For Parents On "Unrealistic College Expectations", by Mark Greenstein
Even if a student has a first SAT that leaves her WAY below a likely admission to the elite college she's pining for, if she has the right attitude, her continued work towards SAT greatness makes sense.
1) Falling a little short of a really huge goal leaves you...hugely improved! So you didn't make that 500 point improvement. You got 80% of the way. Here 80% is not "B minus"; it's FOUR HUNDRED SAT POINTS.
2) Falling a little short might keep you from your top choice college, but WORKING towards a top choice college just opened up oodles of other colleges whose doors were previously closed to you.
3) She MIGHT become one of those rare 500+ point improvers. Ivy Bound has at least six former students in that category. Diligence could propel her to that elite echelon.
4) If mediocre grades as a freshman and sophomore preclude admission to a top tier college, a big SAT score will likely yield admission to a lower tier college WITH MERIT MONEY. Merit-based scholarships typically have SAT score as a one of the top factor, if not THE top factor. We know of students going to very good Universities who are giddy that they are at a good college and will come out with NO debt. (Their parents are usually more giddy). The Merit money available via grades and SAT Scores (not PSAT) is $5,000 to $25,000 PER YEAR, renewable for four years.
To the extent a diligent student is hurt when a "denial letter" arrives, she can take solace that there would be worse hurt had her "next" choices also denied her and she's heading instead to her "backup" college.
To the extent a student is hurt when the top choice college denies him, the hurt is mollified by knowing "I did everything I could". The hurt is likely magnified when the student chose not to go "full throttle" and thereby reduced the chance of acceptance.
Finally, the hurt of having to attend your "second choice" college almost always evaporates when you begin Freshman Orientation week at your new college.
Mark Greenstein is the founder and principal instructor of Ivy Bound Test Prep & Academic Tutoring. With over twenty years of experience, Ivy Bound offers a 150 SAT point guarantee or your money back. www.ivybound.net
Kathleen Parsons
12:23 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Another option is to be okay with your child's first SAT/ACT scores and suggest that they apply to Colleges that accept those scores. Jump out of the "top tier" race and love the kid on the couch.
Crestor Januvia
5:30 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Your first degee doesn't matter. It's where you get your second degree. And you can get into an Ivy league graduate school with good GMAT's and good undergrad record, even if you go to a state school. The undergrad ivy rat race is just a huge waste of time and money. Any very profitable field needs an advanced degree.
Mark Greenstein
7:51 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Hello Crestor --
There is a wide gulf between "can get into", and "likely to get into". A Top 20 Undergrad school is a much MORE LIKELY feeder to a top grad school than is a not-well-ranked undergrad school.
There is not a single law school or med school admissions committee that would hold a student with a B+ GPA at an Ivy League school on a same par as a similar student with a B+ GPA at a mid-tier state college.
A great GMAT score helps overcome the lower college ranking, but not everyone is destined for a 700+ GMAT score. If you can afford to attend a Top 20 school and get in, it usually makes sense to attend.
Crestor Januvia
5:34 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
And these test prep courses are a massive waste of money. Just buy some study manuals, take a bunch of online practice tests. Don't waste your time and money with these overpriced prep products. Doing many many tests on your own time, over a long period is the recipe for success.
This is nothing but an advertisment. Did you get paid Patch?
Crestor Januvia
10:37 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
Local voices? This guy is from Conn.
Mark Greenstein
4:54 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
I've lived in Philly and Ivy Bound has tutors throughout Eastern PA.