Blair SMAC

[Anonymous]

I think many of you are over thinking. It’s just a high school program. They understand many middle schoolers are not exposed to computer science or math/science competitions. I also don’t think they care much about the essay. As long as the applicant doesn’t write hating math or science, I doubt the essay will make any difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are over thinking. It’s just a high school program. They understand many middle schoolers are not exposed to computer science or math/science competitions. I also don’t think they care much about the essay. As long as the applicant doesn’t write hating math or science, I doubt the essay will make any difference.

In that case, I’ll ask again, what does make a difference? They literally have only MAP M and the most recent math and science grades, plus the essay. Given that many kids will have high MAP-m scores and As in geometry and science, what is differentiating kids if it’s not the essay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are over thinking. It’s just a high school program. They understand many middle schoolers are not exposed to computer science or math/science competitions. I also don’t think they care much about the essay. As long as the applicant doesn’t write hating math or science, I doubt the essay will make any difference.

In that case, I’ll ask again, what does make a difference? They literally have only MAP M and the most recent math and science grades, plus the essay. Given that many kids will have high MAP-m scores and As in geometry and science, what is differentiating kids if it’s not the essay?

I guess not that many people know with certainty but based on what I've read over the years, I think those things matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are over thinking. It’s just a high school program. They understand many middle schoolers are not exposed to computer science or math/science competitions. I also don’t think they care much about the essay. As long as the applicant doesn’t write hating math or science, I doubt the essay will make any difference.

In that case, I’ll ask again, what does make a difference? They literally have only MAP M and the most recent math and science grades, plus the essay. Given that many kids will have high MAP-m scores and As in geometry and science, what is differentiating kids if it’s not the essay?

I guess not that many people know with certainty but based on what I've read over the years, I think those things matter.

What things matter? Are you the same person who said the essay went make any difference? I’m assuming the essay is pretty important. It’s really the only way to differentiate yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are over thinking. It’s just a high school program. They understand many middle schoolers are not exposed to computer science or math/science competitions. I also don’t think they care much about the essay. As long as the applicant doesn’t write hating math or science, I doubt the essay will make any difference.

In that case, I’ll ask again, what does make a difference? They literally have only MAP M and the most recent math and science grades, plus the essay. Given that many kids will have high MAP-m scores and As in geometry and science, what is differentiating kids if it’s not the essay?

I guess not that many people know with certainty but based on what I've read over the years, I think those things matter.

What things matter? Are you the same person who said the essay went make any difference? I’m assuming the essay is pretty important. It’s really the only way to differentiate yourself.

No, I would agree. I think the factors they listed matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are also kids who are very good at math (but perhaps not the top) but maybe they are better at Science. Same goes for Computer Science. And Blair’s English is still
higher than every other program too, so they do look at the whole picture. Of course they try to take most of the TOP math kids, but there are at least 2 levels of 9th grade magnet math. And a few will be in math with 10th graders probably, because Those are truly the top math kids.

Ok, so my kids best subject is computer science. How does the selection committee get to taste his abilities on this when they only have MAP-M and grades in math and science to go on?

DP. Now you understand why MCPS is broken.

Cogat (the race-neutral, nationally-administered) exam is gone.

MAP-M primarily indicates what grade level of math the child is doing (and the test score most likely influenced by after-hours tutoring).

Is an A at TPMS the same as an A at Forest Oak?

The only other selection factor is what is written in the application. I would list whatever computer science the child does and have your kid write what they like about CS.

The PP is mostly uninformed. Most of the kids who were getting in had prepped for the CogAT. Yes, that's a thing and it made the scores unreliable since non-gifted who had spent months practicing presented as gifted. There are a lot of bitter people who are pushing bad information. The real problem isn't selection but the scarcity of these programs. The one thing the MS lottery demonstrated is that far more kids are capable of doing the work than had been previously believed.

lol. Sorry hun. CogAT isn't like MAP-M. MAP-M, yes, absolutely, you can prep for it. All MAP-M does is check the grade level of math you studied for. CogAT, on the other hand, is about pattern matching, spatial recognition, word analogies, etc. Sure, you might squeeze out a few points on word analogies by learning a lot of words, but for the pattern matching, spatial recognition, etc. either the kid gets it - or they don't.

Seriously though, you sound like you're the only bitter one here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's very hard to prep for the Cogat and the big secret is those expensive classes really do not really help kids get in anywhere. Very few kids from those prep schools actually get in and they would have gotten in anyway.

The only thing I think they offer is giving kids familiarity with the types of questions and format and you can do that for your child with a $10 book on Amazon or by borrowing a book which is available at the public library for free. There are also plenty of YouTube videos you can find online.

You are foolish if you think these actually make a difference.

Actually it isn't hard to prep for it at all. It's not much different than prepping for the SATs. You can boost your score by 20% simply by being familiar with the test format and question types. These are well known facts.

I call B.S.! I think every HS parent would be thrilled if their kids could improve 20% on their SAT's (let alone CogAT's, which don't count for college admission). Maybe if they're at the bottom of the scale, I could see that happening but there is NO WAY that's true above the 50th percentile.

Go ahead - post the link with you proof. Come on. I want to see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are also kids who are very good at math (but perhaps not the top) but maybe they are better at Science. Same goes for Computer Science. And Blair’s English is still
higher than every other program too, so they do look at the whole picture. Of course they try to take most of the TOP math kids, but there are at least 2 levels of 9th grade magnet math. And a few will be in math with 10th graders probably, because Those are truly the top math kids.

Ok, so my kids best subject is computer science. How does the selection committee get to taste his abilities on this when they only have MAP-M and grades in math and science to go on?

DP. Now you understand why MCPS is broken.

Cogat (the race-neutral, nationally-administered) exam is gone.

MAP-M primarily indicates what grade level of math the child is doing (and the test score most likely influenced by after-hours tutoring).

Is an A at TPMS the same as an A at Forest Oak?

The only other selection factor is what is written in the application. I would list whatever computer science the child does and have your kid write what they like about CS.

The PP is mostly uninformed. Most of the kids who were getting in had prepped for the CogAT. Yes, that's a thing and it made the scores unreliable since non-gifted who had spent months practicing presented as gifted. There are a lot of bitter people who are pushing bad information. The real problem isn't selection but the scarcity of these programs. THe one thing the MS lottery demonstrated is that far more kids are capable of doing the work than had been previously believed.

This has been covered 1000 times here already. It's not news to anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's very hard to prep for the Cogat and the big secret is those expensive classes really do not really help kids get in anywhere. Very few kids from those prep schools actually get in and they would have gotten in anyway.

The only thing I think they offer is giving kids familiarity with the types of questions and format and you can do that for your child with a $10 book on Amazon or by borrowing a book which is available at the public library for free. There are also plenty of YouTube videos you can find online.

You are foolish if you think these actually make a difference.

Actually it isn't hard to prep for it at all. It's not much different than prepping for the SATs. You can boost your score by 20% simply by being familiar with the test format and question types. These are well known facts.

One of my kids had scored in the 80% when they first took it but after 6 months with a CogAT tutor they were in the 99%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's very hard to prep for the Cogat and the big secret is those expensive classes really do not really help kids get in anywhere. Very few kids from those prep schools actually get in and they would have gotten in anyway.

The only thing I think they offer is giving kids familiarity with the types of questions and format and you can do that for your child with a $10 book on Amazon or by borrowing a book which is available at the public library for free. There are also plenty of YouTube videos you can find online.

You are foolish if you think these actually make a difference.

Actually it isn't hard to prep for it at all. It's not much different than prepping for the SATs. You can boost your score by 20% simply by being familiar with the test format and question types. These are well known facts.

I call B.S.! I think every HS parent would be thrilled if their kids could improve 20% on their SAT's (let alone CogAT's, which don't count for college admission). Maybe if they're at the bottom of the scale, I could see that happening but there is NO WAY that's true above the 50th percentile.

Go ahead - post the link with you proof. Come on. I want to see it.

Wouldn't that be something if you could raise your IQ just by doing that but really you can't do very much. It's a well documented fact that you can Google in the academic literature that you can't prep for those tests because it would defeat the whole purpose of them. I do think that if you're a bad test taker or have low processing speed prepping might help you get through more questions but it does not magically give you the ability to solve puzzles and rotate shapes in your head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are over thinking. It’s just a high school program. They understand many middle schoolers are not exposed to computer science or math/science competitions. I also don’t think they care much about the essay. As long as the applicant doesn’t write hating math or science, I doubt the essay will make any difference.

In that case, I’ll ask again, what does make a difference? They literally have only MAP M and the most recent math and science grades, plus the essay. Given that many kids will have high MAP-m scores and As in geometry and science, what is differentiating kids if it’s not the essay?

I guess not that many people know with certainty but based on what I've read over the years, I think those things matter.

What things matter? Are you the same person who said the essay went make any difference? I’m assuming the essay is pretty important. It’s really the only way to differentiate yourself.

With only 250 words its not that important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are over thinking. It’s just a high school program. They understand many middle schoolers are not exposed to computer science or math/science competitions. I also don’t think they care much about the essay. As long as the applicant doesn’t write hating math or science, I doubt the essay will make any difference.

In that case, I’ll ask again, what does make a difference? They literally have only MAP M and the most recent math and science grades, plus the essay. Given that many kids will have high MAP-m scores and As in geometry and science, what is differentiating kids if it’s not the essay?

I guess not that many people know with certainty but based on what I've read over the years, I think those things matter.

What things matter? Are you the same person who said the essay went make any difference? I’m assuming the essay is pretty important. It’s really the only way to differentiate yourself.

With only 250 words its not that important.

Ok again, if it’s not important and many people have high MAP-M scores and As then HOW do they differentiate if it’s not the essay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are over thinking. It’s just a high school program. They understand many middle schoolers are not exposed to computer science or math/science competitions. I also don’t think they care much about the essay. As long as the applicant doesn’t write hating math or science, I doubt the essay will make any difference.

In that case, I’ll ask again, what does make a difference? They literally have only MAP M and the most recent math and science grades, plus the essay. Given that many kids will have high MAP-m scores and As in geometry and science, what is differentiating kids if it’s not the essay?

I guess not that many people know with certainty but based on what I've read over the years, I think those things matter.

What things matter? Are you the same person who said the essay went make any difference? I’m assuming the essay is pretty important. It’s really the only way to differentiate yourself.

With only 250 words its not that important.

Ok again, if it’s not important and many people have high MAP-M scores and As then HOW do they differentiate if it’s not the essay?

Depends what you consider high map? I know a lot of kids with what I consider high map scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you are over thinking. It’s just a high school program. They understand many middle schoolers are not exposed to computer science or math/science competitions. I also don’t think they care much about the essay. As long as the applicant doesn’t write hating math or science, I doubt the essay will make any difference.

In that case, I’ll ask again, what does make a difference? They literally have only MAP M and the most recent math and science grades, plus the essay. Given that many kids will have high MAP-m scores and As in geometry and science, what is differentiating kids if it’s not the essay?

I guess not that many people know with certainty but based on what I've read over the years, I think those things matter.

What things matter? Are you the same person who said the essay went make any difference? I’m assuming the essay is pretty important. It’s really the only way to differentiate yourself.

With only 250 words its not that important.

Ok again, if it’s not important and many people have high MAP-M scores and As then HOW do they differentiate if it’s not the essay?

Depends what you consider high map? I know a lot of kids with what I consider high map scores.

NP. What do you consider high?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's very hard to prep for the Cogat and the big secret is those expensive classes really do not really help kids get in anywhere. Very few kids from those prep schools actually get in and they would have gotten in anyway.

The only thing I think they offer is giving kids familiarity with the types of questions and format and you can do that for your child with a $10 book on Amazon or by borrowing a book which is available at the public library for free. There are also plenty of YouTube videos you can find online.

You are foolish if you think these actually make a difference.

Actually it isn't hard to prep for it at all. It's not much different than prepping for the SATs. You can boost your score by 20% simply by being familiar with the test format and question types. These are well known facts.

I call B.S.! I think every HS parent would be thrilled if their kids could improve 20% on their SAT's (let alone CogAT's, which don't count for college admission). Maybe if they're at the bottom of the scale, I could see that happening but there is NO WAY that's true above the 50th percentile.

Go ahead - post the link with you proof. Come on. I want to see it.

Wouldn't that be something if you could raise your IQ just by doing that but really you can't do very much. It's a well documented fact that you can Google in the academic literature that you can't prep for those tests because it would defeat the whole purpose of them. I do think that if you're a bad test taker or have low processing speed prepping might help you get through more questions but it does not magically give you the ability to solve puzzles and rotate shapes in your head.

Please don't fool other people into a sense of helplessness, of course prepping for anything involving logic and reasoning will help tremendously. All the above tests are highly preppable. Kids can learn a lot of logic, deductive, spatial reasoning, etc, skills by simply practicing thinking about those types of problems. They can do this because the human brain is effectively a pattern matching machine. Incidentally, IQ tests are also preppable, but pointless since IQ is a meaningless concept and there are no large incentives given out for trying to ace an IQ test. The way one preps is of course important, but in most cases even with average quality prep and average amount of time spent studying/thinking, many kids will improve a lot. In the upper echelons kids can effectively ace the 'IQ' tests, just like top math contest winners prepped their way into being able to solve very difficult problems that can seem ingenious to even the average math professor. All these tests simply contain a wide variety of puzzles, that's all. Someone who trains by solving many of these types of puzzles will do very well, it's simply the nature of how our human brains are wired to learn through practice.