SAT and College help please!!!?

I think I'm going to do a lot of SAT Practice this summer. What do you suggest is better: go to a SAT prep school or buy some SAT books and study? Colleges also look at your extracurricular activities too besides your grades right? I'm thinking about joining 5 clubs next year at my school. Do you think that's enough? Do most colleges care if you have a lot of job experience or not? How are the ivy colleges (or just some of the better colleges) expectations different from other colleges? Do you think my profile right now could get me into a ivy college or well known college? Here's my stasis at school right now: My Freshman year I got all A's and one B both semesters. My first semester I got A's and one B. Currently I have all A's, a B in Chemistry, and a C in math....I'm sure that I can pull up my B because I have like a 87, but I'm really afraid for my math grade: 77. Oh dear...Yeah, I know. I'm a grade maniac. Anyways, any advise anyone?

SAT and College help please!!!?
sat classes: go to a class if you need someone to make you study (like most ppl). if you can motivate yourself and make yourself work, save the money and just get books.





extracurriculars: it sounds like you're a sophomore? i wouldn't suggest joining 5 clubs next year. colleges look for everything BUT that. they can totally tell when ppl join clubs at the last minute so it'll look good. they'd much rather you join 1 or 2 clubs or activities and are super-dedicated to them. for example, maybe you can join red cross and science olympiad, and in the next year, put your whole heart into those two, and land a board position in one or both of those your senior year. that would be MUCH MUCH better than joining a bunch of clubs and doing minimal activities for all of them. in other words, focus on 2 or 3 major activities and show your dedication to them, instead of joining a bunch and ending up w/ nothing.





job experience is one of the categories they look at. it's sort of like "of these categories, be good in two or three of them: sports, job experience, community service, clubs/activities, music, and leadership." and whichever few of those six you choose, supplement them w/ excellent grades.





hate to break it to you, but unless you pull a super-activity boost, it might be hard to get into an ivy league. state universities will definitely want you, but for ivy's and others up there, you either need straight a's, 1000+ hours of community service, cif championship for 1+ sport, or something else amazing like that.





good luck! =)
Reply:okay...I would most def try to pull up the math (and I know you already know this)..maybe get a friend to help you...





b/c Ivy league schools to me don't even look at applications seriously (unless you're filthy rich or have famous alumni for a parent, etc.) if the applicant's gpa is lower than a 3.5 (for sure)...and they cringe at the sight of a C...








especially if it's not and AP class...





I would suggest a class...b/c I don't know about you...but I am not as motivated to study on my own...and in a class...you are almost obligated to do work...because you just "wasted" all the money on the entrance fee...so "you'd better study", etc...





idk...to me an SAT prep textbook isn't going to be tempting enough for me if I were posed with studying for SAT and going out with my friends (you know how that goes...I'm sure...;P)





and plus a class could be more efficient b/c you won't have to struggle for the answers as much...a teacher can really encourage you if you finally meet a problem YOU JUST CAN'T SEEM TO SOLVE...and we all have those...(until of course someone shows us how to do it and then we never miss it again...;))





you're on the right track...but don't beat yourself up if God has other plans for your life than an Ivy league school...:D








good luck! :D
Reply:Well, definately take the class. Its always good to have a teacher to refer back to on things, unless you are really good at learning things by yourself. Oh, and joining clubs at the last minute may help you, but colleges tend to notice that. But it certainly couldn't hurt. Colleges care that you kept your grades up, even though you are always busy doing something (e.g. after school programs, church activities, volunteering, working) Ivy league schools expect ALOT of extracurricular activities, consistenly, and leadership roles in those activites. And they expect like straight A's and REALLY good Sat scores. Colleges are like big businesses, they want to "hire" people who are going to give them good pubilicity, and do great things during and after college. So, they turn down plenty of perfect 4.0 and perfect Sat scores to find those "special people." Just apply to at least 4 schools. One you KNOW you are going to get into... one YOU want to to get into ( I call it a REach school) and two select choices, just so you cover all your bases. But make sure you visit the college campuses, and make sure they offer major in what you are looking for. ASK PLENTY OF QUESTIONS!!!! This is going to be at least the next four years of your life, you want to make sure you are comfortable and happy with your selections.
Reply:Ivy colleges want students that have a specific talent or skill in addition to good grades and test scores.





Don't join 5 clubs, choose one club that you can really get involved in.





What do you want to do when you get to college? If you want to major in science, for example, enter science fairs, join a science club, look into taking a college science class. Show the college you are serious about exploring your interest.





Colleges are looking for a well rounded student body, full of talented students that are not necessarily well rounded.





Definitely take a SAT class if you can afford it and supplement it with on your own study time.





Remember: good grades, high SAT scores, single well developed interest
Reply:I got 2 perfect scores in math and reading, but my writing score was only 720, for a total of 2320. I only read this SAT guide, and that is how I got such high scores:


http://www.guideparadise.com/index.php?o...


I recommend this guide to anyone seeking to get a higher score to get into a first choice college.
Reply:All the math teachers know the same thing, so getting help from any of the math teachers at your school will be effective.