Students Go To Extreme Measures To Get Higher Test Scores

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – It's no secret the college admissions process can be stressful for students, especially the dreaded standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, but these days the pressure to perform is greater than ever.

Some students have gone to extreme measures to increase their scores but was it necessary?

When it came to raising her scores on the SAT, Sarah Rodeo was determined to do whatever it took.

"I drilled the math all through the summer from my junior to my senior year," said Rodeo, a college freshman." And in the Fall I was still drilling, still taking practice SATs every weekend."

Test prep took over her life, leaving her so stressed that she sought therapy.

"I was feeling a horrible amount of anxiety about the SAT math section, I was pretty miserable," said Rodeo." I missed so many things with friends."

Lisa Sohmer, director of college counseling and member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, said pressure to prep has been greater than ever.

"It's just over time gotten bigger, and bigger and bigger. The pressure comes from everywhere," said Sohmer. "Students a few years ago talked about doing test prep starting in the 11th grade, starting in the 10th grade. Now people are talking about having prep courses for students in the 9th grade."

For some, excessive prep can leave little time for anything else.

"My best friend has given up swimming and she's given up like hanging out with us, just so she can prep for the SAT," said 12th grader, Sheila Khan.

Sohmer has seen the effect that test prep has on extracurricular activities for students.

"If a student says I can't play basketball because I have to test prep or I can't be a member of the student government anymore because I have to work on my test prep, then that's too much," said Sohmer.

So is all the test prep worth it?

Former admissions officer and college coach Elizabeth Heaton said schools look for applicants in a certain score range, but then focus on the overall student.

"The idea that test scores kind of make you stand out I think is a little bit of a false one. What is most important is, you know, what students are doing outside of the classroom, doing well in their courses, being interesting people who have things they enjoy doing," said Heaton.

A strategy that might not give a student an advantage is taking both the ACT and SAT over and over, according to Heaton.

"Colleges have no preference of one over the other. They really just want to see the best score that the student can get," said Heaton.

However, taking both tests may not be a bad thing.

"They ask the questions in a different way and they gauge success differently. There are going to be students whose SAT and ACT scores can be dramatically different," said Sohmer.

Rodeo said that she ended up taking the SAT three times and her math score increased 70 points. As for whether the extra effort was worth it, she is still undecided.

"I think I over did it," said Rodeo."I think I drilled myself too much, I stressed myself out too much."

Since not all students are good test takers, no matter how much they might prep, a growing number of universities are becoming "test optional" and will still consider students who don't submit scores.