Best High Schools in New York City

This is taken directly from the Daily News... I have a lot to comment here and shall in a later blog.

 I also do not agree with this list-- I will create my own shortly. I was particularly unimpressed with the fantastic schools that only received honorable mentions-- If you really want to know what I think the best high schools are, just call me at my office. 1(800) 631-1757

 In the meantime, here is the list and I hope this is useful.

I will not dispute that Baccalaureate deserves to be #1--- Congratulations Peter Wilson, my favorite college counselor in all of New York City!!!! xoxo-- Frances Kweller

1. Baccalaureate School for Global Education

With an authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer its Diploma Program, BSGE is among the best of the best. All prospective students must register for the school website’s admissions test, and each year less than 10% of the applicant pool is accepted. Every member of its ethnically and economically diverse body of students is expected upon completion to be a candidate for an International Baccalaureate Diploma. This rigor translates to staggering college matriculation results, as approximately one quarter of each graduating class attends an Ivy League college. The school also fosters a creative environment in which a broad range of electives and extracurricular activities is made available, from robotics to early morning fitness.

2. High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies

An enriched math and science program with a plethora of APs is just the first step for this highly competitive school. By graduation, each student must know how to comprehend, speak, read and write in English and Mandarin Chinese, whether they belong to the half who speak Chinese at home or the half whose first language is English. The school works with a six-day-a-week curriculum to impart a cultural fluency as it weaves Asia-related topics into the academic curriculum in all subjects. When these kids are not engaging with this comprehensive cross-cultural program, they have the opportunity to enjoy myriad clubs, be it bridge or Monday afternoon film.

3. High School of American Studies at Lehman College

This Bronx powerhouse uses an emphasis on American history to develop its smaller-size student body of 370. In addition to offering honors and Lehman College courses in all subjects, the curriculum requires that all students take courses in American history and research methodology. Though it offers only seven AP courses, the administration takes full advantage of its partnership with Lehman College and its support from the Gilder Lehrman Institute to offer a breathtaking range of electives, from constitutional law to architectural history.

4. Queens High School for the Sciences at York College

Founded just 10 years ago, in September 2002, this collaboration with the City University of New York provides one of the most engaging course loads in the city. Among the most popular electives for this science-minded student body is an impressive robotics course. Still, the administration provides its students with 13 AP classes that branch outside of the sciences to subjects like music theory and world history. The heavily screened student body of high achievers also refuses to let the adults do all of the work, as the multitude of science-based extracurriculars in biology, chemistry, and physics sometimes expand beyond the courses.

5. Townsend Harris High School

This tough school of 1,100 students deploys a traditional curriculum in the humanities to prepare young people for a new world. Students must gain strong knowledge of the classics as they study two years of classical Greek, and the school does not even offer classes that are not honors, Advanced Placement or college level. These bright scholars must also assume a course load of eight academic subjects each semester — one more than most N.Y.C. high schools. It is no surprise that a rigorous admissions process precedes entry. Applicants must be in the 90th percentile or above in math and reading standardized tests, and have a minimum grade-point average of 90 in June of their seventh grade. For this reason, just 270 of 5,151 prospectives matriculated in 2010.

6. Stuyvesant High School

Stuyvesant has been hailed for years as the best N.Y.C. has to offer — and with good reason. It gives its students premier opportunities in scientific fields through mentoring programs at professional research facilities and summer programs at MIT and Rockefeller University. A well-rounded curriculum in the humanities does not escape its grasp, either; the school offers 28 AP courses and seven languages, including German and Japanese. Undeniably bright students are more than willing to take advantage of their first-class education and even try to contribute something of their own through the institution’s more than 200 clubs and 30 publications.

7. Bronx H.S.of Science

With a plan centered on teaching its children to think scientifically and engage with society, the Bronx High School of Science is a haven for socially conscious students who cannot get enough of the lab. It offers a platter of AP programs and even allows certain scholars to take post-AP courses in genetics and psychology along with electives like animal behavior at the Bronx Zoo. In another school that uses the Specialized High School Admissions Test for screening purposes, the student body comprises some of the most ambitious youngsters in the city. One need not look further than the variety of unique clubs and organizations for bridge-building and oceanography to see that students here are going places.

8. Staten Island Technical H.S.

The state-of-the-art science, engineering and computer laboratories make quite the impression during a stroll through Staten Island Technical High School. They have their effect on a serious student body, too. These determined scholars are willing to take advantage of intensive programs such as pre-law, college Russian and forensic science. For this reason, only well-prepared applicants are privy to such opportunities, as they are selected to take full advantage of a curriculum that offers 13 APs and an assortment of sports, including football or bowling. No wonder that of 14,449 who applied in 2010, only 295 entered.

9. New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math High School

This daring K-12 school bestows a one-of-a-kind experience on its 1,613 young scholars. Technology is skillfully interwoven into their curriculum to promote collaboration and research among its students — all following the business-casual dress code. Ninth-grade math and science courses are single-gender, and before high school, certain students are placed into an accelerated science sequence that teaches an AP course each year. The school also stresses the alternative, in-depth Singapore method of anathematize education, which emphasizes problem-solving first. Though this progressive approach to science may seem daunting, everyone is allowed to supplement lab-based work with APs in the humanities, such as music theory and art history, or maybe join extracurriculars like ballroom dancing and creative writing.

10. Eleanor Roosevelt H.S.

How did this small, traditional suburban school with small classes wriggle its way into the big city? The program at Eleanor Roosevelt looks forward and incorporates the arts and technology into every level of its curriculum. Students are taught to always examine and explore their own professional and intellectual pursuits. They are free to enjoy such unique electives like animation, but can also challenge themselves with any of the 13 APs offered. This progressive style imparts an impressive social awareness and related clubs.

11. Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences

Leon M. Goldstein High School takes full advantage of its affiliation with Kingsborough Community College and its stand-alone, campus-style building. Students choose to stay for after-school learning for help in one of the 11 AP classes, the three-year requirement in Spanish or Italian or the one-year requirement in the arts. After completing this rigorous course load, deserving students are rewarded by the administration with the prestigious Regents Diploma for passing the Regents examinations in various subjects. Program highlights also include classes in marine biology and astronomy, and the school promotes exploration by releasing its students earlier on Wednesdays to accommodate clubs and community service.

12. N.Y.C. Lab School for Collaborative Studies

True to its name, collaboration is the foundation of the N.Y.C. Lab School. Students are encouraged and eventually expected to reflect both their work and the work of others, and to take responsibility for the conduct of their peers as well. Programs like the peer advisory system, in which older students tutor younger ones, along with an interdisciplinary project in human rights, demonstrate this alternative teaching method. Scholars are exposed to a formidable variety of AP courses, but keep their focus on world topics with clubs such as Feminist Focus, Social Action and Group Green.

13. Academy of American Studies

This flagship school of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History hopes to prepare its scholars for the future through American history and a strict focus on writing. Seminars feature trips to historic sites ranging from Gettysburg to Boston, and are sure to inspire students in other electives such as digital media, journalism and playwrighting. It is no surprise that the most omnipresent extracurricular activities are Student Government and Model United Nations, but students are also free to explore areas outside history and government through daring clubs like Improvisational Theater and Pilates.

14. Fiorello H. LaGuardia

Students at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School take pleasure in the two-pronged education of a conservatory experience and a rigorous academic program. Each day, students must attend a multi-period studio block, with artistic majors ranging from dance to technical theater. These endeavors do not come at the expense of a full college-preparatory course load, though, as the school also boasts honors classes for each grade and a choice of 15 APs.

15. Hostos-Lincoln Academy of Science

A collaborative effort between the New York City Board of Education and the City University of New York, this middle-college concept school pushes ambitious scholars toward attending classes at Hostos Community College and after-school tutorials. Just 81 of 2,630 applicants entered into its curriculum in 2010, and extracurriculars like Jeter’s Leaders and the Joe Torre Foundation have a formidable presence on the campus.

16. Baruch College Campus H.S.

Working with Baruch College, this school, not surprisingly, bestows a true liberal arts experience. Students are encouraged to explore and ruminate on philosophical and ethical facets of human existence. The program boasts a four-year course of study in science, math, English and history that also requires yearly community service. Selected attendees work in college courses, while others lead socially conscious clubs like Blue Angels Charity and the Lorax Environmental Club.

17. Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics

Though over 1,500 students attend the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, teachers make an effort to provide one-on-one, personalized attention to each young scholar. In addition to offering a long list of AP courses and language classes in Mandarin, French and Spanish, the school has a relationship with the Children’s Aid Society that provides extended-day enrichment activities for all. It is no surprise, then, that extracurriculars involve social service in groups like ASPIRA, Teen Action, build-On and New York Cares.

18. High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology

After incoming freshmen complete the three-week Bridge Program to familiarize themselves with the staff and grounds, they are free to indulge an academic curiosity held so dear at this Brooklyn high school. Though the institution lives up to its name by offering courses in photography, computer graphics and Javascript, it is a destination for students of many different abilities and backgrounds. Scholars are encouraged to flex their minds in Advanced Placement courses ranging from American history to statistics or Kingsborough College courses such as criminal justice and sociology. By the time of graduation, children have learned to foster an enthusiasm for learning that is as expansive as the Gothic-style building where they attend class.

19. The Michael J.Petrides School

Just as it inhabits the smallest borough, this Staten Island high school works to foster a sense of community and family within a student body of just over 1,000 students. One of its most unique features is a laptop distribution program that provides wireless Internet access to all students. In addition, the course load offers all-around access for any curious young mind, with classes in myriad AP subjects and a special arts program with courses in instrumental, orchestral and vocal music.

20. Beacon High School

Shared exploration and problem-solving are the foundation of the inquiry-based curriculum at Beacon. Before graduating, each student must present a performance-based project to a panel of teachers. Though offering only five AP courses, the high school makes up by providing its scholars with opportunities like free college classes at NYU, John Jay and Fordham, along with trips to India, Mozambique and Spain. Students are free to a try a smattering of sports that even includes JV and varsity Ultimate Frisbee programs.

21. Collegiate Institute for Math and Science

As the name suggests, the challenging academic program at this Bronx school is designed to focus on a math and science education. All students must study four years of math and science and maintain a balanced course load of social studies and languages as well. Their college prep program with the University of Vermont, along with the big sibling program at Vassar College, demonstrates the institution’s determination to prepare its students for college. A multitude of summer enrichment programs also ensures that the school is working year-round for academic development.


22. Millennium High School

Balance is the name of the game at this Manhattan high school. Millenium requires that every member of its student body complete four years of credit in each major subject. Freshmen and sophomores must begin with the school’s core curriculum before taking the responsibility of choosing their own courses in grades 11 and 12. The administration also projects individual care by assigning each scholar an adviser for four years and by instituting a mandatory obligation that everyone complete 25 books and community service each year.

23. Academy of Finance and Enterprise

The mission of the Academy of Finance and Enterprise is to provide its young scholars with a tough curriculum centered on project-based methods involving business and technology. For this reason, the administration exposes students to an ever-developing glimpse of the global business world, where they can participate in a financial community. The school does offer 12 AP courses in a large range of disciplines, but the curriculum’s highlights are classes in financial services, banking, securities and virtual enterprise.

24. Bronx Preparatory Charter School

When this school graduated its first class in 2007, it remarkably sent all 100% of its students to four-year colleges. This focus on preparation steers the curriculum toward a blend of progressive and traditional teaching that includes extensive AP offerings, such as world history and environmental science, and communicative activities like book and double Dutch clubs. The long, arduous workday may not be suitable for everyone, but it has proved successful.

25. Robert F. Kennedy Community High School

Situated on Parsons Blvd. in Queens, this midsize school is committed to giving students attention they might not receive in a larger student body. It draws on the philosophy of the Bank Street College of Education: Kids with different abilities are placed in the same classes, while assignments are adapted so that each student gets individual attention with speaking projects and peer review. This forward-thinking program also manifests itself in hour-long class periods for three periods a week, a schedule which separates itself from the standard 40-minute blocks of other N.Y.C. schools. This curriculum aids in the development of unique and independent young individuals ready for college.

26. Frederick Douglass Academy

Scholarship is the name of the game at Frederick Douglass Academy. An atmosphere of order, civility, maturity and seriousness compels students to make the most of a course load that includes AP classes in conjunction with a Touchstones Discussion Project and Whole Life Management sessions that include Life Skills Math. Each young scholar is held to an extremely high standard, and must follow the set of core rules called the “12 non-negotiables” and a network of beliefs adapted from Morehouse College’s Scholar’s Creed.


27. Forest Hills High School

Nestled in the most multicultural borough of the city, this Blue Ribbon School of Excellence of nearly 4,000 students makes citizenship in a diverse world one of its main goals. Partnerships with several community-based organizations, be they the Forest Hills Community House or the Jewish Health System, allow the administration to impart these values to students. The school also maintains an impressive academic curriculum through its offering of six languages and a plethora of Advanced Placement courses. Students are encouraged to seek participation in institutions of higher learning, such as Columbia University.

28. Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy

(Middle School/High School 141)
In the secluded Riverdale section of the Bronx, Kingsbridge Academy, with about 1,300 students, almost looks like a suburban school. The small-community feel allows the parent association and surrounding town an active role in the school’s affairs. This translates to a hands-on academic curriculum; students are taught in a compulsory program that requires AP biology in 11th grade and AP chemistry in 12th. Though the school does teach other APs in the humanities and languages, it is the science program, with its state-of-of-the-art labs, that captures any visitor’s attention.
29. High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City College
Instructionally supported by the City College of New York, this high school sets up a challenging learning environment based on the civic implementation of mathematics, science and engineering. Programs like Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering and the Mount Sinai Science Research Program help to accomplish this goal. With just over 400 students, the school still manages to provide a range of clubs and activities that includes an Eat NC Club, two math teams and seven sports teams.

30. High School for Environmental Studies

The west midtown school of approximately 1,400 young scholars maintains a well-balanced curriculum of typical high school subjects — math, science, history and languages — but through unusual internships and field trips manages to impart a strong awareness of the environment. Stronger students are placed in the tiny Honors Academy or the larger Honors Sequence. More than half of the students are active participants in the school’s green theme, regardless of the program. About one third of the 10th-grade class balances classwork with an internship at Wave Hill, The Bronx Zoo, Swindler Cove Park or some other nature-related institution, and the campus also boasts one of the few molecular biology labs in the city.

31. Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School

This 6-12 school’s performance in mathematics ranks among the top 10 in the city. The school focuses on health and requires students to participate in a Hospital Experience program at Queens Hospital. This provides scholars with medical aspirations invaluable hospital experience before the age of 16. Other activities like the annual blood drive, disaster initiatives and Breast Cancer Awareness program further the institution’s health-focused curriculum. Alongside this streamlined plan of study, however, are opportunities in other areas, be it in the AP U.S. history class or the Floor Hockey Club.

32. Marble Hill High School for International Studies

Marble Hill places a premium on global awareness and world languages with its internationally minded curriculum. Students are encouraged to participate in exchange programs with schools of other countries, and an overall look at the student body and faculty reveals that the institution boasts an international community representing more than 49 countries. Perhaps more impressively, the students themselves speak more than 40 languages. With such a diversely represented group, it is no surprise that much of the school’s academic curriculum revolves around exploratory learning with foundations in the expressive arts and inquiry-based instruction.

33. South Bronx Preparatory: A College Board School

In collaboration with the College Board, this high school strives to assist students in mastering a challenging curriculum so that they may gain entry to and be prepared for well-established institutions of higher education. Program highlights include Knowledge for College and interconnected academic support services. Nevertheless, the entire administration also allows its future-minded students an opportunity to express themselves in the moment, with hip-hop workshops and a variety of dance clubs.

34. High School of Economics and Finance

The name says it all. This high school drives its students toward the completion of a challenging academic program with additional requirements in economics and finance. Each student is encouraged to complete internships with major financial companies, where the administration understands that young scholars can learn from experience on Wall Street. The institution also strives to impart a world-class cultural experience with organizations involved with Carnegie Hall, the Gotham Chamber Opera and the New-York Historical Society, but highlights remain the coursework in economics, finance and entrepreneurship.


35. Medgar Evers College Preparatory School

Medgar Evers stresses its massive offering of 19 AP courses and a balanced curriculum of traditional high school education to prepare its students for college. Situated on Carroll Street in Brooklyn, the school has just over 1,000 students, who are privy to an extensive offering of electives and extracurriculars that includes everything from premed mentoring to table tennis to ceramics. Partnerships with the Brooklyn Museum and Medgar Evers College also allow young scholars to explore outside the classroom.

36. Eximius College Preparatory Academy: A College Board School

This 6-12 academy on Fulton Ave. in the Bronx uses its connections with higher education, which include but are hardly limited to Columbia, NYU and Fordham, to impart the best education possible to its students. With upward of 10 AP courses offered and courses structured around excellence on the Regents, the school drives students to succeed academically. The young scholars also show some of their own initiative with academic-minded extracurriculars like Small Group Tutoring, Principal’s Roundtable and Academic Enrichment. They also get the chance to blow off some steam during the school’s sports program that includes flag football, fencing and martial arts.

37. Young Women’s Leadership School

TYWLS was established to foster the intellectual curiosity and creativity of young women through their encouragement of a “whole girl” armed with the emotional well being to attain post secondary success. To reach this end, the institution offers its 450 young girls a wide selection of AP courses, but also urges them to participate in the East Harlem tutorial and the Mount Sinai Medical Center. High-participation in clubs like Ecology, Robotics, and Social Justice demonstrates how the serious academic-minded tone of the administration spreads to the students.

38. A. Philip RandolphCampus H.S.

With a location in the City College of New York, this school affords its students the opportunity to be in an educational community just from its surroundings. In addition to attending courses at the institution of higher education which surrounds it, students are provided a breathtaking range of AP classes in 12 subjects. Amid these impressive academic features, A. Philip Randolph also emphasizes a supportive learning community, as some of its most prominent extracurriculars are Peer Mediators,
Kaplan Mentoring, and Mentoring USA.

39. Bayside H.S.

For a high school with more than 3,600 students, Bayside makes sure that each of its scholars receives personal attention. Guidance counselors are given only small caseloads of students to ensure a personal connection is made, and its 21 AP courses and 30 sports teams allow kids to make personal decisions about how they spend their time inside and outside of the classroom. The administration also makes a number of specialized programs available to its students, many with a focus in technology. Whether a student wants to pursue music recording, environmental research or sports medicine, there is a program for that.


40. Frank Sinatra School of the Arts

The studio arts program at Frank Sinatra is a force to be reckoned with. It provides students with an intensive sequential study in any art form that allows for extended study in history, cultural significance and esthetics. This system imparts to students a sense of personal responsibility while also giving them a sense of direction. The school offers an extended day program of 90-120 minutes in selected majors and secures for its scholars internships at art agencies and apprenticeships with local artist. This progressive teaching method helps to form a creative and artistic environment where students are intellectually engaged.

41. The Brooklyn Latin School

The emphasis on the classics at Brooklyn Latin manifests itself in a four-year Latin requirement that accompanies similar obligations in more conventional high school subjects like history, English, mathematics and science. No student leaves without having accumulated strong oratory and writing techniques in his or her arsenal, as the administration requires its students to participate in Socratic Seminars and Declamation to bolster public-speaking skills. The high expectations for independent thought and community service show themselves in the school’s pregraduation requirements of a college-level research essay on a selected topic along with 150 hours of Creativity, Action and Service. With this structured and challenging base program, it is no wonder that the best and brightest also take the opportunity to work in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

42. Pelham Preparatory Academy

The oldest and most established of the small schools in the Christopher Columbus Educational Campus, Pelham Preparatory Academy consistently trumps the city’s average graduation and attendance rates. The faculty also take great pains to get to know each of its 500 students. More than 10 of the young scholars have individual education plans, and utilize special education services as they tackle their 2½ to 3 hours of homework a night in honors and AP programs.

43. Benjamin Banneker Academy

Students at Benjamin Banneker are immersed in the African institution’s academic theme through the challenging curriculum. A mostly black staff emphasizes African-American artists, scientists and writers while also teaching the standard curriculum of APs and honors classes for college preparation. Additionally, students can go on trips to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and to an African country. Of course, students of all races are welcome. The school just wishes to impart an alternative glance of history while also preparing its students in the traditional sense for higher education.


44. Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics

This school uses a lottery system to welcome students of all levels and offer them a challenging program fundamentally concentrated on science and mathematics. It meets the needs of every student lucky enough to gain entry through its strategic support structure of faculty, students, parents and the community. For this reason, the school of over 400 students manages to offer a wide variety of extracurricular activities that includes a leadership team and a salsa club. With a strict rigor that binds its students to a dress code and four-year requirements in nearly all of the high school subjects, BCSM makes sure to prepare its students for the world ahead.

45. Bronx High School for Medical Science

With just over 434 students, this small school on the William Howard Taft Educational Campus makes personal attention one of its top priorities as its students prepare to enter fields of medical science and health careers. Students have the opportunity to shadow health care professionals at school, during weekends or even the summer. The administration offers a wide breadth of hospital outreach opportunities, yet maintains a balanced curriculum dedicated to all five of the typical high school subjects. Despite attending a small school, the young scholars are privy to a large selection of competitive sports via 13 teams.

46. Manhattan Village Academy

College preparation is the fundamental basis on which Manhattan Village builds its curriculum and extracurricular programs. Each applicant must interview and provide a complete portfolio of their academic work, standardized test scores and a personal essay before they are allowed access to this high school’s various opportunities, which include courses in College Awareness and Preparation, Creating a Business, and other classes in PM school. Students enjoy supplementing the core curriculum in math, science, English and history with a plethora of clubs and organizations, which range from serious Conflict Resolution meetings to a strong Spirit Week Committee.

47. Lower East Side Preparatory High School

Lower East Side Preparatory High School is a transfer high school for students over age 17, including those still learning English. The school boasts diverse course offerings including documentary filmmaking, marine biology, and architecture and interior design as well as a wide array of extracurricular activities like peer tutoring, origami and coed bowling.


Students at this rigorous high school are held to the highest standard and are expected to take two hours of tutoring in subjects with which the might struggle and even to attend class on Saturdays. Though small facilities limits them to just nine APs (with a 10th planned for 2012), students are still able to engage with one of three impressive programs that allow them a jump-start in technology, health professions and law. The family-like community balances the very serious academic approach, which even extends to extracurriculars in journalism, debate and school government.

49. CSI High School for International Studies

The rigorous program at CSI maintains the high standards of a college preparatory school, but infuses global themes throughout the content areas. Students are held to a four-year requirement in a world language, including Chinese and Japanese, and must also complete 120 hours of community service. The young scholars are also enrolled in compulsory advisory skills intended to bolster skills in communication, social proficiency and global awareness. These kids graduate with a sense of how to compete and participate in an ever-more international world.

50. The College Academy

The administration looks to provide for its students a learning program based on critical and evaluative skills, and through thematic-based instruction to develop literate, self-reliant, high-achieving students who can transfer their knowledge and skills to college, A strict code of conduct binds all young scholars, which includes a dress policy and school uniform. Program highlights include classes in virtual enterprise and Microsoft Office. The students do their part, and participate in no-nonsense academic organizations like Model UN and even Saturday schools.

51. Curtis High School

The picturesque, century-old building which houses this beautiful Staten Island high school gives a proper visual for the balanced comprehensive education it provides. Every one of the roughly 2,500 students must participate in the rigorous program of basic study, but has the option of following more specialized paths in computer science, journalism, performing arts and the prestigious International Baccalaureate course of study. It is no wonder that so many of the teachers are actually Curtis High School alumni: It has something for everyone, and no one wants to leave.

52. New Dorp High School

Though New Dorp educates as many as 2,600 students, it makes sure that each child gets the full treatment. The administration has organized the district into small communities of a few hundred scholars each, and each section uses its own faculty and guidance counselor. With this well-planned system, students are able to get the benefits of a large school with a variety of classes and clubs in areas such as poetry and fashion, yet can foster close relationships with their teachers and peers. This way, advanced students are able to follow honor tracks to keep themselves challenged, and others with special needs are sure to receive the necessary attention.
HONORABLE MENTION
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H.S. for Public Service-Heroes of Tomorrow
The High School of Fashion Industries
Humanities Preparatory Academy
James Madison High School
Manhattan International High School
Manhattan/Hunter Science High School
New Utrecht High School
NYC Museum School
Pace High School
Professional Performing Arts H.S.
Rachel Carson H.S. For Coastal Studies
Repertory Company H.S. For Theatre Arts
School of the Future High School
Science, Tech & Research High School
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Talent Unlimited High School
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Thomas A. Edison Career & Technical H.S.
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Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/u-s-news-world-report-ranking-top-50-high-schools-new-york-city-full-list-article-1.1154950?pgno=11#ixzz267t4HXuV

How to get Extra Time for the SAT -- Kweller Prep

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Please call 1(800) 631-1757 to inquire about rates and availability or email info@KwellerPrep.com

How to Get Extended Time for the SAT

source: www.Collegeboard.com

 

Information about testing with accommodations on the SAT

To take the SAT with testing accommodations, students with disabilities must be approved for accommodations by the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabiltities. See Applying for Accommodations for more information. The following information explains many of the details about accommodations on the SAT.

Once a student is approved by the College Board for accommodations, how can he or she register for the SAT?

When a student requests accommodations for College Board tests, he or she receives an SSD Eligibility Code. The student must use this code when registering for the SAT. If registering by mail, the student should include a copy of the Student Eligibility Letter in the envelope with the SAT registration form. For more information, please visit SAT registration.

Can a student register for the SAT before receiving notification of approval for the requested accommodation?

Yes, the student can register for the SAT by any of the means available. After being approved for accommodations, the student should call the College Board at (609) 771-7137. This contact should be at least two weeks before a test date to have the SAT registration reflect the accommodations that the student will receive. Because it takes time to make appropriate arrangements at a testing site (for example, proctor, space, shipped materials), changes requested less than two weeks before a test date cannot be guaranteed until the next test date.

When will I learn if my student is approved for the requested accommodations?

It takes about five weeks from the date that a complete request for accommodations is submitted to receive a response from the College Board. If a documentation review is required, it takes up to seven weeks from the date that the documentation is complete. Please see Important SSD Dates for more information.

Does a student have to use his or her accommodations on the SAT?

No. The student may register without providing the SSD Eligibility Code that was included in the Student Eligibility Letter. Students who register with their SSD Eligibility Code and thereafter decide that they do not wish to use their accommodation(s) must submit a signed statement (by a parent or guardian if the student is under 18) stating the decision.

Can a student request additional accommodations or change the current accommodations that are approved by the College Board?

Yes. A student may change the approved accommodations by submitting an Accommodations Change Request Form. See Changing Accommodations.

What is the difference between National Center Testing and School Testing?

Most students—with and without accommodations—take the SAT at National Centers. These sites often are local educational facilities. Some of the accommodations that may be provided at a National Test Center are:

• 50% extended time
  
• 14-point test booklet
  
• Large block answer sheet

Some students, including some students testing with accommodations, take the SAT at their school. Some accommodations that may only be provided at the student's school are:

• 100% extended time
  
• A reader
  
• A writer
  
• A Braille version of the test
  
• A computer to record written responses

If my student is approved for accommodations that are provided at a National Test Center, how will he or she know which center to go to?

The student's assigned test center for the date requested can be found on his or her admission ticket.

Is the school testing given on the same day as center testing?

Students who receive school testing most often test at the school they attend. The SAT is given at any time within the four-day period that begins with the Saturday national test date. (Please see SAT Calendar Dates & Fees.) The SSD Coordinator at the testing school determines the specific date, start time, and the location within the school, and then notifies the students.

How will I know which students are taking the SAT at my school?

A few weeks before each test date, the SSD Coordinator will receive a roster of all School Testing students who are registered for the SAT. The report also provides a list of each student's approved accommodations. SSD Coordinators should ensure that the information is correct.
Immediately before the test date, the SSD Coordinator will receive a Nonstandard Administration Report (NAR), with students' names and SSD Eligibility Codes pre-entered. This will be the final roster showing all of the students who are approved for school-based testing. This roster has to be returned with the answer sheets after the completion of the testing.

What is the best time to give the SAT at my school?

It is best to begin the test as early in the four-day period as possible so that you can return the answer sheets promptly and allow for timely reporting of the students' scores. It also is advisable to test all students on the same day.

How long will the SAT be with 50% or with 100% extended time?

SAT

The variable section has been eliminated for extended-time students. For 50% extended time, the test will be 5 hours, with 11 minutes of breaks: a 5-minute break after sections 2 and 6 and a 1-minute break after section 4. Students with 50% extended time are allowed:

• 38 minutes for a standard 25-minute section
  
• 30 minutes for a standard 20-minute section
  
• 15 minutes for a standard 10-minute section

For 100% extended time, the test will be 6 hours and 40 minutes, with two 5-minute breaks (after section 2 on the first day and after section 6 on the second day). Students with 100% extended time are allowed:

• 50 minutes for a standard 25-minute section
  
• 40 minutes for a standard 20-minute section
  
• 20 minutes for a standard 10-minute section

SAT Subject Tests™

• Students with 100% extended time are allowed 2 hours for each standard one-hour test.
  
• Students with 50% extended time are allowed 1 1/2 hours for each standard one-hour test.

What is the procedure for testing students approved for 100% extended time?

All 100% extended-time students who are taking the SAT will be tested over two days. Only those students eligible for 100% extended time who are taking the SAT Reasoning Test can continue the test on the second day.

• Day 1—Complete ID information and test sections 1–4. Lock test materials in a secure area overnight.
  
• Day 2—Complete test sections 5–9. Be sure to give each student the same book and answer sheet they used on the first day.
  
• Begin testing all School-Testing students on any day within the window (i.e., Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday).
  
• Complete testing on the next consecutive day within the window whenever possible. If necessary, the second day of testing may occur on Wednesday.

How many breaks will students approved for 50% extended time receive on the SAT and will they be allowed to eat during these breaks?

Students testing with 50% extended time will be testing for about 25 minutes longer than they did when taking the earlier, shorter SAT. Each break for extended-time students will take place after an hour and 15 minutes of testing. Students are welcome to bring nourishing, filling snacks for the two 5-minute breaks.

What are the guidelines for snacks during the SAT?

Snacks may be consumed during breaks, but generally they are not permitted to be eaten in the testing room. However, students with a medical need may request permission to eat or drink during the test as an accommodation.

What is section timing?

Students will be timed separately on each SAT section or Subject Test. Students must be given their full approved time on each section or subject, even if they stop work before time is called. They may not move to the next section or subject until all time has elapsed.

Hunter High School Practice Test

see www.KwellerPrep.com for updated information 

PSAT test Prep in New York City -- Kweller Prep 2 locations

September 2012

Kweller Prep is Hiring Tutors!

weller Prep is Hiring Tutors!

To apply, candidates must posses the following:

1. 780 or higher SAT score in either (1) Reading Comprehension, (2) Writing (3) Math or (4) any SAT 2 Subject Test (Must provide official Score Report from the College Board) or ACT score of at least 30.

2. Must be the first person in his or her family to attend a top tier university, college, or graduate school on partial or full scholarship.

3. Must be fluent in at least 2 languages (Read, Write, and Converse)

4. Must have experience tutoring one-on-one or in small group settings, and able to provide at least 3 references.

5. Must agree to background check.

email: resumes and cover letters to fk@KwellerPrep.com

mail directly to : New Office Located in the Parker Towers, 10440 Queens Blvd Suite 1F in Forest Hills NY 11375

Fax to : 800-631-1757

Kweller Prep is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How to Get College Internship Credit

INTERNSHIPS FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT

There are several lists for internships for academic credit and support students seeking credit for internships can access. Please note that students have the responsibility to arrange course credit for their internships, when required by your company. All current students can enroll in an internship course during the first two (2) weeks of any quarter without direct employer involvement, and it is not necessary for you to contact the Center for Career Services.

For internships that require credit, the important things employers must do are: (1) time the hiring schedule to so that students can enroll in an internship class, and; (2) confirm a student’s hiring prior to the “Week 2” deadline. Most college quarters generally begin the first week of January, the first week of April, in mid-June, and the last week of September.

Good luck college students! Now go find your internships!

Yahoo Review of Kweller Prep

What more can you ask for in SAT and Regents prep? Kweller Prep offers outstanding support for students and parents from one on one tutoring to college applications and financial aid advice. The staff at Kweller Prep is made of dedicated and passionate educators that are fully committed to each student's academic success. Attention to detail is part of what makes Kweller Prep one of the best sources for tutoring and standardized testing preparation. Parents will also find a support network at Kweller Prep. Parent's night and college workshops allow them to discuss questions and concerns in a comfortable and positive environment. Parents leave each workshop with valuable information on how to improve their child's success in college and a new understanding of the education and testing process. Kweller Prep has been the key component to numerous scholarship and award success stories. I recommend Kweller Prep to any parent who has a child who is preparing for standardized testing and the college admissions process-- Elana D

Frances Kweller ESQ' NYU featured alumni

http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/profiles/alumni/franceskweller?utm_source=lyris&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alumni_news_nov10

NYU Featured Alumni

Inspired by her love of education and her time at NYU, Frances Kweller (BS '04, Communication Studies) entered the work force on a mission to revitalize the higher education application system. The result was Kweller Prep, an organization she founded which provides highly personalized and intense test prep courses for students seeking higher test scores, entry to top-rated schools, and a way to reach their aspirations

Fan letter

Hi Francis:

Thank you so much for your many contributions to the development of Luka. We will rewrite his personal statement with your recommendations added.

We are thrilled to hear you are thinking about starting a Charter School. With your vision and drive you would make such a tremendous contribution to your students.

Very best of luck.

Again, thank you for your help and many fine suggestions.

Sincerely,
Robert, Amy, James and Luka

Review of Kweller Prep by Linda Katayev

Kweller Prep is honestly one of the best tutoring centers to go to for absolutely any subject you need help in. I started to go there in the beginning of my high school years for math help and then stayed there to get help for my SATs which is the most important exam for entrance into college. Starting at Kweller Prep I though that I was never gonna do well on my SATs considering I was horrible in math but Kweller Prep proved me wrong. This tutoring center helped me in more ways then I can count. It raised my first SAT score with my second by 400 points. This center taught me more tricks on how to handle SAT questions than any other tutoring service out there. In addition, I was taught how to be organized with my scheduling and if it wasn't for Kweller Prep I would have probably been lost when it came to applying for colleges. I was helped from beginning to end starting with just doing the application together to getting help with all sorts of college essays and personal statements. There is no doubt in my mind that Kweller Prep was a huge part of my acceptance to college and I have no regrets for choosing this tutoring service to work with.

Lessons I Learned About Starting My Own Business!

Lessons I Learned About Starting My Own Business!

Frances Kweller, J.D. is founder of Kweller Prep Advanced Tutoring and Educational Services. An intensive test prep and college prep program designed for busy and talented youth. Her article is designed to offer reflection, and hopefully inspiration, to her readers. You can reach Frances at fk@KwellerPrep.com or visit www.KwellerPrep.com for more information.



TRUST YOUR GUT!

You have to trust your gut. If you don’t trust your own judgment, then how can you possibly expect others to trust in you? You have to make decisions for yourself, even if you fail. The best lessons you learn in life are from the mistakes you yourself made.

I had my business idea to open an advanced tutoring center while a college student at NYU. I knew it had tremendous potential. My time back then was limited, so I got to hand pick the kids I would work with—and I chose the best of the best. Top tennis athletes, exceptional students, and community service oriented kids. They were all ideal candidates for me to work with. I knew that after doing test prep with these kids, I could help them secure not only incredible college acceptance letters, but also a multitude of scholarships. I can’t even count how many times I worked on scholarship applications with my high school kids and they won--nearly $100,000 per kid. The parent would invest around $2,000- $5,000 in my service, and reap the benefits from it within a few months.

My gut said over and over again, ‘GO BIG GO BIG GO BIG.’ I eventually listened, but only after I completed law school—three years later! Obtaining a law degree gave me a tremendous amount of confidence. I was the first person to go to law school in my family and when I learned that I had passed the NYS bar, I felt as if I could rule the world. I needed that degree—I needed those three grueling years in law school, to gain the confidence I lacked in order to eventually open my own business.

People often ask me why I don’t “practice” law. But I do. In fact, I use my knowledge from law school all the time—to set up my first, and then my second corporation, to create employment and non-competition agreements, to obtain licenses to use material from the College Board, and to work with other lawyers as I form my corporate structure.


BE WARY OF THE ADVICE OF OTHERS.

I work with a lot of well-meaning parents who only want the best for their children, but sometimes, they discourage their kids from trusting themselves, because as parents, they think they know better.

One of my best friends lives in Israel now. She said one of the biggest mistakes she ever made in life was not listening to her gut, and studying the wrong major. Her parents really wanted her to be in the business world, but she loved to study art. Business was simply not her thing. Instead if encouraging her to take art classes, they sent her off to Kumon learning school every day. It took lots of bad jobs, and many unhappy years until she finally learned to do what she loves—which is art. She now works for an art appraiser and is happier now than ever before.

If your gut says be a doctor, then be a doctor! If it says be a tennis coach, then be one! But be the best! Work hard and put your energy into doing that what you love.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF SOMEONE YOUNG.

We are a generation of winners. 22 year old Lady Gaga earned 68 million dollars last year. Mark Zuckerburg, creator of facebook, was worth 26 billion. Bill Gates started Microsoft in 1975 and was the richest person in the world by 1996. What do they all have in common? Besides all dropping out from their respective colleges, they made a fortune doing what they love, trusting their gut and executing ideas.

If I only had one dollar every time a parent met with me and said, “Wow, you are so much younger than I expected.” Time and time again, parents think I must be in my forties or fifties because I am a lawyer and run my own successful business. Even my tutoring staff is amazed with me. “you are so successful” Helen, my 18 year old tutor, says. But I don’t see it that way. After all, Mark Zuckerburg is that same exact age as I am, and by age 27, he had made billions of dollars, and changed social media as we know it. HE is successful. Look at Lady Gaga, and Bettheny Frankel. THEY are successful.

I will never settle with moderate success--I always hold myself up to higher standards. I have role models my own age. We live in a generation of winners and young wealth. We are, bar far, the most intelligent generation society has ever had.

The sheer volume of information available at our fingertips is incredible. We are winners. We are Young. We are going places that prior generations never even dreamed of. Lady Gaga made more than Madonna last year. We do not only look up to our role models; we out-perform them.

I wonder if I lose clients because I am so young—because they think that an older, more experienced tutor or college counselor to get their kids into the ivy leagues. I think parents who do not use me are making a huge mistake. I’m young, I’m savvy, and I’m optimistic. Best of all, I have a track record of getting kids into top schools, on incredible scholarships.

I just spoke with one of my student’s college counselors yesterday. This counselor is older and jaded. He is not as optimistic as I am. I have worked with his student regularly for the past year and helped her go from a 1350 SAT score to a 2190. He sees her transcripts and worries. I see her SAT score and smile. I envision an amazing addendum letter to her college application discussing what an amazing, talented, albeit late blooming student she is. She went from a USTA National Tennis Ranking of 332 to 57. Amazing. Her sharp rise in tennis correlated directly with her higher and higher performance on her SAT. As her testing performance went up, so did her athletic abilities. She is incredible. She can hit the Ivy Leagues. And she will.

A young person sees what an older person may not. At my age, I am surrounded by young success. How can I possibly not be optimistic about my future?

DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW

I am in the education industry, and I’m doing what I love. I’m not teaching at a school, because I don’t love that. I am a leader, not a follower, and I can’t handle bureaucracy. I can’t work as a teacher—simple reason: I could NEVER fail a kid. I work with kids until they become winners and I NEVER give up—my students will attest to this. I respect teachers so much; my mother was a school teacher for over 30 years. But even if I was the principal, I’d still have to answer to someone. So I won’t go that route (Unless I open a charter school for reasons I will mention in another article) I feel that my creativity would be restricted. I run a private practice. I need to be the boss.

Professionally, I can’t be anything else; it’s just not me. You have to do what you love to do. You have to know yourself—really know who you are. Trust me, the money will follow. The amazing part is that you don’t feel that you are ‘working’ when you do what you love. Your job is no longer a job—it is you. You actually enjoy talking about work—outside of work-- and in general, enjoying life. My highest levels of personal satisfaction came from Kweller Prep--launching something I love and creating something even larger than what I envisioned, with almost 200 students entering the Kweller Prep doors by the end of the first year (which, by the way, means I wasn’t thinking nearly big enough!)

Generation 2010 is filled with winners. My ambitious friends, who couldn’t find jobs, are opening their own businesses and are running them well—they are now the ones looking at resumes and doing the hiring. Our future is filled with alternative career options and I’m not going to let propaganda like CNN flash recession updates, or a jaded college counselor scare me away from taking risks or trying to place talented kids into top schools—on full academic scholarships.

TIMING IS A LOT, BUT EXECUTION IS EVERYTHING!

If I have learned one thing, it is this: Ideas are worthless unless executed. Since opening Kweller Prep, people have approached me with one idea after the other. Many claim that my success has inspired them and that they want to share their ideas with me. My response always is, “your idea is great, but how do you plan to go about executing it?” Without execution, your ideas are worthless. Completely Worthless. Executed ideas, however, are invaluable.

Sometimes executing your ideas means that you will lose friends, sometimes it means you will alienate family. But if you don’t follow through with something that you want to do, you will lose hope, and that is the greatest loss of all. Few people know this, (but after this article a lot more will), but my father (a man whom I admire and respect so much and speak to multiple times daily) was strongly opposed to me opening my own business. He had a different “picture” of how my life should go. When I decided to open my business, I told my father my “plan.” He strongly discouraged me and even threatened to stop speaking with me. He reminded me that we are in the midst of a recession, and I would have to be a complete idiot to take a loan out in such tumultuous time. I remember wishing so much that I had his support, but I also looked deep inside myself and listened to my gut—and continued to follow through with my plan.

THE HATE LETTER: My well meaning, very traditional father was adamantly opposed to me, a woman, opening her own business. Upon learning that I signed the lease, he was irate. Shortly after, he presented me with a letter. It went something like this: “I prohibit you from doing this. We are in the midst of a recession and what you are doing—taking a loan, opening your own business, signing a two year lease for tutoring after I paid for all of law school is ridiculous. Your business will fail. It will cost you thousands of dollars to run it. You don’t even know how to balance a check book. I WANT YOU TO WORK AS A LAWYER FOR THE GOVERNMENT. This way, you can make $40,000 a year to start, plus have full medical and dental coverage. You can set up a pension plan and a roth IRA. You can work from 9:00 to 5:00 pm and then retire after 20 years. THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. I am your father and I know what is best. I would never mis-guide you” I wish I had kept the letter. Just the thought of working 9 to 5 makes me nauseous. Everyone has their calling—that kind of job or that kind of lifestyle simply is not mine.

In fact, my father was so angry that he had paid for my law degree and I decided to ‘work as a tutor’ that he did not speak with me my first three weeks in business. So much for a grand opening! I’m surprised my mom and dad didn’t walk around in black veils! For the first six months that I ran Kweller Prep, my father told friends and family that I was looking for a “real” legal job but I couldn’t find “real” work due to the recession. He was a man in deep denial. The truth was that I handed out no resumes. I went on no interviews, but my father for the life of him couldn’t come to terms with the fact that I was returning to do something I had done since I was fifteen years old—tutoring. Many members of my family were quite confused. I bet they still are. I went from being “my niece the lawyer,” which they would say with pride to “Henry’s daughter who wasted his money and got a law degree for nothing.” Ouch! Talk about harsh. It took about 6 months, $100,000 in earnings and a feature in the NYU alumni newsletter as an outstanding alumni for them to think otherwise. By the end of my first year, Kweller Prep generated over $250,000. I started with a -$10,000 credit card loan (I had to take a loan again my credit card because no bank would help me out).

I currently employ about a dozen tutors, and have professionally edited and proofread nearly 1,000 college applications and personal statements. I now offer an at-home tutoring option (to reduce overhead cost) and am in the preliminary stages of writing a grant proposal to open a charter school in New York and Los Angeles for first generation immigrant students geared to help them get into competitive colleges on scholarship. I blog, I twitter, I work on my website and face fear daily while writing up parts of my business plan to expand. I NEED to believe in myself, even when no one else will. I need to pray that I make the RIGHT personal and professional choices, and hope to remain a role model for all the kids who have come my way.

I need to be OK with my decisions, and need to always trust my gut. I have become best friends with my gut. I listen to it, and it leads me in the right direction. Always.

My dad recently made my day. It took three years. He sees how happy I am. I get to travel, and launch incredible business ventures. I am more confident now than ever before. He told me that he used to think that he was 100% right, but now he realized that after I opened the business and ran it successfully without his help, he had been 100% wrong. To me, his respect means more than anything in the world. Today, I have it. Had I not executed my idea, it might have been lost. Now I take my father to events where I do presentations on the business and hold informational workshops on competitive college admissions. My father is amazed each and every time. It took a while, and a very powerful idea execution to gain his admiration and respect in a way in which satisfies both me and him.

CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN

You have an idea? Great…. START, but that’s all it is. You can jot general ideas down on a napkin, or tape record yourself while you speak, or simply share an email with a friend to get the ball rolling, but you must have some kind of vision, some kind of plan that you can put into written form. Thinking small isn’t enough; to be successful in business—and in life—you must think big. You must put your ideas in writing. You must have a business plan. I get chills right before working on mine. But I have support. There are numerous websites that can help with this, and they even offer free consultations. You have to be crazy not to take advantage of these opportunities. You can speak with an experienced business plan expert for free! Your first step is the PLAN. You must at least have that. Then you need drive, ambition, and a touch of luck.

LEARN TO HEAR THE WORD “NO!” BUT STILL FOLLOW YOUR GUT

I read somewhere that a child hears the work ‘no’ seven times more than he hears the word ‘yes’ as he grows up. I think it gets worse as you get older. I will never say to my child or children that they cannot do anything. Everything is within their reach.

When I first approached people with my business idea for a tutoring center, I felt like I heard the word ‘no’ 40 times more than I heard ‘yes.’ “There is already a Princeton, and a Kaplan, and schools are packed with after school services- some are even free—why would they go to you?“ And there was more “You can teach. You can work in law. You can work in a company and have vacation days! Like 2 weeks a year!” My parents said no, my then boyfriend said no, his mom said no, the bank said no. I wanted $100,000 to open my business. The answer was unanimously “no-no-no-no-no.” Uggh.

One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with was hearing the word no, but moving on despite hearing that vulgar word. I am a natural people pleaser. In a way, I think everyone is. I knew I had a great idea, which was to create Kweller Prep – a learning incubator in Forest Hills, specifically designed for advanced children of immigrant kids. I was hoping to fill a niche. I wanted to provide exceptional support services for already talented kids. So many of those kids live in Queens, where there is a high 1st generation immigrant population, an area filled with talented, driven young minds, and parents who aspire to give their kids the best education possible.

People take for granted that smart kids will just ‘figure out’ how to get into a top college or university, but that is not the case. Over and over again, I was discouraged from pursuing my ideas-- first by my own family, then from my friends. The problem is that even the people who supported me (and there were very few), didn’t have the money or capital to invest in my ideas. Even those who said they would never followed through. This doesn’t mean they were bad friends, but perhaps they were just too busy in their own world to help me pursue my dreams. YOU HAVE TO PURSUE YOUR DREAMS. They are YOURS!

I was pleasantly surprised when kids with very low grades came to Kweller Prep for help. I did not turn anyone away. “The center is not designed for you, but if you commit to working your butt off, to deactivating facebook, to learn with and respect the tutors here, then I’ll take you in.” One after the other, they unanimously agreed. Multiple students went from 60 to 90 averages thanks to Kweller Prep. We helped some gets get out of the school system entirely; we arranged to home school, alternate schools, and charter school them. Overall, I observed one success after the other.

REJECTION HURTS.GET OVER IT.


I remember after law school, I was finally confident enough to open my business. I had, after all, a law degree that I knew I could fall back on. I had a top undergraduate degree from New York University—from which I graduated early, in 3 1/3 years with high honors. I decided to go, with confidence from one bank to the next to promote my small business idea.


Talk about getting no support! Citibank shut me down completely. The small business banker said I must be ‘in business’ at least 2 years before I can even think about applying for a loan. She also gave me her two cents that I would be better off working for another tutoring center for a few years and then opening my own. Why people offer free advice—which turns out to be well-meaning but bad advice—is beyond me. After completing law school, I had momentum—I wanted to open my own business. I was ready to do so. I opened it and I did really well. Had I taken the Citibank’s business specialist’s advice, she would have set me back a few years. Or worse, I would have lost my momentum or entered into a non-compete agreement with another tutoring company, which could potentially have prohibited me from opening my own unique center.


SBA rejected me. That really hurt. I had nowhere to go except the credit cards after that. I maxed out my credit line. I was very lucky. My business did well, and I paid my loan back, ahead of time!

I received a letter from the SBA that my business got nominated for best local start up business by a woman in 2010. I was very flattered and very confused. After all, the guy who nominated me was the same one who couldn’t help me secure a loan from SBA to start my business in the first place! I just didn’t get it. The letter said that I helped create more jobs in this horrible economy and if I won the award, then 60,000 copies of the SBA newsletter would go out with Kweller Prep featured on the cover. Wow! I was honored, but not interested in the publicity. I found it strange, if anything, the same people who nominated me now were the ones who couldn’t invest in me back then.

I was also going through some immense personal changes I have no desire now to write about now. The timing was off, and the nomination,all the potential publicity, while flattering, just didn't sit well with me at the time. I didn't want Kweller Prep on the cover of 60,000 fliers, not yet at least. I had so much more to do. I wasn't ready.

Getting rejected hurts. Get over it. Move on. Look what wound up happening with me-- the same people who refused to give me a business loan later nominated me for best local start up business!

LEARN TO DELEGATE!


You have to find people you trust, and you have to, above all, trust yourself. Even though you might be able to do a fabulous job of running the entire business on your own, it can be emotionally and mentally exhausting. You must, my dear readers, learn how to let go and delegate. There are only 24 hours in a day and you can only do so much. However by delegating, you can essentially create more time—more time to clear your head, and more time to think about bigger, better and more important things.

When I hired my first tutor, Risheen, I delegated to her the job of instructing students how to handle the critical reading sections on the SAT. Risheen had perfect SAT scores. She graduated from Columbia University, with high honors and was obtaining a professional degree from NYU in social work. I was at first nervous at having her work with ‘my kids.’ I was very possessive (grrr! Mine mine mine!). But as the business began to grow, I knew that I couldn’t teach and run the business single-handed. You can find her here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9qJs9NTTm8&feature=player_embedded

Much to my surprise, the kids started to love Risheen. I BECAME JEALOUS. She worked for me on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the kids requested her on Mondays and Wednesdays. I was so happy that she was a good fit, and so happy that she was so likeable, and jealous when the kids started to gravitate to her. I was learning to let go, and, boy, was that difficult. For the sake of my business and for what I had created, I had to find more amazing tutors. The kids had to love them. I had to learn to let go and allow them to be loved. I hired more and more incredible staff. It took a lot of trial and error. I gave the kids complete control over the hiring decisions at Kweller Prep. This empowered them. If they liked the tutor, I kept them; if not, I fired them. It was that easy. After the kids selected the tutors they liked the most, I began to train, and train and train. But I trained carefully. I had all the tutors sign confidentiality, non-disclosure, and non compete agreement.

THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO KNOW MORE THAN YOU. MEET THEM. HIRE THEM.

I am a lawyer, but I invested in hiring an experienced lawyer to help me draft such important documents. I also did a thorough background check on each tutor, as per my attorney's advice. There are people out there who know more than you. You just have to accept that in life. Don’t fight it—use them as resources. After all, you go to a mechanic for your car, a doctor for your health, and hopefully a knowledgeable lawyer to help you execute contracts for your business dealings. You need to go to those who have experience. It will save you time, and in the long run, a lot of money.


HIRE THE RIGHT STAFF


After a lot of trial and error, you will eventually learn to hire the right staff. You will eventually train the staff you like most. You may unfortunately train a competitor, like Princeton review and Kaplan did when they trained the founders of the now multi-million dollar test prep industry Revolution Prep. But that is a risk you have to take. If you avoid risk, you may also avoid highly profitably opportunities. You can’t suffer from ‘analysis-paralysis.’ Sometimes, thinking too much gets you nowhere. You analyze until you over analyze, and the thinking process exhausts you. Act now, think later, then process. Take a bite of the apple so you at least know what it tastes like.


TAKE AN ACCOUNTING CLASS

In college, I dodged basic accounting like the plague. In fact, I made it all throughout college and law school without taking a basic tax class. I feared I would fail the subject and managed to do without it—all because I didn’t want a bad grade. A class like accounting should be required. After all, the only things absolutely certain in life are taxes and death. I think that taking an accounting class should be ungraded. College kids should just take the class to learn and not fear a bad grade in an unknown area—but that is a separate discussion entirely. If you have the option to sit in on an accounting class (called “auditing” a class) go for it! Just sit in the back and take notes. This way, you don’t have to worry about getting a grade. Just enjoy and absorb the information.

HIRE A GOOD ACCOUNTANT

I went through three accountants my first year in business. The first one came highly recommended, but screwed up my filing status. He also put me on the radar with auditors. I paid him $400 to file my taxes. He used TurboTax, which I could have done myself for free. The second accountant had over 20 years of experience, which was great, but she did not handle the amended taxes with the care I wanted. Actually, she didn’t handle them at all. She held onto my tax return information for 2 weeks and let it collect dust in her office. I thought she was working on it. I thought she was helping me make a timely amendment, but she had bigger and better fish to fry. I was a new business, and low on her priority list. She returned my tax file to me untouched and told me to leave it as is, and be prepared to explain to an auditor that I made a one-time boo boo with my tax filing status in the event of an audit.


What an idiot. I was so angry. At that point, I began to complain to my friends, and they found me a trustworthy accountant, Alex Muratov. He really took control of my business. With Alex, Kweller Prep went from being a sole proprietorship (which I created) to a Corporation. Alex saved me money. Alex explained tax law to me. Alex helped me transition from paying my staff as 1099 employees (private contractors) to putting them on payroll.


Finding a good accountant is like finding a good doctor. The right one can save your life. The wrong one can end it. Alex is young, ambitious, clear and persistent. He has been practicing for 11 years and really knows his stuff. Most of all, he knows how to explain. This was something I needed that the other accountants really lacked.


BEWARE OF FREE ADVICE

Everyone offers me unwanted, uninvited, free advice, all the time. A lot of times it is negative advice. I’ve reached a point in my career now where I don’t even hear the words said anymore; all I hear is the negative and I nod but I zone out completely as to what the person is actually saying. I love this about myself. I do not process the word NO. What if Steve Jobs had listened to that evil word. We wopuld never have the ipod or Ipad! You will be surrounded by “nay say-ers” all your life--“Why are you opening a business?” “90% of business fail.” “You are wasting your talents.” “Get a ‘safe’ job with a pension, retirement plan, and ‘benefits’” “You are taking on too many responsibilities.” “So-and-so ran a business and HE failed…”

Learn to deal with them. Their negativity is like venom. You need to walk away before the snake bites. It will hurt.

I recently decided to post a 1 day workshop, called SAT in a DAY on facebook. I launched it before anyone had time to offer me free advice on it. People flew in from around the country to attend my workshop. It got rave reviews. I then launched it in Manhattan (www.ColumbiaScholarsPrep.com). I found a great lawyer to help me get the legal work done, and I couldn’t be more excited about this venture.


TO CONCLUDE

I have never been happier before in my life than I am now. I am in my element, and I hope this article inspires you to be too. I have a lot more lessons to learn down the road, and I’m excited to see what the future has to bring. 2011 has been an incredible year, despite the recession, despite the falling trees of Forest Hills, and despite the really bad free advice I got, and fortunately taught myself not to listen to. Thanks for reading!