High score is to Harvard Admissions what SAT prep class is to…?
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009Are you shaking in your back-to-school booties about the upcoming SAT and ACT tests? You don’t need us to tell you how critical a good SAT score can be to your Harvard admissions odds.
Question 1: You must score high on this year’s college entrance exams or face being grounded this weekend plus a lifetime career of burger flipping. Should you…
a) Attend an in person SAT-prep class
b) Buy an SAT practice prep book like Barron’s or Princeton Review, on sale at CompareTextbooks
c) Study with online tutorial videos like the ones at Brightstorm.com or PowerScore.com’s iPhone app.
d) all of the above?
Not sure what to do or how to study? Well thankfully, there are a lot of options. CampusCompare breaks it down for you below. Here are two of our favorites, Kaplan and Brightstorm.
What you get: Live, intimate classes that teach you how to beat the test by skipping ahead, multiple choice elimination and other proven techniques.
Why we love it:
- Forces you to get motivated by making you actually get out of your PJs!
- Sweet “Higher Score Guarantee”: If you’re not ready after your first course, keep studying for FREE till the next exam date.
- Group dynamic can help focus your efforts.
The “ouch!” factor:
- You have to get out of your PJs!
- A bit on the pricier side, but…
- To help you with the expense, Kaplan is offering CampusCompare readers $100 off a prep class!
Brightstorm
What you get: Online video tutorials taught by SAT and ACT experts. Acts like an SAT class from the comfort of your computer. They have 2 levels of service:
- Free videos tutorials on over 2000 math topics.
- 7+ hours of online classes for only $99.
Why we love it:
- Virtual access to some of the best teachers out there for a fraction of the cost.
- Their paid service is a good bang for your buck: More interactive than a prep book, but not too expensive.
- Don’t have to leave your house!
- A chance to win a $20,000 scholarship!
The “ouch!” factor:
- A bit pricier than a prep-book.
- No one to actually interact with you and answer your questions.
Looks like you can either have your hand held through all the brutal SAT process (and pay for it) or be frugal… but lose the personal attention. The chart below illustrates the cost-to-attention ratio. But finding the the solution for your SAT-score woes is up to you…
