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For Counselors: Managing and using Scattergrams

Scattergrams show historical admissions decisions using GPAs, test scores, and other outcomes of students who graduated from your high school. While scattergrams can help gauge the likelihood of acceptance, they are not designed to predict admission outcomes.

Let's explore further:

What are Scattergrams?

Scattergrams provide valuable insights into the likelihood of acceptance at the colleges a student follows. At a glance, they show historical admission decisions using alumni GPAs, test scores, and other outcomes.

How Scattergrams Populate Data

The number one driver of data in Scattergrams is from alumni who report their college acceptance outcomes in Scoir, such as ACT/SAT scores and GPAs. Here are the different ways to capture that data:

Exploring Scattergrams

Here's a look at what you can expect when accessing, customizing, and viewing Scattergrams.

Accessing Scattergrams

Scattergrams are located in Student Profiles for colleges where they're applying or have applied, as well as on the College Profiles.

You can also access scattergrams anywhere on Scoir where you see the symbol (includes Predictive Chances) or the symbol.

Related resource: For Counselors: Using Predictive Chances

Scattergrams in a Student Profile

Select the "Students" tab in the top navigation and choose a student from the roster. Once in their profile, go to the left side bar to expand "Colleges & Applications" and select "Scattergram." If they've applied or are applying to a college, you'll see those schools listed and can choose it to view a Scattergram.

When assessing a student's scattergram, if they don't have SAT or ACT scores, we will use their NMSQT scores (or PSAT10 scores if NMSQT scores are unavailable) along with their GPA to plot their position, represented by a purple star.
Scattergrams on College Profiles

There are multiple ways to visit College Profiles.

  • If you know the college you'd like to view a Scattergram, type the name into the search bar on any page
  • Go to the Colleges tab in the top navigation and choose a college from the list
  • From the Discover tab, you can search and filter for colleges based on criteria like Academic Focus, Campus Setting, and more
    Colleges tab on Scoir

Once you've selected a college, you'll be taken to the profile. Choose Admissions and then View Scattergram.

Customizing your view

At the top, filter by weighted/unweighted GPA and Application Type such as regular or early decision, choose a date range by Class Years. A new filter for 'hooks' has also been included.

You can also use the Superscore filter to select whether to plot data points using the highest single test scores or superscores. A checkmark will indicate when the superscore is being used.

Keep in mind that when you navigate to a different school, the filters will be reset.

Students who have a hooks will no longer show on a scattergram, unless this box is checked.

Viewing Scattergram data

Right away, you'll see an overview with the average GPA, test scores, and accepted rate for the college.

These averages are unique to your high school and based on the prior outcomes you, or your students, reported. If no prior application outcomes were reported, no data will populate.

On the left axis, you’ll see SAT scores and on the right ACT scores. The top axis shows GPA. 

Use the navigation tool in the bottom right corner to zoom in and out, go up and down, and side to side for a closer look.

You’ll notice a key at the bottom of the Scattergram showing what each plot point represents.

Hover over the plots to see more details about the results of that particular student.

When students view Scattergrams, they will not see all information like name and class year. You can hide this information in the counselor view by toggling on Private Mode.

On the upper left, toggle to view the Acceptance Heatmap. Each section shows the percentage of students accepted from your high school. Green displays the highest percentage accepted, followed by yellow, and red displays the lowest percentage. 

Switch between a plot view and table view using the icons in the upper right corner. In the table view, you'll see additional data like Test Optional.

In the table view, click on the column headers to easily sort the data.

Below the Scattergram, view historical student application outcomes and popular colleges at your high school.

Managing Scattergrams

When managing Scattergrams, you can turn on Private Mode, add Hooks, and adjust display settings.

Private Mode

Hide prior student details (like name and graduation year), and hooks, if needed, while viewing scattergrams with others in your account by toggling on Private Mode. You can also use Private Mode to see the student and parent/guardian view of Scattergrams.

Hooks

What's a hook?

A hook is additional qualitative data that can be added to a Scattergram on top of the data already populated to help provide extra context.

You can use hooks as a reminder or explanation for the information in a data point, or remove data that skews relevancy.

Using hooks

Begin using hooks by turning them on in the top navigation. When on, a checkmark will show.

Next, click the data point you'd like to add a Hook, and choose which type from the dropdown menu.

Once, you've added the hook, you'll see it listed at the bottom of the information box. You'll also see a hook icon overlaying the plot points.

Delete a hook by clicking on the data point, choosing the pencil icon, and selecting "Delete hook." After selecting delete, you will be asked one more time to click "Confirm delete."  

Hiding all hooked data from view  

Counselors also have the option of showing or hiding all hooked data from students and parents. Go to "Account Settings" and scroll to "Application Scattergram Display Settings." Then, select "No" for "Plot Hook Data for Families."

 

Scattergram Student Display Settings

Learn more about managing how Scattergrams are displayed and set restrictions for the student view of Scattergrams by following the directions in the Help Article: Understanding Scattergram Display Settings.

How did we do?

For Counselors: How to view a student's college list in table layout

For Counselors: Understanding List Scores

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