I saw two articles today that really shocked me.
Brown Alumni Monthly reported that applications rose 20% this year, from 25,000 to 30,000 applicants. Just a few years ago, in 2002, there were “only” 14,612 applicants.
That’s a 50% increase in 8 years. All competing for the same 1,500 freshman slots. It works out to an acceptance rate of about 5%.
Harvard reported 30,489 applicants, a record for them, and accepted 2,110, for a record low acceptance rate of 6.9%.
Not only that, but almost 3,600 of those Harvard applications were from seniors ranked first in their high school!
That’s unbelievable!
A couple of days ago, I wrote:
“You can’t control everything that happens to you, you can only control how you respond to it… If you didn’t get accepted to the college of your choice, know that acceptance rates have been dropping for several years and that it’s no reflection on you.”
It’s still true, but it means that you have to do everything in your power to control one of the few things you can control – your SAT score.
The amount of money that you’ll spend for a skilled SAT tutor is a drop in the bucket compared to what you’re about to spend on college, and for many of you, what you’re already spending on a private high school.
Better SAT scores mean more choices. Now more than ever, the stakes are high. Test preparation isn’t just another educational expense – it’s an investment in your future.
Here’s more from Brown Alumni Monthly:
About a year ago James Miller ’73, Brown’s dean of admission, met with the father of a prospective student. The man had lost most of his savings during the recession. With some of his investments now worthless, he was looking for a more secure place to put his money.
“I might as well put it into his head,” he told Miller, referring to his son. “That’s about the most secure investment I can make.”
Apparently a lot of other parents feel the same way. Miller believes the brutal economy of the last few years accounts for much of this year’s national spike in college applications.
“In uncertain times,” Miller says, “people want to invest in education. I’ve been doing this for thirty years and I’ve truly never seen an applicant pool with this depth of talent.”
Of course, when it comes to choosing a tutor for SAT prep, there are a lot of options.
If you pick the wrong one, you’re setting yourself up for a very frustrating experience and little to no score gain.
If you pick a highly skilled tutor who understands you and can help you reach your true potential, you can raise your score higher than you might think. In fact, with the right tutor and enough motivation, you’re score can go up 300 points or more, even if you’re a student with learning differences.
Imagine the difference 300 points can make when the admissions officer at the school of your dreams looks at your application.
If you’re highly motivated and you have big dreams, contact me for a free introductory session and let me show you what’s possible.
Leave a Reply