SAT vs ACT

There used to be a huge difference but with the redesign they are looking more alike. College board reformatted the SAT and shed aptitude heavy questions and added a writing component in the SAT.

With this alone, you might find that you prefer one test over the other. Although the sections outside of the ones mentioned above are the same, the content and way they are structured differ significantly.

On the SAT, questions are primarily evidence-based and context-based to encourage students to focus on real world issues and problem solving.

On the ACT, questions are more straightforward, but generally tend to be longer.

Neither test penalizes test-takers for incorrect answers, as the SAT removed the guessing penalization. Points are solely given for correctly answered questions.

The new SAT is a reflection of and aligned with the common core standards. Common core will have assessments in all grade levels.

Another difference is time per question is a lot longer 33% more on grammar and 43% more on reading and about 40% more on the math section.

ACT vs. SAT Comparison Table

SATACT
Test componentsReading (5 reading passages)Writing and LiteratureMath (arithmetic, Algebra I & II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Data Analysis)Optional EssayEnglish (4 reading passagesMath (arithmetic, Algebra I & II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Probability & Statistics)ReadingScience Reasoning (testing critical thinking, not specific science knowledge) Optional Essay
Duration3 hours without essay3 hours, 50 minutes with essay2 hours, 55 minutes without essay3 hours, 40 minutes with essay
Rules for CalculatorsCalculators Not AllowedCalculators Allowed
Rules for EssaysEssay tests comprehension of a provided textEssay determines how well you evaluate and analyze complex problems
ScoringScoring uses scale from 400-1600Scoring uses scale from 1-36

Which one should I take – Both?

That depends on several factors: Scoring, super scoring, age, goals which colleges you are looking at etc. If you are unsure about which test to take, you should consider the differences between the two in order to determine which test will better convey your strengths. Ultimately, both are content-based tests that cover a range of fundamental academic topics.

  • Both SAT and ACT are now the same length of time.
  • Colleges will take both and some schools want all the scores from all the tests ever taken. You can find this info in the admissions section on the college website that you will be applying to.
  • New SAT time allocation for each question is 83 seconds vs 60 on ACT.
  • SAT now focuses on context rather than achievement.
  • SAT includes words and context on the ACT it only includes words and context in the science section.
  • SAT – 7% of questions are vocabulary. Students have to have a better command of vocabulary in the new SAT. Students who struggle with reading will find themselves challenged across the test in all areas as it permeates the entire test.
  • ACT – 3% vocabulary
  • Both SAT and SAT consider the essay an additional score
  • SAT has a math section for which you may not use a calculator
  • New SAT is more aligned with college level thinking, reading and writing
  • Students who perform well with logical reasoning exams and puzzles do very well on the SAT
  • Students who prefer straight forward information and plow through their academic curriculum with straight A’s do better on the ACT
  • May who are high achievers will prefer to take the ACT until the new SAT stabilizes
  • ACT is constantly making slight changes
  • ACT includes a science component
  • On the ACT it is important to practice your timing. Most students run out of time so practice your timing…practice, practice, practice
  • Students taking both ACT and SAT tests say they feel identical but not as much of a time pressure

How many times should I take the test:

  • This depends on the ambition and aptitude of the student
  • SAT is given 7 times throughout the school year
  • ACT is given 6 times throughout the school year
  • Students usually improve their scores when retaking the test.
  • Some schools allow you to super score
  • You could literally take 13 in an academic year but why? There is no prescribed limit on the amount of tests you can take.
  • SAT – 9 of the 60 problems in math require more complex math like trig, imaginary numbers, advanced geometric shapes, logarithms etc.
  • The SAT science section pretty much requires no knowledge of history, biology, or physics or geology but does require a strategy. It also has nothing to do with science but does require a lot of reading.
  • You want your test score to reflect appropriate with your GPA and the high school profile, so when colleges see that your GPA is not consistent with a SAT or ACT test score it could raise red flags.
  • If your test score is in the top 10% of the freshman profiles in your target schools don’t continue to take the test. There is a point of diminishing return. If you are shooting for schools such as Stanford and you have a 1600 SAT or a 34 ACT there is really no reason to waste time trying to get a higher score. A couple of years ago Princeton denied admissions to hundreds of perfect SAT recipients. Just saying…
  • Just as you would study for any mid-term or final it is important to study for these standardized tests.

Which scores do I submit

When sending scores there are 3 different ways to send them:

Score Choice – Students can select scores by test date for the SAT and by individual scores for the SAT subject test

Any or all of your scores can be sent to a college by a single report. Score choice only applies to the scores you send to colleges. All scores will continue to go to you and your high school.

Super scoring – Process colleges use for the highest section scores across the dates you took the ACT. So rather than being confined to score from one particular date, colleges will take your best score from each subject test. Fortunately for you and the college, many colleges take your highest scores for all your tests when considering your ACT scores.

this policy benefits both you and the college because it shows their students get higher scores and this will help the college possibly rank higher.

Many colleges want all the scores – that way they can choose what boots their incoming freshman ranks as well as noticing trends. Some colleges might pick the best dates or sitting some might pick the highest sections. College board offers 4 FREE score sends during registration. These can be used to send scores to colleges but they won’t be available for use after the test. 

Not all schools support the use of score choice however, but will take it on good faith that you will send all your scores. 

Some notable schools with a send all scores policy – Yale, Stanford, Cornell, Carnagie Mellon and the UC system.

How Early to Test?

  • You want to begin early
  • There is no statistical advantage of when you take the test.
  • If you feel you have a good grasp on the material you can take the test as early as freshman year but if you haven’t covered the material in your classes wait until you have.
  • Most students heading to college take the test once in the spring of their junior year and once again in October in their senior year.
  • remember in your junior year you have AP tests SAT subject tests and other standardized tests. So sometimes earlier is better.
  • Going into you junior year studying is a good practice and could pay off pretty well.
  • We like to see your college list finished by the end of your junior year. You can start and finish your college admissions apps by the end of the summer. You can’t do the college list without the first pass of your ACT or SAT test scores.
  • You take the PSAT test in addition to all the other tests. The PSAT is for the national merit scholarship qualifier. To be a finalist means minimally $1000 to $2500 from the national merit corporation and for some schools it means full tuition or even a full rides for national merit finalists.
  • Even though the PSAT is a preliminary SAT test there is money attached to the top percentage of scorers. Each state also has it’s own cut off scores.
  • As a general rule of thumb, If your student gets in the 95 percentile on their PSAT we recommend students sit for the SAT soon after that again with a prep course.
  • What about AP or SAT subject tests? It’s best to take these tests while the information is still fresh in your mind. It’s possible to take the AP test without actually taking the AP class. Lots of home schoolers do this. Lots of free resources and study courses online.
  • Generally December of the Senior year is the cut off for the admissions decisions to go out so If student applies for early action or early decision then the October sitting of the test is the latest students can take the test. 
  • Some schools offer merit money if the student brings up their test scores after they have been accepted. Baylor is one of those schools.
  • Test optional schools attacks the student that doesn’t test well or doesn’t have test scores at all. So colleges that are test optional attract more applications after adopting a test optional policy. Space in college hasn’t increase, just the number of applications.
  • Bottom line is, if most students are submitting SAT or ACT test scores, you might want to do this as well. Some colleges will take certain tests in lieu of others like AP or IB tests instead. If you want to check out all the test optional colleges in the US go to www.fairtest.org. there are about 850 colleges and universities that are test optional.

Different study methods

  • Best to invest in some sort of prep especially when you child is going to spend 4 grueling hours on a test.

Different prep methods

  • Learn from a bookPros: Inexpensive and convenient, go at your own pace. Can do with a study group or with a tutor. Cons: It can be boring and if the student doesn’t understand the material this can be very frustrating for the student.
  • Learn from a class – very popular. Kaplan, Princeton review, revolution prep, etc big chains. Pros: Can be in a large group or small group, cost can be between $400 and $700, natural study groups form and there is usually some sort of a high score guarantee. Cons: Everyone goes at the same pace so the slower learners get lost and the faster learners might become frustrated. Sometimes class times and locations aren’t convenient.
  • Learn onlinePros: Learn by video, convenient, students can learn at their own pace, perfect for the busy athlete, or theatre arts student, It’s always available it’s a student that never sleeps and also guarantees a high score. The costs range from $200-$500. Video integrated studying. Cons: Students get distracted or don’t have good time management skills.
  • EPREP – guarantees 1pt increase if you don’t get this you can retake the test free.
  • Learn from a tutorPros: One on one instruction, convenient, flexible costs 50-$150 and hour. Extremely effective. Cons: Priciest method. Not always very time flexible.
  • Lack of poor testing is usually the result of poor planning and being prepared which ultimately leads to poor performance.
  • For prepping – We recommend your student study an hour a day everyday for the 3 months going into the course. This doesn’t include practice tests. 
  • If you only have a month to study then you need to practice 3 hours a day. Prepping in a boot camp type study course for a weekend will really do nothing for you if you don’t know the material. So Practice!

How Do I Know if My SAT Score Is Good Enough For My Dream School?

Fortunately, most colleges publish their average SAT scores and GPAs of incoming freshman on their websites, so it is pretty easy to see where your score needs to be for your dream school. For most schools, you don’t need a perfect SAT score. Your target score should fall between the 50th and 75th percentile of scores for your chosen school.

Sometimes the overall SAT percentiles are misleading. Some schools will publish their overall SAT statistics, based on how they prioritize in state students. In state students scores are generally lower than out of state students. Also, different programs within certain schools have different requirements and averages.

Check with the schools you are considering for information on their average SAT scores as well as their GPA averages. Take a look at this list for averages for schools across the country. From here, you can determine what a good score is for you. If you aren’t sure about different score priorities, call the admissions officers at your school of choice or work with your counselor to find out.

Parents: It Doesn’t Matter What College Your Kids Attend

Good read from Psychology today. Our focus at CollegePrep Lab is finding the college that is the “BEST FIT” for a student and that doesn’t necessarily mean an elite college.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201812/parents-it-doesn-t-matter-what-college-your-kids-attend

With over 4000 schools in the US to choose from your student should be able to find a school or several schools they are comfortable and happy at. College is a time to grow and explore who they are and what they want their future to look like.

Last week my daughter asked me why I didn’t encourage her to pursue a more lucrative job market where she could make a “lot of money”. My answer to her was…”because I knew you wouldn’t be happy in that kind of job/environment”. She agreed but then said…”but it would help”. We had a laugh about it and then acknowledged that it would have probably been a miserable life for her. If you can love your job and make a decent living one where you aren’t struggling to make ends meet then it’s a win win.

There is so much pressure in the world today to be the “BEST”. At CollegePrep Lab we help students define what makes them great using a holistic approach, meaning we look at the whole student. There are many facets to a person. We explore those unique qualities that each and every student has and really work to hone in on them.

Your choices and decisions are never final. You can always make changes along the way but I would encourage you to really think about what you are passionate about, what gets you up in the morning, and pursue those ideas. Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes and if you are working 70 hours a week at a high pressure job you could just possibly miss the beautiful little things life has to offer. Be open to new ideas and uncommon possibilities you may never have thought of. Take a risk, step out and try something different, you may find you really like it!

Quick Turn Around Scholarships! YOU CAN DO IT!

Don’t let this FREE money slip through your fingertips! Do you need help writing your essay? We can help. Fill out the form below and we will be in touch.

NPG 2019 Scholarship

Attorney Ronald D. Weiss 2019 Scholarship

Albertson & Davidson, LLP 2019 Scholarship

The Terry Bryant Scholarships 2019

A Voice for Animals Contest

The 2019 National Chaffin Luhana Anti-Distracted Driving Scholarship Essay Contest

E-waste Scholarship

2019 Grasshopper Entrepreneur Scholarship

National Hazing Prevention Week 2019 Essay Competition

Sports Unlimited Scholarship

Ayn Rand Essay Contest

Unigo All About Education Scholarship

CARiD Scholarship Program

County Office Scholarships

25 SCHOLARSHIPS TO APPLY TO BY THE END OF MAY!

About CollegePrep Lab

We understand this is a crazy time of year for students but we want to encourage you to keep the momentum going. At CollegePrep Lab we would like to help you stay encouraged and stay motivated so we are sharing this FREE scholarship list with you. Good luck! and let us know if you are a recipient of one of these scholarships. We would love to hear about your success in securing money for college so please share your good news in the comments area at the end of this post!


Key to a Bright Future Scholarship

Award: $500

Deadline: April 30, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Current high school seniors on track to graduate with a minimum 3.0 GPA who intend to pursue a degree from a post-secondary educational institution
  • Any student currently enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution (either a two-year school with the intention of transferring to an accredited four-year college or university, or a four-year college or university

GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher


Riding into the Future Scholarship

Requires Essay

Award: $500

Deadline: May 2, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Any high school senior who is on track to graduate, and currently holds a minimum 3.0 GPA, who plans to pursue a post-secondary degree after graduation
  • Any student currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year post-secondary educational institution

GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher

Requires Essay


Comedy Defensive Driving Scholarship

Award: $1,000

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Open to students planning on or currently attending an accredited college, university or continuing education program

GPA Requirement: No requirement

Requires Advertisement 


The Advocates Scholarship

Award: $1,000

Deadline: May 15, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to incoming and current college students

GPA Requirement: No GPA Requirement

Requires Essay


Thomas L. Dickson Scholarship

Award: $1,000

Deadline: May 20, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to currently enrolled students in an accredited college in the United States or students planning to matriculate in the fall of 2018

GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement

Requires Video


Writing the Future Scholarship

Award: $500

Deadline: May 7, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA and current undergraduate students either attending or planning to transfer to a four-year university

GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher

Requires Essay


New Heights Scholarship

Award: $500

Deadline: May 29, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors on track to graduate and who plans to pursue a post-secondary degree
  • Any US resident student currently enrolled in a 2 or 4 year post-secondary educational institution

GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher

Requires Essay


Mometrix College Scholarships

Award: Up to $1,000

Deadline: May 15, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarships are open to current high school seniors through college juniors

GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement

Requires Essay


JASNA Scholarship

Amount: Up to $1,000

Deadline: June 3, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Contest is open to students world-wide who are enrolled in high school, college/university, or graduate school

GPA Requirement: No GPA Requirement

Requires Essay


B. Davis Scholarship

Award: $1,000

Deadline: May 24, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to high school juniors and seniors, as well as current college students

GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement

Requires Essay

Award: $1,000


2019 Bowties and Books Scholarship

Deadline: May 9, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Any U.S. resident high school senior who is on track to graduate, and currently holds a minimum 3.0 GPA, who plans to pursue a post-secondary degree after graduation
  • Any U.S. resident student currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year post-secondary educational institution

GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher

Requires Essay


Take Charge of Tomorrow Scholarship

Award: $500

Deadline: May 14, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Any U.S. resident high school senior who is on track to graduate, and currently holds a minimum 3.0 GPA, who plans to pursue a post-secondary degree after graduation
  • Any U.S. resident student currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year post-secondary educational institution

GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher

Requires Essay


Texts=Wrecks Scholarship

Award: $1,000

Deadline: May 16, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Any U.S. resident high school senior who is on track to graduate, and currently holds a minimum 3.0 GPA, who plans to pursue a post-secondary degree after graduation
  • Any U.S. resident student currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year post-secondary educational institution

GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher

Requires Essay


The Advocates Scholarship

Award: $1, 000

Deadline: May 30, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to incoming and current college students

GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement

Requires Video


AED Superstore College Scholarship

Award: $1,000

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and currently enrolled college students

GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement

Requires Essay


C.I.P. Scholarship

Award: $1, 000

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to students age 17 years of age and older who plan to start a program of higher education within the next 12 months or who are currently enrolled in a program of higher education

GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement

Requires Essay


Getting Real About Distracted Driving Scholarship

Award: $1,000

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to incoming and current college students

GPA Requirement: No GPA requirement

Requires designing an advertisement


Peck Law Firm Scholarship

Award: $2,000

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to any US citizen who will have graduated from high school before July 1, 2019

GPA Requirement: 3.0

Requires Essay


The Crandall & Pera Law Legal Scholarship

Award: $3,000

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to any student who has demonstrated an interest in a career as a trial lawyer.
  • Available to all pre-law, income and students currently enrolled, or who will be enrolled, at an accredited law school for the upcoming semester.

GPA Requirement: No requirement

Requires Essay 


Fifth Month Scholarship

Award: $1,500

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • 13 years of age or older
  • US citizen
  • Currently enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education

GPA Requirement: No requirement

Requires Essay 


2019 Law & Justice Scholarship

Award: $750

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • 13 years of age or older
  • US citizen
  • Currently enrolled in and plan to attend a college/university during 2019-2020 school year

GPA Requirement: 3.0

Requires Essay 


2019 Cottage Inn Scholarship

Award: Up to $2,500

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to students accepted into an accredited college or university in the United States who have at least a 3.0 GPA

GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher

Requires Essay


Rentacomputer Cares Scholarship

Award: Up to $1, 500

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to individuals who are currently attending or are planning on attending an accredited United States college or university during the fall 2018 semester

GPA Requirement: 2.5 or higher

Requires Essay


Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship

Award: Up to $2,000

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to high school juniors (Class of 2020) who reside anywhere in the United States and play for a high school team or club sport

GPA Requirement: 2.5 or higher

Requires Essay


Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC Scholarship

Award: $5,000

Deadline: May 31, 2019

Eligibility:

  • Scholarship is open to incoming and current college students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher

Requires Video


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Is College Worth It?

Operation Varsity Blues has a lot of people asking the question, is college really worth it? This scandal has left many people wondering what now…

I believe colleges aren’t going anywhere. Yes there is definitely a need to overhaul the college admissions system but unless you are a self directed learner and have the discipline that goes along with it then I think there will always be a need for College.

Colleges offer more than just academia. A college is also a place where students learn how to assimilate and collaborate. Students learn tolerance, compassion, how to live and cohabitate amongst a diverse population, how to advocate for themselves and other very valuable life lessons. One would argue that you don’t need to go to college to learn these lessons however one does need a means and fortitude to go out and find the resources to put these things in place for themselves. If you are an introvert you will not seek out these kinds of experiences. Going to college has a way of helping us step outside of our comfort zones. Again someone would argue that you don’t need to go to college for these experiences and yes college isn’t for everyone but it is for some.

There are some learned skills and experiences that you just can’t put a price on. I know in my daughter’s case, she led a pretty sheltered life in high school. She immersed herself in her studies and did very little socially with her friends. She played varsity soccer which was one of the only social outlets she had outside of school otherwise she preferred to stay home.

Going to college was a new start for her. She was eager to leave high school behind and set out on a new adventure. Reinvent her self so to speak. College was a vehicle in which she could let her walls down to discover who she really was. She used her college experience to try new things, travel, and join groups and organizations that you can only find on a college campus.

In college my daughter still worked very hard carrying an average of 18-21 credits a semester, this is just who she is. At college, she was able to continue to develop her strong work ethic and self-determination something that to this day continues to serve her well at her job. Employers know and recognize these strong, ethical traits and like these qualities in their employees.

There are many kinds of students and a learning style that works for one student will not always work for the another. I would argue that unless you are highly motivated and have laser focus you will probably do just fine teaching yourself with online courses, however, there is something to be said about being accountable to your professors and classmates. The thing about professors is if you don’t care, they won’t care. They aren’t going to hunt you down and make you come to class. Going to class every day takes a great deal of self-discipline which is another admirable trait. Employers will expect you to be at your job every day. College was not designed to get people jobs, it was designed to prepare people for the job market.

The “ART” of the Audition

Auditions

There is a lot at stake during the audition phase of your college application but just try to relax, you will do great! Here are some tips, tricks and food for thought you might find helpful:

Many schools also require that applicants send a pre-screening recording that gets evaluated by faculty before live audition invitations are made. Check your preferred schools for the requirements in your area, and start rehearsing.

  • For Music Students:
  • For best results, try to mentally prepare so your nerves don’t interfere
  • Let your true self come out in your music. Convey meaning through your performance
  • What do you want to convey to the world through your music? Share this message with the faculty panel and let them hear it in your music.
  • Don’t aim for unattainable perfection
  • Get our of your practice room often. Performing frequently in front of teachers, friends, family, etc will help you become more comfortable in front of an audience.
  • Consider taking private lessons. You should have several years of private lessons if your desire is to audition for a conservatory. You should also have some experience performing in high-level ensembles.
  • Choose a repertoire that shows your strengths.

Making the Most of Your Audition:

  • Generally an audition will last 15-20 minutes. (time may vary based on the instrument)
  • Remember, your audition begins before you enter the room.
  • Dress appropriately and arrive well-rested
  • Prepare your music in a binder so it is clean and organized for the accompanist
  • If the opportunity presents itself, rehearse before the audition. Don’t worry if can’t, you will have time to run through your music.
  • Plan ahead – decide which piece you would like to start the audition with
  • Enter the audition space with confidence and a smile
  • Playing a few notes to tune will help you relax before you begin. Doing this will lead to a stronger audition
  • Allow yourself to participate fully in the experience
  • Settle into your audition space, get into the right frame of mind, take 10 seconds to ground yourself. Faculty wants to hear you communicate with confidence and musicality.
  • Good preparation is key!

Students in Musical Theatre and Acting

Not all theatre schools require an audition, but among the ones that do, many require that students not only apply to the school in general, but also to the individual theatre department. You need to make sure you have completed your audition successfully before you act on the school’s acceptance.

Colleges look at student with a wide range of experience and skills. Know yourself and the person you are. Yes, your coach, teacher or parent will have an idea of who that person should be but this is your time, and ultimately you will be the one doing the work, wherever you go to school so relax, take your time, and bring your best work.

Making the Most of Your Audition:

  • Students are required to upload pre-screening materials. Every college will have their own requirements so carefully check their website for details
  • Students who’s pre-screen materials pass, you will be asked to schedule an audition. One example of college audition might look like this: At the audition, students take part in a warm-up with two or more faculty, a vocal warm-up and then a 30-minute master class/workshop with faculty, usually consisting of movement work, games and partnering exercises.
  • Find age-appropriate roles
  • Choose material that you love
  • One of your pieces should be with an imaginary partner
  • Choose contrasting material that shows some range
  • Know your audition material well – Rehearse until that character feels like it has become a part of you
  • Pay attention to your volume. Screaming is never a good thing
  • Trust yourself, you are enough
  • Choose your material wisely. Profanity or sexually charged language isn’t always appropriate
  • Dress appropriately for your material
  • Enjoy telling the story
  • Be knowledgeable about the program to which you are applying – Do your research
  • Be yourself – They want to get to know you the person and you the artist through your audition

How to stand out on a college application

Hundreds of applications come cross the desks of admissions officers every year. What can you do to help them remember you?

The key to your success is, be prepared to tell your true and authentic story. What makes you, you? Admissions officers are interested to hear about yours successes and how you overcame your failures. They are eager to learn how you plan to make a difference both on and off campus.

Pay Extra Attention to the Application Instructions

  • Allow plenty of time to complete your application
  • Review and double-check every question
  • Don’t exceed the maximum word counts on essays and short answers. Only include extra materials if asked to do so

Capture Their Attention With Your Personal Story

Start with an opening sentence that is unexpected and raises a question in your readers mind. This will capture their attention and make you more memorable. A good place to start is by writing about a specific moments in your life and how it affected you.

Don’t Generalize or Quote Inaccurate Facts

  • Application readers are really turned off when an applicant uses the wrong college name or incorrect college facts in his application. (again, attention to detail)
  • Don’t be vague or generalize when answering the short answers, instead be specific tell them what it is about their college that you really like
  • For example, you could mention how their college offers programs you haven’t been able to find at other colleges or there is a certain class/professor you want
  • Get your facts straight
  • Cookie-cutter application don’t cut it

Demonstrated Interest is a Big Deal!

  • Make a point of visiting the campus
  • Set up an appointment to meet your college representatives
  • Make special appointments with professors and department heads
  • Talk to student leaders
  • Be sure to researched the college’s website in depth that way you can discuss topics that directly correlate to your major or the college. This will show the admissions advisor that you have done your homework!

Show The College You Are Commitment

Apply early. If you are pretty confident that “College A” is one of your top choices, early action decision will put your application at the front of the line. If you’ve exhausted your research for potential colleges and know that without a doubt “College B” is the school for you, then you should apply early decision. Keep in mind this is a binding contract so once you commit to College B, you will have to retract any verbal early action commitment you may have made with another college.

Other Ways to Stand Out

  • Get letters of recommendation from people who really knows your character, work ethic, commitment and dedication.
  • Assess your academic strength. Could you improve in any area, how are your standardized test scores? Could you take the test again and do better? Are you challenging yourself in your high schools classes with AP courses, are you taking a foreign language? (some colleges and universities require 3-4 years of foreign language).
  • Include a resume of your accomplishments. Just be sure the college accepts resumes with applications.
  • Manage your online self. This is super important. If necessary “Clean up” anything on social media that could be questionable. A good barometer would be to ask yourself, Would I be OK if my grandmother saw my Facebook, or Instagram accounts? Make sure the college sees the person you want them to know.

National College Fair 2019 Schedule

Are you going? Use the link below to register today!

Metro Detroit National College Fair

West Michigan National College Fair

STEMCOLLEGE AND CAREER FAIRS

Giving College-Bound Students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics the opportunity to interact with Admission Representatives from a wide-range of Postsecondary Institutions to explore the college admissions process; and connect with Industry Partners to learn about STEM Careers and internships. Plan to Attend one of these FREE Fairs Today!

Atlanta STEM College and Career Fair

New York City STEM College and Career Fair

Casting a wider college net may bring some unexpected results

Choosing schools you never heard of is a good place to start. I challenge you to put a few schools on your list that you would have never dreamed of applying to. That includes both reach and safe schools. Some wonderful schools can be found in the book Colleges that Change Lives.

When my daughter was applying to college in 2014 for whatever reason there were some schools that weren’t even on her radar. Of course, she applied to her dream school but she also applied to schools that excited her and had the major and extracurricular things she was looking for.

She did campus visits at the colleges she was applying to, to see if she could see herself there. Some schools checked all her boxes and met all her criteria and yes, some didn’t. She had her list narrowed down to 2 schools and was pretty much decided when a family member suggested she apply to “just one more school.” My daughter wasn’t convinced she would get in but applied anyway. This last minute school turned out to be the school she attended.

My point for telling you this story is to illustrate that your dream school may not be the school you end up at, my daughters wasn’t. Also, a dream school doesn’t necessarily mean an “Ivy”. Maybe your dream school is a small college in a rural area because you love nature and intimate settings and relationships with friends.

It is important to ask yourself, “am I choosing this school for it’s prestige and status or because I want my parents to be proud of me, or is it that you need their approval? Or are you choosing the college because you truly love it there? Or do you feel comfortable and at home on campus and that you see yourself fitting right in?

Life has a way of presenting options to us and sometimes those options are the course we must travel. I see the recent college scandal Operation Varsity Blues as a sign for students to explore their options and be open to whatever path they are destined to follow. It may be your dream school or it may not just know whichever one you choose it will be the right one for you.