by Todd Weaver on July 26, 2010
When it comes to academic success at the collegiate level, there is one skill more than any other that separates the “A” students from the “C” students: the ability to handle complex reading.
The problem is, too many are waiting until they are college freshmen to attempt to learn how to do this. The time to learn it is in high school, and alarmingly, most states do not require complex reading comprehension instruction at the high school level nor do they have any standards for high school reading achievement (according to an Associated Press report of a study from ACT, the nonprofit company that publishes one of the two tests required for college entrance). Instead, reading is considered a subject for elementary school and is rarely taught in later grades.
What makes an article or book complex to read? Complex reading is characterized by an elaborate organization where the messages are often implicit rather than overt. The interaction between ideas or characters may be subtle instead of obvious.
Most of all, the vocabulary is demanding and intricate.
How many college-bound high school students can read complex works? Of the 1.2 million high school seniors who took the ACT in 2005, only 51 percent scored high enough to show they were ready to handle first year college-level reading requirements. This is a concern not only to colleges, but also to employers. In 2009, the number increased only 2% to 53%. Take a look at the breakdown here: CollegeReadinessBenchmarksbySubject
What can be done? These aren’t easy solutions, but the ACT insists that high school reading standards must be revised in core subjects, and struggling readers need to get help earlier in their education. Also, more teachers need to be trained in how to teach reading within their subject matter. That is, a chemistry teacher must also learn to teach reading as it relates to science.
Here’s a link to helping develop strong readers beyond the third grade.
So, what’s the most important factor that enhances GPA, Test Scores, Extracurriculars, How “wonderful” your boy or girl is? READING! Read, read, and read some more!
It is essential that from grades K-12, students work to build strong reading comprehension skills early and often (just like voting… HA!) in order to prepare for a successful college and work career later in life.
by Todd Weaver on July 14, 2010
What does student diversity mean to you?
Do you think colleges and universities feel the same way about diversity on campus?
Living on the East Coast, I had never heard of the group called the Future Farmers of America. Might members of that club help add to the “diversity” of the student body at most colleges? Apparently, some colleges consider that “type” of diversity to be too far out of their (political) spectrum to be admitted to their elite, “diverse” institution.
Institutions of higher learning are generally looking (or at least make the claim), to create a heterogeneous study body to enlighten each other by mixing many minds to produce many voices.
Of course, the reality is far from the hype.
In his essay published in the July 12, 2010 edition of Minding the Campus, Dr. Russell Niely writes that, “in practice ‘diversity’ on campus is largely a code word for the presence of a substantial proportion of those in the “underrepresented” racial minority groups.” Niely refers to new study by Princeton sociologist Thomas Espenshade and his colleague Alexandria Radford in writing his essay on how diversity punishes students of certain backgrounds more than others. Take a moment to read his interesting commentary.
I joke about it today but even though my grades and test scores from high school fit the range of the school I applied and was accepted to, I believe I was accepted on “let’s take a kid from Vermont” day when the admissions office was looking to fill some “rural” seats in the freshman class.
If there is only one thing that you take away from this post, it is that you need to understand that college admission is not about you (or your student), but rather about “them” (the particular college or university you’re considering applying to).
If you don’t “fit” what they’re looking for, then you’re barking up the wrong tree. Or worse, you get in, but then don’t get enough financial assistance to make it through all four years and become saddled with an insurmountable amount of student debt.
What a terrible way to start off your young life!
When beginning your college search, find schools that are open to giving you an opportunity to build on your competence and intelligence so that you will become successful in whatever you ultimately decide to do… rather than those entities that demand a certain type of credential before allowing a person to progress.
