Contrary to the influx of criticism claiming the SAT test favors the wealthy (who are more likely to affort test prep services), I strongly believe there is no royal road to knowledge, and the SAT test is no exception. Sure, on average, test prep services such as SAT tutoring
and SAT test classes can have a positive impact by raising a student’s SAT score. However, with strong determination any student can apply the same principles used in prep services to maximize their score. (more…)
Panel of Experts
Karl Schellscheidt
SAT Prep Expert
- BSE, Princeton University '90
- M.A., Secondary Education Seton Hall University '93
- J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School '00
Fred Hargadon
Dean of Admission
- Swarthmore College
(1964-1969) - Stanford University
(1969-1984) - Princeton University
(1988-2003)
Don Betterton
Financial Aid Expert
- Director of Financial Aid, Princeton University (1973-2006)
- Certified College Planner
- Principal, Betterton College Planning
Seamus Malin
Admission Expert
- Harvard University
Dir. of Financial Aid
(1966-1977)
Asst. Dean of Admission
(1977-1987)
International Office Director
(1987-2002)
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There Is No Royal Road to Knowledge
Keeping Perspective: The College’s and Yours
Not one of us at Princeton who annually read and reread the thousands of applications for admission during my time as Dean believed either the process we used or the ultimate decisions we made to be perfect, whatever the criteria for perfection. Ultimately, however, to the best of our limited abilities we made those decisions. In doing so we tried, and I assure you that admissions personnel at Princeton and other schools around the country continue to try, to evaluate every application with an open mind, respect for each applicant as an individual, and no small measure of humility. (more…)
SAT Prep Tip – You Are Competing With Yourself
In this prepcast, I will share my thoughts on competition and achieving a maximum SAT test score. In short, you need to focus on yourself and what you can do; not others and what they are capable of doing. (more…)
A Parents Guide to SSAT Preparation
In this prepcast video, I will provide you with free SAT help and I will discuss how you as a parent can best help your child prepare for the SSAT. In particular, I address some issues to look out for when using the SSAT’s own study guide, entitled “PREPARING AND APPLYING
FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ADMISSION AND THE SSAT”. (more…)
Parents: Understand the PSAT Test and SAT Test Cycle
Parents usually ask: When should my child take the PSAT? Should they study for the PSAT? When should they take the SAT? What are good SAT scores? How many times should they take the SAT? The answers to those questions in general is what I call the SAT Cycle. Let’s explore this some more…. (more…)
Don’t Game the System for College Admissions
Our own Fred Hargadon comments this morning in the Washington Post that students should not pursue specialized activities solely on the basis of college admissions. Rather, be yourself and discover your passion.
“But I have too many memories of great kids that really didn’t have one outstanding characteristic but seemed like they just would be great people to meet, to know, to go to school with and would have a high growth potential. . . They often turned out to be the ones who made the class gel. And I worry that they will slip through the cracks if everybody is categorizing them.”
SAT Math Factoid: “Even” Does Not Mean “Positive”
This might seem like common sense, but don’t underestimate your ability to confuse basic concepts such as “even” and “positive”. Join me in this prepcast as we discuss the potential SAT Math problems pitfalls and how best to avoid them. Click on the “Play Now” button below to get going. (more…)
The SAT Essay Gets A Big Yawn
A recent New York Times article discusses the tendency of many colleges to ignore SAT essay scores when reviewing applications. Some colleges are even ignoring results of the Writing section completely. (Note: While it is scored separately on a 0-12 scale, the essay accounts for 30% of the Writing section’s 800 points.)
“We didn’t look at even one of the essays†or consider their scores, says Lee Stetson , dean of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, echoing the sentiments of colleagues at Harvard, Brown and Dartmouth.
The article bears out what I have seen on a small scale and somewhat anecdotal basis — colleges are not sure what to make of the new SAT Writing section and its 25-minute essay.
How to Approach SAT Reading Passage Questions
In this prepcast, we’ll discuss how to handle the reading passage questions on the SAT exam. You might be surprised, but these questions are less about comprehension than knowing what to look for.
(more…)
The SAT Writing Section is Coachable Admits College Board
The College Board, the entity that administers the SAT, admitted at an annual meeting held this week that the SAT writing section is coachable. Furthermore, the College Board, which has recently come under fire for increasing the length of the SAT to a grueling 3 hour and 45 minutes, announced that it would not consider proposals to offer math, critical reading and writing as separate subject tests that could be taken on separate test dates.