Should I Take the ACT or SAT

Should I Take the ACT or SAT Both the College Board and ACT Inc. have revealed redesigns and updates to their exams: the SAT and ACT, respectively. With so many changes to these classic standardized college entrance exams, it might be challenging to decide whether you should take the ACT or SAT (or both!). Gone from the SAT are obscure vocabulary words and science section, and the ACTs optional essay now requires more analytical input and a more comprehensive reading test. However, some key differences between the exams remain, and some students skills will align more closely with those tested on the SAT, while others skills will match better with the ACT. You may be asking yourself, Should I take the ACT or SAT? Choosing to take the ACT or SAT can depend on many factors, such as what types of subjects you excel at and if you are adept to retaining information while reading. Putting your focus on mastering one of the two tests can help maximize your chances of getting a high score. Should you take the ACT or SAT? Read on to find out. Should you take the ACT? Perhaps if you enjoy science. There is no science section on the new SAT. The ACT has a science section, one that is highly focused on your ability to interpret graphs and data. A strong understanding of science is not necessarily required, so long as you are able to do two things: perform basic math analyze tables and figures [RELATED: How to Create an ACT Prep Plan] However, science questions of any typegraph-based or otherwiseare more appealing to some students than others. If you are one of these students, you might prefer the ACT to the SAT. The opposite is also true: if you are easily intimidated by huge amounts of scientific data, you might want to take the SAT instead of the ACT. Should you take the SAT? Perhaps if you like math. The ACT still allows students to use a calculator on all math questions. While the SAT allows a calculator for some math questions, it now also includes fill-in-the-blank questions and other problems that require written work that must be completed without the aid of a calculator. [RELATED: How to Create an SAT Prep Plan] Students who excel in math and can typically perform problems quickly without a calculator might do best taking the SAT. Conversely, students who are not as strong in math compared to other subjects, or students who are intimidated by math problems that dont allow calculator use, might want to opt for the ACT. Should you take the ACT? Perhaps if you excel in reading. Reading questions on the new SAT will almost always provide you with the line numbers in which you can find the information you need to answer them. And even in cases where the line number isnt provided, its relatively easy to find the information you need because the questions progress in order with the passages youve read. On the ACT, however, reading questions are ordered randomly and usually do not provide line numbers with relevant details. So, it can be challenging to find details in the passage that correspond with the question. If you excel at naturally retaining information as you read, you may do quite well on the ACT. If you have trouble with remembering the information you read or going back into written passages to find details, youll probably prefer taking the SAT. Should you take the ACT or SAT? Consider the colleges to which youre applying. Dont forget this important piece! If youre a high school student thinking about these exams, youre probably thinking about the college application process as well. Go through your short list of schools and do a little research. Which ones accept only the ACT or only the SAT as part of the admissions process? Do any of them accept both tests? Make sure you understand the admissions requirements of your prospective colleges before making any big decisions about the ACT or SAT. The answer could be right in front of you when browsing a colleges website! With their latest rounds of changes, the SAT and ACT have a lot of new material to consider. However, key content differences between the exams remain, and some students may prefer one to the other. By identifying your strengths and weaknesses and understanding what your prospective colleges require, you can choose to focus on studying for the test thats most closely aligned with your skills and goals. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Negotiation Guide How to Ask For a Raise as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Negotiation Guide How to Ask For a Raise as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer Negotiation Guide: How to Ask For a Raise as an Introvert Having the ability to be assertive with people who can have a great impact on your career is an important skill. After all, your professional success depends on the capability to get what you deserve. Knowing how to ask for a raise is one of the skills that will help you get what you want and how you communicate with people can be of great help along the way. But did you know that almost 60 percent of Americans report being too afraid to ask for a pay raise? Asking for more money is intimidating for everyone because people don’t know whether they’ll get what they want. They are afraid of seeming too pushy or even losing their job. For introverts, this fear is even bigger as they are naturally quiet and often uncomfortable with the idea of promoting their own achievements. The biggest problem with being too shy to speak up when you think you deserve more is that you often get passed over for opportunities. A lot of introverts stay silent until their fear of missing out on the opportunities becomes bigger than the fear of speaking up. Luckily, you don’t have to wait for that moment. Here are a few things you can do to lower anxiety when negotiating with your manager. Highlight your achievements Introverts find it particularly difficult to recognize their own achievements, especially among those who are louder and more confident. It’s also easy for introverts to get lost in group thinking where their work and ideas become everybody else’s. But when it comes to asking for a raise, it’s important to know what you have done to deserve a raise. The trick is to let the data show your accomplishments. Instead of letting your emotions lead you, try focusing on the facts and give specific examples of when you have gone above and beyond your official role in the company. Prepare yourself to discuss all the times your performance has positively affected the company. While recognizing your contributions can be awkward, it’s worth making a list. Focus only on your own accomplishments and don’t compare to others. That includes resisting the urge to say how unfair it is that your colleagues make more than you. Asking for a raise is all about how much you contribute and not about judging other people. Practice your speech   Introverts tend to let the more dominant people in the room take control of the conversation. That’s why you should know exactly what you are seeking from the management before the meeting even starts. Whatever you do, resist the impulse to accept whatever they offer you just to escape the uncomfortable conversation. Amy Cuddy, an associate professor of business administration at Harvard and a social psychologist, says that by assuming powerful physical positions, you can feel more powerful too. In her TED Talk “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are,” Amy advises that you stand tall, puff your chest and make yourself look physically powerful. So don’t forget to practice your body language while practicing your speech. Keep it simple   You might feel tempted to start your sentences with something like “I know this seems a bit out of line” just because you are nervous, but the more you apologize for no reason, the more unprofessional you look. Do your research beforehand and show why you are not out of line. Have other people received raises after working at the company the same amount of time you have? Do you know what the appropriate salary range for your position is? Keep in mind that many factors can affect pay, such as your education, experience but also the company location and size. Once you consider all these factors, sit down with your boss, look him or her in the eye and ask for a raise in a few concise and convincing sentences. Make relationships through active listening   Your boss is not the only person you need to convince when it comes to negotiating a raise at work. You also need the support from your colleagues, which means you need to make allies across the company, not just in the management. Often it’s people from different departments that decide the fate of your career, so it’s very important how you build relationships. But making new connections can be intimidating for introverts. Luckily, many introverts have the ability to “actively listen” by asking others questions about themselves. The more you can use this skill, the more you can show how much you care about your colleagues. You also get to know them better which improves the chances that those who are a part of the decision-making process are on your side. Remember that it’s not weird   Your boss knows that it’s part of his or her job to deal with employees asking for a raise or promotion. As long as you request a meeting and maintain a professional tone, your manager will be happy to have a conversation about whatever you might need. Do your homework, prepare your numbers and speech and overcome your fear of sounding too pushy or even greedy. It’s time you get what you deserve. Writer: Tamara Luzajic https://sr.gravatar.com/tamaraluzajic Web content writer and editor, currently working as a copywriter at Humanity, employee scheduling and workforce management software. Go to top NETWORKING Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! 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