Success through the ACT and Ayers Foundation

Essay by Travis Hartle (LHS Class of 2002)

"Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity."
--Henry Hartman

Throughout one’s life opportunities arise, but unless one is prepared to meet those opportunities success will not happen. The Ayers Foundation was established on the belief that by helping students prepare to meet the challenges and opportunities life puts before them they will not only be able to overcome their obstacles, but be successful.

The Ayers Scholar’s Program at Lexington High School is focused on helping students succeed in the post secondary education world. Depending on the student this may be a four or two year college or a technology school. Our services for the students of LHS include helping students fill out college applications, writing entrance essays, being successful in the college interviewing and application process, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), helping discover scholarship opportunities, college and career counseling, and financial aid and tuition advising.

In order for the Ayers Scholar’s Program to help a student find free money for post secondary education that student must first do their part! LHS students need to understand that maintaining a high GPA is important. Equally important, however, is the student’s ACT score. The number that a student receives on the ACT will be the ultimate deciding factor for if that student can go to college and receive scholarship money.

All colleges and universities are going to use ACT scores as a determining factor for admissions. Once a student completes a college application the next document a school asks for is a copy of the student’s transcript (GPA); then they want ACT scores. The student’s ACT score will then be the deciding factor for admissions. Even schools that boast of having “no minimum ACT requirement” still turn away students with low scores. Vanderbilt looks for ACT scores in the thirties, UT Knoxville starts taking applications seriously if the ACT score is around twenty four (they will tell you they do not have an admissions requirement, though), and MTSU requires no less than a 2.7 GPA and a minimum ACT score of nineteen. A student can beg, cry, and plead with a university all they want, but unless they have the right scores they will not get accepted.

One problem that often arises is that a student gets accepted to the school they want to attend, but due to their ACT score they receive no scholarship money. Not only does the ACT have a major impact on college admissions it also impacts what scholarships a student is eligible for. The Hope Scholarship, as well as all merit based money provided through the Tennessee lottery, is based on the two-part criteria of ACT and a student’s GPA. The HOPE scholarship requires a 3.0 GPA or an ACT composite score of twenty one. Each college or university has its own merit based scholarships that it awards. The majority of the money goes to students with high ACT scores.

How important is the ACT? Well, your post high school educational life is largely riding on it. I would say that is pretty stinkin’ important!

Preparing for the ACT

The best way to prepare for taking the ACT is by enrolling in rigorous classes throughout high school. The tougher classes will help ensure familiarity with any test question that might show up on the ACT. Second, it is important to take full advantage of Lexington High School’s ACT Prep online at the ACT website. The online programs can help prepare the Lexington High School student to understand the structure of test questions and subjects. Third, many of the teachers at Lexington High School have ACT study materials in their classroom which they would be more than happy to share with any interested student.

There are also several local classes that can help the student form better test-taking skills and further familiarize themselves with the ACT layout. Jackson State Community College offers an ACT prep class as well as Sylvan Learning Center in Jackson. Each have a significant cost, but can be very beneficial. For more information about the Jackson State ACT Prep class you can contact Sandy Stanfill at 731-968-5722 and for the Sylvan Learning Center in Jackson call 731-664-3211.

Questions for Further Writing:
What are some specific questions you could ask Mr. Hartle as he helps you transition into higher education?

What steps have you taken to improve your score on the ACT? What are some things you might do in the future?

What university do you want to attend? Why that school?