College Counseling and SAT/ACT Prep: Exploring Synergies
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Transcript of College Counseling and SAT/ACT Prep: Exploring Synergies
College Counseling & SAT/ACT
Prep: Exploring Synergies
Jay Rosner, The Princeton Review Foundation
Rachel Fried, Making Waves Traci Kirtley, College Possible
NPEA Conference, April 25, 2014 Copyright © 2014 Jay Rosner
Economic (Educa,onal) Inequality: The Majority of Public School Students in 17 States are Low-‐Income (2011)
Southern Educa,on Founda,on Study, 2013
Some SAT/ACT Questions to Start
� From students: Which test should I take? When? How many times? Should I do anything to prepare?
� From counselors: how do I best answer those questions? Should my school target one test? If so, which one?
� For participants: Which is the prevalent test in your area? What are your initial questions?
Princeton Review Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Advocacy: Test critic, ETS & Aff Act cases
Programs:
� High schools (KIPP, etc.) – work w/staff to change culture
� National & Regional Partnerships – Hispanic Scholarship Fund, UW Dallas, Cherokee Nation Foundation, etc.
� ACT & SAT (LSAT, GRE, GMAT & MCAT)
Big Picture SAT/ACT Concepts
For students, pro-active (aggressive), prepared
� SAT – guessing; ACT – speeded
For schools, energized environment
� Stamina for 3 - 3.75, role modeling
� Confidence, calm from preparation
Language is important for empowerment
� Discomfort (not anxiety, fear), test skew
Reduce stereotype threat
� High standards/ability, growth mindset
Alignment: What Should a “College Prep” High School Provide for Students?
ExtraCur
SAT/ACT
GPA(academics)
ExtraCur
SAT/ACT
GPA(academics)
4-‐Yr Sel. Col. Admissions: Applica,on “Weights”
Typical “College Prep” High School Expenditures
Average SAT (M + CR) Scores by Family Income and Race/Ethnicity (2001 Data)
Source: 2001 California SAT Report, The College Board
Number of SAT Takers, American Indians 10,677 (‘97), to 7,622 (‘01), to 9244 (‘11)
Source: College Board web site
0
200000
400000
600000
800000
2001 2011
Blacks Hispanics Am Ind Whites Asians
Number of ACT Takers, American Indians: 10,830 (‘99), 11,386 (‘01), to 14,970 (‘11)
Source: ACT Web Site
How Some Students See the SAT/ACT
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What Jay Tells Students: What Do the SAT/ACT Measure?
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For Students: Jay’s Opinion of What The SAT/ACT Measure
� How intelligent you are? No.
� How well you’ll do in college? No. (only helps somewhat in FY GPA)
� How good you are on SAT/ACT? YES !
If you have a high test score, it means that you’re good at the test.
� Can you improve your score? YES! Here’s what you need to do …
Presentation to Students: What is “Preparing Intensively?”
ACT/SAT Prep minimums (course or self-study):
� 1.5 - 2 hours per day, of high-quality practice …
building up to a few 3-3.75 hr/days in the week before the official test
� 5-6 days per week
� 5-6 weeks, right up to the official test
� 3-4 practice tests, spaced out properly.
Less risks a lower-than-your-best score. (SMUS)
What I say to HS students …
How Many Official SATs or ACTs Should A Student Plan To Take?
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How Many Times … ?
� How many times should you plan to take the
official SAT or ACT?
Once. Prep well, and get it right the first time.
But, have a fallback date planned, only if needed,
and it’s better if you don’t use it.
� Why not plan for 2, or 3, or more times?
Won’t the odds be better? Feeding the pig …
� More is not always better in this domain.
More is not always beJer …
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Suggestions for Counselors
� Pick the SAT or ACT, and a target test date
� Do a practice test (for stamina)
� Try to set up some test prep for the target test, get materials for other students
� One suggested goal: minimize the test prep you do, maximize its effectiveness
� Your ideas?