Maximizing Academic Success Through Early Test Preparation | Ep 6

With the right strategies and early preparation, you can maximize your child’s chances of getting into your (or their) dream school and securing scholarships. Students should begin preparing for standardized tests like the SAT or ACT well in advance, paying special attention to their grades even as a Freshman in High School. This will allow you and your student to have time to review content, practice test-taking strategies, get tutoring, and improve scores.  

Strategic Test Prep: Leveraging Individual Strengths 

(00:01:02) Empowering Students for Bright Academic Futures Through Test Prep 

(00:09:16) Strategic Approach to GPA and AP Courses 

(00:13:07) Testing Policies Impacting College Admissions Success 

(00:15:20) College Fit Importance in Avoiding Overmatching 

(00:21:33) Strategic Test Prep: Leveraging Individual Strengths 

(00:25:46) Mock Test Analysis for College Admissions Success 

(00:28:30) Financial Opportunities Based on Academic Performance 

 

Test-Blind, Test-Mandatory, Test-Optional: Understanding College Policies 

When applying to colleges, research their admissions policies and consider your own strengths and weaknesses to determine the best approach for your application.  

• Test-blind colleges do not consider standardized test scores as part of their admissions process, focusing instead on other aspects of your application like GPA, extracurricular activities, and essays. 

•  Test-mandatory colleges require students to submit standardized test scores as part of their application, and these scores play a significant role in the admissions decision.  

• Test-optional colleges give students the choice of whether or not to submit test scores, allowing them to showcase their strengths in other areas if they believe their scores do not accurately reflect their abilities.  

Empowering Students for Bright Academic Futures Through Test Prep 

- Finding the right college fit based on major, academic stats, and overall student success helps prevent overmatching and financial burdens in the future. 

- Choosing between the SAT and ACT based on individual strengths, taking mock tests early, and excelling in one test rather than both are key strategies for standardized test preparation. 

- Strategic planning when taking college admissions tests, identifying strengths and weaknesses early on, and prioritizing the PSAT for National Merit Scholarship consideration are important factors in academic success. 

- Using the Merit Aid Grids website can help students understand college funding opportunities based on GPA and test scores, providing valuable information on financial assistance for college. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Our mental mindset of what a 3.5 meant in 1994 is unrelated to a 3.5 in 2024. It just really is so different." - Brian Eufinger 

 

Follow Brian Eufinger:  

His Test Prep Business: https://edisonprep.com/start/ 

His summer passion project: https://meritaidgrids.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eufinger/ 

 

 

Connect with host, Jack Wang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejackwang/ 

*be sure to send a connection request with a message saying Hello! 

 

Navigate college funding with me at www.smartcollegebuyer.com 

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