Why is there a common assumption that additional prep is needed?

atomom
Sat, 25 Jul 2020 06:05:23 +0000

Some kids/families are really motivated by the large merit scholarships that high PSAT/SAT/ACT scores can bring ($).
And it is worth prepping for AP tests if you are choosing a college that is generous with AP credits. Qualifying for as many credits as possible through high AP scores can allow students to graduate early ($) or finish a second (or third) major ($)

My 6th kid (of 7) is now starting college. Our family has cashed in on those score-based merit scholarships and AP credits. We’ve had several NMFs with full-rides, ACT-based full-tuition and 1/2 tuition scholarships, SAT-based 2/3 tuition scholarship, etc.
S#3 was able to have a fully-funded study abroad experience, as well as take his last semester off for a dream internship and still graduate on time. D#2 could’ve graduated after only 5 semesters (due to AP and dual enrollment credits) but is finishing 3 majors in 8 semesters.
Without some heavy duty test-prep–books of SAT/ACT practice tests done at home, and some focused AP prep–we would’ve been paying a lot more to put our kids through college.
Some on CC can boast that their kids qualified for huge merit scholarships without cracking a book. There’s no way of knowing, but for my kids, I firmly believe that the extra test prep made the difference between just missing and just making the cutoffs. It would’ve been foolish not to prep with that much at stake.
Maybe there was a little pressure and competition from their classmates, too, but the main motivation was the $$$.