Interactive Classes for Students

Studies have shown that participating in extracurricular activities can improve everything from academic performance, self-esteem, time management, focus and creativity. More importantly though, after school activities are just plain fun!  But just as the pandemic has changed the way that we work and socialize, it has also changed the way in which we learn — whether it be academically, socially, creatively, or even athletically. Outschool has more than 100,000 interactive online classes and camps designed to keep students from ages 3 — 18 engaged with the topics that they're most passionate about, even if they're learning from home. With courses in everything from game design to animation to baking, there's sure to be something for you or your teen to learn.   Over 100,000 Interactive Online Classes Keep kids ages 3-18 engaged with thousands of classes and camps on the topics they're most passionate about! OUTSCHOOL 👈

University of Georgia Visits Westfield on 9/1

The UGA representative will be at Westfield on Wednesday, September 1st in the recital hall during 1st period to meet with interested seniors.  Seniors must pre-register by August 30th.

UGA Registration Link👈

SAT vs ACT: The differences, the timelines, and the expectations of colleges-August 31st

 

	SAT vs ACT: The differences, the timelines, and the expectations of colleges
	Aug 31 (Tue) 8:00pm EDT / 5:00pm PDT Duration: 1h 00m
	Join Applerouth Tutoring to learn about the SAT and ACT, as well as up-to-the-minute updates on the test administrations. Come learn about the main differences between the two tests, how to decide which one is better for your child, when to take them, how much to prepare for them, and more. Hear about how your child's strengths can favor one test or the other. Learn about what college admissions officers expect from students and what you need to plan for. Registration

Preparing for College Applications for Juniors

College admissions is an ever-evolving process, and there is more to know today than ever about helping your child navigate their future. To help you get started, WeAdmit invites you to attend our free webinar, where you'll learn everything from how to plan a summer schedule to how to manage financial aid, high school courses, exam prep, and more. Both parents and students are welcome to join!

Webinar URL link will be sent out after you complete the registration.

*By signing up, you acknowledge that you will receive promotional emails and phone calls regarding WeAdmit offerings. You will opt-out if you no longer need such promotions.
Registration

Common Questions about Test-Optional Admissions from Jed Applerouth

 

Answers to Common Questions about Test-Optional Admissions

by Jed Applerouth, PhD and Ginger Fay on August 18, 2021

   

Helpful Answers and Advice for College Applicants.

To help families make sense of the ‘new normal’ that is test-optional admissions, we offer answers to the (many!) questions we have been hearing about Test Optional admissions and how students can best use these policies to their advantage during this admissions cycle.

“I heard the tests are optional this year.”

Let’s start with a bit of clarification – taking the SAT or ACT has always been optional for students unless it is required by their state for graduation. In the past, when a student opted not to take the tests, they were also opting out of applying to most of the selective colleges and universities in the United States, since those schools typically required standardized testing as part of their application process. As a result of the testing challenges fueled by the ongoing global pandemic, more than two-thirds of colleges in the US have at least temporarily dropped their testing requirements for admission. Under these policies, students have the option to withhold test scores that may not boost their chances for admission. 

However, strong test scores can strengthen an application and heighten one’s chances of securing merit-based financial aid at select colleges. Just as students have long had the choice to submit or withhold AP and IB scores, which are not required for admission, students now have the similar choice of whether to submit or withhold SAT and ACT scores. Typically, it is in a student’s best interest to try the tests and see whether their scores could be an asset in the application process. Applerouth offers free practice tests almost every weekend to help students determine if the tests may play a role in their college search and application process.

“So what does test optional mean then?”

A test-optional policy simply means that a college will consider an application complete and review it, even if the student has not submitted SAT or ACT scores. (As noted above, before the pandemic, most selective colleges previously required SAT or ACT scores for the application to be considered complete.) Test optional means you, the student, can choose whether or not to include your test scores as part of your application to a test-optional school, much like how you’ll choose which extracurriculars to list in your application. It also means that the college will receive some applications with scores and some without. For applications with test scores, the college will review the scores as part of the admissions decision. 

The National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) invited member institutions to sign a pledge that their test-optional policy really meant that testing was optional and to date, over 550 schools have done so. 

“What about test blind or test flexible?”

For the coming admissions cycle, a small number of colleges, under 50, have elected to go test blind (also known as test free or score free), which means that even if scores are submitted, they will not be considered as part of the application review. Twenty colleges and universities have adopted this position permanently and another twenty or so have engaged in pilot programs to evaluate the outcomes before making a long-term decision.

Test flexible means that the college offers an alternate admissions path to students. Students can opt out of submitting scores if their grades are above a certain threshold or they can submit some combination of other standardized test scores (like results from AP Exams) and/or writing samples in lieu of submitting the SAT or ACT.

“Will submitting test scores help or hurt my chance of admission?”

Like so many things in the college application process, the answer is, ‘it depends.’ There are some colleges where your scores will make you a stand-out applicant, perhaps even eligible for a merit scholarship, and there are other colleges where your scores might be a detriment to your application. A good rule of thumb is that if your test scores fall at or above the school’s pre-pandemic middle 50% range, your scores won’t hurt your application and in many cases can help demonstrate that you are prepared for the challenges that await in college. Colleges individually will determine how much weight they place on testing and other factors in the application.

For those looking for quantitative data regarding any test-submission advantage, unfortunately, this data is extremely hard to come by. Colleges do not have to report this information. Educational researcher and author, Jeff Selingo, reported the following data from his discussions with admissions officers. It is clear that some colleges admitted test score submitters and non-submitters at differential rates in 2021.

It’s important not to make too many assumptions from this data. The schools on this list were reading applications without test scores for the very first time, and it complicated matters that many students had fewer opportunities to test during the pandemic. Additionally, the group of score submitters and non-submitters were not a perfectly matched sample, and may have had other factors influencing their differential admit rates. 

To add a level of nuance to this data, Jeff Selingo reported that some colleges have been putting more emphasis on test scores for students applying to STEM and business programs. So while test scores may factor in less for an aspiring general education major, they may loom larger for an aspiring engineer. 

“Is it worth prepping for the SAT or ACT if the schools I am applying to are all test optional?”

Again, it depends. If your scores on a practice test are within striking distance of scores that would be compelling to some of your top choices, then it is probably worth your time and effort to try and improve your scores through focused preparation. This investment may pay meaningful dividends in your application process. However, if your scores are a long way away from being competitive at your target and reach schools, then you are probably better off putting that time and energy into other parts of your application, like your GPA, commitment to extracurricular activities, or your essays. In the end, almost every part of a student’s application is optional – including even applying in the first place! Test-optional admissions policies put students firmly in the driver’s seat, so take the wheel and steer yourself where you want to go.

---

Want to learn more about what test optional means for students? 

Join Dr. Jed Applerouth and former Duke University Admissions Officer Ginger Fay for a candid hour of answers to your most pressing questions about What Test Optional Means for You next Wednesday, August 25 at 8pm Eastern. Register here.

Kennesaw State University Open House- Saturday, September 18

 

Hooty Hoo, You and your students are invited to attend Kennesaw State University's Open House! Open House offers students the opportunity to learn more about their major and about their desired field of study. They will also receive information on Admissions Requirements and Financial Aid. Students will also have the chance to hear from current KSU students. In addition, be sure to experience a complimentary lunch in our award-winning University Dining, (for up to three visitors), along with the opportunity to participate in a walking tour of the campus and see a model room in one of our residence halls. If your students are interested in pursuing a major in a STEM field such as Architecture, Engineering, Game Design, Computer Science, Physics, Math, etc., we encourage them to attend the Marietta Campus Open House. If your students are interested in pursuing a major in Art, Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Human Services, Biology, etc., please have them sign up to attend the Kennesaw Campus Open House. Please encourage them to view a comprehensive list of majors offered on the Kennesaw and Marietta Campuses to see which Open House option would be the best fit for them.

Sign Up

We can't wait to see you soon at Open House! Hooty Hoo and Go Owls!

Upcoming Virtual College Information for Emory, Notre Dame, John Hopkins, & Washington University

 

General Student Information Session

Sunday, Aug. 29
4:00 - 5:00 pm EDT
RSVP for Aug. 29

International Student Information Session
Thursday, Sept. 2
8:00 - 9:00 am EDT
RSVP for Sept. 2

General Student Information Session
Thursday, Sept. 2
7:00 - 8:00 pm EDT
RSVP for Sept. 2

RSVPs are required to receive the Zoom link.

Each admission officer will share about their institution for a few minutes before responding to live and pre-submitted questions.

We look forward to sharing with you and your students very soon.

Sincerely,

Emory University
Johns Hopkins University
University of Notre Dame
Washington University in St. Louis

School Day SAT/ACT for Westfield

Westfield will be offering school day opportunities to take the SAT and the ACT in October. To take the test, you need to do the following two things:

1.    Respond in writing (signed – this sheet) or in email (chowe@westfieldschool.org) to Mr. Craig Howe by Wednesday, August 25

a.    The deadline for submitting and ordering mandates that this is a firm deadline – no one will be registered after Wednesday, August 25

2.    Agree to charge account either or both of the following test fees:

a.    SAT $55

b.    ACT $51.50

 

The ACT will be given October 5

The SAT will be given October 28

US Merchant Marine Student Meeting

 

Below is information regarding a Q&A session for students interested in attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), one of the five federal service academies that include West Point, Annapolis, Air Force, and Coast Guard academies.   Date: August 31, 2021 Time: 6 p.m. ET Who: All interested students and guidance counselors What: Virtual question and answer session with some of our outstanding Midshipmen. This will be the perfect opportunity to learn about the admissions process and what it’s really like to attend USMMA.   To register for the session, please use the following link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAscOqtrTMuHtLSOJygP9rbEUjJ8NU4PuGh   After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.   Federal Service Academies are not for everyone but we encourage those students looking to serve their country and accept a demanding academic schedule to apply. Like all federal service academies, there is no application fee for USMMA.   Our rigorous four-year academic program is highlighted by the Academy’s Sea Year experience. Through this unique program, every student gains real-world leadership experience working aboard commercial ships sailing to ports around the world during three academic terms. Our students pursue a degree in one of five majors offered through two Academic Departments: Marine Engineering and Marine Transportation. Students receive full tuition, room and board, and books at no cost.   Graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy earn a Bachelor of Science degree, a U.S. Coast Guard license, and a commission in the United States Armed Forces. Our graduates have an option to work as ship’s officers in the United States maritime industry or serve as commissioned officers on active duty in any branch of service.   More information about the Academy can be found here.

What’s the Ideal Timeline for Taking the SAT or ACT?

 

Written by CollegeVine

For best results, we recommend the following timelines. You can follow the one for the SAT, the ACT, or combine the two until you identify which test format works best for you.

 

The SAT Preparation Timeline

 

1. Take the PSAT 8/9 in your freshman year and the PSAT 10 as a sophomore to get used to standardized testing.

 

2. In the summer before your junior year, take a practice SAT to learn your baseline score. This test can be something you administer yourself at home, or you can attend a formal practice test at a prep center (Princeton Review offers free, proctored paper-and-pencil practice tests).

 

3. Study to take the official SAT for the first time in the fall of your junior year. This usually means an October or November test date.

 

4. Sit for the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior. If possible, aim to complete your SAT preparation before the PSAT/NMSQT test date to increase your chances of qualifying for a National Merit Scholarship.

 

5. If you’re not happy with your first score, study to take the SAT again your junior spring.

 

6. If your score still needs some work, prepare to take the SAT one final time in late summer/early fall of your senior year.

 

The ACT Preparation Timeline

 

1. Take the PreACT in your sophomore year to get used to standardized testing.

 

2. In the summer before your junior year, take a practice ACT to learn your baseline score. This test can be something you administer yourself at home, or you can attend a formal practice test at a prep center (Princeton Review offers free, proctored paper-and-pencil practice tests).

 

3. Study to take the official ACT for the first time in the fall of your junior year. This usually means an October or November test date.

 

4. Sit for the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior if you want to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. You should do some PSAT specific studying if you’re aiming for National Merit status, as the PSAT is different in structure and content from the ACT.

 

5. If you’re not happy with your first score, study to take the ACT again your junior spring.

 

6. If your score still needs some work, prepare to take the ACT one final time in the summer before your senior year.

 

Only take the SAT or ACT in your senior year if you are sure your score will increase substantially. Typically, we recommend finishing up your testing before then just because this time tends to be busy with other college application tasks.

 

Remember that these are just guidelines. If you have extenuating circumstances, when to take the SAT or ACT could be a little different for you. It may make sense for you to skip some of these steps or move your timeline around a bit. For example, if you have substantial commitments your junior year, consider taking your exam at the very end of sophomore year. Or, if you take an SAT practice test and discover it’s not for you, try the ACT instead.

 

Whatever approach you take, we strongly recommend against sitting for the SAT or ACT more than three times. You are unlikely to see substantial increases in your score after three attempts.

 

Last Tip: Recognize that studying for the SAT or ACT is a serious commitment. The more focused you are during your preparation the first time around, the less likely you are to have to take it a second or third time. You save a lot of time and stress in the long run by setting aside two or three months and studying intensively up front. For more tips on how to build the best prep schedule, check out 10 Tips to Prepare for the SAT and What Parents Need to Know about SAT and ACT Studying Prep. 

 

Is There Such a Thing As Taking the SAT or ACT Too Late?

 

There IS actually such a thing as taking the SAT or ACT too early. When to take the SAT or ACT is due to a couple of different factors.

 

It’s important for you to become very familiar with the content of these standardized tests, and your high school curriculum will cover it over the course of all four years. So, if you take the SAT or ACT early in your high school years, you are missing out on a lot of prep that your peers will get in class.

 

Additionally, admissions officers tend to not like seeing students take the tests too many times. In general, the greatest score increases are between your first and second test. Just because you take the test seven times, it doesn’t mean your score will continue to get higher. We recommend that in general, three test administrations is the most you should take.

 

Instead of starting to take the SAT or ACT extra early, we recommend that you get the ball rolling by taking the PSAT or PreACT in your sophomore year. This way, you have some background on these standardized tests before you actually take your first one.

 

Then, the summer before your junior year, study for the real SAT or ACT, so you can take the test in the fall. This will give you ample time to retake the test in the spring or summer, if needed, and help you avoid having to test during college applications season in the fall of your senior year.

 

If you want to aim for National Merit Semifinalist status, granted to the top 1% scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT, you should factor in studying for the PSAT the summer before your junior year. This will in turn help you study for the SAT. For more on the PSAT, check out our posts What Does My PSAT Score Mean? and How to Qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

 

Is There Such a Thing As Taking the SAT or ACT Too Late?

 

Sorry to break it to you, but if you came to this post as a senior looking for reassurance about not taking your tests yet, you came to the wrong post. There absolutely IS such a thing as taking your tests too late, and if you haven’t taken them yet and your senior year is well underway, you’re late to the game. That being said, there’s still time to register for December test dates and if you prepare well and apply regular decision, you just might sneak out a victory.  

 

If you’re planning for the future, though, first and foremost you need to consider application and scholarship deadlines in advance. Keep in mind that some schools even request that you don’t apply until you’ve taken your tests. Even if you have time before these deadlines, if you wait until the last possible test administration date, you won’t have the chance to retake them. This would be a loss since most students experience the greatest increase in scores between the first and second test administration, mostly due to a decrease in stress, better preparation, or more familiarity with the test.

 

In general, if you are applying Early Decision, you need to plan on taking your final round of standardized tests no later than the October or November administration deadlines during your senior year of high school. In 2020-21, these test dates are October 24, 2020, for the ACT and November 7, 2020, for the SAT. If you are applying Regular Decision, your application deadline is likely December or January, with your final chance for an SAT test is December 5, 2020, and for an ACT exam is December 12, 2020. 

 

Preparing for the SAT? Download our free guide with our top 8 tips for mastering the SAT.

 

To learn more about the SAT and ACT, check out these CollegeVine posts:

• ACT vs SAT/SAT Subject Tests
• What’s a Good SAT Score?
• PSAT to SAT Score Conversion: Predict Your Score
• ACT Score Range: What is a good ACT score? A bad ACT score?

 

NACAC Virtual College Tours

 

NACAC Virtual College Fairs August 29 - November 14 NACAC is offering eight virtual college fairs for students this fall: August 29, 2021: Signature College Fair 12:00 - 5:00 pm CDT September 12, 2021: Signature College Fair 12:00 - 5:00 pm CDT September 28, 2021: Northeastern U.S. College Fair 3:00 - 7:00 pm CDT October 3, 2021: Signature College Fair 12:00 - 5:00 pm CDT October 14, 2021: Midwest U.S. College Fair 4:00 - 8:00 pm CDT October 24, 2021: Signature College Fair 12:00 - 5:00 pm CDT November 2, 2021: Arts and STEM College Fair 3:00 - 7:00 pm CDT        November 14, 2021: Signature College Fair 12:00 - 5:00 pm CDT Students and parents can sign up at virtualcollegefairs.org.

Apply Early to College -- Should I?

 

From CollegeData.com

Applying early to college under an early decision or early action plan offers advantages as well as drawbacks. Here are some things to consider.

How early should you apply for college? At some schools, the answer is simply "anytime before the deadline." But at other schools, students have the option to submit their applications much earlier. These students usually receive their admissions decisions before winter break, and they might even have a better chance of getting in, depending on the college.

But applying early isn't the best decision for all students. Here's what you need to know about early admission and how to decide if it's the right plan for you.

THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF EARLY ADMISSION

Colleges may offer one or more different types of early admission:

Early Decision (ED) is binding. If you are accepted—and you get enough aid—you must attend the college and withdraw all other applications. You may apply early decision to only one college.

Early Action (EA) is not binding. You are usually free to apply to other colleges and you are not obligated to attend if accepted.

Restrictive Early Action (REA) is also not binding. You will usually have until May 1 to make a decision. However, you will not be able to apply early (ED, EA or REA) to any other college.

WHEN IS EARLY ADMISSION FOR COLLEGES?

Regardless of the type of early admission plan you're applying under, you will have to start the application process a few months earlier than most applicants and complete your standardized tests no later than October. Generally, colleges set early admission deadlines in November and December, but some colleges have deadlines as early as mid-October. It's not uncommon for colleges to offer two early decision or early action deadlines a few weeks apart. 

DOES APPLYING EARLY BOOST YOUR CHANCES?

Applying early, especially for an early decision, shows the college you are interested. It may also increase your odds of getting accepted -- if the early admission rates at the college are significantly higher than regular decision admission rates. While it's possible that applying early decision will increase your chances, remember that many highly qualified and recruited students will be in your application pool. Also keep in mind that how competitive the pool is will vary by school.

WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL DOWNSIDES OF APPLYING EARLY?

Early rejections can lead to hastily completed regular applications. You might be tempted to delay work on regular admission applications until you've heard from your "early" colleges. But if you do, you'll scramble to meet admission deadlines, and risk submitting less-than-stellar applications. 

An early application might lead to a deferral. One outcome of applying early is being deferred to the regular application pool. The college is not saying "no," but it is looking for more reasons to say "yes." If this happens, your best strategy is to work hard to earn top grades throughout your senior year and show your interest to the admissions office.

THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING EARLY DECISION.

The most restrictive early admission plan is early decision. If you apply under early decision and you are admitted, you must attend that college and withdraw all other applications. There is only one exception: If the school does not meet your financial aid need, you are free to decline admission and apply to other colleges.

At some colleges, early decision acceptance rates are higher than regular decision acceptance rates. The admission boost may be worth it if you are absolutely positive that you would attend the school if admitted. If you're not sure, applying for a binding early decision can be a mistake. If getting substantial financial aid is critical, you might be better off applying regular decision so you can compare and negotiate aid offers before choosing a college.

QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU APPLY EARLY TO COLLEGE.

If you are thinking of applying early—either early decision, early action, or restrictive early action—ask yourself these four questions and discuss them with your parents, high school guidance counselors, or college prep advisors:

1. Am I happy with my grades and test scores? If not, you may be better off using the fall semester to improve them and applying during the regular admissions cycle.
2. Do I really know what I want in a college? Have you thoroughly researched the colleges on your list? If you were accepted under an early decision program, could you commit to the school without any doubts? If not, consider not applying early and dedicate more time to finding out what you really want in a college.
3. Do I need substantial financial aid? If so, you may be better off skipping an early decision application so you can compare and negotiate aid offers from multiple colleges.
4. Am I applying early to "just get it over with"? No doubt about it, an early acceptance can relieve some of your application stress. But there's a big payoff to taking the time to put together a well-researched list of colleges and weathering the stress of applying to each one. Your reward is ending up at a college where you know you will thrive.