Smarter Admissions

It is no surprise that a traditional four-year, residential college experience is a significant investment. For many families, college education is the single-largest expense other than housing. 

The cost of attendance (CoA) refers to the total cost of tuition and fees, books and supplies, as well as room and board for those students living on campus. CoA does not include transportation costs, daily living expenses, student loan interest, etc.

According to Education Data:

• The average cost of attendance for a student living on campus at an in-state public 4-year institution is $27,146 per year or $108,584 over 4 years.
• Out-of-state students pay an average of $45,708 per year or $182,832 over 4 years.
• Private, nonprofit university students pay an average of $58,628 per year or $234,512 over 4 years.

It may seem counterintuitive, then, to think that investing in educational support services while your student is in high school can pay off when they are in college.

Let’s look at three types of educational support and how they have the potential to be a sound financial move for college-bound students.

Academic Tutoring

While the main goal of academic tutoring is to ensure your child has a command of the material, additional personalized support may be what a student needs to earn a top grade in the course. A 56-year study by UCLA demonstrates that high school grade inflation is real. Despite this well-documented trend, GPA continues to be one of the most compelling factors in college admission.

Because of the competitiveness of college admissions, students need to have a high GPA to make them as attractive a candidate as possible.

Moreover, there are many schools who base their merit aid (scholarships) on GPA. This means that having a high GPA can literally pay off in tuition savings.

Let’s be clear: this reality places a lot of pressure on students. Working with a tutor for academic core subjects not only helps students learn the course material, but it also gives teens a personal cheerleader. Professional tutors are not only masters of their subject area, but they are also adept at helping kids keep perspective. 

AP Test Prep

Many students and parents have heard the message that colleges want to see students taking challenging courses. This course rigor is one of the most significant characteristics on which admissions decisions are based. AP classes are one of the best-known ways of demonstrating course rigor, as the curriculum (designed by the College Board) offers a standardized way for colleges to grant credits for college-level learning done in high school. 

Credit by AP Exam is granted based on the AP test taken in May. This single test– not the grade in the course– determines whether or not a student will receive credit. The score needed for credit to be granted is set by individual schools and varies by test subject.

AP credits can help accelerate your student along a degree path by shortening their college timeline and thus saving tuition. AP credits may also give students flexibility in their coursework, opening up the freedom to study abroad or pick up an additional major/minor. Whether through life experience or education, these opportunities make your student more marketable.

Additionally, having AP credit can reduce the number of hours your child needs to take each semester, thus increasing the time and attention they can give each class. This extra focus may translate into a better command of the material or even a higher GPA. Again, both of these outcomes can make a recent graduate more compelling in the job market.

PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep

The PSAT taken in the fall of the Junior year is the test on which the National Merit Scholarship Foundation bases its award designations. There are some colleges with significant National Merit scholarships including 25 schools with full rides for NMSF Finalists. Even at schools that are test-blind for admissions purposes, like Cal Poly SLO, National Merit recognition can lead to a merit aid award.

Professional, personalized test prep can also reduce a student’s test anxiety, so don’t discount the mental health benefits of being well-prepared. We often receive feedback from parents of test prep students saying that their child feels more confident about taking the standardized test– and that confidence is invaluable.

For any students whose application strategy includes chasing merit money, submitting SAT or ACT scores above the school’s 75th percentile can make a difference in how much merit aid is received. Even in schools that are test-optional for admissions, standardized test scores may influence a merit award. (Read our blog To Test or Not to Test for more!)

Study Smarter is here to help

Investing in educational support for high school students can literally pay off later. Whether it is with academic tutoring, AP test prep, or SAT/ACT prep, Study Smarter is here to help your family reach your educational goals. Contact us to discuss how we can support your student and their educational goals.