<p>Hi! I'm new to CC so I apologize if my topic has been discussed before, but I really want to get some input on this subject. </p>
<p>I'm a freshman residing in a community densely populated with Asians in SoCal, and in my area there's a huge number of businesses offering SAT help, tutoring, and whatnot. The majority of my friends are enrolled in those programs and spend hours after school and on weekends at these tutoring centers. I know there are people that get perfect scores on their SATs out there without help from these centers... but where I'm from, pretty much EVERYONE gets tutored at these places. </p>
<p>My question is: how much do these things really help and are they worth it? These programs require lots of time and money, both of which my parents and I are reluctant to invest. And for those of you without access to these businesses, what do you do to "help yourself" (if that makes any sense, hahaha). </p>
<p>My advice is to take a practice SAT (not PSAT, like an actual practice test from CollegeBoard), calculate your score, and if you’re not satisfied, then find a private tutor. I used to think the same as you when I was a freshman (I’m a junior now), but my private college counselor recommended a tutor, and she is amazing. I’ve learned strategies I wouldn’t have mown without her. I think you should try to find a really good tutor if you can.</p>
<p>I think you don’t need it, I know a lot of people who practically spent their time just doing practice tests and they did really well (2000+).</p>
<p>One good thing about having a tutor is that they keep you focus on studying. But if you are dedicated enough to spend a couple of hours studying then you don’t really need it.</p>
<p>It’s really up to you though, if you think you need a tutor then go for it.</p>