What schools is your DC thinking about?
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Where do you live, OP?
We focused on test optional schools. My oldest kid had undiagnosed ADHD and did not have any accommodations, so the score was around the same as your son's score. Kid took a Princeton Review class and score did not increase. Princeton Review refunded our $1400 because kid attended every session and did every homework assignment, and the score did not increase by their promised amount. ADHD for the win! LOL They ended up at a school they LOVE. They are so happy. So, this can still end well. I'm sorry that it's stressful now. Your ex sounds like a bloviator, and I hope all works out. And, if son doesn't get into the school he wanted (or that daddy wanted), then he will learn quite the lesson. He might learn the lesson that daddy is a cheap mfer. |
This is what I think and why I mentioned that the son might learn the lesson that daddy is cheap. Cheap, cheap, cheap. |
If a kid is motivated, there are amazing free and low-cost resources out there for SAT prep (starting with Khan Academy but going way beyond it). Just check out the SAT subreddit, for example. A kid who is smart enough to score in the 1300s without prep can also learn how to improve. Yes, a private tutor can be helpful for less motivated kids, but if you can convince your son to take the test seriously, it is absolutely not necessary. I'm honestly not convinced that one-size-fits-all classes help much at all.
There are also many colleges where your son would likely be fine either submitting a 1400 or going TO. |
The score is secondary until there is a common understanding of schools that are realistic for OP's son among all involved. It is going to be a more combative mess otherwise. Hopefully, the counselor can inject a dose of reality that will help everyone to varying degrees and also motivate the son to do what is necessary for a school that he wants. The SAT may be distracting from issues of fit as well. Not hearing much about that here. What does he want from a school? |
We don’t know the entire situation. He may be paying a lot in child support and cannot afford it. Mom is also cheap as she has a good income and refuses to pay as well. There is no reason why she can’t do it if it’s important to her. Kid has a good score. |
Questions are still similar. |
Maybe daddy is sending a lot of child support to mommy but she just doesn’t want to spend the money on SAT prep. |
1320 takes UVA off the table. Lots more options if you can push it over 1500. |
+1. I know a lot of kids who use khan test prep. It’s certainly better than “goofing around and taking the test” which is what OP’s kid did |
The issue seems to be that the kid is not particularly motivated. |
Then OP should stop stressing because the kid will go to state school, maybe at best Tulane or SMU level and those schools take everyone ED |
Please list everything you know from what you've been told that makes dad sound like a bloviator. Also, mom agrees with dad that kid could self study. Kid didn't. Why does dad sound cheap for not wanting to pay for something that kid's history shows he likely won't be motivated to do much? The truth of the matter is that it is not that important to dad, kid or mom (who now admits she can afford to pay $1-$2k in SAT prep) for any one of them to step up and pay for it. |
Some kids need more structure and accountability to get things done. It’s not a failing for an in-person prep class to be what a kid needs in order to study effectively.
Mom has to decide if she wants to stand on principle with Dad more than she wants kid to have the prep class. Dad’s attitude that only the most prestigious schools are worth attending and if you don’t get in there - entirely on your own steam, no prep classes allowed, apparently - then you might as well not go to college at all makes him sound like a jerk and not a helpful influence on the kid. |
#1 Priority: Learn to make the most of the Desmos calculator for math!! This alone will save him time and boost his score.
There are tons of free (and short) videos out there with the necessary tips and shortcuts. Here's one example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pGNBb8M3LQ |