<p>Hey guys my name is Henry. I am a junior in highschool. I have to take the new up coming March 2005 Sat's. I am looking at SAT 1 prep courses right now. The 2 companies that offer the course are Princeton Review and Kaplan. They are about the same price. I don't know which one is better or worse. Such as the materials they give, the teachers, basically there whole game plan. </p>
<p>Thanks,
Henry
209-815-7131</p>
<p>Both are pretty well known and stuff, so I'd recommend that maybe you should visit both places and see for yourself which you think will benefit from the most. The bad thing about this is that they MIGHT try really hard and keep calling you and junk to get you to take their class. (This happened to me once--except it wasn't for an SAT class....) But I think visiting and seeing the stuff there is worth it. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>I'm taking the Kaplan class for the old SAT right now. It's helpful i think..the teachers are always good from what iv seen and heard at both Kaplan and PR. The most important thing is to study on your own, which the class has motivated me to do. But I'm only 1/2 way through the class</p>
<p>good question. I'm going through the same dilemma right now; I just signed up for the Kaplan one. But, Ive heard from one of my friends who took both the Kaplan and PR course that Kaplan had better teachers and he finally was able to score in the 700s in the verbal section (his problem section), with an 750-800M, after taking the Kaplan course. But maybe he's the only one who thinks this?? Anyone else have any suggestions, PLEASE post!! for the sake of all HS student!!! lol...</p>
<p>Princeton Review has a guarantee of 100 points on the old sat and 200 on the new sat or they will work with you until you do so, whereas Kaplan only guarantees that you will score higher (even if it is 10 points) or your money back.</p>
<p>Now I wonder, do they issue a difficult test in the beginning and then an easy one at the end, to ensure they get out of the guarantee?</p>
<p>Either one works the same way--it's not about the quality of classes, but your dedication.</p>
<p>Oh, I don't doubt that dedication of the student plays a part in the results, but I feel that the dedication of the company also plays a role.</p>
<p>dude...is that your phone number in your post??? are you crazy or something? don't post that stuff!</p>
<p>princeton will guarentee you 200 points on new one or work with you untill you do so? how does that work? should i wait till after i take the march sat then enroll for the class?</p>
<p>oh as for the number you guys can call me thats my business mobile line..</p>
<p>don't post your phone number. put an email address or something the similar instead...</p>
<p>From Princeton Review's Website :<a href="http://www.princetonreview.com/college/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=575&TYPE=NEW-SAT-IMPROVE%5B/url%5D">http://www.princetonreview.com/college/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=575&TYPE=NEW-SAT-IMPROVE</a></p>
<p>"The New SAT is all about points, and we'll show you how to score at least 200 more of them. We stand behind our methods. If you don't raise your score at least 200 points we'll work with you until you do, for free."</p>
<p>"The 200-point score improvement guarantee applies to students preparing for the New SAT with Total Prep Classroom Course, our 18-hour New SAT tutoring package, Princeton Review Online or Princeton Review LiveOnline. Score improvement is determined using The Princeton Review diagnostic. To be eligible for the guarantee, you must complete assigned homework, attend all your classes (or their make-ups), and take the New SAT in March 2005."</p>
<p>I've taught for both companies before. At the local center, at least, the Kaplan teachers are considered "trained" after being given a bunch of books and told to watch some videos. If you wanted to, you could attend a class or two by a veteran teacher. (I was actually trained by the NJ center, whose training was more thorough.) PR actually provides decent training, and their class sizes are capped at 12, while Kaplan has an upper limit of 30, I believe.</p>
<p>The score improvement guarantees are somewhat useless, however. If you do not improve with a classroom course the first time, you're not likely to improve much more the second time (unless you did not put in the full effort the first time). Kaplan's guarantee is simply a marketing ploy -- what good is a 10-point guarantee? I doubt any student will be happy to score a 1230 pre-course, and receive a 1250 after spending almost $1000 on a course.</p>
<p>My recommendation is to research your local centers THOROUGHLY. Ask about the teachers' qualifications (especially the teacher who will be teaching YOUR section), get references or testimonials of LOCAL satisfied students (don't trust their "average" score improvement claims or nationwide testimonials), and get the guarantee in writing. If you go with PR, take advantage of the free extra help. You should first try, however, to find a GOOD tutor, who can provide you with complete one-on-one attention. This does A LOT to raise the chances of your achieving a significant score improvement. Whether you eventually settle on a teacher or tutor, though, insist on: 1500+ score by the teacher/tutor, 2+ years' experience, track record of improving students' scores by an average of 100 points or more, and solid references or testimonials.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks so do you think i should wait on the prep courses and buy some prep books from the store and just take the march sat first. then afterwards take the prep course? The prep courses are 1000 dollars. Thanks</p>
<p>has anyone here heard of elite? </p>
<p>i believe it's the BEST.</p>
<p>elite's somewhere around 2 grand. something we poor ppl can't afford. i say buy a couple of good sat books like barrons or princeton review and self study. i got it for 40 bucks and my score improved 600 points. lol</p>
<p>DS took a Kaplan course. While the cap was 12 students, there were only 6 in the class and 3 of those were for PSAT prep so once that was done, the class had only 3 in it. DS said he found the course very helpful and it also gave him the motivation to actually do the practice tests and such. DD is taking a Kaplan course that is beginning at the end of January. Apparently Kaplan will organize a course for groups at a good rate. Hers is being done by a sports team through her school. There will only be six in the class, and they are even working their prep course schedule around the sports schedule for this team. DD is very much looking forward to it. If my kids had the tenacity to do the 10 Real SATs and other self directed study, I would not be doing this at all. But neither of them seemed to be able to get it together themselves. This organization of the course served the purpose of getting them going.</p>
<p>Well, there are International prep schools as well. In Israel you have Yeda Plus that gives prep courses for SAT and SATII.</p>
<p>I still don't get how PR's score guarantee works. Do they make you take one of their dianostic tests and then base your improvement on the real SAT or another one of their dianostics?</p>
<p>PR didn't help at ALL for me. The only thing they basically taught was common-sense strategies. How's this: POE (Process of Elimination). DURRR. As for verbal, they give you this booklet of vocabulary, which you can even find online. Again, the only thing I learned through PR course is to just work by yourself, that is, if you are capable of doing so.</p>
<p>you know some private schools arrange prep classes for all their juniors... now that's taking care.</p>