Next year’s junior class will not see SAT Prep on their schedules – the course will now be a newer, better version called Junior Seminar.

Mrs. Wiles is directing and organizing the change. ‘’Next year we’ll be concentrating more on college preparation in general. It will expose students to the ACT as well as the SAT, but we’ll also do college searches, where kids will be able to think about what kind of school they’d like to attend.’’ The new class will also explore aspects of the Common App essays students will have to write their senior year.  This class will try to help juniors not be so scared for their senior year and future plans.

This change came about due to the fact that the ACT is quickly overtaking the SAT. ‘’Last year was the first year that more kids in the U.S took the ACT than took the SAT. In fact Westhampton Beach is going to offer an in-school ACT exam in the fall that kids can sign up for,’’ Mrs. Wiles said. She also noticed more students signed up solely for the ACT, when it is an SAT prep course.

This new Junior Seminar class will be great for the next year’s juniors – junior year is an important year for organizing and figuring out a game plan. It’s a huge benefit we should take advantage of.  Most other schools don’t even offer SAT preparation as part of the school day; it is a course offered a night or weekends with a fee.

Former junior Michael Rizzi is currently taking the class and feels that it helps a lot. ‘’This year in SAT Prep it was really helpful for preparing for SATs. The course will only benefit you. The changes are good because the ACT has become as popular as the SAT.’’

If you want more preparation for SATs and a good class with a good teacher, definitely consider Junior Seminar as an elective. Mrs. Wiles said, ‘’Take the class if you’re ready to prep and get on the college admission bandwagon- you will be so happy you did, I promise.”  However, she warned, “Do not take the class if your only motivation is to fill a schedule spot or because your mother is making you- you will be miserable, I promise.”

If Junior Seminar seems like it will help you with your college preparation and you don’t plan on hiring an SAT or ACT tutor, head to guidance and make sure that’s on your schedule junior year.