Here's a link to the latest: it appears that the current rules will stay in place for the classes of 2011 and 2012, but will substantially change for the classes of 2013 and beyond.
It's going to be interesting to see how the changes affect school ratings, which in part are based on the number of students who exceed the standards on AIMS tests. If there is no longer a financial incentive to exceed on the AIMS test, I predict that most students who meet the standards on their first attempt will not bother retaking the test. This is likely to result in some schools having a lower rating, as these are based not only on percentage of students passing the AIMS test but also on percentage of students exceeding the standards. I expect the next few years will see much wailing and gnashing of teeth from pundits who bewail the failings of the public school system...probably from both sides of the political spectrum. Only the explanations of "why is this happening" will differ, depending on who's doing the talking.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Update on AIMS Scholarship
Here's a link to an updated proposal for the AIMS Scholarship. Looks like good news for juniors, and bad news for younger students. According to this article, current seniors and juniors would be "grandfathered in" under the old criteria, but sophomores would have to exceed on all three AIMS tests AND achieve certain scores on the SAT....and the amount of the scholarship would be greatly reduced.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
"AIMS Scholarship" Under Review
I've expected this move by the State Board of Regents for several years. The state has been paying out much more than originally anticipated for this scholarship. For some reason, no one anticipated that students would continue retaking the AIMS test and/or retaking classes in order to qualify. Plus, scores on the ACT and SAT (which have been around for decades) are better predictors of college success. The good news is that the scholarship will continue "as is" for current seniors. The bad news is that the qualifications will be significantly tightened for current juniors. To qualify, class of 2012 students will need a 3.8 GPA and must exceed on all three portions of the AIMS test during the sophomore year. (No retakes) For class of 2013 students, SAT and/or ACT test scores will replace AIMS test scores. Here's a link to an article in the Arizona Republic discussing the proposed changes.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
"Sticker price" vs. real cost of college
Recently I visited my old school and talked to a group of IB juniors about preparing for college. During the presentation, I encouraged students not to rule out any college on price alone, because most students don't wind up paying "sticker price". Here's a link to an NPR article which discusses this subject in more detail.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Welcome to High School; Now What?
The freshman year is often a step up in difficulty academically, and may seem overwhelming. For many bright students, elementary or junior high classes were just not that difficult and it may have been possible to coast on brainpower alone, earning A grades with little effort. In addition, high schools are just plain bigger places, with more people and more choices. Here are some tips to help freshmen survive and thrive the all-important first year of high school.
First of all, realize that you are not alone. Every other freshman has similar anxieties and concerns, even if they pretend otherwise and try not to show it. Every senior was a freshman once, and experienced what you are experiencing now three short years ago. It also helps to remind yourself that your teachers want you to be successful and stand ready to help....you just have to ask them.
Second, accept the fact that high school classes are supposed to be more challenging than the ones you had in junior high. This is particularly true if you are taking honors classes for the first time. You will have to put in more time and effort to achieve those good grades now, and this is the way it's supposed to be. You may be familiar with the athletic adage "No pain, no gain." Although I hope school is not painful for you, there is truth in that saying. If you are an athlete and you want to get stronger, you have to increase the difficulty of your workouts....lift heavier weights or run further. The same is true for academics. If you want to "get smarter" and grow intellectually, you are going to have to increase the difficulty of your academic subjects. Taking challenging classes is like weight training for your brain. 1-2 hours of study time outside of class is not unreasonable for college bound students. If you are spending much more than that on a regular basis, it would be a good idea to talk to your counselor and make sure that your classes are at the right academic level for you, or you may need help in learning how to study more effectively.
Third, get organized. Lack of organization is the downfall of many otherwise intelligent and creative students. You may not be a naturally organized person, but it is a learned skill. You probably couldn't ride a bicycle the first time you tried it, could you? How about hitting a baseball...or playing a musical instrument? With time and effort, you can learn organizational skills, too. Don't know where to start? This site has some simple suggestions you may find helpful. One tip I would add (not mentioned in the link above) is to get contact information from another student in your class. That way, if you forget "what's due when" you can call or text someone for an answer.
Here's my last tip, which doesn't have anything to do with work ethic, organizational ability, or study skills, but it is highly correlated with school success. Find a sport, club, or extracurricular activity that you enjoy, and get involved! Studies show that students who are involved in these kinds of activities make better grades and are happier in high school than students who aren't involved in them. On the other hand, don't try to get involved in everything, which is also a problem for some students. You will have to make choices....choose the ones that are most meaningful to you and that you enjoy the most, and you will have made the right choice.
You can survive....and thrive....during your freshman year of high school. Expect to work hard, but also to enjoy it. Believe it or not, you will be a senior before you know it!
First of all, realize that you are not alone. Every other freshman has similar anxieties and concerns, even if they pretend otherwise and try not to show it. Every senior was a freshman once, and experienced what you are experiencing now three short years ago. It also helps to remind yourself that your teachers want you to be successful and stand ready to help....you just have to ask them.
Second, accept the fact that high school classes are supposed to be more challenging than the ones you had in junior high. This is particularly true if you are taking honors classes for the first time. You will have to put in more time and effort to achieve those good grades now, and this is the way it's supposed to be. You may be familiar with the athletic adage "No pain, no gain." Although I hope school is not painful for you, there is truth in that saying. If you are an athlete and you want to get stronger, you have to increase the difficulty of your workouts....lift heavier weights or run further. The same is true for academics. If you want to "get smarter" and grow intellectually, you are going to have to increase the difficulty of your academic subjects. Taking challenging classes is like weight training for your brain. 1-2 hours of study time outside of class is not unreasonable for college bound students. If you are spending much more than that on a regular basis, it would be a good idea to talk to your counselor and make sure that your classes are at the right academic level for you, or you may need help in learning how to study more effectively.
Third, get organized. Lack of organization is the downfall of many otherwise intelligent and creative students. You may not be a naturally organized person, but it is a learned skill. You probably couldn't ride a bicycle the first time you tried it, could you? How about hitting a baseball...or playing a musical instrument? With time and effort, you can learn organizational skills, too. Don't know where to start? This site has some simple suggestions you may find helpful. One tip I would add (not mentioned in the link above) is to get contact information from another student in your class. That way, if you forget "what's due when" you can call or text someone for an answer.
Here's my last tip, which doesn't have anything to do with work ethic, organizational ability, or study skills, but it is highly correlated with school success. Find a sport, club, or extracurricular activity that you enjoy, and get involved! Studies show that students who are involved in these kinds of activities make better grades and are happier in high school than students who aren't involved in them. On the other hand, don't try to get involved in everything, which is also a problem for some students. You will have to make choices....choose the ones that are most meaningful to you and that you enjoy the most, and you will have made the right choice.
You can survive....and thrive....during your freshman year of high school. Expect to work hard, but also to enjoy it. Believe it or not, you will be a senior before you know it!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Fall Tips for College Bound Juniors
The junior year is a busy time for college-bound students, and many students find that it is another "step up" in difficulty from the previous two years. It's also an important year. Since most students apply to colleges in the fall of the senior year, the transcripts colleges will be evaluating as they make admission and scholarship decisions will only include grades through this year. Juniors also should take several standardized tests this year which may play an important role in the college admission process. Here are some "things to do" during this busy and crucial year.
First, you should plan to take the PSAT (pre SAT) in the fall. The PSAT is also used as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and you only get one chance to take it each year. The test is given in high schools on one Tuesday and one Saturday in October each year; the dates are set by CollegeBoard and each high school must choose either the Tuesday or the Saturday testing date. This year, test dates are October 13 and October 16. Check with your guidance counselor for your school's test date and deadline to sign up. If your school does not offer the PSAT or you have a conflict on its test date, try calling other high schools in your area to see if they have space available. You should prepare for the PSAT before taking it; at a minimum you should work through the practice book provided by College Board. More intense prep books containing several practice tests are available at major bookstores. Click here to read more information about the PSAT on the College Board website.
Plan to take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring. Most colleges will accept either test, but if you can afford the time and the money, it's better to take both. Because the tests differ in several ways, you may do better on one than the other. Colleges will take your best score, so why not give yourself two chances rather than one? Unlike the PSAT, you do not sign up for these tests at your high school; you sign up online on the College Board and ACT websites, and there are several testing dates for each. You select your testing date, location, and pay online. Again, you should prepare for these tests before taking them so that you are familiar with the format and timing of each section. ACT and College Board have a great deal of helpful information on their websites, or you can buy a practice book at major bookstores.
Now, about those grades. Try to earn the very best grades you can in the most challenging classes you can handle. This is particularly important if you got off to a less-than-desirable academic start in high school. Often, an upward trend in your grades can mitigate somewhat lower grades in say, the first semester of your freshman year. It's also a balancing act. You want to challenge yourself, but you don't want to take so many difficult classes that your grades suffer. Many students take their first AP or IB classes as juniors, and some are shocked by the difficulty of these classes. They are probably harder than classes you have taken so far, even honors classes, and this is something you should expect. After all, you are doing college-level work and may be rewarded with college credit if you do well on the end-of-course exams! In general, I think it is better to earn a "B" in a more difficult class than an "A" in an easier class, but if you are making too many "C" grades, it may be time to reconsider the difficulty of your class selections. There are always exceptions to any general rule, so you should discuss your specific circumstances and goals with your guidance counselor.
As if studying and taking standardized tests weren't enough to do this year, you should also evaluate your extracurricular portfolio. This is especially true if you are seeking admission to a more competitive college, or are hoping to be awarded a scholarship. Although grades and test scores are the most important factors for most college admission offices, your activities outside of school are also important. There is no such thing as a list of "best activities" that are guaranteed to get you into the college of your choice, and you don't have to be involved in everything. Your best choices will usually be the things you truly enjoy doing and do well. (If they serve to make the world a better place, and are related to your planned field of study, so much the better!) Again, these are very general suggestions and I'd encourage you to discuss your specific choices with your guidance counselor.
Finally, junior year is the time to seriously investigate possible colleges and narrow down your choices. You can do a lot of your research online- check the list of links to the right as a starting place- but there is no substitute for making an actual in-person visit to the colleges you are considering. Talk to your parents, teachers, friends and acquaintances. Ask them where they went to college and what they liked and didn't like about it. There are also books that many of my students have found helpful, including Rugg's Recommendations, Colleges that Change Lives, and Looking Beyond the Ivy League, along with many others. Spend an afternoon at a bookstore and skim through a few of them.
Sounds like a lot? It is, but it's manageable if you start planning now, and you'll be much better prepared, have less stress and more choices once senior year rolls around!
First, you should plan to take the PSAT (pre SAT) in the fall. The PSAT is also used as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and you only get one chance to take it each year. The test is given in high schools on one Tuesday and one Saturday in October each year; the dates are set by CollegeBoard and each high school must choose either the Tuesday or the Saturday testing date. This year, test dates are October 13 and October 16. Check with your guidance counselor for your school's test date and deadline to sign up. If your school does not offer the PSAT or you have a conflict on its test date, try calling other high schools in your area to see if they have space available. You should prepare for the PSAT before taking it; at a minimum you should work through the practice book provided by College Board. More intense prep books containing several practice tests are available at major bookstores. Click here to read more information about the PSAT on the College Board website.
Plan to take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring. Most colleges will accept either test, but if you can afford the time and the money, it's better to take both. Because the tests differ in several ways, you may do better on one than the other. Colleges will take your best score, so why not give yourself two chances rather than one? Unlike the PSAT, you do not sign up for these tests at your high school; you sign up online on the College Board and ACT websites, and there are several testing dates for each. You select your testing date, location, and pay online. Again, you should prepare for these tests before taking them so that you are familiar with the format and timing of each section. ACT and College Board have a great deal of helpful information on their websites, or you can buy a practice book at major bookstores.
Now, about those grades. Try to earn the very best grades you can in the most challenging classes you can handle. This is particularly important if you got off to a less-than-desirable academic start in high school. Often, an upward trend in your grades can mitigate somewhat lower grades in say, the first semester of your freshman year. It's also a balancing act. You want to challenge yourself, but you don't want to take so many difficult classes that your grades suffer. Many students take their first AP or IB classes as juniors, and some are shocked by the difficulty of these classes. They are probably harder than classes you have taken so far, even honors classes, and this is something you should expect. After all, you are doing college-level work and may be rewarded with college credit if you do well on the end-of-course exams! In general, I think it is better to earn a "B" in a more difficult class than an "A" in an easier class, but if you are making too many "C" grades, it may be time to reconsider the difficulty of your class selections. There are always exceptions to any general rule, so you should discuss your specific circumstances and goals with your guidance counselor.
As if studying and taking standardized tests weren't enough to do this year, you should also evaluate your extracurricular portfolio. This is especially true if you are seeking admission to a more competitive college, or are hoping to be awarded a scholarship. Although grades and test scores are the most important factors for most college admission offices, your activities outside of school are also important. There is no such thing as a list of "best activities" that are guaranteed to get you into the college of your choice, and you don't have to be involved in everything. Your best choices will usually be the things you truly enjoy doing and do well. (If they serve to make the world a better place, and are related to your planned field of study, so much the better!) Again, these are very general suggestions and I'd encourage you to discuss your specific choices with your guidance counselor.
Finally, junior year is the time to seriously investigate possible colleges and narrow down your choices. You can do a lot of your research online- check the list of links to the right as a starting place- but there is no substitute for making an actual in-person visit to the colleges you are considering. Talk to your parents, teachers, friends and acquaintances. Ask them where they went to college and what they liked and didn't like about it. There are also books that many of my students have found helpful, including Rugg's Recommendations, Colleges that Change Lives, and Looking Beyond the Ivy League, along with many others. Spend an afternoon at a bookstore and skim through a few of them.
Sounds like a lot? It is, but it's manageable if you start planning now, and you'll be much better prepared, have less stress and more choices once senior year rolls around!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Does Class Rank Really Matter?
There's yet another story making the rounds on the internet about a high school valedictorian whose graduation speech had the general theme of "why did I waste my time working toward a goal I now believe to be meaningless?" A few years ago, another valedictorian, suffering from extreme burnout and at a loss for words, actually mooned his audience. So what's the real deal? Does class rank really matter? In my opinion, the answer is yes and no. Class rank matters to a certain extent, within certain parameters, but achieving a particular numerical rank is not nearly as important as some parents and students believe.
The more selective and competitive colleges want top students who will be successful in demanding post-secondary programs. Therefore, they look for students who have earned excellent grades in challenging classes. These students will generally have higher class ranks than students who have earned mediocre grades, or who took less difficult classes. But there is no magic about being ranked #1 vs. #6. Many times the difference between a higher and a lower numerical rank is not ability, or even grades, but scheduling issues that allow one student to take an extra honors class the other student couldn't fit into his or her schedule. Some class ranking calculations even penalize students who take extra classes. I remember one situation where two students had exactly the same grades in exactly the same classes for four years....but Student A was ranked above Student B because Student B had taken driver's ed in summer school! The extra "A" in driver's ed "diluted" the ratio of honors to regular classes.
In general, a student considering the more selective colleges should take honors, AP, or IB classes where that choice is possible. AP and IB classes tend to be regarded a bit better than honors classes, because they are nationally (and in the case of IB, internationally) recognized as having certain standards. The difficulty of "honors" classes may vary considerably from school to school. He or she should also take "five solids" (math, science, English, social studies, foreign language) each year, and select honors/AP/IB options for these where possible. Obviously, a student who makes these choices, and does well in them, will have a fairly high class rank.
It is not necessary, and may be counterproductive, to choose electives based on whether they carry honors weighting. Besides being incredibly stressful, taking all honors classes might cause a student's overall grades to drop. In addition, most colleges are looking for students who will make an interesting addition to the college community. Typically these students are curious and willing to try new things, enjoy learning for learning's sake, and have a sustained passion for something outside their academic goals. These qualities may best be demonstrated through eclectic elective choices or long-term extracurricular involvements in something the student truly enjoys. This student may well graduate with a lower numerical rank than another student who chooses only classes that will enhance his or her class rank, but will probably be more attractive to selective colleges- and I think, a happier and more well-adjusted person.
The bottom line? Challenge yourself; work hard and do your best; but don't obsess over class rank to the point where you destroy your love of learning and of life!
The more selective and competitive colleges want top students who will be successful in demanding post-secondary programs. Therefore, they look for students who have earned excellent grades in challenging classes. These students will generally have higher class ranks than students who have earned mediocre grades, or who took less difficult classes. But there is no magic about being ranked #1 vs. #6. Many times the difference between a higher and a lower numerical rank is not ability, or even grades, but scheduling issues that allow one student to take an extra honors class the other student couldn't fit into his or her schedule. Some class ranking calculations even penalize students who take extra classes. I remember one situation where two students had exactly the same grades in exactly the same classes for four years....but Student A was ranked above Student B because Student B had taken driver's ed in summer school! The extra "A" in driver's ed "diluted" the ratio of honors to regular classes.
In general, a student considering the more selective colleges should take honors, AP, or IB classes where that choice is possible. AP and IB classes tend to be regarded a bit better than honors classes, because they are nationally (and in the case of IB, internationally) recognized as having certain standards. The difficulty of "honors" classes may vary considerably from school to school. He or she should also take "five solids" (math, science, English, social studies, foreign language) each year, and select honors/AP/IB options for these where possible. Obviously, a student who makes these choices, and does well in them, will have a fairly high class rank.
It is not necessary, and may be counterproductive, to choose electives based on whether they carry honors weighting. Besides being incredibly stressful, taking all honors classes might cause a student's overall grades to drop. In addition, most colleges are looking for students who will make an interesting addition to the college community. Typically these students are curious and willing to try new things, enjoy learning for learning's sake, and have a sustained passion for something outside their academic goals. These qualities may best be demonstrated through eclectic elective choices or long-term extracurricular involvements in something the student truly enjoys. This student may well graduate with a lower numerical rank than another student who chooses only classes that will enhance his or her class rank, but will probably be more attractive to selective colleges- and I think, a happier and more well-adjusted person.
The bottom line? Challenge yourself; work hard and do your best; but don't obsess over class rank to the point where you destroy your love of learning and of life!
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