| This is a universal question. Should your teenager | | | | universities are typically a good fit for these teens; |
| take a prep course, get a tutor, or buy some | | | | teens who need less competitive admission |
| software in order to get an edge on the SAT test? | | | | standards, and a school with many options. Studying |
| The answer depends wholly on what your student's | | | | for the SAT tests would only be necessary if they |
| goals are, what colleges or universities they plan on | | | | needed a boost in their test scores to get into the |
| applying to, how their grades and previous test | | | | public university in your home state, or if they have |
| scores are, and whether or not they plan on | | | | their sights on an out-of-state institution with slightly |
| participating in college-level athletics. | | | | higher admission requirements for you as an |
| For most parents of college-bound high school juniors, | | | | out-of-state applicant. |
| the process of helping their teen navigate college | | | | Another type of college-bound junior is one who has |
| applications, essays, teacher recommendations, and | | | | been involved in school activities, and strives |
| standardized tests is daunting. There are no quick | | | | academically. They have done well in honors classes, |
| answers, and there is a plethora of conflicting | | | | while maintaining a high profile in school clubs, in the |
| information. | | | | arts, or as an athlete. This student has many options |
| In order to help demystify the world of college | | | | with regard to colleges. They can work toward more |
| applications and SAT tests, we can start from the | | | | competitive universities or they can apply to smaller |
| beginning. We'll go over what your teen thinks they | | | | colleges depending on their future interests. Preparing |
| want to do, what they have done so far, and finally, | | | | for the SAT tests for this type of student is a |
| given all that, what their choices are. | | | | prudent course of action, especially since there is |
| What Do They Want? | | | | most likely a wide variety of colleges they will want |
| The most important differentiation a parent must | | | | to apply to. Achieving the test score that represents |
| come to realize is that between what their teen | | | | their abilities, and not their fear or dislike of the test, |
| wants, and what they as a parent want for them. | | | | is only possible with sufficient test preparation. |
| 100% of the time there is a vast chasm between | | | | Some teen's high school experience has been mostly |
| your teen's goals and your goals for them. Okay, | | | | painful. They have struggled socially, have been |
| that is all fine and good, you say, but my teen will do | | | | extremely shy, or have had interests that took them |
| what I tell them to do, especially since I am paying | | | | away from the mainstream activities of their school |
| for it all. True, true. But your myopia on this topic can | | | | peers. These students are typically very bright, and |
| become incredibly costly. At some point, the young | | | | should be college-bound, but tend to fear college will |
| adult inside the teen you live with now, will | | | | be a repeat of the popularity contest found in high |
| individuate, or become their own person. | | | | school. Very often their reticence and indecision |
| When that happens, if they are dutifully going to | | | | about college determines their future, instead of their |
| Your School Of Choice, because they love you and | | | | interests and dreams doing so. As a parent to this |
| want to please and respect you, they will have an | | | | type of teen, the best course of action is to |
| incredible "quarter-life crisis," and, most likely, drop out | | | | encourage them and help them through the scary |
| of college, or transfer to another university. Although | | | | process of applying to college. They would do |
| this redirection is good for them, it is incredibly costly | | | | fantastically well in a smaller college setting, and will |
| to you: classes don't transfer and have to be | | | | find their magnificence in the process. Some SAT |
| retaken, books have to be sold and bought again, | | | | preparation would be good for them, but not if it |
| etc. What could have been a four to five year | | | | becomes a power struggle for them to do so. Most |
| experience will definitely turn into a five to seven | | | | smaller colleges have more lenient admission |
| year one. | | | | requirements, so although SAT test scores are |
| So back to the question worth thousands of | | | | required, the average score is lower than in the more |
| dollars...what do they want? | | | | competitive universities. |
| Do they want a small liberal arts school? A large and | | | | The teen athlete who has universities and colleges |
| dynamic university? A research haven? A party | | | | vying for their attention is a student who will only |
| school? Or a great athletic institution? Do they want | | | | benefit from test preparation if their test scores are |
| to live near home, by the beach, near skiing, in a city, | | | | below NCAA standards. Otherwise, university |
| in the country? | | | | coaches tend to be able to help this student through |
| Take the time to help them sort out what it is they | | | | the admission process. Emphasis for this student |
| want. Help them discover what type of school would | | | | should stay more on their athletic activities and on |
| inspire them. Would it be a place where they could | | | | keeping up their grades than on lengthy test |
| easily change their mind? What type of school could | | | | preparation. |
| they see themselves graduating from? | | | | The last type of college-bound teen we will discuss is |
| What Have They Done? | | | | that student who has struggled academically due to |
| Up to this point, as a Junior in high school, what | | | | learning differences. They may or may not have |
| interests has your teen explored, and what have | | | | gone through their schooling with and IEP or a 504 |
| they accomplished? This is more than What Is Their | | | | plan, a plan the school has used to offer them |
| GPA, and What Are Their Test Scores. What is the | | | | accommodation in their studies, and they tend to be |
| whole picture of your teen? Do they like sports, | | | | bright but largely misunderstood. Lengthy SAT |
| drama, art, music, philanthropy, socializing? Are they in | | | | preparation (preferably private tutoring) as well as |
| clubs or teams? Have they done volunteer work or | | | | special accommodations on the SAT test are highly |
| been employed? Do they have hobbies, interests, | | | | recommended. These students can achieve incredible |
| dreams? Are they shy and retiring? Do they have a | | | | things if only given the chance. They have suffered |
| group of friends? By looking at what things have | | | | daily failures, and tend not to take chances or really |
| inspired your teen up to this time in their life, you can | | | | strive in their academic endeavors because of it. |
| help your teen peek into the future and imagine what | | | | Applying to a college that will offer study |
| might interest them, both socially and academically, in | | | | accommodations, and extra resources is the best fit |
| the future. | | | | for these students, and they can thrive in a positive |
| What Are Their Choices? | | | | environment. |
| For some teens, their most important desire after | | | | We have gone over some aspects of the college |
| high school is to stay near home. Perhaps they have | | | | application process, with an emphasis on whether or |
| had jobs or maybe have struggled in high school, and | | | | not your teen should study for the SAT. Knowing |
| going to the local junior college, having a job, maybe | | | | what your teen wants and what they have achieved |
| playing sports in a smaller, less competitive setting, | | | | in their high school endeavors is an important part of |
| and working toward transferring into a large | | | | deciding how to address SAT test preparation. There |
| university is a fantastic idea. These types of students | | | | are many courses available nationally, fabulous |
| DO NOT NEED TO TAKE THE SAT TESTS AT ALL! | | | | software study programs, and burgeoning SAT |
| They absolutely do not need to study for a test | | | | tutoring businesses in most urban and suburban areas |
| they don't need to take. | | | | around the country. With so many choices, it is hard |
| For some teens, high school has been a struggle | | | | to go wrong in guiding your teen. Mostly, just enjoy |
| academically, but they love to be involved, and they | | | | this process with your teen as much as possible, |
| enjoy staying busy. They want to meet new people, | | | | since they will soon be leaving home and striking out |
| try new things, and study a variety of topics until | | | | on their own. |
| they find what it is that they like. Larger, public state | | | | |