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College Competition Means New Stress for Today's Teens

The pressure is on. To compete in today’s global economy, which includes international students attending North American colleges in record numbers, U.S. teenagers must obtain collegiate degrees now more than ever. According to the latest research of the U.S. Department of Education:

• College enrollment grew 16 percent between 1985 and 1995.
• Between 1995 and 2005, enrollment increased at a faster rate (23 percent), from 14.3 million to 17.5 million.
• The number of graduating high school seniors is expected to peak in 2011, with 67% trying to gain admission to an institution of higher learning.

What does this mean for students with college aspirations?

Acing the college entrance exam is critical. Most students applying to competitive colleges now take the SAT*/ACT® more than once, and as early as sophomore year.

"Our growing global economy has made it necessary for more students to attend college in order to obtain good paying jobs. New tools, such as the common application, encourage students to apply to more schools - which increases the competition. Thus, making it more difficult for students to gain acceptance into the top institutions and colleges that were once seen as ‘safeties,’” says Rusty Greiff, vice president of Sylvan Learning College Prep.

With students reaching for their “dream” schools, many realize increasing their scores on their college entrance exams is critical. More students and parents today are learning the secret that top colleges have known for years - systematically preparing for the SAT/ACT gives students more confidence and more confidence can lead to higher SAT/ACT scores.

New college admissions rules now allow students to score their best by taking the SAT/ACT as many times as they like, but educators suggest taking the tests no more than two or three times. Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring, offers the following advice to ensure students properly prepare for their college entrance exams.

Sylvan’s 10 Steps to Reduce the Stress and Ace The Test!

Studying and preparing for the SAT*/ACT® takes weeks, even months, of review. Don’t try to cram overnight.
Trust yourself. Rely on your instincts. Never leave an easy question blank.
Read, read, read. Read the questions and answers critically.
Easy questions have easy answers.
Stop and check. Every few questions, ensure the question number on the answer sheet corresponds with the question being answered in the booklet.
Save time. Don’t spend too much time on any single question. Make sure you have enough time to answer as many questions as possible, in order to rack up as many points as possible.
Focus on what the question is really asking. If you don’t fully understand the question, finding the correct answer is going to be tough.
Rushing only hurts you. Work at a good pace and keep track of the time remaining for each section.
Eliminate answers. If you can eliminate at least two incorrect answers, make an educated guess.
End each section by reviewing. If time permits, revisit the questions you didn’t answer.

It’s never too early – or too late – to help your teenager prepare for success in college and in life. Call 1-888-EDUCATE or email your local center today!

*Contact your local Sylvan for program availability - at participating centers only. Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with Sylvan Learning, Inc. or this Web site.SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc.