Why I Should Not Be Accepted To College

While reading Ken Bain’s book “What the Best College Students Do” of the five different types of students he describes, I feel like I fall under the label of one having mediocre grades but achieving success. I make good grades, however I do not necessarily believe my grades always reflect my hard work, determination and effort put in, similar to his theory on false hope in standardized testing. Throughout my school career, I have consistently made A and B grades. I can remember only one C grade, which was a quarter grade, and very disappointing, but a lesson learned. At the same time though, and as Bain helped me realize through his text, grades are not everything and making a C is not something that is going to kill me; there is simply more to school than a letter grade. In fact he points out through most of the 1800s schools only used two grades, pass or fail. As seen nowadays, schools have since adopted the letter grade system.

Kanno & Kangas, 2014), rigorous college preparation begins in middle school, when students must take the prerequisite classes to advanced high school courses. By the time students reach high school, advanced placement courses may be out of reach for those who have not taken the preparatory classes (Kanno & Kangas, 2014). Given that a rigorous secondary school curriculum seems to predict college success (Flores et al., 2012), ensuring that former ELLs enroll and succeed in high-level classes is integral to promoting equitable college readiness. Indeed, students who take advanced coursework tend to develop more higher-level thinking skills, analytical abilities, and positive attitudes than students who take basic courses (Kanno & Kangas, 2014). Most recently, Flores et al. (2012) analyzed student data from Texas and found that taking high-level and dual-credit courses is a strong predictor of immediate college enrollment for all students regardless of ELL

There is abundant research on how second-generation college students have an advantage on first-generation college students. For one, according to (Garcia, V. (2015), a second-generation student is more informed about entry exams that include placement tests, ACT, and SAT. Simultaneously, these individuals may be unaware of the preparation required to earn a passing score on such exams.

“In fall 2016, some 20.5 million students are expected to attend American colleges and universities, constituting an increase of about 5.2 million since fall 2000” (National Center for Education Statistics). That number seems to be rising each and ever year, and it almost seems as students feel like they have to go to college directly after high school. Maybe it is because they feel that they have to fit in, even if college is not for them. Although some students attend college for academics, sports, and other reasons, some students attend college for no apparent reason; with that in mind, students should take into consideration the time and money that is put into going to college.

The ACT is one of the most important tools that colleges use to evaluate students and helps determine if they are going to allow that student to enroll in their school. ACT scores determine a student’s strong and weak points and can help some students determine what career path is most suitable for them. For many students in Missouri the ACT is their only way at getting into college due to financial difficulties that they might have home. Students who

The ACT test can earn a person a scholarship just by having a high score on it. Most Historically black colleges and universities offer up to full tuition with a high score on the ACT. Something just as simple as applying your time to a test or writing an essay for a local scholarship can help finance furthering someone's education. Sadly , some students won't

The truth concerning the predictive abilities of the SAT and ACT is clear; there are simply superior methods to evaluate potential college success. College admissions need to rely more heavily on factors such as High School GPA and SAT Subject and AP Tests, as these pieces of data contain a higher level of predictive power than SAT and ACT scores. Through the comparison of subject-specific tests and GPA to broad standardized tests, it is evident that the principles of our education system must be reinvented.

In highschool, when it comes around being a junior year many juniors are stress because that's the time when they have to take the ACT or SAT test which at the end the score depends their future. Being a junior and taking the ACT or SAT and getting a splendorous score is the goal for many students but what happens if some students do try but they didn't get a good score as others. Those who got a great score would be able to go to all these prestigious colleges, but

In 2011, Jen Wang was finishing up her freshman year at Connecticut College. As a young girl growing up in New Jersey, Jen took her first SAT when she was in the sixth grade, long before other students her age would even start to think about college. Jen said that test preparations for standardized tests, like the SAT, took up most of her free time that could have been used to do other things (Billy). The SAT’s early intent was to open doors of higher education to students without traditional credentials, but now this test is held at high esteem, the biggest indicator of college success (Mulugetta). Although standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT are used to “level the playing field” for students across the country, these tests add little

The ACT was one of the many steps I have had to take in preparing myself for college. In October I will be taking the test again and I desire to receive a score of 29 or higher. My scores were as follows: English 28, Mathematics 24, Reading 27 and Science 24. I strongly believe my reasoning for receiving such low scores was due to my lack of studying. I did not properly prepare myself for such an important test. There are multiple resources I could have used yet I wasted my time and did not take it seriously. Before retaking the test I aspire to grow in my writing by building up my strengths and knocking down my weaknesses.

Many high school students succeed with a little leniency through their four years. The transfer from high school to college becomes overwhelming and a struggle for some. For students do not comprehend the importance of changing more than their location during the transition. A student must be psychologically, physically, and emotionally mature to pursue college and not venture into a point of no return. Dropping out of college makes the outlook of the conversion difficult to acquire. Individuals should take their time on deciding which college and/or university is the best match for them. There are various reasons that cause persons not to prosper. Issues that individuals may come upon might leave a lifelong scar. Matters such as these

Colleges can consider high school GPA as the alternative for test scores. Almost all of the schools during admission completely overlook high school GPA. William C. Hiss, a principal investigator of Defining promise, declares “High school grades matter, and they matter a lot” (Maitre, par.2). It is not fair for many students like Ms. Casimir, a sophomore attending Wake Forest University, who scored 1580 in SAT. This was “an embarrassment” as she graduated high school “with a 4.0” (Simon, par.10). Her dreams to go to “Cornell” and “Davidson” was shattered but yet she was admitted by the “Wake Forest University which gave her full ride without seeing her SAT score and she has 3.2 GPA now” (Simon, par.10). It’s not a miracle as diligence and

'Tis the season for college applications, and as a senior in high school this bring a lot of stress to me and I am not the only one. "Teens across the U.S. are standing by their mailboxes, waiting anxiously for the envelopes that will seal their academic fate. It's college admissions season and for many students a lot hinges on how well they performed in standardized testing"(Sheffer). As I have gone throughout my high school career I have achieved a 4.0 GPA. However, despite my hard work, my GPA will be looked at but the main focus of the decision process will be based on my ACT scores, and because I received a 25 this is very stressful to me. Although a 25 is not horrible, it will jeopardize some of the chances I would have getting into a

To make a long story short, I didn't try hard enough on the ACT. For instance, I didn't study for it outside of a few online practice review sessions. I was too cocky. Regrettably, I knew I was a smart kid, but I didn't put in the time or effort to really succeed in taking the biggest standardized test of my life.

Throughout history, college has been a staple for people in America. Young high school graduates continuing their education to guarantee themselves a successful future in a career they feel passionate about. College helps build and expands one’s mind. Not only do students learn more in classes, the build social skills and critical thinking. Students attending college grow in all aspects of the mind. For most students in the 21st century, it has become somewhat of a norm to apply and continue education after high school. Every student wants to push themselves to achieve greatness. The rush of college applications includes a lot such as: writing essays, applying for scholarships, and taking the SATs. The SAT is a worldwide recognized test that