Omniac Attack!

Hey Students!

We're right in the middle of ACT season:  the October 22nd results should be in very soon and December 10th will be here before you know it.  And as you start to get your scores back and start to look at where you want to send your scores, the better you understand what the scores are, the better decisions you'll be able to make.  There are two main things you should keep in mind when evaluating your scores:  What the scores are (and are not) and milestone scores.

The first thing you need to really understand is that ACT scores are not objective evaluations on how well you know a particular subject.  It's a comparison of how you did amidst a sample group.  An old joke goes that if a bear is chasing you and a friend, you don't need to be faster than the bear, just faster than your friend.  It's the same way on the ACT.  Since the ACT scores on a bell curve, shooting for an arbitrary number of correct answers on the test is actually less important than trying to score better than more people.

The important thing to take away from this is to not freak out if you find that the test is much more difficult than you expected.  If a particular section is harder for you, it's probably going to be harder for most other people as well.  So, your percentile isn't likely to go down by much.  Alternatively, if you're very good at a subject, you could find your percentile going up as other people struggle more than you.  

Obviously, the higher your score is, the better.  But some scores mean a little more to colleges, so if you're close to those, it's even more important to try to go up.  

The first major milestone to hit is 18 or 19.  Depending on what your school is, or what section you're on, getting an 18 or a 19 will exempt you from remedial classes.  At UNM, for example, it takes a 19 on the English and Math sections to become exempt from those respective remedial classes, and an 18 on Reading.

Next, is a 20, which represents the 50th percentile.  Although large, public universities will readily take students who test below the 50th percentile for instate students, since colleges look very poor when their averages are below the 50th percentile, this is a very important number for students applying to out-of-state colleges.

One of the more important milestone scores is a 24, which is the 75th percentile.  This score can often grant automatic admission for students applying to larger, public universities, even out of state!  In addition, a 24 is often one of the lower scores required to receive merit-based scholarships and out-of-state tuition waivers.  Also, some selective, private schools (but certainly not all) will begin evaluating applications with this score.

The 90th percentile, or a 27, is the next important milestone.  At this score, some of the larger and most extensive merit-based scholarships (such as Presidential or Regents scholarships) are within reach.  In addition, many more selective, privates schools become serious possibilities with this score.

Finally, a 32 (and above) represents the 99th percentile.  It's important to note, that, to a college, there is functionally no difference between a 32 and a 36.  So, if you get anything in this range...Fantastic!  You have the most options open to you.

As application season draws towards a close, it's super important to know how colleges treat ACT scoes.  And as you plan your test prep for December, it's equally important to know which scores will get the biggest bang for your buck.

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Hey Everyeone!

Omniac has teamed up with Living Social to bring you two fantastic new offers!  We currently are offering special packages both for Test Prep Tutoring and Academic Tutoring.  

The Test Prep Offers is a comprehensive plan that briefly covers all areas of college admissions, have a cost of $50, and will include:

• a Practice ACT or SAT test
• a College Consulting session
• one hour of ACT or SAT tutoring

Our Academic offers differs slightly, in that it will focus on the student's high school curriculum, cost $60, and will include:

• a one-hour high school Strategy Session
• three hours of Academic Tutoring, for any high school class or subject.

The services provided by these offers would normally have a cost of over $250, so this is a fantastic value.  However, both of these deals will expire in three days, so time is limited!  

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Hey Everyone!

There is a time in every young person’s life when he or she must begin to make difficult decisions that will very likely influence the rest of his or her adult life. This pivotal time usually emerges as high school students approach graduation. They are faced with a very critical decision: go to college or take a break from school for a while.

Within the past year, the percentage of students to immediately enroll in college after the completion of their high school education has dropped. Understandably, many people may look upon the decline in high school graduates immediately pursuing higher education in a negative light. However, it can also be argued that in many cases it may actually benefit young adults to take a hiatus between high school and college, no matter if they are considering attending an online school or a traditional brick-and-mortar campus. In fact, this gap year or deferred admission trend is becoming increasingly popular.

There are some disadvantages to not immediately attending a post-secondary school. Perhaps the most persuasive of all is the argument that young adults who enter the work force before attending college are at a greater risk of never completing their college degree. Another argument emphasizes the idea that is possible, and even likely, that some of a student's foundational knowledge will be forgotten and have to be relearned if they don't continue their education immediately. Health insurance issues may also arise for young adults who live at home and are not full-time students.

Although there are distinct disadvantages to taking a break before college, the positive benefits may outweigh the negatives, especially for those who aren't sure what they want to study. Young adults may also find a gap year provides them with a chance to mentally take a break, travel and have new life experiences, try out jobs, or save money.

1. Take a Mental Break

 Hey Juniors!

School will be out this week and I know how much all of you must be looking forward to it.  No school, no responsibility, nice weather, and nothing to do but rest and relax. But while it's important to have fun, there's so much to do for next fall that it's a really good idea to get a head start and take care or some things right now.  Here are three things that are just ideal to do in the summer. 

The essay is obviously an important part of your college application.  It's one of the very few things where your own voice gets to shine.  But for many students, the essay is something that gets put off to the last minute.  Naturally this is a bad idea for any essay, but it's especially harmful for your college essay.  Writing about yourself, and making it meaningful, is much more difficult than most other types of writing.  It requires more time for reflection.  A peaceful summer, free of the stress of school (with the addition of the bulk of the admissions process) is the perfect time to accomplish that.

There once was a time when campus visits were not much of a big deal.  Unfortunately, that time has passed.  Campus visits are one of the best ways to let admissions officers know you and know that you're serious about attending their school.  And what better time to make that trip than during the summer.  With school out and many families thinking about vacations anyway, it's very easy to spend a day of your trip on campus, and it could be invaluable to your admissions.

There is, of course, a reason why most schools are not year round.  The stress and anxiety that students face during a typical school year has never been higher; and the highly competitive college admissions process just adds ontop of that.  It is important that you take advantage of your summer so that fall isn't as terrible as it can be.  There are lots of things to do and seemingly no time for it all.  But it's vitally important that everyone remembers that your still kids.  Be sure to take plenty of time to relax so that you can come back in August fully refreshed and ready to tackle admissions!

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Hey Everyone!

Those of you who watched and enjoyed Omniac Executive Director, Mark Truman's, last appearance on the KRQE 10 O'Clock News are in for a treat.  Mark has been invited back to talk about the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship.  

While our thoughts on the Lottery Scholarship are well known, KRQE was so impressed with Mark's take on Carve Your Path, that they invited him back to share his insights into the Lottery Scholarship with a much wider audience.  

Mark's segment first aired this past Tuesday, May 3, on KRQE 13, and again last night, May 4, on KASA 2.  If you weren't able to catch either of those times though, the segment is now available on KRQE's website!

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Hey Everyone!

It appears as though the College Board is making news for spewing nonsense, yet again.  This time around, they are trying to debunk the myth of college admissions being difficult.  While their information is convincing and seemingly backed up numbers, they fail to show their work.  The study is also, and more importantly, contradicted by the experiences of Albuquerque students and their families.  

This is not the College Board's first foray into controversial reports, nor is it the first time we've taken them to task for it.  They seemed to have learned their lesson though about putting obviously contradictory statements.  This latest study certainly does seem to be conclusive evidence that the idea college admissions being a nightmare is overblown.  

A closer look at their numbers and a comparision between those numbers and what we've seen in five years of helping New Mexico students with admissions, points out a few interesting facts and biases.

The study only had three regions from which it sampled: East, West, and Midwest/South.  So basically they polled an equal number of students on the east coast, the west coast, and everything in between.  

On the surface, this could appear to be an insignificant statistic, but when you look at the geographic distribution of some of the most selective colleges in the nation, you see a definiate trend.  61% of all students accepted to Harvard come from the east and west coast; 68% of accepted Yale students come from the coasts; There isn't any comprehensive data on Stanford's students, but considering that 45% of those come from California, it's easy to accept that the trend continues.  

Even Notre Dame admits 43% of their students from the coasts.  So even selective schools located in the midwest and ones who want to admit a greater portion of midwest students still import larger numbers of out-of-region students (who come from both coasts) than do the selective schools located on either coast.

What do all of those numbers mean?  It's not that east and west coast students are any smarter or better prepared for college than their southern or midwest counterparts.  But it does suggest that east and west coast students are putting together better applications.  By focusing on these two groups of students, who historically have had an easier time with admission, the College Board's study has less of an impact to students who don't fall in those categories, such as New Mexico students.

Whether by fluke or by choice, the College Board's sample of students skewed heavily towards the academically successful.  Of all the students surveyed, only 11% of them had a GPA lower than 3.0!*  In addition, the average SAT and ACT score of their sample is roughly in the top 25%*.   So, the College Board is only working with the best and the brightest students, is it any wonder that they got the results that they did?  

If that was not enough, the study itself admits that the majority of students polled had already been accepted to a 4-year university.  So, in addition to asking an overwhelming number of the most prepared students, they also mainly asked students who had already gone through the process successfully.  They might as well have asked Michael Jordan how hard it is to play basketball!

It is generally accepted that the number one correlation with standardized test scores is parents income.  Also, as income goes up, the more opportunity is present for college consulting, test prep tutoring, and other avenues of improving a college application.  It stands to reason that the higher a families income, the greater the likeliehood is that they'll be more prepared for college admissions.

Once again, the College Board has opted to sample a greater portion of familes who are already inclined to be prepared for college admissions.  One-third of all families had a family income of over $75,000, with another quarter who have a family income of over $40,000.*  

Over the course of three different areas, region, academics, and income, the College Board has skewed their sample towards students that are already inclined to do well in the college admissions process.  With this information in mind, their claim that college admissions is easy now seems somewhat ingenious.  

The trouble that this invites is that students and families that we speak with, New Mexico students and families, do have trouble with admissions.  Studies like this confirm to colleges and families that there's nothing wrong with the system and any difficulty that a family has is their fault.  That's simply not true and by attempting to skew the facts so that it appears true, the College Board is doing it's part to ensure that nothing ever changes and that the process never improves.

*All statistics come from Complexity in College Admission: Fact or Urban Myth, pages 64-65.

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Are you having problems with or have questions about college admissions?  Contact us and schedule a free Introductory Consult so we can help clear everything up!

Hey seniors!

It's April now,and those acceptance letters should be pouring in.  For many of you, the college admissions process is over and done with:  you've been accepted to your first choice school and there's no question of where you'll be next fall.  For others, though, you still have the most important choice still to make.  Whether an unexpected rejection or wait-list has thrown a wrench into your plans or you've been accepted into so many quality programs, the final choice of which school to attend is often more difficult than families originally anticipate.  There are several key areas that you need to think about when making this final choice.

Obviously, the first consideration that anyone will look at when choosing a school is the financial aid package offered.  Everyone's worried about the tough economic times, just as they're worried about the ever increasing cost of college.  It would be a very natural idea to simply go with whichever school gives the most comprehensive scholarship and financial aid offer.  While this idea works out fantastically most of the time, there does come a point where this may not necessarily be true.  There are strong correlations that suggest that the more prestigious a university one attends (and these tend to give out lesser financial aid packages), the higher one's lifetime income will be.  Much like with attending college at all, going to a more expensive school is a risk that can be worth it.

There are a lot of great schools out there, but not every great school will be great for each student.  Different students respond better to different approaches and different environments.  If you applied and were accepted to a school, there's a good chance that that school will be a good fit for you.  So while there probably won't be any bad choices at this stage, some will be better than others.  There are several things that can go into determining which school will be the best fit for you.  From looking at the overall quality of the school, to the quality of your prospective major, to extra-curricular activities, to just a gut feeling.  From the logical to the illogical, all of these can and will play a role in how much you enjoy your college experience.

It is possible to find a school that seems to be a perfect fit, but still not have the greatest experience.  It's sometimes tough to remember this, but schools do not exist in a vacuum.  They're in communities, towns, and cities, and those shape how students experience college more than families initially realize.  Students will spend 4 or more years in these places, a significant portion of their lives at that point.  It's important that students not only spend that time at a school that will be a good fit, but also in a community that will be a good fit as well.  Students will not spend all of their time on campus, so it will become increasingly important that they have enough opportunities to experience life outside the classroom as well.  

If you've already made your decision about the upcoming fall, fantastic!  Congratulations!  But for those who are still on the fence between two or more schools, be sure that you look at all the factors that will play in to the next stage in your education and in your life.  Unexpected things will always happen, but the more things you can look at ahead of time, the better prepared you'll be when the unexpected arrives.

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Most New Mexico students and parents are enthusiastic about the Lottery Scholarship.  And why shouldn't they be?  The Lottery gives a scholarship to any New Mexico student who attends a New Mexico college.  That certainly sounds like a great idea, but a closer look reveals that the Lottery Scholarship is bad for admissions, bad for students, and bad for New Mexico.

The Lottery is all about lowered expectations.  By making the only requirements for eligibility a 2.5 GPA and a diploma, the Lottery assumes that New Mexico high schools prepare students for college.  The fact that roughly half of all New Mexico students need remedial classes [1] proves that New Mexico high schools are not sufficiently educating students.

Because the students are not ready, between 25% and 35% of New Mexico high school graduates will lose the Lottery scholarship after their first semester of college [2].  And only 15% of all people who lose their Lottery scholarships will graduate in 6 years. [2]  The rest of the students, unprepared by their high schools and without funds, will not finish a college degree within that time.

The reasons for this are clear: the Lottery sets a standard of mediocrity, instead of a standard of excellence.  Students are trained that they only have to be average (2.5 GPA) in order to succeed, leaving them unprepared for the future.

This would not be a problem if more students kept their scholarships. But since only 10% of all students who receive the Lottery will keep it for the full four years [2], the vast majority of Lottery funds go to students who do not earn a degree.

There are several selective schools, with restrictive admissions requirements, that don't offer any merit scholarships (Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc.) because they have a uniformly excellent student population.  Need based financial aid flows freely at these schools, helping students who cannot otherwise afford to attend.

Most state schools, alternatively, award merit based scholarships with additional benchmarks to hold students accountable.  By giving money to the students who continue to do well in college (3.0+ GPA), most state schools reward behavior that leads to graduation.

The Lottery Scholarship combines these two methods in the worst possible way.  The bar is set too low to motivate students to achieve, but high enough to disqualify them once they reach college.  In particular this affects low-income students who are more likely to enter with lower GPAs and test scores.

The low-income students only receive the scholarship half as often as more affluent students, and those low-income students who do receive it lose it twice as often. [3]  The Lottery is designed to help students who need it pay for school.  In reality, those students are not the beneficiaries of the program.

In Georgia, the HOPE Scholarship functions almost identically to our Lottery Scholarship except in one key area: it's requires students to earn and maintain a 3.0 GPA and have above-average test scores.  While this does mean that fewer student will qualify for the HOPE Scholarship, those students that do qualify have an outstanding 90% retention rate! (4) Imagine what would happen if 90% of Lottery recipients retained their scholarship for the full duration.

We love New Mexico.  It's why we're here.  We also love it when New Mexico students return home as adults and infuse the state with new and fresh ideas.  What we don't love is when New Mexico students stay in state for college (especially when Albuquerque students go to UNM).  If students stay in New Mexico for their entire lives, how will they be exposed to new ideas?   

Many Lottery recipients are students that can earn admission to out of state schools and even get merit scholarships to leave New Mexico.  But since no school is going to offer full tuition payments except in extreme situations, these students often tend to go to UNM.  And while there's nothing wrong with a UNM education, there's a certain stagnation that happens when very little changes from high school to college.  

All in all, the Lottery Scholarship is not meeting New Mexico needs.  It hurts students while they are in the college admissions process because it doesn't do anything to motivate students to excel in high school.  It hurts students while they are in college because it's easy to lose and it's difficult for students to stay in school after losing it.  And it hurts students after they graduate because it strongly encourages them to stay in New Mexico and not benefit from exposure to new ideas and experiences.

The truly sad part is that these problems are simple to fix.  Right now, many families see the Lotterly Scholarship as a given, which means that they don't value it.  Students realize too late how rare the free education they are receiving truly is.

The simplest solution is to make the Lottery Scholarship more difficult to get.  If students have to work to earn a free ride, they won't throw it away so quickly and they will be better prepared to succeed in the future.

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[3]  Report to the Legislative Finance Committee.  (2010, August 11). 65.

[4] Cornwall, Christopher, Mustard, David B. Assessing Public Higher Education in Georgia at the Start of the 21st Century.  20.

Hey Everyone!

Have you ever visited CarveYourPath to help with the college admissions process?  If you haven't, or haven't heard of the state's $1.5 million website designed to give all New Mexico students an information database for admissions, you'll want to check out Mark Truman on tonight's KRQE 10 O'Clock

News.

Mark will discuss the website in detail for the interview, and as can be expected, he holds nothing back on either his compliments or criticisms.  The interview will air tonight, on CBS KRQE 13, at 10 PM and tomorrow, on Fox KASA 2, at 9 PM.  And for those who miss the interview tonight, but don't want to wait until tomorrow, the segment will also be available at KRQE's website.  

UPDATE:

The segment is now available online at the KRQE Website.

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Intersted in hearing more about Mark's opinions on CarveYourPath or the college admissions process in general?  Contact us to schedule a free introductory consult!