"Studying? Networking? What do I do?"

Honestly, there’s no easy way out that allows choosing one or the other. Sorry to break it to you, but both studying and socializing with the right people are necessary to have a successful career.

With the popularity of Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, etc. it has become sort of known that even college dropouts can make it big in the world. Well, I’d like to ask you, how many Bill Gates do you know? I can almost guarantee that they can be counted on one hand. In fact, in today’s world, it is statistically proven that college graduates on average earn double what those with only a high school diploma can earn. Yes, that’s right, double. I know how badly you wanted to sit at home and invent the next Facebook but it seems that going to college may be the right option.

However, this isn’t to say that spending high school sitting in front of the books is sufficient. There’s more out there. Find out what it is. Getting to meet adults with fascinating careers, developing relationships with businessmen and doctors, or networking with anyone whose career may be in the slightest bit interesting could be beneficial. Not only can this be a great source of knowledge, but these are the people that can get to know you and write that marvelous letter of recommendation that can put you over the top to get into that dream university. Staying connected and doing things outside of your comfort zone are what make the difference between that 4.0 GPA student and the 4.0 GPA student that actually has the ability to make use of that knowledge.

While networking may seem like the easier choice to focus on, doing well academically is also not out of reach with a little hard work. The little detail that no one mentions is that by focusing on both, you will get the furthest in life. However, socializing with the right people is a much easier task once you get past high school and people start looking at you like an adult. While there are no classes and no instructors that can teach you how to “network”, Victory Step makes the academic portion much easier! Our personalized classes and unique plans make standardized testing a piece of cake. OK well, that’s an exaggeration but we get as close to cake as you’ll ever get with the SAT.

Message from the founder

Dear Students,

Your last SAT or ACT prep book may have been thicker than a regular phone book. That SAT/ACT prep class at your school is possibly being taught by someone who is completely boring and out of touch. Your friend's overpriced SAT/ACT tutor probably assigns him/her 300 practice problems each week.

Would you like to add hundreds of points to your SAT score in a few weeks, without doing thousands of practice problems? Would you like to make sure you get the SAT score you deserve, without risking thousands of dollars on a mundane SAT prep course? If you can add, subtract, multiply, or divide, if you have basic and general vocabulary, if you could use your "grammar ear" to answer basic grammar questions, then you already have the potential to quickly and easily boost your SAT score to levels you never dreamed possible.

I can confidently assure you that this whole process is much easier than you think. If you are anxious and nervous about getting a great SAT/ACT score, but are not willing to spend thousands of dollars or countless hours over mind numbingly boring questions, I have great news for you!

Victory Step was founded on the idea that there needs to be different, but better ways of doing things. There has to be a middle ground between expensive, boring test prep companies and self study. Victory Step's methods, strategy and program pricing are re-defining the test preparation industry in and around Dallas, TX. After spending years working with students in one-on-one and classroom settings, we've learned what works and what does not. If you are aware of the right SAT/ACT tricks and strategies, your score can skyrocket quickly and easily. We have also learned that each student is different, with unique personalities, needs, and strengths. Victory Step's instructors and tutors have been thoroughly trained to instill confidence and motivation into each one of you. We build upon your unique strengths and help you deal with weaker areas. Most importantly, we help you identify yourself. We want to take you through the path to high scores while you actually enjoy the journey. Our classes are fun-filed, lively and highly interactive, and we stimulate you into tackling standardized test problems with ease. We have innovative study material, advanced methods and informative progress tracking. We back our services with score guarantees and satisfaction promise. No wonder Victory Step is one of the fastest growing and best-rated test prep companies in town.

Victory Step is also on a social mission to assist each student in need, regardless of his or her financial background. I believe that you deserve the opportunity to go to college, and also the necessary tools to get there. Victory Step offers merit-based and need-based scholarships for all of our programs to anyone that meet our requirements. Victory Step also offers flexible payment plans to further assist you.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. I invite you to explore what we have to offer and see if it fits your needs. I am confident that we can meet and even exceed your expectations, if given the chance. Call us with any questions you have, or if you need any clarification. Avail our special holiday rates on private tutoring and classroom training. Compare us with other offerings available in the area and read our reviews on Yahoo, Google and more, to learn about what I call the Victory Step Advantage. You can even schedule a free, no obligation consultation with one of our talented instructors. At Victory Step, we are committed to going above and beyond for one purpose- to get you into the college of your dreams.

For more information, please click here.

Sincerely,

CEO & President

Victory Step LLC

Ph: 2144179406

Web: http://www.victorysteponline.com

Victory Step Holiday Special | Classroom Program $299!

Victory Step is offering classroom instruction for the SAT and the ACT in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metropolitan Area! Classroom classes are held with your friends at a convenient office location in Dallas. Our classroom instructors are fun, energetic, and highly trained.

• Rates as much as 70% lower than others in the industry
  

• 6 SAT Prep classroom sessions - 18 hours total
  

• 4+ SAT practice tests to build endurance and confidence
  

• Need-based scholarships provided to those in need
  

• Satisfaction Guarantee to repeat the SAT class all over again

Next SAT Test Date is on January 22, 2010. Victory Step's next round of classes are starting on Dec. 14th. Classes are held once a week for 6 weeks at our convenient office location: 15950 N. Dallas Pkwy., Dallas, TX.

Please click here for more details!

The day of the exam!

After weeks of preparation and months of stress, it all comes down to one Saturday morning. Just those few hours. It can be so easy to let the nervousness get rid of all the preparation and fill the mind with anxiety. For that reason, it is important to take the few days before the SAT exam slow and to keep the mind healthy and relaxed.

There is nothing more tempting than to try and soak up as much vocabulary and as many strategies as possible the night before the test. It makes me feel like I've accomplished something. Instead, this only helps to stress out the mind, making it difficult to recall information that was once safely stored away in the brain. Rather than stressing out the night before the SAT, it can be more beneficial to take a nice bath, watch a funny movie, and go to bed at a decent hour. I can say from unfortunate experience, there is no need to go to bed at an oddly early hour because then you’ll just end up laying in bed, and stress yourself out needlessly.

The SAT exam can be an enormous event. So much planning goes into it. So much thought, so much effort. Then, it can be over before you even realize it. The satisfaction that can come from a good SAT score is unbelievable. Every hour spent planning, every practice test taken, every vocabulary term memorized...it all seems to be worth it. Therefore, it is crucial not to let a little anxiety take this away.

The stress of the SAT exam for some can make it difficult to even take a bite of breakfast. Trust me, you will need all the energy you can get. A healthy breakfast keeps the mind working at a good pace and allows you to make it through all the sections with ease. Also, the SAT is almost like a workout for the brain, so it can be helpful to bring a snack for one of the breaks. Go easy on the water before and during the exam though, for obvious reasons.

Most importantly, you must bring along a little bit of confidence. It is the secret ingredient that takes the score up a considerable amount. Confidence is an important strategy that could really make the difference.

The SAT Day Checklist

1. Plenty of #2 pencils and erasers

2. Appropriate calculator with extra batteries

3. Photo ID/Admission ticket

4. Directions to testing site

5. Water bottle/snacks

6. A jacket (wear layers depending on the temperature of the room)

7. A watch

8. CONFIDENCE!

Victory Step realizes how stressful and dreadful taking a 4 hour long exam can be, and this is why we provide SAT and ACT Prep classes to help you relieve the stress. Visit our website today!

Teacher Recommendations for College Applications!

“Can I have your recommendation for my college application?” Okay, it may not be THE question, but it is a pretty important one in regards to college and the long process of applying to a college. While some state universities do not require them, many private and prestigious state universities require prospective students to obtain 2-3 letters of recommendation adults they have known inside or outside the classroom for some time.

Most students find this to be a slight problem. Math teacher? I always sit in the back. Gym teacher? Doesn’t know I exist. Counselor? Has 100 other students to deal with. In order to avoid this common, but unfortunate dilemma it is important to start early and to start strong. This isn’t an advise to start a friendship with all 7 or 8 teachers. This is to say that it is important to get to know one or two teachers and assure that those teachers do the same thing in return. While the recommendations do not have to be from an academic teacher, most universities ask for at least one academic recommendation. This means that other than the one, the other recommendations can be from youth leaders at church, coaches, art teachers, etc. However, all letters of recommendation should have at least a slight indication towards the perspective student’s academic potential. Hence, the letters that hold the weight are the ones from teachers.

If the student makes the effort to be polite, to spend a little time in the classroom outside of class, and to show diligence while in class, all teachers feel honored to help their students have a better shot of getting into college. While a teacher is unlikely to write a truly bad recommendation, colleges can tell the difference between a generic letter of recommendation and a personal, more detailed letter.

So, how do you get a better letter than John who sits across form you? Or, how do you make sure the letter isn’t the same as Lisa’s (generic)? It’s simple, really.

• Do not ask a teacher that barely knows you. Generic, generic, generic.
• Plan ahead. Give the teacher at least a month’s notice before he or she has to submit the letter. The less time, the more cranky the teacher will be while writing it.
• Do not ask when the teacher is busy, or distracted. Take the time to go in outside of class and ask politely. The teacher is doing you a favor, don’t act like you’re doing him or her a favor.
• Sometimes, it is helpful to provide the teacher with a brief resume. Other times, teachers have forms already made that ask you to list talents, important moments, etc. in order to help them write the letter.
• Provide envelopes and stamps. If he or she is doing this much to help you pursue your education, they should not have to buy stamps for you too.
• Follow up. After about a week’s time, politely remind the teacher about the due date. After the work is done, write thank-you notes to all teachers who you asked to write a letter.

Victory Step's centralized and convenient office location!

Victory Step is proud to announce a new, centralized, and convenient office location in the Dallas Metro Area. Just off the North Dallas Tollway, this new location, which includes private tutoring offices, classrooms and convenient facilities like parking, wi-fi and refreshments, is 10-25 minutes from all major locations. We have strived to create an environment that optimizes learning and comfort for our students.

Our new address is 15950 N. Dallas Pkwy, Suite 481., Dallas, TX 75248.

Victory Step is offering college counseling, private tutoring (one-on-one and small group), and classroom programs at this location, at the lowest prices in Dallas-Ft. Worth metropolitan area!

Our next round of SAT/ACT classes are starting in November. Call us today at 214 417 9406 to take advantage of our $299 classroom program offer and new state-of-the-art teaching facilities!

Employment Opportunities with Victory Step!

Victory Step offers the most comprehensive test preparation in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metropolitan Area. We are an organization that prides itself for instilling knowledge, confidence and endurance in each student we benefit. Join us, and take the next Victory Step of your career. Victory Step is currently accepting resumes to expand our pool of test preparation instructors.

Teaching test preparation is a fun and rewarding experience. As a Victory Step instructor, you will have the opportunity to help bright, high-achieving students achieve their dreams of entering first-choice universities and programs.

Please visit http://www.victorysteponline.com/employment.html for more details!