Most State High School Exit Exams Do Not Measure College Readiness

We’ve known for a while that a high school diploma does not necessarily mean that a student is prepared for success in college. A new study by the Center on Education Policy indicates that state high school exit exams don’t either.

  • Twenty-six states have exit exams or will soon have them in place.
  • Sixty-five percent of high school students must pass an exit exam to graduate.
  • Only six states (of the 26) report that their own exams measure the skills necessary for college.
  • Only nine (of the 26) measure skills needed for success in the workplace.

If these things are true, then parents (and voters!) should consider the following:

  1. State or district superintendents of education who swear that a high school diploma is the gateway to success in college are either delusional or dishonest.
    More and more young people—thinking they are well prepared—may attempt higher education, and find that either a) they must take remedial courses just to be able to do college level work, or b) they will flunk out (or more likely simply drop out) because they cannot keep up with better-prepared peers.

While I pride myself on being helping kids get into college, I harbor no delusions that college is for everyone. I nearly always discuss alternatives to higher education with my clients; for the ticket to financial success and a satisfying human existence is not dependent on acquiring a college education. While statistics indicate that a college diploma increases earning potential, I never treat an individual student as a statistic. With the right game plan, a high school graduate who does not go to college may easily out-earn another who goes to the Ivy League.
I specialize in helping individuals map out the plan that suits them best, and that provides them with the greatest level of satisfaction and success.
And yes, I’ll work with under-prepared students who want to go to college. Just because a student did not experience success in high school does not mean that they cannot or will not be successful in college. It’s all in creating the right road map, tailored to the abilities, interests, and aspirations of the individual student.
Mark Montgomery
Montgomery Educational Consulting

Feeding Frenzy: The SATs, Grade Inflation, and Colorado Students

students sitting in a classroom

I attended a counselor briefing organized by the Colorado Council on High School / College Relations. I’m a member, and this annual event is designed to give counselors an update on what’s new at Colorado colleges and universities.
One little statistic caught my attention. The presenter from the western regional office of the College Board cited these two statistics:
11,000 students took the SAT I Reasoning test in Colorado last year.
58% of them reported that they had an “A” grade point average.

So that means that 6,380 students who took the SATs in Colorado had an A average. So if your child is planning to go to a selective college, he or she had better hope to do well on the SAT. Because GPA alone is not going to help him or her stand out in a crowd.

Of course, in Colorado, more students take the ACT than the SAT. In fact, the state mandates (and pays for) every kid to take the ACT.
Still, when you consider how many admission slots are open at the most competitive colleges in the country. And you consider that Colorado is not one of the most populous states in the Union, the competition is going to be pretty stiff.

Either that, or grade inflation truly is rampant, and grades have become meaningless indicators of student achievement. If this is the case, then we might argue that the standardized tests are actually better indicators of student achievement or capability or aptitude than inflated transcripts.

So with the competition so stiff, it makes sense to use every resource available to ensure admission success. That is why 22% of first-year students at private, four-year colleges take advantage of some sort of consulting service during the admission process (according to the Independent Educational Consultants Association–IECA).

Call us now to learn how we can help prepare you for the rigors of the admissions process.

Mark A. Montgomery
Montgomery Educational Consulting

It's Carnival Time Again

This week there are two carnivals to report on, and I’m happy to buy my tickets for each of them.cotton candy machine
First is the Carnival of Education hosted by the Education Wonks. As usual, it’s a tantalizing treat. My favorite this week is a post about the isolating effects of technology by Leader Talk. He helps to remind us that there is still need for human contact. This is definitely true in my profession, in which a plethora of new websites have sprung up to match students to colleges using computerized algorithms. This is all fine and dandy, but choosing a college requires an individual weighting of the criteria. In all cases, college consulting is a custom job. One can generalize about certain aspects of a college. But ultimately the choice is an individual one, and it makes sense to have a guide helping students arrive at their selection. I don’t think I’ll be replaced by an algorithm anytime soon.
Then there is the Carnival of Homeschooling. This week’s confection is cooked up by Beverly Hernandez. My favorite post this week is one by Why Homeschool on the value of an elite education, which took me over to the original post on this topic by Paul Graham. Paul is a venture capitalist. He contends that attending an elite college–by itself–does not guarantee success. Attending a small or lesser-known college may be just as beneficial for most people. Success is not a function of education alone. It is a function of who you are, what you know, and how you combine your talents to get stuff done. Great post.

Questions to Ask to Find a Good College Fit

questions word written on a black board

I recently attended a college fair hosted by College That Change Lives. This group of 40 small colleges is selected by a non-profit organization originally run by Loren Pope, who wrote a book by the same name. Several hundred high school students and their families attended, and I went to talk to a few admissions representatives to learn more about those colleges on behalf of my clients.

The organizers handed out a helpful list of questions to ask of admissions officers as students and their families investigate colleges. It is worth sharing with my readers.

On the Academic Environment

  • Do faculty members hold students to high standards?
  • How much time do students spend on work outside of class?
  • What type of evaluations (i.e., exams/papers) do faculty members use most often?
  • What type of thinking do exams and assignments require?
  • How do students receive feedback on academic work, and how often do they receive it?
  • Do students work together on projects?
  • How often are students required to do presentations in class?
  • How often do students discuss ideas in class?
  • Is there a required first-year program and a culminating senior experience?
  • Are students able to easily access courses outside of their major?

On the Campus Environment

  • Do students and faculty serve together on campus committees?
  • How well do students get along with each other?
  • How many students participate in community-based service projects?
  • How easy is it to be involved in student leadership activities?
  • How often do students interact with peers of different racial or ethnic backgrounds or social, political, and religious views?
  • How many students study abroad?
  • What do most students do for fun?
  • Are there opportunities for spiritual activities?
  • What kinds of activities are students involved in outside the classroom, and how accessible are these activities to first-year students?
  • Are activities in music, theater, and fine arts limited to students majoring in these areas?
  • Are the students satisfied with their experience? Would they make the same college choice if they had to do it again?
  • Is athletic participation limited to varsity athletes?
  • What percentage of students are involved in athletics or intramural sports?

On Campus Resources

  • What types of financial aid and academic scholarships are available? Are they renewable each year?
  • Who assists students with course selection and career advising? How often does this happen?
  • How accessible are library and technology resources?
  • What safety/security services are available, and how often do students use them?
  • What health and personal counseling services are available?
  • What career planning and job placement services and/or internship experiences are available? How early can these services be accessed? What data is available on graduate and professional school enrollment and job placement for students?

This is a pretty exhaustive list, but it gives you an idea of how to get beyond the marketing glitz and the official tours. Sometimes you have to get off the beaten track and ask students and random folks you meet on campus about college life.

Further, you need to tailor this list to your individual interests and priorities. My clients call upon me to help them develop a list of priorities, and together we map out a strategy for the college visits. There is no sense traveling half-way across the country to look at colleges just to passively absorb the marketing messages and take a look at the landscaping. You have to have a road map. This is what we provide at Montgomery Educational Consulting. Call us today to help you map your college journey.

Mark Montgomery
Educational Planner
Montgomery Educational Consulting

Top 5 Reasons to Get Great College Advice

FIND THE RIGHT FIT
With over 3,000 colleges and universities in the US, how do I know which is the best match for me? With our first-hand knowledge of colleges and access to the admission profession, we can provide in-depth, personalized advice that no guidebook or website can. We get to know you so that we identify several colleges that will allow you to thrive throughout your college years.
INVEST EDUCATIONAL DOLLARS WISELY
Aside from a home, a college education is the biggest investment that most families will ever make. And yet most would never think of selling their home without the advice of a professional real estate agent. When you consider that the cost of a private 4-year college (tuition, room, and board) ranges from $120,000 to well over $200,000, hiring a professional to help you make a sound investment makes good sense.
PLAY THE ADMISSION GAME LIKE A PRO
Colleges and universities compete for students. And then they deny admission to apparently strong applicants. They market their educational services the way companies sell toothpaste. Then they manipulate the game in a way that favors their national rankings–and not individual students. With our expertise in the field, we shed light on what can be a very opaque and confusing process. At the same time, we maintain a sharp focus on student needs and aspirations.
GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
On average, the percentage of students who enroll in a college who actually graduate from that same college is under 50%. This means that the many, many transfer to other schools after having made the wrong choice. By guiding you toward colleges that are the best fit for your academic interests, extracurricular pursuits, and personality, you have a much better chance of matriculating and graduating from a school that suits all your needs from start to finish.
MAINTAIN DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY
The college admissions process can be stressful for everyone involved. Much seems to ride on the decision. And the tasks seem endless: choosing appropriate courses, registering and studying for standardized tests, researching colleges, completing applications, writing essays, filling out financial aid forms…the list goes on and on. With all the tension in the air, some families yearn for a way to remove the stress and reestablish equilibrium. We won’t let the process get you down; in fact, we’ll help you enjoy the discoveries along the way.

Colleges Love To Hate US News and World Report

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