Sat Test

Since there are a great many things to consider when you’re thinking about what you want to be when you grow up, you should probably make lists. Lists are wonderful things and can help you to remember things that you might otherwise forget.

For example, you’ve probably seen your mother write a grocery list when she goes to the store. If she doesn’t have her list with her, she may not remember to purchase the things she needs for the house. Having a list helps you remember things.

How do you remember other things? How do you remember that the admission deadline for a certain university is a particular date? Or that the registration for the SAT should be done far in advance of your admission deadline? Make a list if you can or use another form of remembering. If you have a blackberry or other electronic device that has a calendar on it, use it. Make sure that you look at it regularly so you don’t miss an important deadline.

If you don’t have an electronic device that can help you, mark it on a regular calendar. There are nice large desk calendars that show an entire month at a glance which are useful in helping you remember appointments or deadlines. Mark your admission deadlines on a calendar that you use regularly and make sure that the calendar is in plain sight so it’s not overlooked.

Another way to keep track of things is to use a calendar that fits into your notebook. Since you use your notebook every day for school, then you see it every day and you won’t miss a deadline if it’s clearly marked. Make sure your parents know when the deadlines are as well so they can help you as you prepare. Your parents are perhaps your best resource as you plan your future. Make them a part of it. Keep them involved and don’t forget to let them know just how much you appreciate their help. After all, you wouldn’t be here without them and they want you to succeed in life. Help them help you reach your goals.

Being a senior in high school can be a stressful time. You have to know and remember a great many deadlines. You need to get your senior pictures taken, order your cap and gowns, send out graduation announcements, plan a senior trip and perhaps you’re even thinking about what happens AFTER graduation.

College anyone?

Everyone likes to have choices and I can tell you that there are so many colleges to choose from that it will make your head spin. It’s a good idea to narrow your choices down by asking yourself a few questions.

Do you want to go to a four year or a two year college? Would you like to live near where you grew up, perhaps with your parents in order to save money or do you feel that moving across the country might be the way to go? Do you want to live in a large urban area or would you feel more comfortable in a rural setting? Is cost an issue? Is your best friend going to the same university you are or have you decided on a fresh start where nobody knows you? Sometimes a fresh start can be a good way to go.

Have you thought about wanting to pledge a fraternity? If so, then you’ll want to go to a university where there are frat houses to choose from.

The Princeton Review gives universities a rating on different things each year. Go to ThePrincetonReview.com and you’ll find that you can locate information for any and all colleges and universities across the nation.

You’ll be given enrollment, the ratio of students to faculty, general information, and statistics on the student body, campus life, extracurricular activities, academics and information for the disabled. You’ll also be able to see how your school compares to other universities in areas such as sports, academics, partying, libraries, how the school functions (like buttah?) and what clubs or extracurricular activities are offered.

Most portions of these school reviews have segments where the actual students attending the university wade in with their opinions on what their school is like. The Princeton Review will also give you admission standards for each school, tell you what sort of financial aid you can receive through the school, the school’s ranking and their admission schedule. Another aspect to consider is the grade point average of the student body, and what they consider in their admission process.

The Princeton Review can also help you apply or college admission, if that’s the route you wish to take. The site will give you the link to the university’s website, as well as information on the college tours there.

So if you’re looking at going to college, The Princeton Review is a great place to find information all in one spot about nearly every college across the country.

Now that you’ve decided to go to college, you have some big decisions to make. Where do you want to spend the next four years of your life? Do you want to be a doctor? Have you thought about perhaps being a vet or a businessman or even a teacher?

Teachers are in high demand right now and it’s a noble profession to consider. Maybe you want to become a nurse, a chiropractor or a physical therapist. There are so many career choices out there and only one you. What are your interests? Do you love animals and want to spend your life caring for them? Perhaps opening a business where you care or groom animals is something you’d be interested in taking on. Getting a degree in business would be to your advantage if you’re going to open your own business.

The high tech world is always booming and learning about networking and computer systems is always in demand and can be highly lucrative.

An excellent way to find out if a career is for you is to go on a job shadow. Perhaps someone you know has a career that you like. Ask them if you can spend the day with them, watching what they do and experiencing their job. A great many high schools have their seniors do a job shadow for part of their senior project. What better way to learn if spending your life working with yapping dogs is something you’d enjoy. If your high school doesn’t have a job shadowing requirement for your senior project you can always simply do it yourself.

There are many resources on the Internet that will allow you to find out about different careers and which one might be the one for you. Try googling career tests to find some free tests that will ask you questions and help you determine where you should best focus yur time and energy.

If you’re good at math and love to figure things out, then a degree in Engineering might be something you want to look into. If you enjoy helping people and taking care of others then nursing or other health related fields might be what you desire.

There is no end to what you can become if you put your mind to it. If you want to take your time to figure out what you want to major in, that’s fine too. Most schools allow you to not declare a major for a certain amount of time. This will allow you to take the core classes necessary for graduation while you make your decision on what you want your degree to be in. You will have the opportunity to speak to your college counselor if you’re having difficulties in making this decision. They will be able to guide you and give you more resources in order to help you determine what your major should be.

If you’re a senior in high school then you know that there are a lot of decisions to be made concerning your future. You’re probably trying to keep a high grade point average in order to get into college, because everyone knows that having a college degree translates into a better paying career down the line for you. If you’re also taking Advanced Placement Classes, then you already know a little bit about how a college class is going to feel. Advanced Placement classes are more difficult than your average high school class. You may be shopping around for a college and if so you should know that you’re going to need to fill out a lot of forms for admission. On top of all the admission forms, there are several other items that you will want to fill out.

FAFSA is the Free Application for Free Student Aid. This is federal program, and before you can even begin to fill out this FAFSA, you must first secure a pin number from the following website. http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp In order to get your PIN number, you will need to answer some questions and give your social security number. If you supply an email address, you will receive an email with a link telling you where to find your PIN number. This does not happen right away. A federal PIN number takes three to four days to be completed. Your mother or father can also fill out a PIN application because they will need to sign your completed FAFAS form once it’s completed. You will be able to sign your FAFSA form with your PIN numbers, unless you want to wait for a paper form to be mailed to you via snail mail. It’s far faster to sign electronically with your PIN number.

Once you have your PIN number, you can go to the FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before004.htm and fill out your application for student aid. Keep your PIN number in a safe place and do not share it with anyone, even if a person or organization is helping you fill out your application. This is an important number, one you will be using every year in order to access your records and sign a FAFSA each year you apply for federal student aid.

Before you even begin to fill out the FAFSA, you will need to have some information handy. You’ll need your social security number as well as your parent’s tax information for the preceding year.

There is a worksheet you can use before you actually fill out the FAFSA. I recommend using the worksheet because it will save you time in the long run.

After you’ve filled out your FAFSA, it will be three to four business days before your form is ready and you will be notified via email once it’s finished.

In order to receive any kind of federal student aid you must fill out the FAFSA. Each year you apply for student aid you will use this PIN number. Keep it as secure as you would your social security number.

Have you started your back to school shopping yet? Have you started your SCHOOL shopping yet? Yes, I meant to write that. School shopping. Shopping for a school. This means to go out and look at what’s out there and what you want in a university or college. If you haven’t done so, you might want to think about doing it as soon as possible. Shopping for a school is an exciting and lengthy process. Perhaps you already know what college you want to attend after high school. Maybe your mother and father met and fell in love at Harvard and they want you to go to their old alma mater. Perhaps they went to rival schools and now you’re torn between Harvard and Yale.

Whatever your choices, and there are many, you need to do what is right for you. You will be the one walking the campus, taking the courses, going to the football games and living in the dorms. Ok, maybe you won’t be living in the dorms, that’s entirely up to you and your financial situation. You need to find the right fit for you and for your career goals.

If you are fairly certain about which career path you want to take, then you need to make sure that the school you choose offer that degree. Some schools have more cachet than others, some very pricey and others not so much. If you want to live at home while you go to school in order to save money, then that is a consideration as well. Perhaps living at home is the last thing on earth you want to do and you’ve decided to move to the other side of the country for your higher education. That’s fine, as I said before it’s all a matter of personal choice. You are the one that’s going to be living with the choice of school and living arrangements. Make sure this is what you want and not something you’re simply doing to appease your parents. You are going to spending at least four years at this institution of higher learning, so make certain it’s a good fit for you.

Naturally you have transfer options if your first choice turns out to not be what you thought it was going to be. It’s a good idea to fully check out all your options, including physically visiting the university of your choice before you apply so you can see how it feels and look into all the nooks and crannies there. Walk the campus, ask the other students questions and learn as much as you can about the school. Go to the surrounding area and see what’s there. How does it feel to you?

Take the campus tour, either led by a student or take the virtual tour online, but do take a tour. It’s a good idea to make up a list of questions you want to ask before you go so you won’t forget anything. See? Even with campus touring, preparation is everything!

There are some experiences in life that will always stand out for everyone and high school is one of those adventures. Some kids are very popular in high school and some seem to be able to disappear from sight. Captains of the football team, cheerleaders and class presidents may seem to always be in control, to have it all and never suffer a moment of angst or break out in pimples at the wrong moment. You may feel that it’s just the opposite for you; a cute guy walks by and you can’t even croak out the word ‘hi’, much less smile at him because you’re so shy. Your face breaks out on the very day you have to get up and deliver a paper in your history class and you can’t even remember the combination to your locker. Life is tough and everyone seems to be having an easier time of it than you.

I have some news for you; it’s not true. Everyone suffers from feeling inadequate or feels that people are looking at them all the time. Some of the most beautiful girls in high school feel like they have no friends, and hate their bodies and faces. That tall forward on the varsity basketball team that always seems to be surrounded by beautiful people secretly thinks he’s not all that good at things anyway and is afraid to ask a girl on a date.

What I’m trying to get across to you is that we’re all human and we all go through experiences that are difficult on us. Life is a learning experience and challenges are a way of testing us and making us stronger. We learn from our experiences and we also learn from our mistakes. When you’re in high school, some mistakes can be more devastating than others. High school and being a teenager in general can make things seem like they are at ‘end of the world’ status, when in fact it is simply a bump in the road and once you’re past it you’ll be fine. It’s not easy to feel that way of course when things appear to be closing in on you, but it’s true. Learn to take a deep breath and take a step back from intense emotional situations. Once you have some perspective on things, perhaps it’s not as bad as you first thought. You’ll be surprised at how you feel when you look back on things later in life and realize that it wasn’t that bad to begin with and look how you survived it!

There’s a saying that goes, ‘it’s always darkest right before it goes pitch black’, but that’s not entirely true. I prefer the following little adage; it’s always darkest before the storm’. You know how things feel after a storm? The air is cleaner, purer and sweeter. Things are wonderful and you appreciate it all the more for having weathered the tempest. Hang in there. You’ll be fine.

It seems that more and more high school students, especially seniors, are attempting to cram more and more into every 24 hours. Between trying to keep up with their studies, they are involved in clubs, sports, music, volunteer work and study prep for the SAT. Since there are only 24 hours in each day, something usually has to give and unfortunately sometimes it’s a student’s health. And I’m not just talking about their physical health, although that too suffers; I’m talking about their mental health. While you’re keeping a 4.0 at school, learning Mandarin Chinese in spare time while running your non-profit business to help stamp out heart worm in dogs, you’re not leaving yourself much time for YOU.

Colleges are looking for students who are well rounded. This means that being involved in your community is a good thing. It means that volunteering and working and displaying leadership qualities is something to strive for in your life. In between all of these things, you should learn to make time for yourself.

I’ve learned that if I don’t slow down the pace of my life once in a while, then I’m no good to me or those around me. Stress can be a debilitating condition and you should not let things overwhelm you to the point that you feel as though you are sinking. Take some time for a hot bubble bath with some music playing in the background. Go for a pedicure or manicure or even splurge on a facial. If you’ve been cooped up for too long studying then get up and go for a walk, even if it’s just around the block. Your body needs to move and your brain needs the blood pumping in order for it to function at an optimal level. Make healthy choices in your food so you have the proper fuel to burn while you’re studying and working.

I’ve heard a lot of people, mostly women, who say that they feel as though they are being selfish if they take time out for themselves. This is not the case, rather it’s quite the opposite. Oh sure, you can overdo your ‘my time’ just as you can overdo most everything in life. Moderation is the key and you’re the only one that really knows if you’re reaching the end of your rope. When you start to feel that frazzle around the edges, talk to your parents or your friends. Take some down time and recharge your batteries. Go to a movie, or a dance. Read a good book that’s not on your reading list for the SAT or your Advanced Placement English class. Yes, you can read just for the pure enjoyment of it all.

Take time to take care of yourself and then go back to work on your goals with a vengeance; you will see a big difference. You’ll come back to your studies refreshed and able to concentrate better.

If you’re a junior in high school right now, you’re at the perfect spot to begin making some important decisions regarding your future. This is a good time to take the SAT, so go to The College Board at www.collegeboard.com to register for the exam and find out how they can help you prepare. Taking the SAT early in your junior year gives you an advantage over other students who may procrastinate taking the exam until their senior year. If you’re taking the exam early, then you get your scores back and if your score is less than what you need to get into a prestigious university, then you have time to retake the exam. You may retake the exam as many times as you like, but you should remember that each SAT you take will cost you money. If could be more cost effective to study up before you take the SAT in order to get the best possible score. That way you won’t need to retake the exam. However, if you do prepare and still get an unsatisfactory grade you have given yourself enough time to retake the exam before college admission deadlines hit you.

In my last couple of blog posts I discussed how you can find study aids at that website to help you understand the format of the SAT in order to familiarize yourself with the set up. As with most everything in life, preparation is key to a successful outcome. The SAT is no different.

The best way to prepare for the SAT depends totally on what kind of learner you are, what your goals are and if you have some extra income to spend on SAT study test prep books or classes. Let me make it clear that you do not in any way need to spend money in order to study for the SAT. It is possible to do it on your own. Having said that, let me say that SAT study prep is a big booming business and there are some incredible aids out there to help you as you prepare. Some cost big bucks, others are delightfully free of charge.

All you need to do it type in SAT Prep in your online search engine and you’ll be amazed at the sheer number of hits you get back. If you cull through them you’ll discover that there really are a number of websites where you can gain access to free study prep material. Even some of the pay sites will allow you to see some of their material as a teaser and once you’ve exhausted the free stuff, they’ll take you to a page where you’ll have to pay for further study prep aids. You can simply find another SAT prep website and go through their free stuff as well.

When my daughter was preparing to take the SAT exam, she purchased a book from Barnes and Noble that was quite heavy and thick. I wasn’t taking the SAT and I was intimidated just looking at that tome! In her spare time between school and her part time job she tried to squeeze in study time with ‘Big Bertha’ as we affectionally began to call her.

And therein lays another problem I want to talk about in my next blog; time crunch for high school students.

I’ve talked about the SAT in my previous post and mentioned how important it is to take this test if you’re planning on attending college. When you start applying to colleges, part of the admission process requires that you have your SAT score sent to them for evaluation. If you haven’t take the SAT, the chances of you completing your admission papers is zero.

To register for the SAT go to www.collegeboard.com where you will be able to register and pay for the exam.

The SAT is made up of several parts; critical reading, reasoning, math, essay questions and subject tests.

The SAT Reasoning Test This is where you’ll be tested on how well you use your critical thinking skills to analyze and work out problems. These are skills you’ve learned during your high school career and they point to how well you’ll do academically in college.

The Critical Reading Section This section was previously called the verbal test. In this portion of the SAT you will see short reading passages and long reading passages. You’ll be asked questions about these sections. Sentence completion questions will also be on the exam.

The Short Essay This portion of the SAT contains multiple choice questions and writing an essay. You’ll be tested on your ability to organize and express your ideas clearly, develop and support the main idea and use appropriate word choice and sentence structure.

Here’s a sample of an SAT question taken from the College Board;

Do memories hinder or help people in their effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

If you want more sample question on the exam, go to the website and you’ll find a great deal of SAT prep questions to help you.

The Math Section This portion of the SAT contains 44 multiple choice questions and 10 student produced response questions. In this section you’ll grid-in your answers. Make sure you check on what the policy is for using calculators on this segment of the exam.

You can get ready for the real SAT test by taking a practice SAT exam at the College Board. You’ll be able to reinforce your test taking skills, become more familiar with the format of the real SAT and when you get your test results back it will help you see where there may be gaps in your SAT knowledge. You’ll be able to focus valuable study time in areas of most need.

As I said in a previous blog, preparation is the key to success. If you are prepared, you shouldn’t have any fear. Study and hard work will bring you confidence.

If you have more questions about the SAT is a good idea to talk to your high school counselor and make your concerns known.

Getting a good grade on any test is a matter of knowing the material and making sure that you study. Familiarize yourself as best you can with the subject matter of the SAT exam. Try to work SAT vocabulary into your speech. That may sound silly, and in some ways it is. You can make a sort of a game of it with your friends as you all prepare to take the SAT. Form a study group and use your new words on each other. The more you use what you know, the better it will stick in your memory. Study and prepare and you’ll do great!

Have you ever had a dream at night where you’ve gone to school and there’s a test you haven’t studied for? Panic sets in, your heart races, you break out in a sweat and the realization comes that you haven’t even attended this particular class. It’s a horrible feeling that overwhelms you and it’s not really a dream. It’s a nightmare.

Imagine walking into the SAT and not having prepared to take it. This is an exam that impacts your entire future, so it’s reasonable to assume that you may have some anxious moments and perhaps even dreams about it. Being a little bit anxious is normal in a testing situation, but all out panic is counterproductive.

Preparation is the key to losing those nervous feelings and remaining calm and confident as you walk in to take the test.

So what’s the best way to prepare to take the SAT? The answer to that question will vary from person to person. No two people have the exact same way of learning and first you’ll need to decide how to best proceed.

Log on to The College Board at www.collegeboard.com to register for the SAT. There are several dates you can sign up for, but make sure you give yourself time to study and prepare. While you’re there at the website to register and pay your money for the exam, take some a few minutes to look around and familiarize yourself with what is offered there.

An excellent way to prepare is to sign up for the College Board’s question of the day to be taken on the website or have it emailed to you. These are actual SAT questions, not the ones you’ll be asked, but close. Once you’ve answered the question, you immediately receive your answer as to whether or not you got it right. If you got it wrong, The College Board provides you with an explanation for the correct answer so you can learn from your mistakes. Instant feedback!

You also have the opportunity to sign up for online SAT prep courses, or purchase SAT books to help you study. The College Board website is a veritable cornucopia of knowledge and aids for the SAT. (Did you notice how I used two SAT vocabulary words in that last sentence?)

The SAT is made up of reasoning, critical reading, math, and SAT subject tests. I’ll explain more about each section of the SAT in my next blog post.