[Student Reporters] What? An SAT Prep Class Under $100?
Diane Kim / 10th Cypress High School
Through a generous donation by Tier One Tutors Inc. Cypress High School is offering 11th grade students SAT preparation classes for the coming SAT exam on March 13. This is a new program called "SAT prep for all" that works with 1000 high school students from Los Angeles and Orange County. Students take the two-hour class every Wednesday for a period of seven weeks.
As more students become interested in applying to colleges SAT preparation classes are becoming increasingly popular in society. The costs usually range well into the thousands burdening students from low-income families but these classes do not even break a hundred. Students are required to pay $75 solely for the material cost of the SAT preparation books and tests. Steve Dorfman the CEO of Tier One Tutors states "We thought this was a great way to allow students that could not afford private tutoring or expensive prep classes to still get the help they need to be competitive for college. Plus as we looked around at the other major companies in our industry we did not see any evidence that someone else was willing to step up and help public school students."
The program was an immediate success with over 100 juniors signing up almost 20% of the junior class."I've been to Elite and it was much more expensive. So most of my friends are taking this class." says Lina Hong junior. The program uses practice tests and problems from the College Board to give students realistic practice and focuses on methodology and thinking skills. "So far it's pretty helpful. I've gotten a lot of tips to deduce what answer is the best answer for the language arts section." says Stacey Sanchez junior. "My teacher is very fun and carefree. She goes through it easily."
It is refreshing to see an agency out there willing to do community service to further education for students with a tight budget. Especially in these economic times the program has given great relief and hope to many who cannot afford expensive classes. In regards to future classes Ken Gompert the head counselor says "They are very professional and we are open to a partnership but there are no promises."