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