<p>I’m currently 11th grade, and this is my fourth year in America. I’m trying to prepare for SAT, but I need some advice. For a immigrant like me, should I take SAT prep company’s courses or buy books and prepare it by myself? People recommended going to ACi or Elite for SAT preparation, but the prices are like crazy. It’s like 100 bucks per week. And I’ve experienced how those classes work. Just testing and testing. I wouldn’t mind if going to SAT prep company is the best choice for me. Just trying to get some different opinions from other people. I’m worried about my future, my Asian family members are all expecting me to go to UC. And I want to go to UC too. BUT I NEED TO PREPARE FOR SAT. BUT FOR A IMMIGRANT LIKE ME, HOW?</p>
<p>Have you tried doing a diagnostic test yet?</p>
<p>I did, I got like around 1200…</p>
<p>Well you still have a year. Read some of the posts here like Xiggi’s and Silverturtle’s tips; for reading, search “How to attack the CR section effectively”. It definitely helped. To me, 1200 seems like you’re not yet familiar with the test yet. A 1200 is a lot easier to improve than a 2000. So search for helpful info which you can acquire a lot here, and find out what your problem is. Get the Official Guide. I’m not an immigrant but I’m also an Asian international student. Hope this helps. ;)</p>
<p>I know there’s helpful guides in this forum, but I’m just wondering that going to a prep school or study by myself with these guides on internet, which one is the efficient way?</p>
<p>Prep schools/programs aren’t statistically very helpful. According to a research, they only raise an average SAT taker’s scores by 30 points. It’s probably going to be more effective when your scores are low, but studying alone is certainly one of the many favorable options because you can save money and use time more flexibly.</p>
<p>College Board has it’s own online course and study book which is not expensive.</p>
<p>[SAT</a> Practice Tests - Official SAT Prep Course & Study Guide](<a href=“The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board”>Product listing)</p>
<p>Eggopop, I beg to differ. My son almost got a perfect score on the SAT (2370) and he took an intense but expensive SAT course. He hadn’t taken the SAT practice tests before the course so we really don’t know where he would have placed but the outcome of the score was almost perfect. Where are those statistics coming from?</p>
<p>I went to Princeton Review too but it only raised my CR grades about less than 50. I then got a tutor also from PR but it only helped raised my grade to 550, and it wasn’t enough. I basically improved because I spent a lot of time practicing by myself. Tutors only taught me strategies and tips that I could actually find online or from books. On the other hand, my friend improved a lot at PR and got into UCLA so she was really glad she went there. It really differs. </p>
<p>@eggopop @auntbea I actually read the 30 point fact on a book too.</p>