College Search Incomplete Without Common Data Sets

The 2020 U.S. News & World Report rankings are just out. Thousands of parents and aspiring college high school seniors are pouring over the numbers. Should you care?

Well, maybe, maybe not so much.

The 1,400-plus universities know how to game the rankings system. Let that sink in. Did you realize the measures weighted in the rankings have serious flaws?

Consider this: The weighting for faculty salary may include professors who never teach undergraduates? Or the “academic reputation” category includes college presidents who downgrade peer institutions? The list goes on and on across most every segment given a weight.

The sad part is that many parents and students take the rankings as gospel while it is far more prudent to examine Common Data Sets when winnowing the list of universities to contact, to visit and to decide on as a “reach,” “target,” or ”safety” finalist.

Parents need to become adept at scouring important sections of the CDS at those potential colleges. The data are not aggregated across the country, but individual universities almost always post their numbers.

Remember the Man Behind the Curtain in “The Wizard of Oz?” The CDS gives the savvy parent a much clearer insight into the magic behind what colleges tend to favor or offer prospects. Statistics on majors and degree mixes, scholarships and especially freshman admissions ought to help the aspiring entrant make sense of how s/he might fit.

--Does your future collegian have a testing issue but is still poised and confident? CDS data show which schools give weighted credit to a good interview.

--Want to know what it means to be wait-listed by the University of Michigan—and how many in that category actually get an invitation? Check the Michigan CDS.

--Are you considering a teaching career and curious why Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., fails to stand out in the U.S. News’ rankings? You can drill down to find why the Education Department produces outstanding, culturally responsive high school teachers and just this year landed the school on the new U.S. News Social Mobility chart.

--Finally, and perhaps most importantly given stratospheric costs these days, the CDS offers a genuine peek behind that curtain about true costs vs. rack rate price tags. The CDS for a college is a treasure trove of information about its trends in need-based aid and non-need/grant aid, endowed scholarships, student loans, work/study programs, tuition waivers, and for the sports star, athletic awards.

So, remember that the College Board, Peterson's, U.S. News & World Report and other college experts collate their data and might rank one of your candidate schools at No. 200 instead of No. 20. But we urge you to dig a bit deeper, build an Excel spreadsheet and get to know your best data buddy, the college Common Data Set. And don’t forget, navigation help is always available from Valle Educational Consultants.

^{--MIKE RYAN}

How the Tutor Connection Pays Off

Parents wonder not “if,” but “when” to hire an SAT tutor for their future collegian. Seventh grade may be too soon and rising August senior very likely too late.

But when’s the sweet spot? While SAT prep books such as those produced by College Board deserve a look-see early, comfort level dictates the best time. A knowledgeable SAT tutor should be chosen about the same time as a knowledgeable doctor, before a minor setback turns into a real problem.

It's important to vet test prep tutors. Keep an eye on the strategic Big Picture. Make certain you see evidence of their flexibility ... how their methods can focus and re-focus to help your student improve in areas over an extended testing period.

Many tutors offer practice tests, but does yours consistently monitor testing progress, help uncover the best test fit by analyzing practice tests and session results -- changing course if necessary?

Acing the SAT can require memorizing hundreds of math and grammar rules, learning dozens of test-taking strategies, and acquiring a thorough understanding of the test format.  After all of this preparation and pressure, your teenager is supposed to, somehow, sleep soundly enough to arrive bright-eyed and well-rested on the big day. 

Fortunately, your student doesn't have to travel this road alone.  Professional help makes a world of difference.  All students can benefit from the help of an SAT tutor, from test-taking veterans looking to perfect their score, to overwhelmed students looking to manage test-related anxiety, to anybody looking to raise their score a few points to get into that dream school. 

Tutors are the personal trainers of academia. They provide a structure within which students may address areas of weakness and build upon preexisting strengths.  Tutors challenge students to examine not only what questions were missed but why.  They explain the test structure and provide useful strategies, helping students to work and study smarter, not just harder.  Tutors are the guides, arming students with clarity as they wind through the confusing labyrinth of standardized testing. 

Most importantly, personalized 1:1 work will identify areas of improvement and through regular workbook sessions and homework almost always raise the SAT score in a highly competitive arena where 40 points means the cutoff between reach and safe school. Rising juniors should be building out a timeline based on their chosen test date. Rising seniors should consider a final test this fall if they seek to improve components for superscores at top-tier universities. Then, they should facilitate a workable date deadline for admission pools they are considering.

But there is no student in this year's graduating class who cannot benefit from a dedicated mentor offering strategic assistance, powerful motivation, confidence building, and a way to address subject area weaknesses. When it’s time to research your greatest ally--the experienced, knowledgeable tutor--Valle Educational Consultants is ready to help.

^{--MIKE RYAN}