Author: Mary Ila Ward

As a high school student who has taken the ACT nine times, I understand how hopeless you can feel after taking your first ACT. My first one I received a 17 and was devastated. It made me sick to hear about students who took the test the first time and made a 32. I had to realize that my mind was not made like that; the ACT was not something I could breeze through. I had to buckle down and put hours into practicing and tutoring.

Studying for the ACT can be overwhelming, but learning how the test works can help you feel more comfortable when you are testing. The more you practice the better you will test. Whether you realize it or not the ACT is repetitive; it might not be the same numbers or words, but the same type problems are recycled over and over.

I gradually raised my score, but like most students I got stuck and received the same score of a 23. I realize that tutoring is not easy or financially possible for everyone, but view tutoring as an investment that can help you receive more scholarship money. My parents spent about $400 for a month of tutoring sessions at Southern College Prep  before my last ACT. Because of the tutoring sessions I raised my score from a 23 to a 26 and was able to have my entire out of state tuition waved plus an academic scholarship. For an investment of $400 my parents will save a total of $46,752 on my college education.

Take every opportunity to take the ACT. Don’t give up just because you didn’t do well. That attitude will get you nowhere. If you focus and put effort into testing, you will see improvement. I went from a 17 to a 26 in 9 tests, and I still think I could improve if I took another one. If you are feeling stuck and see no improvement, consider tutoring and look at the Horizon Point’s ACT Tips and Tricks page and find what strategy works best for you.

Your freshmen, sophomore, and junior year helped you be prepared for college, but your senior year is when you have to make it a reality. As a high school senior, I went through the admissions process this past fall. Applying to colleges and scholarships takes a lot of effort and initiative. The first few months of my senior year were a bit hectic. I had lots of homework, ACT tutoring, and college applications that had to be done in 2 months. I should have gone into my senior year with my future in mind.

Here are a few tips to help you keep your future in mind:
1. ACT/SAT is top priority- Research what test score you need to make to make you eligible for the college’s admission and scholarships. I suggest taking it every chance you have in the fall of your senior year. You don’t want to regret not putting effort into earning scholarships. I was able to raise my score by 3 points in my past ACT which saved my parents $20,000 on my college education.

2. Start applying as soon as possible- The earlier you apply the more priority you have over other freshmen. Most schools are a first come first serve basis when it comes to applying to housing and other things for your freshman year. If you get it out of the way, then you don’t have to stress about it.

3. Don’t worry it you declare an undecided major- I have been told hundreds of times that it is OK it I don’t know what I want to major in. Instead of narrowing down the majors you want, find out what is not a good fit for you. If you hate needles and blood, odds are you won’t want to be a nurse. If you are and impatient person and don’t like to be around kids, odds are you won’t want to become a teacher. Realizing your strengths and weaknesses can help you make your decision about what to major in.

4. Focus on what is best for you- Lots of people will give advice, but it might not be right for you. Don’t let people tell you what jobs or majors aren’t good, everyone is gifted differently so don’t let people speak for you.

5. Deadlines- Colleges don’t care if you didn’t know or you were to busy and forgot to submit application or scholarship applications. They have thousands of other students to worry about so excuses will not help. Be aware of the deadlines and submit everything as soon as possible.

6. Enjoy your senior year!!- By now you will have a different mind set then when you were a freshmen or sophomore. This will be your last year with your class so make the best of it.

The first semester of your senior year will be packed full of responsibilities, so to keep track of everything check out the HorizonPoint college prep checklist and join our mailing list.

The past two weeks I have made a list for freshmen and sophomores on how to be prepared for college. While those years are important, Junior year has the most responsibilities for college bound students. Like most students I knew I was going to college, but that assumption made me ignore important steps when preparing. The beginning of this past year, when I started applying to schools, I made it so hard on myself because I was lazy and had little drive my junior year. I should have set my priorities with college in mind.

To help you have college in mind, I have come up with some tips for high school juniors:

1. ACT/SAT is priority- In my experience, colleges prioritize students by ACT/SAT scores. While GPA should not be ignored, the higher the test score the more opportunities there are for scholarships. For example, I have an older brother and sister that attend the same college. In high school my brother’s GPA was a 3.7 and my sisters was a 4.3, while she was more studious than he was, my brother received more scholarship money because he had a higher ACT score. When studying for the ACT/SAT it is almost impossible to learn and remember all the rules and formulas for the different problems. Instead, practice and learn how take the test. Find out what stratagy works best for you, the more comfortable you are testing the easier the test becomes.

2. Push yourself- This year was the hardest for me by far. I took three AP classes. While that might be overwhelming to have so many, I suggest you take as many as you think you can handle. Like I have said before, the class that will get you an easy A is not going to help you in college courses.

3. Build your resume- Continue to stay active in the activities and organizations in which you are a part.

4. Search  and apply for scholarships- Even though they can be in small amounts, it is still less money you or your parents have to pay for your education.

5. Start making a list of colleges that interest you- It can seem overwhelming at first but it gets easier. Thinking about simple things like cost and distance can help you narrow down your options. When you come up with a list of possibilities, be aware of deadlines. Some colleges allow you to apply as soon at the beginning of August before your senior year.

6. AP Exams- If you are taking AP classes, put effort into your end of the year exams. You can avoid taking and paying for classes if you score well. I am eating my words on this one, I didn’t care and did not get any credits from my exam scores.

7. Enjoy your summer- It is sad but this is the last one you will have without the stress of getting ready for college. Don’t expect to have your future figured out your

Junior year. It is hard to be motivated for something that is 2 years away, but try to make yourself. You will be thankful you put in the extra effort when you begin your Senior year. With The Horizon Point’s College Checklist, you can be ready for the responsibilities for this year and your senior year. You may also want to check out Horizon Point’s College and Career Prep email subscription plan to help you stay on track starting your junior year.