Potential Magazine May 2015 | Page 24

TESTING PERFORMANCE – Get the facts on proven  “At Mathnasium, it costs $349 for 16 one-hour sessions. We have other flexible options that range from $18-$28 an hour.” results from the test prep center of your choice and be honest with yourself on how well you perform without professional help.  • Studies show that, on average, overall ACT scores boost by 3 points and SAT by 200 points, while individual subjects may show more improvements. • Boosts in English or Math scores can keep students out of remedial classes in – Monica Virgil, Center Director at Mathnasium in Montgomery college, which saves an average of $1,062 per course. Test prep courses can be worth the investment, but it depends heavily on the student’s performance. Encourage your teens early on to fully apply themselves to their studies they do. It could be the difference between graduating in debt or debt-free. Good luck! $500 COULD $20,000+ $32k SCHOLARSHIPS TEST PREP COURSE A 1-point increase in your ACT score from a 29 to a 30 can mean the difference between a $12,000 4-year scholarship or more than $32,000 in scholarships at Auburn University. Even a test prep course that costs $500 can bring a great return on your investment! $12k 29 30 ACT SCORE A love of math and helping students succeed led Monica Virgil to open Montgomery’s first Mathnasium center in 2012. She has a Bachelor’s in middle school science & math and a Master’s in secondary math education. Prior to opening Mathnasium, she taught math and science in public schools and as a private tutor for 12 years. Take a glance at the chart to scope out full-ride and full-tuition merit scholarships offered by various Alabama colleges to students based on their academic performance. Yearly In-State Costs and Aid Full-ride Institution Full-tuition Covers tuition, books, required fees, room and board, etc. SAT Score Conversion Chart Covers tuition ACT SAT Value/yr ACT GPA 20 950 $9,826 30 3.5 $8,720 20 3.0 21 990 — $8,592 30 3.5 23 1070 — — $9,080 + $500 stipend 30 3.5 25 1150 — — $3,500 - 17,020 23 26 1190 $15,966 30 $9,056 26 27 1220 ­— — $3,408 — 2.5 28 1260 Troy University $14,520 31 $8,704 27 3.5 30 1340 Southern Union ­— — $3,120 — 2.5 31 1380 Value/yr ACT — — $18,286 25 Auburn University — Auburn University at Montgomery Faulkner University University of Alabama Alabama State University Jacksonville University Central Alabama Community College GPA 3.5 3.7 *The scholarships listed above are as seen on each institution’s website for the 2014-2015 academic year. This information is subject to change, so check with the enrollment office at your prospective institutions for more information. 24 www.potentialmagazine.com