Online course helpful?

Alummom
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:07:16 +0000

I have a daughter who just finished her sophomore year and is planning to spend this summer to prepare for the SAT. I was thinking of a Princeton Review prep course, for which my main expectation would be for her to finish some number of practice tests and get introduced to basic test taking skills.
Reading many negative comments on prep classes, however, I started to think more about on-line courses (mainly for my D to learn basic test taking skills) and/or private tutoring, and am looking for your advice.

First, here is my evaluation on my D. She doesn’t seem to learn effectively in class room setting and likes to learn materials herself. But she definitely needs a direction and coaching, since I think she is not dedicated and motivated enough to analyze her weakness and next steps herself. She got close to 200 in PSAT and I hope her to get at least 2200 in the SAT.

Now, here are several plans and questions for you.

If she takes a formal prep course, is it better to do it in the summer or in the fall (or right before the test)?


2 Have any of you taken on-line prep courses? How did they work? Any recommended program (PR, K, something else)?

One option seems to do an online course with self-preparation first, and then to take a private tutoring if her practice score is still not close to the target. Perhaps, she will do online+self prep during the summer and go for further coaching in the fall if needed.
Money-wise, this plan would cost about the same or even more than a commercial prep course, and wonder if my plan is a wise way to go. Any advice?
For private tutoring, it seems not so promising to find a great tutor in our town, a small town far away from major cities. Thus, a possibility is to use an on-line tutor, perhaps for just one subject. Any experience with on-line tutors? If I hire an on-line tutor, do you have some suggestions on which part, CR versus writing and what/where to look for?


Thank you so much in advance.