Tag Archives: psat

scholarships, Uncategorized

Automatic scholarships based on standardized test scores

automatic scholarships

Do you need money to pay for college? Are you having trouble motivating your student to study and prepare for standardized tests?

What you may not know is that there are GUARANTEED scholarships available for students based on their standardized test scores. And in case you think they are only for perfect scores, think again. Many colleges award automatic scholarships for scores of 1100 for the SAT and 22 for the ACT. Of course, the higher your score, the more scholarship money you receive.

Automatic National Merit scholarships

Perhaps one of the best sources of money based solely on a standardized test score, is the PSAT. If your student is a National Merit finalist (based on the scores in your state), they are eligible for scholarships. Apart of earning a $2500 scholarship through the competition itself, students can score some big money from colleges by listing them as their first choice when they take the test.

Your student can get a full ride from any number of colleges, just for being a finalist. For example, you can get a full ride scholarship at the University of Idaho and the University of Oklahoma.

With just a little preparation and study (most students don’t prepare for this test), your student can score well stacked up against other students in the state. It’s completely achievable and pays off in huge scholarship dollars.

To learn more about sponsoring universities, read here.

Automatic scholarships based on SAT/ACT scores

Colleges offer automatic scholarships based on your student’s test scores. These scholarships don’t require an extra application or information, but there may be a college application deadline. Check with each individual college for deadline information.

These scholarships are usually posted on the college websites. For a short list of some of the colleges and their scholarship opportunities and how to search for any college, hop over to PrepScholar for a detailed explanation of how to search for these scholarships.

Of course, don’t stop here. Encourage your student to apply for the scholarships that fit them well and keep applying all throughout college. Free money means no debt after graduation. Your son or daughter should appreciate the benefit of that.

test prep

When Should Your Child Take the SAT?

 

Today’s Guest Post is from Shaan Patel, found of 2400 Expert

sat This is perhaps the most common question we get asked at 2400 Expert. Parents always want to know when the “best” time to take the SAT is. First, let’s discuss what your high school counselor will probably tell your child. Traditionally, counselors advise students to take the SAT during spring of their junior year. This advice is based on the fact that most juniors have taken algebra II by the end of their junior year. Because algebra II is the highest level of mathematics tested on the SAT, counselors tell students to wait until they have completed this subject in school before attempting to take the SAT. On the surface, this reasoning seems logical. However, this advice also goes against my belief that high school classes don’t prepare students for the SAT. In fact, students really don’t need to have taken a class in algebra II to take the SAT. Although there are some basic algebra II concepts, it is not necessary to go through an entire algebra II course. Instead, we teach students the few algebra II concepts they need to know for the exam in the 2400 Expert SAT prep course.

Spring of junior year is actually one of the least ideal times to take the SAT. This is one of the busiest times of your child’s high school career. If your child is taking AP classes, he or she will have to study for multiple AP exams that occur in May. I also advise students to take SAT Subject exams that correspond with their AP exams during this time of year. For example, if your child is already studying for the U.S. History AP Exam in May, then he or she should also take the U.S. History SAT Subject exam in May or June. In addition to AP exams and SAT Subject exams, your child also needs to study for finals in high school during this time. There are also many social events during this time of year (i.e. junior prom). On top of all of this, high school counselors are recommending that students take the SAT exam. Does this make much sense? No. I don’t think many people realize the amount of time and work it takes to score high on the SAT. While some students are able to balance all of this adeptly, I would not recommend spring of junior year as the ideal time to take the SAT.

My advice on when to take the SAT is not one you will probably like: it depends. When your child decides to take the SAT depends on his or her high school schedule. Your child should select a time in high school that he or she is not obscenely busy. This means, select an SAT test date that your child will be relatively free a couple months before to dedicate time to studying for the SAT. Your child can take the SAT anytime in her high school career and it will count (if she takes the SAT before 9th grade, it will not count towards college admissions – essentially, it’s like “practice”). This means your child can select any SAT test date between October of her freshmen year and January of her senior year. Although many students are most “free” during the summer, the SAT is not administered during the summer months. However, your child can study over the summer and take the first SAT administered in October if that works for her. If your child does decide to take the SAT during spring of her junior year, make sure she is studying for specifically for the SAT in March/April so that she is adequately prepared for the May or June exam.

For younger students, I actually think it’s ideal to start preparing for the SAT early. This is primarily because of the PSAT. The benefits of scoring high on the PSAT and qualifying for National Merit are tremendous (i.e. hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships). And if your child is looking to become a National Merit Semifinalist/Finalist, then she needs to start preparing for the SAT prior to her junior year of high school. Unfortunately, many parents don’t realize this fact and their child misses out on this big opportunity.

Now if your child is an exceptionally young student (i.e. 7th or 8th grade), I would recommend taking the SAT now. The SAT will not show up on her high school record if she takes it before 9th grade. If your child takes the SAT now, she can get a sense of how a real test day will be without the risk of a low score showing up on her College Board score report. Your child will get a feel for how it feels to wake up early Saturday morning to take a 4-hour exam, how many breaks she will get, how many snacks she should bring, where the restrooms are, etc.

In summation, your child should take the SAT when he or she is least busy in high school – anytime between October of her freshmen year and January of her senior year. Although I know your child is busy with AP classes, sports, and extracurricular activities, she needs to find a time in high school when she can dedicate an exceptional amount of time to SAT prep. This exam is crucial to your child’s future and can possibly change his or her life (as it did for me) – so make sure you don’t put it on the back burner. SAT prep should be a top priority.

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Shaan Patel is the founder of 2400 Expert, a #1 bestselling SAT prep book author, and an MD/MBA student at Yale and USC. He also raised his own SAT score from average to perfect and teaches students his methods in an online SAT prep class.

Guest Posts, test prep

The Ultimate Guide to the PSAT

 

Anthony-James Green is a world-renowned SAT and ACT tutor with over 10,000 hours of experience teaching these tests, crafting curriculum, and training other tutors to teach their own students. He is also the founder of TestPrepAuthority.com. CNN recently named Anthony: “The SAT tutor to the 1%”. He’s providing today’s post: The Ultimate Guide to the PSAT.

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psatOf all the standardized tests on the market today, few are less understood than the PSAT.  Almost every client who comes my way has the
same three questions about the PSAT:

1. What’s the difference between the PSAT and the SAT?

2. What’s the point of the PSAT?

3. How does my child prepare for the PSAT?

By the end of this short guide, you’ll know the answers to all three questions, and you’ll have an actionable plan that you can use to conquer this exam and get on with your life!  Without further ado, let’s start The Ultimate Guide to the PSAT.

What’s the difference between the PSAT and the SAT?

The simplest answer to this question?  Almost nothing.  For all intents and purposes, the PSAT and the SAT are almost exactly the same test.  The only differences between the two exams:

1. The PSAT doesn’t have an essay portion.

2. The PSAT is shorter.

The difficulty level of both exams is exactly the same, the material tested is the same, and the format is practically identical.  The PSAT is just a shorter version of the SAT without the essay.  Even the scoring is the same – while the SAT gives you an “out of 2400” grade, with three sections worth 800 points each, the PSAT gives you an “out of 240” grade, with three sections worth 80 points each.  A 50 on the PSAT math section is a 500 on SAT math, a 67 in Writing is a 670 in SAT writing, etc.  Which brings up a good question: if the two tests are so similar, what’s the point of offering the PSAT in the first place?

What’s the POINT of the PSAT?

The PSAT has two major purposes:

1. To give students and parents an idea of where their SAT scores currently stand.

In many ways, this is the most important aspect of the PSAT.  Many parents assume that their children will get good SAT scores because they’re smart, hard-working kids with good grades.  Here’s the issue: your SAT score has NOTHING to do with your academic performance.  The SAT has a bizarre, unique format that tests a limited, extremely random assortment of information in intentionally confusing ways.  I can’t tell you how many parents have said something like this to me:

“I can’t believe John got such a bad math score – he’s a great math student!”

SAT math and academic math are worlds apart.  Just because your child is a “good reader” or “good in English” does not mean that he or she will get a good SAT Reading or Writing score.

The PSAT is a “wakeup call” for parents and students alike.  If you know that you need 650+s to get into your target schools, and your PSAT scores are all in the 40-50 range, then it’s time to prep for the SAT!  Since the PSAT is administered as a requirement but most schools in the country, it’s a helpful warning system for students across the country.

2. The National Merit Scholarship

Students who score in the top ~3% of their state’s population on the PSAT are considered for the National Merit Scholarship.  Students who become National Merit Finalists are extremely coveted by competitive schools – the number of National Merit Finalists at any given school plays into the school’s ranking and prestige.  Furthermore, students who get NMF status can receive grants and scholarships for their tuition.  To learn more about this entire process, including the scores you’ll need, the process for becoming a finalist, etc., you can visit the official site here:

http://www.nationalmerit.org/

If you’re able to achieve NMF finalist status, you have an enormous leg up in the college admissions process.  Not only will you potentially receive free money for college, but you’ll also have a much better chance of getting in (and, because PSAT scores are directly indicative of SAT scores, there’s a darn good chance that you’ll have high SAT scores, which are essential for competitive college admissions).

If you’re interested in competing for the National Merit Scholarship, the key is to start early.  Getting a high SAT score takes time, diligence, and effective preparation.  Which brings us to our third question:

How does my child prepare for the PSAT?

The same exact way that you prepare your child for the SAT!  There’s literally no difference between an effective SAT prep program and an effective PSAT prep program.  If you simply prep your child for the SAT, he or she will have all the skills necessary to crush the PSAT and compete for National Merit Finalist status.

However, there are a few key details that you’ll want to keep in mind:

1. Call your child’s school and find out exactly when the PSAT will be administered.

You need to think ahead, and it’s important that you know precisely when the PSAT will be given so that you can prepare accordingly.

2. Give your child at least two months to prepare.

A solid SAT prep program takes at least two months (and ideally four or five).  If you have less time than this, all is not lost – but you need to get started immediately.

3. Avoid classroom SAT courses like the plague.

Countless studies have shown how remarkably ineffective these courses are.  Choose either an online, self-directed course, or, if you have the means, get a reputable one-on-one SAT tutor.  Never spend your money on SAT classroom courses, which charge you upwards of $1,000 to read a book out loud to your child.

4. No matter which prep option you choose, be sure that it has both an excellent track record of results and extensive testimonials and references.

There are few barriers to entry in the SAT prep space, and literally anyone can become a tutor, write a book, or craft a program.  No matter which online course or tutor you choose, be sure that you know exactly what past students have experienced, and be sure that the option comes highly recommended.

That’s all there is to it!

The PSAT is simply a “warm up” for the SAT, but if you do well, you’ll be able to achieve scholarships, gain a leg up in the admissions process, and get a headstart on your SAT prep.  If you’re interested in shooting for a NMS Finalist position, get started as soon as possible.

Thanks so much for reading my guide, and good luck with your prep!

 

Scholarship Friday, scholarships, test prep

Scholarship Friday: The PSAT Scholarships

 

psatIn the National Merit® Scholarship Program, three types of Merit Scholarship® awards are offered to Finalists: National Merit $2500 Scholarships, corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards, and college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards. Special Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students who are not Finalists and meet a corporate sponsor’s criteria. In the National Achievement® Scholarship Program, two types of scholarships are offered: National Achievement $2500 Scholarships and corporate-sponsored Achievement Scholarship awards.

Today, however, I want to focus on the merit awards a finalist can receive from the colleges. This is where the big awards appear. And it’s also why the PSAT just might be more important than the SAT.

Why put so much focus on the PSAT?

By outscoring others in your state, your student can become a National Merit Semi-Finalist. In order to do this, they don’t have to necessarily have a perfect score. They have to score as well or better than the state index. By outscoring others in your state, you can become a semi-finalist. Your goal is to beat the state index which isn’t as difficult as you might think since most students don’t study or prepare for the test. For a list of state index scores click here.

How does your student become a National Merit Finalist?

After being chosen as a semi-finalist, there is a 96% chance of becoming a finalist. The only students who do not move up to finalist rank are those who do not submit any information about themselves, do not have good grades, do not take the SAT, or fail to score well on the SAT.

What type of awards are we talking about?

When your student completes the semi-finalist paperwork they will indicate the college of their choice. Only one college can be selected, however; be thoughtful when making the selection. Colleges who have money set aside for the finalists will use merit aid to entice your student to attend: full tuition, room and board, books and fees, laptops, study abroad and even spending money. They will also offer automatic entrance into the honors college, the best housing and priority registration until graduation.

As you can see, with all this at stake, it makes sense for your student to put a great amount of focus on studying and preparing for the PSAT.

For a great explanation on the importance of the PSAT for students and how parents can help, listen to Celest Horton’s podcast on How to Pay for College HQ: Paying for College With Debt-Free Strategies.

Guest Posts, test prep, Uncategorized

Last minute study tips for the PSAT

 

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psat

For many high school students, their first big standardized test is the PSAT, which is scheduled for this Saturday across the country. The PSAT is more or less a practice test for the SAT, but with one big distinction; scoring well can get you named as a National Merit Scholar finalist and earn you cash for college. It’s the perfect test to figure out your best strategies for test prep — especially if you’re a sophomore taking it for the first time.

Many students don’t prep for the PSAT like they would for the SAT or ACT. If you’re starting today or just looking to squeeze in a few last minute prep sessions before Saturday’s test, read on for some quick tips and tricks.

Take a Practice Test

The PSAT takes about 2 hours from start to finish. If you’ve never sat for an exam of that length, going through a practice exam can accomplish three things. First, it will give you confidence that you can actually sit for the complete test and get through the entire exam. Second, it will give you a sense of areas you can make quick improvements on. For example, you may discover that you aren’t getting through all of the math questions, or that you’re rusty on some aspects of the geometry but are racing through the algebra. Third and finally, it will get you familiar with the test structure. Remember that the PSAT has the exact same structure on every single test; only the questions change.

Brush Up on What You Don’t Know

Now that you’ve taken a test and identified areas for improvement, drill down on those areas. Don’t waste time reviewing every topic covered on the test since undoubtedly you’re zipping through some questions without an issue. If you’re struggling with Algebra, spend time getting Algebra help and reviewing factoring and quadratics, instead of using your valuable last minute study time reviewing geometry concepts.

Develop a Strategy For Skipping Questions

Figure out when you’re going to skip questions, and when you’re going to guess. According to the College Board (who administers the PSAT), “Students can earn an above-average score by getting only half the questions right and omitting answers for the rest of the questions.” Random guessing won’t help you earn a great score, but if you can narrow your answer choices down to two answers, it’s worth it to guess (you’ll lose ¼ point for every wrong answer). Give yourself a time window for answering tough questions; you won’t benefit from spending 5 minutes on question you inevitably get wrong. If you’re struggling to figure out how to tackle a question in the first 15 seconds and don’t have an inkling of how to solve it, move on; you can always come back later.

Don’t Stress Too Much

Remember that the PSAT is a practice test (except for the National Merit qualification). It won’t determine the rest of your life and stressing out too much won’t help you much anyway. Make sure you eat a healthy dinner the night before, get a good night’s sleep, and then eat a healthy breakfast the morning of. If you can, get some exercise the day before as well (working out can aid in brain function).

The PSAT is the first of many standardized tests — SATs, ACTs, APs, placement tests — that you’ll encounter in your life. And for the most part, this is one of the few exams whose outcome is not all that important. Use this as an opportunity to build up good test-taking strategies that you can apply not only to the PSAT, but to other standardized tests as you come across them in the future.

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Today’s guest blogger, Laura Oppenheimer, works for InstaEDU, the online tutoring company that offers online PSAT test prep and tutoring.

test prep

Christmas in July-A FREE Direct Hits Vocabulary eBook

 

direct hits vocabulary bookFREE? What’s the catch? There is none. All you have to do is follow the link below and download the book. Summer is a great time to study for standardized tests and with vocabulary a key component, every student should take advance of this FREE offer.

From Tuesday, July 9, at 12:01 a.m. PST through Wednesday, July 10, 11:59 p.m. PST the Direct Hits Core Vocabulary of the SAT eBook will be available for FREE!

Click here for the free download http://amzn.to/ZazhwT

Students who already have the very popular paperback version can now add the eBook to their mobile devices at no charge. Especially if they plan to take a standardized test such as the SAT, PSAT, SSAT, and even the GRE, it can be even easier to build vocabulary skills.

This is also a great way to share the Direct Hits Core Vocabulary of the SAT eBook with friends. We all need to increase our word capital!