The
most difficult school year of everyone’s high school career is junior
year. That is the year colleges look at the most, judging you by your cumulative GPA and your scores on the ACT or SAT.
A one-semester ACT prep class is offered at
Messmer to help provide students with the informational
material they need to do well. The class is not required, but highly recommended
for students to take. The average ACT score in Wisconsin is 22, but since Messmer is a college preparatory school, the students are encouraged to aim higher.
The class consists of taking practice ACTs and doing exercises aimed at reviewing previous material and thinking critically. One
student, junior Jada Ruffin, took the class last semester. Jada had prior knowledge of the test and knows how important the test will be to her future. She realizes if she wants to go out of state for
college she needs to get a decent score.
Jada said going over Math and Science was particularly helpful as she had forgotten much of the material. "I want to go over Reading the most now because of the pace of the test." Mr. Tim Gallagher, one of the ACT instructors agreed and said, "In order to be successful [on the ACT] you have to read faster."
Jada wants to get a least a 21 on the ACT
and intends to apply to UWM, University of Texas, and UW – Platteville.
--Contributed by junior Gabriella Leachmon
