Your Go-To Guide for Test Prep and Planning

from Guide to College Admissions 2022

by TeenLife Media

BY CASEY LOALBO, INSPIRICA PROS

There’s absolutely, positively no doubt that the college process and all that comes along with it can feel overwhelming. The ever-changing landscape of higher education is intimidating. The goal of this guide is to simplify the standardized testing portion of the college admissions process by breaking it down into easy to follow steps.

1. DETERMINE WHICH TEST IS BEST FOR YOU.

As recently as 10 years ago, almost no one wondered if they should take the SAT or ACT. Instead, in some parts of the country, you took the ACT. In others, you took the SAT, and almost no one gave the issue a second thought. Now that both tests are much more widely available, students all over have access to either test. Still, it’s easy to feel like colleges might have a “favorite.” But we promise– colleges accept either test and do not prefer one over the other.

The best way to determine which test is best for you is to take a practice SAT and a practice ACT. Students should take practice tests under real-life testing conditions. We want you to be able to get a clear and accurate picture of which test is best for you, and that means taking real tests created by the makers of SAT and ACT. Once you’ve experienced taking both tests and once you’ve received your score reports, you’ll have a good idea of which test is best for you. »

2. REGISTER FOR A TEST DATE

Once you’ve decided which test you will take, it’s time to register for a test date. You can register for the SAT here and the ACT here. When choosing a date, be sure to give yourself enough time to prepare. Now is a great time to begin to familiarize yourself with the look, feel, and format of the test you will be taking. The SAT has 2 sections—Evidence- Based Reading and Writing (broken down into two subsections: Reading and Writing) and Math (55-minute calculator-optional section and 25-minute no-calculator section). The ACT has English, Reading, Math and Science as well as an optional writing test.

3. SET A GOAL SCORE

Your practice test results will give you a baseline score. From here, you’ll set a goal score. You should make sure your goal score is realistic given the time you have to prepare.

4. DEVELOP A PREPARATION PLAN

Once you’ve chosen a date to take the test and you’ve set a goal score, it’s time to develop a study schedule or “prep plan.” Depending on your score goal, you may decide that you need to study for 40 hours before the test. If you have 10 weeks until the test, you’ll want to dedicate 4 hours per week to studying.

5. DETERMINE THE BEST STUDY METHOD FOR YOU

Next, you’ll need to pinpoint exactly how you will study and prepare for the test. For some students, self-studying works well, but many students need a bit more structure. One-on-one tutoring is the best way to optimize your preparation and achieve your potential on the SAT or ACT.

6.REMEMBER: YOU CAN TAKE THE TEST

MULTIPLE TIMES

It’s important to give yourself an opportunity to take the SAT or ACT 2-3 times during your testing journey. Many students under-perform the first time they take the test, and if you’re prone to test anxiety, knowing that you only have one chance to do well will make that anxiety even worse.

Most schools "superscore" the SAT and a growing number super score the ACT. Superscoring means that schools will mix and match results from multiple test dates to give you the best overall score. So, for example, if you scored 640 Math and 550 Reading on one SAT and then scored 560 Math and 660 Reading on the next, your super score would be 640 Math and 660 Reading, and that’s the SAT score most schools would use when weighing your college application. The same is true for ACT scores.

7.KEEP DEADLINES IN MIND

Finally, you’ll want to take into account the Early Decision/ Early Action deadlines for the schools that you’re interested in applying to. Ideally, you want to give yourself the option to apply early to one or more schools. The latest qualifying test dates for the ACT and SAT are the October test dates of senior year in high school so this means you’ll want to be sure to get in all of your test-sittings prior to these deadlines.

With these seven tips in mind, you’re sure to get the score you want on that next standardized test!

30 STUDENT COMPETITIONS for High Schoolers

Competitions for High School Students

from Guide to College Admissions 2022

by TeenLife Media

30 STUDENT COMPETITIONS for High Schoolers

BY JOHNATHAN D. KINDALL

One of the best ways to make your high school resume stand out is to participate in and/or win a student competition. Contests, competitions and awards programs look great to college admissions officials, and they can also bring all sorts of other benefits like scholarships, trophies, recognition and cash prizes! For this reason, it's important to consider entering a few student competitions as you go through high school and prepare for your college application.

There are all sorts of competitions for high school students out there to explore. In fact, there's contests in art, writing, design, business, STEM and more. We've collected just a few of our favorites here, but, with all of those options, there's sure to be a student competition out there that matches your skills and interests.

Be sure and pay attention to the criteria and eligibility requirements of each student competition listed below. Many of them have deadlines that either vary by region or are quickly approaching. Some may have even already passed. However, since most of the competitions listed here are annual events, we’ve included them here for you to make note of in the upcoming years! Bookmark this page on our website for up to date information on student competitions near you.

ARTS COMPETITIONS

▸ Congressional Art Competition ▸ Cool Science Art Competition on

Extreme Weather

▸ Hong Kong Visual Arts Education Festival:

Mail Art Competition

▸ LEO Art Challenge ▸ National Poetry Month Poster Contest

for Students

▸ Reflections Arts Program: National PTA ▸ Ocean Awareness Contest ▸ Scholastic Art and Writing Awards ▸ YoungArts National Arts Competition

BUSINESS COMPETITIONS

▸ The Blue Ocean Entrepreneurship Competition ▸ Diamond Challenge for High School

Entrepreneurs

▸ High School Fed Challenge ▸ Wharton Global High School Investment

Competition STEM COMPETITIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

▸ 3M Young Scientist Challenge ▸ Clean Tech Competition ▸ Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge ▸ International BioGENEius Challenge ▸ International Space Settlement Design Competition ▸ Microsoft Imagine Cup ▸ Junior Science and Humanities Symposia

Competitions

▸ Math League Competitions ▸ MIT Think Scholars Program ▸ Regeneron Science Talent Search ▸ Space Settlement Contest ▸ spUN Student Debates at ISDC

WRITING COMPETITIONS

▸ Baen Fantasy Adventure Award ▸ Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Crown Awards

▸ The Emerson Prize ▸ Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest ▸ National Scholastic Press Association Awards

 

College Fair Event

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Time for you to win some scholarship money this summer! Lucky for you, Tallo has a $1,000 Scholarship that will be available during Tallo's 2022 College Fair of the Year taking place on August 3rd, 2022.

Why You Should Join: Attending is an entry to win Tallo’s $1,000 Ping Scholarship You will match and chat with top colleges like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the University of South Carolina, Iowa State University and dozens of others It's all virtual! You can join anytime after 8am EST Sign up takes less than 5 minutes on Ping by Tallo

High schoolers nationwide will be attending to meet two-year and four-year colleges and universities, and minority institutions from across the country.  Using Ping, you will have the chance to share your target degree programs, need for financial aid, geographic (state) preferences and more, so we can help make the best matches for you on August 3.  Join and become a part of virtual college fair history.    See you there! Ping by Tallo Team

Join Us

 

Seniors: What Should You Be Doing Now!

From Fast Web

The summer before your senior year of high school is an imperative time to accomplish tasks so that you’re prepared for the busy school year ahead. In fact, it’s a great time to gain a head start so that once the school year comes, you won’t be overwhelmed with the college admissions process. Trust us, before you know it, you'll be a graduating high school senior. In order to ensure you’re on the right track, here’s a list of what you should be focused on during the month of July:

1. College Essays

   Begin working on all of your college essays now so that once senior year rolls around, they’ll no longer be on your to-do list. Get an idea of what you’ll be asked on college applications by checking out the Common App or admissions requirements for schools that you’re interested in.
   In some cases, you may be able to use an essay that you submitted for a class in high school. Otherwise, you’ll be asked to craft something new, but these essays can be so generic that you can reuse – or adjust as necessary to fit a particular college or essay topic.

2. Test Prep

   If you want to catch the earliest test dates for the ACT and SAT, it’s time to start studying. This is especially necessary if you plan to apply early action/early decision. However, before you start your test prep, make sure the colleges you’re interested in are taking, or requiring, SAT and ACT test scores. In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, many colleges went test optional; and while some colleges are once more requiring test scores, others are still making them optional.
   Discuss the best testing options with your high school guidance counselor and be aware of the latest ACT and SAT testing dates.

3. Build Your Student Resume

   Finalize your college resume of activities including all of your participation, volunteer work, employment, clubs, and extracurricular activities. It’s also a good time go look for any gaps in your student resume. Are you missing volunteer experience? Taking note of it now will help you look for and commit to opportunities during the school year.

4. Letters of Recommendation Decisions

   Decide whom you will ask for letters of recommendation. Consider your teachers, coaches, and counselors. Ensure you also give them a copy of your student activities resume so that they’re aware of your activities and are able to reference them if necessary.

5. Letters of Recommendation Requests

   Fill out and submit letter of recommendation questionnaires if required by your school district, teachers, coaches, or counselors, in order for them to consider writing a letter of recommendation for you. Be sure they know details, like the colleges in the fall that you’re considering applying to, and any extracurricular activities you’re involved in. Also, now would be a great time to pick up thank you stationary. Sending out hand-written thank you notes to those that write you letters of recommendation is a one-of-a-kind gesture.

6. Build Your Experiences

   High school students should strive to stay active all summer, building your student resume with volunteer work, activities, job experience, internships, etc. There are still a few weeks of summer left, which is plenty of time for any of the above.

7. Job Shadowing

   Contact professionals who you would like to job shadow – it may help you decide on potential career options. Also, this could help you narrow down your list of potential colleges later in the year. You can put your job shadowing experience on your student resume or discuss your experience in a college essay. Job shadowing now will show ambition, commitment, and gumption.

8. Work on Your College Search

   High school graduation will happen sooner than you think; keep working on your college search by researching colleges to add to your potential colleges list. Get creative. Find fun ways to stay organized in your college search. Many students keep their information in one place that’s easy to get to, such as a folder or binder. You could also begin looking into Greek life at the colleges you’re interested in. Add notes about this aspect to your search notes. Do you know a college student that goes to a state university or college you’re searching? Consider reaching out to ask them about their experience as a student!

9. Show Interest

   Join mailing lists of your target colleges – it shows you are interested in the school, which looks great for potential admissions. Sign up for college admissions information from each school and create a folder with sections you can dedicate to your college prospects. Get an idea of what the universities require for test scores, types of extracurricular activities they offer, and how their admissions offices work. Helpful Tip: Add a few blank pages for notes before each university section/sleeve. Include a few sleeves for each college. As you receive admissions pieces, place them in their dedicated sleeve, and add simple notes on what you like or don't like. Doing this can help you target what aspects are most important to you in a college.

10. Social Media

    Plans to attend the university of your choice could come to a halt if you’re not reflecting your best self on your social media accounts. Clean up your accounts and profiles – you never know when college admissions officers may look at them!

11. Apply for Scholarships

    It’s important to remain diligent in your scholarship search. Continue the practice of applying for as many scholarships as you qualify for. Start by applying for one scholarship a week this year! This list of Scholarships for the Class of 2023 is a great place to start.

 

First Year Admission Criteria for UGA

 High School Grades

We make no bones about it: more than any other single factor, the grades that you earn in your high school courses play the most important role in determining your competitiveness for admission to UGA. Since there are so many different grading scales, not to mention weighting methodologies, we recalculate a GPA for every first-year applicant based only on academic courses taken in the five core academic areas (with the addition of AP Art and Music Theory courses). Using a standard 4.0 scale, we convert each grade earned according to the grading scale in use at your high school at the time the course was taken.

Additionally, if a weight is not already added to an individual grade, we raise by the equivalent of one letter grade (1) each grade earned in an AP or IB course. Unlike nationally- or internationally-normed AP and IB curricula, there is no standardized methodology for the designation of Honors courses. Consequently, it is UGA’s policy not to add any weight for Honors courses when recalculating a student’s GPA for admission. We do consider the number of Honors courses a student takes, however, when determining the rigor of his or her overall curriculum, including the availability of AP and IB courses.

Required High School Curriculum (RHSC)

Yes, according to University System of Georgia Policy, all first-year applicants must complete the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC), which consists of 17 academic units in English (4), Mathematics (4), Science (4), Social Studies (3), and Foreign Language (2). You can get all the essential details in The Georgia Board of Regents high school curriculum guide.

However, when it comes to being competitive, the real edge is in challenging coursework. If you’re going to commit to UGA, you need to pursue the most rigorous courses available in your high school that you can handle successfully. The number of courses taken beyond the minimum requirement of 17–not to mention those designated as advanced, Honors, gifted, AP/IB or dual enrollment–will be heavily considered in the admission process. In fact, in recent years, 98% of first-year students admitted to UGA pursued an honors or advanced level curriculum track.

 

Heads up from the admissions team: A challenging schedule will not counterbalance a non-competitive GPA, as your grades ultimately remain the single most important factor. Additionally, any grades of D or F on your transcript–especially in your junior or senior year–would be cause for concern on the part of our Admissions Committee and should be addressed in your application.

Standardized Tests 

For Spring/Summer/Fall 2022 and beyond, SAT/ACT scores will be required for First Year and Dual Enrollment applicants. Scores must be submitted electronically by the respective testing agency. UGA will not accept scores that appear on your high school transcript, nor will we consider paper reports. We receive electronic transmissions of ACT and SAT scores from the testing agencies on a weekly basis, and we will automatically update your application file with any new scores received by our application deadlines. Starting in 2017, UGA does not require the SAT or ACT essay, and we will not use these scores in our review.

There are many myths and misconceptions about standardized tests and how they are used in admission decisions. At UGA, the only minimum score requirements in place are the ones required by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia for admission to its research universities: that is, an SAT-EBRW of 480 and SAT-Math of 440, or subscores of 17 on both the English and Math sections of the ACT. If a student takes the SAT or ACT more than once, we will consider the best scores we receive for each section on either exam. While these scores are the minimum required by the Board of Regents, it is important to clarify that the typical profile of incoming students at UGA far exceeds these minimums. 

UGA superscores the SAT and ACT. For ACT, this means that we take the highest individual score of each of the four subsections of the test from all ACT tests you’ve taken and use that to calculate the highest composite. Our ACT Composite superscore formula looks like this: (Highest_ACT_English + Highest_ACT_Math + Highest_ACT_Reading + Highest_ACT_ScienceReasoning) / 4 = SuperScored_ACT_Composite. For the SAT, we choose your highest individual sub-score across all the times you’ve taken the SAT and select the highest Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score and add the highest Math section score to come up with the overall superscored total (Highest_SAT_EBRW + Highest_SAT_Math = SuperScored_SAT_Total).  When we report ACT test score information, we utilize the composite as listed above, but when reviewing your file for admission purposes we only focus on the ACT English and Math.

When reviewing your file, we use whichever English/EBRW or Math subscores (either SAT or ACT) are strongest overall. We do not mix scores between the tests, so we will not select highest SAT Math + highest ACT English to calculate a superscore. In short, it will not have any negative impact on your application if one of your tests doesn’t measure up to the standards you’ve set for yourself. We only use the scores that put you in the best light and represent your best effort among all the times you’ve taken the SAT or ACT. 

We do not have a preference between the ACT and SAT. In fact, we often recommend that students attempt each test at least once. Used in conjunction with a student’s grades and rigor of curriculum, both have proven equally reliable in predicting academic success at UGA, as is evident in UGA’s first-to-second year retention rate of 95%. 

 Please note: As with rigor of curriculum, a high score on the SAT or ACT will not compensate for a non-competitive GPA. Your record of three to three-and-a-half years’ worth of rigorous academic work in the classroom will be the primary focus of any admission decision. 

 Secondary School Report and Letters of Recommendation

All First-Year applicants should submit a secondary school report as well an optional letter of recommendation from a teacher. Counselors will complete the secondary school report online through the Common App, Coalition App, or through the link sent by the Office of Admissions. While we prefer electronic documents, counselors can complete a paper version of the NACAC secondary school report. A good letter of recommendation will be from a source who has seen you demonstrate and can vouch for your ability to complete rigorous academic coursework independently. Examples of this could be an AP or Honors teacher, or a teacher in your most challenging class. Less effective letters are vague and less focused on academic performance.

Think You’re “Bad” at Math? Think Again

by Sarah Fletcher on May 11, 2022

    

It’s really common for students to feel anxiety around math or to even feel that they’re flat out “bad” and the subject. In my experience, most of these students have much higher potential in math than they realize. Let’s bust some myths about learning math so you can move from anxiety to achievement.

Myth #1: Math is something you are either inherently good or bad at.

Society conditions many people to approach math with a fixed mindset, the idea that you are either good at it or bad at it and nothing you do can change that. However, mathematical ability is like any other skill. If you approach it with a growth mindset, you can improve!

This doesn’t mean that switching to a growth mindset will immediately make everything go smoothly. Many students have math anxiety to overcome and gaps in background knowledge to fill. 

Think of math as a muscle that you haven’t been using. Trying to go from a sedentary lifestyle to immediately running a 5k on your first day exercising is a recipe for frustration and injury. A math tutor, much like a personal trainer, can help you build your skills in a systematic way that allows you to accomplish things you may never have previously thought possible.

Myth #2: When math gets hard it’s a sign you’re doing it “wrong.”

I’m not claiming that math is or would be easy for everyone every time they are learning a new concept if only they come with the right mindset. Some people may find learning some parts of math easy, but my claim is that math can be worth working at even when it is hard. Even advanced mathematicians run into challenges and that’s actually part of the point – getting better at math is partially about getting better at (and comfortable with) problem-solving. 

When we train for a 5k, we’ll have days where our muscles hurt and the running is a challenge. That doesn’t mean we’re doing it wrong or that our efforts aren’t worthwhile.

As parents and educators it is important to find a balance when talking about math with our students. We want to acknowledge the challenge that the student is facing without giving the impression that math is inherently hard and not worth working at. Learning something new, learning to think in new ways, can be challenging! Learning to work through and overcome that challenge is itself a valuable skill. 

In these conversations, we also want to be cognizant that the challenge is different for every student and those with learning differences, such as dyscalculia or dysgraphia, will have unique hurdles in their journey. The message should never be “just work harder.” It should be “what’s getting in your way and what skills can you build or tools can you use to support your success?”

Myth #3: Math is all boring memorization and following formulaic processes.

Memorization has a place in math. Algebra is much easier if you can see a number like 56 and quickly recognize its factors (8 times 7). There are also formulas that come up often enough that it is helpful to memorize them, and you might be able to pass an algebra class by memorizing specific processes. 

However, as you or your student move farther in math, thinking of math as being all about memorization is limiting. Understanding where the rules, processes, and formulas come from helps when you are asked to apply or combine them in new ways to solve problems or model scenarios. It’s analogous to learning a foreign language. There’s definitely memorization involved as you learn the new vocabulary and grammar rules, but if you stick to formulaic sentences you are going to find it challenging to progress in the language.

As a side note, memorizing arithmetic facts doesn’t have to mean flashcards and timed drills. There are lots of games out there that give students the chance to practice solving arithmetic problems, and if you solve enough of them the memorization will start to happen naturally. 

Myth #4: My phone has a calculator and I always have it with me, so there’s no practical need for me to learn math. 

Your phone calculator (and various other apps) are absolutely great tools and I encourage using them. However, that doesn’t mean math skills are obsolete. Knowing what to type into your calculator and recognizing when to use a particular app are themselves math skills. 

It is useful to be comfortable enough with numbers that you can tell something has gone wrong when you think you’ve asked an app to calculate a 15% tip on a $25 meal and it tells you $0.37 or $6.75. 

The pythagorean theorem is useful in everything from designing knitting patterns to building construction projects to analyzing data in a neuroscience experiment. The logic and problem solving skills that math helps to develop are useful beyond answering questions in math or science class. 

Acknowledging the progress of technology is important and our current school system doesn’t always do so, but be careful not to swing too far the other direction. Developing math skills will help you and/or your student use the technology more effectively.

Myth #5: Being good at math means being able to solve the questions as fast as possible.

Admittedly, sometimes getting a good grade in a particular math class or a good score on a particular test can rely on how quickly you can do the problems. However, if you or your student are contemplating whether they are “good enough” at math to try a more challenging course option or consider a math intensive career, how fast you are is not a large factor. 

Succeeding at higher levels of math relies on persistence, creativity, and a willingness to engage with abstract ideas, not speed. Some students, particularly those with working memory challenges, may find it harder to learn their math facts and do well on timed tests. It’s important that these students don’t mistakenly believe that they can’t do well in higher math.

 

Dual Enrollment and Challenging Coursework for UGA Admissions

By David Graves

Every once in a while, the topic of dual enrollment (taking college classes while in high school) comes up on this blog. Every year, well over 1,500 of our freshman applicants will have some form of dual enrollment work, and most likely 700-900 freshmen will enroll with dual enrollment work. It ranges from 3 hours to 60+ hours of college work, from a variety of colleges, and a variety of courses taken. We are happy to work with students who have taken dual enrollment courses, and we look at this information when reviewing the rigor of an applicant’s schedule, as well as all of the dual enrollment details and grades during our file reading process.

The most important thing I always focus on is that the student (and parents) should sit down with their school counselor and chart out a path that will challenge the student to the best of their ability. Is that taking the IB program in their school, taking Honors and AP courses, a mix of AP and dual enrollment, or if there are no advanced courses at the high school, focus on dual enrollment, etc. If you want to prepare yourself for college, and especially a competitive college like UGA, then you want to come in prepared to to the work. I sat in on a program for 8th grade parents last month that helped prepare students to register for 9th grade classes, and this same thought was stated as well by the school officials. We know the challenges of Honors and Gifted courses early on, and of AP/IB courses in the later years, as well as dual enrollment. For some students, AP courses are readily available and allow them to remain in their school throughout the day, and are a great stepping stone to the challenge they will see in a college class. For others, their high school may have limited options in school, and a local college course is the best route. At UGA, I have seen several students who were beyond their HS’s capacity in the math and foreign language areas, and UGA was a great option to fill this need. But I will say again, the choice of courses needs to reside in the student’s hands, not in UGA’s. The only serious issue that I have seen with dual enrollment, especially if not taught on the college campus, is that a number of selective private colleges may not accept these courses as transfer work, but you would need to communicate with the colleges to which you are applying (or check their transfer equiv. charts).

Now, when UGA calculates a high school GPA, we can use the applicant’s dual enrollment grades if the grades show up on the high school transcript, which most do. When we calculate a GPA, we are trying to get the best understanding of the student’s core grades as possible, but we also want to have as fair a process as possible in our review. When we add weight to a student’s grades, it is only for AP or IB grades, as these course are nationally and internationally standardized through the College Board and IB programs guidance. While we certainly look at Honors/Gifted/Accelerated/Dual Enrollment courses in our review of a student’s rigorous schedule, these courses are not standardized within a county or state, much less internationally. I have seen dual enrollment courses that range from Ivy League colleges to 2 year technical schools, and I have seen such a wide range of Honors courses to know that there is no nationally standardized basis for the coursework (again this year I saw an Honors PE course on a transcript).

There have been a number of studies about students and challenging courses in high school (especially on AP courses), and the consensus is that a student is better prepared and has stronger college grades if they have taken advanced courses in high school. And the focus is generally not on the exam score of the course, but on the actual participation in challenging courses that has an impact on future grades.

So challenge yourself now in high school, and you will be better prepared for the future.

Go Dawgs!