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On July 05 2009 21:53 theonemephisto wrote:
I fail to see why people say US high schools are a joke because they don't prepare you for SATs. SATs aren't really designed to be prepared for, especially in a school setting, they're trying to test abstract reasoning (and vocab), not really as much knowledge. I know there are plenty of good reasons why US schools are a joke, but I would be extremely angry if my teachers spent any amount of time trying to prepare me for the SATs.
quoted for goddamn truth
there's a lot of whining in this thread, the SAT does an exceptional job at what it aims to do, you kiddies should be lucky that you have a writing section now
i am of the opinion that other than reviewing some vocabulary and math concepts (if you are good at math, it's likely you took a geometry course years ago), studying will have a limited amount of success. i used to work for kaplan, and the most success i saw was students around the 1000 range (this is on the old scale) pull their scores up to 1200, or students around 1200 get up to around 1300. i almost never saw anyone above 1300 move their score in any appreciable way. i had a lot of kids who were scoring right around 1400 try to break 1500 and never get there. there's always some testing error, which is the best reason for taking it multiple times, but realize the limitations of studying.
this probably sounds redundant, but here's the most important advice: get a lot of sleep, eat something healthy, and take the test with confidence. the student who walks into the test frazzled and exhausted is doomed before the test even starts.
also, this is a bit of a tangent, but let me edit something posted previously and say:
the school you come from >>>>>>>>> SAT >>>> GPA > essay
sad, but true, it's not an equal playing field out there and never has been
GL!
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I love how everybody on this forum is genius who got like 2400 on their SATs :p
But yeah, I took an SAT class but with self motivation and drive you can do all the work from the class on your own. After the class, I took the test and I wasn't satisfied with my math score, so I took 7 practice tests in SAT guide books. It paid off, because my math score was 700 points higher when I took the test again.
The moral of the story is to study and do what works for you 
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ACT>SAT imo, The ACT is just 4 straight forward sections (well the science section is anything but straight forward... I've never taken another test like it lol) but there is English, Reading, Math, and Science.
On the other hand the SAT is like 12 sections and they just keep coming.... It's repetitive and boring...
I have a better idea. Why study for the SAT and maybe get an ok scholarship (lots of people posting here are asian anyway and that means a perfect score doesn't even make you stand out that much). Instead start playing poker for hours everyday and become a millionaire easy. I have rekrul's blog to thank for my newly found outlook.
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8748 Posts
On July 06 2009 04:10 Jonoman92 wrote:
I have a better idea. Why study for the SAT and maybe get an ok scholarship (lots of people posting here are asian anyway and that means a perfect score doesn't even make you stand out that much). Instead start playing poker for hours everyday and become a millionaire easy. I have rekrul's blog to thank for my newly found outlook.
Most folks go to college for reasons other than resume-building.
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kaplan is a piece of shit
i suggest Up your score or princeton review
and no not that many asians get perfect scores, the average asian SAT score is only around 20-30 points higher than average white score
if you get very strong SAT scores (2350+) then that will help even when you graduate college
a lot of elite recruiting firms will look at your SAT scores
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i'm not sure which "elite recruiting firms" you are talking about, but SAT scores are absolutely irrelevant once your undergraduate acceptance letter comes
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On July 06 2009 04:10 Jonoman92 wrote:
I have a better idea. Why study for the SAT and maybe get an ok scholarship (lots of people posting here are asian anyway and that means a perfect score doesn't even make you stand out that much). Instead start playing poker for hours everyday and become a millionaire easy. I have rekrul's blog to thank for my newly found outlook.
i'm just assuming this is a joke
it is, right?
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On July 06 2009 00:57 Empyrean wrote:
Most culturally biased old SAT analogy ever:
Marathon::Runner
Regatta::\???????
loal.
HAHAHA. That's hilarious.
On July 06 2009 05:43 roflMe wrote:
and no not that many asians get perfect scores, the average asian SAT score is only around 20-30 points higher than average white score
Part of that is deflated by poor English skills. I knew people who got 800 math and like... 300-400 verbal back when the SAT was out of 1600. If anything, Asians do better on average because they probably study more.
Anyway, like everyone else said, taking practice tests from books will help you.
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3861 Posts
On July 06 2009 03:12 Jayme wrote:Show nested quote +On July 05 2009 19:38 lilsusie wrote:
yeah, the US curriculum in HS is not gonna help you with SATs. you're better off studying for them independently.
When applying to colleges in the US, your SAT scores, your SAT II scores, GPA, Extra curricular activies, awards and essay are the components that will get you in. Because of uh how the economy blasted university attendance it's basically now SAT scores > GPA >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Essay. Transferring from a community college to a university is also so much easier now than it was even 2 years ago. Several good four year universities are getting mildly desperate to get more people in.
... I work as a college consultant injunction with past admissions officers who used to work at ivy league schools. I'd like to think that I know what I'm talking about. If you are not a US citizen and trying to get into a US school, you're on a different playing field than US citizens or alien residents.
It's usually easier to raise your writing score than the reading, as the CR section is basically a knowledge of vocab and comprehension while writing is grammar and essay.
If you study independently, get the most recent books. Don't study off of the past 1600 based tests because, as mentioned, the analogies have been taken out and now there are short passages instead. Practice is basically the best way.
There are 5 answer choices - if you can eliminate 2 or more, go ahead and guess the answer. If you can only eliminate 1.. or none at all - dont bother guessing, just skip it and go onto the next one. You get 1 point raw score for every correct question and - 1/4 a point if you get it wrong.
If you have any other specific questions, feel free to PM me.
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On July 06 2009 08:38 benjammin wrote:
i'm not sure which "elite recruiting firms" you are talking about, but SAT scores are absolutely irrelevant once your undergraduate acceptance letter comes
i go to a top 10 university in America
i know what i am talking about when i say that a lot of top firms will look favorably upon high SAT scores. Some firms even request them
you probably went to a mediocre school so those firms probably don't recruit there
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i went to harvard, but thanks, you're clearly trolling
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sure you did
edit: sorry maybe you majored in something useless like history of religion or philosophy so the firms you were looking at probably didn't care about your quantitative/analytical skills
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boy, what a nice guy, but back on topic:
the SAT tests pretty universal concepts, if you can find a book with practice tests i'm sure you'll find you will perform fine, there's nothing we teach in our high schools that prepares students specifically for the test
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Alright so it seems like it's just better to stay here in NZ and prepare through workbooks rather than going back to US. Also doesnt seem like there would be any disadvantages of studying for SAT overseas.
How would universities look at GPA if the GPA system in US is different compared to NZ?
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3861 Posts
US universities obviously take that into account. When you send your marks all through grade 13, they have a rubric they will most likely use in figuring out what your GPA would be in the states.
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On July 06 2009 05:40 Liquid`NonY wrote:Show nested quote +On July 06 2009 04:10 Jonoman92 wrote:
I have a better idea. Why study for the SAT and maybe get an ok scholarship (lots of people posting here are asian anyway and that means a perfect score doesn't even make you stand out that much). Instead start playing poker for hours everyday and become a millionaire easy. I have rekrul's blog to thank for my newly found outlook. Most folks go to college for reasons other than resume-building.
I don't think I really said anything about resume building in my post. I mean I do see how college can be an enriching life event for all the reasons that are non-tangible and I'm going to college as well. My post was a semi-joke because I'm not sure if I believe it or not (I'm not doing so great at poker so far, so probably not). I think university's main goal is to train for a career though because that is the point of it after all, and to get a liberal education so one can think critically and that jazz.
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On July 06 2009 08:39 benjammin wrote:Show nested quote +On July 06 2009 04:10 Jonoman92 wrote:
I have a better idea. Why study for the SAT and maybe get an ok scholarship (lots of people posting here are asian anyway and that means a perfect score doesn't even make you stand out that much). Instead start playing poker for hours everyday and become a millionaire easy. I have rekrul's blog to thank for my newly found outlook. i'm just assuming this is a joke it is, right?
Eh... no not really... I just believe that studying for the SAT is almost like cheating in a way and it is defeating the point of the test.
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i'd say this in general for college apps
try as hard on your college apps (how hard in school, how hard on your extracurrics) as you want to try in college
if you work your ass off to get to a top5 college, you'll be in the lower half of that college because there'll be plenty of people who didnt have to work their ass off to get in
if you work a comfortable amount, the colleges you get into should be more comfortable for you
unless you're ultradedicated/hardworking, sometimes its more about fit than pure ranking
P.S. though obviously making all your work translate well onto your college app is a different matter from actually doing the work
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16981 Posts
While we're on the subject of colleges, I think the best thing to do is to pick a school that you like and suits you. There's no point going to a school for prestige if you're going to be miserable and hate being there for four years of your life. Above all, I think college is about forming relationships, getting a feel for what the real world is like, and learning something that you enjoy and will benefit you for the rest of your life.
Personally, living in Indiana through college, I hated the weather and how boring it was. So, when it came time for me to apply for colleges, I decided that I wouldn't apply to any schools north of Indiana. I applied only to schools south of where I was, with good weather, local atmosphere, student life, and things to do on the weekends. Student culture was also really important to me, so eventually, I decided to go to a school with a vibrant student life, absolutely gorgeous campus, fun/friendly people, amazing weather, and good food.
I'm so much happier there then I would be at some cold, stuffy northeast school where I wouldn't be enjoying myself.
So yeah, get some good SAT scores, but really think about where you want to be for the next four years.
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But don't take that to the extreme, and only apply to southern california schools, schools in arizona, and schools in florida
Make sure that the school you want to go to is actually a good school ><
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EPT
