SAT Prep: How the SAT Plays into College Applications and How to Prep Your Kids

Do you have a child who’s applying for college soon? If you do, then you have to understand that one of the first significant steps that your child should take is taking the SAT. The Scholastic Aptitude Test or SAT is a standardized test that a lot of colleges in the United States use as part of their admission process.

Taking the SAT can be stressful and daunting for both parents and students. Many students claim that taking the SAT is the most challenging part of their overall college application experience.

As a parent, you value your child’s education. You know how important to prepare for the test is. But, how important the SAT really is for your child’s future life in college? Learn more about the SAT below.

A Higher Score Indicates Better Academic Ability

You already know that the SAT is a basis for admission for many colleges in the US. The applicants to one college institution are coming from different walks of life. The academic ability of your child and his/her readiness for college is measured through the SAT. How big of a deal is this? The following are benefits that your child gets with a higher SAT score:

• The freedom to choose - With a higher score in SAT, your child will have more options as to the university that he/she can attend to for college. Since different colleges have a cut-off or required score for the SAT, a higher score would mean that more schools would be willing to accept your child.
• Access to more courses - Not only your child gets to choose a school that he/she is comfortable with, but your child also is granted access to more number of courses that the university offers. As you know, aside from the cut-off score that colleges implement, a specific course that it provides also has it’s own required SAT result.

Be Eligible for Scholarships

In addition to your kid getting freedom in choosing a school or course, a higher SAT score would also lead him/her to more scholarship opportunities. Scholarship grants accept deserving students based on the result of their SAT or other standardized admission tests.

If you are on a budget but would want to send your kid to a reputable higher education institution, helping him or her ace the test is crucial. A scholarship opportunity would make things easier for you and would also push your kid to work hard in his/her academic responsibilities.

Mask your GPA

As a hero mom for your kid, it is essential to remind him/her about the importance of boosting his/her GPA the moment he/she enters the freshman year in high school. What’s the point? Your kid’s GPA will also become a factor that college institutions look into when screening for students. But, say, for example, your child did not perform at the best of his/her abilities during high school, he or she can use a good mark in the SAT to mask a not-so-good GP.

Despite having a GPA that is below the ideal one for the college administrators, if your child has an excellent result in the SAT, the chance of him/her getting admitted is still high.

Here’s how a higher SAT result helps your kid despite having a GPA that’s a bit lower than expected:

• Shows improvement - Despite a low GPA, a higher score in the SAT helps your kid show to his/her chosen university that he/she has improved a lot.
• Reflects performance - A higher GPA also lets the chosen college of your child know that he/she can perform well by studying hard and can work under pressure. By helping the preferred university of your child realize that he/she has what it takes through his/her SAT score, he/she would still get more opportunities.

Now that you already know how important the SAT is in your kid’s journey to college, find some tips out below to help your kid conquer their sat prep.

Practice With Them

It is essential to let your child realize that he/she is not alone in the fight to ace the SAT. You have to be there for him/her. What you can do is create a practice schedule with your kid so you can be sure that your time meets. Having a practice schedule will also help you ensure that your child is always guided when studying.

Give Your Child the Necessary Support

It is not enough to only physically be there for your child. Make sure that you provide him/her all kinds of support. The SAT prep is like a mental marathon, and your kid can quickly get mentally exhausted. Provide your child with the necessary mental and emotional support.

Help your Child Access the Necessary Tools

The SAT prep of your kid would not be complete without the necessary tools for success. Some of the tools that you can provide to him/her include an online course and books for added knowledge. These tools would ensure that your kid is not missing something out and increases the chance of achieving a great result.

Final Thoughts

As a parent helping your child prepare for the test, it is crucial also to help him/her realize the value of everything you both of you are doing. Help him/her achieve the right mindset. Make the process of SAT prep easier for him/her but never put pressure on his/her shoulders.