Dear customer,

Happy holidays! Welcome to the December edition of ICON+’s University Access Newsletter. You are receiving this e-newsletter because you inquired about our test prep and/or admissions consulting services.

We wish you the very best with your regular decision and UCAS applications. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance with meeting the quickly approaching deadlines.

Nobody knows writer’s block like a high school senior.

When it’s Personal Essay Season, days are set aside, coffee mugs are filled up; blood, sweat, and tears pour forth:

Still, the Word document remains blank.

Yes, the symptoms of writer’s block are worse than swine flu -- and imaginably so: writing about yourself is…hard. But not impossible.

The key is to relate a true, personal experience, and convey a capacity for deep introspection.

In other words, you need to sell yourself, without sounding like a used car salesman.

Luckily, the Common App points you in the right direction. Six essay questions are presented to you: as your make your selection (and crumple your fiftieth piece of computer paper), read the following advice. These tidbits will guide your writing, and help you develop an edge, without falling over.

To read tips on answering the Common App questions, click here.

The critical reading section of the SAT can be a challenge - not just because of the content of the passage but because of time pressure. Here’s the best way to approach the questions to make sure you finish on time and get as many correct answers as possible!

1.Read the introduction to the passage.

2.Read the first question without the answers.

Click here to read more tips.

1. Which universities have you selected to apply to and why?

Stanford, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Caltech, Cornell, Washington U in St. Louis, UPenn, U Illinois – Urbana Champaign, Northwestern, and Dartmouth!

When I started, I looked for schools that provided a strong background in engineering because that is something I’d really like to do in my life. After looking at different schools for a while, I realized that I wanted universities that would let me pursue the arts as well. If I just pursue engineering, it would be like wasting my life away; I wanted the chance to try so many other things. I was looking to pursue engineering as a major and also study subjects that involve art such as philosophy, design, or architecture. Of course, I also looked at campus life in terms of diversity and interactiveness. I’ve never been to America before, so I want to experience American culture and interact with others from different nations.

2. What has been the most challenging part of the admissions process so far, and why was it difficult?

Essays! Even though I had the ideas, I had to actually organize them and put them into words. I had to think of how to express myself so that the admissions committee would know what I was trying to say and at the same time try to give a deeper perspective of me as a person.

Click here to read more.

You’ve just sat down with your interviewer for the speaking portion of the IELTS test, and your hands are already clammy. A bead of cold sweat threatens to roll down your face.

We meet many IELTS test-takers who dread the speaking portion. They wonder, “What if I forget a word or say something grammatically incorrect?” or “What if I get stuck and have nothing else to say?”

Here’s what to do if you find yourself in a corner:

1. If you don’t understand the question or do not understand a word in the question, ASK! This section tests you on your speaking ability and not your listening ability. It will be difficult for you to develop a good answer if you do not understand the question.

Click here to read more tips.