3 Tips to Keep Students from Falling Behind this Summer

Everyone knows that the SAT/ACT can play a role in a student’s chances of getting into college, but how much importance should we put on these tests? According to a recent study of 740 high school counselors by Arizona State University MBA graduates, it is the second most important factor for a high school student looking to get into a top college behind preparing early and not waiting till it’s too late to apply or bring up their GPA.

The survey asked the question, “What do you feel is a senior’s biggest obstacle to getting into top college programs or obtaining a scholarship?” and the number one answer (22% of counselors’ response) was”Lack of initiative or starting too late in the process” and the second highest response (15% of counselors’ response) was “Poor standardized testing or GPA,” spotlighting the importance of these tests. In fact, John Baylor, President/Founder of John Baylor Test Prep, commented, “studies show that cost is the number one reason that students drop out of college, and the best way to decrease the cost of college is with higher test scores.”

So what can a high school student do this summer to keep from falling behind and be successful on the SAT or ACT?

• Study, Prepare, and Take the SAT/ACT Seriously:  It is amazing how many students don’t take the SAT/ACT test serious enough or have the misconception that you “can’t” study for either one.  Based on your budget, there are a ton of different options to prepare for the SAT/ACT. You can purchase books on Amazon starting at $15, or if your willing to spend a little more, you can take courses online at your pace starting at $200 or work directly with a tutor 1-on-1 this summer for around $700.  As boring as studying for these tests can be, many of these resources cite significant improvement with a bit of studying and the online or 1-on-1 services often offer money back guarantees and/or free-trials if you do not see the desired results!
• Know the Numbers:  Research the colleges you are thinking of applying to and see the average score from their previously admitted classes. Many colleges publish this information online and will give you a realistic picture of the standardized test scores and GPA you will need to be able to be accepted to the college. If you’re looking to save time, visit the College Potential Calculator which is a database of admission statistics for over 3,600 Universities and approximately 2,000 scholarships. It calculates not only your potential to get into a University, but also let’s you know how much you will need to improve your GPA, SAT or ACT score over the summer to have greater than an 80% chance of being accepted.
• Your Cumulative GPA Matters:  Many colleges will make admissions decisions based on your coursework through junior year, but many other colleges will also admit students contingent on the successful completion of your senior year.  Additionally some colleges will recalculate GPA’s to see your “core” classes on a 4.0 scale.  You can find a list of high school core classes online here: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/33.html.  This means that you need to take your high school classes serious – freshmen year through senior year – and don’t just take fluff coursework like office assistant and bowling!  

The College Potential Calculator at WhatisAverage.com gives both students and their families the opportunity to understand where they stand based on their GPA and SAT/ACT scores, shedding light on what students should improve to be considered competitive for the institution of their choice.  Additionally, it provides an opportunity to understand if a school is out of their reach and provides alternatives that are within their reach.  In fact, you can allow the calculator to find your potential to get into up to 20 colleges at a time based on the cost of the college, location of the college, national rank of the college, or your best chances.