[hi_alison]

Sorry if there's already a topic like this - feel free to redirect me!

So summer's approaching and I'd like to start attending some SAT Prep classes. Does anyone know of a good place +the rates?

Is it better to study with the books (Princeton Review, Collegeboard, etc.) or is attending a class easier/more worth it? I'm not sure because a friend of mine told me that books are just as good if you concentrate.

*If you live in/close to the Bay Area (California) &know any good places or have any suggestions regarding this topic, please contribute thanks!

[SOCKBUNNY]

I bought books and studied on my own.
I don't really know if those classes actually help, but imo, you can pay tons for those classes for secrets and tricks but in the end, it won't help much unless you practice on your own.
The best way to prepare is to be familiar with the test. Prep books give you lots of strategies to use too. Do practice tests, expand your vocab, work on close reading of passages, review math and practice essays.
SAT score is just one part of college app, if you can, save your money for other things, you're gonna need it.

[joie.de.vivre]

is there a SAT school called Elite up in San Francisco ?
b/c ..i know a lot of people who went to a local branch here, and they felt that it was worth it [aka they got good scores]. it's a really rigorous program designed to drill vocab, grammar rules, math concepts and cookie-cutter essay elements into high school sophs and juniors. so, it's basically a lotttt of work.

if you think you have the self-discipline to handle studying for the test on your own, then, by all means, just buy books, and you'll be fine.
i recommend princeton review for the word lists [if they still run those] and the official collegeboard SAT tests book.
official SAT classes are typically for the people who are looking for a huge boost in their scores [i.e. 150+ points for their retakes] or the people who are striving for 2350-2400 range scores, where a few mistakes actually matter a lot.

[Yashi]

^yes, it's called Elite Educational Institute. there's one on fillmore street and there's one on irving street. i went through the summer morning boot camp classes (cost a lot) but it was WORTH IT. i made a lot of friends there too; it's actually not so bad, and it's A LOT better than school. taking the once-a-week-classes are okay too, but the rigorous summer program is a lot better for you AND more fun, imo.

i'm an elite kid. lol. i've taken SAT I prep, SAT II prep, and a college app workshop there. haha. and yes, i've tried other places, but elite gave me results. there was a time i went to elite 3-4 times a week. lol.

(this was all last year/two years ago)

[christee8876]

I went to the Flex in Cupertino for SAT I
it's really good.
my score went up 300 points.
but if you go, make sure to get yoon. apparently she's the only one who's really good there...or something like that. I haven't had another teacher. I think she's splitting the classes with another teacher called yoonhee now? yeah, but anyways, just go. it's definitely worth it. she's pretty strict though, you have to memorize 50 vocab every week, if you don't do the hw 2 times, there's a call home, etc. but she's a really cool teacher too. she's in her mid-late twenties, and she definitely know her stuff. their june-oct session starts pretty soon so if you want to go, sign up soon.

For me, I needed to go to a class because I can't study by myself. I need someone to push me to study.
if you can study by yourself, don't go to class because it won't be worth the $1000+ for you.

[spark1357]

I just signed up for the SAT Boot Camp Program (five day a week) over the summer and I just took notice to their SAT Weekday and Weekend program that's a three-day a week version of the boot camp. I'm just looking for opinions if I should stick with the five day boot camp or switch to the three day ones. Is it a big difference in what they teach you? Does taking the three day a week classes affect your improvement on your SAT score by a lot? Just need some input. Thanks in advance!

[hi_alison]

to those who have taken Elite's summer boot camp, do you have to be like really smart to get in? D: the $50 non-refundable placement fee isn't very welcoming

[Yashi]

^no. they'll make you take a diagnostic test and put you in one of 3 classes -- A, B, or C. "A" class is the class of higher SAT scores, "B" class is the class of in-between scores, and "C" class is the lowest class scores.

you form a bond with your bootcamp buddies. hahaha. because you see them every morning from 8:30AM-2:00PM MON-FRI for eight weeks. it's not all serious all the time. things are pretty fun.

and..i think their fillmore location might have closed...it's not listed on the site: eliteprep.com

[*frutti]

Take ELITE!! Although it's pricey, your scores do improve a lot and you meet new friends and the teachers are awesome (although teachers may vary by location..)!!

[hi_alison]

ohh, i see. i hope that if i do the program, they wont kick me out cuz i suck at math (worst subject). also, do you think it's too late to sign up? the program i want to take starts on 6/22, which is in like 10 days D:

[christee8876]

^ nope. last year I signed up for a course 3 days before it began. haha

my parents aren't willing to spend a lot of money on my this summer b/c it's my second time around...
does anyone know if Best SAT or IvyInsiders is good?

[shabushabu]

Does anyone know how much the Elite SAT summer boot camp costs? Obviously it won't be cheap, but I'd like to know anyway DX.
I've read 800 on one place then 2000+ on other places @_@.
And can anyone whose taken it tell me what the boot camp thing is like?
Like how much work you do in class and outside of class, what the lessons were on, etc. for example.

Thank youuuuuu

[hi_alison]

it's $2400 + $50 for the diagnostic test = $2450 total for their boot camp course. i'm sitll deciding if iwant to take the 3-day courses or not ;/

[shabushabu]

it's $2400 + $50 for the diagnostic test = $2450 total for their boot camp course. i'm sitll deciding if iwant to take the 3-day courses or not ;/

LOL OH mini cooper. I don't think I'll be able to take it then DDDx.
How much is the three day course D:? I hope it's as good as the boot camp ; ;~.

[understanding_fiction]

I took Elite for one summer and one winter vacation.

My mark did go up around 200, but I don't think that it really has to do with the quality of the teaching.

It's just that they make you:
- take tests over and over
- actually go over your mistakes(this is a biggie, since when you usually study on your own, you don't check your mistakes. You just go, "Oh, I'll catch that next time" and move on)
- force you to memorize vocab(I had to memorize 50? or was it 100? per day, and we had a vocab test daily + a test weekly of all the words for that week)
- etc.

If you have the willpower to do this on your own, you should save the money for something else.
But, if you're like me and lack discipline, I guess it's worth it.

[hi_alison]

LOL OH mini cooper. I don't think I'll be able to take it then DDDx.
How much is the three day course D:? I hope it's as good as the boot camp ; ;~.

it's $1350 for their 3-day course. today was the last day to sign up, i believe.