Tuition increase approved by IHL
- Thread starter 615dawg
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Maybe it's not a direct comparison - but when I was at State if you made below a 70 on a classroom test you got an F. An A was 94-100. Of course, some professors graded on a curve in the end - except Mr. Temple in Calculus 2 (five hour course, 7 a.m.). 24 out of 26 in the class got an F. That was in the spring session 1966 I think. I don't know about the rest of his classes. Dr Sheely was similar. Getting through the freshman year was tough when you were taking 19 hours.
In my house we call a 95 a Private School A.
I have very bad test taking skills but was fortunately smart enough to make a 36 on the ACT, a 1600 on the SAT, a 973829492 on the GMAT, and $234 pimping Olympia Sales products as a 10 year old
I'm not paying it, but only because my kids can go to Madison schools for free, not at all because I went to Hillcrest from K-12 when we were in the same division with Prep and JA and MRA and because deep down in my soul I hate all of them with a fire that cannot be quenched.
Thanks for info, my kid is in same boat, somehow got a 33 on science section that no longer counts, and Is below 29 on others. Has a couple more times to take it but I had no idea that state grant existed.
I received the MESG 30+ years ago. Technically, it absolutely considers science. It’s your composite score. Science included…I can’t imagine being a scientist who can’t do basic math and English.
Well it absolutely doesn’t anymore. And I think it was $2500 per year 30 years ago. Inflation has not hit MESG
MESG – MS Eminent Scholars Grant – Mississippi Office of State Financial Aid
www.msfinancialaid.org
I fail to see what’s changed? I understand inflation, but the score requirements appear to be identical.
Science is no longer considered part of your composite. If you log into the ACT portal you will see the science score but it’s not incorporated into the calculation. Trust me. I’ve askedMESG – MS Eminent Scholars Grant – Mississippi Office of State Financial Aid
I fail to see what’s changed? I understand inflation, but the score requirements appear to be identical.
Understood. I’m at a loss. Like most things with the future, we reward the inferior and the stupid for the sake of inclusion.
Its now 21-22, but its up to $3,500 depending on GPA
Correct, as of September 2025, Science is optional and does not count toward composite scores. I asked my esteemed state representative to bring it up in this year's legislative session but it fell on deaf ears. IHL can't do anything without legislature adding language that allows them to count science toward MESG qualification, although I have unofficially heard that there is disagreement within those circles whether they should have a carveout.
The science part of the ACT is the closest thing that most people ever take to a true IQ test. Some people did not like the results. The ACT surpassed the SAT in popularity in 2012 and then the SAT regained the lead in 2017. During the pandemic, SAT went digital and shortened their test from roughly 4 hours to 2 hours. The ACT's market share started dwindling and in 2025 they made the decision to offer a digital version of the ACT and make Science optional in order to be more competitive with the SAT.
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Another hot take. “Bad test taker” is self soothing code that makes us feel better for not sufficiently knowing the material.
That’s a completely accurate hot take. For God’s sake, we measure “physical” athletes by their 40-time, high jump, and bench reps. Why not measure “mental” athletes by their ability to perform when it counts? Accuracy/critical thinking under fire are just as important as general knowledge. “I don’t do well on tests” is a lagging indicator of “I can’t do well on tests.” Produce or go to the back of the line. The world needs ditch diggers, too. Let the 2026 needy, emotional base bring it on…
1. There are definitely tips and tricks you can learn to do well on the act. So people can turn themselves into good act test takers with enough time and money.
2. I think there is also a difference between being a good act test taker and being able to excel in school. Just like there here is a difference in both of those vs doing well in a job. Some people are good at all 3, some or just one (or a few even none). So in your analogy some people are fast but can’t jump high. Unfortunately colleges value jumping high moreso than anything.
1) So as with all things in life that make us better, they prepare. 2) It’s very seldom that a 2.5 GPA pumps out a 32+ on the ACT (or even 28+) and vice versa. Granted, there can be some laziness involved with the asinine nature of most high school curriculums. In those cases, a 28-30+ ACT score can occasionally be achieved by an underperforming day-to-day student suffering through boredom. You’re talking outliers, however. Not the rule. Same for athletes. They all tend to do pretty well and the average baseline is higher overall. A combination of either natural ability or hard work nullifies excuses.
Yes I think people who are not good test takers- good students who just don’t excel on standardized tests- are outliers. But it doesn’t mean it’s not a real thing.
As for #1- it’s not just preparation- it’s about having the resources for the preparation.
Meanwhile, State has reduced their scholarships for non-academic service related activities. MSU pays the least of the big three schools for Eagle Scout or Girl Scout Gold Award. Administration's response was that, on average, MSU applicants get more in total scholarships than the other schools; therefore, they could save money by cutting individual service related awards. Totally sends the wrong message. "Taking Care of What Matters"
The rigidity inside you boomers' minds is a thing to behold, let me tell you. It's one way or the highway, baby.
I suppose it could send the wrong message to the Eagle Scout or Girl Scout Gold Award(didnt even know this exists), but it then wouldnt send the wrong message to others who financially benefit from that funding opening up to them.
There is always an argument for what to prioritize and at what expense, when it comes to Institution based aid. That is because there are more 'worthy' cases than available funds. And worthy is in '' because that is a feelings word and its in the eye of the beholder.
- Is a kid that became an Eagle Scout more deserving of $2000 in scholarship compared to a kid who had a 4.0+ and scored a 3 or higher on 6 AP tests, but didnt volunteer much time because they have worked part time after many school days since they were 15?
- Is a kid that became an Eagle Scout more deserving of $2000 in scholarship compared to a kid who had a 4.0+ and scored a 3 or higher on 6 AP tests and earned a Silver Cord at graduation for 200 hours of volunteer service?
Who knows? <--- this should be the answer to both hypotheticals above, because we arent in Admissions and reviewing each kid's transcripts, letters, essays, etc.
Point it, there is no 'wrong message' being sent, just because MSU's Eagle Scout scholarship is in total $1000 per year lower than Ole Miss.
The #1 issue that I see with high school students who do not do well on the ACT is that they prepare for it like a regular test in a regular class. They look over some material a week or two before the test and you have a 4.0 student who can't score above the mid-20s.
The trick to the ACT is that you have to prepare for the ACT different.
There are about 90 grammar rules that can show up on the English section. If you know those 90 rules, you will score well. Hint: There are about 50 of them that most high school students know. The other 40 is where students get tripped up. There is a set of flash cards you can buy off Amazon that just drills these 90 rules. Its probably the best way to study for the English.
Reading is about timing and practice. The answers are always in front of you, but aren't always clear. You have about a minute per question on the Reading section and this is what holds good students up. They take 15 minutes each on the first two passages and all of a sudden they have 10 minutes combined for the last two. Remember one of the four passages does not count, but you do not know which one it is.
Math is about mastering Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II. If you can master the concepts from that, you will score in the high 20s. Its the Trig and Calculus that most high schoolers have never seen that makes up the difference. 32+ on Math is really rare these days. (Out of 100 test takers only 2 score above 32 on math) Even r 30 on Math is in the 96th percentile. A 28 is in the 93rd. There are two ACTs every year that allow you to buy your tests and answers. My recommendation to students is to get one of these and then look at the math they missed and get a high level tutor to try to teach you a couple of those advanced concepts outside of class. Most people just aren't going to learn them in a high school class, even AP Calculus.
I would agree that "I'm not a good test taker" is a cop out in a lot of circumstances, but I would add this rider.
Looking at the current scores, a 25 is the top 17% of test takers. A 28 is the top 9%. Those are not failures and they are great scores. Our high schools are doing kids a great disservice by only celebrating 30+ scores and making these students feel like failures. I've seen it first hand. Even in this thread someone questioned if a 25 was a good score. Its a great score, especially when 17.7 is the state average.
If you have a kid stuck in the mid 20s, look at my recommendations above. Its not going to get a 24 to a 36, but you can sneak a few more points out and pick up some more scholarship $$ with some tricks.
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The time crunch probably impacts a lot of good number of students. Ever seen an DISC profile? There are very smart people who are C’s on the profile - they couldn’t decide on fries or tots in 30 seconds or less.
And let me be clear, Im not opposed to the ACT…you have to have something to differentiate a 3.5 gpa at St. Andrews vs. one at Winston Academy. But unless you are going to be a career Jeopardy contestant there are not many careers that don’t provide ample time to think through something.
That’s the way that built this country. Standards are standards. When you lower them you get lower results.
That entire premise is wrong from the get go. Theres nothing there that steers towards a persons strengths.
It started way before the boomers. You all just have no reference point so you just accept shlt the way it was taught to you. No independent thought.
‘that’s the way we’ve always done it’
muh reasons
Lol, you just said the same thing every generation since man gained intelligence has said. You are exactly NO different than anything that has come before you.
They may be celebrating 30+ because the rise in the higher test scores has been a factor in schools shifting their scholarship award criteria upward as well. My daughter's freshman year, there were two seniors in just the band (<100 kids) with 36 composites. I also pulled my paperwork from 1996, and the percentage of students who scored a 31+ back then are scoring a 35+ now.
What I see on the award amounts from colleges across Mississippi and Alabama is that you get a level of award jump around 30, and the highest are now around 34. That didn't used to be the case.