SAT Prep - Are SAT Prep Courses Worth the Cost

Are SAT prep courses worth the money? Theres no doubt that  SAT prep is a big business -- hundreds of companies and private counselors make impressive claims about their ability to improve your SAT scores. Prices tend to range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the amount of in-person one-on-one tutoring you receive. Are these courses worth the investment? Are they a necessary evil for an applicant to be competitive at the countrys most selective colleges and universities? How Much Your Scores Will Improve A lot of companies or private counselors will tell you that their SAT prep courses will result in score improvements of 100 points or more. The reality, however, is much less impressive. Two studies suggest that SAT prep courses and SAT coaching raise the verbal score by about 10 points and the math score by about 20 points: A College Board study conducted in the mid-1990s showed that SAT coaching resulted in an average verbal increase of 8 points and an average math score increase of 18 points.A 2009 study by NACAC, the National Association of College Admission Counseling, showed that SAT prep courses raised critical reading scores by about 10 points and math scores by about 20 points The two studies, although conducted over a decade apart, show consistent data. On average, SAT prep courses and SAT coaching raised total scores by roughly 30 points. Given that SAT prep classes can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars, the average result is not many points for the money. That said, the NACAC study revealed that about a third of selective colleges stated that a small increase in standardized test scores could make a difference in their admission decision. Some schools, in fact, have a specific test score set as a cut-off, so if 30 points bring a student over that threshold, test prep could make the difference between acceptance and rejection. Test Preparation For highly selective colleges and universities, high SAT or ACT scores are typically an important piece of the admissions equation. They tend to rank right below your academic record in terms of importance, and your application essay and interview are often less important than the SAT or ACT. The reason for their importance is somewhat obvious: they are standardized, so it gives a college a consistent way to compare students from across the country and around the globe. High school rigor and grading standards vary considerably from school to school. SAT scores represent the same thing for everyone. That said, there are many situations in which SAT test prep would NOT be worth the money: Your top choice colleges are test-optional (see test-optional colleges). Many colleges and universities recognize that a single, high-pressure exam shouldnt carry so much weight in admissions decisions. As a result, they dont require SAT or ACT scores. Often these schools will require some other measure to ensure applicants are qualified: a graded high school paper, an interview, additional essays, etc.With your first attempt at the SAT, your scores are on the higher score range for the colleges that most interest you. Look through my list of A to Z college profiles to see 25% and 75% for all of the nations selective colleges. If your scores are up in the 75% range or higher, theres really no reason to take a test prep class in an effort to improve your scores.Your self-motivated and can teach yourself with a couple of test preparation books. Theres nothing magical about test-prep courses. They will provide strategies for test-taking such as how to eliminate answers and make intellig ent guesses when youre unsure of an answer. But books provide that same advice, and a good test prep book will also have thousands of practice questions to help you become familiar with the SAT. Test prep courses are useful for students who arent disciplined enough to study for hours on their own, but a diligent student can get the same benefit for hundred dollars less through independent study or group study with friends.   Find a Good Test Prep Course Its not possible for me to evaluate the thousands of private college admissions counselors out there. But Kaplan is always a safe bet with high customer satisfaction. Kaplan offers several options with a range of pricing: SAT On Demand Self-Paced Course  ($299)SAT Classroom Online ($749)SAT Classroom On-Site ($749)Unlimited Prep--PSAT, SAT, ACT ($1499) Again, there are lots of other options out there. Kaplan does guarantee improvement or you get your money back, a promise that youre unlikely to get from a private counselor (with some exceptions).

Summary Of Hills Like White Elephants - 830 Words

Daniel Mendrina English 102 Prof. Downing Short Story Analysis You are entitled to your opinion but you are not entitled to dictate others. In Hemingway s short story Hills Like White Elephants you see the journey of a couple facing a huge decision; most likely the biggest decision they have faced in their relationship thus far. The couple is faced with the decision on whether or not to have an abortion. The man clearly does not want the girl to keep the baby whereas the girl is unsure at times but for the most part wants to keep the baby. Hemingway uses dialogue to convey the story of the couple to you as if you were someone sitting in the restaurant eavesdropping. This allows the reader to read between the lines and interpret what is exactly the couple is speaking about. He also uses symbolism to help reveal to the reader a more in depth view of the situation. The American’s opposition towards the girl keeping the baby was shown by his complete disconnect from the fact that the baby was in fact a living being. He references the baby as â€Å"it† several times throughout the story. This was his attempt to dehumanize the baby as a tactic to convince Jig to go through with the abortion. This was not his only side of his argument. In ways he was naà ¯ve or just didn’t care about the risk she would be taking if she went through with the abortion. Abortions were illegal in the 1920’s and usually preformed by inexperienced people in unsanitary conditions. The American’s referencesShow MoreRelatedSummary Of Hills Like White Elephants 909 Words   |  4 Pages2015 Essay Responses to Short Stories Discuss possible symbolic representations in â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants†? In the story â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† the white elephant symbolizes a negative thing. No person would want anything to do with this. For example, the girl’s unborn child. In the beginning of the story the girl made a comment, and she said that the surrounding hills resemble white elephants. You may think the comment wasn’t unusual, but it really leads towards her talking aboutRead MoreSummary Of Hills Like White Elephants By Ernest Hemingway940 Words   |  4 Pages29 September 2015 Importance of Setting in â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† Ernest Hemingway’s short story â€Å"Hills like white Elephants† is a minimalistic story about a young American girl named Jig and her lover, an American man. Throughout the story, Hemmingway uses an abundant amount of dialogue so the reader can interpret that Jig and the man are contemplating some decision. Arguably, the setting is the most important aspect of â€Å"Hills like White Elephants†, and Ernest Hemingway uses setting subtlyRead MoreSymbolism In Hills Like White Elephants By Ernest Hemingway992 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1927, Ernest Hemingway penned a short story titled, â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants.† The story takes place at a train station in Spain and depicts a troublesome dilemma for the two main characters. The story begins with the characters casually discussing what kind of beer to partake in; the tone quickly shifts when the man mentions a surgery to his female friend, Jig. The reader is left to infer that the two characters are disc ussing an abortion. Ernest Hemingway uses symbolism throughout the storyRead MoreLiterary Criticism : Hills Like White Elephants1512 Words   |  7 PagesLiterary Criticism: Hills like White Elephants Author Information: Ernest Miller Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, the second of six children, and spent his early years in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago. Both his mother and father were active members of the First Congregational Church and ran a strict household. All their children were required to abstain from any enjoyment on Sundays, for example, and were strictly punished for any disobedience. Hemingway later condemned them for theirRead MoreHills like white elephant5316 Words   |  22 PagesHills Like White Elephants: The Jilting of Jig Hashmi, Nilofer. The Hemingway Review, Volume 23, Number 1, Fall 2003, pp. 72-83 (Article) Published by University of Idaho Department of English DOI: 10.1353/hem.2004.0009 For additional information about this article http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/hem/summary/v023/23.1hashmi.html Access Provided by Chulalongkorn University at 11/21/11 7:26AM GMT â€Å"hills like white elephants†: T h e j i lt i n g of j i g nilofer hashmi Georgia SouthernRead MoreTraditional Embroidery5821 Words   |  24 Pagesfabrics. Indi lies along the ancient trade across Asia. This has resulted in the introduction of many cultural and religious influences from other countries. India has very extensive coastline, which has enabled trade to flourish with many countries like Portugal, Holland, France, and Britain. These became invaders rather than trading partners, with obvious effects on cultures and crafts of India. The major influence on Indian textile was the Persian taste and tradition which prevailed during MughalsRead MoreEssay on Goldmining Business Plan3618 Words   |  15 Pagesbusiness becomes profitable it will make substantial reinvestments into the Company’s gold mining infrastructure. Additionally, the Company may seek to acquire additional land leases on proven grounds for gold mining. 2.0 Company and Financing Summary 2.1 Registered Name and Corporate Structure J.R Mining Company Limited. The business is registered as a for profit corporation in the State of South Yorkshire, England. 2.2 Required Funds At this time, the Company requires $25,000,000Read MoreCurbing Unemployment Through Skills Acquisition: a Study of the National Directorate of Employment (Nde), Kaduna State7193 Words   |  29 Pages(Deutsche. 2010) Developed countries which hitherto experienced full employment are presently affected. The situation in Nigeria is quite alarming as the unemployment rate tends to be on a perpetual rise. In nations, most especially, developing countries like Nigeria unemployment serves as a major yardstick for development as was rightly portrayed in Dudley Seers definition of development. Seers (1969) asserted that: The questions to ask about a country’s development are therefore: what has been happeningRead MoreGardening For Beginners : Gardening5513 Words   |  23 Pageswater garden can actually be very easy to grow. Examples of water gardens are Streams, Waterfalls, Fountains, Small water ponds and Container water gardens. PAGE 10 How to Choose What Type of Garden Is Best For You Water garden plants like water lilies, cattails, Lotus, Canna, Swamp Lilly, Louisiana Iris and Sweet flag are very good for beginners to use. 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Dreaming in Cuban Free Essays

Ricky Randazzo Dr. Littler English 190 8 June 2012 Section 1 2. Compare what Cuba means for Pilar in the beginning of Dreaming in Cuban with what it comes to represent by the novels end. We will write a custom essay sample on Dreaming in Cuban or any similar topic only for you Order Now Things that come to be expected can often be taken for granted. People who grow up in the United States come to expect certain freedoms because they have never been without those freedoms. Pilar in Dreaming in Cuban by Christina Garcia is no different. She was born in Cuba and was brought to United States when she was two years old. In the beginning of the novel Pilar dreams of being in Cuba, but by the end of the novel Pilar knows she belongs in NY. One night Pilar see’s her father with another women, she runs away to Miami to catch a flight to be in her beloved Cuba. Little does Pilar know her feelings about Cuba are about to change. Growing up in NYC Pilar doesn’t feel like she’s American or Cuban. This could be the reason for Pillar’s controversial painting of the statue of liberty. Pilar is an artist, specializing in more abstract paintings. Pilar feels that art is the best way to express oneself and capture the idea of rebellion, and revolution. She feels like her mother Lourdes took her from Cuba against her will when she was to young to realize. Pilar has not been back to Cuba or seen her grandmother since. Pilar wants nothing more but to go back to Cuba. In the beginning of the novel Cuba represents something that was taken from her, something she wants back, something she wants to be apart of, something that she feels like she lost. She feels like her mother Lourdes is restraining her from returning to her beloved Cuba. This is possibly the reason why Pilar feels more connected with her grandma Celia in the beginning of the novel than her mother Lourdes. Celia loves Cuba the way Pilar thinks she loves Cuba. Pilar and Lourdes eventually return to Cuba for a week to see the family, reuniting them with Celia. When Pilar is finally in Cuba she realizes that it is not what she fantasized it to be. Pilar starts to realize all of the poverty in Cuba. She states, â€Å" look at those old American cars held together by rubber bands, don’t you know you could have new Cadillac’s with leather seats and power windows† (Garcia 221). Pilar is still naive at this point in the novel. She doesn’t understand the poverty in Cuba. Pilar also realizes that her and her grandmother Celia aren’t all that similar. She was searching for a mother like relationship with Celia because she thought they connected better than her and Lourdes did; however Pilar realizes that they are way different. They are so different it’s almost as if they speak different languages. Pilar realizes the toll Cuba had on her grandmother, she is old and run down both physically and mentally. Pilar realizes that Cuba did this to her grandmother. Perhaps what solidifies Pilar knowing she belongs in NY is the scene where she gets hit in the face with the rock when trying to find Invanito. Blood is running down her face. She states that art couldn’t possibly capture what she was feeling at this moment. (Garcia)This is a way different Pilar then the beginning of the book. Where she believed that art captured this type of moment the best. Meaning that some things in life you just have to experience for yourself before you can have an accurate opinion. Pilar states that she belongs in NY by the end of the novel after being sure in the beginning of the novel that she belonged in Cuba. Pilar realized all the freedoms the United States gave her that Cuba couldn’t. Pilar realizes she couldn’t paint pictures she paints in the United States in Cuba. Pilar also realizes how serious the poverty and the fighting is in Cuba. Pilar realizes the toll Cuba had on her grandmother. Pilar like her mother Lourdes realizes how great of a place the United States could be. In the beginning of the novel Pilar took the freedoms that the United States gave her for granted, however only when she went to Cuba and had those freedoms taken away does she realize how great they really are. Section 2 1) Using a short story we have read and discussed during week 4, discuss how a parent/child relationship can enable but also inhibit an adolescent’s intellectual, emotional, and or spiritual growth. As a child you learn how to function in society by watching and learning from the people around you. The people that are around most as a child are your parents and siblings. A Parent/child relationship can enable but also inhibit an adolescent’s intellectual and emotional growth. In the short story â€Å"Bad Girls† by Joyce Oates, Marietta Murchison has three girls Icy, Orchid, and Crystal and their parent/child relationship does just that. Marietta is a single mom and her three daughters are in their teenage years. There are no instances in the text that suggest bad parenting from Marietta. She loves her daughters and puts them as her number one priory over everything else. She even puts them over her relationship with Drum. Momma made her decision, like throwing a bolt to a lock door forever, she believed icy. She would never waiver in believing in Icy. Saying, â€Å"Nobody hurts my girls and gets away with it†Ã¢â‚¬  (Oates 424). Of course having a mother who loved them and put them first before anyone else enabled them intellectually and emotionally. This allowed them to go to school and to have a home with love. However with rai sing children everything isn’t black and white, children learn things not only through experiences they go through but also the experiences their mother goes through. During the course of the story Marietta dates some guys, and it is implied that she has been dating guys for a while. The girl’s father left when they were very young so they already developed a negative connotation towards men. Their mom moves from one meaningless relationship to the next, their entire lives. This forces them to never trust any guy. They are confused and biased towards men. Orchard states, â€Å"Can a man have such feelings, like a women? Can a man be hurt? Is that possible? † (Oates). Orchards and the rest of the girls have a take on men that is severely skewed. The reason it is skewed is due to their mother’s relationships and experiences. Marietta Murchison was a great mom. She loved her girls very much and did everything in her power to protect them. This enabled her girls in a positive way to grow intellectually and emotionally. However her mom inadvertently inhibits their intellectual and emotional growth through her experiences and relationships. Her experiences and relationships force her girls to unintentionally distrust and misunderstand men. The Parent/child relationship between Marietta and her daughters enabled but also inhibited the adolescent’s intellectual and emotional growth. How to cite Dreaming in Cuban, Papers