Digital SAT Standard English Conventions Questions: Punctuation #2

The following sentences are all excerpted from Jane Austin’s book “Emma”. It’s a great piece of literature that would help you improve your reading skills. If you want to read it you can find it on Project Gutenberg.

1. Mr. Knightley, a sensible man about ____________________________ not only a very old and intimate friend of the family, but particularly connected with it, as the elder brother of Isabella’s husband.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. thirty-seven or thirty-eight was
B. thirty-seven or thirty-eight, was
C thirty-seven, or thirty-eight, was
D. thirty-seven or thirty eight—was

2. Emma could not feel a doubt of having given Harriet’s fancy a proper direction and raised the gratitude of her young vanity to a very good ____________ found her decidedly more sensible than before of Mr. Elton’s being a remarkably handsome man.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. purpose, for she
B. purpose for she
C. purpose; for she
D. purpose: for she

3. The sitting was altogether very ____________  quite enough pleased with the first day’s sketch to wish to go on.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. satisfactory, she was
B. satisfactory she was
C. satisfactory; she was
D. satisfactory; and she was

4. To walk by the side of this child, and talk to and question her, was the most natural thing in the world, and by this means the others were still able to keep ahead, without any obligation of waiting for her. She gained on them, ______________________________ pace was quick, and theirs rather slow.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. however involuntarily; the childs
B. however, involuntarily: the childs
C. however, involuntarily: the child’s
D. however, involuntarily, the child’s

5. Mr. Woodhouse was rather agitated by such harsh reflections on his friend Perry, to whom he ____________ been unconsciously attributing many of his own feelings and expressions.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. had, in fact,
B had, in fact
C. had in fact
D. had in fact.

6. There was something in the name, in the idea of Mr. Frank Churchill, which always interested her. She had frequently _________________________________________ marriage with Miss Taylor—that if she were to marry, he was the very person to suit her in age, character and condition.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. thought, especially since his father’s
B. thought—especially since his father’s
C. thought; especially since his father’s
D. thought especially since his fathers’

7. The contrast between Mrs. Churchill’s importance in the world and Jane Fairfax’s _____________ everything, the other nothing.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A.struck her: one was
B. struck her, one was
C. struck her one was
D. struck her one was,

8. He had long made up his mind to Jane Fairfax’s going out as governess and could talk of it ___________________________________ going to London had been an unexpected blow.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. cheerfully but Mr. Knightley’s
B. cheerfully; but Mr. Knightley’s
C. cheerfully, but Mr. Knightley’s
D. cheerfully, Mr. Knightley’s

9. I am _________________________ hear she is to be so comfortably settled. Mrs. Elton is very good-natured and agreeable, and I dare say her acquaintance are just what they ought to be.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. very glad indeed, my dear, to
B. very glad, indeed, my dear, to
C. very glad, indeed, my dear to
D. very glad, indeed my dear, to

10. Short letters from Frank were received __________________________ all that was immediately important of their state and plans.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. at Randalls; communicating
B. at Randalls, communicating
C. at Randalls communicating,
D. at Randalls communicating

  1. B. The phrase “a sensible man about thirty-seven or thirty-eight” is extra information in the sentence and should be surrounded with dashes, parenthesis, or commas. Since the phrase starts with a comma after the word “Knightley”, we must then match the second comma to it after the word “thirty-eight”. This makes option B the best answer. Option A does not have sufficient punctuation to end the extra information. Option C incorrectly places a superfluous comma before the word “or”. Option D incorrectly ends the extra information with a dash which doesn’t match with the comma at the beginning of the extra information.
  2. A. When connecting two independent clauses, it is appropriate to use either a semicolon without one of the FANBOYS or a comma preceding one of the FANBOYS. In this situation, option A correctly connects the two independent clauses with a comma and then “for”. Option B incorrectly uses a semicolon before one of the FANBOYS. Option B is a run on sentence. Option D incorrectly uses a colon.
  3. C. When connecting two independent clauses, it is appropriate to use either a semicolon without one of the FANBOYS or a comma preceding one of the FANBOYS. In this situation, option C correctly connects two independent clauses with a semicolon and no FANBOYS. Option D incorrectly uses a semicolon with a FANBOYS. Options A and B are run-on sentences since they incorrectly connect two independent clauses.
  4. C. In this sentence the word “however” is an interrupter which requires a comma before and after it. This rules out option A. Option B is incorrect because the word “child” needs to be possessive and therefore requires an apostrophe. Option D is incorrect as it uses a comma without a coordinating conjunction to connect two complete sentences. This leaves option C which correctly punctuates the interrupter with a comma after and then connects the independent clause to the clarification with a colon.
  5. A. In this sentence, the phrase “in fact” is an interrupter which needs to be surrounded by commas. Only option A places a comma both before and after this phrase.
  6. B. The phrase “especially since his father’s marriage with Miss Taylor” is extra information. Such phrases must have the same punctuation before and after them. In this case there is a long dash after and so the only correct answer must put a long dash before it. This makes option B correct and all other answers incorrect.
  7. A. This sentence begins with an independent clause and ends with a clarification of that independent clause: an explanation of the contrast between Mrs. Churchill and Jane Fairfax. The appropriate punctuation to connect an independent clause and a clarification is a colon, making A the correct answer.
  8. C. This sentence is made up of two independent clauses which can be connected with a comma and one of the FANBOYS or by a semicolon without one of the FANBOYS. Option A includes a FANBOYS (but) but no comma. Option B includes a semicolon with one of the FANBOYS. Option D has a comma without one of the FANBOYS. Option C correctly uses a comma and “but” (the B in FANBOYS) to connect the two independent clauses.
  9. B. The original sentence here is “I am very glad to hear she is to be so comfortably settled”. Interrupting this sentence are two different interrupters. The first is the word “indeed” and the second is the phrase “my dear”. Both of these must be surrounded by commas, making option B correct and the other options incorrect.
  10. B. This sentence is made up of an independent and dependent clause. In this situation the only appropriate punctuation would be a comma, making option B the best answer. Answer A leaves the second part of the sentence as a fragment, option C fails to put the comma between the clauses. Option D is a run on sentence.

Digital SAT Standard English Conventions Practice Questions: Punctuation

1.  The hour of noon had just struck, and the few visitors still lingering among the curiosities of the great museum were suddenly startled by the sight of one of the attendants running down the broad, central staircase, loudly shouting, “Close the doors! Let no one out! An accident has ____________________ to leave the building.”

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. occurred, while nobody’s
B. occurred, while nobodies
C. occurred, and nobody is
D. occurred, and nobodies

2. She did not answer. She did not even look his way. With a rapid glance into the faces __________________ in one of deep compassion directed toward herself, he repeated his question.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. about him, ending
B. about him; ending
C. about him ending
D. about him ending,

3. With an air of relief Mr. Jewett stepped again into the court and, repelling with hasty gestures the importunities of the small group of men and women who had lacked the courage to follow the more adventurous ______________________ to where the door-man stood on guard over the main entrance.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. ones upstairs—crossed
B. ones upstairs crossed
C. ones upstairs crossed,
D. ones upstairs, crossed

4. They were standing at the foot of the great staircase connecting the two floors. __________________ away on either side, ran the two famous, highly ornamented galleries, with their row of long low arches indicating the five compartments into which they were severally divided.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Above them, stretching
B. Above, them stretching
C. Above them stretching
D. Above them—stretching

5. The Curator offered his arm. The old man made a move to ___________________ himself up with an air of quiet confidence.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. take it then, drew
B. take it then drew
C. take it—then drew
D. take it: then drew

6. She was near ______________________ being a woman of great nerve, she fought her weakness and waited patiently for the next question. It was different, without doubt, from any she had expected.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. collapsing again, however,
B. collapsing again; however,
C. collapsing again: however,
D. collapsing again, however;

7. As he was meditating how he could best convey to her the necessity of detaining her further, he heard a muttered exclamation from the young woman standing near her and, following the direction of her pointing finger, saw that the strange silence which had fallen upon the room had a _______________ had fainted away in her chair.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. cause; Mrs. Taylor,
B. cause: Mrs. Taylor
C. cause, Mrs. Taylor
D. cause Mrs. Taylor,

8. But the detective was not so hasty. With a thousand things in mind, he stopped to peer along the gallery and down into the court before giving himself away to any prying eye. Satisfied that he might make the desired move with impunity, Mr. Gryce was about to turn in the desired direction when, struck by a ______________ again stopped short.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. new fact: he
B. new fact, he,
C. new fact he
D. new fact, he

9. The detective, thus appealed to, hesitated a ____________________ an irrelevance perhaps natural to the occasion, he inquired where this door so conveniently hidden from the general view led to.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. a moment then; with
B. a moment; then, with
C. a moment, then, with
D. a moment then with

10. The detective, working his way back around the pedestal, cast another glance up and down the _________________ into the court. Still no spying eye, save that of the officer opposite.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. gallery and over
B. gallery, and over
C. gallery and, over
D. gallery: and over

11. Silence. Heads moving, eyes peering, excitement visible in every face, but not a word from anybody. Mr. Gryce turned and pointed up at the clock. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_________________ still no word from man or woman.

Which choice completest the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. All looked however
B. All looked: but
C. All looked, or
D. All looked—but

12. He decided upon the northern one, which you will remember was the one holding _________________ __ finding anybody there, no matter whom, would certainly settle the identity of the person responsible for that flying arrow.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. the tapestry; since
B. the tapestry, since,
C. the tapestry since,
D. the tapestry: since,

13. A man was there: man going down—_________________ this man, as he soon saw from his face and uniform, was Correy the attendant.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. no—coming up—
B. no, coming up;
C. no coming up;
D. no, coming up,

14. As he did this, two ____________________ Sweetwater, who had stolen upon the scene, possibly at some intimation from Mr. Gryce, took a step toward them which brought him in alignment with the Englishman, of whose height in comparison with his own he seemed to take careful note; and secondly, the sensitive skin of the foreigner flushed red again as he noticed the Coroner’s sarcastic smile, and heard his dry remark.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. things happened; first
B. things happened; first,
C. things happened: first,
D. things happened: first

15. But nowhere in the great city of which we write on this night of May 23, 1913, was there to be found a scene of greater ______________________ the court and galleries of its famous museum.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. contradictions: than in
B. contradictions than, in
C. contradictions than in
D. contradictions than in,

16. Gems of antique art, casts in which genius had stored its soul and caused to live before us the story of the _________________ from desert sands, friezes from the Parthenon and bas-reliefs from Nineveh and Heliopolis, filled every corner, commanding the eye to satisfy itself in forms of deathless grace or superhuman power.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. ancients pillars
B. ancients, pillars
C. ancients pillars,
D. ancients: pillars

17. The Inspector, finding himself very much disturbed by the doubt just mentioned, felt inclined to _________________ any perceptible advancement had been made by this freak business of his canny subordinate.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. question: whether
B. question whether,
C. question; whether
D. question whether

18. In saying this, Mr. Gryce studiously avoided the _____________________ the Inspector in his turn looked up, then down—anywhere but in the detective’s direction.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Inspectors’ eye;
B. Inspector’s eye;
C. Inspector’s eye:
D. Inspectors’ eye,

19. For the next three days the impatience of the public met with nothing but disappointment. The police were reticent—more reticent far than __________________________ to add to the facts already published, had little but conjectures to offer.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. usual—and the papers, powerless
B. usual, and the papers, powerless
C. usual—and the papers—powerless
D. usual, and the papers—powerless

20. The other—Carleton Roberts, his bosom friend, and the museum’s chief director—is of a different _____________ no less striking to the eye.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. type: but
B. type, nor
C. type, but
D. type, for

  1. C. “An accident has occurred” is an independent clause. “Nobody is to leave the building” is also an independent clause. Two independent clauses can be connected with a comma and one of the FANBOYS. “While” is not one of the FANBOYS, so A and B are incorrect. “Nobodies” is the plural form of “nobody” so D is incorrect. Answer C is correct because it correctly uses comma FANBOYS and it has the correct format of the word “nobody”.
  2. A. The phrase “ending in one of deep compassion directed toward herself” is extra information in the sentence that is not crucial to the structure of the sentence. Such phrases should be surrounded by commas, dashes, or parentheses. Since there is a comma after the word “herself” there must therefore also be a comma before the word “ending” to correctly bracket the phrase with commas. This makes A the best answer and the other answers incorrect.
  3. D. The phrase starting with the word “repelling” and ending with the word “upstairs” is extra information in the sentence that is not crucial to the structure of the sentence. Such phrases should be surrounded by commas, dashes, or parentheses. Since there is a comma before the word “repelling” there must therefore also be a comma after the word “upstairs” to correctly bracket the phrase with commas. This makes option D the best answer and the other options incorrect.
  4. A. The phrase starting with the word “stretching” and ending with the word “side” is extra information in the sentence that is not crucial to the structure of the sentence. Such phrases should be surrounded by commas, dashes, or parentheses. Since there is a comma after the word “side” there must therefore also be a comma before the word “stretching” to correctly bracket the phrase with commas. This makes option A the best answer and the other options incorrect.
  5. C. The first clause in the second sentence is an independent clause. The second clause is dependent. To connect an independent and dependent clause you should use a comma, however, this is not an option. A dash can replace a comma, giving a heavier pause. This makes answer C the best answer. Answer A puts a comma in the wrong place, answer B does not give punctuation where a pause is needed, answer D is incorrect as the second part of the sentence is not clarifying or explaining the first part.
  6. B. In this situation, the word “however” logically belongs with the second independent clause. The semicolon connecting the two independent clauses, therefore, must go after the word “again”. The word “however” is then an introductory word to the second independent clause, making it logical to place a comma thereafter. This makes option B correct and the other options incorrect.
  7. B. Options C and D are both run on sentences in which two independent clauses are incorrectly connected with a comma. The second clause is clarifying or explaining something from the first clause, namely, the reason the silence has fallen on the room. This makes a colon the best possible answer since a colon connects an independent clause to a clarification or explanation of that clause.
  8. D. The phrase “struck by a new fact” is extra information in the sentence that is not crucial to the structure of the sentence. Such phrases should be surrounded by commas, dashes, or parentheses. Since there is a comma after the word “when” there must therefore also be a comma before the word “again” to correctly bracket the phrase with commas. This makes D the best answer and the other answers incorrect.
  9. B. This sentence is really made up of two sentences. The first one ends after the word “moment”. The second sentence is made up of a dependent clause connected to an independent clause with the comma after the word “occasion”. To connect two sentences, we need to put a period or a semicolon between them. This makes option B the best answer.
  10. A. In this portion of the sentence no clauses are ending or beginning, no extra information exists, and no lists are being enumerated. In other words, there is no reason to put any sort of punctuation. This makes answer A the best option. Answer B would be correct only if the “and” were connecting two independent clauses.
  11. D. In this sentence, there is a contrast between all looking, and no one saying anything. This makes answers A and C incorrect. In addition, the second part of the sentence is not clarifying or explaining the first part, meaning that option B is incorrect. This just leaves answer D which uses the versatile dash to connect two clauses.
  12. A. The first part of this passage is a sentence made up of a dependent clause connected to an independent clause with a comma after the word “one”. The second part of the passage is an independent clause interrupted by the extra information “no matter whom”. To connect these two complete sentences, we need to use a semicolon. This makes option A correct and the other options incorrect.
  13. B. The first part of this passage is a sentence made up of an independent clause with a colon and then clarifying information ending after the word “up.” The second part of the passage is an independent clause interrupted by the extra information “as he soon saw from his face and uniform.” In order to connect these two sentences, we need to use a semicolon. This eliminates option D. The confusion of having two dashes around essential information eliminates option A. The need for a pause after “no” leads us to B as the best answer.
  14. C. A colon goes after an independent clause and before a clarification or explanation of that independent clause. A comma goes after an introductory word or phrase like “first”. This makes answer option C the best choice.
  15. C. In this portion of the sentence no clauses are ending or beginning, no extra information exists, and no lists are being enumerated. In other words, there is no reason to put any sort of punctuation.
  16. B. This sentence starts with a list. Among the items in the list are “casts in which genius had stored its soul and caused to live before us the story of the ancients” and “pillars from desert sands”. These two items must be separated with a comma, making option B the correct answer.
  17. D. In this portion of the sentence no clauses are ending or beginning, no extra information exists, and no lists are being enumerated. In other words, there is no reason to put any sort of punctuation.
  18. B. In this sentence there is a single inspector who has possession over his eye. This means that the apostrophe must go before the “s”, making options A and D incorrect. In addition, we are connecting two independent clauses, making the semicolon the best option.
  19. A. “More reticent far than usual” is extra information in the sentence. Since it begins with a dash before the word “more” we must end it with a dash after the word “usual”. The phrase “powerless to add to the facts already published” is also extra information. Since it ends with a comma after the word “published” we must start it with a comma before the word “powerless”. This makes option A the correct answer.
  20. C. The first clause of the sentence says that Carleton Roberts is a different type, this contrasts with him being “no less striking”. The contrasting word “but” therefore fits the author’s meaning. A comma to connect the independent clause to a dependent one would also be appropriate, making option C the best answer.

All passages are adapted or taken from The Mystery of the Hasty Arrow by Anna Katharine Green. You can read who whole exciting mystery novel about a murder in a museum for free online:

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/17763/pg17763-images.html

Digital SAT Writing Transitions Practice Questions #2

1. He felt convinced, in his own mind, that he had been attacked by some fatal disease. When he arrived in London, ___________ he was relieved to find that the specialists whom he consulted, while they mostly gave him his money’s worth of polite interest, did not display any anxiety as to his condition.

Which choice competes the text with the most logical translation?
A. after a bit,
B. however,
C. on the other hand,
D. in addition

2. I want to talk to you about the child, little Juliet,” she said, a day or two later. She is not mine ________________  beyond that her parentage must remain a secret, even from you. Yet this I may say: she is the child of a friend of mine” A. consequently, and
B. however, but
C. of course, but
D. also, and

3. Besides, there was no getting over the fact that she was no relation whatever, and was, in addition, a considerable drain on the family resources, all of which Lady Byrne felt entirely equal to disbursing alone and unassisted. ___________ her presence led to disagreements between Sir Arthur and his wife.

A. Eventually,
B. Nonetheless,
C. In contrast,
D. Regardless,

4. The room in which she sat was so dark, so gloomy, so bare and cheerless, that Juliet began to wonder whether she would not have been wiser not to have come. This was not a place, _________ which fond parents would choose for a long-deferred meeting with their child, after years of separation.

A. therefore,
B. however,
C. fortunately,
D. surely,

5. He is one of the most respectable, the most domesticated of peers. Not very cheerful company, _____________ no one in the world can justly say a word against him in any way. He has had a sad time lately; his wife and only child died within a month of each other, only two or three years ago. A. maybe, and
B. for
C. though, so
D. perhaps, but

6. From the quickness with which Lord Ashiel answered her, he might have been sitting waiting at the end of the wire, and he expressed great pleasure at her acceptance of his invitation. ________ she could hear from the tone of his voice that his gratification was no mere empty form.

A. While,
B. Conversely,
C. Indeed,
D. Nevertheless,

7. No one was more conscious than himself that he was far from being infallible; _______ his admirers appeared to him to be willfully blind to that elementary truth; so that when he failed to bring a case to a successful issue people were apt to show an amount of disappointment that he, for his part, thought very unreasonable.

A. subsequently,
B. as has been noted,
C. for instance,
D. in fact,

8. In spite of her extremely hazy ideas on the subject of other people’s property, there was, he admitted, something attractive about her. __________ he was very glad she had gone.

A. Still,
B. As a result,
C. Naturally,
D. Moreover,

9. For a long while he sat on, huddled in the corner of an arm-chair, his elbows on the arm, his chin resting on his hand, and in his eyes the look of one who wrestles with obscure and complicated problems of mental arithmetic. ________________ but without relaxing his expression of concentrated effort, he stretched out long artistic fingers to a box on the table, took from it a chocolate, and transferred it mechanically to his mouth.

A. From time to time,
B. In brief,
C. In conclusion,
D. On the other hand,

10. Juliet did not really enjoy grouse-driving, but she tried to appear as if she did, since everyone else seemed to, and at all events there were intervals between drives when she could be happy in the glory of the hills and the wild free air of the moors. ____________she knelt in her corner of the butt beside her host’s big retriever, and waited. There was a little bunch of heather growing level with her nose, and she bent forward silently and sniffed at it. But the honey-sweet scent was drowned for the moment by the smell of gunpowder and dog.

A. For example,
B. Meanwhile,
C. Accordingly,
D. Because,

  1. B. In the first sentence, we learn that the man believes himself to be fatally ill. In the next sentence, though we learn that the doctors are not worried about him at all. These two ideas are in contrast to one another, making “however,” the best option.
  2. C. “She is not mine” is an independent clause, as is “beyond that her parentage must remain a secret”. To connect these two independent clauses, we need a comma and one of the FANBOYS like “but” or “and”. In this situation the two independent clauses are contrasting with one another, making “but” a better option than “and”. Since “but” is a contrasting word, we do not need a second contrasting word like “however”.
  3. A. In the first part of the passage, we learn that the woman is not a relative and is a financial drain of the family. We also learn that Lady Byrne wants to control the finances without input from the woman. It only makes sense, then, that her presence would “eventually” cause disagreements between Sir Arthur and Lady Byrne.
  4. D. Juliet, hoping for a meeting with her parents, looks at the dark and gloomy room and thinks that “surely” no parents would plan a reunion in such a place. Options A, B, and C do not fit the authors intended meaning.
  5. D. The first part of the sentence reveals that the man is not very cheerful company (a negative statement). The second part of the sentence reveals that no one can say anything bad about him (a positive statement). These two statements contrast, making “but” the ideal one of the FANBOYS to pair with the comma in connecting the two independent clauses.
  6. C. “Indeed” could also mean “in addition.” The author here is trying to add more information to the previous statement about Lord Ashiel’s “great pleasure at her acceptance”, making “indeed” the best option.
  7. D. Since it has not previously been stated that his admirers were blind to the truth, answer B is incorrect. The second sentence is not an example of the first, so answer C is incorrect. The first sentence is not caused by the first, so answer A is incorrect. Option D is the best answer.
  8. A. The author is setting up a contrast. Even though he finds her attractive, he is glad she is gone. Only answer A shows this contrast.
  9. A.  The second sentence is not summing up the first, making choices B and C incorrect. The second sentence is not contrasting with the first sentence, making choice D incorrect. Only answer option A correctly describes the actions of the man.
  10. B.  Juliet does not enjoy the activity at hand, but she is there because she enjoys “the glory of the hills and wild free air”. At the time described in the passage “meanwhile” she is not enjoying the hills and air, she is crouched in the corner with a dog, waiting. This makes answer option B the best. We need a description of time, which A, C, and D are not.

All passages are exerts or adaptations from The Ashiel Mystery: A Detective Story, by Mrs. Charles Bryce. If you’d like to read the story in it’s entirety, it is available on Project Gutenberg:

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/9746/pg9746-images.html

Digital SAT Practice: Writing/Verb Choice Questions

1. The officer nodded, took the boy by the arm, and in a trice ___________ with him into the adjoining store.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. have disappeared
B. disappears
C. disappeared
D. disappear

2. ________ the white light burn on, Mr. Gryce, by a characteristic effort, shifted his attention to the walls, covered, as I have said, with tapestries and curios.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. Letting
B. Let
C. Had let
D. Have let

3. And sure enough, in another instant this strange being, losing all semblance to his former self, entered upon a series of pantomimic actions which to the two men who watched him seemed both to explain and illustrate the crime which _________________________ there.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. had just been enacted
B. have just been enacted
C. were just enacted
D. had just enacted

4. The butler’s lips opened and a string of strange gutturals poured forth, while with his one disengaged hand (for the other was held to his side by Styles) he _________ his ears and his lips, and violently shook his head.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. touches
B. was touching
C. touched
D. had touched

5. This absence of the usual means of eliciting knowledge from the surrounding people, adds to, rather than detracts from, the interest which Mr. Gryce  feels in the case, and a little before midnight the army of reporters, medical men, officials, and such others as had followed in the coroner’s wake, _______ out of the front door and leave him again, for a few hours at least, master of the situation.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. files
B. file
C. filing
D. filed

6. The hour was late, and only certain portions of the city showed any real activity. Into one of these thoroughfares they presently came, and before the darkened window of one of the lesser shops ________, while Jake pointed out the two stuffed frogs engaged with miniature swords in mortal combat at which he had been looking when the lady came up and spoke to him.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. paused,
B. pausing,
C. pause,
D. pauses,

7. The officer went out, and Mr. Gryce sat for a few moments communing with himself, during which he took out a little package from his pocket, and __________ out on his desk the five little spangles it contained, regarded them intently.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. emptied
B. empties
C. had emptied
D. emptying

8. Sweetwater, to whom the song of the sirens would have sounded less sweet, listened with delight and ______________ with a frank smile.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. respond
B. had responded
C. responds
D responded

9. This time he approached with considerable feebleness, passed slowly into the study, ­­­­­­­­­­­______________ to the table, and reached out his hands as if to lift something which he expected to find there.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. advances
B. advanced
C. have advanced
D. advance

10. But her ears, and attention, _______________toward two girls chatting on a bench near her as freely as if they were quite alone on the lawn.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. was turned
B. are turned
C. were turned
D. is turned

11. Was it that courage comes with despair? Or was he too absorbed in his own misery to note the shadow it cast about him? His brooding brow and vacant eye _______ of a mind withdrawn from present surroundings.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. speaks
B. speak
C. spoke
D. spoken

12. So I wrote to my brother, Felix Cadwalader, or, rather, Felix Adams, as he preferred to be called in later years for family reasons entirely disconnected with the matter of his sudden demise, and, ________ him I had become interested in a young girl of good family and some wealth, asked him to settle upon me a certain sum which would enable me to marry her with some feeling of self-respect.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. told
B. tells
C. telling
D. had told

13. Eva, to whom I had said little of this brother, certainly nothing which would lead her to anticipate ___________ either so handsome a man or one of such mental poise and imposing character, looked frightened and a trifle awe-struck.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. seeing
B. to see
C. having seen
D. saw

14. Your stay in Mr. Adams’s house was quite productive, ma’am. Did you prolong it after the departure of this old man?” “No, sir, I _____________my fill of the mysterious, and left immediately after him.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. had had
B. have had
C. was having
D. could have

15. Mr. Gryce, with something of the instinct and much of the deftness of a housewife, proceeded to pull up a couple of rugs from the parlor floor and ­­_________ them over these openings.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. strung
B. string
C. had strung
D. strings

16. Miss Butterworth drew a long breath, ________ Mr. Gryce with some curiosity, and then triumphantly exclaimed, “Can you read the meaning of all that? I think I can.”

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. eyes
B. had eyed
C. eying
D. eyed

17. Mr. Gryce, whose eye is travelling over the wall, reaches over her shoulder to one of the dozen pictures hanging at intervals from the bottom to the top of the staircase, and pulling it away from the wall, on which it hangs decidedly askew, _________ a round opening through which pours a ray of blue light which can only proceed from the vault of the adjoining study.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. revealed
B. revealing
C. reveals
D. has revealed

18. The study—that most remarkable of rooms—________ a secret which has not been imparted to you; a very peculiar one, madam, which was revealed to me in a rather startling manner.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?

A. did contain
B. contains
C. is containing
D. contain

19. Young Sweetwater, who was now all nerve, enthusiasm, and hope, ______________.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. bow
B. bowed
C. bowing
D. have bowed

20. The two gentlemen, on the contrary, with an air of total indifference to her proximity, continued their walk until they reached the end of the piazza, and then __________ and proceeded mechanically to retrace their steps.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. turned
B. turning
C. turn
D. turns

21. The principal conquests of the Romans were achieved under the republic; and the emperors, for the most part, _________ satisfied with preserving those dominions which had been acquired by the policy of the senate, the active emulations of the consuls, and the martial enthusiasm of the people.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. were
B. was
C. are
D. is

22. The praises of Alexander, transmitted by a succession of poets and historians, __________ a dangerous emulation in the mind of Trajan. Like him, the Roman emperor undertook an expedition against the nations of the East; but he lamented with a sigh, that his advanced age scarcely left him any hopes of equaling the renown of the son of Philip.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. kindles
B. was kindled
C. were kindled
D. kindle

23. That public virtue, which among the ancients was denominated patriotism,  ______________ from a strong sense of our own interest in the preservation and prosperity of the free government of which we are members.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. was derived
B. is derived
C. are derived
D. can be derived

24. We have attempted to explain the spirit which moderated, and the strength which supported, the power of Hadrian and the Antonines. We shall now endeavor, with clearness and precision, _____________the provinces once united under their sway, but, at present, divided into so many independent and hostile states.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. describing
B. having described
C. to describe
D. in describing

25. The policy of the emperors and the senate, as far as it concerned religion, was happily seconded by the reflections of the enlightened, and by the habits of the superstitious, part of their subjects. The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world_______________by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful. And thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgence, but even religious concord.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. were all considered
B. are all considering
C. is considered
D. was considered

26. All these cities were connected with each other, and with the capital, by the public highways, which, issuing from the Forum of Rome,___________ Italy, pervaded the provinces, and were terminated only by the frontiers of the empire.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. traversed
B. traversing
C. traverses
D. traverse

27. The obvious definition of a monarchy seems to be that of a state, in which a single person, by whatsoever name he may be distinguished,_______entrusted with the execution of the laws, the management of the revenue, and the command of the army.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. was

28. The reformation of the senate was one of the first steps in which Augustus laid aside the tyrant, and professed himself the father of his country. He was elected censor, and, in concert with his faithful Agrippa, he examined the list of the senators, expelled a few members whose vices or whose obstinacy required a public example, persuaded near two hundred to prevent the shame of an expulsion by a voluntary retreat, _________ the qualification of a senator to about ten thousand pounds, created a sufficient number of patrician families, and accepted for himself the honorable title of Prince of the Senate.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. had raised
B. was raising
C. raises
D. raised

29. By declaring themselves the protectors of the people, Marius and Caesar______________the constitution of their country. But as soon as the senate had been humbled and disarmed, such an assembly, consisting of five or six hundred persons, was found a much more tractable and useful instrument of dominion.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. subvert
B. subverted
C. have subverted
D. subverts

30.There appears, indeed, one memorable occasion, in which the senate, after seventy years of patience, _______ an ineffectual attempt to re-assume its long-forgotten rights.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?
A. made
B. makes
C. make
D. had made

  1. C. In the sentence, the officer does three things. He nods, takes the boys arm, and disappears. In the sentence the first two actions are in the past tense “nodded, took”. In order to maintain parallel structure, the third verb should also be in the past tense. This makes option C the best answer. Options B and D are in the present, and option A is the plural present perfect, not the singular simple past.
  2. A. In English we can use the present participle or gerund (word ending in ing) to indicate that something is currently happening at the point in time being discussed. In this case, Mr. Gryce is letting the light burn while in the past he shifted attention to the walls. The other answers do not appropriately choose a tense that allows the reader to understand this.
  3. A. Answer options C and D are incorrect because they say that the crime enacted something instead of the crime being enacted itself. Option B is incorrect because it uses the plural “have” to describe the singular “crime”. Answer option A is therefore the best choice because it uses the singular “had” and correctly explains that it is the crime that was enacted.
  4. C. In this sentence, the butler is doing three things. His lips open, he touches his ears and lips, and he shakes his head. All three of these actions must be in the same tense. This makes option C correct as it matches “touched” to “opened” and “shook”.
  5. A. Be careful in identifying the subject of your verb in such lengthy sentences. Who is it who is filing out the front door? It isn’t Mr. Gryce. Nor is it the reporters, medical men, officials etc. (the subject of your verb will never be in a prepositional phrase).  Rather, the subject of the verb is “army”. Army is a singular noun, so you much choose the singular “files”. In addition, the passage is in present tense, making option D incorrect.
  6. A.  Since the passage is in the past tense and “paused” is in the past tense, answer A is the only correct answer.
  7. D. While the passage is in the past tense, at that point in the past, Mr. Gryce is presently “emptying” the package out onto his desk. One way to be clued into this is to put the answers into the context of the last part of the passage “regarded them intently.” Which only makes sense when answer D is selected. If answer A is selected the sentence is awkward.
  8. D. Sweetwater is doing two things—match your answer to “listened” and the correct answer “responded” becomes obvious.
  9. B. The man did four things: approached, passed, advanced, and reached. Only answer option B correctly matches “advanced” with the others.
  10. C. Since the subject “ears” is plural, options A and D are incorrect as they have singular verbs “was” and “is”. Since the sentence is in the past tense, the verb “were” is the most appropriate answer.
  11. C. This passage is in the simple past, so our verb must be “spoke”. Options A and B are in the present, and option D is the past participle which would go with a helping verb to create the past perfect instead of building the simple past.
  12. C. Even though this passage is in the past tense, this particular sentence is put into the past with the words “had become”. What the author is saying is that at a point in the past, the author of the letter was currently “telling” his brother that he (the writer) had become interested. The only answer that fits this complicated idea is answer option C.
  13. A. Since Eva is anticipating something, that something will be happening in the future. This means that we must use the gerund form—that is—the verb with “ing” at the end. This makes option A the best answer and the other options incorrect.
  14. A. In the past, the lady had already had her fill of the mysterious. She “had had” it. While this seems intuitively wrong, it is the correct way to express that in the past someone already had something. Option B would be used if the subject were plural instead of a singular person.
  15. B. Mr. Gryce does two things the first is to “pull” and the second, therefore must be to “string” so that the tenses of the verbs match.
  16. D. Miss Butterworth “drew”, “eyed”, and “exclaimed”. In order for her three actions to be in parallel structure (all in the simple past), we must pick option D.
  17. C. Since this passage is describing Mr. Gryce’s actions in the present tense, the best option is option C, the third person present singular. Options A and D are forms of the past tense and option B is the gerund form.
  18. B. The subject of this verb is singular: the study. This make option be the only correct answer since it is the third person singular conjugation of the verb “contain”.
  19. B. The subject of the verb is “Young Sweetwater”. When you put the subject directly in front of the answers it becomes clear that only option B is the right verb. Answers A and D are both plural while the subject is singular. Option C is the gerund form which is not appropriate in this context.
  20. A. Make sure that your answer is parallel in form to the second verb “proceeded”. In this case, that would mean choosing answer option A: turned.  The other options are not parallel.
  21. A. The subject of the verb in this passage is “the emperors”. Since the subject is plural and we are in the past tense, we need a plural past tense verb. The only answer that offers that is option A. Option B is singular past, option C is plural present, and option D is singular present.
  22. C. The subject of this verb is “praises”. Keep in mind that the subject cannot be in a prepositional phrase (of Alexander) or in extra information (transmitted… historians). In addition, we can see in the rest of the passage that we are in the past tense. This means that we need a plural past tense verb. Option A is third person singular present. Option B is singular past progressive. Option D is simple present. This leaves option C “were kindled”. “Were” is plural and “kindled” is in the past making this a plural past progressive verb.
  23. B. The subject of this very is the “virtue” since the virtue is what is derived from the strong sense of our own interest. The passage is in the present tense as evidenced by the phrase “are members” which means A and D are incorrect as they are in the past and the future respectively. Answer option C is incorrect as “are” is plural and “virtue” is singular. Since we need an answer in the present tense, singular, option B is the only correct answer.
  24. C. In this sense the primary verb (what “we” are doing) is “endeavor”. When a verb has already been used with the subject in English a second verb describing the primary action is always put in the infinitive form (a verb with “to” in front of it). In this case that means we are saying that we endeavor to describe the provinces. The other answers all have present participle forms (verbs ending in “ing”) which would begin extra information in this context.
  25. A. The subject of this verb is the word “modes” since it’s the modes of worship that are being considered. Since this is in the past tense and the subject is plural, answer option A is the only one that is correct as “were” is past tense and plural. B is wrong because “are” is present tense plural. C is wrong because “is” is present tense singular. D is wrong as “was” is past tense singular.
  26. A. In this case the subject of the very is the word “highways” since it is in the past tense “traversed” is the only correct answer.
  27. C. In this case it is the person who “is” entrusted. We can’t was a person “are” or “were” entrusted, making A and B wrong and since this is in the present tense “was” is also incorrect.
  28. D. Look at the list of things Augustus is doing. He was “elected” and “examined”, “expelled”, and “persuaded”. In order to maintain parallel structure we must therefor have the other verb in the list match and be in the simple past tense with an “ed” ending
  29. B. Options A, C, and D are all different forms of the present tense while the passage itself is in the past. This makes option B the best option.
  30. A. This must be in the past tense given that we are speaking of some attempt that was, at some point made. The only simple past tense answer is answer option A.


All passages have been adapted from public domain resources on Project Gutenberg. Read more on project Gutenberg:

https://www.gutenberg.org


Yale will again require standardized test scores

Yale just announced that they will again require test scores as part of the college application. In addition to SAT or ACT scores, students can now submit Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate results. Yale made this shift because it will improve their ability to predict which students are most likely to succeed at Yale:

“Yale’s research from before and after the pandemic has consistently demonstrated that, among all application components, test scores are the single greatest predictor of a student’s future Yale grades. This is true even after controlling for family income and other demographic variables, and it is true for subject-based exams such as AP and IB, in addition to the ACT and SAT.”

In addition, Yale found that including standardized test scores would serve to increase the diversity of its class:

“Our researchers and readers found that when admissions officers reviewed applications with no scores, they placed greater weight on other parts of the application. But this shift frequently worked to the disadvantage of applicants from lower socio-economic backgrounds.” Source: https://admissions.yale.edu/test-flexible

Students looking to apply to highly selective schools would be well-served by showing their readiness for college level work by doing their best on the SAT or ACT.

Boston College

Despite the name, Boston College is not actually in Boston. When you step off the train at the very last stop of the Boston local rail system, you find yourself across the street from BC which is is surrounded by the sleepy town of Chestnut Hill, a far-flung suburb of Boston. While students still have access to all the opportunities of the city via a 30 minute transit ride, they also get to enjoy the relatively calm community that envelops Boston College. Because the college is further away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it has been better able to develop and maintain a distinct campus culture, rooted in the Jesuit tradition, and relevant to the students of today. This blend of city and small town appeals to many people and is one of the many reasons why BC is so popular.

Academics

Another reason BC is so highly sought after is the Jesuit style of education that is its bread and butter. This educational focus has led the college to its status as a tier one research institute even while class sizes are kept small; an average class has around 20 students. BC has around 9400 undergrad students and a large population of graduate students. All students are required to complete core education credits which they can select from a large pool of options and, while they are required to enter into a specific school, they can hold off declaring a major within that school until the end of their sophomore year. BC does a good job of ensuring that students get through their required course work with 89% of students graduating in 4 years.

At Boston College you can expect many of the same educational opportunities that many colleges have including research, study abroad, and internships which all work together to help students graduate with the connections they need to secure employment.

Campus Life

Freshman year at Boston College is a bit different than some might expect. Despite the historic and charming campus being outside of Boston, BC struggles with having enough space to house all the students who choose to live on campus. Consequently, the freshman class is split with forty percent living on a secondary campus a few miles away. A continuous bus services runs during most of the day to allow for ease of access in both directions. Despite the split, students report good experiences on both campuses, and campus spirit is strong, but students should know that they might not end up living “on campus” their freshman year. The secondary campus is not part of the tour.

The culture at BC is strengthened by faith. Students at BC mostly share a Roman Catholic heritage with 70% claiming a Catholic background and 30% active in their Catholic faith. Students who are not Catholic or even Christian, however, report that they feel accepted and that they appreciate the educational focus that comes with being on a Jesuit campus.

The overall community culture is also strengthened by the complete lack of social Greek life. This forces students to make a wide range of friends across campus. Students who are looking for a traditional Greek experience should consider other colleges.

Admission

Boston College, like most other schools, boasts a “holistic admissions process”. They are currently test optional for the high school class of 2023, but they have not made decisions beyond that. Admissions representatives stress that students who score in the 33+ range on the ACT (or the equivalent SAT) should absolutely submit their test scores. BC is a fairly selective college, admitting only about one quarter of applicants. As with most schools that have early decision, applying early decision improves a student’s chance at acceptance and, since BC meets 100% of demonstrated need, can be a good choice. As always, students must be completely sure that BC is their number one choice before applying early decision.

If you have any questions about college admissions or about my trip to BC please let me know! I am always happy to help.

Michal Strawn

Co-Op? Internship? Work Study? What’s the Difference?

Many students plan on working in some capacity while they attend college. There are a number of different ways to make this work out: work study, co-ops, internships, off campus jobs. What is the benefit to working while in college, and what are the differences between all these different opportunities? Broadly, a co-op or internship is part of the student’s learning experience. It will be in their chosen field and will be part of their education. This is different from off campus or work study jobs which are ways that students can make money to help support themselves while in college. Let’s take a closer look at all four.

Off Campus Jobs:

These are the simplest to understand. An off-campus job is just that: a job. The employer is not affiliated with the college or university and the work does not count as part of the student’s education. This would be a normal full or part time job that a student finds for themselves to supplement their income. Many college students work in retail or in food service as well as in other industries. These jobs can have good pay rates, but because they are unaffiliated with the college or university, however, it can be difficult to find one that will work around the often hectic schedule of a student.


Work Study and On Campus Jobs:

Work study is a type of on campus job. Students can work in many capacities for the university at a set pay rate. The difference between work study and a regular on-campus job is simply where the funding comes from to pay the student. Work study funds are part of a student’s financial aid package and come from governmental institutions whereas a regular on campus job would see the student paid from a department’s budget or other pool of money on campus. These jobs will essentially look the same to the student- they just be careful if they aren’t approved for work study not to apply for jobs that are advertised as work study: there might not be funds to pay them!

On campus and work study jobs can be very varied. They might include working as a teaching assistant, manning a front desk, making copies, selling concessions, taking tickets at sporting events, helping the grounds crew, and a myriad of other opportunities. In the opinion of this author, the best jobs are the ones that are simple enough that a student can complete homework at work (working a desk), or in an area that can help a student build connections (working for a professor) but they all pay, so if a student needs supplemental income, any will do in a pinch.

Internships:

Internships are generally off-campus “jobs” that are set up in conjunction with the college or university in order to help the student get real life work experience. Many (if not most) internships are unpaid, so students who need financial support should ensure that they are working at paid internships prior to starting. The primary goal of an internship is educational, not financial. An internship is a part time job in addition to a regular class load and is often actually part of a class. If a student is interested in an internship he or she should talk to a professor or career services about finding one. Internships can be a good way to get a foot in the door with a possible future employer.

Co-ops:

A co-op is also a learning opportunity. Unlike internships, however, co-ops take the place of classes on campus for anywhere from a summer to a semester to a full year. Co-ops are full time work and as such should be paid opportunities. Different colleges may handle co-ops differently. Make sure you ask about tuition policies while in a co-op: some colleges will waive tuition for a co-op while others might not! Co-ops are great opportunities for hands on learning and financial support, however, because they take the places of classes, students need to make sure that a co-op will work with their graduation timeline. Academic advisors are great and assisting with such questions!

Regardless of which option they pick, students should plan to work in some capacity in college. Upon graduation, students who will be applying for jobs will find that any kind of work experience on their resume will give them an advantage of students who have no work experience at all.

If you have any questions please get in touch! We’re happy to help you better understand college working options.

Michal Strawn








Visiting Boston University

Located in Boston Massachusetts, just a few subway stops from the historic North End, and across the river from MIT, Boston University is well positioned for an involved urban experience. Boston University is a large, private, teaching and research university. Admission to BU is highly sought after by students from all over the nation, and application is simple with the common app, so their admission rate hovers around 20%.


Academics:

Boston University does its best to have a flexible approach to academics. Students who apply undecided into one of BU’s ten schools will have two years to declare a major. BU focuses on hands on learning, with 40% of their student body studying abroad at some point and many more students taking part in internships and completing research during their time at BU. BU has a program which they describe as “our take on the liberal arts” in which students can pick from over 1000 classes to build what the university sees as six life skills. Outside of those classes and classes for their major, students are free to fill their electives however they choose.

BU does a decent job of getting students to graduation with 80-85% of students completing their degree in four years. BU has a 10:1 student to faculty ration and their average class size is about 27 students.

Campus Life:

Like most city colleges, BU lacks the charm of the traditional green quad and wide open spaces. It is a fairly compact campus that often appears to be just part of the neighborhood around it. This would appeal to students who want to live in a major city and still be on a college campus. The campus has a mix of historic and modern buildings which makes for an interesting campus feel. Students are required to live on campus for only their freshman year and many take the opportunity to move into the surrounding neighborhoods with friends once their first year is over.  There is a decent amount of Greek Life on campus with 20% of students taking part in Fraternities and Sororities, but students say there are plenty of social opportunities outside of the Greek system.

Admission:

Applying to BU is fairly simple because BU uses the common app. While there are later deadlines for regular admission, admissions counselors at BU stress that students should have their applications done by December 1st for merit scholarship consideration. BU is test optional for at least one more year, so if you feel that your test scores do not reflect you, you can apply without them. In addition, BU will superscore any tests that you do submit. The best piece of advice given by the admissions officers is this “be specific when answering the essay question ‘why BU’”. Take your time on that supplemental essay. Don’t give a generic answer, don’t apply just for the relative prestige BU can offer. Have a good and specific reason why you want to be at BU in the fall.

Let us know if we can help you with that essay or with any part of your college application process- good luck!

Michal Strawn

I Got into Multiple Colleges: Now What?

It is that time of year again. College admission decisions are flying in and students are trying to figure out where they’ll be moving in the fall. Many students find themselves with several acceptances and struggle to make that final, crucial, decision. Even students who got into their dream college should sit down and think through their options prior to saying “yes”. We’ve compiled a list of some things for students to consider as they ponder their choices.

  1. Wait for financial aid packets:
    When students find out they’ve been accepted to the top school on their application list, the temptation is often to confirm attendance as quickly as possible. This is generally a poor decision. Students have until May 1st to respond and they should be patient and wait until they’ve heard from all their applicant schools and received financial aid info before committing to any one institution. It’s always a bad idea to buy something without looking at the price tag. Comparing the final out-of-pocket price and the amount of debt that students will incur for each college is a vital part of the decision process. Students should also remember that loans are real money. Just because you don’t have to pay right this minute, doesn’t mean that that particular school is a good deal! Financial aid awards can be drastically different at different institutions, so crunch the numbers.
  2. Consider plans after college:
    Students often see college as the end goal. They’ve been working toward college for so long that they tend to forget that college is just a stepping stone to a career. Many of those careers require additional schooling in the form of graduate programs. When selecting a college students should consider how the colleges may set them up for success in grad school or in a career. Financials are especially important for a student who is looking at an additional few years of schooling after college. If a student hopes to attend law school or med school, they should be careful not to deplete any cash resources they have just to get through undergrad. In addition, students might look for the school that has the best track record for helping its graduates gain admission into the grad program they are hoping to complete.
  3. Weigh program strengths and weaknesses:
    Students often choose their campus based on gut feeling or on a ranking list. The higher rank on the national list must be the best choice, right? Not always. The same college might be great for one student and terrible for another. Students need to consider which school will give them the best education. After all, that’s the reason they’re paying for college. While a school might be high up on a national ranking list, that doesn’t mean all of their majors are high ranking in and of themselves. Every school has programs that are stronger and others that are weaker. Consider program strength, not just overall college ranking. A school might be highly nationally ranked because they have world-class humanities programs which dominates the school, but if a student is studying chemistry, the humanities department is rather irrelevant.
  4. Imagine life on campus:
    This is number four for a reason. It’s the last thing that students should consider, but it should be considered nonetheless. Occasionally a college just isn’t right for a student. Students should be careful not to make the decision based on any minor issues: every college will have one or two minor issues. However, large issues that would lead a student to being uncomfortable or miserable for four years should eliminate that college from contention. Maybe they applied to the local large university as a backup, when really they would feel lost on the giant campus. Maybe they applied to a foreign school for fun when they can’t see themselves moving overseas. These are important considerations beyond just “the campus isn’t as pretty as I want” and should be taken seriously.

While there are other factors to consider, these big four will set you up to make the best decision you can. If you’re still struggling, ask for help from parents, or a college counselor. If you’d like to chat with one of our counselors about your options, we’d be happy to help!

Happy College Decision Season!

Michal Strawn