Spring is here in Upper Arlington, and the trees and flowers are flourishing in the many parks around the community. However, it’s not the flowers on the lawn junior Ellie Thien and others involved in the Environmental Club are worried about; it’s the garbage cans parked in front that have them concerned.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produced an average of 4.5 pounds of solid waste each day in 2008. That adds up to a total of 251 million tons of waste each year. To put that in perspective, the Titanic weighed 46,329 pounds, so this is the equivalent of 4,837 Titanics worth of waste.

In 1970, Earth Day was established to help create greater awareness of the impact people have on the environment and the need to cut down on the amount of waste produced. This year, countries all over the world are celebrating Earth Day on April 22, according to The Earth Day Network. Among those celebrating the day is Thien, who is president of the Environmental Club.

The club organizes several projects throughout the year and meets weekly to prepare for its upcoming events. These projects are focused not only on helping to clean the earth, but also to alert others to the importance of keeping it well maintained.

“Our main goals are to help our community, nation and Earth,” Thien said. “We try to vary our volunteering and projects so that they will reach different places and spread awareness as much as we can.”

In addition to these projects, the club also organizes events for Earth Day.

“We are really hoping to spread awareness of problems in the environment on Earth Day,” Thien said. “We’ll have a Bike-to-School Day, where everyone is invited to ride their bikes or walk to school and will be provided free breakfast foods.”

Senior Nate Smallwood also plans on celebrating Earth Day, though he makes an effort to do what he can for the environment even without a designated holiday.

“I always recycle,” Smallwood said. “When you can do something easy like that and help–why not?”

Thien believes that creating understanding of the importance of the environment is key to helping fix its problems.

“It has become obvious over the past few decades that our environment is having issues,” Thien said. “With pollution, deforestation and animal mistreatment, our Earth is heading down a very dangerous path. If we don’t start now, there’s a very good chance that we won’t be able to stop what’s happening.”

Smallwood also agrees that spreading the word is a crucial part of helping the environment.

“The world isn’t changing in such a drastic way that you can notice it day from day, but it’s important to make people aware of the problems we face and things we can do about it,” he said.

Helping the environment doesn’t have to mean a drastic shift in lifestyle. Thien points out that there are simple things that everyone can do, not only on Earth Day, but everyday. According to the EPA, simply taking it easy on the gas and brake pedals and avoiding sudden starts and stops can help save the environment as well as money.

“I think that when a lot of people think of ‘going green,’ they think you have to go all in,” Thien said. “But ‘going green’ doesn’t mean you have to start eating vegan and drive fuel efficient cars—although that’s awesome if you do­—but you can do something as simple as replacing one incandescent light bulb or starting a small compost in your backyard.”

As I write this, the idea of graduation is one pulled straight from fiction, with last-minute college decisions yet to be made, scholarship applications yet to be sent and my Capstone presentation yet to be completed. However, I second all my fellow seniors when I assert that getting to this point alone is a major accomplishment. Each step we take through the halls of UAHS brings us that much closer to our ultimate destination. We embark upon a four-year-long venture the day we enter high school, and once we reach the journey’s end—graduation—we can attribute our successful expedition to the opportunities, choices and even the bumps we faced along the way.

Such aspects of high school and beyond come to us in varying forms of classes, extracurriculars and other activities that stimulate both our growth as adults and our individuality. The possibilities available to students throughout their years at UAHS and beyond high school are seemingly endless­­­; many of them are highlighted in the two Spotlight stories of this issue: The Road Less Traveled and Exploring IB. The courses I chose to take these past four years directly reflect my affinities, my potential career options as well as my level of understanding in certain subject areas.

English and writing-specific classes such as journalism have forever been my strong points while math and science-related courses are my weak points. For that reason, I opted to not participate in the Diploma Program, as many of its courses stem from the latter. Despite this, I have thoroughly enjoyed my IB Psychology class the past two years, in addition to the other weighted courses I have taken throughout my high school career. For those readers who are concrete thinkers, and unlike me are much more scientifically and mathematically-oriented, I encourage thorough consideration of the IB Diploma Program, or simply a few of its many courses.

High school is not a time in which you should limit yourself; it is a dynamic period to investigate, discover and thrive. I know it is often said, but our school in particular offers countless higher level courses of which one should take advantage, despite their advertised difficulty. And, of course, involving yourself in at least one of the innumerable extracurricular and athletic opportunities available here is not only expedient for college applications, but it also helps students to find that place where they best learn and grow.

Yet, secondary school is just the beginning. High school commencement is exactly that: the onset, a door open wide. For me, attending college was never a question; however several UAHS students will and have taken less voyaged routes into their futures, such as Laura Hoffman in one of this issue’s Spotlight who took a “gap” year after graduation to explore the world. No matter which direction you choose to take, your destination lies beyond you somewhere. Armed with a map, a campus, and perhaps most importantly—an education—you’re guaranteed to stumble upon it along the way.

Happy reading!

Victoria Slater

by Kate Magill, ‘13

“Gunshots have been fired. There are multiple victims.”

Harrowing words such as these should be rarities, troubling phrases hoped never to be heard in an individual’s lifetime. However in recent years, school violence tragedies, many related to or caused by bullying, have become all too common. Within even the last two months, there have been two shootings at schools in the United States—one on February 27 in Chardon, Ohio, and another on April 3 in Oakland, California. These tragedies have caused me to question not only what could have triggered such actions by individuals, but also perhaps the more complicated problem of how these criminals continue to so easily acquire the deadly weaponry needed to carry out such events.

School shooting tragedies are events that should never have happened. Often, they are a terrifying example of when people fail to act to help one another, and especially fail to help those suffering from bullying. According to the 2007 MSNBC article “High school classmates say gunman was bullied,” the gunman responsible for the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, Seung-Hui Cho, was bullied throughout high school. One Goh, the alleged gunman in the recent shooting at Oikos University in Oakland, California, also claims to be a victim of bullying. Even as adults, both of these men were still deeply disturbed over the taunting they suffered.

As speculation continues over the exact motive behind Goh’s alleged rampage, it is clear that he was resentful and viciously angry over the abuse he had endured and sought to take out his anger on others. Although the loss of those seven individuals can never be atoned, perhaps students can still learn something from this tragedy in order to stop such history from repeating itself. If we as students can make a greater effort to curb bullying and to seek out those who are often targeted, by accepting and welcoming them into the larger community rather than acting as bystanders, we can be better equipped to stop these tragedies from happening.

Amid the debate and discussion over the bullying crisis in America, the documentary Bully works to shed light on the threat millions of students face every day at school as they are tormented by their peers. The film tells the story of one student, Ja’Meya Jackson, who, after suffering at the hands of bullies for months, brings a loaded handgun to school to threaten her tormentors, according to the official website for the movie. It is events that threaten even further violence such as this that cause me to pause over perhaps the even more complicated portion of this problem which is why are students and citizens at large so easily able to obtain firearms?

As individuals still growing and learning, teenagers— especially those who are dealing with traumatization— are in no way fit to handle a gun in any situation. Weapons such as these should not be available to young people in any way, whether it be from a mother’s closet such as Jackson, or swiped from an unassuming uncle such as T.J. Lane, the shooter in the Chardon High School shooting.

With each of these increasingly common school shootings I believe there are two real tragedies: the deaths of innocent individuals, and the fact that an unauthorized person has once again gotten ahold of a firearm. It continues to baffle me that there are not more effective ways of keeping these weapons out of the wrong hands. In order to truly stop these events, lawmakers need to tighten gun control laws, especially in our own home state. In Ohio, gun owners are not required to have a permit in order to purchase a gun, nor are they required to have firearm registration or an owner’s license, according to the Ohio Attorney General Website. Licensing and registration are only required in order to obtain a conceal and carry license. The training time required for a gun owner is also limited in the state to twelve hours, which is not nearly enough time for a person to truly understand the weight and danger of owning a dangerous weapon.

If these laws were to be tightened, making it significantly more difficult to own a gun in the first place, then it would significantly lessen the risk of unfit individuals obtaining firearms. By placing more restrictions on who can own a gun, unstable individuals­— such as those who committed the recent school tragedies— would not have been able to purchase or obtain a gun. Our state government should put a minimum age limit of 25 on the eligibility of owning a handgun, as well as bar those with mental illness from owning a gun of any kind. This would mean that guns would stay in the responsibility of stable adults, and be much less likely to find their way into the possession of people like those who committed these monstrous acts.

Every time the terrible words scroll across my television informing me of yet another tragedy, I am reminded of the desperate need for Americans to step in and end the bullying problem, and to stop the tormenting the moment they witness it, rather than acting as helpless bystanders. Furthermore, I see the demand for tighter gun control laws, in order to keep these weapons away from the dangerous hands of unstable individuals. Only when these two acts are accomplished will we stop seeing school shootings as all too common occurrences.

Rhodes Moore reflects upon past recruiting opportunities, looks forward to college athletics

By Carly Tovell, ‘13

As the sweat drips from the upper rim of senior Rhodes Moore’s temple, he can feel the pressure building. Fans cheer on his first Columbus Crew Reserve game against the New York Red Bulls. His thoughts bounce around just like the ball on the lush soccer field. He knows how much is on the line and pushes himself to showcase his best efforts and be a part of the Crew.

“I want to play pro in the future, my goal is to play somewhere in Europe,” he said. “I just have to keep working hard and hope time does the rest.”

During his senior year in high school, Moore was approached with the opportunity to play college soccer at various universities, as well as professional soccer on the Crew Reserve team. With the window of opportunity expanding to play at colleges such as Columbia University, Northwestern University, The Ohio State University, the University of California, Los Angeles and more, Moore was faced with the tough decision between college and professional soccer. Ultimately, he chose to be a part of a newer soccer program close to home at Xavier University rather than continuing as a player on the Reserve team.

Moore had multiple opportunities with his time left before college, and he hoped to take advantage of the spring soccer season with the Reserve team, which allows players to develop their skills in a professional setting.

“The Reserve team is just for players who didn’t get in or didn’t get significant minutes in the Major League Soccer game, so they will play in the game right after,” he said. “A lot of rookies will play on the Reserves so they can get a feel for the pro style of play. The Reserve team still plays the same teams in the MLS like the New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC, etc.”

Moore made his decision to go to Xavier based not only off his talent, but also on the people in his life.

“I’m going to Xavier University next year. I think it is the best place for me at this point in my life,” he said. “I want to go to college first and then try to go play pro. I want to have the college experience before I do anything. My family played a big role in my decision; they want me to get my degree first.”

Sophomore Armonde Moore, cousin of Moore, supports his decision to play in college.

“I think that Rhodes will do well no matter what he does. I’m really happy that he will be able to get his degree and play in college, and I know the rest of my family is as well,” she said. “I know he’s going to do really well, and he can always play pro after he graduates.”

Moore has learned to take what he can from his current experience in order to achieve greatness.

“From this experience I have learned not to take anything for granted. I have been working my whole life up until this point, and always wanted to play professional soccer,” he said. “I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after giving up so much in my life to get to where I am.”

By Victoria Slater, ‘12

Athlete Insights

Boys Volleyball

Senior Captain Michael Schroer

Q: Boys volleyball isn’t as well known as other sports. How are you going about changing that?

Schroer: We are really trying to get the word out via Kickin ‘ It Live and flyers around the school. Honestly, volleyball is a very fun sport and that’s what we want to communicate to people.

Q: What strategies has your team adopted to achieve victory?

Schroer: We need to have energy and play like the team we are. We just need to go out on the court with the confidence of a winning team.

Q: What are your goals for this season?

Schroer: This year we hope to be in the top half of the OCC which would be a real accomplishment if you look at the skill level and rank of schools like Darby and Bradley.

Girls crew

Senior Captain Zoe Ribar

Q: What about crew makes it stand out from other sports?

Ribar: You probably have no idea that the true power of a boat comes from your legs, not your arms, and that in a weird way spandex unisuits are a normalcy. Crew is great because you know that not just anybody can do what you do. There’s a real sense of accomplishment in that.

Q: What are the strengths of this year’s team?

Ribar: Our biggest strength is in each other. It’s a team sport after all, and being able to play on that connection as well as the time we’ve spent together will give us an advantage over other teams.

Q: What do you enjoy about being a captain?

Ribar: A captain is the real embodiment of who a team is and what they stand for. They are who everyone may hope to be and are who each teammate can look to for direction.

Salons provide more than a golden glow

Tanning beds may offer that spring-glow students desire, but these bright lights bring an abundance of negative side effects. These impacts are endless, not to mention seriously detrimental to one’s health. While tanning beds may seem like a good solution for pale students looking for a pre-summer faux glow, the negatives outweigh the superficial benefits.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the UV radiation given off by tanning beds penetrate top and inner layers of the skin. Over time, this penetration can cause a list of health risks including: skin cancer, skin burns, premature skin aging and eye damage. Cancer comes in at number two on the list of top ten leading causes of death and this type of cancer is easily preventable. While an artificial tan may last about two weeks, are these long-term dangers truly worth a short time of darkened skin?

Students need to find alternatives to using tanning beds. A common myth is that natural tanning is the better option. However, whether one is tanning in a bed or in a backyard, both environments put one’s health at risk. One benefit natural tanning has over tanning beds is the supply of Vitamin D essential for our skin from natural sunlight. Not to mention, tanning time in the backyard is free of cost and much more convenient. The average price for a 20 minute session is about $7, which may not seem overly expensive, but is costly compared to a free backyard tanning session. If one decides to take the backyard option, plenty of sunscreen should be used to prevent skin from burns and sun spots.

The best alternative that doesn’t cause health issues and is also less costly is tanning lotion. Not only is lotion easy to find, the cost for one bottle is about $8 and can last for 16-20 sessions. Some lotions may appear unneven on skin, but with the right brand, this option is the safest and most reasonable.

The “Tanning Tax” imposed by President Obama is the right path to go in order to warn tanners of health risks. According to CNN, this 10 percent tax added for individuals receiving indoor tanning may seem unfair to tanners, but is an effort to inform them and prevent future health issues. Along with the added tax, age restrictions cause limitations for tanners. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, minors under 18 are required to have their parents’ signatures in order to use indoor tanning.

Before scheduling your next indoor tanning appointment, consider these harmful side effects. Instead of putting your body at risk of developing fatal diseases and increasing skin aging, try backyard tanning (with sunscreen of course) or lotion. The risks obviously outweigh the benefits when it comes to tanning beds. Why sacrifice your health for two weeks of orange bliss?

By Matias Grotewold

As Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem aptly put it: “We can come from practically nothing to being able to have anything that we want.” Here at UAHS, a parallel dream emerges in the form of senior Harsh Patel, also known as Hershey. What started as a simple pastime in the Whitehall High School cafeteria three years ago has now developed into a major passion for Hershey.
In the pursuit of his dream, Hershey has a recording studio in his basement, a half-dozen covers and two original releases. But Hershey is not just following in the footsteps of any other rapper. Since he is of Indian descent, he wants to be the “first of many Indian rappers.”

Drawing inspiration from mainstream and underground rappers alike, Hershey found the original inspiration to become a rapper in Jay-Z’s lyrics from the song “A Dream” which read “Remind yourself. Nobody built like you, you design yourself.”

“[This quote] just means to be yourself in everything,” Hershey said. “I’m trying to just be me when [I] write my thoughts and share [them], and if someone doesn’t agree with me…then [they] don’t have to listen.”But Hershey does not try to pinpoint any single rapper as the sole inspiration for a song or set of lyrics. Instead, little parts from each rapper’s style inspire him as he develops his own unique style.

“For the flow, I look to Drake and Em[inem]…one rapper says [something] one way, another says the same thing a different way. That’s flow,” Hershey said. “J Cole, Jay-Z and [Dr.] Dre: I like the storytelling in [their] songs. My sound is most like Nas’ or [Dr.] Dre’s.”

Hershey said he starts his process by finding a beat with a defining mood from which he can then build the lyrics. He looks to buy beats, usually percussion based and mixed with synthesizer sounds, from producers online, but hopes to make his own in the future. From there, the lyrics usually begin to grow around a few “witty lines” that come after listening to the beat.

In a battered spiral notebook, Hershey jots down lyric ideas and examples on the left while the final lyrics slowly evolve on the right. It’s a process that can take hours. Words, lines and sometimes whole verses are crossed off and rewritten. A simple rhyme scheme develops into multi-syllabic rhyming, and then a flow emerges.

“I might experiment with different flows, or the rhythm of the words, and if I find one that matches the beat, then I can incorporate that flow on [a] specific beat,” Hershey said.

From the simple phrase “flow is so cold,” Hershey molds the idea and adds to it, turning it into a line, a rhyme, and eventually there emerges: “Flow colder than the shoulder of a gold digger when a broke dude is with her.”

Sprinkled with metaphors and multi-syllabic rhymes, a rap develops, and if the flow matches a beat, then Hershey moves on to recording and then releasing.

“I usually record alone… If you do something alone, you do it better,” Hershey said, adding that he has recorded with senior Cheryl Ricca because she is more experienced in the recording process, having recently released her own EP.

For Hershey’s first release, “For My City”, which features Winchester, Calif. rapper Marka, Hershey felt he had to use producer Superstar O’s beat once he heard it. A friend put Hershey in contact with Marka, and Hershey’s first original song, “For My City,” was released on SoundCloud, an audio distribution website, on Dec. 7, 2011. The majestic beat, found online and produced by SuperStar O, combined with Marka’s catchy hook and Hershey’s Buckeye allusions throughout the flow come together for an impressive release.

Hershey’s Facebook fan page brags of the song having been listened to in Italy and Montenegro and the track on SoundCloud proudly displays the number of plays and downloads. A post on Hershey’s personal Facebook page boasts of a video critique response he received from rapper B.o.B. and his manager.

It is a huge step from toying with the idea of becoming a rapper to actually writing, recording and releasing.  However, it is an enormous step to go from just another young, ambitious rapper to actually discovering a sound or style that is original enough to have an impact on the genre.

“Every major artist has their own style which they use in all their songs… If you listen to a song and recognize the artist just [by] noticing the style and voice, [they’ve] done it right,” Hershey said. “I’m going to experiment with lots of flows and voices until I find the one that I really love and everybody appreciates.”

Hershey also said that some artists never find a style with which they’re comfortable, either because they fail to experiment with the right ones or because they don’t use the right styles in the right ways.

“What I’m trying to find [is] the voice and the style…so people who [have] heard me before can notice me when my song plays.” As Hershey willingly acknowledged, “In every song, my style changes dramatically… I still have to find [mine]… It takes years to find [your] style.”

By Davey Strahm

The movie follows George Valentin, (Jean Dujardin), a thriving actor during the era of silent movies, and chronicles the difficulties actors faced during that time period.

Valentin is a silent movie star whose name is on the tip of every major producer’s tongue. When the optimistic and enthusiastic Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) steps onto the set, the film world is turned upside down as Valentin falls in love with Miller.

In a comedic scene, Valentin snakes through a crowd at a dance and bumps into Miller, who is still an extra at this point.To his dismay, Valentin struggles to complete the scene as he is too busy wooing Miller while they dance.

Two years later, Valentin is called into the producers’ private viewing booth to see “the future of film.” Valentin then witnesses his wife at the time, Missi Pyle, demonstrate the new sensation of talking. Valentin stands and chuckles, stating that this is not film.

As more and more “talkies” are produced, Valentin finds it harder to find work. Miller fares much better and is now the “bee’s knees” of Hollywood, producing films at an astounding rate.

After the crash of the stock market, Valentin loses everything, including not only his fortune, but also his wife. Bankrupt, Valentin is forced to sell all of his belongings at an auction.
As hero movies consistently do, Valentin—the cinematic phoenix—is reborn and his old director, Al Zimmer (John Goodma) offers him a chance to star alongside Miller in one of her new films.

Hazanavicius pays homage to many films of the era by packing his movie full of amusing allusions, such as the breakfast scene between Valentin and his wife, which is a clear reference to the classic film Citizen Kane.

The first thought when purchasing a ticket for this film is probably, “Why would I want to see this black and white film? It is 2012 for goodness sake.” However, this film features a “generation friendly” cast, including stars from this decade, both American and French.
There is no exaggerating when this movie is called a masterpiece. Moviegoers everywhere can breathe a breath of fresh air when viewing this work of art.

With exams right around the corner, some students will not have to report to class at regular times. Students can sacrifice the extra sleep and dine out for breakfast. 

Although Columbus offers an overflow of breakfast and lunch establishments, some tend to become monotonous. Jack and Benny’s, a retro-styled diner owned by Genaro and Iggy Garcia, makes some of the best breakfast and lunch dishes in the city.

Jack and Benny’s menu focuses on American cuisine with a few Mexican dishes, such as Huevos Rancheros and the Chorizo Scramble. The prices are reasonable, ranging from $.40 for a side of extra cheese to $7.75 for the Arnold Omelet, which is filled with bacon, ham, potatoes, onions, peppers and mushrooms. Not only are the prices affordable for the delectable dishes, but the diner creates a nostalgic and alternative breakfast experience.
Dishes served at Jack and Benny’s are of colossal portions and are presented with appetizing side dishes, including your choice of toast. The omelets, various types of pancakes and burritos practically take over the plates and filled with fresh ingredients are cooked to perfection.
For $5.75 customers can get a huge three egg Apple and Swiss Omelet or a Three Cheese Omelet, both with toast. The Apple and Swiss Omelet creates the perfect mixture of aweer fresh fruit with thick Swiss.  The Three Cheese Omelet has great texture and uses the perfect amount of cheese to make the simple dish tasteful.

Another great plate is the Chorizo Scramble. This mixture of scrambled eggs, spicy sausage, fresh green peppers and tomatoes bursts with flavor. The spices add some flare to the eggs, while the fresh vegetables complement the savory flavors radiating throughout the mixture. All plates come steaming hot and take the customers’ taste buds on a rare journey.

Vintage images and decorations of Central Ohio memorabilia cover the walls. The decor ranges from the 1960 OSU Basketball team photo to a Fritz the Night Owl poster. The array of decorations in the diner have the ability to educate a young customer about Columbus’ past or take others on a trip down memory lane. 
This retro-styled diner offers an affordable and delicious experience. If the typical breakfast joints are getting old, try Jack and Benny’s.

31. 1508. 26. 2130. While most may see these numbers to be a random display of digits, to the average high school upperclassman they signify much more. They are test scores—SAT and ACT scores—which could make or break a college acceptance letter, scholarship or award. While impressive scores supposedly require inhuman intelligence, the true key to test success exists simply in proper preparation.

According to UAHS college counselor Mark Davis, the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT) both offer colleges a static approach to compare an individual student to the entire pool of applicants. Davis explained that it is vital for students to take advantage of these testing opportunities in order to demonstrate accumulated knowledge and academic skills.

“It is the only thing colleges have on a student that is going to be a comparison from one school to another,” he said. “Every high school has its own GPA system, but a score on an SAT or ACT, no matter what school you go to, shows your level of knowledge in the areas in which you’re being tested.”

Senior Grant Shisler, who along with 14 fellow seniors was named a National Merit Scholar semifinalist last September, emphasized the notion of equality in standardized testing such as the SAT and ACT.

“[These tests] allow colleges to compare students from all across the nation on an equal basis,” he said.

As noted by the National Merit Scholar Corporation web site, a semifinalist must take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of the junior year, and attain a score in the top one half of one percent of all participants. In addition to achieving this honor, Shisler noted that he scored well on his subsequent ACT and SAT, reaching into the 95 percentile on both examinations.

For students to mirror such success, Davis insists that preparation is key.

“The bottom line is practice,” he said. “Practice the materials published by the testing center, like the College Board. Anything they put out that is a practice material will include actual test questions from former tests.”

Tutoring is another approach to thorough test preparation students could consider. There exist a range of SAT/ACT classes for students, such as Kaplan and Princeton Review, which include weekly coursework meant to augment test-specific skills and factors such as time management. Junior Emma Tsao said that she participated in a Princeton Review SAT prep class and found the experience both instructive and enjoyable.

“The class I took was with the Princeton Review, and it was motivating,” she said. “We played games and won candy. [Their] vocabulary flashcards are probably the most useful thing for the SATs. The reading section was always the lowest score on my practice tests so I worked the hardest at it.”

While such courses may be beneficial with their skill-building aspects, several programs, Princeton Review in particular, cost upwards of $1500. However, Tsao asserted that her success on the tests was worth the expense.

“[The classes are] most definitely worth it. They actually gave me a 300 point increase,” she said.

In addition to tutoring and individual preparation, Davis suggests that before testing, students should research what scholarships their choice colleges offer based on certain test scores and GPA, and using this information, generate a hypothetical score they wish to achieve. Once completing the tests, those students who did not reach their score goals should consider retaking the tests once or twice more.

On the day of their ACT/SAT, Shisler advises test-takers to enter with a level, well-rested and well-nourished mind, together with sufficient preparation.

“I made sure to go bed really early the night before the test,” he said. “It also helped me to wake up pretty early the morning before the test not only so I could eat a healthy breakfast, but also because it helped give me some time for my brain to wake up and start thinking.”

While Davis claims that standardized testing remains a “hierarchy” in regards to the applicant review process, Shisler asserts that the SAT and ACT should not distress or overwhelm students.

“I feel as if kids go into the test stressed out and then don’t do as well since they’re worried, when they really don’t have to be,” he said. “It’s important for people to make sure to relax; it’s just a test.”

SAT/ACT Prep Courses

Kaplan:

° Six three-hour sessions with three to five other students

° Four full-length tests will be provided along with flash cards, videos, a lesson book and over 3,000 practice questions

°Averages $1100 per course

Princeton Review:

° 24 hours of instruction with up to four other students, over 40 hours of preparation

° Four full-length practice tests

°Free admission to financial aid seminars

°Averages $1500 per course