<p>Since most don't recieve equal test preparation in low-income areas, doesn't that mean that poorer ppl will inherently continue to perform badly on these particular tests?</p>
<p>well, in my opinion, yes you are right.</p>
<p>but thats how life is. the rich peopel will always have advantage over the poors (aka our current president).</p>
<p>still, there are plenty of peolpe who succeeded against the odds.</p>
<p>Well, supposedly, the SAT tests a person's ability to reason in a limited amount of time and the material on the SAT I don't require too much in depth knowledge of a subject, however, statistics show that whites and asians tend to do better on the SAT so you have a point there. But on the other hand, everyone can just go down to the public library and check out a few SAT Prep books.</p>
<p>Yes, it's the cycle of poverty, which is not limited to black people but those of lower socioeconomic status.
However, I go to an international school and we do not have a test preparation program. So, the amount of money you pay for education does not guarantee quality.
Also keep in mind that prep books are readily available online. And as namkim said, there are those who manage to succeed against the odds.<br>
<b>Bottom line: If there is a will there is a way.</b>
(I guess this will then lead to the discussion of how the students coming from low income families will not have a chance to have such a will, or an opportunity to dream...but let's not go there.)</p>
<p>The problem is usually not entirely the schools, but the socio-economic environment that the poor kids come from. Many urban schools actually have magnet and gifted programs for motivated students, but most of the poor students do not take advantage of these because of the lack of role models in their communities. Lack of parental support and encouragement also hold them back. For example, in the Chicago Public Schools even the poorest students can apply to go to the Illinois Math and Science Academy, which is one of the best schools in the county. This school sent 17 graduates to MIT in one year. The school is free and includes room and board. There are other less competitive alternatives magnet schools in Chicago. The typical urban poor student however does not take advantage of the many opportunities. </p>
<p>Being poor is defiantly a disadvantage, but no other nation in the world offers as many opportunities escape poverty as the U.S. It does require hard work.</p>
<p>Regarding expensive test prep for SAT and ACT: if you read this forum, you will find that many people feel that most of the expensive prep programs are not very effective. The most effective test preparation may be done with a few inexpensive official guides from the test makers. These books are available in libraries.</p>
<p>It's not a racial issue nor is it that the tests are biased. The problem is due to the low quality of schools in low income areas due to how schools are supported by property taxes.</p>
<p>Consequently, if low income students of any race want to do well on the tests, they have to go far out of their way to prepare for them. This means reading excellent literature and looking up unfamiliar vocabulary words. This also means buying and using prep books and using the free on-line resources to prepare for the tests.</p>
<p>This is, incidentally, how non native English speaking immigrants from various countries are able to get scores as high as 750 verbal SAT scores: They rise to the challenge by working their butts off to prepare for those tests. They don't rely on the school systems. The kids' parents also don't let the kids languish in ESL classes, but push their kids into being mainstreamed so the kids can quickly learn English. Of course the kids don't like having to be in classes where the other kids all speak fluent English, but the immigrants' parents realize that immersion is the best way for their offspring to catch up and eventually excel.</p>
<p>When poor black people start rising to the challenge, they can excel, too. If you don't believe me, read the "Autobiography of Frederick Douglass." He was born enslaved, lost his mother by age 6, didn't know who his father was, didn't even know his age, and was punished for trying to learn to read. Still, he tricked white kids into teaching him to read, and eventually became a world renowned orator, diplomat and newspaper publisher.</p>
<p>BTW, I'm black and I believe that the US educational system is particularly unfair to poor people of all races. However, poor people can ignore the problem or they can do whatever it takes to learn the skills to get ahead. Eventually, they also can work with others to change the system.</p>
<p>I think partially the standardized tests are biased against poor people, but I think that it is beautiful to see poor people raise above it all, gain all the resources needs, and make the difference.</p>
<p>While people of a lower socioeconomic backround or black or hispanic background may be at a disadvantage because of lack of preparation opportunities and other reasons, college admissions are not skewed against them. In fact, colleges do take into consideration these factors. Many colleges ask for parents jobs or position at work. They then take this into consideration. For example, a person who scores a 1000 that is of an "advantaged" backround will be questioned as a candidate because supposedly he or she has the opportunity to use testprep and has more vast resources, while a person who scores a 1000 and is of a disadvantaged or minority background will be looked at more favorably.</p>
<p>Eh... Nearly all of my test prep books came from a library (free), so I'm thinking the difference is negligble. (I also was homeschooled on a budget... no expensive private tutoring either.) But, yes, life is definitely harder when you're poor.</p>
<p>but not necessarily though. thats what im emphasizing. colleges take socioeconomic and "minority" status and rate you against that, so it evens out.</p>
<p>I'm poor, black and I'm from a disadvantaged background and school system.
I know that the odds of me succeeding are set against me. I know that my teachers will continue to ignore me when I ask them difficult questions. I know that my parents, more so, my community will not change overnight and I know that I'm stuck here. It is my will and desire to overcome these obstacles. </p>
<p>Students from my school and community have been convinced that the only thing that they can do is: possibly graduate, get a job, or possibly attend a community college. Nothing more.
The average ACT score around here is only a 17; the average SAT (old) was an 910. Our teachers, nor do our parents push us to do well on these test. They figure that we'll end up like the last student, either on the street, or with a job after high school. It's not the students fault; it's the administration who fails to motivate the students to achieve. But then there are students who choose to be rebellious and refuse to submit to the "mainstream."</p>
<p>Those students who refute against the mainstream are the ones who have more character and personal drive. Those underprivileged students who manage to break 23 on the ACT and 1100 on the SAT indeed deserve more recognition than a 4 year prep-school student with similar scores.</p>
<p>All in all, underprivileged students are taught to achieve less, settle for a minimal, and to be happy where they sit. Yes, some of the students are lazy and unmotivated; they are victims of the socioeconomic mainstream of lower class society. Those student who managed to pull away are special and deserve the utmost recognition.</p>
<p>----just my two cents</p>
<p>very good post</p>
<p>---more opinions---bump</p>
<p>Rich kid- 2100 w/o prep. poor kid - 1300 w/o prep .... Rich kid- has a lot of money and can afford tutoring and sat prep courses. Poor kid- nothing but a prep book. Do the math.....</p>
<p>That's a price you pay for living in a captialist country. But communism isn't much better....</p>
<p>Everything has a cost.</p>
<p>I disagree. Doesn't matter if someone is rich or poor, he or she can still get a 2200 or a 32. The main thing is hard work. Why would a rich kid score significantly higher than a poor kid? Just because the rich kid has experienced more, wears nice clothes, gets girls and goes to a richy rich private school doesn't give him an upper hand by no means. Everyone is of the same intelligence when they're born, no matter what. It's up to the person; if he or she wants to become a billionaire when he/she grows up, coming from a poor family wont be a hindrance. The main thing here is 'hard work'. Believe it or not, I have some relatives that lived in cottages and studied on the bare floor with nothing but a light bulb; now they are rather well off. So, my point is that rich kids dont have a 100% advantage over poor kids when it comes to SAT/ACT scores. Its just that the poor kids don't have an inkling to work hard. The rich kids do because their parents are doctors, lawyers, or engineers and have high expectations from their kids.</p>
<p>Its harder for intercity kids (not JUST blacks, why is it always racial?) because they tend to recieve lesser education and have less motivation from family. the universities take it into consideration but nto its not enough. its a shame but thats the way life is</p>
<p>It is widely understood that SAT scores are correlated with socioeconomic status.</p>
<p>gameguy: I take it you are definitely not a poor individual. Many people that are poor that I know of are extremely hard workers. Certain people have this idea in their heads that if someone is poor, it's their fault because they are lazy and stupid. It's not always the case -- thinking otherwise, in my opinion, is naive. Sometimes you are just dealt a very bad hand of cards. When poor, one has to work more in order to merely REACH the same level of life quality that the richer person started out with without the work.</p>
<p>Anyone who is motivated enough to do well on the SAT/ACTs can do it.</p>
<p>I can't buy into an argument that they are biased. What I'd have to say is that those at a lower socioeconomic level receive a lesser quality education will not do as great as someone attending a better school if neither student prepares for the test outside of the classroom. Not a whole lot can be done about it, but colleges definitely take it into account.</p>