Is your teen getting ready to research colleges but needs some help getting started? Are they feeling stressed about taking the ACT or SAT and unsure about how to prepare? As a parent, does the college planning process seem overwhelming for your child, and you know you can help?
College planning can be a stressful time for parents and teens, and it can be difficult to determine what’s best for your teen as they navigate this new chapter in their lives. It’s a big undertaking for a student to choose the right major and find the right college. On top of all that, teens have to figure out how to excel on the ACT and SAT. It can be overwhelming to decipher the myths and facts as you all wade through the sea of information on the internet.
I reached out to educational consultant and speaker Laurie Genevish of My Ideal College to get her input. She joined me for another Dynamis Learning Academy Facebook Live to dispel the myths surrounding planning for college.
Laurie works with parents and students to navigate the process of preparing for and choosing the right college. She incorporates her experience and extensive research on colleges to help students choose a major, career path, internships, and a college that will be a good fit for them.
Here are Laurie’s top 5 college planning myths:
- It’s okay to go in as undecided
False. College admission counselors look more favorably upon the student who has a clear idea and plan for what they want to do.
- You must have a college degree to make a lot of money
False. Students have many options nowadays instead of college. For instance, trades are very lucrative. Other things to consider: what if your teen changes his/her major or gets into a career and then decides it’s not for them?
- My teen has to have lots of different extracurricular activities to stand out in the college application process
False. Quality over quantity is best! It’s more important to show growth and leadership in their experiences.
- Where you attend college is important in the eyes of future employers
False. Employers are focused more on skills and if the student is a good fit for the job rather than where they attended college.
- You must consider student loans
False. Some professions like medicine or law might necessitate loans, but it’s important that the student has a plan to pay them off quickly if this is the route he/she takes.
When it comes to the ACT and SAT, there seems to be a lot of misconceptions about when to take them and which one is supposedly easier than another. We recently talked about the benefits of being tutored for the ACT and SAT in our blog. Ideally, students should begin their preparation in the 8th grade, so that they can get the skills and strategies they need and get some practice tests under their belt as they prepare for college admission (i.e., SSAT or PSAT).
Helen Panos, owner of Dynamis Learning Academy sat down to speak with one of the company’s tutors. Dynamis’ tutor shared some of the most common myths he has encountered after over 20 years of tutoring students on these types of tests. Helen also conducted her own research on some of the common misconceptions about the ACT and SAT and would like to share some interesting findings with parents below.
The 7 myths surrounding taking the ACT and SAT according to On to College:
- The SAT is harder than the ACT
Although they test much of the same information, one is not easier than the other. Students should take a practice test (or a paid test) of each to determine which one is best suited for them. Its really about learning style and strengths/weaknesses on which is the better choice for a teen.
- Wait to take the ACT/SAT until the end of the junior year
Some students wait until junior year because they want more math behind them, but most of the math found on these high-stakes tests are covered by the time the student finishes 10th grade. Taking the test in the summer after sophomore year is the best sound strategy. No real good reason to wait too long.
- Only prepare for the ACT/SAT if you don’t have a high GPA
The tests are more about understanding the strategies for each test and acquiring stamina and pacing than facts learned in class. GPA doesn’t necessarily translate into success with these types of tests.
- Because they are IQ tests, it’s impossible to truly study for them
The tests involve reasoning and logic, and most students need help honing those skills. Over time, they can raise their score significantly. Even a small jump in scores can translate into more scholarship dollars (i.e, check out the Zell Scholarship and HOPE scholarship requirements if you are in Georgia).
- It’s okay to leave the answers blank
It’s never a good idea to leave answers blank; however, taking educated guesses rather than random ones is a much better approach.
- It’s impossible to improve test scores once you take the ACT/SAT
Students need to acquire the skills and strategies that are required to be successful in high-stakes testing. Once they know them, they greatly increase their chances for a higher score.
- Test scores don’t matter because schools are test-optional
Although a school is test-optional, there are still benefits and even requirements of having test scores. For instance, a test optional school will tend to require test scores for scholarships. Additionally, test scores can be used for things like class placement. In some cases, a minimum test score is required for certain majors and programs.
If you have a teen who’s thinking about going to college, it’s never too late to help him/her prepare for the ACT and SAT and to begin exploring interests and a possible career path. Preparation equates to more options including more potential scholarship money.
Laurie suggested talking to teens early and get them thinking about what they want to do after graduating high school and the potential career path that they want to take. You want to set them up for success by deciding on a major, so they won’t be entering into their freshman year undecided. She emphasized that going into freshman year undecided will cause students to miss out on a lot of opportunities like internships and networking opportunities that can positively affect their career path.
At Dynamis Learning Academy, we can work with your child in the areas of college admissions/ application essay writing and ACT and SAT preparation through our company and partnerships. If your child is struggling with low ACT or SAT test scores or time management during the test, we have designed a program to address those needs. We can also assess and identify gaps in a student’s learning and address those areas with our qualified tutors.
We, at Dynamis Learning Academy, are here to help your teen prepare for ACT/SAT and college admissions. Contact owner Helen Panos at helen@dynamislearningacademy.com or at 770-282-9931 to schedule a free consultation about the ACT/SAT Prep, college admissions essay writing, or any other area of concern.
Helen is an expert educator with over 25 years of years of experience. She believes in the importance of helping children reach their potential and become well-rounded, intelligent citizens with a positive influence and impact on society. Helen assists parents in accessing the best skills, strategies, tools, and resources to help children be successful and ultimately excel in the world.
Is your teen getting ready to research colleges but needs some help getting started? Are they feeling stressed about taking the ACT or SAT and unsure about how to prepare? As a parent, does the college planning process seem overwhelming for your child, and you know you can help?
College planning can be a stressful time for parents and teens, and it can be difficult to determine what’s best for your teen as they navigate this new chapter in their lives. It’s a big undertaking for a student to choose the right major and find the right college. On top of all that, teens have to figure out how to excel on the ACT and SAT. It can be overwhelming to decipher the myths and facts as you all wade through the sea of information on the internet.
I reached out to educational consultant and speaker Laurie Genevish of My Ideal College to get her input. She joined me for another Dynamis Learning Academy Facebook Live to dispel the myths surrounding planning for college.
Laurie works with parents and students to navigate the process of preparing for and choosing the right college. She incorporates her experience and extensive research on colleges to help students choose a major, career path, internships, and a college that will be a good fit for them.
Here are Laurie’s top 5 college planning myths:
- It’s okay to go in as undecided
False. College admission counselors look more favorably upon the student who has a clear idea and plan for what they want to do.
- You must have a college degree to make a lot of money
False. Students have many options nowadays instead of college. For instance, trades are very lucrative. Other things to consider: what if your teen changes his/her major or gets into a career and then decides it’s not for them?
- My teen has to have lots of different extracurricular activities to stand out in the college application process
False. Quality over quantity is best! It’s more important to show growth and leadership in their experiences.
- Where you attend college is important in the eyes of future employers
False. Employers are focused more on skills and if the student is a good fit for the job rather than where they attended college.
- You must consider student loans
False. Some professions like medicine or law might necessitate loans, but it’s important that the student has a plan to pay them off quickly if this is the route he/she takes.
When it comes to the ACT and SAT, there seems to be a lot of misconceptions about when to take them and which one is supposedly easier than another. We recently talked about the benefits of being tutored for the ACT and SAT in our blog. Ideally, students should begin their preparation in the 8th grade, so that they can get the skills and strategies they need and get some practice tests under their belt as they prepare for college admission (i.e., SSAT or PSAT).
Helen Panos, owner of Dynamis Learning Academy sat down to speak with one of the company’s tutors. Dynamis’ tutor shared some of the most common myths he has encountered after over 20 years of tutoring students on these types of tests. Helen also conducted her own research on some of the common misconceptions about the ACT and SAT and would like to share some interesting findings with parents below.
The 7 myths surrounding taking the ACT and SAT according to On to College:
- The SAT is harder than the ACT
Although they test much of the same information, one is not easier than the other. Students should take a practice test (or a paid test) of each to determine which one is best suited for them. Its really about learning style and strengths/weaknesses on which is the better choice for a teen.
- Wait to take the ACT/SAT until the end of the junior year
Some students wait until junior year because they want more math behind them, but most of the math found on these high-stakes tests are covered by the time the student finishes 10th grade. Taking the test in the summer after sophomore year is the best sound strategy. No real good reason to wait too long.
- Only prepare for the ACT/SAT if you don’t have a high GPA
The tests are more about understanding the strategies for each test and acquiring stamina and pacing than facts learned in class. GPA doesn’t necessarily translate into success with these types of tests.
- Because they are IQ tests, it’s impossible to truly study for them
The tests involve reasoning and logic, and most students need help honing those skills. Over time, they can raise their score significantly. Even a small jump in scores can translate into more scholarship dollars (i.e, check out the Zell Scholarship and HOPE scholarship requirements if you are in Georgia).
- It’s okay to leave the answers blank
It’s never a good idea to leave answers blank; however, taking educated guesses rather than random ones is a much better approach.
- It’s impossible to improve test scores once you take the ACT/SAT
Students need to acquire the skills and strategies that are required to be successful in high-stakes testing. Once they know them, they greatly increase their chances for a higher score.
- Test scores don’t matter because schools are test-optional
Although a school is test-optional, there are still benefits and even requirements of having test scores. For instance, a test optional school will tend to require test scores for scholarships. Additionally, test scores can be used for things like class placement. In some cases, a minimum test score is required for certain majors and programs.
If you have a teen who’s thinking about going to college, it’s never too late to help him/her prepare for the ACT and SAT and to begin exploring interests and a possible career path. Preparation equates to more options including more potential scholarship money.
Laurie suggested talking to teens early and get them thinking about what they want to do after graduating high school and the potential career path that they want to take. You want to set them up for success by deciding on a major, so they won’t be entering into their freshman year undecided. She emphasized that going into freshman year undecided will cause students to miss out on a lot of opportunities like internships and networking opportunities that can positively affect their career path.
At Dynamis Learning Academy, we can work with your child in the areas of college admissions/ application essay writing and ACT and SAT preparation through our company and partnerships. If your child is struggling with low ACT or SAT test scores or time management during the test, we have designed a program to address those needs. We can also assess and identify gaps in a student’s learning and address those areas with our qualified tutors.
We, at Dynamis Learning Academy, are here to help your teen prepare for ACT/SAT and college admissions. Contact owner Helen Panos at helen@dynamislearningacademy.com or at 770-282-9931 to schedule a free consultation about the ACT/SAT Prep, college admissions essay writing, or any other area of concern.
Helen is an expert educator with over 25 years of years of experience. She believes in the importance of helping children reach their potential and become well-rounded, intelligent citizens with a positive influence and impact on society. Helen assists parents in accessing the best skills, strategies, tools, and resources to help children be successful and ultimately excel in the world.