Editor’s Note: Our anonymous columnists are here to help you solve the routine problems of high school life that may have you stumped. Want helpful advice from a fellow student? Send your question to “Ask XYZ” via email at: mcsmrampage@gmail.com.
Q: Dear XYZ, do you believe it’s possible to get a good SAT score based on self studying?
X Replies: It is possible to get a good SAT score based on self studying, but it depends on how you study.There are multiple ways you can prep: tutors, classes, prep books, and online programs. The option you should choose will depend on what type of resources you’ll use and what you need help with the most in your SAT prep. No matter what SAT score you’re shooting for or how you plan to get there, your SAT studying should always involve several strategies that are essential for quality test prep.
You should first determine your target score. Having a target score will motivate you and inform your studying. To find your target score, look up the 75th percentile SAT scores for the schools you’re planning to apply to. The easiest way to find SAT score info is to Google “[School Name] PrepScholar SAT” and look for your school’s “Admission Requirements”. This page will inform you on details such as the school’s average and SAT score.
Next, you should figure out how long you’ll need to study. You should estimate how many hours you must spend per class, and what types of problems you will work on. Lastly, you should analyze your mistakes and focus on your weaknesses. It’s not enough to just put in study time; you need to study effectively. You will make the best use of your study time by figuring out why you’re missing questions and by Strengthening your weaknesses. Most importantly, you should take ocassional breaks! Take deep breaths and don’t stress out. You got this!
Q: How do I fix a broken friendship?
Y Responds: Broken friendships are always difficult to repair, especially when there are a litany of reasons as to why the friendship fell apart in the first place. Assuming that said friendship fell apart because the two of you have drifted apart, or have gotten into a large fight, my advice would first and foremost be to reach out to them. Though it may be easier said than done, shooting them a simple text saying “hey,” goes a long way towards letting them know that you’re open to talking and maybe figuring things out between the two of you.
From there, if you get a response, attempt to talk it out! Talking may not be easy; and if they seem set in their ways of wanting you to keep your distance from them, then you have your answer. If that’s the case, it is best not to push, because that’ll only serve to make the situation worse. If get a positive response where they are willing to work things out, then that’s awesome. However , if you don’t get any response at all, then I suggest you move on (again, easier said than done), because it’s obvious they’re not willing to devote time to fixing the situation, so it’s not worth stressing over.
Nevertheless, you should keep in mind that sometimes people change and friendships can fall apart for the better. Over time a friendship that worked well in the beginning when you were both bonding over all the same things, will fall apart because people decide to follow different crowds, or their personality changes, and that’s perfectly okay! It can be a hard truth to accept, especially in high school when you’ve already rolled with the same crowd for the first couple years, when there’s a sudden shift in your social dynamic. But believe me, if someone can’t put in the same amount of effort that you’re putting into a friendship, it’s not worth it. It may be a hard truth to swallow, but as time goes on, trust me, you’ll soon find another group of friends into which you’ll fit like a puzzle piece, and it’ll seem like you’ve known them your whole life.
Q: Dear X,Y,Z., how can I balance my daily work load?
Z says: Balancing school work is always difficult to do, especially with all the work that always manages to pile up within one school day. Especially if you’re also juggling extracurriculars and/or a job on top of being a full-time student.
My first piece of advice would have to be, do not procrastinate. I know that it’s easy to fall into a pattern of “I’m tired today so I won’t do it, but I’ll definitely do it tomorrow,” or saying “I’ll start at 7” every single day until eventually it’s the following Monday, and the task in question never managed to get done. Though it may be okay to just take a break from your daily tasks every once in a while, taking a break every single day will leave you with a mountain of work to do and you’ll feel even more discouraged when thinking of how much you still have to do.
When trying to avoid procrastination, my advice is to set a time limit of how much time you should spend on your school work in total and avoid social media. After you set a time limit for the work you have to do, start your work in order of priority. If you have an AP assignment due the next day, and a history essay due three days later, make the AP assignment top priority for that night and work on the essay in intervals over the next three days. That way, you’ll get done what absolutely has to get done, after which you’ll start working on other assignments ahead of time without having to stress about it too much later on.
Now, I know society today is almost completely dependent on mobile phones and computer technology, but let me tell you, social media tends to be our biggest enemy when it comes down to productivity. Half of the time, while I’m supposed to be reading that book for English, I’m actually throwing away much needed time scrolling away on Instagram. Even when you are completely focused on school work, but need to check your phone for two seconds or you need a break, you may end up finding yourself checking other people’s stories on Snapchat. My suggestion for times like these is to find apps that lock certain apps for a set amount of time. I know for iPhones, they have a built in feature in which you can schedule time away from your screen by only allowing access to certain apps, so that’s a great way to get work done.
Lastly, my strongest recommendation is get a planner! It’s so easy to hear a teacher announce an assignment that’s due the following week, and think “I definitely won’t forget about it.” And then you end up forgetting about it anyway. In times like these, a planner will be your best friend. Don’t wait until the end of the day to write down each of your assignments either, because it’ll also be easy to forget the little assignments in between each class. Instead, write them down as they are given to you, along with their due date! Trust me, this will help you out a lot in the long run when you have every task laid out in front of you. Also, be aware that planners don’t have to be used only for homework either. They’re handy for when you need to jot down upcoming events for the month, or a simple to-do list. In the end, it’s all about your willingness and dedication to whatever work you’re doing. So just remember, if you don’t make time to get the work done yourself, it’ll never get done. Good luck!