Education

4 Ways Education In America Is Different Than The Rest Of The World

Taylor

The United States prides itself on its education. However, in an international ranking system, the United States doesn’t fare as well as it would like. The United States ranks in the middle when compared to the rest of the world in regards to testing. There are some differences in how the education system is run in the United States. There is also a difference in the organization of the department as well. Dr. Usha Rajagopal has been helping those less fortunate gain the education needed. This is learning they desire and need to succeed. These differences in the United States are examined using the International Data Explorer. With this system, the United States is compared with other countries around the world. These countries include Brazil, Australian, China, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, United Kingdom, Turkey, Argentina, Germany, and France. There are a few things that the tests show. The United States showed some differences from the other countries. These differences are being examined to discover if they are better practices or not.

Education Begins for Students at a Later Age in America

A majority of American families do not enroll their children in school until kindergarten. This means that the average age that a child stars school in the country is at age 6. In other countries, such as Italy, Germany, United Kingdom and France children begin their education at 3 or 4. Preschool is also more prevalent in countries such as Turkey and Indonesia.

Children in the United States Enjoy Reading Less Than Other Countries

When conducting a study, American students did not show a high rate of reading enjoyment. The study also showed that there was a big difference in the number of female students compared to male students who enjoyed reading. The large difference was not seen in other subjects such as science and mathematics. There is another difference in regards to reading in American students. America seems to also have a great number of reading specialists. This is the largest number in all the countries tested.

American Teachers Have More Training in STEM

The first thing is to describe what STEM is. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. A STEM-trained teacher is trained in all four of these areas extensively. These teachers may or may not be certified. Becoming a STEM teacher involves more training. It also gives more authorization and qualification to the teacher. There are many teachers in the school system that don’t have this added benefit. There was a good measurement that came from the study. Compared to the other countries in the study, America had the largest number of STEM teachers.

The United States Spends More on Education but Sees Lower Results

The United States is calculated to spend more on education per student. The amount of money spent on each child includes more than just books and buildings. This amount included professional salaries, security, buses, meals and after-school functions. However, the study showed that the United States had another difference. The United States had a smaller graduation rate in comparison. It compared to countries including Italy, Japan, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Every country is different. They take pride in their youth. Dr. Usha Rajagopal is one of the many people who is striving to help people become educated. Countries around the world are changing education departments to better equip the youth. With the help of international studies, countries are able to see where they need to focus on improvement.

 

Rusty Tweed
Education

How To Tell if a Scholarship is a Scam

Taylor
Rusty Tweed
college is expensive. Most students who have applied for colleges and universities search for as many scholarships as possible to help defray the costs of an education. Many providers of college and university scholarships are above board and are genuinely interested in helping students succeed. Some others, however, are not.

Scam scholarships are disturbingly common today. A fraudulent scholarship could be no more than a grab for the student’s personal and financial information. Scholarships that charge money for application, as well as fee-based scholarship application programs, could simply be lining their own pockets.

How is it possible to tell which scholarships are legit and which are scams? Rusty Tweed has 8 helpful tips for sorting out the beneficial scholarships from those that might trick you or damage your financial future.

1. Beware of Scholarships with Application Fees

When a scholarship asks for money up front, you can be reasonably certain that it is a scam. Even if the scholarship is only charging a few dollars to apply, don’t be taken in. If they are able to get thousands of students to apply and pay a small fee, they will be sitting on a tidy profit.

Another area to watch out for are fee-based scholarship “matching services”, which claim to give you better access to the financial aid than if you applied on your own. These are fraudulent as a whole.

2. Watch Out for Certain Red Flag Words

Some red flag words to watch out for include “National,” “Federal,” and “Administration.” The federal government only gives out scholarships through its college financial aid program, which you can apply for at any time. Another word which might be problematic is “Foundation,” though many legitimate scholarships use this word in their names.

3. Research Thoroughly

If you can’t find anything about the scholarship online other than its application form, be wary. It might be the first year the scholarship is in operation, or it might be a scam. Do as much due diligence as you can to ensure that your scholarship is real before you apply. Scholarship providers are generally interested in advertising their scholarships as much as possible, so the more you find about it online, the better. Look for legitimate news sources.

4. Guarantees

Any guarantee that you will win scholarship funds has to be treated with suspicion. Nearly all scholarships are competitive, meaning that hundreds or thousands of other students will apply. Scholarship matching services should also be taken with a grain of salt.

5. Everyone is Eligible

Scholarships aren’t interested in handing out money to everyone. Usually they will put forward specific criteria for their applicants, such as study in a specific field or at a specific university. All scholarships that are open to any applicant should be treated warily. For example, Rusty Tweed’s scholarship is based on an essay contest regarding the benefits of drug-free living.

6. No Contact Information

The scholarship’s web site should have a contact address and telephone number so that students can verify the existence of the sponsoring company. The scholarship should have a physical address and not a PO Box number or mail drop.

Students should be able to call or email a scholarship provider with questions before they apply. If there is no way to contact the scholarship provider other than a web form application, be wary.

7. Requests for Personal Information

A legitimate scholarship will ask for your name, address, telephone number, email address, and the name of your college or university. Any personal information above and beyond these basics should be treated with suspicion. Any personal or banking details such as a Social Security number, bank account number, credit card number, date of birth, or your parents’ names could be used to commit identity theft and open accounts in your name.

8. If They Contact You First

Reputable scholarship providers do not cold call or email potential applicants. They may promote their programs online, but they do not generally send letters or emails to invite people to apply. Words to watch out for include “invitation number” and “immediate confirmation.”

In Closing

It is disappointing that so many fraudulent scholarship programs exist, but it is possible to apply for aid for college without exposing your personal information or paying for a product that does not exist.

Protect your personal and financial information while you are applying for scholarships by following these 8 easy tips. If you do encounter fraudulent scholarship programs, report them to the Federal Trade Commission.

Best of luck to you in your college search and in your quest for legitimate scholarship offers.

Terry Bandy
Education

Terry Bandy Shares The Secrets to Launching Your Data Science Career from University

Taylor

Terry Bandy

A meme that is in vogue right now is that “college is a waste of money.” Why spend up to $150,000 dollars on a degree that won’t get you a job? Fortunately, data science is a growing field with plenty of job opportunities. A data science degree is a terminal degree, though you may choose to pursue a master’s degree in a complementary field, as Terry Bandy did.

The connections, experiences, and knowledge one can attain from a university experience can be invaluable. Whether you are going to community college in Topeka, Kansas or are going to Harvard, education is the greatest investment you can make in yourself.

There are two main routes to self-sufficiency as a data scientist: employment and entrepreneurship. Employment includes working as a data analyst at a firm, be it large, medium-sized or small. Entrepreneurship includes creating a consultancy business or a startup. The two main paths aren’t mutually exclusive, but it’s best to focus on one over the other.

Learn How to Network and Cultivate Your Reputation

Social networking is all the rage today, but the main form of networking is still in person.

Find a faculty member or adjunct professor has been successful in the data science field. Make casual conversation, getting to know them and seeing if your personalities mesh. Then, once you have established a connection with them, ask them if they have any projects or tasks that they are working on that you could assist with. If the person is receptive, they will likely be happy to have help. This person can become one of your mentors who can teach you practical and theoretical knowledge. They are also the people who can write you outstanding recommendation letter during your job hunt or graduate school applications.

Talk to your professors. They may know people in the data science industry and can get you valuable internships. Some of these internships are paid, and if you put in your 110%, may land you your first job!

In terms of digital social networking, LinkedIn is an invaluable tool you can use to network with people at different companies. Recruiters use LinkedIn as a platform to find new talent. Set a goal of fostering 500 “connections” and ask them if they can recommend you to reputable data science firms.

By fostering strong networks and finding mentors, it will be much easier to find a job. This section is particularly useful for people who prefer the security of standard employment over the ebb and flow of entrepreneurship.

Terry Bandy used his connections and reputation from university to create and sell his business later on. He went on to manage the firm in San Fransisco. If you follow this advice, you can be successful like Terry.

Start a Business, Even if it is Just a “Hobby Farm”

Terry Bandy started his first business at the age of twenty while attending Tufts as an undergraduate. By investing his time and money into his business, he created economic self-sufficiency for himself and his developing family.

You, too, can create a thriving data science firm by using your connections to find leads. Though it took hard work and dedication, Mr. Bandy’s business skills improved as time went on.

In your case, even if the company you start only starts as a supplement to income from your job, you are getting ahead in the game by starting your business early. Consider starting a consulting firm with a few friends in college, or strike it out on your own as a sole proprietorship.

Learn, Learn, Learn

Billionaires and centi-millionaires often say that “the best investment you can make is in yourself.” A house or car can be repossessed if you lose your income. Stocks and mutual funds can take a nosedive. But your education is an immutable asset that can do wonders for your earning potential.

One way of increasing your marketability is to become proficient with as many coding languages as you can. This advice holds true for practically anyone entering the job market soon, but coding skills are particularly useful for a data scientist. Automated research and market analysis are both made easier by a toolkit of useful coding languages. Some of the most popular languages in the marketplace right now are My SQL, Python, and Java.

You have access to an abundance of books as a student at a college. Take advantage of that asset! Consider carving out thirty minutes to an hour every day practicing coding outside of your regular studies.

Starting Your Career While in School

Learn new data analysis methodologies to improve your skillset. Network with peers and mentors. Start a business. These are skills you can use to be successful as a data science major.

Education

Tips for Homework Assistance

Taylor

For those that are homeschooled, it may seem like it is a little easier than traditional schooling. However, keeping the kids focused may not be the easiest task to do. After hours of reading, math, science and all other subjects, the kids probably want to finish up and go play their favorite game, go outside and run around with friends, or just relax in their rooms. Parents are faced with another battle: homework. The last thing your kids want to do after a day of homeschooling. Fortunately, there are ways to get the kids excited to do their homework and approach it with enthusiasm.

Have a Game Plan

You need to have a game plan in mind. Make it part of the daily routine, so when school is over, kids don’t immediately think they are done for the day. They know that they have to “recap” their day of learning. Have a calendar and put all important due dates and tasks that need to be done. At the end of the school day, let them know that it is time to review the calendar for the day and see what needs to be done.

Have a Routine

Don’t try to get kids to do homework the second the school day is done. They just had a long day of focus, and they need time to relax and refocus. The best thing to do is to not let them in front of the computer for a half hour or so. Don’t assign chores, either…more work does not help them refocus for homework time. Encourage them to do a favorite relaxing activity, such as drawing. Schedule a specific time for homework each day.

Find the Right Space

Not everyone does their best work sitting at the kitchen table with the rest of the family bustling about! Set up a designated study area for homework to be done. Make sure it is well lit, and stocked with pens, pencils, paper and other needed supplies.

Be Organized!

Just because you are homeschooling does not make it acceptable for children to leave their folders strewn about, or their workspace in disarray. Set everything up as you would if they were not homeschooled. Folders for each subject, binders, etc. As they complete their assignments, ensure that the child knows to put it in the proper place, so it can easily be accessed when needed. Get kids in the habit of doing this on a daily basis. Digging through piles of paper every time they need to show you a completed assignment is not acceptable.

Make Kids Accountable

Homeschooled kids need to take school just as seriously as non-homeschooled kids. Obligations must be met, work must be done, and it all needs to happen in a timely and efficient manner. Allow them one “emergency”, but teach them that they have to face the consequences of their behavior. If they are having problems, seek advice from the teacher or counselor.

Use Examples From Everyday Life

For example, you can use current events to illustrate historical events. Teach the kids fractions using tonight’s pizza as an example. Make it fun for them.

Let Them Know It Is Ok To Ask For Help

Kids might be scared to admit that they are having trouble. Encourage them to ask for help or clarification when needed. Let them know that they have a support system and should not be scared to use it. For example, they could consult a tool such as Ask Bongo when they need guidance with a hard problem.

Interact With the Online Community Where the Child is Homeschooled

Make sure you are active in the online schooling. Don’t leave kids to tackle this alone. Be as involved as possible and know what is going on at all times.

Hopefully, these tips are helpful for the homeschooled child. Good habits now lead to good habits in the future!

Remember if your kid is ever stuck on a hard question that has even you stumped you can use a free tool such as Ask Bongo to keep everyone from becoming stressed.

Education, Health

Why College Students Should Visit A Dentist And How To Get The Most Out Of It

Taylor

Dental visits are vital as much as going for treatment, and this should not only be given attention when issues arise. It should be in the domain of the student to decide to see a dentist as regularly as possible to help prevent and address some of the issues that arise that could endanger their dental healthcare. As dental expert Karl Jobst Grove OK advises, a dental checkup comes as a necessary preventive care solution and should therefore be treated with a lot of focus. But why specifically must a college student visit a dentist?

Diet changes

Changing diet comes with a major transition that many students are forced to embrace. These students can no longer depend on their parents to eat the right foods or meals that are good for their dental health, and in that process they end up exposing their teeth to risks of getting diseases. Therefore, to understand how to cope with changes in diet one is expected to consult with a dentist to see how they can prevent the occurrence of certain diseases. Changing how they eat will definitely affect their health, and that is why they need to see a dentist for prescriptions of preventive dental care that will keep the students away from getting ailments.

Sensitivity or pain

Visiting your dentist should not be to only address changes in diet as mentioned above. You might be facing problems like sensitivity or pain in your teeth and want to get a solution to the problem. One of the ways you will address this is by visiting a dentist for a comprehensive review of your problem and to get solutions that will help get your dental health back to normal as well as prevent the occurrence of further problems. In a case like this, you should not delay seeing your dentist for treatment as taking more time could mean making the problem worse.

Update your medical history

Your medical history is the blueprint that your dentist will use to propose solutions and trace the genesis of any problems. Therefore, it is advisable to provide a clean history of your problems so the dentist can understand how to approach treatment in the event issues arise that call for his intervention. This is especially the case when you are moving from one professional to another or shifting locations.

While in college, you will need to shift away from your usual food choices as you are not able to access the help you got while with your parents, and this means you might in the process put your dental healthcare on the line. So, to make it easy for your new dentist to know how to approach your issues, you should offer an explanation of all these factors.

Save time and money

Being in good dental health means you are able to save money and time because there will be no point in visiting a dental professional for major treatment. To embrace practices that ensure you remain in perfect dental healthcare, you should consider visiting a dentist while in college to be checked and if any issues are detected to be treated before things get out of hand. This way, you even make your student life more interesting and free of unnecessary stress so you can focus on learning.

Nationwide Debt Direct
Business

How To Start A Business When You Have Student Debt

Taylor

Nationwide Debt Direct

You don’t have to put your life on hold while you pay off your student debt. The debt that you have represents an investment that you made. The way that you put that investment to use depends on you and your goals. If starting a business is your goal, you can absolutely do this while paying off your student debt. However, you must use the right strategy.

Know Your Numbers

The temptation with debt is to push it out of your mind. This is not a good strategy, because your whole body and mind continues to know on some level that you have debt. You may have tuition loans to pay off, as well as car loans or credit car debt that accumulated while you were a student. Before thinking about the logistics of starting a business, you need to know exactly how much debt you have. Use an online, free debt calculator such as the one offered by Nationwide Debt Reduction Services, or calculate your numbers on your own. Don’t let yourself skip this step because of seemingly innocent reasons, such as having no time to track down your various numbers. Knowledge is power, and knowing your numbers will definitely help you move forward with your planning.

Make A Thoughtful And Intentional Plan

Take a cue from the founder of Eventual Millionaire, Jaime Masters. She wanted to start her own business, but realized that at the age of 24 she was $70,000 dollars in debt. Instead of letting this stand in her way, she set an intention to pay off her debt and made a plan for how she would do it. No, this didn’t take ten or fifteen years, but rather only 16 months! This shows us what is possible.

If you want to start a business but realize that you are burdened with student debt, let your desire for your business fuel your willpower to pay off debts. This does not mean that you need to be debt free when you start your business, but rather that you should be clear about your individual situation and what would be best for you. Jaime Masters knew that she would only feel comfortable quiting her job and venturing off onto her own by paying off her debt first. What about you? Take some time to evaluate your situation and listen to yourself. Make an intentional plan based on what you know is true for you, and think big.

Big Dreams Make Bootstrapping Possible

Moving towards your authentic dreams gives you a lot of energy. When you start a business, you are stepping into a whole new world of possibility. Figure out how much debt you have. Get honest with yourself about whether you need to pay some down before taking a major step in your business adventure. Then, get started on your hustle! This is an exciting time in which you may need to make sacrifices in order to pursue your dreams.

Rather than racking up credit card debt in order to start your business, do what you can on your own in the beginning. When you already have student debt, you need to be in a situation that allows you to feel in control enough to have the ability to pay off this debt in a consistent manner. This will help your credit score and set you up for success later on in your life. Doing what you can on your own for your business is a way that you can keep financial stress low while you pursue your dreams.

Don’t put off your big dreams while you pay off your student debt. Pursue your goal of starting a business, but do it in a responsible and well advised way. Learn from inspired individuals who have been through the same obstacle course and came out on the other side successfully. This might mean hard work and some sacrifice, but financial peace of mind is well worth it.

Health

Summit Shah MD: 3 Ways to Help Your Children Beat Seasonal Allergies

Taylor

Seasonal allergies can be a great source of frustration. You probably know the scenario well: all your son or daughter wants to do is play outside with the other kids, but the symptoms they get seem to ruin the fun. Their itchy throat, teary eyes, runny nose and even stomach ache can ruin a play date quickly. Help your child thrive during the times when their seasonal allergens are peaking with the following three strategies.

1. Adjust Your Plans

Seasonal allergens are triggered by several agents including tree, grass, and weed pollen among other things. You can track the pollen forecast using online tools in order to see when certain allergens are highest in your area. Schedule outdoor play dates for times when the count is lower, and plan ahead by taking a medication that you have discussed with your doctor. Give the medicine enough time to kick in before bringing your child out into an environment that will have an environmental allergen. This will help them manage their symptoms and not miss out on all of the fun!

2. Shower And Change Clothes

When returning home, help your child take a shower and bath and then change into fresh clothes, even if it is the middle of the day. Allergens that are trapped in hair and clothes can keep on triggering symptoms even once you are inside. Give your little one a fresh start so that they can enjoy the relief that will come with a clean environment.

3. Use Environmental Control

When it comes to seasonal allergies, the best way to beat them will always be staying away from them. This means closing the windows, and keeping those microscopic triggers outside, away from your child’s immune system. In the hotter months, air conditioning can make playing indoors on those high pollen count days more enjoyable. When you are out in the car, tell the family to roll up the windows and use the AC instead. Your child will enjoy the drive much more, and will arrive at your destination in a healthier state. In addition, use some light humidity provided by a humidifier to prevent air from becoming too dry indoors. The circulating misted air can sooth your child’s sinus passages if they have been stressed. Think about the environment in terms of where an allergen would collect. Carpets, upholstery, curtains, and blankets should all be cleaned regularly during a peak allergy season. Have other kids in the house stay in the habit of washing hands and removing shoes when coming in from the outdoors, so that they do not track more allergens in.

By using these strategies, you can help your child stay happy and healthy during the allergy season that is the most challenging for them. The way you help your child handle their allergy will have a lasting effect! Be sure to provide lots of positive reinforcement for them so that they know that even when their allergy is challenging it is not something that has to limit them. They can have a full and enjoyable allergy season, just like other kids! Experts like Summit Shah MD can help you learn more about your child’s specific allergies and how they are affecting the immune system. The more you know, the better off your child will be!

Education, Technology

How To Take Control Of Family Tech Time

Taylor

According to a Yahoo poll, at least 90 percent of families in America are now online, which translates to adults spending on average 5 hours on the computer at their homes. People are connecting more with friends and family members based far from them using technology, but despite the benefits, technology has brought, there are moments this overreliance on technology has led to complications in life. Some people would rather bolt through dinner to catch up with friends on social media, which means you could be spending less time with those closer to you.

The family’s identity has been at a risk with the traditional bond weakening with each day due to the disconnection brought about by family tech. If you would want to keep this bond strong despite using technology, here are things you could embrace to limit the usage of gadgets in the family.

Protecting your kids
Kids are the most affected by the use of technology excessively and parents have a key role in protecting them from the threat. Some parents even go ahead to post many photos of their children online before giving it a thought, and this happens without even thinking about what that could mean to the child several years later. Photos posted online are accessible to the world and anyone could download them to use them for whatever reason they see fit.

To ensure you don’t take image sharing to extreme levels, you could use platforms like Flickr that allow you to password-protect images so you can share the photos with only trusted contacts. You could even create a secret Facebook group then add your inner circle if you intend to share moments about your family through the internet.

Monitor online habits
If you need a handy way of gauging your family’s online habits, you could check out some information on sites like rescue-time.com, which cracks down how each of your family members spends time online, and it also plots data by hour, week, days and hours. Additionally, the site allows you to block distracting websites from your family and yourself.

Manage your mobile device
The most difficult thing for people nowadays is controlling their time on mobile devices, and this is motivated further by visible alerts as well as vibration notifications. To contain this habit, you need to switch off all types of alerts so you only have to check updates when you are through with the tasks you have at hand. Keep your gadgets on but ensure it remains in silent mode for alerts except for calls. This way, you will minimize the need to keep checking your phone and the lure to view more updates will also be curtailed.

Reconnect with people away from your computer
Experts like Martin J. Stallone suggest that spending more time surfing the internet could kill your relationship with people who matter in your life. You need to create time for physical interactions with other people in your region and family who you could reach easily in case of an emergency.

Education, Groza Learning Center

Tutoring Services in America Continue to Gain Popularity

Taylor

Coaching business in America has grown very fast every place you will come across centers that are offering tuition services. Around nine years ago the business was not as big as it is today. There are very many tutors, and some of them are offering their services online. There are very many factors that are driving the rise of these tutoring centers in America. Some parents feel that regular schools are not taking care of their kids completely hence the need for a private tutor who helps students to do additional studies. Another factor that is supporting the rise of tutoring centers is that parents feel that schools are failing their kids.

For your children to excel in academics a lot of hard work is required this is also another thing that is making tutoring services to be on the rise. Parents want their kids to have an extra support to excel in their education and this is where the services of a tutor come in. Private tutors give students teaching materials that help them to get good grades. Most people in the middle class are opting to hire private tutors who will help their kids on a one-on-one basis. Whether your children are schooling in a public school or private school tuition will be very vital in supplementing their school work.

Tuition in olden days was a preserve of the wealthy, but it has now been embraced by the middle class in America, and it is changing how the education center has been for a long time. A law that was passed in America that states that no child should be left behind the law has helped the tutoring industry to grow if a school is not registering good performance; it is supposed to provide tuition to ensure that kids excel in their academics.

The rise can also be attributed to the fact that most parents don’t want their children to stay idle. During their free time, American children are being left to tutors. Private tutoring is very helpful to children who are challenged in concentrating on a tight school schedule.

There are very many tutoring services providers in America, and there is a clear indication that tutoring centers will continue popping up. Groza Learning Center is one of the tutoring services providers that are widely known. Groza Learning Center offers tuition to students from all grades, and the tutors work very passionately. Studies at Groza Learning Centers take place in the afternoon and if a kid can not be able to attend the afternoon session, they can attend the evening session.

Education, Groza Learning Center

The Groza Learning Center Outlines Rationale Regarding When to Begin SAT Preparation

Taylor

One of the most common questions students have once their SAT examination date has been identified relates to determining the most appropriate time to begin preparing for this critically important test. Some will wonder whether starting more than a year ahead of time will simply yield diminishing returns while others will try to determine the most efficient strategy for achieving a particular academic goal. The Groza Learning Center provides tutoring sessions along with a number of test preparation courses, and its co-founder, Scott Groza, has noted that there are a variety of factors that should be evaluated when trying to determine the ideal time to begin preparation for any standardized test like the SAT.

The Role of Initial Assessment and Goal-Setting

One of the most effective strategies used in outlining an individualized program of study involves the use of an assessment test that determines the student’s score performance level along with any specific content areas most in need of attention. In conjunction with each student’s specific performance goal, an initial assessment can demonstrate just how much improvement is necessary to reach that specific performance goal. This information is critical in designing a preparation strategy that is appropriately timed according to the student’s goals and focuses on the content areas representing the greatest opportunity for improvement.

Efficient Study Practices Can Reduce Timeline

In many cases it is simply not possible to begin preparation a year in advance of the SAT or ACT, which is why it is particularly important for students to be aware of some of the more efficient study methods at their disposal. The Groza Learning Center, for example, uses root words to enhance understanding of critical vocabulary terms. Since the root words apply to so many different vocabulary terms that may appear on the SAT or ACT, the student is able to study in a more efficient manner and is also more likely to retain the information long after taking the SAT or ACT.

With an efficient approach and an understanding of the time needed to improve their score performance according to the goals they have set, students will find that preparing for standardized tests is not nearly as stressful as others have made it out to be.