Alpine Securities Launches Free SAT Prep Program for College Bound Students

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) Prep

A new educational initiative, called ALPINE’S SAT Prep and 1,000 Words Challenge, is being launched to help the Virgin Islands’ high school students boost their SAT scores, which is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States, while developing their knowledge of essential words that are critical to succeed in and beyond college.

There will be four sessions taking place at Charlotte Amalie High School, beginning Saturday, Sept. 14. According to the College Board, which is the official entity that develops and administers the SAT, the average mean SAT score of 635 high school students who took the SAT in the VI during the 2017-18 school year was 935 out of a perfect score of 1600. While the SAT score is not a measurement of the students’ aptitude, potential or success in life, it can dictate their college choices and career paths. In addition, higher vocabulary level has been linked to greater intelligence and confidence.

Currently, most V.I. students do not take a mock exam before taking the actual SAT. Alpine’s free SAT preparation program will incentivize students to familiarize themselves with the SAT test and practice regularly to ultimately increase their SAT scores. The 1,000 Words Challenge will push students to learn hundreds of words that will also improve their reading comprehension and writing skills in college.

“The young people are the future of V.I. and our world. Their success will enrich our community, and we hope to empower them with the proper resources and opportunities to reach their full potential,” said organizers of ALPINE’S SAT Prep and 1,000 Words Challenge. Over the years, Alpine Securities USVI LLC has been involved with many charitable initiatives on the island focused on investing in the youth and bringing the community together, such as the annual King of the Wing Contest that raises money for a local nonprofit organization.

ALPINE’S SAT Prep will be open to 50 registrants who attend public high schools (11-12th grades). They will enroll in the Official SAT Practice, which is a computer-based practice plan, developed by Khan Academy and the College Board, and used by nearly 40 percent of all SAT takers. Alpine will monitor the students’ progress and administer two online practice exams at the start and end of the program to compare their results. The top scorers and most active participants will earn awards, including the Texas Instruments TI-84, which is a graphic calculator that is commonly used during the SAT and in advanced math classes in college.

ALPINE’S challenge will be open to the first 300 registrants attending a public high school (9-12th grades). Students will be provided a list of 1,000 words to study. After two months, there will be a paper-based exam to test their knowledge of the words. Awards will include $100 for the top 10 scorers and a $1,000 Grand Prize for the student who receives a perfect score. There will be a total of four sessions taking place at Charlotte Amalie High School, starting Saturday, Sept. 14.

Students can find more information and register online at https://collegeprepvi.org and engage on Facebook at facebook.com/collegeprepvi and on Instagram@collegeprepvi.

Schedule of Events:
First session Saturday, Sept. 14 — Orientation/ Practice SAT Exam / Launch 1,000 Word Challenge 2.
Second session Saturday, Nov. 9 — 1,000 Word Challenge exam 3.
Third session Saturday, Nov. 16 — Second practice SAT exam 4.
Fourth session Saturday before Thanksgiving, Nov 23 — College Prep/Awards ceremony

The College Board is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the board was created to expand access to higher education. Each year, it helps more than 7,000,000 students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success, including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program®.

Khan Academy is a nonprofit with a mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. It offers free personalized SAT test prep in partnership with the test developer, the College Board. Khan Academy has been translated into dozens of languages, and 100,000,000 people use the platform worldwide each year.