Beware of the Testing Tattoo!
Young lives are about to change–again! Why? The results from the October administration of the PSAT are now available. Like it or not, the outcome of one Saturday morning test–a set of number-two pencil marks in a seemingly endless column of bubbles–will become for many the defining element with regard to college admission, eligibility for scholarships, and direction in life in general.
Let’s not underestimate the impact the scores can have on self-esteem. Long before an admission committee is able to view them as part of an application for admission, the test results will have profoundly changed the way students are regarded by others–not to mention the way they feel about themselves. And if this happens to you, it will seem as though the score has figuratively leaped off the page and onto your forehead where it is become permanently imprinted like a big tattoo!
If the number that smiles up at you as you open the envelope bearing the results is “big,” you may suddenly see yourself as having options at a range of highly selective colleges. On the other hand, I have witnessed the devastation felt by students whose results fall out of the competitive range for the schools that had been in their sights. When this happens, the immediate reaction can be one of frustration and hopelessness. Regardless, I would like to offer advice that will help you survive and move past this life-changing event.
First, whatever your result, a healthy dose of perspective is warranted. If you are fortunate to be staring at a “big” score, remember that the score itself is not the ticket to fame and fortune. Big scores without big grades can be a problem especially if you want to compete for exclusive scholarships and/or admission to highly selective colleges. Even with the combination of big scores and big grades, you must compete with thousands of others just like you for limited places at the most selective colleges. And if your scores don’t match your expectations, remember that the PSAT is just a test–in fact, a practice test. Your life isn’t over and you can still go to college. The results may have many meanings, real and imagined but they are not a reflection of your character and achievements.
This leads me to the second bit of advice. Don’t obsess on the test or the results. Don’t let them diminish in any way the good things you are doing or dictate the value you attach to yourself. The odds are you didn’t become a different person the moment you opened the envelope, so don’t let reading the contents change you! And for heaven’s sake, don’t let the determination to improve your scores by 20 points or 200 points affect the way you live your life! The fact is your scores are likely to improve incrementally over time as the lessons of the classroom and life in general broaden your knowledge base and make you a more critical thinker.
If you want to help yourself, concentrate on continuing to do well in the classroom-and read. Lots. The more you read, the more you are exposed contextually to complex ideas and advanced vocabulary. The good news is that subscribing to solutions such as these will cost you very little!
Inevitably, though, your attention is also going to turn in the direction of what might appear to be a quick fix–test prep. While it is true you can be coached to improve your results on future tests, be measured in your approach. Take advantage of test prep instruction that is consistent with the way you learn best. Ideally, such a program will 1) give you exposure to actual SAT questions that have been “retired,” 2) include a thorough orientation to the test and test-taking strategies, and 3) conclude within ten days of the next SAT you plan to take.
The next tip is to use your PSAT results to begin calibrating your college search. Like them or not, they can help you find schools where you are likely to be a competitive applicant. As you learn about colleges, see where your results fall in the distribution of test results for the students they enrolled in previous years. The best fits for you will be those places where your scores fall in the top 50% of those reported for entering freshmen. (The further below the mid-point of the score range your results fall, the longer the odds against your chances of admission.) Will such scores assure your admission to these schools? No. They will, however, position you so that your other strengths and attributes can give you the competitive edge–so you can be valued for what you do well. Even though your testing profile may improve over time, it is better to allow yourself to think broadly about options at the outset.
Finally, remember that you have options. Look into the ACT if you haven’t done so already. It is regarded by many as a student-friendly test in that the content reflects material you have covered in the classroom and the style of the test is much like that you have experienced in other year-end achievement testing in school. Besides, every school in the country will now accept either the SAT or the ACT. Your other option is to explore the 760 colleges and universities that make test submission optional.
The downside to spending too much time talking and thinking about testing is that we have already conceded more to the testing process than it deserves. Yes, you need to take tests to get into college. Yes, there are things you can do to help yourself and improve your scores. And, yes, it is possible to obsess on this part of the admission process to the point of excluding other important considerations. Among them is your need to have a life!
On December 19, the Straight Talk About College Admission teleseminar series will examine “The Role of Testing and the Value of Test Prep” (8PM ET) with guest expert, Rusty Haynes. Currently the College Advisor at The Colorado Springs School, Rusty’s experience with testing dates to the early days of test preparation and he will share some of the secrets to getting the most out of the testing experience. For more information and to register for the seminar, go to: http://www.theadmissiongame.com/teleseminar_registration.php
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