<p>I am currently a junior and I'm planning on taking the SAT in January and the ACT in February. I would then like to retake the test I do better in May/June. I have read numerous CC threads on this and I'm still confused about the process. I know a lot about college admissions & AP prep, but nothing about SAT/ACT prep. </p>
<p>My parents found a SAT/ACT tutoring center and they charge over $600. We found the ad in the school newspaper. Is the price high and a scam or is this the norm? My school offers math and reading classes every fall/spring for $25, but the classes are only three/four times and I'm assuming they just use test prep books. I told my parents I should just get the official SAT/ACT prep guides and use them or take the online classes at College Board/ACT. </p>
<p>What do you suggest? What test prep books are the best? Would you suggest a course for the SAT/ACT? Should I take an online course too? My parents want me to do well and study ASAP. I didn't do well on the PSAT and got a Kaplan test prep book, but never used it. I have a feeling I would do better with a teacher, etc. I may need someone to guide me with this. Should I start studying yet and what is the best study prep I can do? What do you suggest? Should I study for the SAT first since I will take it a month earlier? I am not the best test taker. </p>
<p>I'm my parents first child to go through this whole process. My older brother is going to tech school for culinary and didn't have to take the SAT. Thank you!</p>
<p>As you already know, the SAT/ACT is a key part of your application to any college. And since you started prepping late, you’re gna need to be very committed. If you have that dedication and can study well by yourself, then getting a tutor would just be a waste of money because although there might be some exceptions the majority of tutors just get you motivated and teach you the concepts & strategies from the prep book they’re gna make you buy. So if you’re gna be commited, studying by yourself is the way to go. Either way, the book you’re gna want to get is the one from the official makers of the SAT, the blue book, which has official tests which will acurately predict your score, so if that’s all you can get, get that. Here’s the link to it:[Amazon.com:</a> The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition (9780874478525): The College Board: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2nd/dp/0874478529/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282427932&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Official-SAT-Study-Guide-2nd/dp/0874478529/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282427932&sr=1-1)</p>
<p>I had lessons from Princeton Review during my 10th grade summer, and to be honest, it didn’t help much. The strategies taught there are the same from what you can learn for free from Silverturtle’s Prep Guide found on the SAT forum. The only advantage of Princeton Review classes is the much needed motivation for students (younger ones of course… older ones know how important prep is) to take practice tests.</p>
<p>Buy the Blue Book, follow Silverturtle’s Guide, and don’t fret too much.</p>
<p>I think $600 is a small price to pay for the possible benefit of a significant gain in an SAT/ACT score. Consider it an investment in your college future. You need something in your application to wow the colleges, especially if you are looking for merit aid, and unless you have a serious hook that you haven’t mentioned, you need to really pull a GPA up a lot or knock the SAT/ACT out of the park.</p>
<p>As an example, my younger s had a very good but not exceptional GPA with a very rigorous class schedule with several APs (weighted GPA around 3.8), NHS, etc. In his jr year we STILL invested in SAT prep classes for him, knowing he was probably on track for NMSF/NMF based on his soph yr score, and wanted to give him some structure, practice, strategies, etc to do well on the SAT and PSAT. It worked like a charm. Not only did he make NMF but he did so well on the SAT in fall of his junior year (taking it earlier than I would have recommended he take it) that he never took it again AND he got a HUGE full tuition scholarship from a very good school, and also got NMS $ as well. So that investment in the SAT prep class paid off for him bigtime, as he got a 2290 the first and only time he took the SAT, and we are saving a boatload of $$ with his full tuition scholarship. Do NOT be penny wise and pound foolish.</p>
<p>My parents really cannot afford the money right now. We are <em>very</em> tight on money and my counselor made it seem like it was a scam. She wouldn’t suggest it. If I got two prep books, take the local SAT prep courses at my high school, and an online course. Would this be enough? I understand where you are coming from.</p>
<p>Many high scorers earn there scores without having to pay a single cent towards a prep course. You can easily self study if you put in a large amount of time and effort. Just remember to be patient and realize that no one gets a 2400 off of there first go, especially those who cannot afford prep materials.</p>
<p>I’m in kind of the same boat you are; I’m a rising senior and I still have to take the October SAT in an attempt to better my college apps. I self study and have been improving ever since we were forced to take the PSAT freshman year at my high school.</p>
<p>Yes many high scorers earn <em>their</em> scores without paying for a prep course. But if a student needs all the help they can get and is aiming for scholarship $$, they would be foolish not to use every resource available. Many are not self disciplined enough to study effectively on their own.</p>
<p>There are some classes that may be more beneficial than others. To call them “a scam” is, IMO, not knowledgeable of the programs out there.</p>
<p>The governor had allocated funds for SAT prep resources for GA students. Did that get eliminated from the budget?</p>
<p>IT IS A SCAM. the stupid tutor programs raise your scores insignificantly, which you could do by just studying on your own anyway. i recommend the Official SAT Book from College Board</p>
<p>No, they are NOT scams. Probably some programs are far better than others, but they work, if you use them. Do your homework, do your research, look into group classes vs individual tutoring. </p>
<p>That said, if you are not 2100+ SAT material, no amount of tutoring is going to get you a score you cannot achieve</p>
<p>Say what??? Not going to waste time discussing with a 15 yr old HS soph who has no knowledge of or experience with this. ■■■■■■ are a waste of time to communicate with. Good day to you</p>
<p>Say what??? Not going to waste time discussing with noob who has no knowledge of or experience with this. ■■■■■■ are a waste of time to communicate with. Good day to you</p>
<p>It may be worth to study using prep books and prep courses at school first. I can then see my score and determine if I need a tutor or not. I can then prep with them when I am retaking the test for a second time. If I am content with my score, it may not be worth it.</p>
<p>What score would you be content with? In all honesty, and apologies for being blunt, but you need to have a score well above 2100 (I’d suggest you try your darndest for a score close to 2300) to really be taken seriously by many of the schools on your list. As GA2012mom mentioned in another thread, your academic rigor, EC’s and GPA aren’t strong enough to really make you a contender for many of the schools on your list. You need something to catch their eye, and at this point, even if you really pull up your GPA or get some leadership position on the swim team, it will probably need some great scores to boost your chances. I am not trying to be harsh-- simply honest. You said that money matters. If you want any chance at merit money you have to show academic merit. </p>
<p>Personally, I think your strategy is backwards. If you get the tutorial assistance now, you might do well enough on the SAT to not have to take it again (and DO NOT blow off the PSAT- it is VERY important for potential merit money- you would be very wise to take it when it is offered in October and take it seriously. There are many schools that give a LOT of $ for NMSs). Anyway, if you get the help NOW, you’ll get useful study and test-taking strategies and bolster your confidence. If you need to retake the SAT again later, you can use the SAT prep books alone and use the strategies you’ve learned… But to have to take tutorial classes in your senior year, on top of doing you schoolwork and getting your applications out is a lot of pressure and a big time commitment.</p>
<p>Do you have the self-discipline to study diligently for the SAT? Have you started reviewing the vocab yet? Have you taken several practice tests? Have you gone over the results critically? If you wait til late Nov- early Dec for the Jan exam, you really aren’t giving yourself adequate time to prep and review. The PSAT will give you a benchmark idea of how you will likely do on the SAT. and if you can get a score around 215 or so, you will probably be in the running for NMS in GA. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by taking the PSAT. Don’t convince yourself that you are probably not going to attend a school that offers a NMS. It is way too early to decide that and it will be a lost opportunity and you will kick yourself later for not trying.</p>
<p>Pay close attention to what you said in your OP
You can get a tutor for a few hours or for a lot of hours.You can sign up for group classes or individual help. Look into your options locally, such as Appelrouth Tutoring or ■■■■■■■■ (who can tutor via phone if need be), in addition to the generic Kaplan stuff. Many teachers also offer tutorial assistance, but you really need someone familiar with the in’s and out’s of the SAT and ACT.</p>
<p>USC, Northwestern, and Vassar will be my reaches. If I get my GPA up NYU can be a high match. The average GPA for NYU is a 3.6 and I’m not that far from it. Gallatin isn’t all about standarized test scores and GPA like CAS and other NYU schools. They look as you as a person and put more importance on the essay then one usually would do. Emerson, Sarah Lawrence, American, Chapman, Loyola Marymount, Conn College, and Skidmore are matches. You do not need 2100 SAT scores for the above schools. Northwestern will need outstanding scores, but not every school on my list is in that league. I am aiming towards a score in the 1900’s on the SAT. This may not be good for CC standards, but it is around here lol. </p>
<p>My guidance counselor told me I could prep for everything for free. I know this is not true, but there will be some reasonble prices. </p>
<p>A poster in another thread said, “You want to avoid doing any serious prep until a few months before you take the test. You don’t want to exhaust the best materials so far ahead of test day. What you can do though, is read anything and everything starting now. Reading is by far the best prep for the reading portions. You can also start on vocabulary now - you’ll have learned a heck of a lot of words by next year! Most people here will tell you not to waste money on prep classes. I’m an advocate of hiring a tutor for a few sessions to get specific questions answered (for you, this might just be math stuff). The best prep materials are from the College Board and the ACT organization, so definitely get those, and the Princeton Review is also good for strategy. A lot of people also like Gruber’s for the math, so that might be good for you. Good luck!” </p>
<p>I have heard a lot of mix reviews between people, so I am confused. Every person says something different. What is the point in taking the PSAT again? My score was no where near the NMS cut off. I know it is suppose to tell you how you would do on your SAT. I know people who took the SAT and got much higher scores then their PSAT score. They made it seem like it didn’t really help them see what kind of score they would get. I have not stuided at all yet for the SAT/ACT. When my parents saw the price of the SAT prep course, they said no way. I will have to use my money for the class. I probably need someone to help me through the process. I’m pretty much clueless about SAT Prep then college admissions.</p>
<p>There online course is $2,500 and that is wayyyy too much money. I could go on a summer program for that price or a vacation for the whole family.</p>
<p>The PSAT in your junior year is <strong>the one that counts</strong> for National Merit. You claimed that you didnt prepare and didnt put much effort into last year’s PSAT. With a little bit of prep and effort you can possibly gain significantly. If you get a 205 or better (might even be down to a 200 or better-- don’t recall) you’ll be NM commended and thats a nice additional thing for your resume, and might get you some merit money.</p>
<p>NYU is notorious for giving poor FA. If money is an issue, NYU is not a good bet.</p>
<p>The higher your SATs the better your chance at Merit $.</p>
<p>My s started to prep for the PSAT/SAT in the early summer, then got much more serious about it, with tutoring and practice/mock tests around this time of year. Took the PSAT in Oct and SAT in Nov. Paid off bigtime. He followed what the poster you quoted above did. He used an individual tutor to tweak some skills and strategies on the English side (he was already very strong in math- didnt really need that). It helped with strategy, confidence, etc. And the amount we paid was small potatoes compared to the approximately $160K he is getting in merit scholarship money. Oh and guess what-- his writing section was his highest score (it used to be his weakest area). He got a 740/770/780 in one sitting in Nov of his junior yr. I am not trying to brag- but to show you that it pays off!!</p>
<p>Ultimately you will do what you think is right for you. Just dont be short-sighted.</p>
<p>You cannot determine what schools are “matches” until you have an SAT/ACT score to put into the formula. As GA2012mom said, focus on that and our grades right now. Looking for schools is premature.</p>
<p>BTW, ec- the pricing of tutoring ranges based on the number of hours you sign up for. Looks like you quoted the most expensive option. We didn’t pay anything near that, and we used a private tutor plus the mock tests.</p>
<p>NYU is my dream school. Even if I got in, I prob couldn’t afford it. I know that, but I’m still going to apply. The worst thing that can happen is that I get rejected or I cannot afford it. </p>
<p>I agree with everything you said. But I don’t plan on taking the SAT until January. The poster said a couple months. When would you start then? Do you study for the ACT and SAT at the same time? How do you know the company is any good? You may pay all that money and get nothing in regard. My counselor said they “promise” good scores and she didn’t understand it. I’m sure some companies are better then others.</p>