Remember to register by January 5th to take the ACT on February 6th. Late registration is also available through January 15th. You can sign up online at www.actstudent.org.
Archive for December, 2009
Register for February 6th ACT by January 5th
Thursday, December 31st, 2009Results are available for the December 12th ACT
Monday, December 28th, 2009Results from the December 12th ACT are now available online at actstudent.org.
The January SAT registration deadline extended
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009The January SAT registration deadline has been extended to 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time), Wednesday, December 23, 2009. Students registering on Wednesday will not be charged a late fee.
This extension applies to all registrations—made online, by phone, or by mail—for all SAT test centers, regardless of their locations. You can sign up online at www.collegeboard.org.
Results are available for the December 5th SAT
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009Results from the December 5th SAT are now available online at collegeboard.org.
SAT scores steady for Class of ‘09
Monday, December 21st, 2009Writer for the New York Times Sam Dillon reports that the SAT scores for the Class of ‘09 held steady.
“Average SAT scores in reading and writing declined by one point this year, while math scores held steady, according to a report on the high school class of 2009 released Tuesday by the College Board.
“Average scores on the ACT, the other major standardized test used for college admissions, were also flat, according to data released last week.
“Average scores on the three sections of the SAT were 501 in critical reading, 493 in writing, and 515 in mathematics. Scores for each section of the test range from 200 to 800.
“Average scores last year, for the high school class of 2008, were 502 in reading, 494 in writing, and 515 in math.”
Most expensive colleges in America
Thursday, December 17th, 2009CampusGrotto.com has posted its list of most expensive colleges in America. ”For the second year in a row, Sarah Lawrence College is the most expensive college in the nation for the 2009-2010 school year, while NYU edges out The George Washington University to take 2nd in the ranking.”
Here are the top ten with the highest total cost (total cost = tuition + room and board):
| College | Total Cost |
| 1. Sarah Lawrence College | $54,410 |
| 2. New York University | $51,991 |
| 3. The George Washington University | $51,730 |
| 4. Bates College | $51,300 |
| 5. Skidmore College | $51,196 |
| 6. Johns Hopkins University | $51,190 |
| 7. Georgetown University | $51,122 |
| 8. Connecticut College | $51,115 |
| 9. Harvey Mudd College | $51,037 |
| 10. Vassar College | $50,875 |
College costs keep rising
Monday, December 14th, 2009Tamar Lewin, writer for the New York Times, reports that “the price of a college education rose substantially last year, despite a 2.1 percent decline in the Consumer Price Index from July 2008 to July 2009.
“Hit hard by state budget cuts, four-year public colleges raised tuition and fees by an average of 6.5 percent last year. Prices at private colleges rose 4.4 percent, according to a report issued Tuesday by College Board.”
Making the most of a college fair
Thursday, December 10th, 2009Newsday.com gives practical advice on how to make the most of a college fair:
- Know before you go – Know what you want to accomplish and what type of college you are looking for.
- Get up-close and personal – Meet representatives and make connections.
- Divide and conquer – Have your parents attend the fair and split up to get the most information.
- Follow up – Sort through brochures, review your notes, and continue to investigate the schools you found to be the best fit.
Register for the January 23rd SAT by December 15th
Monday, December 7th, 2009Remember to register by December 15th to take the SAT on January 23rd. Late registration is also available through December 30th. You can sign up online at www.collegeboard.org.
Working with your guidance counselor
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009A columnist from Newsday.com’s College Prep Talk column focuses on the partnership between the student and the guidance counselor.
“If you are a high school senior, your guidance counselor is a very important resource in the college admissions process. Working together with your counselor will save you and your parents time and unnecessary anxiety about your college applications. And time is of the essence. Every school district has more students preparing for college this year than they had last year. Talk with your guidance counselor as soon as possible to make sure you are on track for success.”
In this article, counselor Gwyeth Smith gives the following practical tips:
- Take the Initiative – set up an appointment with your counselor.
- The 3R’s: Reach, Reliable, Realistic – make sure your list of schools has two from each category.
- Ask for Help Prioritizing – which school applications should you work on and submit first?
- Keep Your Counselor Posted – share with your counselor your resume and copies of a good draft of your college essays.
- Have a Little Patience – know your counselor is working with numerous students and remember that you are “partners on a journey.”