The Princeton Review
College Admissions
The New SAT
and IB
Hanna Kim
Hanna.kim@review.com
February 2016
A high school career -­ diagrammed
High School Transcript
Academic
Credentials
Standardized Test Scores
Non-­‐academic
credentials
Outside the classroom
The individual
College
Application
Will I get in?
Success in college admission
is directly linked
to success in high school.
College Admittance
A highly-­selective college
The applicant pool
The freshman class
First pass
First pass
Not Accepted
Letters go out
Not Accepted
Selectivity Number of students who apply
Selectivity Number of students who apply
Number of students admitted
Selectivity …is not a measure of…
…the quality of a school.
…the quality of an education.
A high school career -­ diagrammed
High School Transcript
Academic
Credentials
Non-­‐academic
credentials
College
Application
The high school transcript
(Cumulative) grade point average
Classes
Grades
Ranking among classmates
The bottom line: Cumulative GPA
Cum GPA
A Dolores
3.5
B Henry
3.4
C Mack
3.1
Beyond GPA
9th
11th
10th Cum GPA
A Dolores
3.5
3.5
3.5 3.5
B Henry
3.4
3.4
3.4 3.4
C Mack
3.3
3.3
3.3 3.1
Beyond GPA
9th
10th
11th
Cum GPA
A Dolores
4.0
3.5
3.0
3.5
B Henry
3.0
3.4
3.8
3.4
C Mack
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
Beyond GPA
9th
10th
11th
Cum GPA
A Dolores
4.0
3.5
3.0
3.5
B Henry
3.0
3.4
3.8
3.4
C Mack
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
The Trend
Beyond GPA
Cumulative GPA & The Trend
What may an admissions officer conclude in each scenario?
DOLORES: Your grades have fallen from 9th grade to now.
You are a capable student who has become lazy.
HENRY: Your grades have risen from 9th grade to now.
You had a rocky start, but you found your stride.
MACK: Your grades are consistent throughout HS.
Your grades accurately measure your academic performance.
Classes and grades
A Miriam
B
Angel
9th
10th
11th
Cum GPA
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.4
Classes and grades
9th
10th
11th
Cum GPA
A Miriam
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.4
B Angel
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.4
Calculus
English Literature
AP Chemistry
French IV
European History
Physical Education
Art
Semester GPA
A
B+
B
A-­‐
B+
B+
A
3.4
Miriam
Angel
Advanced Algebra
English Literature
Earth Sciences
World History
Psychology
Physical Education
B+
A-­‐
B+
A-­‐
B+
A-­‐
Semester GPA
3.4
Classes and grades
9th
10th
11th
Cum GPA
A Miriam
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.4
B Angel
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.4
Calculus
English Literature
AP Chemistry
French IV
European History
Physical Education
Art
Semester GPA
A
B+
B
A-­‐
B+
B+
A
3.4
Miriam
Angel
Advanced Algebra
English Literature
Earth Sciences
World History
Psychology
Physical Education
B+
A-­‐
B+
A-­‐
B+
A-­‐
Semester GPA
3.4
Rigor
College preparedness
IB Full Diploma*
Summer enrichment programs
Classes from the local community college
AP credits or IB Certificate*
A high school career -­ revisited
Class rigor
Academic
Credentials
GPA
HS transcript
HS profile
Rank
College credits
Standardized Test Scores
Non-­‐academic
credentials
College
Application
Trend The standardized tests
Test
Used for…
Sign up @
PSAT
Practice
Your high school
PLAN (ASPIRE)
Practice
Your high school
RSAT
Admissions
collegeboard.com
ACT
Admissions
actstudent.org
SAT IIs
Admissions*
collegeboard.com
The standardized tests
Some schools require either:
•SAT Reasoning Test
•2 SAT Subject Tests
OR
•ACT + Writing
SAT / ACT
True or False?
The SAT and ACT measure intelligence.
All colleges accept either the SAT or the ACT.
The SAT and ACT indicate college performance.
Neither test is easier/harder than the other.
HS Class of 2017 Test Options
ACT
• February 2016
• April 2016
• June 2016
SAT
• Last given January 2016
Redesigned
SAT
• March 2016 (US)
• May 2016
• June 2016
Option 1: Take ACT only.
Option 2: Take redesigned SAT only.
Option 3: Take a combination of Options 1 and 2.
New SAT
General Format and Scoring
Change
“Old” SAT
SECTIONS
1. Math
2. Critical Reading
3. Writing Skills
*essay required
•
•
SCORING
Total score out of 2400
200 – 800 for each subject
*essay reflected in Writing score
Redesigned SAT
1. Math
2. Evidence-­‐Based Reading and Writing
*Optional essay not included in other scores
•
•
Composite score out of 1600
200 – 800 for each of the 2 Areas
New sub-­‐scoring within each test and across the entire exam.
*Essay scored separately; not required.
What does this mean for your students?
Essay on Current SAT c ounts toward the total score. Essay on RSAT is optional and doesn’t count towards the Composite score.
Timing
Change
TIMING
“Old” SAT
Redesigned SAT
Math
• 2 (25 minutes)
• 1 ( 20 minutes)
Critical Reading
• 2 ( 25 minutes)
• 1 ( 20 minutes)
Writing
• 1 essay ( 25 minutes)
• 1 grammar ( 25 minutes)
• 1 grammar ( 10 minutes)
Experimental
• 1 ( 25 minute)
Math
• 1 ( Calculator allowed – 55 minutes)
• 1 ( No Calculator – 20 minutes)
Reading
• 1 ( 65 minutes)
Writing & Language
• 1 ( 35 minutes)
Essay (optional)
• 1 ( 50 minutes) Total Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
Total Time with Essay: 3 hours, 50 minutes What does this mean for your students?
With fewer, but longer, sections, if your students like working in long, uninterrupted blocks of time, they will appreciate the change.
Big Picture
Topic
Big Picture
Math
More advanced and complex on RSAT including more Grid-­‐In (not multiple choice) questions. No calculator on one section!
Less weird vocabulary but emphasis on secondary definitions, more charts & graphs and references to historical documents.
More grammar on RSAT and tested in passages. Optional essay doesn’t count toward Composite score.
Reading
Writing
Answers
Fewer choices on RSAT is better
Guessing
No penalty for wrong answers makes it easier to guess
The RSAT will be just as coachable as the “old” SAT!
Current vs Redesigned
“Old” SAT vs RSAT Preference?
Class 2017
Duke, Harvard, NYU, Yale, Wellesley: no preference
Class of 2018
Northwestern: “old” SAT not accepted
Brown: no preference
Columbia: no preference
Is Essay really optional?
Current vs Redesigned
Harvard: Yes
Cornell: No
Carnegie Mellon: Yes
How Will Colleges Use RSAT?
Change
Superscore
Subscores
Old SAT
Most schools automatically use a Superscore.
None
Redesigned SAT
Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins and Northwestern will not combine old SAT and RSAT subscores
Boston College will super score across the two versions of the SAT Most schools will take time to decide whether to consider them, which ones to consider
What does this mean for your students?
Though the test is changing, a student’s goal is the same: to get the best possible score they can on whichever test they choose to take. SAT subject tests
Are SAT subject tests required for college admission?
When should you take these tests?
What if your chosen colleges do not require the tests?
A high school career -­ revisited
Class rigor
Academic
Credentials
Non-­‐academic
credentials
GPA
HS transcript
HS profile
Rank
College credits
Standardized Test Scores
SAT Subject Tests
SAT/ACT
PLAN/PSAT
Outside the classroom
The individual
College
Application
Trend Outside the classroom
Delilah
Dance Troupe: 10, 11, 12 Captain
Big Sister Program: 11, 12
Brooke
Yearbook: 9 (asst. photo editor)
Mock Trial: 10, 11 (lead defense)
Choir: 10
Amnesty International: 12 (secretary)
Softball: 9, 10
Teacher’s Assistant: 12
Cross-­‐country: 11
Do something
Commitment
Earned recognition
Earned a leadership position
Listing extra-­curricular activity
Fine Art Society – 10
6th grade teacher’s assistant – 11
Mock Trial – 9 Yearbook – 10, 11, 12 (photo editor)
Wrestling – 9 Delta Club – 9, 10, 11, 12
Service Award – 11
Newspaper – 9, 10
Tennis – 9, 10, 11, 12 (first doubles)
Letterman Club – 10 Listing extra-­curricular activity
Fine Art Society – 10
6th grade teacher’s assistant – 11
Mock Trial – 9 Yearbook – 10, 11, 12 (photo editor)
Wrestling – 9 Delta Club – 9, 10, 11, 12
Service Award – 11
Newspaper – 9, 10
Tennis – 9, 10, 11, 12 (first doubles)
Letterman Club – 10 Listing extra-­curricular activity
6th grade teacher’s assistant – 11
Yearbook – 10, 11, 12 (photo editor)
Delta Club – 9, 10, 11, 12
Service Award – 11
Tennis – 9, 10, 11, 12 (first doubles)
Tennis – 9, 10, 11, 12 (first doubles)
Yearbook – 10, 11, 12 (photo editor)
Delta Club – 9, 10, 11, 12
Teacher’s assistant (6th grade) – 11
Service Award – 11
Who are admissions officers?
This is their career OR their job?
They make big bucks OR little bucks?
They have advanced degrees OR are recent college graduates?
They are just like you. They are regular people who want to get to know you and want to like you.
The individual you are
Letters of recommendation
Essay or personal statement
Interview
Letters of Recommendation
Identify potential recommenders
Make polite requests well ahead of time
Provide ALL necessary materials:
Instructions
High school resume
Addressed envelope, stamps
Follow-­‐through
Friendly reminders
Thank you notes
Essay Topics
• “Some studies suggest standardized test scores do not accurately reflect many students’ real aptitude. With the help of my parents, counselors, and a diagnostic learning professional, I discovered I was one of those special cases.”
• “Last summer, my family vacationed in Belize. There, I met Sadina, a woman with no real home and no real job. Two months later, back in the States, I was a different person.”
• “I can tell you the very minute that the best moment of my life came. There was three seconds left on the clock, and I got the ball.”
• “Have you been lucky enough to know love? Let me tell you about my Sam.”
• “When high school started, I turned my back on my best friend. He did nothing wrong. He was the same person from before. But in the eyes of our classmates, he wasn’t cool. And I didn’t have the courage to remain loyal.”
Essay Topics
Do NOT write about…
Grades or test scores
Cliché topics
Religion or politics
Boyfriend or girlfriend
Rubric: could anyone else have written this essay?
Essay Topics
Do write about…
Something personal and authentic.
Something that you’re excited to write about.
Something that shows how you’ve changed or grown.
Something that is important to you.
Rubric: could anyone else have written this essay?
Essay Topics
And don’t forget:
Follow the instructions. You must answer the question that is asked.
Provide specific details.
Proofread, proofread, proofread. No spelling or grammar errors at all.
Have someone else read it. They will be able to see things you can’t.
The Interview
Take the optional interview.
Prepare to talk about yourself, your high school, and the college.
Practice.
Think of it as a conversation, not an interview.
The Interview
• “This is a fantastic liberal arts college with a great reputation.”
• “I’ve been thinking about preparing for a career in medicine. So if you have a pre-­‐med program, this college and I are a match.”
• “I’ve had my eye on this school for a while, and I think it’s great. If I don’t get accepted to Brown, this is my next first choice.”
• “I love science, and you offer quite a bit in that area. I hope I can be a part of Science Scholars program, which is why I’m taking AP biology and chemistry. And now that I’ve met students from the program, I am even more excited about the prospect of being here. I had lunch with two freshmen, and we spoke about…” A high school career -­ revisited
Class rigor
Academic
Credentials
Non-­‐academic
credentials
HS transcript
HS profile
GPA
Rank
College credits
Standardized Test Scores
SAT Subject Tests
SAT/ACT
PLAN/PSAT
Extracurriculars
Essay
Trend Interview
Letters of Rec
College
Application
Application timelines
September
October
November
December
January
Early
Decision
Early
Action
Early Action/ Single Choice
Regular Admission
Rolling Admission
February
IB and College Admissions
1. Academic rigor
2. Competition
3. Intellectual Curiosity
IB: Academic Rigor
• Do you have what it takes to be successful in college?
• Are you taking advantage of what is offered at your school? • Are you taking these courses and succeeding?
IB: Competition
• College admissions by regions and schools
• Collegial versus competitive within your school
IB: Intellectual Curiosity
How do you stand out?
IB: For you
How to Get into Harvard
Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust
Hanna Kim
Hanna.kim@review.com
Princeton Review in Panama
www.princetonreview.com/inter
national/locations#panama-­cde
PTYTestPrep@outlook.com
507-­‐6615-­‐1401