National Merit Commended Scholar or Semifinalist? What's the Difference?

Q: What is the difference between being a Commended Scholar and Semifinalist for the National Merit scholarship?

A: High school juniors take the PSAT each October, many with hopes of becoming a National Merit Scholar. Scores are released in the winter months, but students have to wait until September of the following year to learn if they will be progressing in the competition. 

Commended Scholars are those that have a high score, but their results are lower than the selection index in their state. This year, the cutoff for Commended Scholars is 214. So a student who scores a 219 in Connecticut, where the cutoff to move on is 222, will be given a letter of commendation in recognition of their achievement, but will not be in the running for a scholarship. They may, however, be able to get money from a corporate award through a parent's workplace. 

Those that meet or exceed the National Merit cutoff will become Semifinalists and are eligible to complete an application to become a Finalist and vie for a scholarship. At this point, the committee looks at more than just a high test score. Finalists must have a strong academic record and an excellent letter of recommendation from their principal. 

Grades Matter….But Maybe Less Than You Think

Grade inflation is real!

According to a recent article in The Atlantic, "The Two Most Important College Admissions Criteria Now Mean Less," more than half of US high school students graduate with an A average. Over half!! And affluent suburban high schools are the biggest grade-inflation offenders.

Imagine that you are a college admission representative at a highly competitive school. You are looking at transcript after transcript of straight As, and often exceptional test scores as well. There is little to distinguish one applicant from another. 

So while great rigor, grades and test scores are necessary to get you to "the dance," it is often the other parts of the application that help to make a decision. 

Ask the Consultant: Another SAT?

Q: I took the SAT this past weekend and don't think I did so well. I was hoping to apply to a few schools early action. Will I have time to take it again?

A: First of all, take a deep breath! We often have students tell us that they "bombed" a test initially, and then are pleasantly surprised with the results.  Good news!  Most colleges will consider October or even November SATs, or September ACTs, for consideration for early action. As always, check the college website or call the admission office to confirm!

There is still time!

You can indicate on your Common Application or Coalition Application that you are planning to take a test in the future, which will signal to the college admission team that they need to wait for that score to render a decision. Just make sure that you send an official score report to each college via the College Board or ACT website as soon as scores are released. You can then go back into your Common or Coalition app and update the testing section with your better scores! 

The Myth of Multitasking

The key to academic success may be found in studying smarter, not harder.

It's back to school time, and in addition to spending time with our seniors who are doggedly working away on their college essays, we've been meeting with underclassmen looking forward to the upcoming school year. When asked about their future goals, we commonly hear our underclassmen saying, "to study better" or "to get more sleep." 

It became such a familiar refrain that I decided to talk to several students that seemed to have successfuly managed their work outside of school, despite juggling a lot of other things. These were students that played two sports, led multiple clubs, played an instrument, and still earned fabulous grades. The key to their success: focus. Through trial and error, they'd discovered the difference between multitasking and switch-tasking. 

What is switch-tasking? I was at a conference recently, and the presenter gave us the following exercise. Draw two horizontal lines on a piece of paper. Have someone start a timer. Next, write "I am a great multitasker" on the first line. Then, write the numbers one through twenty on the line below. Easy, right? It took me about fifteen seconds. Now we will try it again. Get a new piece of paper. Draw two more horizontal lines. Have someone time you again. This time I want you to complete the exact same exercise, but this time by putting down one letter from the sentence on the first line and one number also in sequence on the lower. So "I" would start on the top line with "1" below. Then "A" and "2". Keep going. 

I A M...

1 2 3...

It should be easy - right? But it isn't. In fact, the second exercise takes most people twice the time to complete as the first exercise, if not more. Why? Because each time you switch from the letters to the numbers, your brain has to think about it. You have to reorient yourself to the correct sequence each time you go back and forth. And your brain isn't as good at that!

Imagine that you are working on a history paper. You are in a groove, churning out paragraph after paragraph of pretty good stuff. You're flipping back and forth between your textbook, your notes, and your screen. You may even have music softly playing in the background. You're multitasking, and it's working. Why? Because your focus is on a singular task. Yes, your brain makes small switches as you go from screen to text, or page to page, but it's relatively good at that. 

Ping. You get a text. Maybe even related to your history paper! But that doesn't matter -- your brain must switch-task. And once you go back to your assignment, it needs to start all over again. 

Neuroscientists have studied switch-tasking and estimate that once we are distracted from a task, it takes us 25 minutes to fully return to the first task. You don't have that kind of time!

So, let's go back to my super-multitaskers. What are their study habits? They compartmentalize tasks so that they can fully focus on them one at a time. They complete their calculus problem set before having a snack. They read that chapter for AP Literature and have their phone charging in the other room. They're not watching Netflix; they're not checking Snapchat. Some are able to concentrate with music playing, but most cannot. If they need background noise, they prefer white noise such as a fan. 

It's a new school year. Why not try a new approach to your studying as well? 

Are You Joking?

What kind of murderer has a moral fiber?

A cereal killer.

It's a simple joke... but put me in front of an audience and I'll botch it. I'm a realist. I know that I'm not a good joke teller. 

So would it make sense for me to try to joke in my college essay? Nope!! It's not my voice. 

The takeaway? Be true to who you are! Your essay will reflect you, and that is what college admission officers really want to hear. 

Are Online Classes Right for You?

One out of every three college students will take at least one online class in completing their education. Surprised? So were we!

There are many reasons for this growing trend: colleges looking to slash costs, students preferring the online format, and an increased push for accessibility and inclusion. At some colleges they are required and at others they are optional. 

According to a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, "Online classes, she said, can bring together students from more diverse backgrounds — and allow them more chances to connect with each other — than many traditional classrooms do."

So while online classes may not be all bad, it is up to each student to discern if they are the correct format for their learning style. And if your preference is to avoid them, make sure you add a question about online requirements to your list! 

Entering High School? Plan Ahead!

Are you about to enter high school?  There are a few things to think about as you consider your course selection and look ahead.  One of the top factors that admissions people use to gauge a student’s competitiveness for acceptance is the rigor of the courses that the student took in high school.  Receiving all As in level 2 or college prep classes is not considered as competitive as earning As and Bs in level 1, honors, AP or IB courses.  You should aim high and challenge yourself to the best of your ability in high school.  

It’s never too early to map out your high school courses thoughtfully. 

Colleges want students who work hard, who participate and engage in their academics and broader school community.  They especially want students who demonstrate drive and a good work ethic.  So, when you’re debating between that easier class and one that may challenge you, think about how you want to position yourself for your future.  It may seem far off now, but the years will fly by, and you’ll be considering your options for after high school sooner than you think.  Be sure you plan well.

An Unexpected Reason to Take Standardized Tests Multiple Times

Another reason to take standardized tests multiple times...

When student scores were released for the June SAT, the internet lit up with reactions of frustration and confusion.  Students who expected the June test to be their final try but who saw their score fall were dismayed. Something very unexpected had happened:  the test itself was an anomaly.  It turns out, the June test was much easier than most SATs and therefore had a far steeper grading curve.  Because of this, students could miss fewer problems to receive the same score as previous tests.  Experts warn that variability on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT is not uncommon and that the variance on the June SAT is not as unusual as it may seem.  Test creation is a complicated endeavor as the writers have to estimate the difficulty of content for the cohort of students taking the exam.  If they miscalculate, it affects the curve proportionally.  The takeaway:  plan to take standardized tests 2 or 3 times, if possible.  That way, if you happen to get caught up in a test like the June SAT, you will still have a fallback option or two. 

Is A College Honors Program Right for You?

Honors Programs and Honors Colleges Can Be A Great Option for Some Students 

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Students striving to get more out their undergraduate education might consider applying to schools with Honors Programs or Honors Colleges.  Although admission requirements vary, be aware that acceptance into any Honors Program usually requires test scores that are at the very top end of the college’s accepted students’ academic profile with similar overall strengths in high school course rigor and GPA.  You will find Honors Programs or Honors Colleges at both public and private institutions.  There are many variations among Honors Programs.  Most have honors level classes and often thesis and research requirements. Enrollment may come with perks such as dedicated Honors dorms (or sections of dorms allotted to Honors students), study abroad stipends, and mentors and/or special advising.  Often Honors students have priority registration for courses and Honors scholarships may be offered, some more generous than others.  Some of the larger public universities with Honors programs describe them as “a liberal arts college within a larger research institution with the advantages of both” or similar descriptor.  It pays to do some research to determine the institutional priority given and resources dedicated to support any particular Honors program and to fully understand if the school delivers on that promise.  In some cases, it can be a great way to get value-added academic and extracurricular experience with a more reasonable price tag.

On the Road Again

One of the greatest assets of the University of North Carolina is its location. The research triangle is hot! Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State make up the research triangle, and companies are coming in droves. The basketball isn't too bad either!

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At College Matters, visiting colleges, meeting with admissions professionals and talking with students and faculty are very important aspects of what we do. 

These visits allow us to give our students insight about colleges… before they go themselves.