Jennifer Kaifesh

Founder, Great Expectations College Prep

Jennifer Kaifesh is the Founder of Great Expectations College Prep, a tutoring and counseling service based in Southern California. Jennifer has over 15 years of experience managing and facilitating academic tutoring and standardized test prep as it relates to the college application process. She takes a personal approach to her tutoring, and focuses on working with students to find their specific mix of pursuits that they both enjoy and excel at. She is a graduate of Northwestern University.

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Forum Comments (3)

how do I get better grades?
To get better grades, talk to your teachers to better understand why your grades don’t reflect your knowledge and/or effort. Are you studying terms solely to memorize them, when your teacher expects you to understand how to apply them? Is your teacher basing exam questions more on the textbook readings than in-class lectures, or vice versa? Also, be sure that you aren’t leaving easy points on the table by failing to turn in assignments (or turning them in late).

Class participation is another category that many teachers consider when calculating a final grade. More than anything, convince your teachers that you truly want to understand the material, not that you just want a better grade. Teachers are more likely to round up and offer extra credit to students who seem to truly care about the class!
What should I do after high school?
While finances play a key role in what you do after high school, don’t let the sticker price of a particular college discourage you from applying. Many colleges offer a TON of financial aid and scholarships, so more students end up paying a fraction of the advertised cost. Apply to the schools that feel like a great fit for you, and then compare your options in the spring; if your dream school didn’t offer you enough money to make it a viable option, talk to them. Schools will often match financial aid packages from other institutions to encourage you to enroll.
Advice needed - what should I major in?
Don’t forget this statistic: college students change their major three times on average! So the most important factor should be whether you will be happy and challenged at a school, regardless of the major you end up with.

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Co-authored Articles (17)

College Grad Intelligence Test: Can You Score An A+?

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How to Achieve the First Rank in Your Class & Become a Topper

The best tips to study productively and become a class topper Becoming the first rank of your class, or a class topper, is an incredible academic achievement, but it does require discipline, determination, and effort. As...

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Study for a Test

Tests seem like they spring up like weeds, don't they? You take one test and there's another just around the corner. Start showing those tests who's boss like a round of Whack-A-Mole: You'll soon be getting your share of...

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Improve Your Grades

It's disappointing when your grades are lower than you want them to be, but don't get discouraged! It happens to almost everyone at some point. If it's early enough in the term, you may even be able to get a better grade...

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Become Valedictorian

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11 Ways to Deal With Homework Overload

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How to Find Scholarships, Plus When & How to Apply

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Be Productive After School

While being productive can be challenging, there are many ways to make sure that you get a lot of things done after the school day ends. Treat your body right by eating healthy snacks and getting enough sleep. Make a to-...

What Is an Academic Weapon? The TikTok Meme Explained

Plus, learn how to avoid being an academic victimForget TikTok brain rot; there’s a new viral trend that applauds students for doing well in school. An academic weapon is someone who is perceived as scholarly and is a ...

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Get Out of Special Education

There are many reasons that kids are placed in special education. Sometimes it is because they have been diagnosed with autism or ADHD. Other times, the student might be struggling with behavior in a traditional classroo...

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Study Lecture Notes

While technology has had a great impact on teaching and learning, many courses are still taught in lecture format. Taking good notes and learning to make good use of them, therefore, is an essential skill for academic su...

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Make the Most of Your Learning Style

Learning styles describe the way that people process and retain information. We all differ in the way that we learn and learning styles are one way to categorize these differences. There are concrete things that you can ...

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Choose a College

Trying to choose a college can feel daunting, especially with so many major decisions to make. Where you go to college will affect the type of education you get, the people you meet, and the opportunities that you have a...

12 Pros & Cons of Attending a College or University

Learn whether college is the best step for your career goalsGoing to college can seem like the key to success, but what if you’re not sure if you actually want to go? That’s perfectly okay! Although getting a degree ...