Parents: Take the SAT Challenge!


I keep a box of tissues on the table where I tutor because, as an SAT tutor and college application consultant, I listen to high school juniors and seniors who are so overwhelmed by college pressure that they begin to cry. Not just girls. Not just Ivy League aspirants.

High school students are always convinced their parents don't understand them. This time the students are right. Parents don't understand because the college admission process is so much more competitive than it was when most parents applied to college.

These are the ten things I wish I could tell parents:

1. I am convinced that parents have to walk a mile in the student's moccasins to gain some appreciation for the stress the students are under and to reverse the tension at home. If parents will take an SAT practice test they will feel some of the same anxiety, cringe at their results, and discover that the test is hard. Instead of piling 25 pounds of SAT study books on the desk, parents can commiserate with students over missed problems. Parents and students can become allies rather than adversaries as they face the college admission process.

2. Hire SAT prep tutors who focus on the applicable academic material rather than just the tricks. Increasing a student's academic preparation for the test in addition to teaching the tricks increases their confidence on the test and in the classroom; teaching only the tricks makes students more insecure because they are relying on tricks rather than on actual knowledge.

3. Have the tutors keep the parents informed about each session so that the parent tracks progress with the tutor rather than pestering the student for information.

4. Have the student try the ACT. All colleges accept it and some students do better on it than on the SAT.

5. Make learning fun. For example, have the students memorize vocabulary using the book Vocabulary Cartoons by Sam Burchers, et al. Also, have the student do the crossword and other word puzzles in SAT Vocabulary Express, the fun book of word puzzles that will increase SAT scores. I wrote it with Michael Ashley, a nationally known puzzler, so that our students would learn to play with words, an important skill for the new SAT.

6. Emphasize getting good grades rather than good SAT scores. Bs in honors classes are better than As in regular classes.

7. Hire an independent college counselor who will work with the family to create a realistic college list, brainstorm for essay topics, establish deadlines for the student, and check all college applications. High school college counselors are overworked and do not have the time to walk families through the process.

8. Realize that the schools parents attended may not be within reach for their child. The number of high school students planning to attend college has increased dramatically; the student may be well qualified for a particular college and may still not get in.

9. Look for colleges where the student will thrive academically and socially. Choosing colleges based on their name recognition and prestige value is a formula that will increase stress, not decrease it. Everyone else wants to go to those schools, too, making them even harder to get into; they are not necessarily the best place for the student. Loren Pope's book, Colleges That Change Lives, is a good place to start.

10. Support your child through a difficult process. Leave the prodding, nagging, and yelling to the tutors and college counselor. The independent college counselor will tell the student to work harder so the parent doesn't have to. Why ruin the student's last year at home?

Parents can make decisions so that senior year is not be so fraught with anxiety that family members begin to avoid each other. And, I hate it when my students cry.

Jacqueline Byrne
Author, SAT Vocabulary Express (McGraw Hill, 10/04)
Partner, Ivy Educational Services, Scotch Plains, New Jersey
http://www.ivyeducationalservices.com

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More College/
University Information:

Related Articles

Online Education with the University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix Online Focuses on Team LearningUnlike some other schools, the University of Phoenix Online focuses on Team Learning. For all classes, team assignments can make up to 20% of the student's total grade.
Mind-Body Secrets for College Success - Six Key Secrets
Embrace the secrets of the body-mind connection and tap into an inexhaustible supply of power and energy leading to your college success. College is a demanding challenge.
Natural Healing Schools
What are NATURAL HEALING SCHOOLS? Natural Healing Schools teach natural medicine that are holistic approaches that rely on natural remedies. Sunlight, air, and water are thought of as natural healers; this, along with nutritional supplements and massage therapies are all curriculm in natural healing schools.
Consolidate Student Loans and Shop Online
If you run a home business, you know that budgets can be pretty tight. Saving money wherever possible can be the difference between the business that succeeds and the one that fails.
College Entertainment for Less
Most of these activities are free or very cheap:* Campus music or dance recitals* College theater productions* Guest speakers* Poetry readings* Museum tours* Sports-either participate or go route for your school* Film and video showings* Art openings* Clubs on campusIf you are looking to stray away from campus here are some off campus fun frugal ideas:* Go watch a local band, they usually play at bars but the cover is usually $5-$10 to sit and enjoy and be in a sociable setting* Go to the movies, catch the matinee film during the day when prices are less expensive* Explore natural parks or recreation facilities where you can work out or simply enjoy the surrounding* If you have a pool in your apartment complex or have friends that do, gather round and soak up the rays and have some fun.* If you are in cold climates, go sledding in the wintertime, it's an activity that you're never too old for.
Self-Injury on College Campuses
Self injury is intentionally causing self-inflicted physical pain in order to cope with overwhelming feelings, traumatic events, or severe emotional pain. The person is not "crazy," but rather just never learned appropriate ways to express intense feelings.
The Key to Online College Classes - Have It Your Way
Never before has online education been more esteemed than today. In most circles online learning is haled as a viable alternative to traditional classroom settings.
Making the Most of Your Summer
At last, summer is here! After a school year full of hard work, you can finally put away your books, break out your bikinis, and soak up the sunshine. This is not only what you deserve but in fact what you need: If you have been working to your maximum level during the school year, you owe your body about two weeks off during the summer for a real break.
An Education in Saving on Textbooks
Every year students flock to the college bookstore to purchase the various textbooks that they require for their classes. Little do these students realize that, in doing so, they are throwing good money away.
Break it up, Break it Down: Paragraphing Strategies for College Essays
Some of us fill a page with a wall of words, with no paragraph indentations, no transitions, and no clearly defined topic sentences. Some of us have the appropriate indentations, but within each paragraph our sentences are out of order.
How To Pass Exams
In modern society passing educational examinations becomes an increasingly important and essential means to a better job and improved living standards.The structure and nature of all examinations are things we cannot change to suit ourselves.
Caribbean Single Market and Economy - Who Says UWI isn't Doing Enough?
The University of the West Indies (UWI) has often been viewed as a long-standing partner to Caribbean Governments in fostering integration and development of our people, and forming strategic alliances.CARICOM member states are now considering the establishment of a single market economy.
Tips On College Selection
It is highly recommended that early in the college selection process, parents and student(s) visit some schools to determine if they'll be suitable. The criteria that must be considered before any college is applied to include:? Average GPA, SAT I, class rank for acceptance? The school should offer enough choices in the event the student changes their major? Size, location, Greeks, religious affiliation? Percentage of freshmen that return for year two? Percentage of freshmen that graduate in four years? Percentage of financial need met? Percentage of gift aid/self-help awarded? On or off campus job opportunities? Meal plans and dietary situations met? Name recognition? Student/teacher ratio? Average class size, semester or trimester? Percentage of professors who teach and percentage of teaching assistants? 2 or 4-year college or university? Co-ed dorms? Freshman cars permitted? Handicap accessibility? Cost of the sheepskinIt is also recommended that you determine if the school uses a need-blind or need-sensitive admissions policy.
9 Lessons for Success in College - That Actually Make Sense
Most students know what it takes to be successful in college because some genius told them already. But here's the news flash: The prescription probably won't work.
Oxford Student Convicted of Child Pornography Offenses
An Oxford student has been convicted of downloading child pornography and has been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years. However, the student continued to study in Oxford for several weeks after his conviction and did not inform his college or the University.
CSI Has Made The Study Of Forensics An Exciting Career Opportunity
Forensics is not just one field of study but encompasses several differentdisciplines. You first decision is to determine which area most interests you.
College Study Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Here are some benefits to studying for your college classes the right way: more leisure time, less stress, less pressure from your parents, less debt, better grades, and better career opportunities. Sound worthwhile? That doesn't mean there isn't work involved, but it's how you accomplish the work that matters.
How to Survive with As
Attend ClassGo to class, every class, every time. It is very common and very easy not to attend class.
Why Students Turn To Custom Writing Services
Plagiarism has been condemned lately by all types of experts, including scholars, university board members and even commercial parties, such as TurnItIn, which sells plagiarism detection software righteously claiming that plagiarism should be combated through the most efficient and up to date tools.Well, if such company ever reaches its ultimate goal of eliminating plagiarism, it will go out of business, since there will be no more need for plagiarism detection.
Free Money For College
What if someone came up to you and offered you $5000 to attend college? Or after college, what if someone called you and asked if you wanted a couple thousand dollars to pay off some student loans? The obvious answer is, "Where do I sign up?" But, the truth is that there are hundreds of ways for you to receive free money for college today - you just need to know where to look.Search For "Free" Money FirstWith the emergence of the internet, finding places, companies, and events that offer free money for college has never been as easy.