<p>Youdon’tsay: No hypothesis, Yds. Some have speculated that the more competitive economic climate is driving students to better preparation but this isn’t the first year of the downturn and there were no previous such rises in cutoffs. Although the CB tries to maintain the statistical consistency of their tests across the years I am sure they can’t do this perfectly and, in the absence of additional data, am inclined to think there is no particular significance to it.</p>
<p>Just got Access code from counselor. In the running for NM forNJ. He got 223 & cutoff has been 221 the past few years. Much better Writing score then his SAT. Now if he can just get his grades up. </p>
<p>Sent from my ADR6300 using CC App</p>
<p>Descartesz: I was poking around a little and found the NMSC annual report from 1969; it’s grainy because it’s been scanned & digitized: <a href=“http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED046321.pdf[/url]”>http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED046321.pdf</a></p>
<p>First post (on anything): I came here in my angst about awaiting my s13’s PSAT results. His friends had all received their scores but our mailbox was empty! He is calm and cool. I’ve been sitting with my one-of-two reactions ready to launch: “yahoo!” Or “No big deal!”. Reading the triumphs and tribulations of all of you has been a balm. I finally called the GC. Total score = 225-- I think that will be good enough for a NMS.</p>
<p>Finally got our PSAT results - I say finally, although I know others are still waiting- Very proud of my S with a 234. He got 80 CR (-0), 74 M (2 omitted), 80 W (-0). While it is thrilling, the odd thing is that what he wants is a top engineering school, which programs tend to look more closely at math scores. Oh Well, the good thing is that he will have the opportunity to improve it if he wants. Congrats to everyone else on their results and good luck to those waiting. It has really helped me with my anxiety to read everyone else’s posts!</p>
<p>Wow! These are some great scores!</p>
<p>Everyone should know that not only is cc a place to vent and whine and worry, it’s also a great place to BRAG!!! It’s poor form to rejoice in front of the other parents at the band concert (unless you know without a doubt that their kids all also scored 230 
), but people on cc know that it’s a huge accomplishment and know that there were likely sacrifices on your part and that kids don’t just get that kind of score on their own. It’s work, be it in prep or courseload or whatever. I’m going to a party tonight and will raise a toast to your kids! :D</p>
<p>Holy cow! Lot’s of great scores! Congratulations!!!</p>
<p>YouDontSay- well put! I of course would never say those scores in a face to face social situation unless asked point blank but there is something about the anonymity of CC - and I think fellow CCers do appreciate the work and worry behind it all. But if I have offended anyone please accept my apology anyway-</p>
<p>Congratulations to all the kids on their PSAT scores. My hat’s off to all, both NMF and not. </p>
<p>D survived the day yesterday and today with many tests and quizzes and we are all glad the week is over. Tonight will be an evening to chill out, have pizza for dinner and enjoy the Christmas tree lights. Very much looking forward to it!</p>
<p>What are the “big” gifts on the list for your class of 13’ers? My D will be getting an iPod touch, a little speaker thing for it, and a gift card for Barnes and Noble. There are a few other things, like a cardigan sweater and such, but the iPod Touch will be the big thing. Younger S1 is getting a basketball hoop game thing for the basement and younger S2 is getting two big Lego sets- one for Christmas and one for his birthday immediately following. We gave him a Lego Advent calendar this year for the first time and he has been losing his mind every morning running down the stairs to open that day’s Lego number. It has been exceedingly cute!</p>
<p>I haven’t bought a thing for anyone. I am thinking of getting ds2 a nice tweed blazer. He loves to dress up. I also thought about one of those Garmin running watch things. (Obviously, I haven’t researched this AT ALL). He took up cross country this year, and I think he’d really like it. Plus he needs a watch for ref’ing soccer games. Oh, wait! I do have a gift – an iTunes gift card. That didn’t take a lot of thought, and we earned it with points. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Big congratulations on so many great PSAT scores, and commiserations to the parents and kids who are still waiting to hear.</p>
<p>David1126- your comments about your S sound just like my D! She scored an 80 on both CR and Writing sections on the PSAT, and a 69 on the math. But she is passionately interested in science and engineering, and plans to major in one of those. I hope she isn’t going to get her heart broken when she applies to a selective science/engineering school and they see her low math scores.</p>
<p>Vandy: I saw that Lego Advent calendar too late! Definitely I will get one (or two) for my “boys” next year. And maybe for my nephews too.</p>
<p>Christmas should be low budget this year because I have 2 in college and my “13-er” wants to go on a trip to New York City with drama for Spring Break which unfortunately isn’t free. (I say should be because it should be, but liekly I will go crazy and it won’t be).I am thinking I will get him things he needs (socks, etc…) and he is a runner so I have also been eyeing the Garming running watch. He doesn’t play Lacrosse, but likes to wear the crazy Lacrosse shorts so I will get him a new pair of those.</p>
<p>Hmm…Christmas ideas? S2 is getting a set of weights and probably a video game (if he tells me the name of one he wants). D1 (college soph) is getting a new coat and cookware. Plus a few stocking stuffers. If only I could think of something to get H. I usually just get him clothes, but maybe I’ll try to get creative this year.</p>
<p>S2 still hasn’t got PSAT scores, but he’s not home from school yet tonight, so maybe he got them today. Today was the last day of classes - next week is just finals. His grades in all classes are fine (all As) so I just hope he takes finals seriously - they are 1/4 of final semester grade. </p>
<p>Btw, the egg drop project for physics was a big fail. But he wasn’t too worried - only 3 kids in his class had an egg survive. They had to drop them from the top of the bleachers so there was little room for error. Fun lesson, but I’m not sure S2 really learned anything about physics.</p>
<p>Congrats on all the great PSAT scores.
</p>
<p>This should not matter because it’s only PSAT scores, when applying to colleges it’s the SAT scores that matter. It only matters for the summer program before Senior year. D2’s applying for one that requires PSAT.</p>
<p>megmom: The egg drop sounds fun to me.</p>
<p>David: I have always heard that “SAT math” isn’t real math. I am not entirely sure what they mean by that. But S2 scored high (750) on both the SAT math section and the SAT-2 math 2 (or whatever the harder one is). ANd then was miserable as a math major when he got to college (and not very successful) and switched to History where he is very happy.</p>
<p>DrG-what you say about PSAT math scores not mattering to colleges is true, but unfortunately D’s SAT II math scores and SAT I math practice tests have all followed the same trend.</p>
<p>Actually started my Christmas shopping today!
S13 - Clothes…he calls his look, “West Coast Preppy”. And a few other items.
TX5: I was laughing a bit when you said socks…those were on his list.</p>
<p>D14 - Clothes. Poor thing has grown up going from her school uniform to her cheer practice uniform. When I try to take her shopping she has no clue what to do. (DH says that this is a good thing )</p>
<p>Poppy,
This post gives me hope. Mechanical Engineering with 570 SAT II Physics was accepted to Penn. This student does not have too many APs either but won major award.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13571453-post34.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13571453-post34.html</a></p>
<p>Like Vandygrad, I was not thinking NMF and was just hoping for anything above 190. I feel like it is the third part of the puzzle–I know his GPA, I know his ECs, but I don’t know the scores. So S waltzes in tonight to tell me he got a 201! I know that is low for some but I am happy. 70 math, 71 reading, 60 writing. No surprise on the writing. Bless his heart, he is a terrible writer, especially in the absence of the red and green squiggly lines on Word (yes, that bad). So now the question is, where does he fit? Where on CC do I go to figure out his combination of weighted GPA (our school doesn’t offer unweighted) and everything else? He has a 4.2 weighted GPA and solidly good but not amazing ECs (eg no sports). Any thoughts? And big big congratulations to all those amazing scorers out there–it certainly is nice to have a place to share without feeling too braggy! Also do you all find that PSAT is a good indicator? Do kids ever slip down a notch when SAT time comes, all other things being equal?</p>
<p>201 is not bad. There is also “commended list” which I think the cut-off is ~200. That is top 3% in the nation!</p>
<p>Still waiting for D13 PSAT. GC said it would be next week. Looks like Im more anxious than she is.</p>