--- title: "Jon G. | Elite Prep" description: "Jon G. is originally from Houston, Texas. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University and is currently one of the resident English gurus…" url: "https://eliteprep.com/blog/author/jon-g/" image: "https://eliteprep.com/og/page/en/blog/author/jon-g.png" language: "en" source: "eliteprep build" --- # Jon G. Jon G. is originally from Houston, Texas. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University and is currently one of the resident English gurus at Elite Prep Los Angeles. Nothing makes him more proud and pumped up than watching his students succeed. When it comes to hitting the books, Jon recommends starting early and studying in increments to avoid burnout. He's a huge basketball fan, loves green tea, and his favorite vocabulary word is "seditious." ## Articles by Jon G. - ![You Can't Study All the Time: 6 Fun Study Break Ideas](https://eliteprep.com/media/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BStudy%2BBreaks-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [You Can't Study All the Time: 6 Fun Study Break Ideas](https://eliteprep.com/blog/6-study-break-ideas/) If you want to stay sharp throughout your study sessions, it’s crucial to occasionally step away from your studies. November 30, 2019 Jon G. - ![How to Write Your College Application Activities List](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BActivities-webp-w400.webp) [College Application](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-application/) ### [How to Write Your College Application Activities List](https://eliteprep.com/blog/college-application-activities-list/) The activities list gives admissions officers a sense of where your passions lie and what experiences have shaped you into who you are today. November 6, 2019 Jon G. - ![Writing Exercises to Get Primed for College Admission Essays](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2Bprimed%2Bessays-webp-w400.webp) ### [Writing Exercises to Get Primed for College Admission Essays](https://eliteprep.com/blog/college-essay-writing-exercises/) Considering how robust the human experience is, you probably have a treasure trove of ideas waiting to be uncovered. October 28, 2019 Jon G. - ![7 Inspiring TED Talks for Students](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BTED%2BTalks-webp-w400.webp) [Creativity](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/creativity/) ### [7 Inspiring TED Talks for Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/ted-talks-for-students/) Seven TED Talks that cover a variety of topics to nourish your intellect and spirit. June 21, 2019 Jon G. - ![How to Spot a Sentence Fragment](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BSentence%2BFragment-webp-w400.webp) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) [Writing](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/writing/) ### [How to Spot a Sentence Fragment](https://eliteprep.com/blog/how-to-spot-a-sentence-fragment/) One of the first steps in mastering SAT and ACT grammar is understanding the difference between a complete sentence and a sentence fragment. May 27, 2019 Jon G. - ![Word Choice and Diction Errors on the SAT & ACT](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BDiction-webp-w400.webp) ### [Word Choice and Diction Errors on the SAT & ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2019/3/27/word-choice-and-diction-errors-on-the-sat-amp-act/) You may have heard of the word “diction” from your English instructors, but what does it mean? And how does it work on the ACT/SAT? March 27, 2019 Jon G. - ![Two students talking over a laptop, with the title "5 Myths About the SAT & ACT" over the photo.](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BMyths-webp-w400.webp) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [5 Myths About the SAT & ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/5-myths-about-the-sat-act/) When it comes to standardized tests, the truth is often riddled with inaccuracies. January 31, 2019 Jon G. - ![Yellow pencils on a green background with the text "Do colleges really care about the SAT essay?"](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BEssay-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [Do Colleges Really Care About the SAT Essay?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/sat-essay-do-colleges-care/) Although the SAT essay is optional, there is a general consensus that most “optional” parts of college applications are actually “required” if a student wants… January 24, 2019 Jon G. - ![How to Know if a Small College is Right for You](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BSmall%2BCollege-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [How to Know if a Small College is Right for You](https://eliteprep.com/blog/is-a-small-college-right-for-you/) When it comes to developing a college list, there are seemingly endless factors to consider. December 10, 2018 Jon G. - ![How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the SAT Essay](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BSAT%2BESSAY-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the SAT Essay](https://eliteprep.com/blog/how-to-write-the-sat-essay/) As with any academic exercise, the name of the SAT Essay game is preparation. To prepare for the essay… November 23, 2018 Jon G. - ![Students laughing around a laptop and drinks at a cafe, with the title "5 Ways to Avoid Academic Burnout"](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BBurnout-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [5 Ways to Avoid Academic Burnout](https://eliteprep.com/blog/5-ways-to-avoid-academic-burnout/) While it’s easy to think of burnout as nothing more than normal high school stress, it is important to recognize it as a distinct experience. November 13, 2018 Jon G. - ![Before Submitting College Applications: A Quick Checklist](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BCHECKLIST-webp-w400.webp) [College Application](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-application/) ### [Before Submitting College Applications: A Quick Checklist](https://eliteprep.com/blog/college-application-checklist/) With college application deadlines rapidly approaching, many high school seniors are scrambling to finalize their college essays and add any finishing touches… October 31, 2018 Jon G. - ![How to Avoid Being Generic in Your College Essays](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BGeneric-webp-w400.webp) [College Application](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-application/) ### [How to Avoid Being Generic in Your College Essays](https://eliteprep.com/blog/how-to-avoid-being-generic/) A college essay can be generic for any number of reasons, including topic, style, and diction. October 16, 2018 Jon G. - ![How to Write the “Why Us?” College Essay](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BWhy%2BUs-webp-w400.webp) [College Application](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-application/) ### [How to Write the "Why Us?" College Essay](https://eliteprep.com/blog/how-to-write-the-why-us-college-essay/) Supplements provide additional insight that may not be reflected elsewhere in your application and are prime opportunities to expand the scope of knowledge… September 25, 2018 Jon G. - ![Social Media and College Admissions](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BSocial%2BMedia-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Social Media and College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/6/6/college-admissions-and-social-media/) Yep, colleges admissions officers are potentially looking you up on Google, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat… June 6, 2018 Jon G. - ![Study Strategies for Final Exams](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BFinals-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [Study Strategies for Final Exams](https://eliteprep.com/blog/study-strategies-for-final-exams/) The end of the school year is rapidly approaching, and exams are on the horizon. Final exams. AP exams. SAT and ACT exams. May 15, 2018 Jon G. - ![How to Approach the Fiction/Literature Passage on the ACT & SAT](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BFiction%2BLiterature-webp-w400.webp) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [How to Approach the Fiction/Literature Passage on the SAT & ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/5/11/how-to-approach-sat-act-fiction-passage/) The first passage on both the ACT and the SAT Reading tests is the fiction/literature passage. May 14, 2018 Jon G. - ![Making Summer Count for College Applications](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2Bsummer-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Making Summer Count for College Applications](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/4/20/making-summer-count-for-college-applications/) Now that spring is officially underway, it’s time to start thinking about and planning for the summer. April 20, 2018 Jon G. - ![What Should I Do if I Got Waitlisted?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2Bwaitlisted-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What Should I Do if I Got Waitlisted?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/4/16/what-should-i-do-if-i-got-waitlisted/) What if things didn’t quite work out as you expected and instead of deciding between letters of admission… April 16, 2018 Jon G. - ![Person holding an open book in sunlight, titled "How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension and Raise Your SAT/ACT Score"](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BReading%2BComprehension-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) [Test Prep](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/test-prep/) ### [How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension and Raise Your SAT/ACT Score](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/3/26/how-to-improve-your-reading-comprehension/) Reading comprehension is a complex process that involves understanding both the explicit and implicit, or unstated, meanings of a text. March 30, 2018 Jon G. - ![Students crowded at a college fair under a yellow overlay reading "8 Things College-Bound Juniors Should Be Doing Right Now"](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2Bjuniors-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [8 Things College-Bound Juniors Should Be Doing Right Now](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/3/26/8-things-juniors-should-be-doing/) Junior year of high school is an onslaught of responsibilities and activities, and seemingly never enough time to get everything done. March 26, 2018 Jon G. - ![Pacing Yourself on the SAT & ACT](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BPacing-webp-w400.webp) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [Pacing Yourself on the SAT and ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/3/12/pacing-yourself-on-the-sat-and-act/) “How can I improve my speed on the SAT/ACT?” is one of the most frequently asked questions I hear from students. March 12, 2018 Jon G. - ![How to Prepare for College Interviews](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BCollege%2BInterviews-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [How to Prepare for College Interviews](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/1/25/how-to-prepare-for-college-interviews/) Participating in a college interview is a fantastic way to demonstrate interest and has the potential to add another dimension to your college application. January 25, 2018 Jon G. - ![14 Insightful Questions to Ask College Admissions Officers](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2B14%2BQuestions-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [14 Insightful Questions to Ask College Admissions Officers](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/12/16/14-questions-to-ask-admissions-officers/) During your college search, it is important to research schools carefully, but not all information can be found on the school's website. December 16, 2017 Jon G. - ![5 Ways to Annoy College Admissions Officers](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BAnnoy-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [5 Ways to Annoy College Admissions Officers](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/11/29/5-great-ways-to-annoy-admissions-officers/) College admissions professionals are not individuals you want to frustrate or annoy, especially since admission decisions can hinge on razor-thin margins. November 30, 2017 Jon G. - ![What is demonstrated interest and how can it help me get into college?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BDemonstrated%2BInterest-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What is Demonstrated Interest and How Can It Help Me Get into College?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/11/13/what-is-demonstrated-interest/) Demonstrated interest is a factor many colleges consider when making admissions decisions. In this article, Elite Prep instructor Jon G. November 14, 2017 Jon G. - ![How to Get Into an Ivy League School: Advice from a Harvard Graduate](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BIVY%2BLEAGUE-webp-w400.webp) [College Application](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-application/) ### [How to Get Into an Ivy League School: Advice from a Harvard Graduate](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/11/1/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/) November 1, 2017 Jon G. - ![Title card over autumn leaves: "Early Action vs. Early Decision — What's the Difference?"](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BEarly%2BAction-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Early Action vs. Early Decision: What's the Difference?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/10/25/early-action-vs-early-decision-whats-the-difference/) October 25, 2017 Jon G. - ![What to Do the Night Before the SAT or ACT](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BNight%2BBefore%2BSAT-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) ### [What to Do the Night Before the SAT or ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/10/3/what-to-do-the-night-before-the-sat-or-act/) October 3, 2017 Jon G. - ![How to tackle vocabulary in context questions on the SAT](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BVocab%2Bin%2BContext-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) ### [How to Tackle Vocabulary in Context Questions on the SAT & ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/5/30/how-to-tackle-vocabulary-in-context-questions/) May 30, 2017 Jon G. - ![How to Improve Your Vocabulary for the SAT & ACT](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-55-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) ### [How to Improve Your Vocabulary for the SAT and ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/5/7/how-to-improve-your-vocabulary-for-the-sat-and-act/) May 8, 2017 Jon G. - ![School campus buildings with signs reading "Hagop and Haiguhi Daglian Library" and "Nerses Tashdjian Gymnasium".](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-19-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) [ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/act/) ### [Why You Should Always Write in Your SAT/ACT Test Booklet](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/3/31/why-you-should-always-write-in-your-satact-test-booklet/) March 31, 2017 Jon G. - ![Should I take the SAT or ACT?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite-Blog-Feb-2-webp-w400.webp) ### [Should I Take the SAT or ACT?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/2/2/should-i-take-the-sat-or-the-act/) February 3, 2017 Jon G. - ![A person holding a pencil examines a printed page through a magnifying glass in warm, dim light.](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-183-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) [Test Prep](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/test-prep/) ### [Identifying Main Ideas in SAT Reading Passages](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2016/12/13/identifying-main-ideas-in-sat-reading-passages/) December 13, 2016 Jon G. - ![A modern study lounge with a long wooden table, upholstered chairs, pendant lights and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-29-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Learning to Love the Personal Statement](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2016/11/6/learning-to-love-the-personal-statement/) November 6, 2016 Jon G. - ![Curved bronze campus sign with gold lettering reading "University of California" amid trees](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-61-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What's Up with the New University of California Personal Insight Questions?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2016/9/29/whats-up-with-the-new-university-of-california-personal-insight-question/) September 29, 2016 Jon G. - ![Peter Liu with Elite Instructor Jon Gentry](https://media.eliteprep.com/Peter_Liu-webp-w400.webp) ### [Dedication earns struggling student early admittance to Harvard](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2015/1/6/viyxxkg2wk9nobxfm5t9a9m16lo250/) January 6, 2015 Jon G.