The only way to be free of tests is to have a score you’re proud of.
If you signed up for the July ACT, it’s six days away. Don’t freak out; there’s still plenty of time to make a difference. Even if you lost time to…summer, a week can make a massive of difference – especially with superscoring (and you should superscore).
Summer is the best time to prep, but it’s also when it’s hardest to prep. It’s the time of year when the newest myths spread and cloud families into inaction. Here’s the three you’ve heard.
“Because of the affirmative action ruling, tests won’t matter.”
Harvard’s statement on the SCOTUS decision made it clear: elite colleges are planning on business as usual. How? They’ll apply race to individuals and not to groups.
That last, final pass will be more about your story than ever before. But, you have to get to that last, final pass. First, they cut the bulk of their record-breaking application stack. Everyone loves an easy choice, and numbers are very clear.
The result of the SCOTUS decision is even tighter competition. To get in, you’ll need better test scores than ever.
“Test-optional means that colleges don’t care.”
Elite colleges are increasingly concerned about students dropping out or failing out. It’s an open secret in higher ed, and it’s happening much more frequently with students who applied test optional.
COVID learning disruption and test-optional have combined to create struggling first-year classes. A high test score signals college readiness, and sending that signal has never been more important in a test-optional world. Colleges have no real plan to fix student success, so they’re leaning into admitting applicants who are less likely to have problems.
Test-optional is test preferred. Depending on who you are, where you’re applying, and what program you’re applying for, it may as well be test required.
“It’s easier during the school year.”
Before you know it, you’ll be crammed with homecoming and homework.
The SAT and ACT are hard enough when you don’t have to juggle the golf team, AP Chemistry, personal statements, and volunteering simultaneously. And the ACT & SAT reward mental space and flexibility.
With superscoring, you have so much more freedom to succeed in a way that works for you. If you’re taking July, make a big push this week. You won’t regret it.
If you haven’t started, now is the time. You can be DONE with the ACT or SAT before school really gets going.
