Test Preparation: CUNY Assessment & General Resources

More than 8 million students enrolled in 4-year, degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States in 1996. The multifaceted system through which these students applied to and were selected by the approximately 2,240 institutions in which they enrolled is complex, to say the least; for students, parents, and advisers, it is often stressful and sometimes bewildering. This process raises important questions about the social goals that underlie the sorting of students, and it has been the subject of considerable controversy. The role of standardized tests in this sorting process has been one of the principal flashpoints in discussions of its fairness. Tests have been cited as the chief evidence of unfairness in lawsuits over admissions decisions, criticized as biased against minorities and women, and blamed for the fierce competitiveness of the process. Yet tests have also been praised for their value in providing a common yardstick for comparing students from diverse schools with different grading standards. Myths and Tradeoffs identifies and corrects some persistent myths about standardized admissions tests and highlight some of the specific tradeoffs that decisions about the uses of tests entail; presents conclusions and recommendations about the role of tests in college admissions; and lays out several issues about which information would clearly help decision makers, but about which the existing data are either insufficient or need synthesis and interpretation. This report will benefit a broad audience of college and university officials, state and other officials and lawmakers, and others who are wrestling with decisions about admissions policies, definitions of merit, legal actions, and other issues.

Getting into college is one of life's most daunting challenges. Why not let the experts help? The experts in this case include dozens of college consultants, admissions officers, parents, and, best of all, hundreds of students who have experienced the process firsthand. Individual chapters cover such topics as getting started, preparing for the SAT, deciding which colleges to apply to, perfecting applications and essays, putting one's best foot forward in an interview, and what to do for extracurricular activities and summer vacations. Additional chapters explain what to look for when visiting schools, how to get financial aid, getting support from counselors and parents, dealing with rejection and acceptance, and how to pick the right school. This expanded edition includes special "Counselor's Corner" features, material on "How to Survive Getting Your Kid into College," Harvard Law grad Jay Brody's discussion of how to write the best application essay, and much more.

Offering middle school and high school students strategies to succeed on every type of test--from multiple-choice to standardized to essay tests--this book shows students how to maximize their time and skills. With successful, real-life strategies shared by students, this guide will also help students of all levels, including those with ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities, learn study skills, strategies to handle their anxiety concerning tests, and how to have a mental edge. Teachers and parents can additionally use this book to help students perform better in school.