Some high school students think good SAT/ACT scores are the only thing you need to get into a good college. However, that's not true at all. Colleges look to make sure you earned good grades in challenging classes, helped out your community, and demonstrated leadership.

That being said, it is important to use your free time this July to get ready for standardized tests that you'll be taking very soon -- many schools take them into consideration, so in order to do your best, you're going to need to start preparing now!

Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

• Find out which tests you will need to take: for example, some colleges prefer the SAT over the ACT so make sure you know what your school wants.


• Check your local library for SAT/ACT study-books.


• Talk to your high school counselor: find out if you’re eligible to get a voucher that will help you pay for standardized tests.


• You may need to take SAT Subject Tests aka SAT II – If you’re not a math wiz, don't sign up for Math Level 2 just because "that's what everyone else is doing". Focus on your strengths; whether it's science, history, or even a language.


• Stay on top of important dates and deadlines.

Summer is definitely the time to enjoy your vacation but trust me, next fall, you'll be happy you planned ahead!

By Harmony Gbe
Program Assistant, Center for Student Opportunity

Spotlight on Test Optional CSO College Partners

• Arizona State University,
  Tempe, AZ


• Bowdoin College,
  Brunswick, ME


• Bryn Mawr College,
  Bryn Mawr, PA


• Colby College,
  Waterville, ME


• Columbia College Chicago,
  Chicago, IL


• Fairfield University,
  Fairfield, CT


• Furman University,
  Greenville, SC


• King's College,
  Wilkes Barre, PA


• Lawrence University,
  Appleton, WI


• Middlebury College,
  Middlebury, VT


• Mount Holyoke College,
  South Hadley, MA


• Muhlenberg College,
  Allentown, PA


• New Mexico Highlands University,
  Las Vegas, NM


• Pitzer College,
  Claremont, CA


• Smith College,
  Northampton, MA


• Stonehill College,
  Easton, MA


• Union College,
  Schenectady, NY


• The University of Texas at Austin,
  Austin, TX


• University of Maine at Farmington,
  Farmington, ME

Go to CSO College Center to learn more about these institutions and find other test optional schools among our 230+ College Partner institutions.