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We hope you enjoyed reading this issue of Benchmark eNews. Look for your next issue next month. Benchmark eNews is a free, monthly email publication. Event dates are subject to change. Visit your school counselor or call us for more information. At Benchmark, our goal is to demystify the college application process and help you stay focused on a meaningful and effective plan. By filtering out the hype and implementing a program that is individualized and appropriate, you can relax and enjoy what should be an exciting and fulfilling time. We are committed to helping you find a college environment that will offer the greatest opportunities to experience personal and academic challenge, support and success. |
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All About Standardized Tests Most colleges now accept either the ACT or SAT test, and deciding which one is best can be confusing. For those students who take both the PLAN (a "pre-ACT" test) and the PSAT (a "pre-SAT"), comparing these scores can give you an indication of which test might be best. A more useful comparison, however, is an actual or mock ACT and SAT test. Some prep firms offer mock tests that can help you determine which test is best for you, and scores can be compared with this table. Once you decide which test is best for you, focus on just one and try not to jump back and forth to prepare for both as this takes time away from other more important things. It is best to make this decision early in the junior year and move ahead with a plan. So how do the ACT and SAT compare? The ACT is a better test for students who have a weaker vocabulary, need more time on the essay, are doing well in their high school math (as the level is a bit higher) and have less time to prepare. The ACT has more reading comprehension than the SAT, and also includes a science section. The SAT is good for students who like to think out of the box, like to learn and use strategies or tricks, have a strong vocabulary, and like to jump around more (as the SAT has many more sections than the ACT). Explore more of the differences in these two tests here. A third option is to "opt-out" completely from the tests. While many schools are deciding to become "test optional" (see a current list here), making a decision to do this means your academic record needs to speak for itself. You also risk not having a score should you later change your college choices to ones that do require a test. For students with documented disabilities, there are options for taking both the ACT and SAT with accommodations. This process takes a lot of advance planning as lead times for getting approved for accommodations is lengthy, and has become more difficult to attain in recent years. Read more about what students should consider as they explore this option. To help in planning for testing starting in the fall, review these dates for the SAT and ACT: UW
Admissions Update In May, we attended the UW Counselor meeting and learned about this year's and next year's admission process. Admission to the UW continues to be difficult, with applications up by 1200, the admitted combined average SAT increasing to 1251 (math and critical reading only) and the average GPA increasing to 3.74. UW admissions officers continue to stress the importance of senior year in the evaluation of coursework and performance, the value of the holistic review process in understanding the student both academically and personally, and the importance of the application essays. Key points included the increased number of programs and percent of students that are being offered "freshman admits" to these programs, such as business and computer science. We heard from a panel of business students (photo) that highlighted the benefits of this direct admit program.
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Convenient location in University Village! 2623
NE University Village Street, Suite 5 |
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