The document debunks 7 common myths about college and scholarships. Myth #1 discusses the difference between weighted and unweighted GPAs, noting that colleges look at unweighted GPAs when evaluating applicants. Myth #2 says that getting a B in elementary/middle school is not okay as it can negatively impact future classes. Myth #3 notes that the PSAT is not just a practice SAT but is also used for National Merit Scholarship qualification. Myth #4 says that not all students need to take the SAT/ACT and SAT Subject Tests. Myth #5 debunks the myths that scholarships cannot be obtained if family income is too high, GPA is not impressive, or the student is not a star athlete by outlining the

1. 7 College & Scholarship Myths Debunked

2. Introduction Hello, I’m Todd VanDuzer, the CEO & co-founder of Student-Tutor. It is our mission to Spark
Bright Futures!
I created this lesson because after talking to parents, we found that most don’t get the support
they need from schools and are many times fed misinformed information to set their students
up for scholarship and college success.
When I was a senior in High School, I was lucky to be the TA for Mrs. Ricci at the Career
Center. She forced me to apply to dozens of scholarships and taught me all the tricks in the
books that resulted in over $85,000!
Since then, my team and I have written over 250+ blog articles on scholarship, academics,
college, and more! Here we provide you the top 7 college & scholarship myths.
PS: This symbol = helpful resources a click away!

3. Myth # 1
B’s in an AP/honors classes are
the same as A’s in regular classes.
NOT TRUE FOR CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS!

4. Grade Point Average (GPA)
Unweighted GPA
• Assigns each letter grade a number value
regardless of whether it was an honors
or AP class.
• Average is taken from those numbers
(Cumulative point value for each class divided by # of
classes)
• The highest unweighted GPA is 4.0
and can only be achieved with consistent
straight As. Just one B can bring this
down to a 3.9
Some schools
breakdown the
point value further →
Percent
%
Letter
Grade
Point
Value
90-100 A+ 4.0
85-89 A 4.0
80-84 A- 3.7
77-79 B+ 3.3
73-76 B 3.0
70-72 B- 2.7
67-69 C+ 2.3
63-66 C 2.0
60-62 C- 1.7
55-59 D+ 1.3
50-54 D 1.0
0-49 F 0.0
Calculate your GPA!

5. Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Regular classes are still valued from 0 to 4
• Honors/AP classes are given a higher
point value but may differ depending on
how difficult the classes are as evaluated
by the school district.
• Honors classes may be valued higher by
an extra 0.5 points (i.e. A=4.5/B=3.5, etc.)
• AP classes may get a whole extra point
(i.e. A=5.0/B=4.0, etc.)
Big Question
Which GPA do colleges look at?
Weighted or Unweighted?

6. The Hard Truth
Does a B in an AP/honors class, count like an A in a regular class?
Yes or No?
This Princeton Review article explains how the truth may be alarming…
“colleges strip these extra points from applicants’ GPAs before they evaluate them. When you
compare your high school GPA to the average among freshmen at a particular college, you’ll need to
remove the extra points you’ve received for any difficult classes. This will ensure that you compare
‘apples to apples.’ Strength of schedule is still a very important factor in admissions decisions; it’s just
considered separately from GPA”

7. Grade Point Average (GPA)
So why take AP/Honors classes?
• Better teachers
• More ambitious peers
• Possibility of college credit
• Preparation for the rigors of
college coursework
• Essential for the most elite
universities
You may be thinking….
What does this mean for my child
who is getting B’s in their AP
classes?
Should I encourage my child to
take AP/Honors classes even if
they can’t get all As?
The answer all depends on your
child’s goals and ambitions.
Merits of advanced classes
Learn more about
AP vs. Honors

8. Different For CSU & UC Schools
● Take up to 8 semesters of
honors & AP classes into
account.
● Only counts your 10th & 11th
grade year.
● Maximum of 4 semesters your
10th grade year.

9. Should my child take AP courses?
Difference between AP/Honors classes!
Are you 88% certain you can get an A in
the AP/Honors class.
Will they do better than the vast majority
of their classmates?

10. Myth # 2
Getting a B in elementary school
or middle school is ok.

11. Building a Strong Foundation
This is your child’s foundation. It needs to be solid.
In future classes, missing a concept here and there is okay,
but even a B in middle school is a huge Red Flag.
If my middle school student has a B in
Math or English, he or she is doing fine
and doesn’t need help.
True or False?
#1 Reason students struggle in math

12. Why is it so important?
Math Skills = Analytical
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Algebra
• Geometry
• SAT / ACT
Reading Skills = Interpreting
• History
• Literature
• Biology
• Foreign Languages
• SAT / ACT

13. ● Academic Tutoring in all subjects
● Adaptive Math assessment tests
● Adaptive Reading assessment tests
Use Promo Code
“YOURFUTURE” for 60% off!
Let us help Spark a
Brighter Future! !

14. Myth # 3
The PSAT is just a practice SAT exam.

15. PSAT aka National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
PSAT = Preliminary SAT
Winning the NMS is an absolute
game changer for elite university
admissions.
• If you scored well in 10th
grade, there’s a
chance you could win, so start studying!!!
• With so much at stake, don’t take a chance.
Seek help from a tutoring service.
(NMSQT for short) Full ride scholarship to +100 public universities!
Here are just a few…
Tips for the PSAT

16. Myth # 4
Everyone needs to take the
SAT/ACT & SAT 2’s.

17. Standardized Tests
Remember: Every college has different expectations.
✓ What do your target schools require?
✓ What merit based scholarships are available for
“x” score.
✓ Is the ACT or SAT preferred?
✓ Does my target school recommend the SAT 2s?

18. • The SAT is being REDESIGNED for the first time in
over a decade! Recently launched in March 2016.
• You should be scoring at least 650 in Math and
Reading before focusing on the Writing section.
• The ACT may feel easier at first but is much more
difficult to realize a substantial score increase.
• If you’re scoring above 1200 then group classes WILL
NOT be challenging enough. Seek private instruction.
With so much on the line, why chance it!
Take your first practice test as early as 9th
grade.
Remember:
Learn more about
the new SAT

19. Quick Facts:
• 20 different tests
• Required by some colleges
• Tests a variety of subjects
• Typically submit 2-3 scores
Should you worry about it?
SAT 2 aka SAT Subject Tests
Take the SAT Subject tests in 9th
grade. Why?
If you’re taking Biology in 9th
grade, take the exam
when the subject is fresh in your mind!
Learn more about the SAT 2s.

20. ● SAT and ACT assessment tests
● SAT and ACT private tutoring and
classes
Use Promo Code
“STUDYSMART” for 100% off!
Let us help Spark a
Brighter Future!

21. Myth # 5
You can’t get scholarships because a) your
family makes too much money b) your GPA is
not impressive c) you are not a star athlete.

22. 3 Types of Scholarships
1. Need Based Scholarships
2. Private Based Scholarships
3. Merit Based Scholarships

23. Need-Based Scholarships
AKA: federal student aid.
FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Eligibility based solely on assets and
household income.
Comes in the form of:
• Grants
• Low-interest loans
Beware of scams! Only go to http://fafsa.ed.govDon’t miss a beat... We’ll guide you through the process!

24. Need-Based Scholarships
• BLUE - two-year public colleges
• GREEN - four-year public colleges
• YELLOW - four-year private colleges
• ORANGE - four-year elite private
colleges
• RED - would not qualify
See Forbes Article

25. Private Scholarships
What are they looking for?
Helpful Websites:
❑ meritaid.com
❑ fastweb.com
❑ scholarships.com
❑ chegg.com
Application Essay Required (and sometimes more!)
Our team will help to optimize
your extracurriculars while
skyrocketing your grades and
test scores!!!
Secret Recipe For College Success

26. Private Scholarships
It’s a Numbers Game!!
• You can’t win a fortune with only a handfull of
applications.
• Must be treated like a part time job.
• Do this the summer after junior year.
“Salary” = $100 per hour!
Two MUST READ articles
to WIN at the scholarship
game!

27. Merit-Based Scholarships
Figures taken from Arizona State University’s
Online Scholarship Estimator
SAT score out of 1600 from Math and Reading. ASU and most
other public schools do not look at Writing scores.
It really is this simple!
=$$$

28. Merit-Based Scholarships
• One of our student’s older sibling lost out on
$14,000 in scholarships because he came up 40
points shy on the SAT and had no idea until it was
too late.
• Another student with a 4.0 weighted GPA missed
out on $10,000 because they were only looking at
her 3.4 unweighted GPA.
NOW YOU KNOW
Don’t let this happen
to you!!
On a sadder note…
$11 Billion is given in merit-based scholarships each year!!
How much are you going to receive?
Colleges Run Like
Businesses. Here is why it
matters!

29. Merit-Based Scholarships
What if your GPA isn’t so impressive?
All hope is not lost!
• Replace your lowest grades by
retaking classes over summer.
• Seek help from a tutor while
there’s still time!
• Take the right steps - Talk to a
Student-Tutor Academic Advisor.
How To Calculate &
Improve High School GPA

30. Merit-Based Scholarships
Who has heard of the NMSQT?
… how about the National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test?
… aka, the PSAT or Preliminary (Not “Practice”)
SAT.
… yup, they’re the same test!
• Top 3-4% of test takers in each state
• Front of the line pass to Ivy Leagues
• Full ride offers to over 100 universities
Start preparing early and
study your butt off!
The list goes on… Click Here for more
info

31. Merit-Based Scholarships
How about out-of-state scholarships?... Um, heck yes
$100,000 to
3.5 GPA +
1490 SAT
(out of 1600)
=
3.0 GPA +
1300 SAT
(out of 1600)
$48,000 to=
Top 10 Merit-Based
Scholarships

32. Myth # 6
High GPA, test scores, and president of your
club will get you into an elite university.

33. Perfect GPA + Test Score = Denied?
Where does your child stand?
Don’t forget the other secret ingredient!

34. • Universities and scholarships are
looking for these qualities.
• When writing application essays,
highlight certain aspects of your club
involvement to be more appealing.
We can help to optimize your
child’s extracurricular activities so
they stand out from the crowd!
Don’t just be the best…
BE DIFFERENT!!
Optimize your student’s
extracurricular profile.

35. Myth # 7
Going to community college is less
expensive than a 4-year university.
NOT TRUE FOR CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS!

36. Example
Community College:
● Year # 1: $3,440
● Year # 2: $3,440
● Year # 3: $10,478
● Year # 4: $10,478
● Total: $27,836
Arizona State University:
● Year # 1: $10,478
● Year # 2: $10,478
● Year # 3: $10,478
● Year # 4: $10,478
● Deans Scholarship: -$24,000
● Total: $17,919
Student has 3.2 and 1300 SAT score.
$9,924 Savings!Let’s see a real example!

37. Example
Community College:
● Year # 1: $1,288
● Year # 2: $1,288
● Year # 3: $7,084
● Year # 4: $7,084
● Total: $16,744
San Diego State University:
● Year # 1: $7,084
● Year # 2: $7,084
● Year # 3: $7,084
● Year # 4: $7,084
● Total: $28,336
San Diego State University Example
-$11,592 SavingsHowever, if you are looking
to go out of state..

38. Additional Questions?
● Comment below!
● Call us! 844-50-TUTOR
● Join & ask our Facebook group community so together
we can spark bright futures!