ACT and SAT scores will be more important than ever at Harvard

I hope you are enjoying the holidays! 

Have you heard the news that Harvard "dropped" the ACT and SAT?

It's not true. 

Media outlets are incentivized to get clicks, so they print misleading headlines like "Harvard drops SAT!"  Even though they know this isn't true. The first line of those articles reveals what Harvard is really doing -- they aren't changing anything. 

Here is the truth--

Harvard will remain test-optional until 2026. That means that ACT and SAT scores will very much help your application if you have them. 

Think of "test-optional" in the same way that taking AP classes or earning straight A's is optional -- they technically are not required, but they sure do help your applications! 

How do we know this? Because in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, 72% of students admitted to Harvard submitted ACT or SAT scores. 

In short, strong ACT and SAT scores helped students to stand out from the pack.

It is the same situation at the vast majority of selective colleges. 

This is where the opportunity lies for families who understand how admissions really works in a test-optional world. 

The reason ACT and SAT scores are more helpful than ever in the test-optional climate is that many students assume that test-optional means they don't need to prep for the ACT and SAT, or even take them at all. 

I get it. We've all been through a lot the past eighteen months and the last thing most students want to do is to prep for standardized tests. 

But if you want to maximize your chances of admission to selective colleges, you should opt-in to taking the ACT and SAT to show them that you meet their academic standards. 

The situation is extra confusing in California where the UC system has said they that they will no longer consider ACT and SAT scores due to a rash of discrimination lawsuits. 

Remember that the UC system is among a small minority of colleges that have made that choice. In fact, the Cal State system recently indicated that they will consider ACT and SAT scores when students submit them beginning next Fall.*

It's a lot to keep track of! But again, think of this lack of clarity as your opportunity. 

When many students are confused about testing, the students that pursue their goals for college with intent and the best information will enjoy an advantage. 

Bottom line: Current 11th and 10th graders who want to leap out from the pack when they apply to college should prep for the ACT and SAT. 

Test Prep Gurus offers two options to help students prepare for the ACT and the SAT

Great value! 

(Virtual Classroom)

Enjoy live classes to boost your ACT and SAT scores based on our unique Test Prep Gurus curriculum.  

Maximize your scores! 

(In-Person or Virtual)

Enjoy a customized curriculum and schedule designed around your specific needs to super-charge your scores.  

Test Prep Gurus offers two options to help students prepare for the ACT and the SAT

Test Prep Gurus offers two options to help students prepare for the ACT and the SAT

Great value! 

(Virtual Classroom)

Enjoy live classes to boost your ACT and SAT scores based on our unique Test Prep Gurus curriculum.  

Maximize your scores! 

(In-Person or Virtual)

Enjoy a customized curriculum and schedule designed around your specific needs to super-charge your scores.  

Georgia’s Public Universities Will Reinstate ACT / SAT Requirement and other Developments in College Admission Testing

1) The University of Georgia Will Require ACT and SAT scores in 2022 and Beyond:

The tests were dropped during the pandemic's height, but students applying for admission for the spring of 2022 and beyond will be required to submit ACT or SAT scores. Full Article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

2) Yale’s Data Shows Predictive Power of the ACT and SAT:

In a recent episode of the This American Life podcast, Jeremiah Quinlan, the head of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale, spoke about ACT and SAT scores at Yale:

 “It’s useful to have something that’s consistent among applicants, even when we’re aware of how limited and imperfect that metric can be, AKA the SAT or the ACT. It could be especially valuable since our internal research– we look at these things regularly– show that the tests are predictive of Yale performance above and beyond high school GPA.” 

3) Taking the ACT and SAT significantly helps a student’s chances of admission when applying to selective colleges:

Jeff Selingo, education reporter and author of Who Gets In and Why, shared some insights from his discussions with deans of admission on how test scores affect admission:

• Colgate: 68% of admitted students submitted an ACT or SAT score.

• Georgia Tech: 69% of admitted students submitted an ACT or SAT score.

• Emory: 66% of admitted students submitted an ACT or SAT score.

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 easy steps:

1) Complete free mock ACT and SAT exams.

(Learn where your student is scoring today and whether their current scores will help or hold back their applications to their first-choice colleges.)

2) Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

(ACT and SAT scores must be understood in their proper context, taking into account the specific tests, when they were taken, and how they stack up against your student’s goals for college.)

3) Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

(We work with students of all levels. Whether you’re shooting for a perfect score, simply want to be more comfortable with standardized exams, or anywhere in between, Test Prep Gurus is here to help you reach your goals.)

“There is nothing holding you back, but you…”

This is easily one of my all-time favorite Test Prep Gurus stories, from Alyssa at Santa Margarita High School---

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1) Complete a free mock ACT or SAT exam.

(Learn where your student is scoring today and whether their current scores will help or hold back their applications to their first-choice colleges.)

2) Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

(ACT and SAT scores must be understood in their proper context, taking into account the specific tests, when they were taken, and how they stack up against your student’s goals for college.)

3) Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your student’s goals for the future.

(We work with students of all levels. Whether you’re shooting for a perfect score, simply want to be more comfortable with standardized exams, or anywhere in between, Test Prep Gurus is here to help you reach your goals.)

Video: “Do SAT and ACT Exams Still Matter?”

Are you wondering whether or not your student needs to take an SAT or ACT? 

This video examines the latest trends in how colleges use the SAT and ACT when making admissions decisions. 

• Learn whether it makes sense for your student to take an SAT or ACT

• Build your knowledge to avoid mistakes in the college admissions process

• Prepare yourself for the future

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

'Secrets of the SAT', a test prep class

Test Prep Gurus CEO, Nick Standlea, is going to teach these classes!

College Board is scrapping SAT’s optional essay and subject tests

As expected, the College Board, maker of the SAT is officially dropping the optional essay-writing section of the SAT.

Original Article from Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sat-ending-essay-subject-tests/2021/01/19/ac82cdd8-574a-11eb-a817-e5e7f8a406d6_story.html

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

The Alternate Path to a National Merit Scholarship

If you are a Junior and you weren't able to take the PSAT this year due to school closures, there is still a way to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship! Not many people know about the alternate path to a National Merit Scholarship, so here is the breakdown—

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If you don’t know what a National Merit Scholarship is, please watch this video to learn more about the PSAT and the associated National Merit Scholarship competition.

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How the National Merit Scholarship Competition Works During a Normal Year:

Any 9th or 10th grader can take the PSAT/NMSQT, but only juniors can qualify to enter the National Merit Scholarship Competition.

Out of the roughly one-point-five-million students who take the PSAT each year, some 50,000 with the highest scores (calculated by doubling the sum of the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Test scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

• In September of 12th grade, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either Commended Students or Semifinalists.

• In February, approximately 15,000 Semifinalists are notified that they have advanced to Finalist standing.

• Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, NMSC notifies approximately 7,600 Finalists that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award. These accolades range from cash payments to one-time designations to renewable college scholarships.

• Special Scholarships — Every year some 1,100 National Merit Program participants, who are outstanding but not Finalists, are awarded Special Scholarships provided by corporations and business organizations. To be considered for a Special Scholarship, students must meet the sponsor's criteria and the entry requirements of the National Merit Scholarship Program. They also must submit an entry form to the sponsor organization.

The Alternate Path to a National Merit Scholarship:

2020 was clearly the strangest year in the history of competitive college admissions, and one of the many disruptions was that many students were unable to take the PSAT due to school closures.

But that doesn’t mean that they can’t win a National Merit Scholarship too!

Here is how the alternate path works—

There has long been an alternate path to National Merit Scholarships for students who miss the PSAT for sickness and emergencies (including school closures). The difference is that for the 2020-21 school year far more students than ever before qualify for the alternate path due to massive school closures across the country. On the alternate path, students can take a full-length official SAT and submit those scores in place of official PSAT scores.

The Steps—

1. Fill out this application by April 1, 2021.

2. Take a full SAT exam between August 2020–June 2021.

That’s it!

But please note that Alternate Entry is only for students who do not take the October 2020 PSAT or January 2021 PSAT. If you take either of those PSAT exams, then you are automatically enrolled in the competition and your PSAT score will determine if you qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

How Your SAT score translates into a PSAT National Merit Scholarship Score (Selection Index Score):

For those of you who really want to get into the weeds to understand how to calculate your National Merit Scholarship score from an SAT score, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will add the Reading, Writing, and Math scores, and multiply that number by 2. The new sum is your Selection Index Score, which is what they use to determine who qualifies for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

If you have questions about your specific situation, let us know!

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.