Standardized Testing: It’s Back…Hrumphh

You can nap after it’s all over but for now, listen up.

What’s really changed is the timing and your and your student’s mindset. Families now need to start earlier, think more strategically about which test to take, and be realistic about score goals, and I’m talking realistic. You can’t just throw money at the problem and expect scores to go up. Classes are great but if your student isn’t doing what it takes to play at Carnegie Hall, don’t waste your money. (Practice. Practice. Practice.)

If you’re a parent wondering what to do, here are a few grounded ways to approach it:

1. Start earlier than you think. A first test by late fall or winter of junior year gives your student time to adjust and improve without pressure.
2. Have your student try both the SAT and ACT (even just a diagnostic) before committing because they’re different and I’ve  noticed some kids naturally perform better on one vs the other.
3. Treat testing as a plan, not a one-shot event. Most students benefit from 2–3 sittings with prep in between. 
4. Use score ranges from target schools as a reality check early on so expectations are clear and manageable.
5. Keep it in perspective. Strong grades, course rigor, and activities still matter the most. Testing is flawed in many ways, does not indicate future performance nor intelligence, and some kids just test better than others. It’s just one of the puzzle pieces. 

My Scary Transition Story

Where did we leave off? Oh yes, I had just lot my job, and signed a mortgage to buy my first house. Not the ideal situation.

A lot of stressful long distance calls later, both to my Dad and my Aunt (and mentor), who, after hearing that I didn’t want to work in corporate anymore and maybe wanted to start my own firm, asked me a lot of tough questions. “Who do you want to help?” “What do you want your role to be?” “Are you ok taking a big pay cut for a few years?” “What about those fancy shoes you love? “Can you handle having your own business and the insecurity it comes with?” “Have you done your homework?” “Are you sure about this?”

The answers came fast and furious but with my Dad’s voice in my head I knew I had to do some market research to see if there was a demand for my ideas. It quickly became apparent that there was clearly a gap that needed to be filled in the career launch market; colleges just weren’t doing a good enough job helping their graduates make successful transitions. I had always enjoyed talking to young adults, so I chose to focus my practice on that demographic, helping them to market themselves and launch into a competitive workforce. (BTW, I’m glad I had the business degree and the marketing background. And having a high risk tolerance also helped, because it was hairy and scary for the first few years!)

My first brand identity, Career Navigation, carried the tagline “Educated. Now What?” – a question faced by so many capable graduates. But the first few years of practice revealed new insights. It wasn’t enough to polish résumés and teach interviewing skills; these bright souls were inundated by competing messages from parents and self-help books: follow your passion, chase the money, honor your parents, lead boldly, save the world. I watched them wrestle with who they truly were, their natural gifts buried under expectations.

My business evolved through pivots and economic storms. I added a college admissions piece to the business because I predicted the cost of higher education would keep rising, and there had to be a better strategy for college than, “they’ll figure it out when they get there.”

Around 2008 and a brutal recession, mid-career professionals started reaching out and said things like, “I wish I had known someone like you when I was trying to figure it out. Do you work with grown ups?” Since then about 30% of my clients are in their 30’s and 40’s and even 50’s. I guess everyone needs some direction at some point in their careers.

Three recessions since 2001 alone has kept my business on its toes—but my philosophy has always circled back to this: youngsters need practical and relevant skills, the autonomy to think for themselves, make mistakes and learn how the world really works. And grown ups need a coach every now and again, to help with transitions and talk to an unbiased 3rd party.

The business has grown and morphed through changing economies and client needs, but the heart of it remains the same: helping people discover who they are and how they add value in a rapidly shifting world. It’s been a great ride, and with this new economy taking shape, I feel like I’m just getting started.