Nicole Meyers Has Test Prep on Her Mind

School’s out, but Port Washington resident Nicole Meyers has test prep on her mind. A rising Cornell University sophomore, Meyers spends part of her summer working for Revolution Prep, a company that helps high schoolers ready for the SATs, and perhaps boost their scores by as much as 200-300 points. Patch caught up with Meyers and asked about her experience.

What made you work with Revolution Prep? Had you looked into other summer jobs?

I felt as though they had developed a very unique and beneficial program. I remember how stressful the SATs and college admissions as a whole were for me, and I was excited at the chance to help students improve their scores on their SATs, while making the whole process a lot less stress-inducing. I like the strategies that Revolution Prep emphasizes and I feel as though they have a curriculum that is really geared to helping students improve. Thus, I am confident in the material I am teaching and am eager to help students reach their goals. I also have always had a passion for tutoring and teaching, as it makes me proud to see students who I have worked with succeed.

Another part of the program that I loved was how I have such a huge role in ensuring the program succeeds. I am responsible for the finances, the marketing and anything else that goes into making a small business successful. It is a really unique opportunity and I have already learned so much.

In terms of other jobs over the summer, I am also interning at LIJ Medical Center three days a week and in my spare time, riding my horses.

How does the tutoring work?

The class is a three-week intensive class with six three-hour class sessions, all held at . Additionally, there are five four-hour proctored exams dispersed throughout the weeks of the class. These proctored exams are an extremely important component of the course as practice has proven to be very helpful in raising students’ scores. There are also a few private tutoring sessions included in the course.

What's the mindset of students in the summer – are they up for preparing for SATs?

Many students are not so keen on studying during the summer, but by the same token, most know just how important the SATs are in college admissions and are thus, willing to sacrifice a bit of their summer to prepare for them. Also, if you really think about it, the classes are in a very concentrated time frame and therefore, do not take up as much time as you may think. Doing well on the test takes practice, so starting to prepare early is key!

What is the best tip you have for students who will be taking the test?

…. Prepare! Whether it be with my class, another class or on your own, the key to doing well is to come into the test prepared and ready to beat it! The test is predictable and there are so many strategies/tips that can really help you succeed. Just remember how important the SATs are and how much control you have over your final score.