SPOTLIGHT YOUR EXTRACURRICULAR'S...OR RISK DISAPPOINTMENT

High school students applying to college may have gone wide-eyed at the news that some of the colleges they are strongly considering have gone "test optional" – meaning that ACT and SAT scores are not required. While that’s true, it’s not the same as saying that ACT and SAT scores don’t matter. In fact, ACT and SAT scores will be considered if submitted.

We, on the other hand, were not confused or startled by such announcements. Rather, we investigated the consequences of test optional, and found that colleges will be scrutinizing applications far more in depth if students opt to submit their applications without test scores. That means your academic record and your extracurricular commitment(s) must be substantially stronger than students who submit applications that include competitive ACT or SAT scores.

What’s your extracurricular commitment? Is it strong enough? Does it demonstrate depth of commitment, leadership, initiative, and impact on others? Does it help you stand out from your peers? Don’t know where to start? By collaborating with our team of college counselors, students have created and implemented novel activities that have made their college applications stand out, like Dream Dorm Decorators and Boca Buckets. With our guidance, their ingenuity and commitment drew them into the spotlight and improved their chances for admission.

Contact us; we can jump-start your extracurricular ideas that will be both personally fulfilling for you, and important for your applications.

P.S. If you’d like to know more about what test-optional really means, check out our webinar on test optional.