely study. They’re learning, dedicating themselves to understand the material no matter what it is. So by the time test day comes, they don’t need to study, because they’ve put in the time over time to properly learn the material.

    That’s it for this week. We hope that this has helped you approach your finals a little bit better.  Good luck on all your finals. If you need any help with this or looking forward to next year, please reach out! For a full feature and even more detail, check out our YouTube video about it.

    We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.

    We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    See you soon!

     

  • It’s Deadline Time, College App Deadline Final Tips

    It’s Deadline Time, College App Deadline Final Tips

    It’s Deadline Time, College App Deadline Final Tips

    It’s time for college app deadline final tips. You’ve been working on these applications for months. Revising your essays tens of times and scouring every corner of your mind to figure out the right order of your activities can be a stressful experience. Now that it’s almost college app deadline time, I’m sure there are a lot of nerves and jitters before sending in your applications. But guess what? You are so close to the end! For that, you deserve a pat on the back.

    After doing all this work, it’s worth it to take a look over just one more time. After all, you don’t want to let all your hard work be undermined by something you accidentally misread or misunderstood. In this article, we’ll talk about some final tips you can employ to maximize your application.

     

    Academic History

    Make sure to report your GPA to as many decimal places as you have on your transcript. If the number of decimal places on the application is less than your transcript, just apply normal rounding rules. For example, if your high school reported GPA is 3.397 and the application takes 2 digits, the GPA you enter will be 3.40. 

    Next, remember that you typically want to be reporting your weighted GPA (unless it explicitly asks you for your unweighted). Hopefully, the weighted value is higher than your unweighted due to any Honors or AP classes you have taken. 

    Class ranks are issued by some schools to help you measure your academic standing relative to other people in your class. Some applications ask you for this number. Enter it if you have it, leave it blank if you don’t.

    UCs don’t need you to report PE or Health. HOWEVER, Leadership and Religious studies should be included in the “Coursework other than A-G” section.

    College App Deadline Quick Tips

    • If you take any Semester long course, make sure to mark it appropriately. Government and Economics classes are typically misreported.
    • UCs don’t want you to send your transcript before your applications, so wait before sending them in!
    • Only include classes take in the start of freshman year and afterwards

    Required Documents & Documentation Deadlines

    This first tip goes without saying but remember to READ carefully the documentation requirements for the college you’re applying to AS WELL as their due dates. The most notable example is for the UC’s. They require no transcript, and for this application season (Fall 2021 enrollment), no standardized testing. However, it is still best to send an official test score if you have “a good score” relative to your GPA. To do this, just send your score(s) to just one UC directly through College Board or ACT platforms.

    Activities & Awards

    The activities section carries more weight than you think in the application process. It’s imperative that you maximize it before your college app deadline. First, make sure to check for grammar and then check for it again. You’d be surprised how many applications contain basic grammar errors. Remember, there is a place for just about everything you did outside of the classroom. So if you have any activity not listed – be it self-studying Python to self-learning the guitar – it’s wise to add it if you have the room. If you don’t have any more room for activities, consider using the Additional Comments section.

    Essays

    This is our most popular line of questioning and that’s why we try to address it as much as possible. Check out our article and video on the UC PIQs and our article and video on acing the college admissions essays. For a bite sized summary, read on. The number one way to check your essays is by asking yourself one simple question. “Do I answer the prompt?” We are sure that you have heard this before from all of your english teachers. Surprise, surprise it is still relevant! If you don’t answer the prompt, it does not matter how eloquent or well illustrated your essay is. It doesn’t count.

    Common examples are for UC PIQ #6, which asks for a student’s favorite academic subject, many students respond with a desired career path or profession. Or for UIUC’s supplemental essay asking for recent experiences pertaining to one’s major, many students start talking about experiences that date back to elementary school, or why they’re interested in going to UIUC – both off topic.

    College App Deadline Additional Comments

    This section is the most underutilized section in the entire application. That makes it very relevant to the people that do use it. For a full discussion on this section, check out this video. To summarize, ask yourself this question. Is there anything else about you that’s not fully and clearly told in the rest of your application? Both the Common App and UC App provide A LOT of space for you to elaborate. Use this section to explain any anomalies in grades, any activities you weren’t able to cover in detail, or other life circumstances that affected your high school experience. It may not seem important, but every bit counts – especially since someone is trying to make an informed decision on the next 4+ years of your life!

    I hope that this provides some valuable insight into how to quality check your applications before submitting. For a full feature and even more detail, check out our YouTube video about it.

    We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.

    We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn

    See you soon!

  • Mythbusting SAT Subject Tests

    Mythbusting SAT Subject Tests

    As if general standardized testing isn’t enough, there are even more tests that you can (and depending on the situation maybe should) take.  These tests are known as the SAT Subject Tests. There are many myths out there about the Subject Tests, a few which are true, and many that are false.  Let’s take some time to talk about these myths and straighten out the rumors about SAT Subject Tests.

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    Myth #1: You have to take them.

    Myth #1
    ou have to take them.

    You absolutely do NOT have to take the SAT Subject Test(s) unless you plan on applying to selective schools. In fact, Harvard only recommends two tests: “While we recommend that you submit two SAT Subject Tests, you may apply without them if the cost of the tests represents a financial hardship or if you prefer to have your application considered without them.” Georgetown, on the other hand, strongly recommends three. Neither of these strongly competitive colleges states that these tests are required on their websites, and these are two very selective schools.

    Myth #2You have to take at least 2.

    Myth #2
    You have to take at least 2.

    Since you don’t even have to take the Subject Tests, you definitely don’t have to take at least 2. Other than taking Subject Tests because they are recommended, you would really only consider it if you need an additional data point(s).  For example, let’s say you are considering majoring in Chemistry and you took AP Chemistry. In your first semester, you got a B, but in the second semester, you got an A. You might want to consider taking the chemistry subject test so that if you score well, that data point backs up the A.  If you don’t score well, then no worries, you don’t have to submit your scores.

    Myth #3Taking it is better than not taking it.

    Myth #3
    Taking it is better than not taking it.

    As mentioned in the above paragraph, the Subject Test can be used as an additional data point, so if you score well, it can only help you.  Conversely, if you score poorly and send the scores, it does not help your admission. A good score really depends on what test you are taking, and you’re intended major.  Typically, a “good” reportable score, is at minimum a 700 as this is certainly considered a competitive score in The Bay area.

    ReadyEdgeGo at 
    hello@readyedgego.com

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Graham Traylor

Senior Applications Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 7 years

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: One of my favorite experiences working with students is opening student's eyes to possibilities they didn't know would be an option for them.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I like to stay active playing sports / running, but most of the time I am hanging out with my wife and daughter (usually with college sports on in the background).

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: It's possible there could be several colleges that are a good fit for you. Don't lock in on just one preferred option, and work toward finding places you can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Joanna Yang Yowler

Senior Essay Editor & Program Specialist

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 15

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing students' stories and seeing their faces light up when they talk about their passions and dreams.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Cook, write, draw, save Azeroth .

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Pursue dreams that matter to you and don't be afraid of forging your own path to where you want to go.

Bernie Nguyen

Admissions Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 5 years high school mentoring experience. I was heavily involved in it all throughout college and after graduating.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing about their passions and what they genuinely love to do. It also makes me extremely happy to.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I recently picked up the electric guitar! I also have multiple aquariums, and founded a company that built body armor.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't go down a path just because you think that's "what you're supposed to do." Life is more diverse and unexpected than any of us could ever know.

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life.

Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived.

So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

Julian Hoffman

Special Programs Manager

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 5

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Hearing each student's unique stories, guiding them in discovering their passions, and helping find their voice!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I am a figure skater, world traveler, dessert aficionado, and devotee of the Pioneer Woman, the Barefoot Contessa, and Maneet Chauhan!

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Work hard now -- procrastinate later!

Ariana Lee

Senior Admissions Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 12

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing their stories. There's so much to discover about a person. It's very rewarding when my students get comfortable and know that I'm there for them.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Swim, read, write, sing, enjoy nature, and play with my two crazy boys.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Do what you love, and everything else will fall into place.

readyedgego

Tylar Pendgraft

Director of Programs

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 12

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love how open students are to learning and trying new things. As mentors, we get to see so much growth simply because our students are so open to new experiences and are looking forward to applying their learning and other skills.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I like to read and write. I also spend a lot of time just watching--my dogs, birds, trees. I also enjoy baking and cooking (even though I'm terrible at baking).

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: It's never too early or late to start practicing self-care. Build moments of joy and celebration into your week. Give yourself a treat for working hard. It's important to have things to look forward to. If you can get into the habit now, you'll have a much more balanced college experience.

readyedgego

Anika Sharma

Essay Editor

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 2

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: As a major advisor for students interested in the humanities, I’ve found it immensely rewarding to offer an outlet for students to explore ideas that they often don’t get to delve into at school. Watching a student light up when they realize that there is in fact a community around their specific interests is easily the best part of the job.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time, I love to be outdoors - I've been hiking around the Bay Area and recently started biking again. I also volunteer at community gardens and trail restoration projects in San Francisco. When I'm not outside, you can find me reading visionary fiction, practicing yoga and qigong, or cooking.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: My advice for high school students is to focus on the present! Use this time to learn more about yourself and the world around you. Solid values and a sense of self will allow you to make challenging decisions for the future and create the life you want.

readyedgego

Tushar Singla

Chief Technology Officer

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 4

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Watching them accomplish great things.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Watch Formula 1, play ice hockey, and watch TV.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Spend time exploring different things -- you have a long time to become an expert.

readyedgego

Dan Zhou

Chief Executive Officer

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 16

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Inspiring a student towards self discovery, and wanting to learn about everything there is in the world. Reaching this moment can take time, but it's what makes it worth it every time.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Outdoors hiking, photography, gardening, and reading.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Do the thing that moves you, or be moved by forces not your own. The choice is yours.

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