My project in college guidance for the two weeks has been to update all the GPA and ACT/SAT test scores from last year's graduating class into a new database. This program links students' profiles to a college search feature and scholarship information. The data helps create a picture of where Verbum Dei students have applied in the past and schools that have accepted them. The most beneficial thing in this is that schools that would be considered out of reach are actually good matches for Verb students. For example, if a student were interested in USC, the posted ACT average of a student there would be around 30, which is out of reach for most of the students. However, with this new program, they can see that Verb students admitted there averaged, say, around a 24.
Just because their scores are statistically lower than admission numbers for colleges, it doesn't diminish the students' improvements over the years and the obstacles they have faced which make them hungry to succeed in college. With their corporate work study experience and community service hours, they should soon learn that while they should try their best, there are more important things than test scores in making a dynamic college applicant.
It has been very rewarding this week to discuss college plans with students and to show them that their hard work over the years here will pay when they start applying to colleges.
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