As parents, it is natural to want to do whatever it takes to increase your child's chances at getting into his or her dream school. But then you take a look at the cost of some of the SAT/ACT prep courses being offered, and the prices are astronomical.
As you contemplate taking out a second mortgage to put your kid in these classes, the immediate question you ask yourself is: are these classes REALLY worth it?
Many tutoring companies will tell you that the answer to this question is "not straightforward" or that it "varies from student to student." But having tutored the SATs for 17 years, I can tell you that these answers are deliberately misleading.
It is true that the answer is not the same for every student, but over time I have encountered only three types of students:
- Motivated with a good grasp on concepts
- Motivated but with holes in their knowledge
- No motivation, false motivation, no interest, or other interests
As one would probably expect, a prep course only really benefits the first two types of students. Even those who may struggle in many subjects in school will greatly benefit from a prep course, as long as they are motivated to improve. Unfortunately, the reality is that many students fall under the third category.
Now it is important to note that this is not a problem of desire. In fact, if you asked your child if he or she wants to improve his or her standardized test scores, most would say of course. The problem is that, just like perfecting any skill takes countless hours of practice, improving your SAT score also takes time and effort.
And the truth is that when it comes to putting in the time, most students will choose to practice their instrument or sport, or worse, play video games, over practicing for the SAT.
As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else. If he or she is not willing to put in the hours of practice, then frankly you are wasting your money on a class.
That does not mean that you are out of options. If you know your child will not make SAT/ACT their priority, perhaps one-on-one tutoring would work better, where he or she will be forced to do the work. Or if your child just needs freedom to work at his or her own pace, then perhaps guided SAT/ACT software may be best.
However, if your kid falls in the first two types of students, then a prep course is definitely a good idea. Studies have shown that students who take SAT prep courses often do better than those who do not. Knowing what to expect on the test and getting strategies to beat the test can put your child at an advantage.
That being said, choosing a class can still be daunting, and you still do not want to take out that second mortgage. A common misconception among parents is that the more expensive the SAT class, the better it must be. Here is a trade secret: the strategies you get in a $2,000 prep course are often no different than the ones you get in a $500 prep course. Everyone knows the same tricks. Some companies just decide to gouge you for them.
So do your research, and look for a quality prep class that does not break the bank. Also keep in mind that there are new alternative and inexpensive ways to study for standardized tests. STAFFS Prep offers adaptive software that allows students to work at their own pace and level.
First and foremost, do not ask yourself if classes are worth it. For the most part, they are. Instead, ask yourself if your child will take full advantage of them.
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