ACT

Admissions Counseling

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How are you different from my school counselor?

In several ways. Your school counselor may help you get your school material organized for
application, such as your recommendations and transcripts (i.e. your grades). They may invite
college representatives to visit your school, and show you where the graduates of your school
had matriculated historically.

At Princeton Review, we help you plan your own admissions schedule. We start with an
analysis of what tests are required of you, plan out a test schedule, help you develop a list of
colleges, and eventually walk you through the minute details of the application so that
everything is submitted on time.

2. What are “good scores” for SAT/SSAT/TOEFL?

Total Nat’l Avg Above Avg Top Schools
SAT 2400 1500 1800 2100+
ACT 36 20/21 26 31+
SSAT U: 2400/L:2130 (Depends on age group. Consult www.ssat.org)
TOEFL 120 (internet) 80+ 90+ 100+
Note: Anything below 1100/2400 (SAT) and 16/36 (ACT) will most likely not gain
acceptance to 4-year colleges.

3. What is the success rate of your previous counseling students?

We do not have data to provide at this time. Success rate of our current students will be made
available after admissions decisions are sent in April 2009.

4. Why does your new counseling package cost more?

Based on the feedback we have received from our past students, we realized that the old
packages (organized by number of schools) limited a student’s hours with our counselor and
therefore did not accommodate all of his/her admissions needs.
The packages have since been updated to reflect those suggestions, and we are pleased to
announce that they are now arranged into 1- and 2-year format, giving students unrestricted
access to our counselors throughout the admissions process.

5. What guarantee does TPR have on the counseling package?

TPR HK’s philosophy is to empower students to find the right college.
We believe that college admissions success is tied to finding colleges that fit a student’s
interests and academic record. The counselor will match the student’s effort and guide them
along the way. Our success will therefore rest on the student’s drive and enthusiasm towards
the admissions process.

6. What kinds of students do you work with?

We have worked with all sorts of students. They come from different types of schools, have
different heritage and English proficiency, and want different college experiences.
The students we have the privilege of working with are self-selecting: they share a willingness
to take ownership of the college admissions process, and they choose our service because we
are here to guide them from the sideline.

7. What would be a good time to start counseling?

Timing and planning are both critical in college admissions, so the earlier a student starts to
plan, the better. We recommend that students and parents get a heads up on what’s to come
by attending our 1-hour free seminar on admissions when the student is 4 years away from
graduation.

Counseling, starting with planning for standardized tests, should start when the student is 2.5
years away from graduation.

Starting any earlier would be unnecessary, because a student’s growth as a person in school
and in society are important factors to US colleges, so grades and extracurricular activities
should be a student’s primary focus in their earlier years of secondary/high school.

SAT

SAT Subject Tests

SSAT

ACT

What is the ACT?

It is used by virtually all US colleges as an admissions requirement and to award scholarships.

Is the essay mandatory?

No, the ACT essay is optional. It is suggested that you find out whether you need an essay component in your admissions package.

How is the ACT different from the SAT?

1. There are 5 sections in the ACT compared to 10 sections in the SAT.

2. The ACT has a Science component in addition to Math and Verbal sections in

the SAT.

3. The writing component is optional on the ACT.

4. There is NO penalty for an incorrect answer on the ACT.

5. The ACT test is scored out of 36 and it is an average of all the sections.

SAT

When do I register for the SAT test?

At least 6 weeks before the test date.

When should I take the SAT?

We suggest you take your SAT about one and a half years before you plan to attend college.

What does the SAT stand for?

Nothing! The company that created the test has officially declared that the letters S-A-T have no meaning. Previously, SAT stood for Scholastic Assessment Test.

SAT Subject Tests

Do I need to do Subject Tests when I already have an SAT score?

Some colleges require 2 – 3 Subject Test scores as an admissions requirement on top of the SAT score. You should find out if there are specific SAT Subject Tests that you need to take in order to apply to your college of choice.

SSAT

What is the SSAT used for?

The SSAT score is used for Secondary School Admissions in the US.