THROWBACK: ACT SCORE REVIEW AND VALIDATION

So Desi, you mentioned testing.

So I think the operative question that Mike and I want to ask you is, can you tell us a little bit about what your philosophy has been regarding how students should approach test prep to improve an SAT or an ACT score, let's say before the first test or after the first test? What is your kind of thought on that?

Well, one of the things that I've always encouraged students to do is understand the ways colleges review testing, right? From looking at your best composite to some institutions super scoring.

You know, obviously there's a variety of ways that universities are looking at and using testing.

So I like for them to research those things, to understand what is the college doing with that.

And then I say, how do we best prepare for that now that we know? And I find oftentimes that if they were willing to put in time regularly every day and put away the video games and the Netflix, that they would actually...

Yes, right, right, right, right.

That they might actually

manage to, you know, find success in their prep.

And as you know, Amy, we are real big advocates of prepping for the test.

I mean, at the end of the day, we feel that you can prepare for these tests and you can see great success.

Good, then we're on the same page.

So I think where we wanna go from here, Mike, is to talk a little bit with Desi about some experiences she has had in the last few years with her students.

So can you tell us a little bit about what you have observed regarding students who have seen maybe let's say five or more points improvement in their ACT composites?

Well, the first reaction is I'm so excited, right? Like they bring their test score to me and we talk about it, I'm jumping up and down.

My next reaction is, is this going to be considered a valid test? And the reason I say that is because in recent years, and especially this past year, I have noticed that I've had students, basically, ACT has told us that the scores may in fact not be valid.

And so we've had to prove the validity of the scores.

And that can really be stressful for a lot of reasons for the parents, so the student, for the counselor.

So when I see a score that jumps up that much, I will be honest, I'm very nervous as well.

I'm excited, but I do become a bit nervous wondering what's going to happen and if that's likely.