College Guidance Q & A

Larry receives numerous questions about college admissions from applicants and their families. While this week's question is about Ivy League admissions, Larry's response can be applied more broadly.

Q: What trumps a perfect SAT score when being admitted to an Ivy League college?

A: A perfect GPA overwhelms a perfect SAT score and makes the test largely irrelevant. Many students with perfect test scores are not admitted to the most selective US colleges.

AP courses completed with high AP test scores can result in a class placement advantage. On the other hand, the influence of SAT scores disappears after acceptance to one of these colleges.

Larry works with students of all academic profiles and extracurricular interests. If you have questions about college admissions or would like to learn more about our program, please contact him at larry@learningassoc.com.

College Guidance Q & A

As a college admissions advisor, Larry receives numerous questions from applicants and their families. This week he addresses a topic on the minds of many high school students - college admissions testing.

Q: Which is easier, the SAT or ACT?

A: The overwhelming use of these two tests is as a marker for college admissions, so it might be best to limit consideration to that purpose.

When an applicant submits scores to a college, the test scores are being considered in context - by comparison with historical applicant scores and scores of applicants in the current pool. For context when considering the test scores of applicants who submit ACT v SAT, the colleges can also turn to the concordance tables worked out by psychometricians at ACT and College Board.

Therefore, there is no meaning to any argument about “which is easier.” In relatively few instances, one of the tests is more suitable for a student than the other, but when looking at large numbers of test takers the outcomes are equivalent.

If you have questions about college admissions or would like to learn more about our program, please contact Larry Blumenstyk at larry@learningassoc.com.

College Guidance Q & A

Larry receives numerous questions from applicants and their families about college admissions. While this week's question comes from a younger student interested in applying to Ivy League universities, Larry's response includes thoughtful advice and insight that all students can use.

Q. How do I start preparing to apply to an Ivy League School if I just started high school? What should I do to maximize my chances of getting accepted?

A. Forget the appellation “Ivy League” to start. All the Ivy League colleges are excellent, but the eight of them compete in athletics without granting athletic scholarships. Unless you are an elite athlete, the league is meaningless.

Today, as you start high school, ask what’s important to you. Check back on that often. Over the next three years do what’s important to you and hopefully that goes beyond academics. Why? Because academic excellence is only the first screen for highly selective colleges.

When you discover what is important to you beyond academics, pursue it. Grow its influence upon you and others. If you need help, enlist capable partners. Be bold and ask for what you want, but listen to what you hear. Don’t just join. Joining is good, but it’s easy.

None of this is guaranteed to get you there. You might not succeed. But if you fall short, you will still be in a good place.

In the meantime, slowly but increasingly learn which colleges offer a match for your ideals and aspirations. Those colleges will see you in the most positive light.

When the August before your senior year arrives, start your applications and thoughtfully answer every question. Edit and revise. Be merciless upon yourself, allowing no clichés. Application submission is, unfortunately, a competition - but it is not a race. No fine college cares when you apply as long as it’s before their deadline. Good luck.