<p>Do you think they really help? This summer, I am taking one at my high school and it is taught by an Ivy-League student (this kid is super-smart, got a 2380, and is at Brown). Anyway, my point is, do you think it will be worth it or not? I have heard mixed opinions about prep classes, but I am hoping that it will help me. I really need to bring up my score. Any opinions, feed back, or personal experiences?</p>
<p>eh..if depends how much it costs...</p>
<p>It didn't cost that much. Well...I mean it was a lot less than princeton review and those kaplan courses.</p>
<p>If you think it'll help go for it...its a personal thing. </p>
<p>Do you think it'll be worth it? Or can you just use a review book?</p>
<p>If your score really needs help, and if you can't help it on your own, then they might be worth it. On the other hand, your scores aren't everything; consider the things you could be doing with your time that make you stand out as an applicant. Good SAT scores don't necessarily make you stand out. And sitting around taking SAT prep definitely doesn't make you stand out. If you did something really interesting over the summer, like travel, or volunteer, or study abroad, or whatever, then that might help you a lot more than a bit of a boost on your SATs. </p>
<p>That's just an issue of how you spend your time. If SAT prep classes show up on your transcript--if you get high school credit for them--then in my opinion you are sending a definitely not-so-good message to the colleges to which you're applying. SAT prep courses aren't academic; you don't learn anything of consequence; and they in no way whatsoever reflect the passion, intellectual curiosity, intelligence, etc., that adcoms love so dearly to see in applicants. SAT prep courses don't say to adcoms, "I'm a person that you want enrolled at your school." Instead, they say, "I really want to get into a good college, but I'm not smart enough to get good enough SAT scores on my own, so I had to take this class." </p>
<p>I'll be honest here: TO GENERALIZE, I have little to no sympathy for SAT prep courses or the people who depend on them to get into the college of their choice. I think they are a way that the affluent get ahead--undeservedly--of the people who cannot so easily afford such assistance. I believe that they manipulate the truth about those applicants who benefit by them. I've tried to write the first two paragraphs of this post with as little of this bias as possible, but I felt I should air my personal prejudices (er, opinions) as well as give a more balanced account of my advice to the OP.</p>
<p>well, as for a school prep course...this is just the personal experience of the public and private schools around me, that you get really bad advice-bordering on totally retarded for a fraction of the cost. Like, at my school's "wonderful" PSAT review course (not a course, extra $$$), the counselor told them all this really convoluted advice about taking the test...urgh, I can't even believe people pay money for that "advice". The one school I know that has SAT prep basically has people who are forced into it by their parents, and use it as a studyhall...</p>
<p>Me, I'm taking an SAT prep class b/c my parents can afford it, but if I didn't have the money, I'd just use the books on my own so that's always an option</p>
<p>The SAT prep classes at my high school are for kids getting <1000s that only dream of getting an 1800.</p>
<p>well the SAT prep classes at my school are for people who do have <1000s or want to increase there score by a couple 100 points but you never know! It could work for you, but my personal opinon would be just review a book if you have the self desicipline to!!</p>
<p>Yeah, it depends on how much it costs. The SAT prep class you're taking now doesn't sound bad at all.</p>
<p>I payed for one and my math went up about 60 points. But thats it. My math finally got up to a 600 (my goal) but aside from that nothing changed. I don't think I wouldn't have gotten in to my college if I didn't have those 60 points. HOWEVER.... since my reading was 600 and my math was finally 600 it got me a 1200. Since my SAT filled the last requirement of a certain scholarship I was automatically awarded it and the $800 I paid for the course paid off because my scholarship is $2,000 - $3,000 (I forgot) a year.</p>
<p>My family is in no way, shape, or form, wealthy. My EFC was $0. My parents will struggle to pay the little amount they do have to pay after all my scholarships and loans. However we believed it would pay off, and it did. The $8,000 - $12,000 I got will help my parents A LOT. They can't even get approved for any more loans, so I don't know how we would have been able to pay.</p>
<p>But personally I couldn't have self studied math. Math is my worst subject and I already tried learning it myself and it didn't work out so if you think it will help, then take the course. A lot depends on the instructor (mine was an idiot), and the other people, whether they want to be there or their parents forced them.</p>