<p>About me:
I took the SAT 3 times.
The first time I earned a 2010.
The second time it improved, but it was still under 2100.
The third time I earned a 2270 (Math:710, CR:760, Writing:800).</p>
<p>You do not need to be a genius to score well on the SAT. However, you do need to practice and learn how to take the test. I personally feel that most SAT prep courses are unnecessary and that you can learn everything you need to learn by completing the Blue Book. I can sum up the skills these courses try to teach you in the following points:</p>
<p>1)CR: Read each passage QUICKLY, underlining main points as you go. Identify the tone of the passage and ask yourself “why did the author write that sentence that way?” at significant points.
Math: Practice and make visuals when appropriate. Math was not my strongpoint, so I’ll abstain from saying much more than that.
Writing: Create a five-paragraph essay with a clear thesis. Try to use unorthodox examples and provide a “different” perspective if you have one to offer. However, be genuine. Genuineness is the key to good essays in general.
2) Attempt to answer the question in your mind before looking at the answer choices.
2) Eliminate any improbable choices. If you are able to eliminate even one possible answer choice, make an educated guess.
3) Practice! </p>
<p>If you do enroll in a prep course, find one that offers the opportunity to take several practice tests in a simulated test-taking environment. </p>
<p>Also, make sure you are well rested at least a week leading up to the test. Like many of you I averaged 2-5 hours of sleep during my high school years. You simply will not perform to the best of your abilities on such little sleep.</p>
<p>Don’t “half-ass” or “wing” the test. If I had appropriately prepared for the test from the beginning, I wouldn’t have had to take it so many times. </p>
<p>The best way to prepare for the SAT is to take challenging courses in high school. </p>
<p>My decisions to take “honors” and “AP” English classes during high school helped me develop the skills required to effectively tackle the CR and writing portions of the test. Learning Latin roots and Latin-based foreign languages may also help you determine the meaning of certain SAT words. Overall, it is much easier to improve your vocabulary and reading comprehension gradually through classes than it is to improve it in a short time span. </p>
<p>It isn’t necessary to take difficult math courses to prepare for the SAT. However, a firm foundation in math is invaluable for anyone who is considering pursuing a science or engineering major. I strongly recommend taking AP Calculus and honors or AP Physics during some point of high school. </p>
<p>Some words of advice on college:
- Which college should you attend?
It matters on what you want to do. However, it’s generally more important to choose to attend an undergraduate school that you will excel in than it is to attend the most prestigious one you are accepted to. This is because college classes are graded on a curve, and in most classes only about 10-20% of students earn A’s and A-‘s.
If you know you want to be a doctor but have a slightly questionable work ethic, pre-med at UC Berkeley might not be the best option for you. If you want to pursue engineering, however, and are certain you can achieve a 3.0 GPA, Berkeley is a recruiter hotspot.
As long as you perform well at a decent institution you will have a good shot at top graduate and professional schools. </p>
<p>2) How do you do well in college?
Many people screw up during their freshman year and spend the rest of their time in college trying to remedy past mistakes. Don’t be one of those people.
How can you avoid this?
Don’t procrastinate. Seriously. I’m not kidding. Cramming for tests works in high school. It isn’t an effective technique in college.
The questions on college tests aren’t straightforward. They require intimate knowledge of the (extensive quantity of) material and the ability to reason through abstract questions. Procrastination will lead to nothing but stress and the frustration knowing that you could have done better.
Organization is one of the key tenets of success in college and life in general. If you organize your day well you will have plenty of time to have fun while earning good grades. </p>
<p>3) What about post-college plans?
A stunning number of people graduate from college without any idea of what to do next. It’s an incredibly uncomfortable position to be in. </p>
<p>Therefore, develop some semblance of an idea of what careers you would like to pursue after college. This should be based on an honest assessment of your interests and skillsets. (If you hate engineering and are horrible at engineering don’t do it.) Then shadow or seek an internship in the field. Do this early! Join a pre-professional club to network and learn more about potential jobs. Your university’s career services center may or may not be helpful. </p>
<p>That’s the end of my long spiel. Good luck to you all on your SAT’s and college applications!</p>