What does “test-optional” mean? How will admissions officers judge applicants in the coming year? Does the Common Application essay really matter? According to FAIR TEST, which tracks college testing data, 1,450 colleges have made test-free and test-optional admissions permanent. For fall 2023, 1,835 colleges are not requiring admissions tests. All of the eight ivy league Read more
If you’re a student, why not take a shortcut and have AI write an essay for you? If you’re an executive, why not have AI write your emails and reports? Isn’t time money? Let’s start by answering the first question with a couple of questions. Why are you paying tuition for a degree if you Read more
Why write my essay now? It’s summer! What rising high school senior hasn’t asked this question at the end of the highly pressured junior year? Completing high level courses, perhaps AP or honors, taking ACT or SAT tests, visiting colleges… add in a sport or school play, community service: this has been a busy year. Read more
Isn’t the essay on the Common Application just a formality? Admissions officers can’t possibly read the essay on every application, can they? The new “Test Optional” criteria recently enacted by many colleges, even the most selective, changes the factors in college admissions and places much greater emphasis on the Comm App Essay. Many students and Read more
How to be safe and still receive services? LazarSpeech transitioned to an entirely virtual platform on March 20, 2020. All sessions have been held on Zoom, occasionally on Skype or FaceTime if clients need a different online application. With a randomly generated meeting ID and embedded password, clients have a secure link — they simply Read more
Do people really want to hear my story? Do I want to relate personal details to strangers? Whether you’re an executive presenting your sales pitch, a college graduate interviewing for your first job, or a high school student speaking with an admissions officer, your personal narrative can be the key to reaching your goals. Telling Read more
Why write my essay now? It’s summer! What rising high school senior hasn’t asked this question at the end of the highly pressured junior year? Completing high level courses, perhaps AP or honors, taking ACT or SAT tests, visiting colleges… add in a sport or school play, community service: this has been a busy year. Read more
Technology has broken barriers in speech coaching and therapy Not only has technology revolutionized the work environment for millions of executives, but it has also introduced alternatives for speech coaching, executive skills training and traditional speech language therapy. In my practice I have incorporated remote therapy using Skype or FaceTime to help clients in all Read more
Whether speaking or writing the following key points apply for effective business communications: Tailor your message to your audience If you’re trying to create a dialogue with another individual, consider the interests of the person you’re interacting with: are they receptive to what you have to say? Do you need to capture their interest? What Read more
literate [lit-er-it] adjective 1. able to read and write 2. having or showing knowledge of literature, writing, etc.; literary; well-read 3. characterized by skill, lucidity, polish, or the like 4. having knowledge or skill in a specified field 5. having an education; educated; learned Fundamentally, the literate person is a “learned person.” Computer literate, social media literate, etc. What does it mean to be “learned” these days? We live in a constantly changing world. Technology has altered our society in ways as profound as the industrial revolution and the Read more