5 Things All College-Bound Juniors Need To Do Right Now

I remember being a junior in high school. I know I needed to keep my grades up if I wanted to be able to hang out with my friends, just because those were the rules of my parent's house.

Things other than academics tend to be more important in the mind of a 16-year-old. Things that seemed to matter was, “who is dating who”, video games, and sub-woofers so loud i’m fortunate that I didn’t lose my hearing.

I wish I had some guidance when I was that age - my parents would tell me to get good grades - which I did and graduated at the top of my class. They didn’t know about college applications, and neither did I - so, I filled out the common app for UC schools, was admitted into all of them and chose UCLA, due to proximity. I wish I had explored other options, other states, or even other countries. My lack of knowledge, and lack of motivation to acquire that knowledge pigeon-holed me to end up at UCLA, albeit a great school, but right in my own backyard. I never had the proper guidance to see what else was out there.

Now that I’m old and wise, I can be one of those people who try to steer students in the right direction moving forward. Let me give high school juniors 5 tips that will increase your likelihood of a successful, happy life.

1. Take a rigorous course load

If you feel that your regular chemistry class is easy, and you have an A, ask to be moved to honors or AP chemistry. Same with Calculus, Physics, History, English, and any other classes available that are AP or Honors. Rigor of schedule is the number one factor universities look at when determining to admit you into their schools. Don’t take the easy way out - if it’s too easy, why are you there? The harder, the better. You will learn more and excel past your peers - this is what “success” is anyway, right?

2. Maintain a High GPA

Now your schedule is rigorous - great! Colleges want to see what you can perform well in those classes against the smartest students in the school. If you can show them A’s in the hardest classes at the schools, you’re going to be at a huge advantage when applying to your schools of choice.

3. Create a College Choice List

Choosing the college that is your best fit can be overwhelming - there are so many great schools, but it’ s important to identify one that meets your academic, financial and social needs. When deciding what school you want to apply to think of a few things:

1. Do you want to be close to your family? (In-State School)

2. What kind of weather do you like?

3. How much money is set aside for your 4-years of college tuition?

4. What type of career are you interested in pursuing post-college?

5. Do you like big, medium, or small classes?

6. Do you want to be on a diverse campus or surrounded by people with similar cultural backgrounds?

7. Do you have any special need or are accommodations needed?

8. What is your GPA, SAT Score, or ACT Score?

These are just a few questions you want to ask yourself before making a college list of schools to apply to. When you come up with answers for this, contact us to set up a free consultation with a college admissions consultant, and figure out a list of 5-10 schools that are perfect for you to apply to. A few reach schools and a safety school will be in there as well.

4. Do community service related to your career goals

When you go to college - it’s a community. The college wants the entire student body to enjoy their experience, so they want people there who positively contribute to that society as a whole. 

Today’s students are perceived as selfish by admissions personnel - students are absorbed in their iPhones, twitter, instagram, and constantly doing other narcissistic activities. Many students have forgotten about the society around them which is an unattractive quality to university admissions personnel. Colleges want to admit students who are aware of the world around them and want to contribute to society in a positive way.

One way to gain an advantage when trying to get admitted into the university of your choice is to do unpaid community service related to the career goal that you have. This will show universities that you have a passion for something, are pursuing it now for free because of your love for it, and it is giving back to the community in a way where you are positively contributing to the culture of your community. 

5. Begin preparation for your SAT and ACT

First off, you should know that universities throughout the country will accept either the SAT or ACT, so you don’t need to do both (unless you are applying for the ivy league schools). You will want to determine which test is right for you by taking a full-length practice test for each, comparing the results, and deciding which test to focus on from there. Also, these practice tests will help identify your weaknesses and strengths so you know specifically what to study during your preparation for the test.

Most juniors take the test for the first time in February (ACT) or March (SAT). Proactive students will take it for the first time in December (SAT or ACT). In order to access our free, full-length diagnostic tests, click SAT or ACT. Once you complete the test, you will get a full-length score report with detailed analysis within 1-business day.

Once you’ve made an informed decision on what test you will prepare for, you will want to purchase or rent some study materials. You can study on your own, have a 1-on-1 SAT tutor work with you, or you can attend an SAT or ACT class (full-length or weekend boot camp). We have options for classes all over the country, and for the most part, I teach them personally. If you want more information on upcoming classes click here. 

So juniors, follow my advice and you will have success now and give yourself an opportunity to continue to succeed after you complete college work. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at marc@triedandtruetutoring.com. Thanks for reading!

Major Changes Coming to the SAT in 2016 - Will Affect Current Freshmen Students

Is your son or daughter currently a high school freshman?  Have you heard the headline news about changes to the SAT?  Changes to the SAT will directly impact the way your son or daughter gets into college.

Yesterday, March 5th 2014, the College Board announced some radical changes to the SAT that will take place starting in the Spring of 2016.  Sorry current high school Juniors and Sophomores, these changes won’t affect you.  You will have to take the test before the arrival of this new SAT format.

So what is changing?

1.  Students will not be penalized for incorrect answers. 

Currently, students lose 1/4 of a point for every multiple choice answer that they mark incorrectly.  As a result of this point deduction, we teach students to eliminate answers before making guesses.  We also teach students to assess the difficulty level of a question before attempting a guess. Although effective on the current SAT format, on the new SAT, students will want to attempt a guess on every question. Interestingly, this is exactly the way scoring works on the SAT’s main rival, the ACT.

2.  The essay will become optional. 

Currently, the essay is mandatory.  It accounts for 30% of the Writing score.  

There are three sections on the current SAT format:

1. Critical Reading
2. Math
3. Writing

The Current Writing section includes two elements:

• The essay - 30% of the score
• Multiple choice grammar questions, which make up the other 70% of the score

This essay will no longer be required for students to complete. It might be "recommended" to be completed by many universities (especially top-tier schools), but this remains to be seen. It seems as though it will be a similar format to what the ACT does, and even though the essay is "optional", many schools "recommend" a student completes it.

The redesigned SAT will have two sections:

1. Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing 
2. Math

As well as an optional essay which will provide a separate score. Traditionally the SAT had always had a maximum score of 1600.  Since 2005, when the Writing section was added, it has had a maximum score of 2400.  Now that the test is returning to a two section format, it will once-again have a maximum score of 1600.

The essay itself will also change dramatically.  On the current SAT, students have 25-minutes to write a paper based on their studies, experiences, and observations.  As a results students are encouraged to create false examples to prove their points.

The new essay will be 50-minutes long. Students will be required to “analyze evidence and explain how an author builds an argument to persuade an audience.”  Students will be graded on the quality of their writing and analysis.  In this manner the SAT essay will be more like the Document Based Questions from an AP exam.  AP exams, by the way, are also designed and administered by the College Board.

Interestingly, this optional essay format is also a hallmark of the ACT.

3. The vocabulary will become less esoteric, meaning students won’t be tested on words like esoteric. 

What does esoteric mean?  Not widely known.  For years students have spent countless hours learning rarely used vocabulary.  On the new SAT, vocabulary questions “will focus on words that students will use consistently in college and beyond.” Once again, there are some similarities with the ACT.  Success on the ACT English and Reading sections does require vocabulary knowledge, but the ACT does’t really directly test vocabulary knowledge.  

4. The test will be offered in a digital format.

The new SAT will be offered both on paper and in a digital format.  For years grad school admissions tests like the GRE have been offered digitally, but the SAT and ACT have not.

Yet again, the ACT had announced last year that starting in 2016 it would offer a digital format for its test.

Over the last few years the ACT, for decades the less popular test, has overtaken the SAT as the most widely taken college admissions test.  High Schools and Colleges like it because they feel it more closely reflects high school curriculum than the SAT.  These changes to the SAT are most likely a reaction to that. 

This, however, is where the SAT/ACT similarity stops.  These next several changes are entirely unique to the SAT.

5. Math sections will cover fewer topics.

The new math sections will focus on three areas: 

1. Problem solving and analysis
2. The heart of algebra; 
3. Passport to advanced math.”  

Loosely translated this means it will focus on reading charts and graphs, linear equations, and functions.  In many ways these are the hardest elements on the current SAT math sections, so the math might get harder.

This is also very different from the ACT, which currently tests far more math topics than the SAT does.  As of 2016, the SAT will be testing even fewer of these topics.

6. Students will be required to use evidence in their answers.

Some of the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing questions will require students “to cite a specific part of the passage to support their answer choice.”

The SAT is changing, but it remans a test, and like any test, you can prepare for it and succeed.  At Tried & True Tutoring we will be closely following every College Board announcement so that we can continue to create curriculum and develop programs that will help you beat the SAT, no matter what the format.  

Truth: The SAT & ACT Will Soon Become Obsolete

The SAT exam and the ACT exam are the primary tests that universities look to in order to determine which students are "college ready" and therefore are qualified for admittance. I understand, as a business owner, institutions need ways to swiftly sift through hundreds of applications to narrow the choices to the select few, or the "qualified" ones. The proprietors of the SAT and ACT claim that they have an exam that provides a direct correlation: The higher the score, the higher probability for success at the college level.

However, many researchers have contested that very assertion. One researcher, Joyce Walsh-Portillo from FIU in Miami, conducted a study in 2011 titled, "The Role of Emotional Intelligence in College Student's Success" found that overall higher Emotional Intelligence play a more significant role in College Success than Logical Intelligence.

SAT and ACT exams test mostly reading, writing, and math, topics that most students "learn" in high-school. What these test-makers and universities fail to realize, is more is learned in high school than what is ever "taught" by teachers in the classroom. What about social skills, problem-solving, initiative, and self-management? These are all skills which are components of Emotional Intelligence, and these skills have a significant impact on the success of a college student.

When someone finally creates an assessment that tests student's Emotional Intelligence along with their Logical (academic) Intelligence, and markets it correctly to the universities, the SAT and ACT will become obsolete. Also, the creator the new exam will become a millionaire one-hundred times over. I can't say it is something I haven't thought about. However, I am not an expert test-writer...yet.

For now, we have the SAT and ACT, so this is what we have to prepare for. Tried & True Tutoring has become well-known for having the best SAT prep program, and best ACT prep program available. Individualized, customized, and free assessments available through our website. In order to access our free resources, e-mail or call us.

If you are preparing for the SAT or ACT (in March, April, May, or June), make sure to have the proper guidance. At least take advantage of our free diagnostic exams - you will thank me later!