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Study: SAT scores do not = success
Don't count on it
A New York Times article about the SAT read, in part, “Many colleges acknowledge the limitations of the SAT. DePauw University…asked its institutional research dept to do a study of past students to see what factors correlated with academic success. ‘The one thing that made no difference whatsoever was standardized test scores,’ said Cindy Babington, vice presidente for student services at DePauw.”
The article was about the Posse Foundation, founded in 1989 by Deborah Bial, to fund and mentor students through college. Time after time Posse students who have low SAT scores have college success.
What does this tell us? According to the Times, “the Posse program reveals the poverty of the conventional wisdom Continue reading
‘Test Success!’ on Bay Sunday
Terrific interview with Frank Mallicoat on CBS Bay Sunday a popular Bay area
weekend news show. Frank was well informed and very easy to talk with. Thanks also to the producer and to the interns for making the whole experience so comfortable See the clip.
Had the great surprise to meet Alexia Martinique (see pic on the right) now a communications intern whom I knew years ago when she was a bright light of the Young Entrepreneurs at Haas program (Y.E.A.H). You go Alexia! And thanks Frank!
Guest blogging at Stanford
TEST SUCCESS! continues to get attention!
Do have a look on The College Puzzle, a college success blog by noted Stanford University educator Dr. Michael W. Kirst. Dr Kirst invited me to write a guest post, today featured on his website. The article is, “Get a Grip on Test Stress.”
Dr. Kirst’s blog is a most useful resource for college students helping them through the challenges of their college years. Do check it out, and thank you Dr. Kirst for including Test Success! in your mission.
Dr. B on KPIX-CBS, KRON and more.
"Bay Sunday" with Frank Mallicoat
A full weekend!
Two TV interviews on Sunday. The first was on CBS (local affiliate KPIX), Bay Sunday with Frank Mallicoat
Next was on NBC (KRON) AM Weekend with Ysabel Duron and Marty Gonzales.
The press release on the book got picked up by HowToLearn.com and a news story comes out on Monday in US News and World Report.
Thank you Sharon Goldinger, Mary Ellen Gross and Javier Perez, my terrific publicists. Your dedicated, focused hardwork is paying off big time.
What slipped? A Super Bowl reflection
One of the best receivers in the NFL
On Super Bowl sunday the San Francisco Chronicle ran a story by reporter Ron Kroichick about the pressure athletes face in big events. Titled “Handling pressure lifts good athletes to greatness,” Kroichick’s interviewed me and others about what great athletes need to do in the clutch. What played out in the game couldn’t have been more to the point.
In the post-mortem, Patriots wide receiver, Wes Welker, commented on the pass he missed that could have won the Pats the game: ”It comes to the biggest moment of my life, and (I) don’t come up with it…most critical situation, and I let the team down.” What happened? Welker drew a blank. “It’s one of those plays I’ve made 1,000 times,” he said.
That’s the clue and here’s my two cents: no matter how many times you’ve done something successfully in the past, what matters is what you’re doing right now. This is as true on the ball field as it is on stage as it is when you take an test.
What slipped– besides the ball– for Welker? I would say it was likely his focus. Of the three legged stool– calm, confidence and focus– if his confidence was over-strong (“It’s one of those plays I’ve made 1,000 times”)– it could have thrown him off balance, causing him to lose focus at the critical moment. In other words: he wasn’t in the present. The consequence: missing the ball and losing the game.
It’s a hypothesis. But you can test it out yourself. When you do something you’ve done 1,000 times before, take note of how much (or how little) you are actually paying attention at that moment to what you are doing. Are you really in the present or are you on autopilot? You’ll be surprised. In fact, you might find that you actually have to turn up the focus juice just because you’ve done it so many times before. It’s not rocket science, but it easily could mean the difference between winning and losing.
P.S. Of course there were other mishaps for the Patriots, and Welker’s is only half the story. The other is how accurate (or not) Tom Brady’s pass was. Remember: he’s done that play 1,000 times too.
Is there hope for video games? Yes!
What's wrong with this picture?
Had a most stimulating visit this afternoon to College Track at their East Palo Alto site, where I met with their inspired site director, Sharifa Wilson, their ACT trainer, Ed Harris and College Track’s Director of New Initiatives, Geraldine Sonobe. College Track is a growing program that works with under-resourced high school students to give them the nurturing they need to get into college. After the meeting I was buzzing with possibility.
I got on train to San Francisco where I met a young Israeli, Shai Magzimof,who works in the game development business. We had an animated talk about video games and my developing them as vehicles to train students in stress reduction (I know, it sounds like an oxymoron). On the train Shai introduced me to a few games. I found them mildly amusing, especially the challenge of keeping myself calm as the game was pushing my nervous system in the direction of getting over-amped. But of course, I had my usual question: what’s really going on here? (usual answer: not much). Shai was on his way to hear Fred Markus speak at a meeting of game developers at Dolby Studios in San Francisco, and I asked him if I could tag along. Continue reading
Tried and true tutoring advice
You go tutors!
Every day I receive Google alerts about stories and statistics regarding test anxiety, test scores and test preparation. I like to keep current with what’s going on in the field.
Here’s one that came across my desk today: It’s from “Janice R.” who runs a tutoring service in Palm Coast, Florida. Janice offers a good roadmap for students: familiarize yourself with the test, do some solid preparation and get ready for test day.
How often we overlook the essentials!
I applaud Janice R for getting the word out and offering what she can to students who may not be getting the guidance they need and deserve. Keep up the good work!
Janice R is a tutor at WyzAnt.com. Check out their website. While I am not personally familiar their services and therefore can’t yet recommend them, I definitely am intrigued to find out more, and suggest you look them over too.
Take a break
Feeding the fire within
Every spiritual tradition teaches stopping. It’s a way to break habits, a way to let space into your otherwise overcrowded life, a way to restore balance.
So this is my break.
I am at a remarkable retreat called vaidyagrama, a healing village, in the south of India. Until January 10, I will be away from computers and emails and telephones.
During times of retreat we can reflect on what has happened and what is to come. But mostly, we can consider the great gifts we have, right now. 2011 was an extraordinary year. 2012 holds many promises.
I wish you all a happy, healthy New Year. I hope it is off to a good start in the direction that will most bring balance and fulfillment into your life.
Bring in a new year with every breath
Take a moment to breathe
New Year’s greetings to everyone, far and wide! May it be a year of peace, health and prosperity for all.
Since the beginning of a new year is usually filed with resolutions– which are really thinly disguised attempts to change habits — I’m going to begin the year with a series of posts on habits.
Habits determine the quality of our lives. And they are fundamental if you want to reduce your stress around taking tests.
Life is made up of habits. Think about it. As you are reading this you are breathing (whether you are aware of your breath or not). As Continue reading
It’s OK not to know
A young girl was brought to me because she was failing in math. Her parents were concerned that she wouldn’t get admitted to the competitive middle school to which she was applying. And there was also another potential problem: the interview. The girl, I’ll call her Amy, tended to shut down with strangers.
Sure enough, she wouldn’t talk to me.
OK, I thought, now what? I saw Amy eyeing a set of colored markers Continue reading
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