<p>curmudgeon: We had similar situation with junior son this year and I blew it. He was thrilled with his score -- Commended here in NJ but would be Semi in most other states. I praised him. When he told me scoring on Math, I said "One more question right and you would've been a Semi". WRONG thing to say & I regretted it instantly.
As others have pointed out, love the kid you have. I bet with some assessments and prepping for SATI, she'll do fine.</p>
<p>MomWC -- there are many private colleges that chase NMF's just to add them to their stable of students. And, by 'chasing,' I mean throwing money at the kids, in the form of partial tuition, all the way up to full tuition credit. (This is how many schools, which used to be ranked 30-50 in the USNWR, have moved into the top 20.) Thus, for kids who score 190+ as a Soph, I do believe it is worthwhile to prep for the Junior PSAT test. For many kids, $30k a year in scholarship money can mean the difference between state college and a private, 4-year university.</p>
<p>Xiggi: Thanks for continuing to post. (I was one of two on your test!)</p>
<p>If nothing else by prepping for the PSAT, kid's also simultaneously prep for the real SAT, which they will take anyway. It's just a matter of prep timing, IMO.</p>
<p>Curmudgeon:</p>
<p>Your D is not the only person who can ace Calculus and blow a simple arithmetic question. My S is a prime example of that. since he'd taken the SAT in 7th grade and had made stupid computational errors, he knew to try to avoid making them again on the PSAT and SAT. He basically had to be more careful.
I would not discount the importance of PSAT since, as other posters have pointed out NMF status can get a student a full ride or some substantial scholarship at quite a few colleges. But if that is not of the essence, then it is better to look at the PSAT as a dry run for the SAT, note where the mistakes were made and think up strategies for avoiding them on the SAT (either by being more careful or studying up areas of ignorance).
Like others, I also endorse the Xiggi method.</p>
<p>I appreciate all the ideas. For Xiggi and others with IIC experience, D uses an Ti 83 plus and says she can make it sing. Isn't that enough for the SAT and the IIC? Isn't the standard advice "don't change calculators right before the test"?</p>
<p>My S is still more comfortable using his TI-83 than the TI 89 we got him for Multivariable Calc. The TI-83 is more than adequate for the SAT.</p>
<p>Your daughter's score looks good to me and she will be courted by many universities. The PSAT scores of my children have gone from excellent to average and with each new child taking it I have stressed to them the score's importance, and lack of importance. As far as importance, yes it is important to learn how to take a test like this. As to lack of importance, no I don't think less of you because you missed merit- semi, I love you and know you will make a fabulous success in college. Everything is relative. You too can be a big cheese in a small refridgerator !</p>
<p>O.K. False alarm. It appears. All D did was PM Xiggi and then say she wanted to take the ACT and jumped in the Jacuzzi. LOL. She and her friends did what they normally do , compared scores. (Don't flame me. Flame them. I wasn't there.) and D pretty much got a sense of what she was up against. Coming from Hooterville and trying to compete against city prep school kids with their fancy electricity and running water and prep courses for course credit (no joke, well- at least the last part is true.) She is a pretty determined kid, and if she chooses to continue to value these test scores, I'll find a way to help her. Thanks folks, I do appreciate the responses.</p>
<p>Hey Cur: </p>
<p>I was speaking to an old bud in Birmingham (the big city) and he told me that Home Depot has some new-fangled generator-thingie that runs on gas or diesel and will power home light bulbs. Y'all might check Sear catalog to see if they can ship you one. It might come in handy to power up that TI-83 (or even heat the jacuzzi), unless you've gone enviro and got one that runs on solar power! Jeff Foxworthy would be proud. LOL</p>
<p>Did I say jacuzzi? I meant "crick". She jumped in the "crick". I really need to hire a proofreader.</p>
<p>I answered your daughter's PM. I agree with you that it is best not to change horses before the big race and stick to the calculator she can make sing. Just make sure to install new batteries in that puppy!</p>
<p>Xiggi:</p>
<p>What a mixture of metaphors! I don't know of singing horses or puppies, do you? :)</p>
<p>Curmudgeon, Comparing scores with friends can be a real shock for some kids. I know there was quite a bit of comparison among my daughter's friends and school mates when the PSAT results were handed out at her school. By the end of the day, the scores she was happy with looked pretty dismal to her when compared to others. I reminded her that this isn't a contest --- just a chance to see where you might need to work for the "real" SATs.</p>
<p>And, if she'd like to come to San Diego and tutor my daughter who only got a 500 on the math section of the October PSAT, tell her I'll pay her airfare. :)</p>
<p>Carolyn, I'm sure D would love to hear from another CCkid . pm me and I'll give you her e-mail. She is slooooow returning e-mails but will respond if I withhold treats.</p>