SAT & ACT Improvement

SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT AND COLLEGE SUCCESS

By Dr. Wayne Adams

Upcoming Test Dates in 2020: SAT on August 29 and September 26, and ACT on September 12.

As school begins again, we know a little more about what the fall will look like with on-campus classes, online classes, and hybrids. A few schools are going “all on-campus”, while others are in a balancing act with some days on-line and other days on campus. A few of my students have changed over to taking all classes at Florida Virtual School, while others have changed to all “dual enrollment”. Also, many school activities will not be conducted in the fall.

Bright Futures continues to use these exams as their main screener for scholarships worth between $18,000 - $25,000. The qualifying superscores for the SAT have been increased 40 points to 1330 for the top level scholarship (100% of tuition and fees), and 1210 for the second level (75%). For the ACT the qualifying composite for the “100%” level remains at 29, and for the 75% level it has dropped by 1 point to 25. As you know from prior articles, about 75% of my students prefer the ACT, and 25% the SAT. Many of my students are thinking about multiple colleges and universities, both in and out of state. Out of

state costs can be higher for many, so now we arrive at one of my favorite quotes from Alex Karras, considered by many the leading mind in the country for over thirty years about negotiating. He said, “In life, you don’t get what

you deserve. You get what you NEGOTIATE!” Part of my course package is my Guide, “How To Negotiate With Colleges And Universities.” Many parents do not know you can, but you can because in many ways college is a business with income, expenses, and employees. In it, you will learn how to negotiate pleasantly and effectively. Many of my students and their families have saved $1,000 to $10,000 a year in college costs by using this Guide and negotiating. Very often, the admissions officer or financial officer will say,”Yes. Let’s see what we can do.” As important as the SAT and/or ACT Score for college admission is writing an outstanding college application essay. This is why part of my course package is the 104 page book titled, “How To Write College Application Essays That Colleges Will Love” including 40 sample essays my students have used for Ivy League, Top 25, and many top colleges throughout the US including here in Florida. Once on campus, every one of my students wants to get off to an outstanding start … especially the first semester. So every student receives a copy of my book, “How To Survive And Thrive As A Freshman At A Secular University.” It begins with the first step on campus as a freshman, and goes through taking Final Exams.

If You Would Like To Talk More About Your Student … Please contact me at 727-253- 0639 or send me an email at wwa0811@mykolab.com.

Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT, ACT, and College Success Tutors in the country. His students normally improve 200 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to eight of the top ten universities in the country, eighteen of the top twenty-five, and many schools in Florida. These schools include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, U Chicago, Duke, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Notre Dame, Emory, UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel Hill), Wake Forest, NYU, Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Service Academies: Navy - Air Force - and Merchant Marine - Penn State, LSU, Auburn, UF, U Miami, FSU, USF, UCF, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, FIU, New College of Florida, Stetson, and Julliard – Manhattan - New England - and Berklee Conservatories of Music. Many have received academic, athletic, or music scholarships. This year, he also tutored three juniors who scored at the national merit finalist/semi-finalist levels on the most recent PSAT. He is a former Dean of a Graduate School of Business and Full Professor, and began college teaching at the University of Maryland in 1968. He has degrees and advanced studies at Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Columbia International, and Luther Rice.