Admission Tests Can Open, Close Doors

For a competitive athlete, the sport is king. Everything revolves around getting better, stronger, faster. Massive amounts of time, energy, and money are invested for better coaching, to improve skills, and polish technique. Coaching specialties have emerged to build strength and conditioning, teach proper nutrition and use of supplements, even offer sports psychology to gain mental advantage. All of these specialized coaches can enhance an athlete's innate talent to become better, stronger, and faster. To see the greatest benefit from these experts, an athlete starts early, follows the coach's advice, applies consistent effort, stays committed and focused, avoids outside distractions, and stays persistent. This is the formula for success that works for high school athletes year in and year out. So, why don't most high school athletes apply the same principals to one of their greatest assets, college admissions test scores? After all, test scores can not only pave the way to the playing field, but can keep a player off the field. "It is difficult for students and parents to understand. We are blinded by the single-minded focus on athletic ability," said Lael Melville, a parent of two highly competitive athletes, one in high school and one in college. "You find yourself so focused on the next practice, the next game, the next tournament, that you forget that you are sending your child to an academic institution. As a student, he or she will have to meet classroom standards, as well." Too often, student athletes see college admissions tests as the pariah to be ignored, delayed, and avoided. A constant topic of complaint, good results on these tests can be far more challenging to earn than any starting position or state record. Many athletes work under the assumption that tests don't matter - that athletic talent, not academic ability, is their ticket to college. A common myth is that an athlete with talent won't have to abide by test scores and won't have to measure up like other civilians. WRONG! "It is a common misconception," Carol Gene Cohen said. As a certified college admissions counselor with more than 20 years experience, Cohen has helped countless high school student athletes extend their athletic careers through college. "A high school athlete will have to meet an academic index set by each college in relation to regular admissions standards. And, if students are being recruited by colleges that are more academically competitive, then a higher GPA and higher test scores are expected," she said. "Any student who is pursuing college sports has an advantage with good test scores," Karen Dillard, founder of Karen Dillard's College Prep, said. "A good test score shows a recruiter that you are not an academic risk. They don't have to worry about their scholarship being wasted. Good test scores can give you a recruiting advantage over other athletes with comparable talent." Instead of a barrier, scores can be a catalyst for a student's continued college athletic career. "Good test scores can open doors to more colleges," Dillard said. "A student with higher scores might receive a partial athletic scholarship and a partial academic scholarship. This often moves a student up on the college's recruiting list because the cost to the athletic department is lessened, which enables them to use their limited scholarships more efficiently. Good test scores may also increase the number of colleges willing to make an offer." "For the scholar athlete, a great test score could be the ticket to an elite academic institution. I have helped a number of students over the years find their way to schools like Stanford and Yale. With athletic talent and a strong test record, students can find their way into top-tier universities that need good athletes able to cut it academically," Dillard explained. But how does a competitive athlete who has a year-round season and demanding practice schedule do it all? According to Laurie Starks, who is currently providing admissions counseling to four Southlake Carroll football players, you need to start sooner rather than later. "I recommend testing early," Starks said. "Waiting until senior year is a bad idea because Friday night football and early Saturday morning testing don't mix well." Like Starks, Dillard also advises her athletes to test early, once in January to March of the 11th grade and again by the end of his or her junior year. "I recommend they take both SAT and ACT tests to find any personal advantage, and encourage my athletes to complete college admissions testing by the end of eleventh grade if possible. This avoids senior season testing conflicts and frustrations. If students need further improvement, we work diligently through the summer to help athletes avoid 'twelfth-grade football season testing blues,'" she said. "They have demonstrated their proven individual sports abilities, and they know that the right preparation pays off," Dillard said. "If a student will apply the same competitive focus to their college admissions testing, their college options could expand exponentially."