The cost of test prep can quickly add up; this Princeton Review ACT book and Kaplan SAT II Literature guide both cost around twenty dollars.
With the emphasis that students tend to place on college admissions, it is no surprise that many students choose to take advantage of Summit Test Prep ACT and SAT tutoring services on campus. According to Ms. Marcia Landesman, Director of College Counseling, feedback for these courses have been positive overall. However, different people have varying opinions regarding these courses, and they question whether they are effective and relevant to the Choate community.
When exploring the importance of these standardized test prep courses, another question that emerges is the importance of the SAT and ACT in deciding the results of college admissions. The answer is not simple and varies from college to college. However, there currently seems to be a general trend of colleges understating the importance of these standardized tests in the overall scheme of college admissions. According to Ms. Landesman, “The importance of standardized testing depends on the college. Some colleges place more emphasis on standardized testing than others.”
Although some colleges are continuously placing less value in test scores, SAT and ACT scores are still important enough that it is necessary to gain some familiarity with the tests going into them for most students. Such familiarity is something every Choate student has access to during their time here. To familiarize students with the SAT, every student is strongly encouraged to take the school-administered PSAT in their fourth and fifth form year, as well as to take a practice ACT. The scores for these practice exams will not influence college admissions; however they can provide good preparation for tests and scholarship opportunities for some students.
Some students disapprove of the need to take standardized tests in order to get into college at all. “I think it’s unfortunate that we have to dedicate time to preparing for a test rather than studying something more productive,” said Myles Stokowski ’17.
Whether it is truly less productive or not, standardized testing preparation is very loosely related to core academic classes at Choate. “SAT and ACT prep classes are completely different from classes at Choate. The goal of a standardized test prep course is to prepare for a single test,” stated Ms. Landesman.
Others simply question the fairness of the existence of SAT and ACT prep courses. “Those who have SAT and ACT tutoring available to them come from a place of privilege, meaning that they have the necessary socioeconomic conditions to facilitate that kind of learning,” said Baji Tumendemberel ’18. “While those who don’t come from that place of privilege have to suffice by their own knowledge or their own background of information going into the standardized testing.”
Donessa Colley ’18, a student who is able to take a preparatory course, explained her situation with a similar sentiment. “My scholarship is why I can have classes. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to afford them. I have friends who don’t have that type of scholarship and can’t afford them. It’s unfair that they spend extra time studying on their own and don’t have a list of all the strategies that I get and all this extra help. But when it comes down to academics, they might have the exact same grades, so it’s not really fair at all.”
However, there are numerous alternate options to help those who may be at a disadvantage because of their inability to afford standardized test prep courses. For these prep courses, Choate is currently partnered with Summit Test Prep, which offers financial assistance to those who need it. Other resources include online resources such as Khan Academy for the SAT, partnered with the College Board. For the ACT, there is an online course affiliated with Princeton Review. This ACT prep course is offered free for students who qualify, and overall is much more financially accessible than other forms of tutoring.
Additionally, such extra help may not be necessary for every student. “There is a range in how students prepare for standardized testing. Some are very good at self-study. Others prefer a more structured setting, so courses work well for them. It’s a personal decision,” said Ms. Landesman.
There are resources other than prep courses for those students who do decide to opt out of them, as well. “Choate’s testing coordinator, Ms. Walsh, is a resource for all students. If a student has a question about which test to take and how to prepare, they can see her or a college counselor for advice.” Ms. Landesman said.
While there are indeed mixed opinions among students about SAT and ACT prep courses, there is no doubt that the existence of these courses has had positive impacts on some. Josie Ruggieri ’17, a student who has benefited from such courses, expresses some of those mixed feelings. “I’ve had three tutors for the SAT and ACT, and I think it’s really beneficial, but I also think it makes it really uneven for people who can’t afford tutoring or can’t find tutoring. Personally, however, it’s helpful.”
However, the College Counseling Office emphasizes that SAT and ACT prep courses are completely optional. The office does not do anything to gauge the effectiveness of these courses, simply because there are a wide variety of methods students use to prepare for standardized testing, and the courses are not required for anyone. “A lot of college admissions officers will say, ‘standardized testing is less important than students think, but more important than colleges will admit,’” revealed Ms. Landesman.
“Standardized test scores are important, but not the be all end all. Other aspects of the application, such as your performance in classes and your academic transcript, are a much more impactful part of the college admissions process,” concluded Ms. Landesman.
