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You should have a report that details your strengths and weaknesses for the SAT test you took. Review the report. It will identify areas where you can improve. The zero in on those areas with resources that you can get from your local library or from University & College Search Tool to guide your study. Then take some practice tests to make certain that your strong areas remain strong and your weak areas are improving.If your score is a function of the fact that you may not have studied all the math areas in the SAT test, you should have a good chance of raising your score 50 points or more as you add math knowledge. I warn you, however, my daughter who taught herself calculus and took math courses in college while still in high school got caught up in her SAT by the pre-algebra questions. So don’t think that just because you have learned something, it will stick with you. You need to stay engaged with the subject matter that will be tested.One thing you can do to help with your reading comprehension is start to create a catalog of words that you don’t know the meaning of when you come across them in your general reading. My daughter does that. She creates a flash card with the word on one side and the meaning and its use in a sentence on the other. She practices with these flash cards regularly which is how she was able to grow her vocabulary prior to her SAT test.

Do not obsess over getting into an “elite” college or university.; if you can, wonderful, but few students will, it does not guarantee success, and many students who go elsewhere will be highly successfulDo spend small amounts of time on a regular basis prepping for the ACT or SAT (maybe 30 mins, twice a week); I would get a copy of the Princeton Review prep guide and work through exercisesUse these tools to start thinking about possible careers, but don’t obsess or think you need to commit today; this is purely for exploration purposes:O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next MoveWelcome to the Interest ProfilerThink about what you want your college experience to be; big, medium, or small school? Urban, suburban, or rural? What public colleges and universities do you have in-state access to? It’s often more than you think, may cross state lines, and different schools have different characteristics; it’s not really as simple as a hierarchy.Talk to your parents about financial issues; if you don’t have savings, get a part-time job and start saving (actually, do this anyway; few students have ever had too much money, and you’ll improve time management)Start arranging campus visitsIn terms of classes, there aren’t many choices. All new students should have:Four years of college-prep EnglishFour years of college-prep mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus, Calculus - get as far along as you can)At least two years of one foreign language, and preferably four years of one languageThree years of college-prep science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)Three years of history/social scienceIf you can take AP courses and do well without interfering with other classes, fine, but most students start college with no college credit, and it’s not nearly as important as students think

Material ResourcesMany universities have student incubators on campus to help students with product and business development. If your school has an engineering department, this would be an excellent place to start.For example, the Rochester Institute of Technology offers its students an intensive program to support business and technological innovation. Wayne State University has created a program for technology startups in Detroit called Tech Town; the UC Davis College of Engineering helps innovative students get on the fast track with resource and funding support; and Boston University’s incubator accepts student tech startups as well as others in the bio-medical engineering and related fields.Many colleges and universities also offer student innovation grants, like this one from Purdue University, and this one from Georgia College. Use your favorite search engine to find about more about the numerous grants available to student inventors.The takeaway is that most colleges and universities will have some resources available on or near campus that they can guide you to. Additionally, many - like Wayne State - have created programs for the broader community, so you should also investigate those connections. Sometimes a town’s or city’s chamber of commerce and other business groups (e.g., Rotary Club) offer grants and resources for young entrepreneurs, especially with patentable ideas.You also want to check with your school advisor or a knowledgeable faculty member regarding the patent rights to anything you’re working on. It’s not uncommon to find that if you’re a student using school facilities and resources, the rights to your innovation could belong to the university, so make sure you check into that carefully before proceeding.Legal ResourcesFirst, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has developed a partnership program with multiple law schools across the country to assist independent inventors and small companies who qualify for pro bono (free!) patent services. You would need to contact each school directly, so here’s the list.Additional information about the patent pro bono program is available here. This is a very useful interactive map where you can also find information about participating law schools, relevant news and events, and general information specifically tailored for under-resourced inventors.Second, many colleges and universities that are not partnered with the USPTO program still offer students - and sometimes non-students - assistance. For instance, schools like the University of Illinois have long offered student innovators free help in completing patent applications.If your school has a law school, contact them for guidance. Even if they haven’t (yet) partnered with the USPTO, they’ll likely have some on-campus resources, or be able to guide you to someone who can help you with the process.If your school doesn’t have a law school, there are other options. Many universities have a Student Legal Services office on campus. While many don’t offer legal assistance for patents or intellectual property, they may be able to guide you to another resource that can help you.Another great resource is the engineering and science faculty. It’s not uncommon to find faculty members who have had some direct experience with filing patents. You can also sometimes discover programs that are designed to promote innovation and involve patent filing, which are offered only through their department.Finally, public and university libraries offer a wealth of materials beyond books to help you. Engage a librarian to help you access applications, template applications, and other information and tools you’ll need to successfully complete your journey along the startup highway. Such information includes events such as workshops, talks, and other programs that are usually free or offered for a nominal admission price.Hope this helps! Let me know if I can help you with any additional questions or concerns about how to invent and patent something new. Feel free to message me, or check out LawTrades for a quick and affordable way to patent your idea.