Do you have an upcoming senior planning for college? Are you encouraging them to take the SAT/ACT? For the past year, the SAT/ACT has been a topic of discussion in my home. We have taken all measures and have practiced in every way possible, excluding hiring an over-priced tutor. My tenacious seventeen year-old daughter is preparing for her pursuit in the medical field and will attend college the year of 2021. When I think of her going to college, I picture mountains of new debt, so I am hoping and praying she receives a full scholarship. She has a few universities in mind, but she is still undecided. Her top choice just so happens to be a very expensive college; Emory University. Emory is a great school, but it comes with a hefty price tag. I would prefer her to take baby steps and start her new journey close to home at our local, well-known university, but she is not too intrigued about that idea. She is beyond ready to spread her wings and fly. To attend Emory, she will need at least a 1350 SAT score to be considered for admissions, and the tuition is whopping $69,502. She could easily study at our local university with all funds paid through the Georgia Hope Scholarship, as long as she maintains at least a 3.0 GPA. The in-state tuition is only $4,397, and there is a 75 percent acceptance rate. Getting a high SAT score is needed for Emory, but it is not needed to attend our local college.
Is your teen contemplating taking the SAT/ACT? Are you uncertain of the path your teen will take? I would recommend for all juniors to take the SAT/ACT at least once. Regardless of their path or career choice, it does not hurt to be prepared, even-more-so if they are certain they are going to college. At sixteen or seventeen, it is very hard to plan out your entire adult life, and rarely do teens stick with their first career choice. I remember wanting to be a registered nurse at 16, but here I am now, working in accounting. Some people know what they want at an early age and some do not. Preparing for the SAT/ACT and obtaining a high score will offer many benefits that prove; it is worth the extra effort and time.
The Benefits of Taking the SAT/ACT
- More opportunities (Cairns, 2019) https://www.collegeraptor.com/getting-in/articles/act-sat/different-benefits-higher-act-sat-score/
- Improved chances at preferred school (“Benefits Of SAT – What Great College Exam Scores Mean For Your Student,” 2018) https://www.4satprep.com/benefits-sat/
- A greater chance in receiving scholarships and grants
- More scholarship money
- A high SAT/ACT score can balance a low GPA (Roell, 2019) https://www.thoughtco.com/reasons-you-should-take-the-sat-3211821
No one likes getting up early on a Saturday morning, especially if it involves taking a 3.5 hour long test, but 3.5 hours of one single day could ultimately affect he rest of your life of your child’s life. It is probably a wise choice to take advantage of any free practice tests available, inside and outside of the classroom. A high SAT/ACT score could easily result in a free ride to college. If you take the test, score well and decide to go to trade school instead, oh well; you lose nothing. You should pat yourself or your teen on the back for an additional accomplishment. If your child is anything like mine, I would definitely recommend and make sure he or she receives plenty of practice to take either the SAT or ACT. In my case, it is a must because of scholarship money and school choice. Be sure to discuss with your child, and check the institution’s requirements ahead of time.
I would love to hear your views on this topic, so please feel free to chime in, share your thoughts, advice, and asks questions?
Do you agree that all juniors should take the SAT/ACT?
- Why do you agree?
- If you do not agree, please advise why.
I look forward to this new academic chapter with my daughter, and wish her nothing but the best. She will take the SAT this March, so please wish her luck! I will follow back up after testing and again once she has decided on a college.
The SAT and ACT: Are They Worth Taking? 