According to a recent report by the College Board, more minority students are taking AP exams however they are still underrepresented both in the classes and in the scores.
According to the report, about 28% of last year's graduating class took at least one AP exam, with 59% of that group earning the score of 3 or above necessary to earn college credit. In terms of demographics, there were some interesting findings. Asian students, who made up 5.5% of the total graduating class, comprised over 10% of students taking AP exams. Hispanic students were about even at 16% of both the graduating class and AP participants. In the rear, African American students made up 14.6% of the overall graduating class but only 8.6% of AP exam takers.
The College Board maintains that much of the disparity comes from local policy decisions. For example, in Texas and Florida where teachers are given funding for summer college courses to help them teach their AP classes, participation and scores of Hispanic students are both higher.
However, the study also suggests that increased participation in AP exams may not be a good thing. Nationally, about a third of students who took the AP exam in chemistry, biology and environmental science earned a 1, the lowest possible score. Some of these scores were attributable to schools that put students in AP classes before the necessary science classes they needed to prepare them.
While higher participation in AP exams can be a feather in a school's hat, forcing students into them before they are ready can have very negative effects. Increasing the representation of minority students taking AP exams should instead be a slower and more personal process that will give more reliable, long-term success.
The fee for each AP exam is $87. Hundreds of thousands of high school students take the AP exam each year. College board is doing quite well for itself.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA)
What is the Difference Between Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA)?
As you begin looking at colleges, it is not only natural to start ranking your choices, but it is actually a very helpful idea. After doing the necessary background research, it is important to start deciding which universities are your primary choices. In the era of the Common Application when you can apply to dozens of schools, many people feel that it's better to apply first and chose later. However, knowing where exactly you want to go before you apply can actually help your chances of getting in.
Many schools offer special admission options which can give you a decision earlier (which helps end one of the most stressful times in a student's life) and can actually increase chances of getting accepted. The options you need to look for are Early Decision and Early Action. But what's the difference?
• Early Decision The most common option given, Early Decision allows an applicant to formally state their intention to enroll in the school if they get accepted. This is a legal, binding agreement and your parents or legal guardians are obligated to cosign the early decision agreement. Colleges accept a certain amount of Early Decisions, so when you apply ED you are only competing with other ED students and not students who are looking to play the field or are only using the school as a safety. You have a better chance of getting into the college of your choice if you apply ED, as it demonstrates your true commitment to the school. Beware though, ED students tend to get locked out of financial aid awards. Think about it—what monetary incentive does a college have to entice you to go there is you are already if you already signed a contract promising you will go if accepted? This is why most ED kids are not offered financial aid awards. However, you can apply for private scholarships (Kweller Prep can help) throughout the rest of the year. Overall, ED is so nice! About 6 weeks after applying to the college of your dreams, you will know if you got in! Amazing! You can then truly start enjoying your senior year of highs school.
• Early Action Early Action is a much more recent development and is not as common as Early Decision. The difference between the two is that Early Action does not require you to enroll in the school if accepted. In other words, you are not obligated to attend if accepted. Because of this, more people are likely to apply EA, even students who aren't as serious about that particular school. For a list of colleges that accept EA applications, click here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/354075-list-colleges-early-action-early-decision-rolling-admissions.html
As you begin looking at colleges, it is not only natural to start ranking your choices, but it is actually a very helpful idea. After doing the necessary background research, it is important to start deciding which universities are your primary choices. In the era of the Common Application when you can apply to dozens of schools, many people feel that it's better to apply first and chose later. However, knowing where exactly you want to go before you apply can actually help your chances of getting in.
Many schools offer special admission options which can give you a decision earlier (which helps end one of the most stressful times in a student's life) and can actually increase chances of getting accepted. The options you need to look for are Early Decision and Early Action. But what's the difference?
• Early Decision The most common option given, Early Decision allows an applicant to formally state their intention to enroll in the school if they get accepted. This is a legal, binding agreement and your parents or legal guardians are obligated to cosign the early decision agreement. Colleges accept a certain amount of Early Decisions, so when you apply ED you are only competing with other ED students and not students who are looking to play the field or are only using the school as a safety. You have a better chance of getting into the college of your choice if you apply ED, as it demonstrates your true commitment to the school. Beware though, ED students tend to get locked out of financial aid awards. Think about it—what monetary incentive does a college have to entice you to go there is you are already if you already signed a contract promising you will go if accepted? This is why most ED kids are not offered financial aid awards. However, you can apply for private scholarships (Kweller Prep can help) throughout the rest of the year. Overall, ED is so nice! About 6 weeks after applying to the college of your dreams, you will know if you got in! Amazing! You can then truly start enjoying your senior year of highs school.
• Early Action Early Action is a much more recent development and is not as common as Early Decision. The difference between the two is that Early Action does not require you to enroll in the school if accepted. In other words, you are not obligated to attend if accepted. Because of this, more people are likely to apply EA, even students who aren't as serious about that particular school. For a list of colleges that accept EA applications, click here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/354075-list-colleges-early-action-early-decision-rolling-admissions.html
How to Get Extended Time on the SAT or ACT
Extended time and other accommodations are available for the SATs & ACTs, but in recent years changes have vastly increased the number applying for it. As a result, it has made getting these accommodations more difficult. So if your child requires extended time, it is important to explore the rules and plan out your actions well before test day—at least 6 to 12 months before the actual SAT or ACT test date. Here's a basic run down of how to extend time for the SAT or ACT. Courtesy of www.KwellerPrep.com
1. The College Board used to gauge students needs based on the Individuals with Disability Education Act, but has more recently started using criteria more in line with the ADA. Under the ADA model, students need to be able to demonstrate how functional impairment disrupts the daily academic work- so substantially that they cannot perform adequately on the SAT without the extended time.
2. You will need to present a formal psychological evaluation, usually from a school psychologist. The College Board will be looking for evidence of an active IEP. For those living in the Queens Area, the St. John’s University Center for Psychological Services offers such evaluations at a low cost. See: http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/centers/community_services/psychology
3. You will need to have received testing accommodation at your testing high school for at least 4 months before the SATs or 12 months before the ACTs. This qualifies as your “documented evidence” that you need extra time on exams in general.
4. Finally, you'll need to have letters and data from teachers describing the student's disability and performance. 2 teacher letters should be enough. A guidance counselor letter is a must.
5. The other important detail to know is that you can appeal the College Board's ruling. According to some experts, it is practically the College Board's unofficial policy to deny everyone the first time around. Don't give up hope and just keep reapplying. However, be sure to start your case months in advance of any test as it can take time to file.
6. Last but not least, always request more time than you actually need. College board’s unofficial policy is to give students who request double time per section, only a quarter and so forth, so apply generously. If you really need the extra time for the SAT or ACT, you are 100% entitled to it under the ADA, but you must be extremely organized with your filing paperwork (Kweller Prep can help) and all must be filed 6 to 12 months in advance of your testing date.
7. Good news: There is no reason to fear any stigma from requesting extra time for the SAT or ACT. Under the ADA, colleges are prohibited from knowing which students get extra time and which do not. If you need the extra time to function properly on these tests, get it!
1. The College Board used to gauge students needs based on the Individuals with Disability Education Act, but has more recently started using criteria more in line with the ADA. Under the ADA model, students need to be able to demonstrate how functional impairment disrupts the daily academic work- so substantially that they cannot perform adequately on the SAT without the extended time.
2. You will need to present a formal psychological evaluation, usually from a school psychologist. The College Board will be looking for evidence of an active IEP. For those living in the Queens Area, the St. John’s University Center for Psychological Services offers such evaluations at a low cost. See: http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/centers/community_services/psychology
3. You will need to have received testing accommodation at your testing high school for at least 4 months before the SATs or 12 months before the ACTs. This qualifies as your “documented evidence” that you need extra time on exams in general.
4. Finally, you'll need to have letters and data from teachers describing the student's disability and performance. 2 teacher letters should be enough. A guidance counselor letter is a must.
5. The other important detail to know is that you can appeal the College Board's ruling. According to some experts, it is practically the College Board's unofficial policy to deny everyone the first time around. Don't give up hope and just keep reapplying. However, be sure to start your case months in advance of any test as it can take time to file.
6. Last but not least, always request more time than you actually need. College board’s unofficial policy is to give students who request double time per section, only a quarter and so forth, so apply generously. If you really need the extra time for the SAT or ACT, you are 100% entitled to it under the ADA, but you must be extremely organized with your filing paperwork (Kweller Prep can help) and all must be filed 6 to 12 months in advance of your testing date.
7. Good news: There is no reason to fear any stigma from requesting extra time for the SAT or ACT. Under the ADA, colleges are prohibited from knowing which students get extra time and which do not. If you need the extra time to function properly on these tests, get it!
How to Get Extended Time on the SAT or ACT
Extended time and other accommodations are available for the SATs, but in recent years changes have vastly increased the number applying for it. As a result, it has made getting these accommodations more difficult. So if your child requires extended time, it is important to explore the rules and plan out your actions well before test day—at least 6 to 12 months before the actual SAT or ACT test date. Here's a basic run down of how to extend time for the SAT or ACT. Courtesy of www.KwellerPrep.com
1. The College Board used to gauge students needs based on the Individuals with Disability Education Act, but has more recently started using criteria more in line with the ADA. Under the ADA model, students need to be able to demonstrate how functional impairment disrupts the daily academic work- so substantially that they cannot perform adequately on the SAT without the extended time.
2. You will need to present a formal psychological evaluation, usually from a school psychologist. The College Board will be looking for evidence of an active IEP. For those living in the Queens Area, the St. John’s University Center for Psychological Services offers such evaluations at a low cost. See: http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/centers/community_services/psychology
3. You will need to have received testing accommodation at your testing high school for at least 4 months before the SATs or 12 months before the ACTs. This qualifies as your “documented evidence” that you need extra time on exams in general.
4. Finally, you'll need to have letters and data from teachers describing the student's disability and performance. 2 teacher letters should be enough. A guidance counselor letter is a must.
5. The other important detail to know is that you can appeal the College Board's ruling. According to some experts, it is practically the College Board's unofficial policy to deny everyone the first time around. Don't give up hope and just keep reapplying. However, be sure to start your case months in advance of any test as it can take time to file.
6. Last but not least, always request more time than you actually need. College board’s unofficial policy is to give students who request double time per section, only a quarter and so forth, so apply generously. If you really need the extra time for the SAT or ACT, you are 100% entitled to it under the ADA, but you must be extremely organized with your filing paperwork (Kweller Prep can help) and all must be filed 6 to 12 months in advance of your testing date.
7. Good news: There is no reason to fear any stigma from requesting extra time for the SAT or ACT. Under the ADA, colleges are prohibited from knowing which students get extra time and which do not. If you need the extra time to function properly on these tests, get it!
1. The College Board used to gauge students needs based on the Individuals with Disability Education Act, but has more recently started using criteria more in line with the ADA. Under the ADA model, students need to be able to demonstrate how functional impairment disrupts the daily academic work- so substantially that they cannot perform adequately on the SAT without the extended time.
2. You will need to present a formal psychological evaluation, usually from a school psychologist. The College Board will be looking for evidence of an active IEP. For those living in the Queens Area, the St. John’s University Center for Psychological Services offers such evaluations at a low cost. See: http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/centers/community_services/psychology
3. You will need to have received testing accommodation at your testing high school for at least 4 months before the SATs or 12 months before the ACTs. This qualifies as your “documented evidence” that you need extra time on exams in general.
4. Finally, you'll need to have letters and data from teachers describing the student's disability and performance. 2 teacher letters should be enough. A guidance counselor letter is a must.
5. The other important detail to know is that you can appeal the College Board's ruling. According to some experts, it is practically the College Board's unofficial policy to deny everyone the first time around. Don't give up hope and just keep reapplying. However, be sure to start your case months in advance of any test as it can take time to file.
6. Last but not least, always request more time than you actually need. College board’s unofficial policy is to give students who request double time per section, only a quarter and so forth, so apply generously. If you really need the extra time for the SAT or ACT, you are 100% entitled to it under the ADA, but you must be extremely organized with your filing paperwork (Kweller Prep can help) and all must be filed 6 to 12 months in advance of your testing date.
7. Good news: There is no reason to fear any stigma from requesting extra time for the SAT or ACT. Under the ADA, colleges are prohibited from knowing which students get extra time and which do not. If you need the extra time to function properly on these tests, get it!
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