SAT | Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog

Stricter Rules for the SAT and ACT

April 5, 2012 by Accepted.com

Higher security for SAT and ACT test takers

In response to a cheating scandal last year, students taking the SAT and ACT exams will now be required to send in a photograph when signing up for the exams, The New York Times reports. The pictures will be printed on the roster at the test center and on their admission tickets, and be used to compare with the IDs brought in by students on testing day, as well as their actual faces.

Until now, test-takers had a choice as to whether their scores would be sent to their high schools, but now it is required. The schools will also receive a photo of the student along with his/her score. Students must now share their birth date and gender, and “certify their identity in writing at the test center and acknowledge the possibility of prosecution for impersonation.” There will no longer be standby test registration, as students will not be able to register on test day.

One change that has drawn some debate is if colleges will receive students’ photos along with their scores. While this measure can serve as another check against cheating, many have objected that the photos could “unduly sway the admissions process.” Experts at testing companies are looking into the matter.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Filed Under: College Admissions Tagged With: SAT

College Admissions News Roundup

January 9, 2012 by Accepted.com

Online Courses Taken to the Next Level- Inside Higher Ed looks at a course on Artificial Intelligence offered as part of a trio of Stanford computer science courses that were broadcasted for the public this fall. These “massive open online courses,” or MOOCs, are unique because not only can students use the course material and listen to lectures online, they can also take in-class quizzes, submit homework assignments and go to virtual office hours. While other schools also offer free online courses, none have offered this level of professor-student engagement and the opportunity to give in assignments and get grades.
SAT Cheating: How Do They Do It?- CBS News reported on the case of Sam Eshaghoff, a 19-year-old who used fake IDs and was paid by other students, up to $2,500 each, to take the SATs for them. CBS News had the first interview with Eshaghoff, during which he explains why he cheated (basically, money). Eshaghoff was caught in fall 2011 and has accepted a plea deal, but the fact that he was able to take 16 tests before doing so raises questions about the integrity of the SAT.
Has Applying to College Become More Important Than Going?- The New York Times looks at the value of taking a gap year between high school and college to remind students why they should be excited about college in the first place. The application process can often be so grueling that students think getting in is a goal in itself. Evidence has even proven that those who take gap years “bring more to their college experiences and derive more as well.” Some studies even show that students that take a gap year do better than their non-gap year classmates. So who’s up for a break?
“Not All College Majors Are Created Equal”- The Chronicle of Education reports that a study done by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that unemployment rates vary based on your college major. For example, architecture majors have a 13.9% unemployment rate, and graduates that studied health or education only have a 5.4% unemployment rate. The good news is that the study found, regardless of major, going to college will heighten your chances of getting a job: the unemployment rate for bachelor’s-degree recipients is 8.9% and for high school graduates it is 22.9%. So if you are going to college, you are already on the right path!
The New York Times Helps College Applicants in India- The New York Times admissions blog interviews the deans of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, who give advice to college applicants applying from India. Eric J. Furda, dean of admissions, and Patrick Bredehoft, regional director of admissions, answer the top 10 questions Indian applicants have about applying to elite American colleges. The NYT admissions blog, which is called The Choice, will also now be featured in India Ink, where it will continue to help prepare Indian students considering applying to American universities. The article is also valuable for non-Indian applicants to U.S. colleges.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Filed Under: College Admissions Tagged With: SAT

Preparing for College: January

January 16, 2011 by Whitney Bruce

This is the first in a series of monthly blog posts designed for members of the high school class of 2012. It highlights planning steps that you can take now to make your college application process easier.

Take a look at the calendar. In one year, your college applications will be submitted and you’ll be waiting for admissions committees to pore over your accomplishments, and carefully read your essays before rendering a decision. There is a lot to do between now and then.

This month, create a long range plan for your standardized testing. If you took the PSAT in October, reflect on your scores. Are they at the level you hoped they would be? If not, consider how you are going to improve your scores: a tutor, test prep course, or the old fashioned book and computer program route?

Some parts of the US administer a college reportable version of the ACT as part of their statewide standardized testing. If you attend public school in Colorado, Michigan, or Illinois, your high school has already planned an ACT date for you. Otherwise, consider taking both the SAT and the ACT test during one of the available testing dates between now and June. Register early in order to commit your time to the test and to ensure access to the testing center of your choice.

For students considering application to the more selective colleges in the United States, SAT II scores are often required as well. These subject oriented tests are given on most the same dates as the SAT I exam, although you cannot take both the SAT I and the SAT II on the same test date. Colleges that require the SAT II exams generally ask for two subject tests. If you are considering studying engineering in college, consider choosing to take one of the two math exams, many engineering schools specifically request such a score.

By this time, you may have allocated three Saturdays in the next 6 months to your number 2 pencils and a desk at the local high school. Look ahead to the fall and pencil in a chance to do it all again. Research has shown that many students increase their test scores with familiarity. You might find that your scores on the SAT or ACT are substantially higher than the other test, and choose to concentrate a second round of testing on only one exam. That’s fine, but give your self ample opportunity to achieve your best scores prior to the first application deadlines you are trying to meet next fall.

By Whitney Bruce, who has worked in college admissions since 1996. She has served as an Senior Assistant Director of Admissions (Washington U), Application Reader (University of Michigan), Assistant Director of College Counseling (private prep school in St. Louis), and an independent college counselor. She is happy to advise you as you apply to college.