Self-Studying vs Solid Prep Course

89wahoo
Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:27:34 +0000

Ok I will be the other voice here. My D has always had straight As in the AP and honors classes her school offers. She works her tail off to get these grades. Never had a B in her life. Etc. However, her SAT score didn’t reflect her grades. I bought a book and gave her two weeks of me just watching, not nagging, and she never opened it. She’s an athlete, plays club and high school sports, and has a minimal social life but one we certainly didn’t want to squash. She didn’t get to bed early or sleep late. We decided she would have greater success in a class where the time was scheduled and there were outside assignments. Her score went up over 500 points, and she got into UVA early action. Her brother, a junior, said he thought from watching her that the class was the best course of action for him too because he wouldn’t voluntarily put in as much effort as a class would mandate. He doesn’t have her work ethic; they are very different in that regard. No idea how it’s working yet since he hasn’t re-tested since starting. Both kids actually enjoyed the class though.
I think either one can work. It’s a matter of doing the one which will best help your child I think. By the way it wasn’t Kaplan or PR who taught this but a highly lauded local prep person, so if you do look at tutors, ask people for suggestions as the companies probably vary in their efficacy depending on the person leading the class.