Chariot Learning
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Our Curriculum
    • Areas Chariot Learning Serves
  • Services
    • SAT & ACT Prep
    • SAT/ACT TestFlip
    • Academic Coaching
    • Subject Tutoring
    • Strategic Reading Club
    • Proctored Practice Tests
    • GRE Prep
    • College Essay Coaching
    • Roots2Words
  • Calendar
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact
November 23, 2022 by Mike Bergin

Grateful for an Opportunity to Compete

As we approach another Thanksgiving, thoughts naturally turn to what we feel grateful for. Another way to celebrate is to deeply consider why we should be grateful for those things in life we have to deal with, regardless of how much we like them. Few teens look forward to tests like the SAT and ACT; fewer still actually enjoy them. But do these exams represent a necessary evil or a golden opportunity?

Imagine yourself as a high school student eager to attend selective institutions, access prestigious honors programs, or earn enough merit scholarship to defray the ever-rising cost of college. Now think about how you’d feel about your prospects if any or all of the following applied to you:

  • your grades don’t reflect your ability.
  • you suffered some academic setbacks along the way.
  • your excellent grades are undermined by your school’s academic reputation.
  • you couldn’t find enough ways to demonstrate academic rigor.
  • you are competing with 8,000 applicants just like you for 400 open seats.
  • Far too many students (and their parents) enter the college admissions process painfully unaware of how fiercely competitive admission to most brand-name schools has become. Grades are, for most applicants, the single most important factor in admissions. But in the absence of an impeccable honors-level GPA and several additional distinguishing factors, any applicant should be grateful for entrance exams to help them not just compete but stand out from the crowd.

    Think about every sport, art, or craft you engage in. Anyone seeking their best work seeks out challenges that demand their peak performance, even if–or especially when–the world is watching the competition. A test like the SAT or ACT can be your own personal Mount Everest or Super Bowl. If you dare to compete to win, you’ll earn respect, no matter the results. And if you excel, you’ll set yourself apart in a way that everyone understands!

    (NOTE: We first published this post in 2021 but wish to express our gratitude for the opportunity to compete every year on this site. The sentiment makes much more sense here than around the Thanksgiving table!)

    competition gratitude standardized tests

    Previous articleWhat is a "Hook" in College Admissions?Next article Meditations on Preparation: Effort
    Mike Bergin
    Tens of thousands of students a year prep for the SAT & ACT through programs Mike Bergin created or organized. After more than 25 years of intensive experience in the education industry, he's done it all as a teacher, tutor, director, curriculum developer, blogger, podcaster, and best-selling author. Mike founded Chariot Learning in 2009 to deliver on the promise of what truly transformative individualized education can and should be.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Helping high schoolers with tests, school, and life is what Chariot Learning is all about. Let us know how we can help you!

    Latest Posts

    • Tests as Equalizers and Predictors of Success
    • Beginner’s Mindset for Advanced Results
    • Make This Your Year of Preparation
    • Who Benefits from Admissions Tests?
    • The Case for the February ACT

    What is TestFlip?

    Learn about the ultimate in self-directed supplemental SAT/ACT prep, powered by Chariot Learning:

    • Consistency for the work week. Intensity for the weekend!
      by chariotlearning 6 months ago
      Consistency for the work week. Intensity for the weekend!
    • Knowledge isn
      by chariotlearning 5 months ago
      Knowledge isn't free. You have to pay attention.
    • Believe in yourself, champ.
      by chariotlearning 5 months ago
      Believe in yourself, champ.
    • The depth of your struggle determines the height of your success.
      by chariotlearning 6 months ago
      The depth of your struggle determines the height of your success.
    • Decide your habits well. Your habits decide your future.
      by chariotlearning 6 months ago
      Decide your habits well. Your habits decide your future.
    • The one thing you can control is your effort.
      by chariotlearning 6 months ago
      The one thing you can control is your effort.
    • Bring a little extra to your day ;)
      by chariotlearning 6 months ago
      Bring a little extra to your day ;)
    • Be stronger than your excuses!
      by chariotlearning 6 months ago
      Be stronger than your excuses!

    Subscribe to Mike’s Podcast

    Subscribe to Tests and the Rest

    PARENT GROUP AND NEWSLETTER

    Are you an Upstate New York parent with questions about college admissions, testing, and scholarships? The Upstate NY College Conversations Facebook group is for you. Join today!

    And also sign up for College Road, our free email newsletter delivering expert educational advice, test news, admissions action steps, special offers, and more.

    Testimonials

    I think Chariot Learning is a first class business, and we will be recommending you to friends in the future.

    Fern, Pittsford mom

    Read more testimonials...

    PODCAST

    Tests and the Rest is the ultimate college admissions industry podcast. Join Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley every Tuesday and Friday as they discuss the latest issues in testing, admissions, learning, and education with leading experts.
    © 2023 Chariot Learning, LLC. All rights reserved.