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Good writers are in big demand: everyone wants them.  Colleges want them; employers want them; churches want them; Hollywood (movies) want them; comedians want them; and even your family and friends will want you to write or say something for them.

Good writers are in big demand: everyone wants them.  Colleges want them; employers want them; churches want them; Hollywood (movies) want them; comedians want them; and even your family and friends will want you to write or say something for them.

Our focus on this course will be on how colleges test for good writers: through the SAT I verbal exams.  Two of its sections -- "critical reading" and "writing" -- test your writing-related skills.  The more you can develop your writing abilities, the better you will do on these exams and the more opportunity you will have for college scholarships.

Our focus on this course will be on how colleges test for good writers: through the SAT I verbal exams.  Two of its sections -- "critical reading" and "writing"—test your writing-related skills.  The more you can develop your writing abilities, the better you will do on these exams and the more opportunity you will have for college scholarships.

=== When to Take the SAT I ===

=== When to Take the SAT I ===

Students who are juniors in high school should take the SAT I once or twice in the spring (March, May or June), and then again once or twice in the early fall (October and November).  But they should begin preparing long beforehand.  Students should consider taking the SAT I earlier, such as December of their junior year, so that there is time to improve and retake the test well before applications are required by colleges.

Students who are juniors in high school should take the SAT I once or twice in the spring (March, May or June), and then again once or twice in the early fall (October and November).  But they should begin preparing long beforehand.  Students should consider taking the SAT I earlier, such as December of their junior year, so that there is time to improve and retake the test well before applications are required by colleges.

Many students -- particularly homeschooled students -- make the mistake of postponing taking the SAT I until it delays consideration of their application by colleges, which hurts their opportunity to be admitted and earn scholarships.  If a college starts considering applications in November of a student's senior year, then the college needs to see the student's SAT scores at the same time.

Many students—particularly homeschooled students—make the mistake of postponing taking the SAT I until it delays consideration of their application by colleges, which hurts their opportunity to be admitted and earn scholarships.  If a college starts considering applications in November of a student's senior year, then the college needs to see the student's SAT scores at the same time.

But you'll want to take the SATs several times, so you need to take it once or twice in your junior year to ensure you have maximized your overall score.  Procrastination -- putting off registration and the taking of the test -- will end up costing you a great deal of money and opportunity.  It's not just how a student does on the SAT that matters, but how much initiative he showed in taking the test early enough to help him.

But you'll want to take the SATs several times, so you need to take it once or twice in your junior year to ensure you have maximized your overall score.  Procrastination—putting off registration and the taking of the test—will end up costing you a great deal of money and opportunity.  It's not just how a student does on the SAT that matters, but how much initiative he showed in taking the test early enough to help him.

You would be surprised how many homeschooled students hurt their chances at scholarships and college admissions simply by being late.  Think of this like taking a trip on an airplane ride:  the plane is not going to wait for you to arrive.  It will take off whether you get there in time or not.  And for college admissions and scholarships, there are no "reserved seats"!

You would be surprised how many homeschooled students hurt their chances at scholarships and college admissions simply by being late.  Think of this like taking a trip on an airplane ride:  the plane is not going to wait for you to arrive.  It will take off whether you get there in time or not.  And for college admissions and scholarships, there are no "reserved seats"!