Strategies for Finding the Right Entrance Exam Prep Program

     Finding the right SAT/ACT prep program for your child can be challenging.  It is hard to identify which tutors/programs are worth the (high) cost. Competitive students and parents can also be guarded with information that makes anyone else a competitive applicant. Consider the following strategies for finding a program that can raise SAT/ACT scores to a competitive level for the colleges your child would like to attend:

• Take the PSAT/PreACT (diagnostic tests for the SAT/ACT) early to assess strengths and weaknesses with college entrance exams.  Save the score reports to discuss with a tutor.  Your child’s starting point will dictate the amount of prep she needs to obtain a competitive score for the colleges she is interested in attending. 
• Start your search for a SAT/ACT prep program early.  Often the most effective tutors and prep programs fill up one to two years in advance of a test date. Begin inquiring about tutors and prep programs during freshman or sophomore year to make sure your child is prepared to score well on the SAT/ACT fully during her junior year of high school.
• Prioritize SAT/ACT prep over any other part of the college application process.  Private SAT/ACT tutoring can be very expensive.  However, it is the best investment your child can make to improve her odds of admission at highly selective colleges.  The return on investment for a SAT tutor is far greater than a trip to visit colleges.  
• Ask for advice from older students or their families that you know did well on the SAT/ACT.  There may be many SAT/ACT tutors and prep programs in your area and it will be hard to determine which tutor is right for your child.  You will want to use a tutor or prep program with proven results.  Ask students (or their families) who have been accepted to the most selective colleges who they worked with.  It is highly likely they used an SAT/ACT tutor to score in a range they needed to be a competitive applicant for those colleges.  Many high schools publish a list of where seniors will be attending college.  Find students that are going to the colleges your child is interested in attending, and ask them or their parents who they worked with.  
• When meeting with potential SAT/ACT tutors, ask about their track record, specifically with other clients who started with similar scores as your child (refer back to the PSAT or PreACT score report).