U.S. News & World Report Calendar Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Media Contact:
Erica Chlada
410.558.2134
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT FEATURES PREPMATTERS' SAT AND ACT TEST CALENDAR IN ITS 2008 COLLEGE RANKINGS ISSUE
Ned Johnson Offers Expertise on Standardized Testing and the Ranking Controversy
(Download your own copy of the calendar here.)
Bethesda, MD August 17, 2007 - PrepMatters founder and president, Ned Johnson, for the second consecutive year has prepared the SAT and ACT 2007/2008 test calendar that is featured in U.S. News & World Report's 2008 College Ranking Issue. The issue, which hit stands on August 17th has been stirring a debate nationwide regarding standards for ranking colleges.
"While there is a lot of controversy surrounding this issue, it does provide information on schools that is not otherwise readily available," said Johnson, founder and president of PrepMatters, a leader in standardized test preparation and academic tutoring in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. "Although one may debate the relative merits of the criteria used in the rankings, many readers are just happy to have the information. It's hard to argue that less information is better than more."
Rankings have become a standard way of determining what the "best" is, from companies to food. The debate for ranking colleges begins when there is a "best" awarded, suggesting that the other colleges featured in the ranking are not as good.
"There is a real problem with linear rankings, especially when rankings trickle down and affect students," adds Johnson. "Suggesting one school is better implies another is worse and, if one buys into it, implies the same thing about the school's students. No one wants students feeling insecure about themselves or their future educations based on a ranking. Ideally, everyone wants them to be in places that fit their needs and will ultimately lead to their success."
And while the debate continues, Johnson and the PrepMatters team focus on the main problem that stems from the college admissions process - anxiety. Standardized test scores, strict college admissions deadlines, the seemingly inexorable increase of comptetition, confusion about college choices and the application process are just a few elements that make for stressful high school junior and senior years.
For 10 years, PrepMatters has taken an individualized approach to test preparation based on a continuous examination of what standardized tests are actually testing. Best known for their unconventional approach, they take into account learning differences and learning sytles in teens, anxiety reducing techniques, what standardized tests are actually testing, and test-taking strategies that will help teens in all walks of life.
Johnson, co-author of the book Conquering the SAT: How Parents Can Help Teens Overcome the Pressure and Succeed, has logged over 30,000 hours of test prep and takes the SAT multiple times a year, adding perfect scores and on-the-ground experience to his instruction.
Media Contact:
Erica Chlada
410.558.2134
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT FEATURES PREPMATTERS' SAT AND ACT TEST CALENDAR IN ITS 2008 COLLEGE RANKINGS ISSUE
Ned Johnson Offers Expertise on Standardized Testing and the Ranking Controversy
(Download your own copy of the calendar here.)
Bethesda, MD August 17, 2007 - PrepMatters founder and president, Ned Johnson, for the second consecutive year has prepared the SAT and ACT 2007/2008 test calendar that is featured in U.S. News & World Report's 2008 College Ranking Issue. The issue, which hit stands on August 17th has been stirring a debate nationwide regarding standards for ranking colleges.
"While there is a lot of controversy surrounding this issue, it does provide information on schools that is not otherwise readily available," said Johnson, founder and president of PrepMatters, a leader in standardized test preparation and academic tutoring in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. "Although one may debate the relative merits of the criteria used in the rankings, many readers are just happy to have the information. It's hard to argue that less information is better than more."
Rankings have become a standard way of determining what the "best" is, from companies to food. The debate for ranking colleges begins when there is a "best" awarded, suggesting that the other colleges featured in the ranking are not as good.
"There is a real problem with linear rankings, especially when rankings trickle down and affect students," adds Johnson. "Suggesting one school is better implies another is worse and, if one buys into it, implies the same thing about the school's students. No one wants students feeling insecure about themselves or their future educations based on a ranking. Ideally, everyone wants them to be in places that fit their needs and will ultimately lead to their success."
And while the debate continues, Johnson and the PrepMatters team focus on the main problem that stems from the college admissions process - anxiety. Standardized test scores, strict college admissions deadlines, the seemingly inexorable increase of comptetition, confusion about college choices and the application process are just a few elements that make for stressful high school junior and senior years.
For 10 years, PrepMatters has taken an individualized approach to test preparation based on a continuous examination of what standardized tests are actually testing. Best known for their unconventional approach, they take into account learning differences and learning sytles in teens, anxiety reducing techniques, what standardized tests are actually testing, and test-taking strategies that will help teens in all walks of life.
Johnson, co-author of the book Conquering the SAT: How Parents Can Help Teens Overcome the Pressure and Succeed, has logged over 30,000 hours of test prep and takes the SAT multiple times a year, adding perfect scores and on-the-ground experience to his instruction.
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