First Person SAT/ACT Experiences

Trying to get into college? Here’s some advice on the ACTs and SATs from the book “How to Survive Getting Into College” (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who’ve done it:

“I think too much stress and emphasis is put on the SATs and getting into the Ivy League. Really, anyone can make a great academic and social experience out of any school.”

—Jillian Nadell, Greensboro, N.C., University Of North Carolina

“I wasn’t satisfied with my scores, so I got the name of a private tutor from my friend who had raised his scores on the ACT. After a month or two of being tutored by this guy, I took the test. I got my scores back and they had gone up significantly. Get a private tutor: It really benefits you.”

—Angela Friedman, Peoria, Ill., Bradley University

“Be prepared for anything. I had to take my SAT partly in the dark because the school lost power. But my score was OK, and I didn’t want to go through that again, so I didn’t retake it.”

—Anonymous, Bremen, Indiana, Indiana University

“I enrolled in a sat prep class and it was a complete waste of money. I paid almost $1,000 for the course, ‘taught’ by a guy who barely spoke English. The teacher just gave us practice tests; he didn’t go over anything unless we asked about it. He would just sit there and wait for us to finish the test. What a waste! If I did it again, I would try to learn with a private tutor instead of taking a class. Ask around and see if anyone has recommendations.”

—Barak Krengel, Dallas, Texas, University of Kansas

“The first time I took the SAT, I was scared: I thought if I didn’t get a certain score, I wouldn’t be accepted to my top schools. I did decently, but I wasn’t satisfied. I ended up taking it a second time, this time feeling that I had nothing to lose, since colleges only look at your best score. My score went up considerably, even though I didn’t prepare any more than I did the first time. I attribute it to being a lot calmer when I was taking it. I didn’t feel rushed, the words didn’t blur together in the reading section like the first time.”

—Katherine Bell, Stanford, Calif., Stanford University

“I took the SATs twice, doing significantly better the second time. I did not study for the second one, but rather I just had the confidence of knowing what to expect. Confidence is the key with these tests; it is very important to not worry about it for too long. When people would try to talk to me about being nervous about the test, I would always change the topic.

—Nathaniel Cohen, West Hartford, Conn., New York University

Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share.