PreludeInE

Thanks, Reckie. I do think I need to have more examples prepared. I've been using Nicholas Nickleby, Pride and Prejudice, North and South, Lord of the Rings, and made-up personal examples mostly. I think I have been wasting a good chunk of my 25 minutes trying to apply those limited examples to the prompt. I'm going to review some spark notes as you suggested and try to write a timed practice essay either tomorrow or Monday. We'll see how that goes...

I'm glad Chung's is working for you. I'm going to finish Gruber's before I make a second attempt at learning the tips.

Anyway, I'm sort of modeling my study plan after the plan outlined in this thread:
My Fast SAT Prep Guide: How I went 2080 -> 2340 In 10 Days. You may have read it before; I just thought I'd post the link since I found it quite motivating/inspiring.

Reckie

October 11th, 12th, 13th.

Haven't done anything the past three days. Been out with friends and I'm definitely heading in the wrong direction. I realize that Dr. Chungs is too advanced for me, and I'm going to put it off until I've used everything else.

I ordered Rocket Review and Grubers Math today, and hopefully these will put me back on track. I need to catch up with my Critical Hits words and Chungs tips tomorrow, and just start grinding through questions.

I'm ready for 5+ hours of studying tomorrow. Nothing less.

Reckie

October 14th.

Pretty much forgot to write one last night. I started working on the examples for my essay, and worked on common writing and grammar errors. TONS of homework, so not sure how much I'll be able to do (today).

nuregaolife

I'm asian guy, I'm taking SAT this November first time...

Reckie

Good luck!

Spykid9849

very weak with writing section!i can write ok essay but i cant find errors and correct them! anyone can suggest me lessons that i can take to improve my sense of grammer??

Reckie

October 15th and 16th.

Days keep passing by without me doing anything! It's bad. I got Grubers in the math so I'll be doing HOURS in it tomorrow. I NEED to catch up on my SAT words, and I've given up on Chungs.

Grubers + Vocab. Back on track let's goooo.

Smarty1201

Since you're a senior, isn't this a little late for you to be taking the SAT? Because you guys turn in college ap in like December right? Idk because I don't know when to take the SAT either...

Reckie

The earliest school I'm applying to is Bing Early Action. The deadline is the 15th. Binghamton said specifically not to rush the scores in November, and they would get them with plenty of time. However, if I did take it in December it would be a little late. It depends on the schools you apply to, but November is likely my last time.

Marie96

I'm a senior and I'll be taking it in Nov, Dec, and possibly Jan.
I'll be applying RD, so, I have time.

@Reckie,
My Math score is around the same as yours. I got Grubers, Barrons, and Pwn the SAT for the Math. Idk if you've received Grubers yet, but it seemed wayyy above my level and that was just in the first couple of pages into it. Lol, I didn't even bother buying Chungs!

My main problem is staying focused and concentrating. Plus, when I get tired, I just can't stay focused at all! Guess it's time to start opening the several bottles of 5hr energy that I purchased two weeks ago! Also, I think some of it may be due to lack of motivation...my goal is 2000+ but I just sometimes can't get the motivation to open the books.

Anyways, good luck to all y'all!

Reckie

Marie96^, I just started Grubers but it seems doable. Chungs is just absolutely insane. Thanks for mentioning Pwn the SAT, I actually ordered it just now.

October 17th.
Yet again I've gone a day without accomplishing what I intended to do, but I learned a lot anyway. Found out that my senior grades don't factor in to my GPA so I'll be at a 3.2 when applying. Horrible. I have no reason to care about school anymore as long as I don't do so terribly that a college will revoke their acceptance. This was the first year I've had straight A+'s and I have no motivation to work any longer. Pretty depressing, honestly.

I've also realized that Binghamton EA is the only school I would be applying to before regular decision, so I've decided to hold off on it and just apply regularly. Since I haven't given out any of my letters of recommendation, filled out the self eval or anything my guidance councilor asked me to do, and I'm going crazy as it is, I think this will be good for me. I'll have an extra few months to do everything I need to do; I can write an amazing essay, give all my teachers and guidance more time to do their part well, as well as give myself more time to study and even take the SAT in both December and January which were off the table prior. I know I can pull off a 2100 with my newly found time, and a lot of pressure has been taken off tonight.

In other news... Amazon Prime is AMAZING. Free trial and you get 2 day FREE delivery on everything. I ordered 5 more SAT books tonight at about $10 each with free 2 day shipping.

Now I have the Blue Book, both additions of Direct Hits, Grubers Math, Barrons 2400, Dr. Chungs, and coming in the mail will be Rocket Review(Got it for $120 new, and I can probably resell it for more haha) as well as Pwn the SAT: Math, Kaplan SAT 2013, Kaplan SAT Math Workbook, Princeton Review 11 practice tests, and Princeton Review: Cracking the SAT 2013.

I have all the tools I need to study, and now it'll be up to me to actually do it. I stopped my tutors which, honestly, was never for me. It was just one more thing NOT to look forward to over the week, and it saves my parents over $200 a week now as well. Considering I got all of the above books for about $200, I don't regret buying any of them.

I handed my mom $100 for all the books I purchased but she refused to take it. I'll use it for ice cream instead.

Marie96

I made the decision to apply Regular instead of Early too! Well, about a month ago, and it does decrease the pressure! So, good call on that!

Wow, you have almost all of the books I got/had! Btw, I noticed a few errors in the Princeton Review 11 Practice Tests. Just minor typos I guess. I do remember one question was impossible to answer because of that. Also, what is Rocket Review?

Yeah, a tutor isn't for everyone...including myself. For me, the tutor I was given by Princeton just couldn't help and identify my problem areas. Then they assigned me another one and all she did was just review over what I already knew. Hey, I can self study my way through it better than spending bank on the tutors.

May I ask what you plan on majoring in? And are you going to take any SAT II's?

Reckie

@Marie96, Rocket Review is an older book but it's been the most highly recommended book for CR by a ton of people on CC.

I had the same experience with tutors, and when you're paying them $2 a minute it makes me feel guilty as well.

If I go to Bing I love their Philosophy Politics and Law major (PPL) but whatever I end up majoring in I want to go to law school.

I don't have plans for any SAT 2's. I dropped before taking bio because I wasn't prepared, and I have enough on my table with the SAT 1's as it is. Since my gpa is so low none of my potential schools require them anyway.

Marie96

@Reckie,
I don't understand why your school doesn't consider your senior gpa with your overall gpa. And wouldn't college admissions look at your schools grading system too if they were to really consider you?

Side question: How are your EC's looking?

Reckie

I'm honestly not sure either, but I was told explicit by my guidance councilor that this was the case.

My EC's are great, yet minimal. I did basically nothing in my last couple years. Basically everyone and anyone has a 90+ in my school where grades are inflated. Teachers rarely give less than a B, even if it is well deserved, yet they rarely give A+'s either, even if it is deserved. I found out early on that all the SUPA and CW Post classes made giving B's a middle ground betwen keeping students from complaining and keeping the universities from asking questions. How are your EC's?