Taking The SATs

By Matt Morissette

S-A-T. These could be the three most feared letters in a high school student's life. You know what they are and what they are used for. It is a very long, tedious, frightening test that you have to pay for, and take a Saturday off to complete. And, of course, you know that most colleges and universities will request a copy from you.

One of the most critical things to remember when taking the SATs is that you can take the test more than once. As difficult as it is to rationalize taking a 4 hour test more than once is, statistically speaking, you WILL do better you second time around. First, you will be more prepared mentally and less nervous about what exactly goes on during the test. Second, most colleges and universities will take the best scores from each section and combine them no matter how many times you take it. Norwich does this for both the SAT and ACT.

There are multitudes of ways to prepare you for taking the SATs. There are many prep books available in bookstores as well as in your high school library. You can even check for one in your guidance office. Some schools offer SAT prep classes where you get hands-on information such as pre-tests, study groups and mental preparation. If your school offers such programs, jump on the opportunity. You'll thank yourself down the road.

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for help from teachers, guidance counselors, and even your parents if you are unsure about how to go about studying for them. They go through it every year with students just like you and they know what colleges are looking for. They will be able to guide you through the whole process so that you can achieve your goal of becoming a successful college student.

Norwich requires that students take either the SAT or the ACT for admission. If you take the ACT, you are not required to take the optional writing portion. No matter how you do the first time, we recommend that all students take the test a second time. For more information about testing dates and locations, visit The College Board for the SAT or ACT.org for the ACTs.