Student Support Services

College Resources

We know that going to college can be a stressful process, but LUOA wants to help relieve some of that for you!

One of the biggest concerns for students and parents alike when it comes to college is finances. If you’re in 11th or 12th grade, we encourage you to begin your search for scholarships and grants!

We recommend that you start your search using some of the following resources:

• The Liberty University Scholarships page.
  • Liberty offers many scholarships that can help make your college experience affordable!
• Unigo! 
  • Unigo is a free scholarship search tool that helps to give you access to hundreds of scholarships that you may be able to apply for.

Have you started your college visits yet? Visiting a school can make or break your college decision. Use our College Visit Checklist as a way to plan out your next college visit!

Did you know that the ACT and SAT tests help to measure your Career and College readiness? These tests are important for college admissions and LUOA wants to make sure you’re prepared. Take a look below for information on the PSAT, SAT, and ACT tests and how you can register and take a shot at some practice SAT and ACT questions!

If you’d like to start preparing for the tests, make sure to visit our Prepworks® ACT and SAT preparation courses. These courses can help to give you a great headstart!

Academic Success

School can be hard and at times you may find you might need some extra help or tips in order to succeed. Below are some great tips in order to help you succeed!

• Use a planner!
  • Planning your assignments and reading will help you to stay on track and even get ahead. One of the best things you can do is to keep yourself organized! It is a great habit to get into that will help you during your studies and later in life.

• Proofread your assignments!
  • There may be incorrect items you missed your first time through when writing your assignment. Have a family member read your assignment if possible, another set of eyes may catch something that you missed and can help to correct errors. Taking the time to proofread may be the difference between a grade of an A or a B.

• Make sure to stay hydrated.
  • Staying hydrated increases your focus and keeps you alert when completing your work. To jumpstart your day, try drinking 20 ounces of water first thing in the morning. This gets your body and brain ready for the day and can help you to think clearly while studying.

• Take a break!
  • It’s okay to take time away from your studies. Enjoy some time doing the things you love and come back to your studies refreshed and ready to learn!

If you have tips and tricks that help you when studying or completing your work, send them in at LUOAStudentSupport@liberty.edu. We would love to hear from you about how you are doing and how we can better help you succeed!

Advisor Tips

Our advisors work hard to make sure that you are well prepared for your courses and taken care of. Have you ever wondered what helped them through school?

Take a look at some of the tips that have helped your advisors in recent years during their studies!

• “Put away distractions and move your phone away while studying.”
• “Work your hardest course first and then finish out your day with the course you like the most!”
• “Submit assignments on weekends. Any work that can be submitted on weekends will help lower the number of overdue assignments and help to reduce stress. 
• “Having a consistent schedule can really help to make sure you don’t feel overwhelmed. Try using a planner and color-coding it so you know exactly what is due and when. 
• “If you know you have a paper or project coming up soon, start working on it in advance. You do not want to spend the day before rushing to finish it. Procrastination is not your friend!

PSAT Testing

The PSAT is a practice SAT test that will help students prepare for the real thing. This is a great way for our students to get ahead and increase their chances of getting into their dream school.

When can I take the PSAT?

• Since there are two versions of the PSAT, you’ll have several chances to take this test. These two tests are the PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT.
• The PSAT 10 is offered for 10th-grade students and serves as good practice for the SAT.
• The PSAT/NMSQT is offered for both 10th and 11th-grade students.
  • NMSQT stands for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. This is the only way in which students can potentially receive the National Merit Scholarship. For more information, visit the Liberty University Scholarships page.

How many times can I take the PSAT and when is it offered?

• You are able to take either the PSAT 10 or PSAT/NMSQT once per year.
• The PSAT 10 is offered in the Spring.
• The PSAT/NMSQT is offered in the Fall.

How do I register for the PSAT?

• Great question!  Make sure to visit the Home-Schooled Students page for information on registration. Due to the online format of LUOA, students will want to follow the instructions listed there.
• The 2019-2020 registration fee for this test is $17.
• Make sure to use LUOA’s school code 471288 when you register in order to have scores sent to LUOA!

Where do I take the test since LUOA is based online?

• Since LUOA operates online, you will need to contact your local school to secure a spot.
• Go to the College Board’s School Search to locate a school near you offering the test.
• You will need to know the name of a local high school, or can just search “high school” within the search box in addition to state, etc.

SAT Testing

The SAT is a nationally recognized college entrance exam that can help to prepare you for your college career!

Why should I take the SAT?

• The SAT is needed for most college admissions around the country.
• This test is also used for scholarships by many universities.

How do I register for the SAT? Is it the same as the PSAT?

• Yes! In order to register for the SAT, you will need to visit the College Board website for the SAT.
• Just like the PSAT, you will also need to contact your local school in order to secure a spot for testing.
  • There are two types of SAT test. You can take the SAT with, or without the essay portion.
    • Please make sure to research what test colleges you’re interested are requiring before registration.
  • We recommend reaching out at least 4 months in advance.
  • Make sure to use the LUOA school code 471288.

How much does the SAT cost?

• For information on the cost of the SAT, please see the Fees page on the CollegeBoard website.

How can I prepare for the SAT? 

• If you are looking to prepare for the SAT, we recommend taking advantage of Prepworks®!
  • We now offer award-winning Prepworks® ACT and SAT preparation courses with money-back guarantees
  • Use the code LUOASAT to receive a $50 discount!
• We also recommend utilizing SAT prep through Khan Academy® for free.

How can I send my scores to colleges that I’m interested in?

• Great question! When you register for the SAT, you have the choice to send four score reports for free!
• If you do not set your scores to be sent to the colleges of your choice at registration, you have up to nine days after your test to send the scores. Otherwise, you will have to pay a fee for the score reports to be sent. Please make sure to review the How to Send SAT Scores page on CollegeBoard’s website for more information.

I have a disability. How can I find accommodations for the test?

• You can find accommodations through the College Board.
• The accommodation process can take 7 weeks or more for approval so we recommend contacting the College Board well in advance of your testing date.
• Contact LUOAStudentSupport@liberty.edu for more information on this process.

As an international student, do I need to take the SAT? If so, how do I register?

• Great question! LUOA serves students all over the world. If you are looking to come to a school within the United States, you will most likely need to take the SAT. However, you will want to check with the schools you are applying to and double-check on their requirements. You will register on the CollegeBoard website.

ACT Testing

The ACT is the second most popular college entrance exam in the nation!

Why should I take the ACT?

• The ACT is a great alternative to the SAT. This test is great for students who are more science or math-oriented.

How do I register for the ACT? 

• In order to register for the ACT, you’ll need to visit the ACT website and select Registration Tips.
  • This will give you all the information that you’ll need to register!

How can I prepare for the ACT? 

• The ACT offers free test practice with the ACT Academy!
• You can also utilize our test prep through Prepworks®.
  • We now offer award-winning Prepworks® ACT and SAT preparation courses with money-back guarantees!
  • Use the code LUOAACT to receive a $50 discount!

How can I find accommodations for my test?

• In order to request accommodations, ACT requires appropriate documentation of your disability or need.
• We recommend visiting the Accommodations section of the ACT website for more information.
  • If you have questions, contact LUOAStudentSupport@liberty.edu for help!

As an international student, do I need to take the ACT? If so, how do I register?

• Great question! LUOA serves students all over the world. If you are looking to come to a school within the United States, you will most likely need to take the ACT. However, you will want to check with the schools you are applying to and double-check on their requirements. Take a look at the Non-US Student Registration page for more information!