<p>HS does freshman and sophomore PSAT. I think it was the principal’s idea. They’ve always done it. My theory is it’s a scheduling thing. They let seniors come to school late, and if sophs and juniors are going to be in testing, then what will they do with freshmen? When ds1 was a freshman, they gave them a test out of the practice booklet and kids could self-score. Now, the freshmen take the real thing.</p>
<p>Our school does not rank. If pushed they will tell you if you are top 5%, 10%, etc… The top 2% are considered valedictorian and even though it is based on grades through first semester Senior year, they don’t tell you until Senior awards. PSAT is given to ALL sophomores(for free), any freshmen that wants to pay for it and “select” juniors.</p>
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<p>I was told the exact same thing about the school my friend’s kid goes to. All sophomores sit down for PSAT but only selected juniors. I wonder how the selection works - are you asked to write it? Can you select yourself?</p>
<p>^^^ I’m guessing it’s kids who scored above a certain number sophomore year and are in the range for Commended and NMSF.</p>
<p>I am not sure how they select the juniors but it isn’t super selective and if you wanted to take it I am sure they would let you.</p>
<p>Our school has all the juniors take the PSAT, but we haven’t had a NMSF in a few years. So this year, they have taken all the kids who scored well freshman and soph years and are giving them extra prep/test taking skills, etc. The first extra class was on a Saturday and I don’t think any of the kids came (mine didn’t) so now they are pulling them out of classes about once a month. S doesn’t think he needs the extra classes, but he likes getting pulled out of his regular class. (As a byproduct of being “selected” S does know which kids had high PSAT scores - the “usual suspects” according to S)</p>
<p>I was so enjoying my Christmas break , break from all the activities, driving the kids to gazillion places etc. that now I am having a really difficult time getting into the routine again :(<br>
Robotics kick off was last Saturday, so now a very intense 5 or 6 weeks ahead for S.
Quarter ends in less than two weeks, but on the horizon and approaching very fast are Physics Olympiad, a couple of recitals, Senior Federation competition, AMC, State Math Competition, several video contests, AP prep class - to name just a few that are coming to my mind right now. Just thinking about it makes me really tired.
S has produced a very nice video for a local contest over the holidays as well as a really cool piece that is a little in the style of SNL. He is also thinking about becoming a DJ for a couple of school dances - he believes it will help him promote his own music. Oh, to again have the energy of a teenager. Maybe when you don’t have to cook and do laundry, free time is abundant??? ;)</p>
<p>I thought my D made me feel tired, Kelowna. Your S makes me feel exhausted!</p>
<p>Me too 
As I have stated several times before.
Fortunately the younger one seems to be much more focused…</p>
<p>Kel - I was feeling overwhelmed until I read your post! Now my schedule looks darn simple.</p>
<p>PSATs at our school are all 10th and 11th graders plus anyone who requests it. </p>
<p>Our school doesn’t rank and we do not know GPA until end of junior year. I have backed into GPA, but not sure I calculated it correctly. He gets a number grade up to 100, then report card issues a letter grade and I believe the 4.0 GPA is based upon letter grade.</p>
<p>Just got the semester exam schedule.</p>
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Glad I could help :)</p>
<p>Kelowna, how did your S’s performance in last year’s AMC series? Both my daughters were/ are actively participating in AMC.</p>
<p>He has made it to AIME, but that’s it. He was sure that he got like 7 or 8 on the AIME but in reality he got 3 (if I remember correctly).
He is very busy with MANY other endeavours this year and it is going to be very difficult for him to find the time and practice extra problems. He is on the state ARML team and goes to weekly practices, before which he has to do one AMC 12, but that is the extend of his practice.
Actually I was checking something about AIME the other night and it looks like it will be easier to qualify for AIME this year then previously…</p>
<p>D2 made to AIME last year and tried 7 questions but got 3 correct (she also made national mathcounts last year). Her goal is to make USAMO or USJMO this year. D1 made USAMO multiple times, which gave her wide choices for top colleges. We did not discusse college choices with D1’s GC. D1 graduated from a HS with over 20 NMF/NAF/NHF (18 NMF). D1 was the salutatorian when she graduated couple of years ago, but did not have perfect GPA (close though).</p>
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Owwwww…I don’t understand this…please explain.</p>
<p>S made Mathcounts Nationals in 8th grade - the only year he participated. And Orlando was fun!!!</p>
<p>I’m guessing that means 20 Natl Merit Finalists/Natl Achievement Finalist/Natl Hispanic Scholars.</p>
<p>Youdon’tsay is right. The HS had combine 22-23 finalists in that year (2008). Among them, 18 were NMF.</p>
<p>D2 made Mathcounts Nationals in 8th grade. It was such a memerable time. She is a freshman now.</p>
<p>Morning all!</p>
<p>D’13 has another snow day today so she is a happy girl. We had a great talk last night about scheduling classes for next year. We laid out side by side the classes she’d take if she did IB vs. if she just did AP. It made it much more concrete for her and I realized how much this decision was weighing on her. We did the same for senior year also which is when there is a big difference. Pretty sure that she’s decided to forego IB (YAY!) The one thing that is still enticing her is the .5 credit of gym. Our new grad requirements have the 2013 class take an extra .5 credit of gym which is waived if you’ve done a school sport (she plays rec and they won’t substitute) band, JROTC or if you do IB (which I don’t understand but…) She doesn’t want to have to take the .5 gym class but understands how completely ridiculous it is to do IB just for that. So she’s thinking about trying out for the bowling team.</p>
<p>We also chatted about starting college visits. We had made a huge list of schools over winter break (I mean huge, like over 60, plugging in a bunch of schools from the Rugg’s lists, etc.) She took a couple off and she identified a couple that are within a few hours to start visiting. Progress!</p>
<p>Rob, you’re making me break out in hives. I just can’t go there yet.</p>
<p>But ds does finally get his PSAT scores today. He said he won’t text me, that he’ll make me wait until late tonight when I see him after his soccer game. I bet if he likes the number he won’t be able to contain himself and will text me this morning!</p>
<p>Rob, does your school district have online PE? My D had to take PE/Health/Driver’s ED completely outside of the formal school year program to be able to fit her music magnet requirements in her schedule. She did this through the summer school program, but many complete PE online. It is done in coordination with a number of local workout centers. Just a thought for your D.</p>