<p>What is the general consensus about Review Companies? Do these review companies help "elite" students (2300 base)? I've read silverturtle's passage on review companies, but I'm wondering what the CC community says.</p>
<p>Review comapnies such as Kaplan, Princeton Review etc. are useless for “elite” students. They are useless for highly motivated students who are willing to study and put in effort. Prep classes are good for students who are in the <1800 range and know that they won’t study on their own. </p>
<p>I took a SAT class from Kaplan, and found it to be a waste of money. If you can score above an 1800, don’t waste your money.</p>
<p>CC tends to disfavor Review Companies. :D</p>
<p>i took teh kaplan course. everything that i was “taught” was in the barrons 2400 book. i actually am considering a local tutor for the summer along with self studying. kaplan is just an instructor telling you things out of the book that you can buy for <$30.</p>
<p>I’m planning on starting my self-study for the SAT over the summer, but I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing out on any useful information by saving $3500. I don’t understand why so many of my friends, who I think are “elite” students, take these prep courses.</p>
<p>^
Neither do I. Many kids need someone to hold their hands through the process. :/</p>
<p>^lol
Some kids don’t know about it. No one in my school knows.
I didn’t know myself until I took the class and found this website.</p>
<p>I got a 2390 in the May SAT, and I didn’t go to any prep classes. I really think they are a waste of valuable time. But for students who don’t want to study, it’s the only way I guess. At least the teachers and parents can force them.</p>
<p>But if you do well in English and math, don’t take prep classes. WASTE OF MONEY.</p>
<p>Alternative to prep classes: tutoring. :D</p>
<p>What do you guys think of the Ivy Insiders program? I haven’t heard too much about it, but I’m considering taking it…</p>
<p>@toystoryfan</p>
<p>The former student of my apush teacher who went to Princeton is back. And my teacher introduced him to us. He then talked about the *********** program. It seems to be alright, but I am not sure. He told us that we can work out any price. K might think about it.</p>
<p>I teach SAT classes and I see the value of both methods. The courses are great for students who do not have the discipline to self-study (which includes most high school students). They are also great for the auditory learner, one who needs to hear the information in order to better process it.</p>
<p>Most highly-motivated students can pick up all of the vital information on their own provided they are disciplined enough to actually do the work. I do recommend using good prep books, as people like me have already gone through the blue book and countless other previously-released SATs that you likely do not have access to, and analyzed them to discover the test question patterns and tested content. I think most students on CC are totally capable of doing that, too, but why, when it’s already been done for you? I spend 40 hours a week on the SAT, as do many of my colleagues, so why not use our expertise and spend your time studying the test patterns rather than finding them? </p>
<p>Some may find value in the process of finding those test patterns on their own (the best way to learn something is to teach it), and I would agree with them if they have 8+ months to study. But the Blue Book is not comprehensive; there are some rarely tested math concepts that do not appear in those practice tests (like overlapping groups). By using books from a reputable company, you have better odds of covering all tested material. </p>
<p>Even though I teach prep classes, I likely would not take one myself. I learn best by reading and working on my own, like many highly motivated people do. But if I were struggling with a subject area I would not hesitate to work with a tutor, especially if I found one who had attained the score I was trying to reach. I think it really boils down to each student as an individual; you know your strengths and your most effective way of learning.</p>
<p>Yeah, this forum is completely against any and all review companies. I admit, there are many, many, many focused students who are better off studying on their own, but there are just many, if not more, who would need the ‘forced focus’ of a class for SAT/ACT prep. Honestly, it’s kind of disgusting and annoying to deal with the many people who hijack every thread about SAT prep companies and proclaim studying on your own to be the best.</p>
<p>It really varies on how motivated you are and how you like to learn. I’d say the best thing to do is at least try both methods- sit in an SAT prep class if you can, and then try to work in from a book. </p>
<p>But don’t swallow the idea that a prep class simply won’t work- it very well may.</p>