Overview of OGS SAT & College Advising Program

SAT testing and college admissions has become a high stress journey that often feels like it is running counter to the intention of the school in terms of authentic and meaningful learning. As a small school, we are limited in the amount of time and resources we can commit to this increasingly tense endeavor, but out of our genuine care and concern for the students who need to navigate this bumpy road, we offer a basic program. If you feel your student needs more SAT prep or college advice than we can offer, please feel free to seek help outside of the school. In addition, please bear in mind that no one here believes a student should judge their intelligence via test scores, whether they be high or low. We do not rank students at Oak Grove and we do not rank their post high school choices either, believing that all students and families should be considering the right fit for their individual student. We have never had an “honor roll” but attempt to honor all students who bring the best of themselves to their educational experience.

SAT Prep Program

9th & 10th graders receive preparation as part of their regular English and Math programs.

11th graders devote some of their Advisory time in the 1st semester to independent practice of the PSAT (which all juniors sit in October), and shift their focus to SAT prep thereafter.

12th graders are encouraged to prep for SAT tests over the summer if they feel they can improve their test scores. Students devote some of their Advisory time to studying in small groups for SAT II subject tests.

All students are encouraged to do additional preparation outside of OGS if they feel they need it.

College Advising

9th & 10th graders are encouraged to discuss their goals, concerns, and feelings about college and post high school choices during Advisory. The college corner has many publications that can be perused in the Student Center. Students can also get information online. Students are encouraged to focus on their academic progress, participate in extra-curricular activities & summer programs, and talk to older students and adults about their experiences.

11th graders meet in Advisory during the 2nd semester to discuss and develop college plans. If there is student interest, the spring trip is devoted to visiting a selection of California schools.

12th graders are assigned college planning homework over the summer which includes developing an initial list of colleges, writing draft essays, and visiting prospective colleges. All seniors meet in Advisory during the 1st semester to make final decisions for college plans and begin the application process. Students are assisted in refining their college essays as part of their English IV curriculum.

College and post high school planning is a collaborative process – if you are a parent of an 11th or 12th grader be prepared for homework! It is also a wonderful opportunity for students to take ownership of their lives and their futures. We encourage students to take initiative and responsibility for this process. For an indication of the range of schools our seniors apply to, please see our High School Profile* for a list of college acceptances.

 2010-2011 High School Profile

Calendar for College Planning