by Melissa Brock | Jan 31, 2020 | Ask the admission office |
Why is college so expensive? We’re getting a wry chuckle out of that one. Every admission counselor hears it in every admission office at least 100 times per day.
No question about it, college tuition was cheaper in ye olden days. From the late 1980s to 2018, the cost of an undergraduate degree has risen by 213% at public schools and 129% at private schools, adjusted for inflation, according to Business Insider.
Here are four reasons the cost of college has climbed — there are more, but we tapped into just a few. We’ll also show you how to deal with these costs head-on.
1: State funding continues to slide.
State legislatures pull money away from higher education every year. In fact, they’ve spent less and less per student on higher education for the past three decades. Overall state funding for public two- and four-year colleges at the end of 2017 was nearly $9 billion below 2008, after adjusting for inflation, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Now, state funding doesn’t have anything to do with liberal arts colleges and other private colleges and universities. Private colleges don’t receive funds from state legislatures. They’re reliant on tuition and private contributions. This means tuition rates are generally higher.
2: College employees are expensive.
College students are taught and mentored by a lot of people who have college degrees themselves. This can include faculty members, administration and student life personnel (the people who run the residence halls). That means colleges and universities pay these individuals a larger salary compared to unskilled workers. This isn’t to say that colleges don’t pay unskilled workers — they may do that, too. The point is — it all costs money.
Plus, there are a lot of positions unique to higher education. We checked out a few job listings on higheredjobs.com:
- Senior coordinator, Male Success Initiative
- Engagement coordinator
- Retention specialist
- Printmaking instructional support manager
- Director of civic engagement
Huh. Interesting.
3. Student services are growing.
Student services spending reflects a growing demand for excellent career counseling, academic advising and campus mental health services. In fact, student services are among the fastest-growing spending categories at private institutions and selective public institutions.
Spending per student increased by more than 20 percent between 2003 and 2013, according to the American Institutes for Research.
4: There are no price controls.
Do you ever wonder what would happen if colleges were forced to reign it in? Colleges and universities charge a lot because they can — because there’s no regulated fee structure.
This gets into some political territory, which we’re not willing to go into, but the truth is that colleges aren’t incentivized to keep their prices down. In fact, some families believe that the higher-priced a school is, the more prestige it carries.
Colleges, in a mad dash to seem more appealing than those that are cheaper and “less desirable,” jack up their prices. (This is kind of a simplistic way of looking at it, but that’s the shorthand version of what happens.)
How to combat the cost of college
There’s not much you can do about the cost of college. Luckily, some colleges are starting to do something about it. Check out Central College’s tuition reset. (Tuition resets move colleges to a more transparent pricing model. This means the published price is closer to the actual price a student pays.)
Otherwise, there are other schools that are naturally cheaper — check out a community college if you’re looking for one of the cheapest options.
Making college affordable is like piecing together a giant puzzle. You take a look at the amount of financial aid you can get so you can parse together how you’ll be able to pay for it. You can use a combo of the following financial aid options.
Scholarships and grants
The almighty scholarship — it’s what legions of students and parents have chased for dozens of years. And for good reason, because scholarships and grants are both gift aid (read: free money!) that doesn’t have to be paid back. So, what are the specific differences between scholarships and grants?
- Scholarships are usually merit-based, which means they’re based on grades, athletic ability, musical talent, etc.
- Grants are usually need-based, which means they’re awarded based on your family’s financial situation. The needier you are, the more likely you’ll qualify for grants.
Tap into the school you’re attending for scholarships. Ask your school counselor, your friends’ parents, your dad’s work, your clubs and organizations. Look online. Scholarships are everywhere. You just need to find them.
Work-study
Work-study is both a federal- and state-funded program to help students with financial need get part-time jobs. Around 3,400 colleges and universities offer work-study programs, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Work-study doesn’t cover all your college costs, though. Remember that puzzle we were talking about? You can combine your personal savings, scholarships, grants and loans to jigsaw all the pieces together.
Here’s how to qualify and get most out of a work-study job:
- Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Your financial aid award may say that you qualify for work-study but you still have to actively seek out a job. Visit your college’s human resources office to find out what job opportunities are available. You can often find jobs just about anywhere on campus — the cafeteria, admission office, the library, financial aid office, campus athletic facilities and more.
You’ll only be able to make as much as your financial aid award stipulates — usually at minimum wage. Be a savvy consumer and ask the financial aid office at your college if you can earn more. It might be possible.
Loans
There are different types of loans you can tap into, and a few of the most popular are federal student loans.
The U.S. Department of Education’s federal student loan program is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. The U.S. Department of Education is your lender under this program. There are four popular types of federal loans available:
You can also tap into private loans when everything else won’t cover the costs. Read the fine print on every single loan you apply for. Make sure you know your loan, whether you’re getting a federal or private student loan.
Here are some questions to know the answer to:
- How much are you planning to borrow?
- Is your interest rate fixed or variable, and how will that change your full loan amount?
- What are the upfront fees you’ll need to pay?
- What is your first repayment date? Do you have a grace period?
- How long is your loan term?
- Are there words you don’t understand in the documentation? If there are, ask a financial aid representative at the school you’re attending. That’s why they’re around!
Tap your savings
How much have you, your parents and/or grandparents saved for your college expenses? Now’s the time to ask. If you’re a parent reading this, now’s the time to pull up the 529 plan online, count savings bonds — whatever you’ve done to save. And if you haven’t saved anything, don’t get scared off. We’ve covered lots of ways to make college happen.
Colleges aren’t going to ask you to pay for an entire four years up front. Consider making regular payments for college using a 10-month payment plan or another type of payment plan. This can break up all the expenses.
College is expensive — piece your options together
Now, when other people lament, “Why is college so expensive?” you’ll have a few answers. There may not be too much you can do to control the cost of college — at least, until all colleges start doing tuition resets.
The best tool in your arsenal: Knowing how you can make all the pieces fit together so you can make college happen.
Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Make friends with your admission counselor and the financial aid rep at the college you’re attending. They may have avenues for you to pursue that you might not have even considered. Trust us — those rock stars are good people to know.
by Melissa Brock | Jan 20, 2020 | Ask the admission office |
You can still use a step-by-step guide on how to choose a college — who doesn’t love a guide with handy tips? Here’s what to do in seven steps.
What’s the best way to choose a college?
The college search invites hundreds of questions, doesn’t it? You can’t figure out how to get your kid to make a decision.
And your student may be thinking, “How can I get Mom and Dad to relax about this?”
It’s a process, isn’t it? Trust the process. Unless it’s April and your kiddo still hasn’t taken the ACT, you’ll be just fine.
The all-important question about how to choose a college starts with one simple step: Make a list.
Step 1: Develop your short list.
The short list! Or maybe it’s a long list. Help your child develop a list of schools that he thinks might meet his requirements. This list may be derived from hours of research. You might also come up with the list based on what you think you know about a college. Kids create their short list based on all kinds of reasons, from a great ski and snowboard club to the fact that his best friend goes there.
Step 2: Rank your priorities.
It’s easy for your kiddo to throw up his or her hands and say you have no idea what you’re looking for. But deep down, you really do know one or two things you want in your ideal school. (Parents, your kids really do — even if he or she says, “I don’t know” a dozen times a month.) Maybe you only know for sure that you want a stellar cafeteria — that’s a great start! Here are a few factors you might want to use to position your short list:
- Size: Have you always wanted to go to a large state university or do you prefer the smaller feel of a private liberal arts college or community college?
- Distance from home: Do you prefer to go to school in your hometown or on the opposite coast?
- Cost: Of course this is a factor! What scholarships and need-based financial aid can you get from the schools on your short list? Note: It’s often better to visit a school to get an idea of how much it’ll cost you. You can’t always tell how much a school will cost from a quick internet search!
- Majors: Can you find the majors you want? It’s okay if you don’t know for sure what you want to major in. At the very least, are there some that you might consider?
- Athletic opportunities: Are you an athlete who wants to continue your athletic career in college? If so, the right coach, team, athletic trainers and other factors will be important.
Step 3: Visit schools based on your rankings.
Scheduling a college visit and visiting schools is next on the agenda. And this part can be so much fun!
Call Admission Offices
You can sign up for a college admission visit by calling the admission office. Most colleges have a campus visit coordinator who will answer the phone and schedule your visit.
You can also visit the college’s website to set up your visit. Just know that if you set it up online, you may not be able to get really specific requests. Let’s say you want to meet with an on-campus dietician. It may not be an option on the online visit form. However, the campus visit coordinator may be more than happy to make that meeting happen.
Visit Campuses
This is your opportunity to ask every question that comes to mind. Ask any question you can think of — don’t be shy. Remember, students, admission counselors, financial aid officers, professors and others really want you to ask questions. They really do!
Build Those Relationships!
Get to know your admission counselor. Building a relationship with the admission counselor at each school could result in a lot of advantages for you. What if an admission counselor knows you’re going through some financial struggles? Or knows you have a disability? He or she may be more apt to point out some scholarship avenues.
Building relationships in this day and age gives some high schoolers the heebie-jeebies. Shelve the shyness and remember that admission counselors are usually super-cool people.
Step 4: Complete applications and count acceptance letters.
Note: You can complete applications before you visit campus, but you can also wait and do your applications after your visit.
- Know your application deadlines. Some schools require rolling admission but you may also have schools that ask you to apply early decision, early action or more. Ask about admission deadlines during your college visits.
- Read the directions on each application. Then follow them.
- Include all information requested information. And be honest here. If you don’t have a 4.0 grade point average, don’t put it on the application. The school will find out eventually even if it asks for self-reported information.
- Spend a lot of time on your college essay. This is something you’re going to want to get help on. Ask your English teacher, your next-door neighbor who happens to be an accomplished freelance writer, a college and career coach — you know who to ask. Don’t go it alone. And craft it oh, so carefully.
- Be choosy about who writes your recommendations. Don’t ask your football coach to write your letters of recommendation. No school will take you seriously — even if your football coach is a literary genius. Choose a teacher or other influential individual who knows your strengths and can write a stellar letter.
- Request official copies of your high school transcripts. Ask your school counselor to send in your official transcripts. Check in a week later just to be sure it’s out the door.
- Check with your admission counselor to be sure he or she has received everything. Your admission counselor at each school should be able to confirm whether those transcripts and letters of recommendation have arrived. (Have we raved about those rock star admission counselors enough yet?)
- Finally, the fun (and sometimes not so fun) part of the application process happens. You get acceptance letters (hurray!) and might even hear back about admission denials. Here’s the thing about rejection letters: It doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to attend that particular school in your life. You may just need to attend a different school for a semester or a year and apply as a transfer. It might not mean good-bye forever. You could also ask your admission counselor if you can craft an appeal.
Step 5: File the FAFSA.
What is the FAFSA? Get started by creating an FSA ID — one for a parent and one for a student. It’s fairly easy to fly solo from there.
Still in the dark? You can get help on the FAFSA application at college financial aid offices. (While you’re at it, you can ask, “What is financial aid?” to people trained to guide you.)
Granted, not every financial aid officer is free to help you right now, so ask your child’s school counselor about other resources available to help with the FAFSA if you don’t feel comfortable filling it out on your own.
Step 6: Compare financial aid awards.
After you file the FAFSA, you’ll get your financial aid awards. Once the financial aid awards come rolling in, it’s time to compare the awards you’ve received from all schools. Note: They’ll all come in at different times. Here are a few things to ask yourself about each award.
What is the Cost of Attendance?
Most financial aid awards will include the cost of attendance for one year on the financial aid award. Most schools publish it directly on the financial aid award letter. However, some don’t. You might need to look back at your visit materials or look online to find that published cost.
How Much am I Getting in Grants and Scholarships vs. Loans?
Figure out how much of what a school gives you is free money. Scholarships and loans = free money that you don’t need to pay back. You’ll have to pay loans back — with interest. Some schools may not distinguish the types of aid and you’ll have to figure it out.
What’s the Net Cost?
The net cost is different than the cost of attendance. The net cost tells you how much it will actually cost you to attend a particular institution. It’s the total cost minus any gift aid. You may need to calculate the net cost on your own. It might not be broken down for you on your award letter.
Did I Get Work-Study?
Work-study is a federal program that gives your school money so you can work while you’re on campus. Schools all receive different amounts and may award work-study amounts differently.
Don’t be surprised if you get $1,000 in work-study at one school and $2,000 at another.
Didn’t get work-study at a particular school? Ask the school’s financial aid office if it can put it on. It just might happen.
How Much is Left?
There may be a gap in the total cost minus what you’ve received in financial aid — and that’s common. It also might not be printed right on the financial aid award. You may have to calculate it.
Do you have savings to cover the remaining gap? Will you need to take out loans? This is the part where you figure out how much you and your student can contribute.
Step 6: Do the heart/gut test.
You may know exactly which school you’re planning to attend after all your financial aid awards. Sometimes, it’s less clear.
It’s time to apply the heart and gut test. This is a test where you figure out which school draws you in. You might not be able to put your finger on why — it just does.
Trust that inner voice. So many students have said, “I chose College X because it just felt right.” It happens more than you think. What feels right at gut-level for you? If you still can’t decide, do another visit. Maybe it’ll take an overnighter to help you make your decision.
Step 7: Make your decision.
It’s officially time! Hurray! Congratulations — you’ve decided which school you’re going to attend. The next step is to tell the college you’d like to attend the great news.
And please, oh, please, tell the other colleges that you applied to that you’re not going to those schools. Don’t assume they’ll stop contacting you. An admission counselor must keep bugging you until he or she knows you’re no longer interested.
Send your admission counselors at each school an email. Don’t be surprised if they ask which school you’re attending and why. They often need to know for their own research purposes — they’re not just being nosy.
Finally, the last step is to send scholarship thank yous. Sincerely thank anyone who has given you a scholarship. Here’s more about how to write a scholarship thank you letter if you’ve got writer’s block.
Choose the Best Fit College
Listen to that inner voice — it knows a lot. And if you’re a student, listen to your parents! They’ve got some life experience that can help drive your decision, even if they didn’t go to college themselves.
Take a deep breath, tackle each step one-by-one, and pretty soon, it’ll be May and you’ll be graduating from high school.
Oh, and enjoy the ride. You’re about to go on the best adventure.
by Melissa Brock | Jan 5, 2020 | Ask the admission office |
You’re ready to take the ACT — that all-important test can determine your future college options. So exciting! A little knowledge and prep work can go a long way toward securing your future dreams. You might be curious about a couple of the most basic questions such as what is a good ACT score? And how long is the ACT?
Put simply, the ACT is two hours and 55 minutes — if you don’t take the writing test. But there are a few more details you may want to know ahead of time about the length of each test. (Hint: You’ll want to know this ahead of time. Each test is a different amount of time.) Two other factors could change your situation:
- You might decide to take the writing test.
- You might opt to take an extended time test due to a learning disability or other qualification.
Let’s break it all down. You’re racing the clock (in a controlled manner, of course!) when you take the ACT. Here’s what you need to know.
What Time Does the ACT Test Start and When Does it End?
First, check your email instructions for your assigned reporting time. Your assigned test center reporting time is usually going to be 8 a.m.
Your testing center might not be the familiar halls of your high school or your comfy English classroom. It might be at a nearby college or even another high school. Consider doing a practice drive to your testing center a few days early if you’re not quite sure where it is.
On the day of the test, you don’t wanna wake up at 7:54 a.m., blast through the kitchen (without breakfast) and blow six stop signs on your way to the testing center. Instead:
- Set your alarm (or three alarms, if you have to), eat a good breakfast and arrive by 8 a.m.
- Pat yourself on the back if you arrive earlier than 7:45 a.m., but know that if you do arrive early, you might have to wait outside until testing staff members get your room ready.
- Follow directions for checking in — a test administrator will tell you what to do once you arrive. You’ll officially start testing after 8 a.m. as soon as all examinees are checked in and seated.
You should be done with the standard-time ACT test (without writing) at about 12:35 p.m. — Just in time for lunch!
How Long is the ACT with Writing?
You can choose to take the ACT writing test. Some colleges and universities want to see how you write, but it’s not required for every college. Not sure whether you need to take the writing test? Ask your admission counselor at each college about that school’s admission requirements.
The ACT writing test tacks on a 40-minute essay test to the other four tests. The writing test is fairly simple to understand. You’ll get a prompt that describes an issue and three different perspectives on that issue. You must answer the prompt in pencil on the lined pages of an answer folder provided to you.
You’ll be dismissed about 1:35 p.m. if you take the ACT writing test.
How Long is the ACT with Extended Time?
The ACT offers National Extended Time, also called 50 percent extended time. In other words, you’ll get extended time on each section of the ACT and you’ll get a break after each section. You’ll need to be approved ahead of time for extended testing. Learn more about ACT accommodations.
Overall, the extended time ACT gives you:
- 70 minutes to complete Test 1 — English
- 90 minutes to complete Test 2 — Mathematics
- 55 minutes to complete Test 3 — Reading
- 55 minutes to complete Test 4 — Science
- 60 minutes to respond to the Writing test prompt (if you choose to take the writing test)
It may not take you every spare minute of extended time to finish each test. For example, let’s say there’s a group of extended time test takers who finish with the English test early. All examinees can move on to the next test (Mathematics) once everyone’s finished. However, all examinees in the room must work on the same test at the same time.
Parts of the ACT
There are four distinct subject tests on the ACT: English, mathematics, reading and science. Here’s an overview of each type of test you’ll take during the ACT test and how long each section lasts.
English
The English test on the ACT is 45 minutes long and contains 75 questions.
You’ll be given writing passages on this test that will ask you to evaluate specific writing elements. For example, you might need to determine a passage’s tone or might simply need to select the correct English-appropriate answer. Take a look at specific underlined portions of the test and consider all answer choices before you choose the one that best responds to the question.
There’s a great English test prep example on ACT’s website. Check it out!
Mathematics
The Mathematics test on the ACT is 60 minutes long and contains 60 questions.
You’ll find the following types of math problems on the mathematics test:
- Pre-algebra
- Elementary algebra
- Intermediate algebra
- Coordinate geometry
- Plane geometry
- Trigonometry
All problems vary from straightforward “solve-for-x equations” to graphs and charts.
Planning to use a calculator? Be sure you check out the latest calculator policy so you know you’re using the right type of calculator. Make sure it works and that you know how to use it! (It’d be a shame if you borrowed someone’s ultra-powerful calculator on test day and then couldn’t figure out how to turn it on.)
You don’t technically need a calculator to solve any equations on the mathematics test. All problems can be solved without a calculator, but having one sure is handy.
Check out the helpful mathematics test prep example on ACT’s website.
Reading
The Reading test on the ACT is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions.
As you might imagine, this test is stuffed with various reading passages about and tests your comprehension. Topic clusters include fiction, social science, natural science and the humanities. You’ll answer questions about how well you understand a particular passage. It’s important to:
- Read each passage carefully.
- Consider all of the answer choices (read those carefully, too!) Look back and forth from the passage to the questions as you answer them.
Here’s a great example of what you might find on the reading portion of the ACT.
Science
The Science test on the ACT is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions.
Luckily, you don’t need to be a budding biologist to do well on the science portion of the ACT. You just need to be able to read charts and graphs and interpret the scientific information involved. Be sure you read each question carefully so you understand the scientific information included in each passage. scientific information in the passage when answering the question. There could be conflicting viewpoints in each passage, according to ACT, so be careful!
Here’s what to expect on the ACT Science test.
When to Take the ACT
The ACT (and SAT, for that matter) can be taken any time during high school. Most school counselors recommend taking at least one test by June of junior year, and, for good measure, another test soon after. Some states allow you to take the test for free. Check with your school counselor to find out whether your state allows you to take the ACT for free.
Think you might want to take the ACT as a sophomore? Or maybe you’re not ready as a junior and think it’s better to wait till senior year. Take into account your desired level of preparation, readiness for the test and college deadlines and goals.
Get Ready for the ACT Now!
Now that you know how much time you’ll have for each individual portion of the test, it’s time to practice. Get a feel for how much time you have on each question by going through timed tests.
It really is a “timing” thing. Your ability to move swiftly and accurately through the test and check it consistently against the rest of the time you have allotted is the key — whether you’re on standard or extended time.
by Melissa Brock | Nov 9, 2019 | Ask the admission office |
What is a good ACT score? That’s a great question! You might’ve asked your admission counselor, your school counselor, your best friend. Moms and dads, it’s a question that you might ask at every single college fair you attend with your son or daughter.
As you might imagine, whether you’ve achieved a “good” score is a bit subjective. Different people have different expectations for their score — and various colleges have specific admission guidelines, too. For example, a less selective college might prefer a 20 ACT, while a more selective institution might only admit students who have a 26.
Your best bet is to ask each school you’re applying to what ACT score to aim for. How important ACT scores are in the college application process varies from school to school — some schools might not require the ACT (or SAT, ACT’s counterpart) at all.
What is the ACT?
The ACT is a college entrance exam that’s used by colleges and universities to make decisions about whether to admit students to their respective institutions. It’s a four-section test with an optional writing portion that measures your readiness for college.
The components include four tests: English, math, reading, science reasoning and an optional writing section. The ACT also includes high school grade and course information, a student profile section and a career interest inventory.
The higher your ACT score, the more competitive schools you can place on your radar. A higher ACT will also affect your ability to get merit-based scholarships.
What is an Average ACT Score?
You might wonder how your score fit in with the thousands of other students who have taken the ACT. Here’s a crash course on how ACT scores work, according to ACT.org.
- First, the ACT scans and counts the number of questions that you answer correctly. There is no penalty for choosing incorrect answers. (In other words, if you have to guess on the ACT, that’s okay.)
- The ACT then transitions your raw scores (the number of correct answers on each test) to scores that are called scale scores.
- These scores are all added together, then divided by four to get your composite score.
- You’ll get an official score report which will show your composite score, which can range from 1 – 36. You’ll also see the results of each of the four test scores, and each test score can also range from 1 – 36.
Let’s say you take the test and get the following scores:
English: 26
Mathematics: 30
Reading: 22
Science Reasoning: 27
Average composite score: 26
So, 26+30+22+27 = 105, and 105/4 = 26.25, which gives you an ACT score of 26.
Your composite equates to a percentile that shows how you did in comparison to all other test takers. Your ACT score report will compare your scores to the approximate percentages of recent high school graduates in the U.S. and your state, too. A higher percentile means you scored higher than that percent of students. (In other words, a rank of 45 for your composite score means that 45 percent of students earned that composite or lower.)
Of the over 1.9 million students tested on the ACT in 2018, the average composite ACT score was 20.8. To break it down a little more, here are the averages for the four tests in 2018:
English: 20.2
Mathematics: 20.5
Reading: 21.3
Science Reasoning: 20.7
Average composite score: 20.8
What is the Highest ACT Score?
The highest ACT score is a 36. Less than one percent of all students achieve that extraordinary score. A 20 is an average ACT score and nestles right in at the 50th percentile. On the other hand, a 24 ACT score means you’ve scored better than about 75 percent of students. An ACT score of 29 means you’ve scored better than 90 percent of students, and finally, a score of 31 means you’ve scored better than 95 percent of students.
If you score anything above a 35, pat yourself on the back. You’ve scored higher than 99 percent of all test takers. It doesn’t get better than that!
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- ACT score < 16: Bottom 25 percent
- 21 ACT: Middle/average score
- 24+ ACT: Top 25 percent
- 29+ ACT: Top 10 percent
- 31+ ACT: Top five percent
- ACT score of 35 or 36: Top one percent
How to Superscore the ACT
Some colleges and universities allow you to superscore the ACT, which means that you average your best subjects from all four testing areas. It’s different than a composite score because you take the best of what could be several tests and create a superscore.
It’s easy to do: You simply round up your score reports, find your highest score from the English, math, reading and science tests and add these scores together. Next, divide by four and round your score up to the nearest whole number.
For example, let’s say you took the test twice and got the following scores:
Test date 1:
English 20
Mathematics 20
Reading 25
Science reasoning 25
Test date 2:
English 25
Mathematics 19
Reading 20
Science reasoning 26
Average all the bold scores (25, 20, 25 and 26) and divide by four and that equals a superscore of 24.
You might be wondering whether the writing score counts toward a superscore — it doesn’t.
You will receive a total of five scores for the essay test: a single subject-level writing score reported on a range of 2-12 and four domain scores, which are also 2-12, according to ACT.org. These scores are based on an analytic scoring rubric. The subject-level score will be the rounded average of the four domain scores: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization and Language Use and Conventions.
Do all Colleges Superscore the ACT?
Many, but not all, colleges superscore, but the number has increased in recent years, according to ACT.org. Learn more about the admission requirements by contacting the various admission counselors at schools you’re looking at.
When the September 2020 ACT rolls around, you’ll be able to send your individual superscores to various colleges.
How to Improve Your ACT score
Let’s say you’re not happy with your ACT score. You can take the test again or superscore the test. In September 2020, you’ll have even more options. You’ll be able to do ACT section retesting and also report your superscores to individual colleges.
You can take the ACT as many times as you want. Some colleges also offer residual testing, which means they can give the ACT through the admission office at any time — but the score will only count for that particular school. Ask the admission offices of colleges if you can do a residual test, which will not occur on a national test date.
Choose the Right Fit
Think you’re ready for this all-important test? Or maybe you’ve already taken it, you even know what it stands for and you’re curious to know how you compare among national ACT test-takers.
Even if you do know what percentile you fall into and every detail of your ACT score, that doesn’t matter as much as knowing which college is the best fit for you.
ACT scores are just one indicator for a college of whether you’re an excellent candidate for admission. Other factors, such your grades, letters of recommendation, alumni interviews and more will also help a college — and you — determine the right fit. Luckily, there are so many college choices out there. The right combination of ACT score, filing the FAFSA and more will get you ever closer to making a college decision.
by Melissa Brock | Nov 3, 2019 | Ask the admission office |
What does ACT stand for? Here’s the answer for those trivia seekers! The ACT originally stood for American College Test, but now it’s just called by its three letters — A–C–T.
Kind of like deciding on a major, it’s a big deal. Here’s what your child needs to know to get ready for this all-important test.
What is the ACT?
The ACT is a multiple-choice entrance exam used by most colleges and universities — from liberal arts colleges to large state universities. This test is one component of your entire profile that admission committees use to make admission decisions.
The test, administered by ACT Inc., simply measures your college readiness. It also provides colleges with a yardstick to compare all students who apply to their school.
But don’t worry, your ACT isn’t the only factor. College admission committees review your high school GPA, the classes you take in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admission interviews and personal essays.
This can be a tad confusing: Various schools put a different weight on the ACT. Some schools might not consider the ACT for admission at all. Generally, the higher you score on the ACT, the more options you’ll have for attending and paying for college.
What is the History of the ACT?
Everet Franklin Lindquist, professor of education at the University of Iowa, launched the American College Testing Program in 1959. He designed the ACT to test students’ general educational development. In other words, Lindquist wanted to test practical knowledge — academic achievement over intelligence. The ACT’s rival, the SAT, tested mainly theory-based reasoning skills.
The first ACT was a four-part exam. It included 45-minute sections for English, mathematics, social studies and natural science. Lindquist’s test was scored using a 36-point system — and that scoring system is still used today.
Many of the 75,000 students who took the test in 1959 were Midwesterners. The SAT is still more popular on the coasts and the ACT is still taken more heavily in the middle of the country.
ACT Changes Over the Years
The ACT has changed a bit over the years:
- The ACT underwent a makeover in 1989. It swapped out the social studies and natural science sections and replaced them with reading and science reasoning.
- ACT added a writing section in 2005. This was a clear countermove in response to the SAT’s writing section.
ACT recently unrolled some new options — but they won’t be officially available until September 2020:
- Single section retesting: You will be able to retest just one, two or three section(s) without having to take the whole test again. For example, let’s say you take the full test on one of the national test dates. You’re not crazy about your math score, so you take only the math test at a later date and try to achieve a higher score the second time.
- You can report your superscore: Superscoring means that you average your four best individual subject scores from each individual ACT test. For example, let’s say you take the ACT once and get a 24 on the math test and a 32 on the English test. Let’s say you take it again. This time, you get a 25 on the math test and a 30 on the English test. You can send colleges two of your best scores from these two different test dates — the 25 on the math test and the 32 on the English test. You will also be able to submit these ACT superscores directly to colleges and universities. Just make sure the colleges you’re applying to accept superscores — not all of them do.
- You can opt for online testing: Bye-bye, traditional paper testing — if you choose. You can now take every ACT online during national test dates. Traditional paper testing is still available if you’re more comfortable with that method. The advantage to online testing? You’ll get your scores back much more quickly — in as little as two days.
What is on the ACT?
The ACT is divided into four specific testing areas, with an optional writing section. The tests are in this order: English, mathematics, reading and science.
English
The first test on the ACT is the English test. The English test is 45 minutes long and contains 75 questions. You get to edit the text — the ACT tests you on grammar, sentence structure and punctuation. In other words, you’ll need to insert where you think a passage needs a semicolon or a period, for example. It’ll also test your ability to critically understand how a passage flows and more.
Mathematics
Next, you’ll take the mathematics test. The mathematics test is 60 minutes long and contains 60 questions. It’s roughly divided into these types of math problems:
- Pre-algebra: About 20 percent
- Elementary algebra: About 20 percent
- Intermediate algebra: About 20 percent
- Coordinate geometry: About 15 percent
- Plane geometry: About 20 percent
- Trigonometry: About five percent
The ACT math section requires you to answer various word problems and others are straightforward math problems. Some have graphs or charts.
They range from easy to hard. The first 1-20 questions are easy, questions 21-40 are somewhat challenging and questions 41-60 are difficult. You might need to budget more time on the more challenging questions toward the end of the test.
Reading
Next, you’ll take the reading test — but not before you get a break! There’s a 10- to 15-minute break between the math and reading tests. The reading test is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions. Specifically, you’ll read and answer questions about themes, tone and purpose. Overall, you’ll answer questions about how well you understand a particular passage. Specific topics include:
- Prose fiction/literary narrative: This section involves fiction passages and literary memoirs. You’ll be asked to read and then answer these multiple-choice questions.
- Social science: You’ll also answer questions about passages in psychology, sociology and education.
- Humanities: You’ll be asked to read and answer questions in the humanities — including essays and memoirs, plus nonfiction pieces on philosophy, literature and the arts.
- Natural science: This section involves science topics like biology, chemistry, physics and medicine.
Note: You will not need to be a subject matter expert in any of these topics. You should be able to read (quickly, though!) and use your reading comprehension skills to answer any of the questions involved.
Science Reasoning
Science reasoning is the last required section. The science section is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions. The science section doesn’t actually test your specific science knowledge — it tests your ability to interpret scientific information using charts and graphs.
Writing
Finally, the ACT writing test is a 40-minute essay test that measures your writing skills. Many colleges and universities don’t require you to take the writing test — that’s good news for those of you who really don’t like to write! You can decide whether to sign up for the writing test after you ask the admission offices at the schools you’re applying to whether you should take the writing test.
Here’s how it works:
You’ll get a prompt that describes a complicated issue and which presents three different perspectives on that issue. You must write your answer in pencil on the lined pages of an answer folder. Students with a disability who cannot handwrite the essay will not have to write it by hand. (Check out information for students with disabilities on ACT’s website.)
When is the ACT Offered?
The ACT is always offered during the following months:
- February
- April
- June
- July (Note: The ACT is not offered in New York state in July.)
- September
- October
- December
Don’t forget to sign up for the ACT by the registration deadline. The registration deadline is usually during the month preceding the test date, but if you don’t manage to sign up on time, there’s always a late registration deadline.
Visit ACT for more information about test dates and learn how to register for a test.
Take the ACT
Knowing what’s on the ACT and what it stands for is great — but don’t forget to practice! Go through a few practice tests online or get a tutorial book from your local library.
Ask about the ACT when you’re on college campuses. You might already be asking, “What is the FAFSA?” and “What is rolling admission?” during your college visits. But don’t forget to ask each admission counselor when you should take the ACT.
Even more importantly, ask your admission counselor what ACT score each college requires. It’ll give you something to shoot for.
by Melissa Brock | Oct 20, 2019 | Ask the admission office |
You — or someone you know — has decided to go off to college. Hurray! Whether you or your kiddo are headed off to a university, liberal arts college, community college or elsewhere, you might learn that a college’s application process involves “rolling admission.”
What is rolling admission? It simply means that the college(s) you’re interested in will review applications as they receive them.
What Do I Need to Know About Rolling Admission?
Rolling admission means that colleges accept (and deny) students on a continuing basis. For example, you can get an admission decision whether you apply to colleges in October or April — you’ll usually find out whether you’ve been admitted within approximately two to four weeks.
But does that mean you should wait until April of your senior year to apply to schools? Probably not. Some schools have a priority deadline for rolling admission. Your application should be in earlier so you can increase your chance of acceptance. Beyond the priority deadline, the school will accept applications until all spots are filled.
Rolling admission is different than early decision or early action. Early decision schools are binding, which means that you apply early to a school and then you must attend that school when you’re accepted.
Early action schools are non-binding, which means that you can apply to several early decision schools and then make a final decision on May 1 — just like you can with rolling admission.
The major difference between early decision and early action schools is that they have a firm application deadline — unlike schools with rolling admission.
Steps to Apply to a College with Rolling Admission
Rolling admission offers a lot of benefits — particularly when you’re a busy high school student. Let’s say you (or your kiddo, if you’re a parent) must balance play rehearsal, cross country practice, homework and more every night of the week. It’s tough to find time to apply, so rolling admission can offer a little breathing room.
Step 1: Visit colleges so you know where you’d like to apply.
Visit several different types of schools. Call up the admission office at each college or university and talk to an actual person. For example, you might talk to the campus visit coordinator at a liberal arts college and a state university and plan to visit each school’s engineering department.
Visit schools early on in your high school years — don’t wait until April of your senior year and then go on a college visit frenzy. Start sophomore or junior year and ease into it. Sprinkle a couple of visits throughout summer break after sophomore year. Add one to spring break junior year. Hit even more colleges during the fall of your senior year.
Think you’re behind on college visits? It’s okay — that’s why rolling admission is a major benefit. Treat this as an adventure. Visiting colleges can be so much fun!
Step 2: Ask colleges about their application processes.
Ask multiple questions about the application processes and admission requirements at every school (in detail!). The admission counselor is the best person to ask when you’re on your college visits. Here are five great questions you can ask your admission counselor:
- When does your application process open?
- When must my application be complete?
- What does your application involve (essay, letters of recommendation, resume, etc.)?
- What are your best tips for filling out the application?
- How long will it take me to complete?
Step 3: Apply for admission.
You’re ready to apply? Yesssssssss! So exciting. Read the application form in depth. (After all, it’s not a good feeling when you submit something as important as a college application and you realize that you’ve forgotten to include, say, a critical part of your college essay.) Your application form, which is almost always done online but could be done on a paper version in some cases, may include:
- An essay or another type of writing sample: Get help with this! This must be your very best work. It’s worth it to have an English teacher or other savvy adult work through the components of the essay or writing sample.
- Letters of recommendation: Some schools require you to submit letters of recommendation. Others do not. Check with each individual school for more information. Be sure you select people who can speak to your academic strengths — in other words, steer clear of athletic coaches or others who cannot comment on your performance in the classroom. Choose teachers from core subjects — math, English, science and history.
- List of activities: The application will ask for a list of your activities — both in school and outside of school. Be sure it’s a comprehensive, chronological list that highlights your interests. Schools will take your activities into serious consideration when they assess your application.
- Creative work: Schools might require you to submit creative work for additional scholarships or as a requirement for admission.
Another quick note: The application may ask you whether you plan to file the Free Application For Student Aid, or the FAFSA. Don’t plan to file the FAFSA? You might need to indicate that on your application.
Your application might allow you to apply to several schools at once — the Common, Coalition and Universal applications can allow you to apply for over 800 schools at once!
Step 4: Send in your transcripts and test scores.
Each school may ask for your transcripts and test scores, but make sure you’re sending the right information.
- Transcripts: Ask your high school to mail in an official copy of your transcripts. Some colleges and universities don’t require official transcripts at the time of application and may just need them when you officially graduate. Ask the school to be sure.
- Test scores (ACT or SAT tests are the most common): Have you taken your ACT or SAT? If not, take them — pronto — and have the scores sent directly to the schools you’re applying to. Learn about testing dates and fees on the ACT and SAT websites.
Step 5: Pay the application fee and submit.
Some applications require an application fee and others offer a free application — especially when you do a college visit at that particular school. You can pay the application fee via check, money order or credit card. Double-check to make sure that you included everything that’s required for the application and take a deep breath — and hit submit. Hurray!
Step 6: Wait for an official acceptance.
You’ll receive notification of your acceptance via regular mail within two to four weeks — do a happy dance! You might often receive a couple of other notifications from a school, possibly via email and maybe even communication from your admission counselor or other admission personnel at the schools you applied to.
Now, you know that there’s also the possibility of a denied application. What happens if you’re not accepted? You can file an appeal. Every college handles appeals differently, so do your best to learn everything about the appeal process first.
Be sure you have a good reason for an appeal — not just being upset with the admission office’s decision. Write an appeal letter that points to specific reasons for lackluster performance, such as a death in the family or a long-term illness that you suffered from during your sophomore year. Be explicit. And whatever you do, don’t be accusatory toward the admission office for denying you.
Get an alternative plan ready to go at a different college, because appeals often don’t succeed — particularly if you’re denied admission from a highly selective school. Also remember that just because you’ve been denied admission at one point, it doesn’t mean you can’t reapply as a transfer student someday.
Why Opt for a School with Rolling Admission?
Rolling admission shouldn’t be the only reason you apply to a school. There obviously must be other compelling factors. Rolling admission should only be one of the “extra perks” that can help you make your best decision ever. Other factors that are arguably more important include:
- Fit: Does the school feel “right” to you?
- Location: Is the college in the right city, state or even the right country?
- Academics: Does the college excel in the major you’ve selected — or even better, have an overall excellent academic reputation? Remember, you don’t need to have your major selected prior to attending college.
- Athletics: Is the coach for the sport you play the one you can envision playing for over the next four years? Are your teammates people you know you can get along with?
- Social: Is the social atmosphere the right one for you? What do students do on the weekends? A great way to gauge that is to do an overnight visit on campus before you make your final decision.
- Career opportunities: Does the school offer an excellent career center that can help you make connections over the next four years? Can the career center offer you leads to internships and alumni connections that can make it possible for you to get a job after you graduate?
Can you think of other factors that will make it on your list? Of course you can. Maybe a school makes it onto your list because it has an outstanding knitting club — or a championship bowling team.
Find the Right Fit College No Matter What
One more thing to remember: A college’s specific admission type doesn’t indicate the caliber of the school at all. Just because a school is an “early decision” school doesn’t mean it’s “better” — just like rolling admission doesn’t mean it’s a “B” school. A lot of great schools require rolling admission. In short, don’t base your assessment of a school on the type of admission it uses.
