Financial Aid and SAT & ACT Scores

Financial aid for college is divided into two buckets: need-based and merit-based. 

Need-based aid is determined by comparing the cost of college to a family's income and/or assets. It's essentially a math equation: cost of attendance (COA) - expected family contribution (EFC) = need. 

Merit-based aid is determined both by student achievement and the college's enrollment management. This kind of aid is much more nuanced than need-based aid. Colleges manage their enrollment by attracting high-achieving students with discounts and scholarships. And the achievement colleges look for is two fold: academic achievement, like grades or test scores, and extracurricular achievement, like sports. 

Truth is, there is more merit-aid distributed for academic achievement than extracurricular achievement. Yes, more money is available for nerds than for jocks. 

So if there is more aid for academic achievement, what is more important: GPAs or test scores? 

The fact of the matter is that, even in this world of test-optional, test scores remain a major driver of financial aid. 

This point was made to clear to me recently when I had the chance to pick the brain of a certified financial planner who has worked in the college funding space for over two decades. 

His exact words were, "While admissions decisions are generally driven by GPA, merit-based financial aid decisions are primarily driven by test scores."

Now, this statement may be an oversimplification of the financial aid process. Nevertheless, the logic is quite sound: GPAs are hardly standardized. A 4.0 at one school is not the same as a 4.0 at every school. So using GPAs to identify stellar students is inexact. On the other hand, the SAT and ACT are highly standardized. Test scores are thus a very quick and precise way to differentiate large groups of students. 

Yes, there are flaws in this logic of this last statement. Anyone who follows this blog know that we continually preach that students are more than just test scores. The movement towards test-optional is clear evidence that test scores are less important in general. 

However, the fact remains that aside from test scores, there is no other apples to apples comparison of students. 

And since merit-based aid is not equation-driven like need-based aid, schools have to find a way to manage their enrollment and determine who gets a discount and who doesn't. Hence, test scores remain a significant factor in merit-based aid.

The future of the SAT and ACT is in doubt. Most schools are test-optional and more and more schools will become test-blind. 

But for now, test scores still drive financial aid decisions. Maybe not admissions decisions, but definitely merit-based financial aid decisions. 

Household Income, SAT Scores & Essay Content

The relationship between SAT and ACT scores to household income is well-documented. Even the most ardent supporters of standardized tests cannot dispute the fact that higher scores are tied to higher family income brackets. 

Which is a big reason why the test-optional movement was gaining steam even before the pandemic. 

So without test scores, essays are gaining greater importance in the process of college admission. It's a logical result: in absence of test scores, college admission counselors are weighing college application essays heavier. 

But what if essay content is also related to household income? What if a student's word choice, punctuation and structures were also connected to household income? 

Turns out, there is indeed a strong relation. Essays, like test scores, are related to household income. 

In a new paper from Stanford CEPA (Center for Educational Policy Analysis), researchers concluded that "essay content is strongly related to household income and SAT scores." By reviewing 60,000 undergraduate applications and 240,000 essays, Salinas native AJ Alvero and his team at Stanford revealed that "essays have a stronger correlation to reported household income than SAT scores." 

This is big news. The Wall Street Journal just issued an Opinion piece about the same. 

But what does it mean? 

On one hand, this shouldn't be much of a surprise. Elite and selective institutions have likely flagged essays with targeted vocabulary or niche topics for generations. If the crew team needs a coxswain, then any essays about coxswain experience would likely receive special attention. 

On the other hand, we should be outraged. Here is hard evidence of yet more inequities in our higher education system. Access to elite and selective colleges is only for those in higher income brackets who can pay to prepare for the SAT/ACT or craft perfect essays?

Sure, I get it. Enrollment management is a business decision. In order for colleges to keep their doors open, they need to cater to some full pay students. 

But if we truly believe that higher education is a means towards upward mobility, we may need to reconsider why household income is so closely related to test scores and essay content. What do we value when we assess student potential? What should we value? 

As colleges grapple with these questions, CROSSWALK is here to support all students, regardless of income. Financial aid, and pro-bono programs, are available for all tutoring, especially test prep. 

Share this with someone you know that could benefit from academic support no matter what adjusted gross income they have. Let's be sure all students have a path to college. 

Test Optional Here to Stay

If you haven't heard the news, ACT CEO Janet Godwin recently wrote in the company's blog that the test optional movement is here to stay. Further, she offers that the growth of test blind is "unlikely." Read her post right here. 

The reactions to this announcement are mixed. 

On one hand, the good news is that more schools will allow students to have the option to submit test scores. This means that the stress around the SAT and ACT will be reduced since students will have the choice to take and/or submit test scores. Followers of CROSSWALK know that we have long been proponents of the stress-free approach to testing. 

On the other hand, the bad news is that the test optional movement seems to benefit colleges and universities more than the students. Due to the pandemic, most if not all schools went test optional for the past admissions cycle. As a result, the more competitive schools saw increases in the number of students applying. This increase in applicants benefits these schools in three significant ways: 1) schools get to choose from a wider selection of applicants, 2) more applications means more revenue from application fees, and 3) increased applications means a lower admission rate which helps the school's rankings in the U.S. News and World Report. 

So what is the end result of test optional remaining as an ongoing policy? Probably no different than the past. Early indications are that more admission offers, and potentially more financial award offers, are going to those who submit test scores. 

The data point to track will be the difference between admission offers or financial aid awards for test takers versus non-test takers. But that data point (realistically) may be too soon to tell and (cynically) potentially buried or massaged by the colleges keen on keeping application submissions up. 

As long as the SAT and ACT remain a path towards more admission and financial aid, CROSSWALK is committed to providing stress-free approaches to test preparation. 

Our upcoming Spring Test Prep Series starts March 16th and financial aid is available. Sign up and get more information here. 

CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula's resource for academic tutoring and test preparation. Contact us here for more information. 

How to Get Financial Aid for Test Prep

Critics of the use of standardized testing in college admissions point to the disparity between students with resources to prepare for the test and those without. Generally speaking, students in higher income brackets perform better on standardized tests than those in lower income brackets. It is a salient argument against the SAT and ACT that is supported by data. And it is a major reason why so many schools have gone "test optional," even prior to the COVID pandemic. 

Yet, even if schools are "test optional," some studies suggest that submitting a good test score can increase your admission chances. 

So what if you don't have the resources to pay for test prep? Is there Financial Aid for test prep? 

Yes, indeed there is. Truth is, most test prep companies understand the aforementioned disparity and want to do their part to help those who might not normally afford an expensive test prep program. 

Consider these five ways you can seek Financial Aid in order to make test prep more affordable and increase your admission chances: 

1) Ask: Simply put, ask for it. Call up a test prep company and ask, "Do you provide Financial Aid?" There may be some information on their website about aid but it is usually best to talk to a person so you can understand. Some times, test prep companies will have a formal process to apply for aid. Other times, just by asking, you can access discounts or coupons not necessarily advertised. 

2) Bring a Friend: While not officially "financial aid," many test prep companies can give you a deal if you can also get a friend to sign up for a program. Think of its as a win-win: the company gets a new client and you could get a discount. And even some innovative test prep companies might work out a special deal if you help fill a class with your or your parent's personal marketing efforts. 

3) Check in with your Counselor: Many times, test prep companies market directly to schools. As such, your school counselor may be aware of what programs are available in your area. Reach out to your counselor to see if s/he knows about upcoming programs, special deals or other ways to access resources. 

4) Check in with Community Organizations: Some test prep companies connect directly with community organizations, like a Boys and Girls Club, to provide test prep access to all. Reach out to youth-oriented organizations in your local area to see what they might know. 

5) Do It Yourself for FREE: When all else fails, realize that there are many free resources that are accessible to just about anyone. 

Truth be told, affordable test prep or access to financial aid for test prep is a phone call, email or click away. Take the time to reach out and see what is available for you. 

CROSSWALK is more than willing to help. We offer financial aid for our upcoming Winter Test Prep Series as well as special deals for all programs for those families in need. We also work with local organizations in and around the Monterey Peninsula to make test prep affordable for all. Contact us here to learn more. 

CROSSWALK Test Prep & Tutoring is the Monterey Peninsula's local resource for academic tutoring and test prep. 

What Did You Do During COVID-19?

Many college applications for 2020 include essay prompts addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Students will be given the space to write about how this event has impacted their lives, like in this Common Application question here. 

While this question is optional on the Common Application, it's always a good idea to write something. Especially if applicants can share meaningful experiences to help colleges better understand who the applicant is and what they are all about. 

For example, an applicant might share what they did during the shelter-in-place order, like how they learned a new skill, took on a service project or did something else productive. 

So, you ask, what is CROSSWALK doing while sheltering-in-place? 

Plenty. 

Even amidst the question of future of the SAT and ACT, CROSSWALK is using this time to reset, recalibrate and redeploy resources to better serve its clients. 

First and foremost, CROSSWALK is deepening its partnership with InspirED. Brooke and Marisela have been hard at work adding to their podcast and hosting weekly College Planning meetings on Wednesday nights. 

Second, CROSSWALK is expanding its instructional offerings to meet the new needs of remote learning. For example, we are prepared to help set up and manage remote learning pods for local families. And we have also added a new remote course called "Personal Finance for Tweens and Teens." 

Third, CROSSWALK launched a new website. The new site is easier to navigate, has its own dedicated payment page and will keep you up to date on the latest learning news and study tips. 

Finally, CROSSWALK is leveraging its two decades of standardized test preparation to prepare for what may be the next big thing in standardized testing: SAT and ACT scores as a means to access financial aid and scholarships. With this focus, CROSSWALK will work with families seeking to achieve good test scores in order to qualify for scholarships and financial aid. 

Certainly, CROSSWALK is using the shelter-in-place to position itself for continued success post-pandemic. 

So what did you do during COVID-19?

For test prep and learning help, contact CROSSWALK today.