Procrastination

[newbie]

OK, I think I'm the Queen of Procrastination or something...anyhow, I REALLY need your help. In everything I do, it seems, I'll procrastinate...and um, I'm supposed to be studying for the SATs, but I haven't done it diligently each day like I'm supposed to. I do it occasionally, but not as much as I SHOULD be doing! (I was supposed to be studying the SATs from June 1st! It's July 18th...)

I always find excuses, like e-mails (oh yeah, I procrastinate on that, too ), hanging with friends and family, a TV show I *must* watch, etc...

I really, really need help...I'm like this in the school-year, too, pulling so many all-nighters b/c I start my papers last minute! I usually can pull it off, but in the last month of school this year (May), the all-nighters really started to catch up with me, and the end results weren't as good as I normally end up with.

Even after STARTING an essay, I can stare at my computer for HOURS...totally blank.

Tips, please?!! Thanks!!

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited July 18, 2001).]

[amycat412]

ha ha Sorry, can't help ya with this one. I'm a terrible procrastinator too!

[Corbin Dallas]

SAT's are overrated. I never studied for them, and I even improved 30 points the second time I took the test. Have you taken it before? That's the best way to prepare really, take it more than once.

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Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

[amycat412]

I agree. I never studied for the SAT's either, but took them twice and my scores went up significantly. And I opted not to hve the first scores sent to any colleges, intending that to be the practice run.

[newbie]

Originally posted by amycat412:
I agree. I never studied for the SAT's either, but took them twice and my scores went up significantly. And I opted not to hve the first scores sent to any colleges, intending that to be the practice run.

Amy, don't the colleges see the first scores anyway??? I took them for the first time in June, and while the scores aren't bad at all, I just want something higher!!!! I really want to get a 1400. I thought that colleges will see all the test-scores that you obtained, though they might SAY that they only take the highest test scores of one sitting/combined.

Steve, yup, I took them in June, but you know what's really scary? I took the PSATs in October last year, and I took the SATs this June, and my score only went up 10 points! But then again, I didn't study either, so...

[pbpck]

Girl,
I hear ya. We have all been there. It's not procrastination! It's just perfecting your multi-tasking skills. Just think of how good you will feel to get things accomplished to give yourself some motivation. But really, you should look at what's making you not study for these SAT's and all. Maybe you just find it boring or you don't feel it necessary deep down. And you know something? You're right! DON'T STUDY. I am being perfectly honest. In fact, universities are looking less and less at SAT scores since it does not measure your work ethic or intelligence or the consistent level of your performance!

I had a girlfriend who locked herself up every weekend to study for the SAT's along with taking classes. She took it 3 times and I took it once never cracking one of those bijillion prep books that everyone seemed to pass down to me. I also scored higher than she did. Just take it a few times. The only reason your scores improve are NOT because you get smarter. It's simply that you get comfortable with the format and actual taking(is this a word? haha) of the test. And think about it...do you wantlook back with your score in hand, going "I really wish I hadn't worried so much and had more fun my senior year", having wasted a year of your life for 3 hours of some stupid test? Personally, I would rather score 20 points lower or so and have tons of fun and random memories. In the long run...look at what's important to you.

This is your childhood! Have fun and be immature and revel in your lack of responsibility. The world gets too serious too fast. Just go out the night before and blow off some stress. Go to a good movie or play some football with your buddies . Grab a glass of orange juice and a bagel that morning and have confidence in yourself and your teachers for the past 4 years. You are a lot smarter than you think. Man, I was! Haha.


[This message has been edited by pbpck (edited July 18, 2001).]

[amycat412]

Originally posted by newbie:
Amy, don't the colleges see the first scores anyway??? I took them for the first time in June, and while the scores aren't bad at all, I just want something higher!!!! I really want to get a 1400. I thought that colleges will see all the test-scores that you obtained, though they might SAY that they only take the highest test scores of one sitting/combined.

Steve, yup, I took them in June, but you know what's really scary? I took the PSATs in October last year, and I took the SATs this June, and my score only went up 10 points! But then again, I didn't study either, so...

Well, since I took them back in the dark ages, LOL--it was probably different. You had to mark down the schools you wanted to see them, if you marked none, none saw them.

[SilverTurtle]

Hey newbie! I just emailed you back about SATs, but totally forget to touch on procrastination. Do you have a planner (i.e. daytimer)? If not: get one. I would highly recommend Franklin Covey, because they have this whole system to help you get stuff done. (I took a class through work that's basically Franklin Covey's time management course- the trainer was certified by them).

I'll admit, at first I was like, this is just to get me to buy all kinds of Franklin Covey stuff (which I'm sure part of it is). But they do have great methods for keeping you focused. If you go into a store, one of their employees will brief you on the system and help you customize a planner for your needs, etc.

Basically, the system involves you writing out what's important (i.e. time with family, a good education, etc.) Then you schedule time in your planner for everything. So if you really want to watch Dateline you schedule it. You write in time to have lunch with your sister. Or whatever. But basically after you get your whole plan of what's important, you plan out one week at a time (which makes it simpler). You set aside "Covey time" as one colleage called it to plan your entire week. Then you rank stuff A, B, C. A's have to get done, B's are still pretty important, C's are important, but you can reschedule if necessary.

The whole system is based on your personal goals. Once you get past the cheesy-ness of some of it, it really is beneficial. Although it's hard to explain without showing you.

------------------
SilverTurtle

Phi Beta Fraternity: National Professional Association for the Creative & Performing Arts

[newbie]

Originally posted by amycat412:
Well, since I took them back in the dark ages, LOL--it was probably different. You had to mark down the schools you wanted to see them, if you marked none, none saw them.

Wow, that sounds cool, Amy - too bad I didn't go to school then ! Nowadays, you take the SATs, and all your scores will be visible to the admissions officers. Most colleges claim that they'll take the best scores combined (verbal/math), or from one sitting - but some ppl say that that's all a bunch of BS! Hopefully it's not a bunch of BS .

Thanks Jacque for your words of comfort . You always seem to know what to say, girl!!!!! You rock! Um, sorry, I'm doing my procrastinating routine right now - I've written half of the email back to you - gonna finish it today, I PROMISE! hehe. I guess the general consensus is to take lots of practice tests, then!! That was so awesome that you just walked in and totally aced that test, though! I'm jealous !

SilverTurtle, which store sells the Covey planners???? That sounds awesome! You know what, though, everyone has told me that I should make a schedule, but can you believe this - I am actually too scared to start one! I guess deep down inside I know that once I start a schedule, I'll have to stick to it... but anyway, that planner sounds like an awesome idea! How much does it cost?

Thanks everyone for your responses !!! Please keep them coming, too .

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited July 18, 2001).]

[KSig RC]

OK, much like everything else, good SAT/ACT/AP etc scores can "cure the sick, but won't raise the dead, and vice versa."

Don't get me wrong - they can be very important (I currently am on merit-based scholarship to BU, and this is primarily based on standardized test scores - they're just something I'm good at) . . . But they're not everything, and can mean very little. You DO still have to send scores to schools, through the college board (or, at least you did as of 1999) - PSAT scores are public, but you have to approve the scores to be sent (or at least i did - it cost money too, bastards), although they do get all of them. However, believe that they do take only the 'best' or whatever formula they claim; there's no reason to believe they don't.

Don't freak out about these sort of tests - that's the big reason most people don't do better. I'm convinced that attitude going into the test is 50% of your score - i've seen many very smart kids pull low scores because of nerves, and far fewer due to lack of preparation. It's a general-knowledge test.

Although I only took the SAT and ACT once, I found practice tests (and thus would assume real ones) to be the best prep - even the PSAT was solid prep for me, I felt.

Anyway - feel free to drop me something with more extensive questions, and you'll do fine dude. Just don't treat it like a huge deal - there's far more important things in life, especially for ya right now. Live it up, and don't let ish like this bug ya.

[Thrillhouse]

Hey Newbie, I would give you some advice but ehhhhh I will do it later Actually, I have never taken the SAT.

I am a terrible procrastinator. I do everything at the last moment.

[James]

If you have the money take the PRinceton Review Prep Course. My past experience says they are the best. If you don't have the money for the course get their test prep books and study dillegently. It gave a friend of mine 400 points on the PSAT/SAT.

If you have the money its actually stupid not to take the prep course. The one thing that should be a little reassuring is that they renormed the test a few years ago to give everyone an extra 150 points . . .

Good luck.

[purpleturtle]

Actually, newbie, as far as I know, you still don't have to send in your scores.(I took them in 2000) I knew I wasn't going to do that well on the first one, so I didn't list any of my schools down, and had the scores sent directly to me. Then, you choose the best score, and send ONLY that one to the colleges, all you have to do is have your school include it on your transcript, or get a copy mailed from the SAT/ACT office.
I would really recommend this, it takes a lot of pressure off of you- you do bad, take it again and no one is the wiser.

In the Flame,
Missy

[Corbin Dallas]

If you're hoping to get a 1400, how well did you do the last time? anything over 1000 is good, and anything over 1200, I don't think any college would balk at, probably not at 1050 or so either. I know a kid that got over 1500, and he's almost flunked out of school several times. I also know guys that got around 11-1200 and are doing quite well in school. It doesn't really matter. A kid from my HS took it in the 6th grade and got over 1000. Talk about a major bookworm!

------------------
Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

[SSS1365]

Yeah, back in the dark ages... let's see, I took the SAT's in '99 and we still didn't have to list the schools if we didn't want to. In fact, the only way they WOULD send the scores to certain schools is if we marked them down. Yeah a school is gonna need SAT scores before they admit you, but it's your responsiblity to have the scores sent to them, not their responsibility to go get them.

So if you don't list any schools, your scores will not be sent out, I promise

One thing though, if you take the SAT's multiple times, the schools you apply to will take your best score from each section. For example, I did better on verbal the first time I took them, and better on math the second time. The best scores were taken. But if you do better on the first one and don't have the scores sent... then how would the school know your better score?

[This message has been edited by SSS1365 (edited July 20, 2001).]