8.48 Wake up! It's time for the SAT!

Are you registered for the December second SAT? Good! I know that many of you have been studying diligently for quite a while now. But wait! Do you feel like the student in the picture?

Athena Advises

There is one last step I'd like you to take the night before the test. Nooooooo, it is NOT to stay up past midnight, cramming in that last practice section!There is no factoid you can learn at this late date that will get you as many points as a good night's sleep. A well-rested brain and a cheerful, confident attitude is much, much more important than one last vocabulary word. So what should you do the evening before the SAT--or any other really important test?Watch a boring movie! Watch cat videos! Take your dog for a long walk! Lay out your clothes for the morning, along with everything you need, including identification. (Read the directions.) Don't forget a nutritious snack.Go to sleep.Allow yourself plenty of time to get to the test center, especially if it is not your own school. Once you arrive, I suggest you do not make a beeline for your friends. They will be working themselves into a frenzy of nervous anticipation. You, on the other hand, want a calm, open mind.Walk around the block, or the building. Find a quiet classroom or an empty hallway. When you sit down at your desk, take a slow breath and smile. You've got this. Dr. Marlena CorcoranFounder and CEOAuthor of Year by Year to College, on amazon.com, amazon.de and many national amazon sites