Students prepare for SAT with prep classes

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Some juniors prepare for the SAT by taking a class through North. This program is used to help students get ready for the official SAT, learn how to use shortcuts, and practice what they have learned.

There are two sessions that students can choose from. An in-person class starts after the school day and an online portion that starts in the evening. Classes started February 1st and will go to April 12th.

With this schedule, students can pick what times work best for them.

“I’m doing the in-person class because I think that’ll keep me more focused, and it’s right after school rather than later in the day so I think I’ll be more awake,” said junior Ashley O’Brien.

Students would agree that in person is more engaging than online.

“I’m in the in-person class because l thought that it would be more helpful than over the phone,” said junior Maddie Von Allmen.

There are other benefits with taking this class besides the fact that there isn’t a cost.

“I think that anytime you practice for the SAT, your scores are likely to improve. What this class offers is a lot of practice, as well as different techniques and strategies. We also record every Zoom session, so every student whether it’s in-person or on Zoom, if you miss it can always go back and watch that class again and do all the problems. The more practice the better,” said SAT prep coordinator Jodi Sokolowski.

The SAT is a graduation requirement, but the test helps students with scholarship money. The better score students get, the more scholarship money they could receive.

“It makes me feel a little nervous because it will affect what colleges accept me. l know l have to get a good score in order to get into a good college,” Von Allmen said.

However, due to the pandemic, there has been an increase in colleges that have changed to test optional. This means students do not have to submit their SAT or ACT test scores in their application.

“With some colleges being test optional, it definitely took a lot of stress off because the next thing colleges look at is GPAs. I have a pretty decent one, so if l were to do bad on the SAT, my GPA would make up for it,” O’Brien said.

Students feel like this change will not impact the way they prepare for the SAT.

“It makes me feel a little less anxious, but l still want to push myself so l can get the best score,” VonAllmen said.

This program has been offered at North for years. Staff try to improve as much as they can by taking advice from students.

“Way at the end of the school year we’ll send out a survey. We see if there’s anything they want to tell us, any ways that we can improve the course or help them do better. I know those students don’t get to benefit from that, but the program itself writes to improve,” Sokolowski said.

If students are interested in taking the class next year, they can sign up at the end of the first semester of their junior year.

“Every year in the December time period, we have the school send out emails to all students and parents with the registration link and all of the information. It is also usually posted on the Schoology feed,” Sokolowski said.