With so much emphasis on test scores as a factor of admissions, it is no wonder eager high school students are turning to test prep programs, both free and paid, to get a leg up on this portion of the admissions process. Testing programs are a multi billion dollar institution and students may spend thousands of dollars in resources and courses. But does this donate an unfair advantage to those who are more affluent? Research points to a small positive gain of about 30 points on the SAT (http://www.nacacnet.org/) as a result of test prep programs (so don't be fooled by companies claiming to increase your score by 300 points!). And many test programs are free. The internet is riddled with free programs. Local libraries frequently stock books on test preparation. So, unless the paid coaching is markedly better at obtaining those 30 points, throwing a lot of money at test prep may not be the best use of money and might be perceived as more of a luxury than a necessity. What cannot be disputed is that exposure to the test, simply getting familiar with the test layout and material as well as a testing environment, can help students. If anything, the psychological impact of being familiar and feeling prepared can lower anxiety which may increase performance. Also, or perhaps because of these reasons, students taking the test the second time tend to see a slight gain. I argue that it isn't so much about an advantage as a call to the purpose - and the product - of this whole testing thing. Research is starting to suggest that performance on the SAT is not a predictor of college success; rather it is more closely a predictor of freshman year grades, if anything. Why, then, is so much weight in the admissions process lent to this tool? Surely there is a better way to correlate with future college success? Examine the table below which shows 18 years of ACT data. Notice two trends: First, the number of students obtaining a perfect score on the test has gone up a whopping 19 times while the total number taking the test has only doubled. Similarly, the percentage of students with a perfect score, which used to be unheard of, has increased by a factor of 10. Assuming that the test hasn't become dramatically easier or our schools significantly better, we must attribute this to one thing: the effects of test prep programs. Since 1997, testing has certainly been a major factor in admissions, so the importance of the test has likely not increased (if anything, it is possible that the weight given to high test scores is diminishing when other factors of admission are also favorable).
Is the problem with the test? Some would say it should be coachable, just as teachers are there to teach students the curriculum, and better teachers can deliver more. No, perhaps it is in the institution itself. College admissions takes on such a competitive tone that anything considered a factor in admissions is going to be effected. We, educators/colleges, should keep in mind that students are more than just a sum of their scores, and that if these tests do not really predict college success, we need not emphasize them beyond many other components.
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"So, are you applying ED?" Every year in October, the acronyms start flying around and people feel uncomfortable. What is this ED and EA stuff? Should I be applying that way too? Is there an advantage? Let's start with the basics.
When you apply Early Decision, you apply to just one school with this method. You are free to apply to any other schools regular decision or early action. However, the idea with ED is that you are saying, "If XYZ schools accepts me, I am going. Bar none." The ED is binding, and if a student gets accepted to their ED school, they withdrawal all their other college applications and enroll with that school. Early Action, on the other hand, is much more flexible. A student can apply to a number of schools (in most cases) and receive an admissions decision much early than the regular date. They do not have to decide until May 1 as with regular admission. The acceptance is not binding. Now, to throw in another twist, there is this thing called Restrictive Early Action, or Single-Choice Early Action. This is an admissions plan that allows you to have a non-binding response to your application, like regular Early Action, but are limited to one school. Depending on the school, it may also prohibit you from applying ED elsewhere. Check out the info below to see what is good and bad about these programs. Is there a benefit? Admission rates are higher for EA compared to regular decision. However, before you get excited and start packing, remember that the applications for EA are typically far stronger than those during regular admission. In short, if you have a pretty good idea where you want to go to school, EA is a good thing. If you really need money as a factor in your decision, if you need time to get your grades/scores up, or you need time to explore more options, wait for regular admission. Early Decision Pros
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Info About ED ED Admit Rates Generally, I have been advised that the rule for most international students is to avoid ED. However, I think EA can be great for those motivated students who have all of their apps together early and are dead-set on applying to "the list." What I like about EA is once I get those students (parents) happy their Yale app is in, I can strategically go to work having the student explore some other options, ones they refused to consider with Yale on the line, but now that it is in, no harm in taking a look, you know, just to see what is out there. I would not recommend either of these to a student who is not a very strong applicant for the school's he/she is applying to. They are typically up against some of the strong students applying and may be discounted in a selective/highly selective school whereas during regular admission they may not be a low-end outlier. Funding for college is often among the top concerns for students and parents alike. Unfortunately, thousands of families fall pray to scams each year as they are prayed upon by con artists. With people so desperate for money, opportunities are ripe to take advantage. However, there are some key things you can do to avoid becoming the next victim of some of the most common scams.
Get ready for some new golden rules of scholarship hunting. 1. Nothing in this life comes free Never fall for a scholarship that asks for a fee, even a small one, for application/administration. Scholarship organizations want to give away money, not collect it from you. Never provide a credit card number, bank account information, or a social security number. Also be suspicious of any scholarship you win but did not apply for. There is plenty of competition out there, so legit companies are not lacking for suitable candidates. If you didn’t apply, you didn’t win. 2. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be suspect of a company willing to “do all the work” for you. Getting money takes work. Expect to have to do work. Another indicator of a scholarship that might be questionable is that it is open to all. Scholarships almost always have some sort of criteria, including, but not limited to: gender, race/ethnicity, grades, first generation college, major, community service, geographic location, etc. 3. There are no guarantees in life. When a company tells you that they can match you up with an award or at any point they guarantee you a scholarship, it is almost likely a scam. Similarly, be wary of those scholarships that solicit you. Scholarships are competitive and there are no certainties in you getting money, nor are many organizations wasting potential awards by blanketing the community. Some other red flags are the absence of certain things. If a scholarship has no phone number, be suspect. A number makes them easier to track down. Some fake scholarships also have no proof of past winners. Good organizations want people to hear about their award. (Note: presence of a previous winner isn't a guarantee either as fake candidates can be drawn up by anyone with minimal talent on a computer.) Promoting fraudulent advertising and fundraising is illegal. If you feel you are a victim of a scam, contact your counselor and/or financial aid office and go over it together. Reporting a scam can be done in a number of ways here. But it isn't all bad news. There is aid out there, even if it is sometimes hard to find. Always be in close contact with the financial aid office of your perspective universities. Check out the Financial Aid page and the Federal Financial Aid resources to get started. |
AuthorOlder blog posts were for the UCLA Ext course "Using the Internet for College Counseling" Archives
February 2023
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