Ah these were such a broad range of questions that I wasn’t sure where to put them, so what the hey…
Good New SAT prep. material (books) -
– Looking for strategies as well as practice.
– Not on a huge budget so mention the best ones.
Good SAT II prep. materials (prep books/other resources)
– Same as above.
– I am looking mostly for practice subject tests. (interested in Literature, World History, Math Levels 1&2, and the sciences)
As a junior, I will be applying to several US universities this fall/winter. (one for EA and the others regular). I have no help from anyone whatsoever and am trying to figure this stuff out on my own.
– I am just curious, <i>when exactly</i> do you start writing your applications and your essays? Is there a certain time when colleges prepare/hand-out the applications for the new year… or what… I mean could I work on my applications/essays/references during the summer?
– In addition to that, I know you can often apply by mail or online… which option is preferred, which would you recommend and why?
Most people I know who haven’t taken their SATs yet will be taking it in June. But I decided not to because I felt I’d be unprepared, and the deadline is over anyways. I haven’t taken my subject tests either. I’ve left everything off for this fall. I was hoping I could apply EA for a particular university, but I guess that isn’t really my top priority. I am just wondering how I should approach this…
<p>You can take the SAT in the fall (sign up before that), and then retake it in January. SAT II's are best taken immediately after the class finishes. Not all colleges require them and some don't even look at them. Typically, if a college does require them, they will require Writing, Math IC or Math IIC, and one other of your choice. The Writing and Math IC tests can be taken at any time and not after you finish any particular course. I would be careful taking the SAT's without trying practice exams first. The average score on SAT II's differs from subject to subject, but it is typically around 600 (not 500). All SAT and SAT II's scores are sent as a group, and you can't hold any back.</p>
<p>The application deadlines for the colleges differ. Some are on rolling admissions and there is no deadline, but it is still better to apply early. The most common deadline is Jan 1st. The second most common deadline is Jan 15th. Some colleges have a priority deadline of Dec 1st, but you can still apply later than that.</p>
<p>It is difficult to judge what schools you should consider reaches, matches, and safeties without knowing your SAT scores. If you take the SAT about the time you go back to school, you will have the scores back in time to apply. I would email the colleges you are interested in over the summer, and have them mail you their packets.</p>
<p>Don't forget the financial aid aspects of the process. If you want more information, let me know.</p>
<p>I recommend you do a late registration and at least knock out one of your SATII subject exams...really, fall is so distracting because you will be visiting schools and planning a couple of overnights perhaps (these are pretty time-consuming and a total waste if the school is not a realistic match)...and a strong SATII test score can help you decide that your profile is appropriate for selective schools. SATII test books are really quite digestible, and I do think reviewing them carefully and taking the practice exam in them will increase your test score results.</p>
<p>DECIDING which schools to realistically apply to has to take place in early fall, as does deciding on Early rather than Regular Decision. A couple of high SATII scores will give you courage for schools that simply have to use fine tooth combs to distinguish between all strong student pool applicants. SAT II scores can be tipping factors so don't take one without preparation. It is hard to wait for all of your test score results in October and then figure out your list. We did a whirlwind trip to a few schools after the October results and this is not the ideal way to select colleges because energy spent in the summer was sort of wasted on schools that were not actually best fits after all. I am sure some kids can do all the exams in the fall and manage just fine, but I would head to the bookstore, buy a review book and take an SATII in June. All you have to do is pay a penalty for being a day late..the deadline was yesterday. The tests are only an hour in length and one hurdle will be under your belt.</p>
<p>
[quote]
1) Good New SAT prep. material (books) -
-- Looking for strategies as well as practice.
-- Not on a huge budget so mention the best ones.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The college board's 10 real SAT book is excellent. There is most likely a new edition that reflects changes in the SAT. The college board has also put out a solutions manual. (do some of the practice test and save a few to have someone test you under test conditions so that you become comfortable with the test)</p>
<p>College board also has an official SAT study guide. you can purchase all of it from amazon for less than $40 and even get free shipping.</p>
<p>there is a may 7 exam (if you are willing to pay the fees, you can go as a walk-in and do your 3 subject test) . You still have time to register for the SAT eam given on June 4.</p>
<p>You should also consider registering for and taking the ACT (you have until May 6 to register for the June 11 exam. Some students actually do better on the act because it is more aligned to what you have actually learned in school. There is also a score choice option so you can send your best score. If your prospective colleges accept eith or then take both and send in the score which you have done the best. many schools that take the ACT do not require the 3 subject test. Since writing is now mandatory I would recommend doing the writing section of th eact (I believe this section is now optional) <a href="http://www.act.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.act.org/</a></p>
<p>Many schools now accept the common application which has now totally streamed down the process. The new Common App Online, for Spring 2006, Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 admission, will be posted in early July.</p>
<p>Some schools do not change their application form one year. You can searh the admission sites at some of the schools that yo are interested in to download a copy of their application, so that you get a feel for filling it out and you can begin formulating your essays.</p>
<p>if your planning on Chemistry as your SAt 2 subject.. avoid barron's text book. princeton review is much better for chem.. dunno about other subjects..</p>
<p>Sybbie has made an excellent point about the ACT and the fact that they allow Score Choice. You stil have time to buy the ACT prep book and do a practice exam before the June sitting. Strategies for ACT success are not the same as for SAT success, and you need to be alert to these factors.<br>
My S did not end up submitting his ACTs at all but as a precaution...he took the June ACT sitting the week after doing his third SATII the May/June Cycle of his junior year. His senior fall SAT sitting trounced the ACT score..so he didn't need the ACT after all, but many kids have the opposite experience and do better on the ACT. Walk-ins can usually be accomodated as long as you show up early with photo ID and money. Don't use the deadline as the deal-breaker.
The strongest advice I can give you is to not wait and take all those exams next October. If you do Early Decision for instance, it is best to have visited the school, gotten your references all lined up by mid September--at least a month before October 30!! and to be sure you would be happy with a binding decision. Not good to have no idea what your SAT IIs are while making these decisions.
Even though it was exam season his junior spring, and everyone had spring fever, he had the vision to push himself on his SATII Subject Tests, study the prep books, and take them days before our schools were out for the summer. Unless you are a savant, don't take more than two SATIIs in one sitting. If you are a cautious test-taker, just do them one at a time. Since the SAT has the Writing Test incorporated into it now, you don't need but two SATIIs anyway..you could save the second one for next fall.</p>
<p>Depending on what colleges you plan on applying to, you might just not take SAT II's. They certainly aren't required except at the very top colleges. If required, they probably also require that Writing be one, Math IC or Math IIC be another, and then maybe one more of your choice. Some colleges only require the Writing one. Some colleges say that they will look at any SAT II's only if the scores help you. You might be better concentrating on the SAT I so as to do the best possible and not worry about SAT II's. I would recommend that you NOT take three SAT's of your own choice in the subjects that interest you.</p>
<p>i would recommend princeton review or kaplan for test prep books. barron's tends to cover material that is much more difficult than what is actually on the test...at least that was my experience for math iic. </p>
<p>definitely take the ACT. i took it just to see how i would do and my sat equivalent ended up being one hundred points higher than the sat score i received the first time i took it.</p>
