SAT Subject Tests

Recently I heard that a lot of 11th graders are curious about SAT Subject Tests, and are considering taking some. I almost took some subject tests last year, but I'll get into that later. Subject tests, also called SAT IIs, are hour-long tests on a specific subject, such as English or Math. Some of the more competitive colleges require or recommend that you take them in addition to your SATs. Generally, you choose two or three subject tests to take, probably in topics that you excel in at school. Even if the colleges you're applying to don't require subject tests, they can be a good way to make you stand out from other students. They are also a good way to show colleges some areas that you are particularly strong in that they wouldn't be able to tell by looking at your SAT scores. If you plan on taking SAT Subject Tests, you should go to the websites of your colleges beforehand and see if they recommend or require that you take a certain number of subject tests, or one on a specific topic. If not, then you are free to choose the ones that you will perform best in!

In the beginning of the school year, I was considering applying to the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University, and it was the only one of my colleges that required SAT Subject tests. So I begrudgingly signed up for the Biology and Math I subject tests, and bought the practice test books. To my dismay, I soon learned that the content of the biology subject test was very different from what I learned in 9th grade Biology. I realized I had 3 weeks to learn the entire subject of Ecological and Molecular Biology. For about a week I struggled to memorize as many chapters as possible, but upon quizzing myself and finding I had retained absolutely nothing, I gave up. This story is why anyone who plans on taking a subject test should not do what I did. If you're going to take one, make sure you actually know or have enough time to learn the content.

Here is a link to the College Board's description of SAT Subject Tests. You will find a list of all the possible tests you can take, and information on them. It's also where you can sign up to take the tests.
http://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests

One more note--If you are someone who plans on taking the ACT instead of the SAT, quite often the ACT writing portion can substitute for SAT Subject tests. This is not the case for all schools, so you should check on the website of the schools you plan on applying to.

Isabel

All about the SAT and a little bit about the ACT

When I took the PSAT in tenth grade, I only had a vague understanding of what it was, let alone what the SAT was, and I had never even heard of the ACT before. I was severely underprepared and did terribly on it. When we retook the PSAT in 11th grade, I did slightly better on it, even though I hadn't studied for it at all. That's one thing about the SAT--every time you take it, you tend to do a little bit better. Because doing well on the SAT is not about knowing the most stuff, its about knowing the SAT. My experience with the previous PSAT, no matter how short, ultimately helped me do better on it the second time, because I knew it a little bit better. When I took the real SAT in May of 11th grade, my score had gone way up, simply because I had done tons of practice tests. I didn't have to learn any new material or even review old material, because the SAT just reuses the same problem formats with different numbers or names. What I've learned from older students and SAT tutors is that really the best way to get a good score on the SAT is to just do practice problems over and over again. 

Here is a quick comparison of the SAT and the ACT

The ACT, unlike the SAT, has a science section and also includes trigonometry in the math section. I didn't take the ACT so I can't say much beyond that, except that it's a good idea to try out both the SAT and the ACT and see which one you're better at. Some people have the idea that a lot of colleges prefer SAT scores, but in fact, schools will treat ACT scores and SAT scores equally. If you want more information about the ACT compared to the SAT, here is a link to a NY Times article with a lot of information: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/education/edlife/guidance.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

According to the article, “The bright underachievers who are bored and get through school using one quarter of their brains will do better on the SAT, because you just need good reasoning skills for that,” says Mr. White. “And the overachievers, I don’t want to call them grinds, but they’re the ones who get the highest grades in the toughest classes because they work really hard, will do better on the ACT.”

That may not necessarily apply to everyone but it's something to consider. 

Isabel

NYU Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management

Last Friday, Jennifer and I went to an information session for college advisors at the NYU Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management. Located on 12th St. between Broadway and Fifth avenue, the building was recently renovated and now has better and cleaner facilities for its students. The school for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management is based exclusively on the fifth floor, so the students have easy access to their professors and important resources.

If you are interested in going into Hospitality or Sports Management, this branch of NYU may be great for you. Students going into hospitality take a range of core classes, including Business Development, Leadership for Crisis Situations, and Hotel and Tourism Accounting. Students going into Sports Management take core classes such as Organization in Sports, Sports Law, and Marketing of Sports and Events. Students also get to take numerous elective courses at some of the other NYU colleges, such as the Stern School of Business, or the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Over 90% of the students who graduate from NYU's College for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management secure jobs by May of the year they graduate. Before graduation, the Dean of the school personally emails all of the students to make sure they have a job. He and the other professors are there every step of the way to support the students. The NYU Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management seems like a great environment and all around a great school.

Isabel