<p>So Burb Parent, what you are saying is that my Georgia born daughter who attends BS in MA will be competing against MA (or NE) students rather than her GA cohorts or a national cohort. And assuming the competition is stiffer in NE than in GA, she’ll have to score quite a bit higher to qualify for recognition. To be more fair, it seems that the recognition should be national rather than regional. Is it possible to take the test in your home state? It would certainly give her a better chance for recognition.</p>
<p>
<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf</a></p>
<p>Periwinkle, that certainly answers that question. Oh well.</p>
<p>The bar for PSAT/NMS semi-finalist awards for last year ranged from Montana - 207 to Massachusetts - 223. </p>
<p>Oh great, another disadvantage for BS kids in college admissions. aargh!</p>
<p>I was very surprised at how many colleges are having SAT’s and ACT’s optional.
I think in the future these scores will be less important.
So dont get all wigged out by PSAT scores. Also some kids test better when taking the ACT’s and most schools will take either.</p>
<p>I find this phrase interesting: “U.S. boarding schools that enroll a sizable proportion of their students from outside the state in which the school is located.” That leads me to believe that not all boarding schools face the same cutoff scores. If a school in Massachusetts has many day students and “local boarders,” the Massachusetts students would, presumably, not face a higher cutoff score. I assume that the cutoff score for boarding schools may well be higher than the score for Massachusetts. Does anyone know of any official source for the scores needed for each “selection unit”?</p>
<p>It does recognize that boarding schools with a significant population of out of state boarders have very able students. Phillips Andover has an amazing number of semifinalists each year.</p>
<p>I have been getting concerned about SAT II’s and whether or not son will be prepared for them by the end of junior year. After researching many of the schools he is interested in, I was pleasantly surprised that most do not even require or accept them, and if you do submit them they will only be used for placement purposes. Two Ivies I looked at require 2, but none if you take ACT with writing. And, you are correct, schools are beginning to do away with the testing requirement. Wake Forest was one of the first selective private colleges to do so last year.</p>
<p>Keylyme - many schools may be placing less emphasis on scores - but if a school asks for 2 SATII’s, it is not just for placement purposes (at least at one top Ivy) - those scores are looked at just as the SAT I is looked at - (even when it is a school that does not require SATIIs if a student has taken the ACT) - all scores are considered (including AP scores) when it comes to accept/reject decision</p>
<p>Some schools actually state on their website that if SAT II’s are submitted, they will used strictly for placement purposes. That wasn’t the case with the Ivies I looked at.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t get all sweaty over the high bar for the PSAT for NE prep school kids either. NM is intended, in large part, to give a boost to kids who might otherwise go unrecognized by colleges - smart kids in lousy schools, for example. Kids in the NE preps have plenty going for them and can give up this one thing, I think. And, of course, NE prep kids can (and doubtless do) list their PSAT scores if they are in the ‘grey area’ above commended (which is national) and below regional semi-finalist.
The bar varies by state to be fair - to give kids all over the country a shot, not just the kids in the areas with the best schools.</p>
<p>A fairly modest number of colleges require or recommend SAT 2s. You can find some lists if you google for it. Most do use them for admissions. Some are very particular - largely toward the engineering/science end of things. Harvey Mudd , for example, requires two , one of which must be Math 2.</p>
<p>A question was posted in the college admissions forum:</p>
<p>"I don’t know if these questions will make sense to you, but what I am trying to figure out is some general principles on whether to take SAT II or take AP exams on particular subjects. Say, if I want to take 3 SAT II’s and 5 AP’s, how do I choose for what subjects to take SAT II and for what subjects to take AP. If you take AP on AB Calculus, would you take Math SAT II too? If you want to major in Science in college, would you take a history SAT II or an AP on history? Any other considerations? Are these valid questions? I’d appreciate any input on this topic. "</p>
<p>I guess SAT II’s are supposed to be much easier than AP’s, so if you take AB Caculus AP, isn’t it a bit silly to take a SAT II on Math I? Any opinions?</p>
<p>Watertester- here’s the great thing- you don’t need to worry about it too much. At Choate, and at least one other school I know of, you will get a very specific letter in early spring. It will say something like “If your child is getting an A in Chemistry 453, they should comfortable taking the SAT II test, if they have a B they should check with the teacher.” They will tell you exactly what grade in what class qualifies you to take what SAT II test, if that makes sense. Our friends in the public schools do not get that kind of specific advice, and have to guess which test to take.</p>
<p>Watertester - take the SAT II in the subject that you (your child) think you’d do the best in, if the colleges aren’t specific as to which SAT II’s to take. It is not silly to take SAT II Math 1 and an AP Calc BC test - I know many students who have done that especially if they are excellent math students. The same holds true for the sciences.</p>
<p>They do that? That’s nice! But no one answers the questions on the choice of SAT II or AP. I guess that needs to go to the academic advisor maybe.</p>
<p>Thanks, cba. Do you know what colleges ask for SAT II on specific subjects?</p>
<p>Watertester - my experience with an Ivy league school is that a student will generally take 2 SAT II’s as a requirement, just like taking the SAT I. Students will then take AP tests for the AP courses that they have taken. They are not generally thinking should I take the AP Bio test or the SAT II in Bio - they take the AP Bio test.<br>
– I don’t know offhand which schools require specific SAT II’s - but some of the engineering programs… may require certain test - someone else posted something about that.</p>
<p>Around half of the schools that interest my 11th grade son require or strongly recommend 2 SAT subject tests. It is typical to have the Math I or II plus another subject of strength. If you are planning to major in the sciences or engineering, then you would probably test for the Math II plus a science. There are a handful of colleges that want 3 SAT IIs. If my memory is correct, Davidson is the only college of which I am aware that requests a Math I or II for all applicants. Please note that I did not look at the requirements of that many colleges. Also, many colleges want either 2 SAT subject tests or the ACT with writing.</p>
<p>You should talk to your school about whether or not they suggest when to take an SAT subject test. At Blair, some students in honors Chemistry had special review sessions to prep for the Chemistry SAT test in June after 10th grade. Many will suggest taking the SAT Math 2 after precalculus. Different schools have different approaches, so you can talk to your academic advisor after school starts. It is unusual for a 9th grader to take an SAT subject test. Students who take an AP at Blair are expected to take the AP test. Again, this may be different by school. A student who is very strong in US History, would probably take both the AP test and the SAT subject test. I don’t see a conflict with taking both tests because they serve different purposes.</p>
<p>Watertester – colleges do not use AP tests for admission, but they do use SATII’s for admission. Most of the ivys and some others, notably Georgetown asks for 3 SATIIs. Also BU, I think. Usually its good to take math/science and a humanity. Exception being engineering. Any score above 700 is fine out of BS. If your child is taking a math, dont take the Math I, the curve is bad. At all costs avoid taking SAT in early spring. Even if you do get the letter saying you should take the test, have your kid prep (reason to avoid early spring – Asian mothers sitting in hotel rooms in Boston during spring break, prepping the kids for the test 24/7 – if you think Im exaggerating, unfortunately Im not-- and this throws off the curve). Some AP courses your kid takes will require to take the exam, some not. Depends on the school/course.</p>
<p>Wow, mhmm, thanks for the tip! I am certainly glad that I asked the question!</p>
<p>mhmm - colleges may not require AP tests for admission, but if you have taken AP tests, they do look at the scores for admission (at least some schools)</p>