Ivy Bound Test Prep : SAT Newsletter

College Prep Roadmap - Suggestions for Each Year of High School

Freshmen
Sophomore
Junior
Senior

Freshmen Year

Enjoy yourself. Take advantage of a broad range of courses if you can. That helps propel you to internships, summer jobs, and eventually colleges that coincide with what you really like.
There is no need to take the SAT I or PSAT during freshman year. Some students might want to take an SAT II subject test at which they are proficient in June of freshman year, at the conclusion of a course they are currently in. If this is the last year of a language in which you have done very well but don't care to continue with, then June might be the best time.
Do make sure you are taking Algebra I or Geometry, if you have not yet had both. If you are in a school where 9th grade is still middle school and one of these courses is not offered, insist that you be allowed to take one of these courses at the high school. And if your school is trying to place you in an "Integrated Math" program, get out. Their track records in helping kids for standardized tests and college level math are poor.
During the summer - READ! Too few kids read for pleasure and it hurts when it comes time to take the verbal sections of the SAT.
If you're one of those who wants to be ahead of the curve AND have had a semester each of Algebra and Geometry, consider taking the Ivy Bound course over the summer or summer/fall in preparation for the October or November SAT in 10th grade. Some of the skills we work on, particularly in reading, are beneficial for the rest of high school.
If you prove to be a high-flier with a chance at winning a National Merit Scholarship award, consider taking the PSAT in October of Sophomore Year. There is no need to take a separate course for the PSAT; the skills tested there are the same as those tested on the SAT I.

Sophomore Year

This year is KEY. Mediocre freshman year grades are often dismissed, but sophomore grades are not. Do well. Take challenging courses where you like the subject, especially if they carry extra GPA weight. Kids who have the chance to take "AP" courses and resort to the lower challenge course often regret it.
Do make sure you are taking Algebra I or Geometry, if you have not yet already had both. Note to students stuck in a "blended math" course - for most kids, they do a terrible job at preparing for the SAT. If the teacher is anything less than stellar, consider getting into a traditional math class.
In the winter or spring, try to line up a good summer experience. A job, an internship, or a summer enrichment program is not only beneficial for college admissions, it's usually rewarding in itself, and often fun. If you still want to spend most of your summer playing recreational golf at Dad's country club, make sure you get at least three solid weeks of volunteer experience or academic enrichment. Admissions officers are punishing qualified kids who don't seek to improve themselves over the summer.
Assuming you've had a semester each of Geometry and Algebra I, there is nothing wrong with preparing for, and taking, a spring SAT. Generally we suggest that that only be an SAT II (subject test). With preparation, however, there is no inherent reason why that SAT I score would not be strong. Whether you want to spend a lot of time preparing is your decision. Since SAT I prep takes time away from academics, we lean toward waiting until the summer. Colleges do not hold it against you for having multiple SAT test scores. The Sophomore year SAT can thus be a "practice test" or an attempt to nail a good score early.
Given that every college accepts multiple SAT score reports, the PSAT is of little use. Though it's considered a practice test, the format differs from the SAT. Unless you are a real high flier with a shot at a National Merit scholarship, or a recruitable athlete, there is no reward for doing well on the PSAT. For most students, our advice is to prepare for and take the SAT test instead, and not get worked up about the PSAT. Some colleges prefer not to see students take SAT I more than three times. The best way to do a practice SAT without it counting is to come to an Ivy Bound Practice SAT session. In many locales, we offer these free of charge two and three weekends prior to the October, November, December, and June SATs. (Taking an SAT and cancelling has merit, but you do not get to see your scores.)
Some students might want to take an SAT II subject test at which they are proficient in May or June of Sophomore year, near the conclusion of a course they are currently in. If this is the last year of a language in which you have done very well but don't care to continue with, then June might be the best time. We don't like seeing kids take more than two SAT IIs on a single test date. If you feel a need to take three, prep for each - don't "wing it".
During the Summer following Sophomore Year:

Enjoy yourself, but be businesslike in doing some academic enrichment AND having a game plan for the fall. A job, an internship, or a summer enrichment program not only benefits college admissions, it's usually rewarding in itself and often fun. If you still want to spend most of your summer playing recreational golf at Dad's country club, make sure you get at least three solid weeks of volunteer experience or academic enrichment. Admissions officers are punishing qualified kids who don't seek to improve themselves over the summer.
READ! Too few kids read for pleasure and it hurts when it comes time to take the verbal sections of the SAT.
If you're one of those who wants to be ahead of the curve AND have had a semester each of Algebra and Geometry, consider taking the Ivy Bound course over the summer or summer/fall in preparation for the October or November SAT in 11th grade. Some of the skills we work on, particularly in reading, are beneficial for the rest of high school.

Junior Year

Say hello to the college guidance office by early fall. Find out the exact dates when SAT I and SAT II will be given and schedule yourself to prepare for and take both. Preparing for most SAT IIs is a matter of opening your textbook and enlisting a teacher to prep you for the few areas you did not cover well. Familiarize yourself with the format and consider taking a mini-course for the SAT II.
The PSAT is of little use as a practice test. The format differs from the SAT test, and unless you are a real high flier or a recruitable athlete, there is no reward for doing well on the PSAT. The best way to do a practice SAT without it counting is to come to an Ivy Bound Practice SAT session. We offer these free of charge two and three weekends prior to the October, November, December, and June SATs.
In enjoyable subjects, take challenging courses, especially if they carry extra GPA weight. Kids who have the chance to take "AP" courses and resort to the lower challenge course often regret it.
Visiting college campuses is a matter of choice. Many students already know they are going to apply to a bunch of highly-ranked schools and will make visits only to the ones where they receive acceptances, in senior year. If you do want to make visits prior to then, make sure you note the college's schedules. You don't want to visit during finals time. September (or even late August for schools that start then) is a good time as the students are not under academic pressure that early.
In the winter or spring, try to line up a good summer experience. A job, an internship, or a summer enrichment program is not only beneficial for college admissions, it's usually rewarding in itself, and hopefully fun.
During the summer - A full time internship, volunteer work, job, or study program has become almost standard for college bound kids following Junior year. If you can afford a foreign study program, we highly recommend it. Foreign programs are among the most broadening experiences possible, particularly when the participants have daily interaction with non-American students and families. Kids who come back from even a one-week program often have a lot to talk about in college application essays.
If you have yet to nail down a great score on the SAT test, sign up for a summer class. You don't need to study for Math, Critical Reading and Writing if one of those sections is already solid. Concentrate on the one that's lacking by doing a partial course.

Senior Year

Hopefully, you're all done with the SAT test and can devote yourself again to school academics and school activities. Some kids even take on an after-school volunteer position one or two days a week. Whether you have a current work or volunteer activity or not, assess your past experiences and ask one or two of your supervisers to provide a recommendation. Do this early in the fall semester. Your goal is to get them back by mid-October so they can be part of an early admission packet.
You have fall semester for a final crack or two at the SAT. If your SAT scores are already strong, concentrate on making senior fall the best set of grades so far. Colleges respect improving GPA trends (but not as much as overall strong GPA). If both GPA and and SAT scores are not where you want them to be, at this point your guidance officer is the best person to help you structure your senior fall. Keep in mind that some college admissions offices are more GPA-oriented and some are more SAT-oriented. All other things being equal, recognize this: even perfect grades in one final semester can only do so much, since at least 4/5 of your record is already set in stone. By comparison, a good score on the SAT test can greatly compensate for mediocre GPA.
If SAT scores are not yet strong, but you are still aiming high, we typically suggest October and December. Though too late for "Early Decision," all colleges accept SAT scores from December. If your child cannot take the October test, I encourage signing up for BOTH November and December. Frame the situation as --
A) "We're scheduled for November and December. If you do great on the November test, you don't have to take the December; you're done and we'll just cancel for December" or
B) "We're scheduled for November and December. You have two opportunities to shine, so there's no pressure on this upcoming test."
Students sometimes resent the fact that after working hard for 2 or 3 years they STILL have to prove themselves on a test like the SAT. At most competitive four-year colleges, the SAT and SAT IIs combined are as important as three years of GPA. The high schools that recognize this and that foster targeted test prep are doing well for their kids. Schools that eschew "teaching to the tests" can rightfully be scorned as doing a disservice for their college-bound kids.
We don't contend that it's good that the SAT carry so much weight. But given the reality of school admissions, the fact that it does carry so much weight means we want to give every teenager possible the opportunity to maximize her or his score.