It used to be that when you took your SATs that your scores, no matter what they were, got submitted to the schools of your choosing. You could have been especially proud of the math section, but the English and essay parts that you weren't so happy about got sent in too! That has all changed.
Now the CollegeBoard, the company that administers the SAT, has opted to allow only the highest scores in each section to be submitted to the college of your choice. Looks like someone over there finally got smart. What a relief! To read the full story click here.
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Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Should You Interview?
Lets face it college admissions are not getting any less competitive and students are constantly looking for ways to differentiate themselves. Some college admissions officers even say that they would rather take a student who took the time to make an impression rather than one with stellar grades and no personality. The good news is that you can make yourself stand out just by scheduling an interview.
Many schools still carry on the traditional "college interview" although many have made this an optional feature. That's great news because it means that not many students are taking the time to schedule this. Seriously, what better way can you think of to show those admissions officers, the ones that will decide your fate, just what a great person you are! I did this, and got into my first choice. Be sure to schedule early so that you can prepare for questions about:
-Your favorite subjects
-Your interests and hobbies
-Your reason for choosing to go to college
-Why you want to go to this particular college
-Your strengths and weaknesses
Those are most likely the questions that will be hurled at you during your interview. Your answers to these are going to leave a lasting impression. One more word of advice would be to come up with some questions of your own about activites and campus life. Who knows, after hearing the answers, you may not want them!
Many schools still carry on the traditional "college interview" although many have made this an optional feature. That's great news because it means that not many students are taking the time to schedule this. Seriously, what better way can you think of to show those admissions officers, the ones that will decide your fate, just what a great person you are! I did this, and got into my first choice. Be sure to schedule early so that you can prepare for questions about:
-Your favorite subjects
-Your interests and hobbies
-Your reason for choosing to go to college
-Why you want to go to this particular college
-Your strengths and weaknesses
Those are most likely the questions that will be hurled at you during your interview. Your answers to these are going to leave a lasting impression. One more word of advice would be to come up with some questions of your own about activites and campus life. Who knows, after hearing the answers, you may not want them!
Friday, June 20, 2008
SAT exam...still valid?
Are the SAT/ACT still a reliable way to gauge a student readiness for college? Here's what About.com College admissions has to say...
Monday, June 16, 2008
10 Steps To Prepare For College
The American Council on Education is a collection of accredited colleges and universities whose mission is to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and to influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives. There is a wealth of information available on their site and I found a checklist for parents to help them prepare their children for college. Even if you are reading this and your child is in high school, or you are a high school student yourself, the last few steps of this checklist will still be able to guide you to a more successful college admission.
1) Investigate and choose a savings vehicle.There are many options available, including U.S. Savings Bonds, bank accounts, mutual funds, and state savings or prepaid tuition plans.
2) Begin saving as early as possible.Whatever savings vehicle you choose, you will be much better off if you start saving early. For example, if you put aside $50 per month starting when your child is born, at 5 percent interest, you will have saved more than $17,000 when your child is 18. If you start saving the same amount monthly when your child is 8 years old, you will have saved only $7,000 by the time your child is ready for college.
Elementary and Middle School
3) Encourage your child to challenge him or herself academically, develop good study habits, and become involved in school- and community-based extracurricular activities.A positive school experience that is both academically challenging and rich in extracurricular activities is important in itself and as preparation for college.
4) Discuss career and college options with your child and encourage his or her aspirations.Many students assume that higher education is not for them or that the jobs they are interested in don't require college. Today, some form of formal postsecondary education or training is required for almost every well-paying job. With $60 billion in financial aid available, college is possible for almost every American. So encourage your child to aim high, explore all the options, and plan to attend college.
5) Make sure your child starts on a college preparatory track in middle school or junior high. If students don't take the right courses in middle school, they may be shut out of the college preparatory track in high school. The U.S. Department of Education recommends that middle and junior high school students take Algebra I in 8th Grade, Geometry in 9th Grade, and English, Science, and History or Geography every year. Foreign language, computer, and visual or performing art classes are also recommended.
High School
6) Meet with a guidance counselor to map out your child's high school curriculum and familiarize yourself with the college admissions and financial aid processes.If your child has taken the right courses in middle school, he or she should be ready for a college preparatory curriculum in high school.Your high school guidance counselor should also be able to provide you with information on the college admissions and financial aid processes, or point you toward the right reference materials.
7) Help your children research colleges and narrow their options.There are many resources available, both in print and on the Internet, to help you search for colleges by special characteristics or academic offerings and learn about specific colleges. After you've done some initial research is the right time to add any special considerations, such as price, distance from home, or religious affiliation, to your child's list of college options.Although it is important to make these decisions before your child has his or her heart set on a specific college, eliminating schools before you have hard information may limit your child's choices unnecessarily. For example—after financial aid is taken into consideration—a private college can cost about the same as a public institution. Without that information, you might overlook a college that would be a good fit for your child simply because of an incorrect understanding of the cost.
8) Make sure your child takes any required college admissions tests and submits all admissions, financial aid, and–if necessary–campus housing paperwork on time.Meeting all the requirements of applying for college is a good lesson in itself, but most students will require some help. Setting up a calendar with all the various tasks and deadlines can be very helpful for both you and your child.
9) Learn all you can about financial aid and assist your child in filling out the application forms.Most financial aid comes in the form of grants and scholarships or low-interest loans. The federal government, states, colleges, and private organizations all sponsor student aid programs. Colleges will provide you with the forms you need to apply for most federal, state, and college aid, and are a great source of information about the various types of aid available.In addition, many books and websites are available to help you search and apply for private scholarships. In most cases, you will have to supply some information about your family's income and assets on financial aid application forms, so be sure to have those records assembled.
10) Devise a budget with your child and determine how much will be covered by financial aid, how much you'll provide, and how much your child will contribute by working and/or borrowing.After you've received your financial aid award statements, it's essential to sit down with your child and make a realistic budget that includes both fixed expenses, such as tuition and books, and variable items such as rent, clothing, and transportation. Once you have completed your budget and subtracted the grant and scholarship aid your child has been awarded, you can determine how much you will contribute and how much your child will have to come up with from savings, earnings, and student loans. Your child could end up working long hours while in college or borrowing more than she really needs unless she puts herself on a budget and makes conscious decisions about how she'll meet her financial obligations.
1) Investigate and choose a savings vehicle.There are many options available, including U.S. Savings Bonds, bank accounts, mutual funds, and state savings or prepaid tuition plans.
2) Begin saving as early as possible.Whatever savings vehicle you choose, you will be much better off if you start saving early. For example, if you put aside $50 per month starting when your child is born, at 5 percent interest, you will have saved more than $17,000 when your child is 18. If you start saving the same amount monthly when your child is 8 years old, you will have saved only $7,000 by the time your child is ready for college.
Elementary and Middle School
3) Encourage your child to challenge him or herself academically, develop good study habits, and become involved in school- and community-based extracurricular activities.A positive school experience that is both academically challenging and rich in extracurricular activities is important in itself and as preparation for college.
4) Discuss career and college options with your child and encourage his or her aspirations.Many students assume that higher education is not for them or that the jobs they are interested in don't require college. Today, some form of formal postsecondary education or training is required for almost every well-paying job. With $60 billion in financial aid available, college is possible for almost every American. So encourage your child to aim high, explore all the options, and plan to attend college.
5) Make sure your child starts on a college preparatory track in middle school or junior high. If students don't take the right courses in middle school, they may be shut out of the college preparatory track in high school. The U.S. Department of Education recommends that middle and junior high school students take Algebra I in 8th Grade, Geometry in 9th Grade, and English, Science, and History or Geography every year. Foreign language, computer, and visual or performing art classes are also recommended.
High School
6) Meet with a guidance counselor to map out your child's high school curriculum and familiarize yourself with the college admissions and financial aid processes.If your child has taken the right courses in middle school, he or she should be ready for a college preparatory curriculum in high school.Your high school guidance counselor should also be able to provide you with information on the college admissions and financial aid processes, or point you toward the right reference materials.
7) Help your children research colleges and narrow their options.There are many resources available, both in print and on the Internet, to help you search for colleges by special characteristics or academic offerings and learn about specific colleges. After you've done some initial research is the right time to add any special considerations, such as price, distance from home, or religious affiliation, to your child's list of college options.Although it is important to make these decisions before your child has his or her heart set on a specific college, eliminating schools before you have hard information may limit your child's choices unnecessarily. For example—after financial aid is taken into consideration—a private college can cost about the same as a public institution. Without that information, you might overlook a college that would be a good fit for your child simply because of an incorrect understanding of the cost.
8) Make sure your child takes any required college admissions tests and submits all admissions, financial aid, and–if necessary–campus housing paperwork on time.Meeting all the requirements of applying for college is a good lesson in itself, but most students will require some help. Setting up a calendar with all the various tasks and deadlines can be very helpful for both you and your child.
9) Learn all you can about financial aid and assist your child in filling out the application forms.Most financial aid comes in the form of grants and scholarships or low-interest loans. The federal government, states, colleges, and private organizations all sponsor student aid programs. Colleges will provide you with the forms you need to apply for most federal, state, and college aid, and are a great source of information about the various types of aid available.In addition, many books and websites are available to help you search and apply for private scholarships. In most cases, you will have to supply some information about your family's income and assets on financial aid application forms, so be sure to have those records assembled.
10) Devise a budget with your child and determine how much will be covered by financial aid, how much you'll provide, and how much your child will contribute by working and/or borrowing.After you've received your financial aid award statements, it's essential to sit down with your child and make a realistic budget that includes both fixed expenses, such as tuition and books, and variable items such as rent, clothing, and transportation. Once you have completed your budget and subtracted the grant and scholarship aid your child has been awarded, you can determine how much you will contribute and how much your child will have to come up with from savings, earnings, and student loans. Your child could end up working long hours while in college or borrowing more than she really needs unless she puts herself on a budget and makes conscious decisions about how she'll meet her financial obligations.
Friday, June 13, 2008
How To Take A Test
In light of the ACT test date that takes place tomorrow, I went out and found some strategies to help you to do your best on tomorrow's test:
Top Ten Test-Taking Tips for Students
Here are the top ten tips to success!
1. Have a Positive AttitudeApproach the big test as you'd approach a giant jigsaw puzzle. It might be tough, but you can do it! A positive attitude goes a long way toward success.
2. Make a PlanThe week before the test, ask your teacher what the test is going to cover. Is it from the textbook only? Class notes? Can you use your calculator? If you've been absent, talk to friends about material you may have missed. Make a list of the most important topics to be covered and use that as a guide when you study. Circle items that you know will require extra time. Be sure to plan extra time to study the most challenging topics.
3. The Night BeforeCramming doesn't work. If you've followed a study plan, the night before the test you should do a quick review and get to bed early. Remember, your brain and body need sleep to function well, so don't stay up late!
4. The Morning of the TestDid you know that you think better when you have a full stomach? So don't skip breakfast the morning of the test. Get to school early and do a ten-minute power study right before the test, so your brain is turned on and tuned up.
5. Test TimeBefore the test begins, make sure you have everything you'll need - scratch paper, extra pencils, your calculator (if you're allowed to use it). Understand how the test is scored: Do you lose points for incorrect answers? Or is it better to make guesses when you're not sure of the answer? Read the instructions! You want to make sure you are marking answers correctly.
6. Manage Your TimeScan through the test quickly before starting. Answering the easy questions first can be a time saver and a confidence builder. Plus, it saves more time in the end for you to focus on the hard stuff.
7. I'm Stuck!Those tricky problems can knock you off balance. Don't get worried or frustrated. Reread the question to make sure you understand it, and then try to solve it the best way you know how. If you're still stuck, circle it and move on. You can come back to it later. What if you have no idea about the answer? Review your options and make the best guess you can, but only if you don't lose points for wrong answers.
8. Multiple-Choice QuestionsThe process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer in a multiple-choice question. Start by crossing off the answers that couldn't be right. Then spend your time focusing on the possible correct choices before selecting your answer.
9. Neatness CountsIf your 4s look like 9s, it could be a problem. Be sure that your writing is legible and that you erase your mistakes. For machine-scored tests, fill in the spaces carefully.
10. I'm Done! Not so fast - when you complete the last item on the test, remember that you're not done yet. First, check the clock and go back to review your answers, making sure that you didn't make any careless mistakes (such as putting the right answer in the wrong place or skipping a question). Spend the last remaining minutes going over the hardest problems before you turn in your test.
Follow these test tips, and you'll know you did your best - congratulations!
Thanks to Teachervision.com for compiling this information!!!
Top Ten Test-Taking Tips for Students
Here are the top ten tips to success!
1. Have a Positive AttitudeApproach the big test as you'd approach a giant jigsaw puzzle. It might be tough, but you can do it! A positive attitude goes a long way toward success.
2. Make a PlanThe week before the test, ask your teacher what the test is going to cover. Is it from the textbook only? Class notes? Can you use your calculator? If you've been absent, talk to friends about material you may have missed. Make a list of the most important topics to be covered and use that as a guide when you study. Circle items that you know will require extra time. Be sure to plan extra time to study the most challenging topics.
3. The Night BeforeCramming doesn't work. If you've followed a study plan, the night before the test you should do a quick review and get to bed early. Remember, your brain and body need sleep to function well, so don't stay up late!
4. The Morning of the TestDid you know that you think better when you have a full stomach? So don't skip breakfast the morning of the test. Get to school early and do a ten-minute power study right before the test, so your brain is turned on and tuned up.
5. Test TimeBefore the test begins, make sure you have everything you'll need - scratch paper, extra pencils, your calculator (if you're allowed to use it). Understand how the test is scored: Do you lose points for incorrect answers? Or is it better to make guesses when you're not sure of the answer? Read the instructions! You want to make sure you are marking answers correctly.
6. Manage Your TimeScan through the test quickly before starting. Answering the easy questions first can be a time saver and a confidence builder. Plus, it saves more time in the end for you to focus on the hard stuff.
7. I'm Stuck!Those tricky problems can knock you off balance. Don't get worried or frustrated. Reread the question to make sure you understand it, and then try to solve it the best way you know how. If you're still stuck, circle it and move on. You can come back to it later. What if you have no idea about the answer? Review your options and make the best guess you can, but only if you don't lose points for wrong answers.
8. Multiple-Choice QuestionsThe process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer in a multiple-choice question. Start by crossing off the answers that couldn't be right. Then spend your time focusing on the possible correct choices before selecting your answer.
9. Neatness CountsIf your 4s look like 9s, it could be a problem. Be sure that your writing is legible and that you erase your mistakes. For machine-scored tests, fill in the spaces carefully.
10. I'm Done! Not so fast - when you complete the last item on the test, remember that you're not done yet. First, check the clock and go back to review your answers, making sure that you didn't make any careless mistakes (such as putting the right answer in the wrong place or skipping a question). Spend the last remaining minutes going over the hardest problems before you turn in your test.
Follow these test tips, and you'll know you did your best - congratulations!
Thanks to Teachervision.com for compiling this information!!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
What Does Your Score Say?
Okay, so you've taken the SAT and gotten your results back. What do they mean? Here are some quick ways to tell:
First the top scores:
First the top scores:
- The ACT consists of 4 separate sections: English, Math, Reading Comprehension, Science, and an optional essay section. Scores get averaged and the best score is a 36. By the way this is no easy feat. Only about 1 in 4000 students are going to score that highly.
- The SAT is only 3 sections long although the odds of getting a perfect 2400 are about 1 in 10,000. The SAT tests you on Reading, Math, and an essay section.
But what does this mean?
Here's the deal, most Ivy League schools (Harvard, Princeton, Yale, etc.) are going to require that you are at least in the top 10% of these scores. That is, unless your parents are intending to donate a library. For SAT that's 2100 and for ACT that's 28. This does not guarantee admission however (see library donation). Most schools these days are looking for the whole package. They want to see well rounded students who participate in extra-curricular and after school activities as well as great scholastic achievement.
Here's a great comparison of SAT scores found at the National Center for Education Statistics. For more information on proper interpretation of your scores, see this article at universitylanguage.com. Happy reading!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Building A Good College Experience
It's a big step for most. You know... you've been the big person in high school among 200-400 seniors in your graduating class. Now you need to be ready for individual classes that are bigger than your entire graduating class. This can sometimes make the toughest people get homesick...longing for the days when everyone knew their name. Instructors don't know who you are and don't really care about your grade, much less your name. So what can you do?
First, make friends. Not just the people you went to high school with that are going to the same college.
Get involved in activities such as, sports(intramurals), academic study groups, student government, volunteer, or join a frat/sorority.
Second, establish a support group. Get people to visit you during the weekends and maybe even during the week.
Third, focus on the schoolwork. This is the whole reason you're in school. Make the most of the opportunity you have.
Fourth, find a partime job in work environment that is enjoyable to you.
Fifth, work out. Build habits that will last a lifetime. Working out could be weight-lifting, biking, running, or any other activity that gets your heart rate up.
All of these tips could make your college experience more enjoyable...quicker!
Let us know what ideas you have concerning this topic! Add a comment,
First, make friends. Not just the people you went to high school with that are going to the same college.
Get involved in activities such as, sports(intramurals), academic study groups, student government, volunteer, or join a frat/sorority.
Second, establish a support group. Get people to visit you during the weekends and maybe even during the week.
Third, focus on the schoolwork. This is the whole reason you're in school. Make the most of the opportunity you have.
Fourth, find a partime job in work environment that is enjoyable to you.
Fifth, work out. Build habits that will last a lifetime. Working out could be weight-lifting, biking, running, or any other activity that gets your heart rate up.
All of these tips could make your college experience more enjoyable...quicker!
Let us know what ideas you have concerning this topic! Add a comment,
Monday, June 2, 2008
The ACT-Lets Take A Closer Look
I originally started this blog with the idea that there are lots of students and parents searching for ways to get information on bettering their SAT scores. In doing research for tonight's post, I found that the ACT is just as important, if not more so. According to their website, more colleges prefer the ACT to the SAT. The formats seem to cover the same areas of competence, yet the writing section is optional (I would recommend taking it). Check it out and let me know what you think.
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