<p>WatchfulEye, my older child is considered gifted. She just finished her first year of college. The K-12 experience certainly was a challenge, but college has been great for her. I also have a son who goes to school because his friends are there–he might as well be there too. But as I have said on other threads: He makes me laugh.</p>
<p>Two books I wish I had found earlier in the process are A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children by James Webb and Losing Our Minds by Deborah Ruf. By the time I figured out that DD was gifted, I really didn’t know what to do about it.</p>
<p>Seems like half of all American HS students are branded “gifted” these days. The CTY Talent Search at my school involved over half of our 7th grade student body.</p>
<p>Half might qualify for testing. To qualify for testing a student needs to score at the 97th percentile in one area of a standardized test. Few parents/students go for the extra testing. Standardized testing tests students on their grade level, so a 97 means a student scored higher than 97 percent of students his/her age. The additional testing tests above grade level. So, for example, when my daughter tested in third grade, she was compared to fifth graders.</p>
<p>Lots and lots of people with bright kids have just that attitude, Jersey. But I can assure you, if you meet a profoundly gifted student, you will know the difference.</p>
I never said otherwise. I see IMO/IPhO members, Intel/Siemens winners and the like as profoundly gifted. xrCalico23 pretty much summed up what I meant to say, that the term “gifted” is used far too often.</p>
<p>Believe me, calico, I do understand how overused it is. And it is a lonely road for profoundly gifted kids. Very few people understand them. Schools often just think that they need more work–not higher levels. About 70 perscent are introverts, so people think they are stuck up. </p>
<p>I am so grateful that I was blessed with a brilliant child, but it has not been easy for her.</p>
<p>That was not intended as a slap, Jersey. Just an explanation.</p>
<p>To the cautions above posters added about GPA and so forth for Ivies, (in addition to needing fantastic test scores), I would add that the Ivies are not the “be all, end all” in colleges.</p>
<p>I realize to many people they represent a certain pinnacle of achievement, and you are at the very early beginnings of the college process for your S, but know that there are many fine schools out there which are not “Ivies”, may suit your son, and may even give scholarships! :)</p>
<p>I have a Rice grad and an Ivy grad. Both my kids did fine at their schools and the schools turned out to be good “fits”. My observation as a parent (and my husband agrees) is that Rice offered the best overal college experience.</p>
<p>My younger son is just average gifted, but my older son was different from the day he came out of the womb. I finally really understood why he had such a hard time when those CTY results came back and he was way over on the right hand side of the bell curve. This kid taught himself to read as he was learning to talk and taught himself to program computers in 2nd grade.</p>
<p>I got 2040 in 7th grade (for CTY) and 2210 now in 9th. </p>
<p>Do you guys think it’s possible for a 2350+ ? </p>
<p>Any specific suggestions for critical reading? I got math 770, writing 770, reading 670, so the reading is definitely problematic. Strangely, I missed 6 questions on the first reading section, 0 on the next, and 2 on the third one. Very unbalanced. </p>
<p>dtartakovsky - First, practice some more Reading sections and focus on why you got certain questions wrong. If your grade does not increase to the level you want, and you can possibly afford a private tutor, I would recommend a few sessions with one. It will be worth the money when you become a NMF. </p>
<p>If you are already at 770 in Math, you just need to see what 2-3 questions you missed. Take a few more practice tests focusing on accuracy, double-checking your work and reading the questions carefully. PS-They try to trick ya!</p>
<p>I have no suggestions on writing other than taking practice tests and see if there are weak spots.</p>
<p>You may want to try the ACT. Since you are such a great test taker, it might be easy for you to do well.</p>
<p>My 8th grader got back his ACT scores today - he was attempting to beat his older brother and I expect he did but we’re still waiting on big brother’s ACT with writing. What should I Google to get stats for 8th graders? He had 34 English and reading, 32 math, 28 science with a 32 composite. As a 9th grader he’ll take English 10, precal, AP world history, AP environmental science, chemistry, Spanish 4 and band. We’re hoping that he may be competitive for United World Colleges later.</p>
<p>Apollo6 - Those scores sound excellent even for an 11th grade level. Congratulations! I’m so glad your son will also have band. It’s good to have music to help balance a heavy academic load.</p>
<p>He loves music. Band and cross country running (and a few online high school classes) are what have gotten him through middle school without going crazy. I’m so glad he’s done with middle school so that more courses are open to him.</p>
<p>WatchfulEye, my 8th grader has been taking the Explore and later ACT since elementary school. For him, it’s like the state achievement test - a way to track his progress year to year. One thing we have learned is that the ACT seems to be easier for him than the SAT. If your son is highly verbal, the ACT may be easier for him than the SAT because the SAT with writing is two parts verbal, one part math but the ACT with writing is one part math and four parts verbal if you count reading, English, writing and science, which is just technical reading, all as verbal. Also, like anything, the test gets easier with practice and familiarity. My son had an ACT composite of 25 in 6th grade and now a 32 at the end of 8th grade. Too bad he’ll have to practice the SAT to prepare for the PSAT NMSQT. Good luck to your son!</p>
<p>Apollo, many schools allow ninth and tenth grade students to take the PSAT when it is given. Both public and private schools around here do that. You might ask at your son’s high school for next fall.</p>
<p>I got a 1770 as a 12 year old and 1650 as an 11 year old, which I thought was good, but apparently others are scoring much higher. A 490 on each section is for the ‘average’ 8th grader, but I think a 600+ on each section would be a ‘very strong’ SAT score, so maybe an 1800 or so.</p>
<p>i went from a 179 sophomore psat score to a 2260 junior sat score. i did not prep for the psat, and i did for the sat =) i started prepping the summer before junior year</p>
<p>i guess what i’m trying to say is that if he could score a 1800 he’s most likely going to be breaking 2300 on the sat as a junior.</p>