Lets play the “College website” game!
This is interesting reading. Check out this college’s explanation of academic merit scholarships. UVU Academic Merit Scholarships. What can you learn?
- First, their financial aid is DIRECTLY tied to ACT scores. By studying for the test, you can save thousands of dollars.
- Second, notice how easily they can convert an SAT score to an ACT score. Colleges are used to seeing both tests.
- Third, GPA matters. Although this college doesn’t put high school GPA on their grid, many colleges do. Notice how GPA and ACT scores relate. See how the two pieces of data mirror each other? Higher GPAs are correlated with higher ACT scores. That’s why a great homeschool GPA is quite reasonable if you have high test scores.
- Finally, notice how students don’t have to be perfect in order to get great scholarships. An ACT score of 22 is about average – and it still earns the ‘Distinguished Scholarship.” Average students CAN earn merit scholarships.
What can you do with this information? What are the take-aways from today’s game?
- Provide a transcript with grades.
- Make sure your children study for the ACT or SAT test.
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Janice says:
Lee you’re just a little high on the average/normal ACT. For last year, if I remember correctly it was 20.1 and that included the homeschool scores, so public school kids would actually be just a little lower than that. My two daughters excelled like your sons, but my sons haven’t done nearly as well, and didn’t want to study for the test, especially the younger son. So no scholarships for them, though one could have, if he had just applied early enough.
April 6th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Lee says:
Hi Janice,
It varies every year, and it’s a little hard to keep track of. Also, different news reports will cite a state average, rather than a national average. For 2010 the average national ACT score was 21, with some MA getting an average of 24, and KY got 19.4. My guess is your score quote is from your state. I used to quote 20 all the time, actually, and someone corrected me, LOL! It wasn’t until then that I began to realize how complicated it is! Here is the link to the report:
http://www.act.org/news/data/10/states.html?utm_campaign=cccr10&utm_source=data&utm_medium=web
I love your comment about how he could have had scholarships if he had just applied early enough – so true, isn’t it? And it can be SO hard to convince them to do things during senior year, too! That’s why I recommend people start their application on the first day of senior year. It doesn’t solve ALL the problems inherent in senior year, but it can help a bit!
Thanks so much for your comment! Great insights!
Blessings,
Lee
April 7th, 2011 at 5:54 am