My Aliso Niguel SAT Prep Branch - Week 7: Wrap Up

Over the last 7 weeks it's been a pleasure to bring you tips and advice on the SAT while running my SAT prep branch here in the Aliso Niguel area. I've had the opportunity to help almost 30 students improve their SAT scores, both in my group classes and through private tutoring. I've even seen some of the most dedicated students raise their score by over 400 points. My hope is that I have inspired confidence in my students by not only showing them that they can increase their SAT scores, but also by showing them that it is within their reach to get into the school of their choice.

In a couple weeks I will be heading to Paris to continue my studies through Tufts' study abroad program there. I will be there from September to June, learning about international relations, trade, and business. But before I go, I want to summarize a few key points about the test and the college admissions process so you too can get into a great school:

1. Anyone can improve their score - and by a lot. As I discussed , it is entirely possible to improve your score on the SAT because the test, despite what it claims, does not measure intelligence. It measures how well you can take the test. And I have seen every one of my students this summer improve their score.

2. The SAT is all about attitude. Having the right attitude toward the test can make all the difference. Learning to stay positive and stay focused on the test can by itself improve your score by 200 points! If you have a very negative attitude and doubt yourself, your score will show it. If you can get in the test zone, understand why you're taking the test, and feel confident in yourself, you're going to do a lot better.

3. . The students in my classes this summer who will be juniors next year have a big advantage over classmates that haven't started on SAT prep yet. They can take the test this fall, see how they do and then make any adjustments they need over the upcoming school year. You don't want to feel pressured going into senior year to improve your score, so get started as soon as possible!

4. Find a school that you'll love. This one isn't so much about the SAT, but then again, SAT scores are an inevitable part of the college admissions process. I just want to make sure that you take the time to choose out the best school for you. You'll be spending four years of your life there, so make sure that everything fits. Look beyond the school's average SAT scores for things like social life, academic strengths, location, and class sizes. Choose the school that fits both your goals and your personality and you can't go wrong.

Good luck out there!