<p>My S would like to take the PSAT and the SAT this year as a 9th grader.
I'm in favor of the PSAT as practice.
I don't know what a good reason would be for a frosh to take the SAT. Is there one?</p>
<p>This S took JHU cty testing as a 5th grader and qualified for all programs, but we couldn't afford to participate. I think he has always wanted to "qualify" for something like that again as now we can financially swing a summer program or a class.</p>
<p>Any experienced input?</p>
<p>If he wants to do a summer program for which an SAT score is a criterion, that's a good reason to take the SAT.</p>
<p>Just remember, all SAT scores are reported to colleges (PSAT's aren't). So, his freshman year SAT score could come back to haunt him. Let's say he gets a 2250 on the SAT as a junior and an 1850 as a freshman. Do you really want colleges to see the 1850? If he wants to practice with a standardized test, why not the ACT? Colleges won't see that unless he chooses to send it.</p>
<p>My now-senior son took the SAT in 9th grade because he wanted to (he had done the JHU stuff in 7th and 8th grade--but those scores don't show up on anything high-school related). Even though his freshman scores were really very good (even compared to seniors), his spring-of-junior-year SAT is quite a bit higher, and while I'm sure colleges see the date of his earlier SAT, the fact is that those freshman scores will never EVER go away from his official SAT file, and he finds it a tiny bit embarrassing, and even a tiny bit worrisome. It's not worth the brief thrill of knowing that a freshman outscored the vast majority of graduating seniors.</p>
<p>Instead, I suggest simulating the conditions of the SAT test and having your child do a practice test from the SAT book (use College Board), then have him grade it and look over what he got wrong. He might want to Look up the Xiggi method in the CC SAT Prep section (link below), and get started going over the SAT slowly....That said, I tried to get son to follow this method, but he just wouldn't/couldn't take the time.</p>
<p>Practice PSAT, too. Our school offers practice PSAT to sophomores, along with PSAT prep classes.</p>
<p>Cross-posted with prefect, who said it more succinctly!</p>
<p>Thanks. I did explain to son about the SAT scores being an ongoing record, I agree that's a great reason to practice with the ACT.
Maybe we'll investigate summer programs and see if any require a specific score. Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>Even if the freshman SAT scores are much lower than what he eventually gets as a junior, colleges will see that the freshman scores were 2 years earlier. It's when there are several tests taken junior year that look wierd. Personally, I think that the real experience of taking the SAT (especially surrounded by older students, which can be intimidating) outweighs the other arguments. And, knowing that she already scored in the upper % of seniors as a freshman, certainly made my D taking the SAT as a senior much less stressful. (And yes, she improved her scores greatly). Go for it! (And I'm very much a CTY advocate, too.)</p>
<p>What about taking the PSAT as a sophomore? I'm encouraging my youngest to do this (did not do this with older children), expecting some resistence at the high school, very rigid GC center. I'm watching for the announcement for juniors to sign-up. As I understand it, the PSAT only counts when taken as a junior (unless the high school messes up and administers the wrong version of the test, in which case that test doesn't do a bit of good in consideration for NM consideration).</p>
<p>Many summer programs that say that they need the SAT scores will forgive them if there's another standardized score available. Most will take the PSAT instead. My d applied as a rising junior to Cornell's summer program; she didn't have PSAT or SAT scores. Cornell accepted the state's standardized test scores that she took in 8th grade. She got in and enjoyed it.</p>
<p>If you're thinking of having your S take the SAT to qualify for CTY, check with them first. I am pretty sure that 9th grade is too late. My S qualified for CTY in 7th grade by taking the SAT, and got his first choice course the first summer. This past summer (after 8th grade), though, he got his second choice course because his SAT scores were not high enough for the first-choice course (a very popular math course that is difficult to get into - priority is in order of SAT score). So he took the SAT again last June, at the end of 8th grade, so that he would have a better chance of getting into that math course next summer. I was told by the people at CTY that the June SAT date was the last one he could use for their purposes.</p>
<p>If it is still possible for your S to qualify for CTY summer courses, I recommend them highly. The two summer courses my S has taken so far have been enormously valuable, even life-changing.</p>
<p>I know, I know - I feel bad that we weren't able to send my S when he really wanted to go to CTY - now, I believe you're right, that it's too late to qualify again - I'll check with them and post back here if I find out anything different.
Hopefully we can find something almost as good for him this summer.
Astrophysics - that's the way I'd hope it would work - lessening the stress of it all, rather than intensifying it. I figure if he is bringing it up and wanting to try - I'll get the best info I can on how it could affect him.</p>
<p>CTY will also accept ACT scores. I don't think 9th grade is too late to qualify for CTY courses, but the scores needed to qualify are obviously higher than a 7th grader would need.</p>
<p>orjr, Definitely check - I might have misunderstood. And even if my information is correct, there are other programs, Duke TIP, for example.</p>
<p>I just checked the website. From what I can tell, the Talent Search closes at 8th grade, but there is still a possibility of taking the SAT and qualifying for summer courses (see below). My information was correct for us, in that 8th grade was my son's last chance to improve his priority for course assignment. You son will be able to go, but will not have high priority. They have rolling assignment now, with weekly deadlines; if he decide to do CTY, make sure that he takes the SAT early and that you meet the very first deadline. PM me if you want more information.</p>
<p>Is my child eligible for summer programs if he has not participated in the CTY Talent Search?</p>
<p>Any child who earns the required qualifying scores is eligible for CTY. Keep in mind, though, that when we assign students to courses, we assign returning students first, then Talent Search participants, and then other applicants.</p>
<p>OK - I just checked too, and it sounds like NYMom has it right - if he had an SAT or PSAT score high enough, he could qualify for programs, it just looks like he wouldn't get in, since they give preference to returning students (which, actually sounds fair to me for a profit-making adventure).
The good news is they'll take the PSAT, so maybe he can just stick with that.
Now I need to start investigating other summer programs.
He's interested in chemistry, medicine, literature and journalism - no engineering or computer wizardry and we're on the west coast.
The search begins.
NYMOM - the advanced cryptology at Princeton Global Studies sure sounds interesting - could I pass for a 10th grader????</p>
<p>orjr, After having seen the CTY program up close, I wish I could pass for a teenager, too! </p>
<p>It is not true that your son would not get in. There are always plenty of open courses after registration is complete (many weeks), and at that time students are offered the opportunity to register for a second course. If your son makes the first deadline, he will have a good chance of getting into one of his top choices. And if he goes back a second summer, he will be in the highest priority group.</p>
<p>They do have one site in CA, I believe. My son was dying to take an engineering course that is offered only there, but I would not allow him to travel that far.</p>
<p>I agree with NYMom - I was looking at CTY for my son, but I was very unsure he was ready for a residential summer program. I ended up sending him to a program locally, but I kept watching the open courses list while I was trying to decide what would be best for him. The course I was interested in for him stayed open much longer than I thought it would. Also, if you are flexible about locations, it seems that the same programs may not be as in demand at different sites.</p>
<p>He might get in if he doesn't want the most popular courses at the most popular locations. </p>
<p>My advice is not to take the SAT until you are a junior, definitely take it as a sophomore (standard at our school) and it's up to you and your kid as to whether you want to take the PSAT as a freshman. Your sophomore scores on the PSAT will give you a pretty good idea as to whether you'll want to study for it as a junior.</p>
<p>CTY is not a profit making venture by the way.</p>
<p>mathmom - thanks for the clarification on CTY - I was just trying to be clear in my post that I have nothing against their system - just have to be an aware applicant of how the assigning works.
I'm confused about your SAT post - are you saying DO or DON't take it as a soph?
I'm thinking if he wants to try for CTY, we'll stick with PSAT or ACT and see how it goes.</p>
<p>I'd go with just the PSAT as a freshman. The SAT is longer than it used to be, it's become more of a major undertaking. If there's not a good reason to take it I wouldn't recommend it.</p>
<p>Just noticed that mess up. I really need to proofread. It should read: My advice is not to take the SAT until you are a junior, definitely take the PSAT as a sophomore (standard at our school) and it's up to you and your kid as to whether you want to take the PSAT as a freshman.</p>