Q:  Where will we meet?
A:  Your tutoring session will take place at our location on Carmel Creek Road in Carmel Valley (the first exit off the 56 and very close to the merge of the 5 and 805 freeways).  However, if College Prep Tutoring has an arrangement with your school, your session may take place on campus during your free period(s).   

Q:  How long are the sessions?
A:  We find that our most productive sessions last 2 hours, but because this is a personalized program, we will schedule your appointments to work into your schedule.

Q:  How many sessions will I need?
A:  Our students have been most successful after at least 10-20 hours of tutoring.  For each additional test, they find they need less time to prepare because they already know the basic strategies.

Q:  Which test should I take?
A:  Please click here to see a great comparison between the ACT and SAT tests.  Kathryn will be happy to discuss this with you further.  Many colleges and university also require that their applicants take the SAT II subject tests.  You will need to take at least two if you are applying to a school in the UC system.  For a thorough (Wikipedia) description of the SAT please click here and for the ACT, please click here.

Q:  When is the next test?
A:  Please visit the College Board website to get the most up-to-date information for the PSAT, SAT, SAT II Subject Tests, and AP Exams.  To get information on the ACT, please go to the ACT website.  GRE information can be found on the ETS website and GMAT information can be found on the GMAC website.  Information about the ISEE (the exam applicants to most area private high schools need to take) is on the ERB website.  The SSAT website has information about that test as well as which schools use it for their application process.  The LSAT test dates can be found on the LSAC website.

Q:  When should I start preparing for the tests?
A:  The short answer:  The sooner the better.

A:  The long answer for students entering 10th grade:  For the best preparation possible, we recommend that you start preparing for the PSAT during the summer after your Freshman year.  That way, when you take the PSAT for the first time in the fall, you will have strong scores; this will build your test-taking confidence.  (Parents, won't it be nice to have a child who believes he or she is great at taking standardized tests?)  During the second semester of your Sophomore year, it is a good idea to prepare for the SAT IIs in the subjects you are taking in school (science, history, and/or language).  

A:  The long answer for students entering 11th grade:  The summer after your Sophomore year is a great time to prepare for the SAT as your preparation will help you with the PSAT and this is the year that will count toward the National Merit Scholarship competition.  This scholarship is worth thousands of dollars toward your college tuition and it is something you CAN earn!  We feel that preparing over the summer is the best option for our students because they are not distracted by the pressures of schoolwork and extracurricular activities.  This puts our Juniors in a great position to take the SAT in November or December.  That way, if they feel like they want to take the test again to improve their scores, they still have the option of taking it again in the spring.  We recommend that you save the May or June test dates for your SAT II subject tests (science, math, history, language, etc.).  Won't it be nice to spend the summer before your Senior year thinking about college and where you'll apply, rather than stressing over the SAT and not knowing if your scores will be high enough to apply to your favorite college?

A:  For students entering 12th grade in the fall:  all is not lost.  It is not too late.  We can still work this summer to improve your performance and you can take the SAT in October, still leaving you time for your college applications.

Q:  What books do you recommend?
A:  Please go to Amazon.com to see College Prep Tutoring's "Listmania!" for a list of preferred study materials.

Q:  What is a "good score"?
A:  That really depends on where you want to go to college/grad school.  Ivy League schools, for example, are looking for scores that break the 2000 barrier.  The UC schools accepted students with average scores between 1800 and 2000.  Please check out the website of your dream college/university to see what the score range is for its entering Freshman class.

Q:  Can you help me with the College Admissions process?
A:  Yes.  We will be happy to help you prepare your college applications and personal statements.  Our students have been very happy with the revisions we have suggested for their personal statements.  We can also help guide you through your college search process.  We have articles about finding and choosing a college, college admissions, and the college rankings reports.  Please feel free to start here.  Better yet, register for a 2-day college planning seminar with Stellar Scholar Academy.  Dr. Nicole Wahab leads an amazing 16-hour seminar to help you and your student get ready for the college application process.

Q:  Is there a fun and philanthropic way to build my vocabulary?
A:  Yes.  You will learn many fun and different ways to learn the vocabulary words you'll need to know for your test when you prepare with College Prep Tutoring.  Our students love to practice their vocabulary, and in doing so, donate free rice to those in need.  Check out the Free Rice website and see how well you do!

Q:  Are there any high-tech methods I can use to raise my score?
A:  Several of our students have enjoyed using the Kaplan GRE® Exam Vocabulary Flashcards and Reference Guide or the Kaplan SAT Flashcubes on their i-touch or i-phones.  In addition, smsPREP will send SAT or ACT practice questions directly to a subscriber's cell phone through a text message.  (Please note:  this is a program that works on any cell phone.)  After subscribers text back their answers, they receive a text confirming or correcting their answer along with an explanation for how to best answer the question.  These are great tools for students on-the-go!  Please contact College Prep Tutoring to get a great discount on the smsPREP program!

Q:  Can you recommend a summer program that will help me get ahead in life?
A:  The Leap Foundation hosts a 5-day, 6-night seminar at UCLA during the summer that equips students with the essential tools for academic, professional, and personal success.  Be sure to mention you heard about the program from College Prep Tutoring!

Q:  Is the SAT a good predictor of academic success in college?
A:  This has been a much-debated question for many years.  Interestingly, in an op-ed article that appeared in November 2008 in the New York Times, SUNY Stony Brook political science professor Peter D. Salins points out that the SUNY system (the State University of New York) served as a controlled experiment of sorts when 9 of 16 SUNYs decided to raise their SAT admission requirements after 1997.  Salins concludes that based on the empirical evidence, students with better SAT scores are more likely to succeed in college and ultimately graduate.