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Low-Down on College Applications

September 15th, 2011

With thousands of applicants per year, colleges have their pick of prospective students, and students have their work cut out for them during college application season. Colleges understand that many applicants shine outside of their grade point average and test scores, and the college essay can be the crown jewel of a student’s application. It gives applicants the opportunity to show a side of themselves that is not immediately apparent from their resume and transcript.
The college essay is a daunting task, especially if it is a personal essay. Not only do students have to utilize formal language and creative writing skills, but they must also be able to articulate a mature level of self-awareness. Many colleges will challenge applicants to explain and reflect on their strengths and weaknesses through personal anecdotes, and this can be uncomfortable or unfamiliar for teens.
I have a lot of students who get stuck because they feel like they don’t have anything unique to say or enough life experience. It is important to remember that the colleges are reading these essays to determine if students possess qualities that will make them successful college students, like leadership, organization, motivation and passion. Colleges care less about what cards you have been dealt and more about what you have chosen to do with those cards and how that reflects on you as a person. The Study Hut tutors hail from a diversity of backgrounds and experiences and can help you bring that extra flavor to your student’s college essays.

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Posted in College Applications | No Comments

Tutoring for AP Classes

September 5th, 2011

Advanced Placement courses are a great option for students who can handle more challenging coursework and want to earn college credit or add sparkle to their college applications. AP courses also provide an opportunity to get a more in-depth perspective on subjects that students might find themselves interested in but would, otherwise, be unable to study at school.

The decision to take one or more AP classes is an important one because of the additional work and study time that is involved. The best way to guarantee success in an AP class is to have a plan for staying on top of coursework and to stick to that plan. Students should have a designated chunk of evening time to devote to their AP subject(s).

More importantly, students should have a dependable person to consult about difficult concepts, especially before exams. Whether this person is a friend who is also taking the class, a parent or a tutor, having someone to keep you on top of your study plan is the key to success.

Study Hut has many AP veterans in all subjects, so don’t hesitate to drop in if you need a study buddy or a sympathetic ear. Getting an outside tutor can help organize your daunting coursework, plan how to study for upcoming tests as well as pop-quizzes, and learn how the AP test itself can be conquered.  We can help you with everything from AP Calculus to AP Spanish, and we will match you with a tutor you like, respect, and get along with.

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Posted in 9-12, AP Biology, Biology, Calculus | No Comments

Rundown on the ACT

August 23rd, 2011

Is the SAT not your cup of tea? Now more than ever, students are turning to the ACT as their college entrance standardized test of choice. The SAT and ACT vary in question type and focus, and it doesn’t hurt to work those differences to your advantage. After a little research and a few practice problems, many students are able to get a feel for which test they are more comfortable with.
The ACT is composed of four required sections (English, Math, Reading and Scientific Reasoning) and one optional Writing section. Unlike the SAT, the ACT’s questions are more straightforward and similar to the questions that students see at school, so there are fewer new techniques to learn when studying for the ACT. Those who have a penchant for reading graphs and figures, may have an advantage in the Scientific Reasoning section, while those who are weaker in rote vocabulary and writing.
If you find your ears perking up at any of these ACT traits, you should definitely look into taking a diagnostic with Study Hut. And If you are applying to colleges and universities in the Mid-West or the South, you will definitely want to become familiar with the ACT (the Central and Southern institutions tend to prefer the ACT).We tutor both the SAT and ACT with great success, and we are available year-round.

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Posted in ACT, high school | No Comments

Getting Preped for the New School Year

August 11th, 2011

As much as it pains us to say it, summer has reached its peak. If you go to Redondo, PVHS, Peninsula, West or South, it is time to start thinking about the fall semester and the classes you’ll be taking. Right now is the best time to review for that tricky class from last semester or get a head start on a class that you might be dreading.

A lot of you might also have assigned projects that, until now, had been pushed aside for more leisurely activities. Whether it is a book report or a history paper, the best thing to do is let your sun-soaked brain ease back into thinking critically—Do not leave it until the week before school.

And if you do find that you need a little push to get back into the groove, don’t forget that the tutors at Study Hut are here to help get you back in gear for school.

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Posted in 6-8, 9-12, Palos Verdes, Parras Middle School, Peninsula, Redondo Beach, South Torrance, Summer Tutoring | No Comments

El Segundo students on fire

August 3rd, 2011

Of all of the summers I have been tutoring, this year’s crop is by far my most energetic, enthusiastic, and eager to learn and get ahead for next year.

While there are always those students that need to play a little catch up and fill in some of the holes that were created due to poor teaching or a lack of attention during school last year, this year, more than ever, I have been tutoring students who just want to get ahead. Even cooler is that most of these students are self-driven, meaning that they are signing up themselves and getting appointments adjusted on their own, rather than having mom force them to come in for some summer enrichment.

The result is that these students are getting far more out of each session than the average student. While some of these young achievers come here for tutoring from West Los Angeles schools like St. Bernard’s, Corpus Christi, Loyola High School, Notre Dame Academy, and Westchester Lutheran, more of our summer tutoring students are from El Segundo High School and El Segundo Middle School.

We have been tutoring El Segundo students in all sorts of subjects, but I have been doing mostly math tutoring, critical reading tutoring, and writing tutoring. It is definitely going to pay off for these guys come Fall.

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Posted in 9-12, Algebra 2, Comprehension, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, math, Summer Tutoring, writing | No Comments

Batman formula!

August 2nd, 2011

How cool is this formula? Plug it into your calculator.

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Posted in 6-8, 9-12, General Articles, math | No Comments

Getting back in the Swing of Fall

August 2nd, 2011

School starts in a month! It’s time to dust the cobwebs off the mind and start easing back into school mode. Summer vacation provides more than enough time to forget last year’s math and science, and when class begins in September, things get hectic fast. New material, homework assignments, and projects are given immediately, so it is best to hit the ground running. Any student would greatly benefit from spending time reviewing old material and getting a head start on new stuff before the school year begins.

Even after two months off, teachers expect their students to remember what they learned the year before and continue building and expanding on it this year. For instance, it is assumed that Algebra 2 students are proficient at simplifying radical expressions, factoring, and solving two-step equations from day one of class. These are all skills learned in Algebra 1, but they can easily get rusty after an extended break. Summer is a perfect time for a refresher before everything kicks into high gear.

Summer is also a good opportunity for a brief introduction to next year’s material. Student’s who have had previous exposure tend to perform exponentially better. Although it is impossible to touch on every topic for the upcoming year, it’s often enough to get the mind jogging with an abbreviated preview.

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Posted in Summer Tutoring | No Comments

Palos Verdes Summer School

July 27th, 2011

Whether you are retaking last semester’s toughest class or getting ahead for next year, all of you Palos Verdes High School students should be seeing the light at the end of the summer school tunnel. Finals are coming up, and it’s important to keep your eyes on the prize despite the classic Southern California summer weather outside.

Hopefully you’ve been keeping up with your summer studies by taking notes and staying organized, but we understand that, between all of the summer athletics and activities, it can be hard to scrape out some study time. In any case, the Hut tutors are armed with the test taking skills and subject knowledge that get you smoothly through Finals time. So if you are feeling overwhelmed or just want a quick review, make sure to stop by. We look forward to seeing you!

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Posted in 9-12, Palos Verdes, Summer Tutoring | No Comments

Study Hut Algebra 2 Prep Classes

June 15th, 2011

This Summer, Study Hut will be offering an Algebra 2 Prep class from 8/1 to 8/25 for those students who need to strengthen their required math skills. The Classes will be 2 hours long, 2 times a week and are designed to prepare students for success at the next level. The first section will be a review of Algebra I, followed by a complete overview of Algebra 2.

This course will make Algebra 2 a manageable subject for all who attend. Algebra 2 continues students’ study of advanced algebraic concepts including functions, polynomials, rational expressions, systems of functions and inequalities, and matrices. Students will be expected to describe and translate among graphic, algebraic, numeric, tabular, and verbal representations of relations and use those representations to solve problems.

Research shows that students who earn a C or better in Algebra 2 perform better on college entrance exams, are less likely to need remedial college courses, and are more likely to earn a four-year college degree.

Leave high school prepared for college and career success, prepare to take and do well in college-level classes, unlock your full mathematical potential.

If you are interested in enrolling in one of these sessions contact us by phone at 310-540-5888 or by email justin@studyhut.com.

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Posted in 9-12, Algebra 2 | No Comments

Finals Week at The Study Hut!

June 10th, 2011

Finals Week at The Study Hut!

Finals week is here and the tutors of Study Hut have been very busy gearing students for success on their final exams. Students will be in-and-out for the next few weeks starting with Palos Verdes High School’s finals, then Redondo Union High School, Torrance High School, and finishing up with Mira Costa High School.

Palos Verdes High School students were the first out of the gate and the first to finish for summer. Students from PV High have been intensely focused on their exams over the past week, some students scheduled 5+ hour study sessions. Tutors have been called on to teach all areas of subject matter, but it was mostly the higher end math and science classes that were the main focuses for these High School students. Students studied courses such as, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, Biology, Marine Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, as well as Spanish and English.

It’s these higher classes that require more attention and time, and for the college bound students, college will only be an extension of what they are learning today. The more they are prepared today the less stress they will feel tomorrow.

Study Hut tutors help structure their students plans for success by giving the students the tools they need to succeed. Dedicated study times in one-on-one sessions can me very helpful and will show returns in better grades. Now that Palos Verdes High School has there finals out of the way the students can relax for summer and the Study Hut team can gear up for the next batch of successful students.

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Posted in high school, Palos Verdes, Peninsula | No Comments

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