Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished asks Janet Parnes of Etiquette for Today to list three important interview etiquette tips.

1. Come armed with questions to show that you are interested and engaged.
2. If the interviewer offers you a cup of coffee, decline it.
3. The only appropriate cell phone mode is off.

For more etiquette tips, please visit Etiquette for Today.

What was your favorite interview etiquette tip? Any additional interview etiquette tips you wish to share?

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Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished recommends five ways to have a successful Senior Year of high school.

Tip 1: Get good grades and show leadership.
Tip 2: Take standardized tests if you aren’t satisfied with your scores.
Tip 3: Finish your college essays by late August or September.
Tip 4: Submit college applications about a month before the deadline.
Tip 5: Visit your guidance counselor and teachers weekly to stay on track.

Which of these five tips do you find most important for Senior Year success? Do you have other tips to share?

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Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished asks Dr. Jon Hodge of Strictly English to list his three most important TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Test Day Tips.

1. Bring ear plugs to the test site to minimize distractions.
2. Arrive to the test site early.
3. Bring healthy snacks for energy-power bar, banana, and bottle of water.

For more information about the TOEFL Test, please visit Strictly English.

Do you have questions about the TOEFL test? Any additional TOEFL tips you wish to share?

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Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished reacts to Time Magazine’s recent cover story, “The Case Against Summer Vacation”.

What are your reactions to this Time Magazine article? Do you think school summer vacation contributes to learning loss?

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http://www.preppedandpolished.com Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished explains what to do if you have two weeks till the SAT and you haven’t done a thing.

1. Buy a copy of the College Board Official Study Guide and take practice tests.
2. Memorize the SAT format (Section 1 is always the essay. Section 10 is always the short grammar section) and have a pacing game plan, especially for the critical reading.
3. Work on math strategies, not math content. Email alexis@preppedandpolished for questions about math strategies.
4. Start waking up early Saturday mornings to study SAT material.

Is your SAT only weeks away? How else should a student prepare for an SAT only weeks away?

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Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished discusses whether or not you should submit a college application youtube video.

Yes: If you want to fill in a hole or elaborate about something on your application.
Yes: If you want to highlight your personality.
No: If you said everything that needs to be said on your application.
No: If you are a shoe-in for that college.

http://www.soapboxincluded.com/2010/03/10/students-using-youtube-to-impress-colleges/

Would you submit a college application video? What would you feature in a college application YouTube video?

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Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished recommends five ways to have a successful Junior Year of high school.

Tip 1: Analyze your portfolio and fill-in the holes.
Tip 2: Come up with your first college list, and keep working on it.
Tip 3: Take the SAT/ACT or both twice during the spring.
Tip 4: Do well in your classes, and take challenging ones.
Tip 5: Visit colleges during spring break and the summer after Junior Year.

Which of these five tips do you find most important for Junior Year success? Do you have other tips to share?

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Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished suggests healthy ways for parents to stay in touch with their college-bound child.

Do: Schedule a weekly phone call and stick to it.
Don’t: Rely on Facebook and Twitter.

Do you find the phone call the best way to stay in touch? How do you keep in touch with your college-age child?

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Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished explains how to stay mentally sharp during the summer.

Do: Stay active during the summer, mentally and physically. Find fun and engaging ways to learn.
Don’t: Watch TV all day and isolate yourself.
Do: Read every day.
Do: Put yourself in social situations so you can practice getting along with others.

What do you do to stay mentally sharp during the summer?

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Alexis Avila Founder/President of Prepped & Polished discusses middle school parenting tips.

1. Get the inside scoop by asking detailed questions.
2. Make respect a priority.
3. Engage in thoughtful conversation.

Do you agree with this advice? Do you have other parenting tips to offer?

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