NACAC

COLLEGE BOARD - Makes big announcement on Jan 19, 2021

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  • discontinue Subject Exams & SAT Essay

  • ensure MAY 2021 AP Exams FULL LENGTH

  • rollout digital SAT fall 2021


  • SAT Subject Tests (will still be offered internationally May & June 2021)

    • U.S. existing registrations will automatically be canceled and student fees will be reimbursed

    • Discontinuing Subject Exams frees up seating capacity for SAT testers, and offers students more time to focus on AP Exams

    • Students with Subject Exam Scores will still be able to submit their scores to colleges through the College Board; however colleges may vary in how they select to use these exams for admission purposes (Subject Exams have been useful in determining course level placement, highlight mastery in a subject, and support student applications from Homeschool, Private and Virtual Schools)


  • SAT Essay (after June 2021, the essay portion will only be available in states that require it for accountability)

    • Most colleges were currently not requiring the SAT Essay (CB stresses that its AP English Language & Comp and AP English Lit & Comp Exams require essays, and that the Reading, Writing & Language portions of the SAT highlight predictive parts of the SAT)


  • CB is investing in a more flexible SAT — a streamlined, digitally-delivered exam that meets the evolving needs of the students and higher education (keeping in step with ACT)


IMPACT ON THE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS

  • While ‘test optional’ is certainly going to continue with many colleges, college admission exams also will continue, and will morph to accommodate the growing complexities of an ever changing environment—perhaps right into the student’s home.


  • Although rigor of course work and grades remain most important, standardizing testing will still play a part in admissions, and especially STEM / Math related type majors.

  • There continue to be several state / public university grant and scholarship programs that are tied to college entrance exams. Some honors programs consider test scores. In the past, test scores have impacted many admission and scholarship decisions — it will be interesting to examine admission data later in the summer.

  • AP Course Exams will be full length (paper-and-pencil) this May (regardless of COVID-19), and teachers now have more freedom in determining contingency testing in late May and June. Coordinators will have the ability to authorize at-home, full-length digital contingency testing during specific testing windows.



    IMPACT ON HOME SCHOOL, PRIVATE & VIRTUAL SCHOOLS


  • Pivot to alternative testing such as AP Exams - Update for 2020-21: The deadline for exam ordering will be extended to March 12 for homeschooled students, independent study students, virtual school students, or students from other schools who were unable to find a school to order an AP Exam for them by November 13. In early 2021, CB will provide guidance about how to support students who cannot test in schools.


    • CB is providing resources for AP Exam prep - see myap.collegeboard.org • AP Classroom is an online resource that helps students improve their performance all year long. • It’s mobile friendly, so students can access it anytime, anywhere, once they’ve joined the class online. • AP Classroom includes: ▪ AP Daily Videos ▪ Practice Questions ▪ Personal Progress Checks ▪ Progress Dashboard






PATRICIA NEHME, CERTIFIED EDUCATIONAL PLANNER

Sources - College Board announcement January 19, 2021

College Board Counselor Presentation - January 21, 2021



Why Attend A College Fair

                    Why Attending a College Fair Is a Good Idea
    In-person College Connection
This is your opportunity to establish a personal connection with a particular College or University. Ask questions and get immediate feedback. Register your interest with colleges of your choice.

    Save money & time
Visit with numerous college admission reps without the added expense of travel and time away.  

    Explore new options
Discover a new college(s) or major(s). Learn about pre-college summer programs.

    Free advice
Admission representatives love to answer questions about their schools and admission requirements. High School Counselors will also be available to answer some of your college related questions.

    Narrow your list of possible college options
Identify colleges that you want to know more about; plan a campus visit.

    Demonstrate Interest
Colleges keep track of student contact – attendance at high school visit sessions, college fairs and campus visits provide great opportunities to demonstrate how serious you are about a school.

BEFORE YOU GO; ATTENDING THE FAIR: FOLLOWING UP:

Go to the NACAC link to determine the best location and date to attend the fair

Register online - ahead of time, to ensure that colleges get your contact information - BE CONSISTENT with your contact information - try to use the same email, legal name, same phone number throughout the entire process

Review the list of colleges participating in the fair ahead of time to manage your time while at the fair (these fairs are huge)

Arrive on time, plan for parking time, once you have arrived, get a map of the college table arrangements to navigate the fair in an efficient manner

Introduce yourself to reps, share your interests, ask a few good questions

Take a few notes and journal your impressions after the fair

Educational consultants at Texas Assn. of College Admission Counseling's Annual Conference

The Texas Assn. of College Admission Counseling always serves up a great annual conference. This year's Houston conference provided a great venue for college counselors and higher ed admission counselors to keep current and strengthen relationships. 

My favorite takeaways include: 

* Hearing YES Academy and uAspire share how collecting college-bound seniors' award letters to analysis institutions' financial aid practices can be used to inform next year's senior college lists. Thanks especially to Donald Kamentz, with YES Academy. Understanding how colleges and universities distribute financial aid is essential when crafting the college list. 

*Marie Bigham, with Greenhill School, provided some great prospective on the high school side during The Common App Year-In-Review. High Schools using Naviance must examine how well The Common App  and Naviance are integrating their systems to ensure all forms are successfully submitted and received on the college side. 

*College Board Jason Langdon and Ismael Rodriguez shared more details about the upcoming redesigned PSAT/NMSQT. Watch for College Board and Khan Academy webinars and tutorials. 

*Rachel Masson, with Beacon College, shared which attributes best serve students with learning differences for college success. Students with learning disabilities must understand their learning difference and become strong advocates; they must evaluate academic support programs for 'fit' prior to making a college commit. 

*Verna LaStrapes, with Texas State Technical College, shared major employment and Texas industry trends driving the demand for more skilled technical employees, in turn impacting high school guidance and higher ed programming. Verna is a passionate voice in encouraging more students to consider preparing for one of these highly sought after careers before taking the traditional route of 4 year college.  

Educational Consulting - NACAC National College Fair Comes to Austin

Last night's college fair in Austin proved to be another great opportunity for students and parents to witness the multitude of college options. Almost 400 schools were present to answer questions and connect with college-bound students. 

I enjoyed greeting college reps not only from the United States, but also from the UK, France and Canada. Equally, welcoming parents and students as they entered the massive conference hall wondering where to begin always reminds me of the new college admission season ahead.

Helping families understand the unique features of various colleges and determine where to focus their attention in order to conquer the college fair is a real highlight for me. 

Much thanks goes to NACAC and the state affiliate TACAC - they do an incredible job of organizing these events thus connecting students, parents, high school counselors and colleges. 

Want more information - ask PATRICIA NEHME - MY EDU ADVISOR