Posts Tagged ‘ACT’

Should You Take The SAT or ACT Again? Things To Consider.

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
Student taking SAT

Should you take the SAT again?

If you took the SAT or ACT last spring in preparation for applying to college, you should have your scores back by now. How did you do? Are you wondering if you should take the tests again?

If you’re unhappy with your score and think you could do better, the answer is probably yes. But if you did well, it might not be necessary. Here are some things to think about as you decide whether or not to take the SAT or ACT again.

Are you willing and able to put in the time and effort to study for the SAT and ACT?

Before you make the commitment to take the SAT or ACT again, think about how much time you’re willing to put into studying for  them. After all, if you’re going to do it again, you should do everything in your power to ensure you get a better result!

Fortunately, practicing for the SAT is easier than ever. The College Board offers practice tests, daily emails and even an online course. You can also practice for the ACT using an eBook, practice questions or an online test prep course. How you study is up to you.

How do the colleges you’re applying to treat the SAT and ACT?

Although the majority of colleges and universities require the SAT or ACT, some rely on the scores more heavily than others. It pays to see what the average scores are for students who have already been admitted to your first and second choice colleges. If your SAT scores are safely in range, you might be better off concentrating on other areas to round out your college applications.

Is taking the SAT or ACT again the best use of your time?

Let’s face it. Not everyone is a great test taker. Colleges and universities realize this. So if you know that test taking just isn’t your thing, you might want to let your first scores stand. Focus on things you do well instead—whether that’s taking AP courses, participating in extracurricular activities, or even working at a part-time job.

There’s more than one route to acceptance at your first choice college. So before you hit register on the SAT or ACT site, take the time to think about the best way for you to get there.

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Photo courtesy of Beautiful Faces of Palestine.

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Posted in College Admissions, Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test | 2 Comments »

When Should I Visit a College?

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Good for you! You’ve figured out that seeing a college in person is a really good idea. Now the only question that may be on your mind might be when you should actually start physically looking at colleges? This depends a lot on your future plans but, as always, My College Guide has a few tips for you to keep in mind as you think about making the college campus visit!

When is the right time to make the college campus visit?

linkway88

Up and At ‘Em! – Do you have a lot of colleges on your list? Don’t wait! Even Sophomores can benefit from visiting colleges. If a school doesn’t feel like the right college fit for you, you can cross it off of your list.

On the other hand, if a school is a maybe, you can always revisit later when you know whether you are a good academic match and if it still feels “right” as your high school career draws to a close. Starting to make visits during your Sophomore year can help you get through more schools if you aren’t really sure what you want or if you want too much!

SAT or ACT Scores – After you receive your standardized test scores, you can be a lot more proactive about the college visit process. You will know what colleges and universities generally take students that have an academic background that is comparable to your own. That doesn’t mean you are guaranteed a spot, but at least you have some way of figuring out your reach and safety schools and can adjust the schools you were considering visiting to fit this new knowledge!

Money Matters – It’s not cheap to visit a college. Your parents may need to take off from work, there may be traveling involved, and depending how far it is, possibly an overnight stay somewhere, too. By getting started early, you can spread out the financial burden of visiting multiple colleges and universities. Not only that, you have more time to fit in those schools that you really want to see—without doing a lot of last-minute cramming!

Don’t visit a school just to visit a school. Do a little background research before you visit a college first to make sure it has the programs and majors you think you might be interested in. You should have some idea as to whether or not you are an academic fit so you don’t waste your time visiting a bunch of reach schools and never check out schools where you have a better chance of becoming admitted!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus | 1 Comment »

Before You Make The College Campus Visit: 4 Things to Know

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

Traveling isn’t exactly cheap so before you sign up for a bunch of different college campus tours, you might want to do a little research first! There are a few things that you should keep in mind when determining whether or not a college is the one for you – and while you should try to keep a variety in there, just in case you have a change of heart, you should make sure that you have a few on your “must visit” list that fit the bill!

Knowing what you want in a college can go a long way in ensuring college success!

Mr. Ducke / Matt

Location – It might seem strange for someone to accept an offer of college admission without knowing the location, but it’s happened on more than one occasion. Just because a college is in New York doesn’t mean it’s in or right next to bustling New York City, and just because a college is located in the Midwest doesn’t mean it’s teeny tiny or small town. Find out more about the area you are thinking about calling “home” to see if it fits in with your style. Don’t base your college decision on your Aunt’s neighbor’s son’s college experience. See for yourself – after you do the research.

Selectivity – If you take a look at your SAT or ACT test scores: how do they compare to incoming students? Does your GPA match up to the admission requirements? Look at the whole picture. See if there’s anything else mentioned (a year of foreign language, etc.) that is required and also lacking in your application. Don’t waste time visiting 10 hyper-selective schools when the numbers don’t match up. It’s okay to apply to one or two (we call those reach schools) but be realistic. Spend your time on college applications and visits that you can actually get into.

Majors and Minors – While you might be absolutely positive right now about your intended major, once you actually dig in and take a few classes, you may realize it isn’t the right fit for you. Instead, think about a few things that interest you – and then check to see if the related majors are even offered. This tiny bit of future planning could save you an un-needed college visit or a college transfer down the line!

Tuition and Financial Aid – How well does your intended college handle financial aid for its students? Is it hard to come by? Of course, you should fill out the FAFSA but it’s important to know how your school specifically handles aid. For example, if you are a low income student, will your college work with you? Do they have no loans packages? If you don’t qualify for need-based aid, are there merit scholarships available? If several colleges on your list aren’t known for assisting students that match your characteristics, you may want to think about replacing them with colleges that do.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, College Transfer, Financial Aid, Paying for College, Scholarships | 2 Comments »

What is the ACT Test?

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

When it comes to standardized testing – you’ve probably got questions! You might have been wondering, “What is the ACT?” and “What does ‘ACT’ stand for?” Never fear, My College Guide has the answers! Read on to find out more about the ACT college entrance exam and why you may want to sign up to take the ACT!

Sharpen those pencils! The ACT is coming to a town near you!

KTVee / Krissy

What is the ACT?
“ACT” once stood for American College Testing and is a standardized test. As you may remember from The SAT Reasoning Test and You article, a standardized test is one in which the conditions that you take the test are the same as someone else taking the test who lives eight states away.

Introduced in 1959, the ACT quickly grew. Just a year later, students all over the country had the option of taking the ACT, and now some states, like Illinois, Kentucky, Wyoming, and Colorado are required by the state to take the ACT as a condition of graduation!

Why Should You Consider the ACT?
So, why take the ACT? At some colleges (and even states), the ACT is actually a requirement. But for those that leave that decision up to you, this standardized test could play more to your strengths! The ACT college entrance exam structure is content or curriculum-based. This test aims to check the knowledge that you have retained over your high school years. The ACT is composed of four sections: English, math, reading, and science with an optional writing section.

The ACT and #2 pencils go hand in hand.

david.nikonvscanon / David Blaikie

When Should You Take the ACT?
You probably want to take the ACT twice, once in the Spring of your Junior year and again in the Fall of your Senior year. As we discovered from test prep professionals, just taking the test a second time and knowing what to expect can give your score a boost! According to the ACT website, 55% (of test-takers) increased their composite score on the retest. So — that may be something you want to keep in mind!

How Long Does the ACT Take to Complete?
It will take you just over four hours to complete the 215 questions on the four basic sections of the ACT, but plan on an extra half an hour if  you decide to take the optional writing section too. Just don’t forget to bring your #2 pencil!

How is the ACT Scored?
The composite test score ranges from 1 to 36, and the sub-score ranges from 1 to 18. An average score for the ACT is around a 20 or 21.

Let’s say you earned a Composite score of 30 on the ACT. According to the ACT website, a 30 shows that your score nationally ranked 96%, which means that 96% of the high school graduates who took the ACT received a Composite ACT score of 30 or below. Less than one percent of students achieve a 36 – the national average is a score of 21.

A ready supply of #2 pencils for the ACT test!

david.nikonvscanon / David Blaikie

How Many Colleges can Officially Receive the ACT score at one time?
The ACT will let you choose up to four colleges maximum where you can have your official ACT scores sent. Some colleges, like Yale University, require that they receive at least one official result from ACT in order to successfully file the Yale Common Application but you are still expected to report any other scores you receive.

While all four year colleges accept the ACT, should you choose to take it, each college weighs your score differently. They are going to look at your GPA, your class rank, your extracurricular activity, leadership roles, personal statement (or essay), and then some! The standardized test isn’t your ticket in – it’s just another tool to aid you in getting in! Want to read more on the ACT? Check out the My College Guide Admissions Guru past ACT questions.

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Posted in Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test | No Comments »