<p>Very interesting thread. My son is going to be 2017 class from MA.</p>
<p>That’s good you people are getting good SAT scores and all. After 8th Grade in summer vacation I took his SAT test and he got around 1450. He worked hard for 2 months, next SAT score he got was around 1600. For me 1800+ will be good score.</p>
<p>He was good in Middle school (Completed Geometry in 8th Grade). Therefore he took all advance courses in High school. But I think it was big mistake. High school (9th Grade) is not easy for him. He is working hard but everyone is different. In my family many got SAT 2100+. I am not putting any pressure on him at all for anything. But whenever he needs me I always help him. I never sleep before he sleeps in night. Many times because of HW and test prep he goes to bed around 2 to 3 AM) I feel so bad for him for having so much stress. I know if I will try to compare him with anyone else he will just break. So I never start that topic.</p>
<p>I wanted him to become Doctor but I know he cannot be. So now I am looking for other options. But other options are not easy either.</p>
<p>From his high school year I started looking into more detail. I did not like education system over here at all.
<1> I feel that they are going for unnecessary too many test. It will be better that there will be only 4 exams like India every year.
<2> They don’t go in the same sequence as text book. So in case if students want to learn by himself that it is not that easy.
<3> Everything is short term memory based. My son told that the way things are going for him are like - Teacher will teach Chapter-1 and take test for Chapter-1. Till that time that chapter will be in his brain. But when teacher will start Chapter-2. Whole Chapter-1 will be out of his brain. </p>
<p>Every student is different. Trying my best to help my son. But things are not easy.</p>
<p>My father has reiterated the EXACT problems which you have with the education system here. I hear these things everyday as he studies with my brother, the truth is that it is not fit for all which is why your son may be struggling. I start my homework at around 6 and finish at 10. Things are not easy as well, but as a current 9th grader, I feel I can help out wherever possible.</p>
<p>dp344, welcome to the thread. You seem like a really nice and understanding dad. Your son is very lucky to have you as a father. </p>
<p>The education system here sucks. Colleges value test scores more than they value actual knowledge. To them, we’re just a bunch of numbers. And the fact that college graduates are having a difficult time finding jobs is kinda depressing. Hope it changes at least for the next generation.</p>
<p>AnImpAffliction, if you think the system here values test scores more than knowledge, you would hate the system in India; it’s much worse there, at least in my experience. Your entire academic career and future are determined by a few massive sets of exams that essentially test nothing more than how good you are at rote memorization. I think the standardized tests given here are much better in that they test your actual aptitude at the subjects tested instead of just a bunch of facts that you’ve memorized.</p>
<p>I see what you’re saying, redandblack, but the SAT doesn’t even measure aptitude. It measures how well you can take a test. Getting a good score on the essay portion doesn’t make you a better writer. You just know how to plug stuff into an essay template in 25 minutes.</p>
<p>Ahhhh, gov school app is due tomorrow!! I have everything done, but I’m so scared!! I really wanna get in but it’s so competitive, ahhhhh. When I hand it to my counselor tomorrow, I’m not gonna be able to let it gooooo. :C</p>
<p>Look at the scores closely in sub-sections to see where you can improve the most, aka targeted studying. If it is CR section, it takes time but you can do it by reading books, newspapers, finding central idea of passages etc. Rote memorization of vocab, grammar won’t help much. For writing section improvement, you just need to practice writing of all kinds, blogs. If you need serious help in a particular section, may be a tutor would help.</p>
<p>Honestly my parents have low standards for me. My mom doesn’t even know anything about the college process. My dad was SUPER excited that I got a 2040 SAT superscore. My mom is a doctor and she is discouraging me to be a pre-med. I got a C in AP Calc one quarter and they didn’t even get mad, lol.</p>