Getting Ready for College
By Linda BilyLesson 4: Preparation, Dreams & Reality
What tests should be taken in high school? Are prep courses really necessary? Let's share our insights about the student's least favorite area - test taking. Then let's really get into the "nitty-gritty" and find out what tops the list as the most desirable aspects of a college for the all-important freshman-to-be and for the family left behind!
An Ounce of Preparation...
Test Prep
Most colleges in the United States require certain pre-admission tests, SATs or the SAT IIs or the ACT series of exams. The normal time frame is to take the PSAT (practice SAT exam) in junior year and the SAT in the spring of junior year or the fall of senior year. Many high schools encourage those students who excel academically to begin the process in sophomore year. If your child is not offered this option, I encourage you to meet with the guidance counselors to see if your child may take the PSAT as a sophomore (s/he can repeat the exam as a junior) and the SAT as a junior and then again (if necessary) as a senior. The SAT IIs are based on a specific subject area and are not required by most schools, but may be encouraged by schools which offer or require concentrations in those subjects.
Most of these exams are timed and are divided into verbal and mathematical skills. As with most things, the more practice the better. The verbal consists of vocabulary, analogies and reading comprehension. The math section consists of math problems, word problems, spatial relationships and logic selections. There are practice workbooks offered by several companies (included in Reference section). Some high schools offer a preparatory course geared to the SATs. It counts towards high school graduation credits and is a good source of practice. If your school does not offer a prep course, several outside tutoring services, and sometimes the local public library, offer the course at reasonable fees.
Most colleges, who do not offer open admission, require a combined score of about 1000. The more elite schools require scores ranging from 1200 to 1400. (The total score attainable is 1600: 800 on math, 800 on verbal). A student who takes the SATs for the first time and then repeats the test after workbook practice or a prep course may gain anywhere from 10-100 points. For students who do not do well on timed tests, 10 points can make a difference between admission and rejection. For other students, it can mean the difference between the #1 school of their choice and all others, or affect a potential scholarship.
Encourage your child to take the exams several times if needed, participate in a study group or prep course, use the workbooks at home. You can also aid the process by buying a daily calendar, such as “New Word for the Day” or “Math Facts”. Encourage your child to read. Discuss newspaper articles as a family, comment on the bestseller list. If your child is not an avid reader, buy some Cliff Notes (synopses of classic books) or Classic comic books (classics in an easy to read format with drawings)
Don’t despair if your child fares poorly on the first set of exams. The kids get unnerved; they might be ill; there might be a family crisis. Life is not dependent on the SATs – it just feels like that to a teen. Most teens who wish to attend college CAN. It might not be the school of choice, but where there is a will, there is a way. Many students begin their college careers at a two-year commuter school and later transfer to a larger or more specialized school of their choice.
If your child is eligible for honors classes or AP exams or college tie-in, by all means, try to have them participate. These courses and exams look good on the final high school transcript and can save you money (if college credit is granted) and save your child time and avoid basic college courses. Many schools which offer college tie-in courses, also offer admission to those students who pass their tie-in courses.
HIGH SCHOOL TENTATIVE TIMELINE
FRESHMAN YEAR
Courses
Activities
Free Finances
Responsibility
Casual Browsing
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Courses
Activities
Possible Awards
Maturity
Contact schools
Test preparation
Personal Finances
Summer programs
Practice tests
JUNIOR YEAR
Courses
Activities
Awards
Independence
Visit campuses
Test preparation
Advanced Placement
Work
Personal Finances
Applications
Tests
College Tie-ins
Scholarships
Financial Aid Forms
SENIOR YEAR
Courses
Activities
Awards
"THE MAIL"
Revisit schools
Tests
Advanced Placement
Work
Personal Finances
Cutting the Cord
Applications
College Tie-ins
Return to Work
Scholarships
Doctor Visits
Work-Study
Financial Aid Forms
Insurance/Tax Issues
Off Campus Job
Grants
The Bottom Line
This is also your homework assignment. Look at the timeline for the year your family is in. Cover each item and come up with ONE game plan for each section. Example: Freshman courses - Do you know what your child is studying? Is s/he on track for next year? When you have reviewed your family status for each sub-category, come up with ONE item that we didn't cover in this section that you think is important. Happy planning!
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