Most high school students know the feeling of waking up bright and early, driving to school on a Saturday morning, and taking a test that can dictate their entire future…the infamous SAT. Used for college admissions, the SAT is a standardized exam taken around the country that tests students on their mastery of reading, writing, and math skills. Every year, North Atlanta gives the “STAR Student” award to the school’s highest performer on the SAT, but this year, “student” became “students.” Scholars Claire Collins and Nate Laing both achieved a score of 1540 out of 1600 on the SAT, placing them in the 99th percentile of all test-takers.
It is not surprising to many that senior Claire Collins is one of the STAR Students, given that she is also the school’s valedictorian. Collins is committed to Princeton University and is majoring in public policy. Collins’ extracurriculars are endless, ranging from her three varsity sports to being a Fulton County Youth Commissioner. STAR students are given the opportunity to name a “STAR teacher” who made the biggest impact on their learning career. Collins selected IB History of the Americas and AP Comparative Government and Politics teacher Brooke Dozier because she has significantly contributed to her academic growth, being her teacher for two years, mock trial sponsor, and EE advisor. “I was honestly really shocked when I heard that I was one of the STAR students,” said Collins. “I couldn’t have done it without the amazing teachers I’ve had over the years.”
The other STAR student, Nate Laing, is admired by his peers for being a very intelligent, dedicated student, and he received his high score on the second SAT he ever took. For his “STAR teacher,” Laing selected Michael Robinson, the AP World History teacher. Laing is currently committed to Georgia Tech, but is waiting to hear from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is majoring in computer science because he has worked with game development, web development, and machine learning since middle school. Laing is very grateful for the resources and people he has had available to him, including AP Lang teacher Dandra McPhail and AP Calculus teacher David Ehrman. “Both Claire and Nate are such great students because they are interested in learning the foundations and concepts behind what they are learning, rather than just getting the right answer,” said Ehrman.
Who better to get SAT tips from than the STAR students? Neither Collins nor Laing used an SAT tutor, but instead tutored themselves. Collins primarily watched YouTube videos on the topics that she struggled with, including difficult math problems, and took the CollegeBoard practice tests. Her biggest tip is to actually review the content you are getting wrong, rather than focusing on the subjects you already know. To study, Laing used a physical SAT prep book that explained the topics tested on the SAT and gave him plenty of practice problems. “If you are taking the SAT in the future, the most important thing you can do is practice,” said Laing. “Practice makes perfect, and there’s no such thing as too much practice.”
Claire Collins’ and Nate Laing’s scores reflect their admirable dedication to academic success that makes them standout students at North Atlanta High School. While North Atlanta will mourn the loss of these excellent scholars, we know that they are off to do bigger and better things. Congrats and good luck, Claire and Nate!
