Photo Credit: CHEYENNE PINO
BY ALLISON BARNARD
After 12 years filled with mountains of schoolwork and countless late nights studying, our future ultimately comes down to a score on the most important standardized test of our lives – the SAT. This standardized placement test makes and breaks the smartest students, as if a single test were an appropriate measure of one’s intelligence, creativity, and moral strength. Being that success on the test focuses primarily on test-taking strategies rather than genuine knowledge, you end up preparing for the SAT rather than showcasing your true academic capability. The sad truth is that SAT results typically follow an upsetting trend; privileged students that can afford to shell out hundreds to thousands on test prep tend to score substantially higher than unprepared teens.
Setting aside the hard work and dedication we’ve put into perfecting our grade point averages, the SAT tests skills like critical reading, math, and writing, which undermine the other wonderful qualities a student has to offer. Although it seems unlikely that the SAT will be removed anytime soon, implementing an elective class at CCHS that focuses on SAT preparation would better enable students to achieve higher scores.
Nearly everyone has a dream school that comes to mind when they imagine their life as a college student- if only it were as simple as enrolling in your college of choice. Competition among top schools in the nation grows each year as prestigious universities become more and more selective. If the competition for acceptance wasn’t bad enough for students, those influenced by external factors feel even more pressure. Here in the state of Florida, especially coming from Cooper City High School, there’s a certain stigma that attending any in-state college other than the University of Florida is something to be looked down upon. Not only does this dismay many students, it’s simply wrong- there are so many remarkable programs at various colleges and universities throughout the state. While there are many UF applicants with qualifying GPA’s, students deferred because of inadequate or average SAT scores truly feel like they’re just “not smart enough” to attend. If an SAT prep class at CCHS was offered, motivated students would get extra exposure to SAT material in order to achieve a score suitable to the college they aspire to attend.
The worst part is, the value of SAT scores doesn’t stop at acceptance, it’s also crucial for many of the scholarships available to the average student. In the midst of an economic recession, it is now almost impossible to get money from scholarship committees unless the student has dire serious financial need or an SAT score that can’t be achieved without proper preparation. When it comes down to it, college isn’t affordable for everyone, and neither are the prep classes. Privileged students unfairly have access to top-of-the-line tutors and expensive courses, while other have to scrape up the change to buy a study book. For students that can’t shell out the money for pricey SAT prep classes, a free alternative at school would be helpful.
At public schools, standardized testing is already a focus that’s been incorporated into the curriculum for years now. Instead of strictly teaching strictly towards the FCAT and EOC’s, it’s more logical to teach smart methods of test taking. By removing an underappreciated elective and replacing it with this sort of test-taking class, both low achievers and high achievers can benefit. This would help motivated students reach their goals without paying out of their pocket for what their school can easily provide. Not only would the class boost the potential SAT scores of students, it would also provide strategies for any kind of tests they will face in the future. It can help boost students vocabulary and essay writing skills while better preparing students for college.
Of course high academic GPA’s are also crucial in college admissions, but they don’t provide the same financial value as an SAT score when it comes to qualifying for financial aid and scholarships. A class that teaches students ways to score higher on the SAT would give everyone a chance to attend their ideal school without having to become bankrupt in the process. It’s time to implement a SAT prep elective at CCHS; after all, there is certainly a demand for one.
