Part of getting the most out of the high school experience is exploring new activities and ways to get involved. Here at Shady Side, most students find a couple of areas where they can find joy and contribute to something bigger than themselves. Whatever students are doing, it’s important that they’re doing something outside of class and homework. This is not simply to “build a resume,” rather, it is in these experiences where relationships form and students grow. There is no need to pay thousands of additional dollars for enrichment programs and there is not one magic formula for what colleges look for. Students should seek out opportunities to learn new things, take on challenges and reflect on those experiences.

The SAT and the ACT are standardized assessments used in the college admissions process.

Let's start with how the exams are the same... Both are used in the admissions process, and no U.S. college prefers one test over the other; the SAT and ACT are used interchangeably. Both include an optional writing or essay portion that may be required by some colleges. The tests are both given on set Saturday mornings throughout the year, and can be taken multiple times if desired. Finally, both tests allow students to choose from 4 answers to find the correct one, and there is no penalty for wrong answers.

One difference between the tests is scoring - the SAT includes two sections, each out of an 800 for a possible total of 1600, while the ACT has four sections, each out of 36, with those four subscores averaged together for a composite that is also out of 36. The SAT sections include math and evidenced based reading and writing. The ACT sections include math and English, as well as reading, and most notably, a science section. Additionally, the SAT is slightly longer than the ACT, which is a few minutes shorter and has a faster overall pace during testing.

Because students often perform better on one exam or the other, the Shady Side college counselors encourage all students to try both tests once, to determine their individual preferences.

The standard response to this question by admissions counselors is: "take the harder class and get the "A."" While the Shady Side college counselors fundamentally agree with this goal, we recognize that it isn't always possible. It is our recommendation that students take the most rigorous course that they can be successful in. In other words, if you think you can earn a grade in the "A" or "B" range in a course, it is wise to take the more challenging option, whenever available. If you believe that you will finish a course with a "C" or lower, however, you are probably better off taking the less challenging class. In general, colleges appreciate students who push themselves to take the most rigorous curriculum available to them; college admission counselors understand that Shady Side’s curricular offerings are different from those at other schools, and they take this into account when reviewing applications! And, always remember that while academics are a very important part of your application, they are not the only thing; it is important to seek balance and ensure that your well-being remains a priority.

The first standardized test that most Shady Side students take is the PSAT 10, which is administered in late February of the sophomore year. Students will then take the standard PSAT in October of the junior year. Both of these exams are truly for practice, and have no formal consideration in the college application process, although the junior year exam may qualify some students for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Students are automatically registered by Shady Side for both PSAT tests.

As juniors, the Shady Side college counselors encourage all students to try both the SAT and ACT once, to see if they have a preference, then re-take as necessary with their preferred test. This first exam should take place in the fall or winter of the junior year, with subsequent testing taking place in the winter or spring of the junior year. Often students will take their final SAT or ACT in the fall of the senior year, for a total of 2 to 3 sittings for their preferred exam.

Colleges review student applications to better understand a student's academics, extracurricular activities, writing skills, and personal story. Your transcript is the primary document used for academic review -- it will have a list of the classes you've taken, your term and year-end grades for each class, and a cumulative GPA for your high school career. Standardized test scores will be sent by the student directly to colleges. Extracurricular activities are portrayed through an activity list or resume -- students will describe each activity and note the time spent on each. Then there is the personal statement and supplemental essays -- this is a chance for the school to get to know you better. Finally, colleges want to know more about who you are as a student and as a person, which is where your teacher and counselor recommendations will come in. All components of the application matter, and the college office will work closely with each student to put their best foot forward.

In a holistic review process, colleges take the time to evaluate an individual student within the context of their school. Colleges visit our school and also spend time with a document called the school profile, which outlines in detail our specific offerings. For example, Shady Side offers AP courses in math, foreign language and computer science only. While some schools offer many more than this, a Shady Side student will not be at a disadvantage because of this. Colleges will look to see what courses a student has taken within what is available to them, and encourage students to take the most challenging classes available for which they are prepared to find success.