HGC letters

[Anonymous]

Child reported no one at school mentioned HGC today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if theres a way of getting more data about what your kid got right/wrong? I don't actually care about her going to the school, but I am concerned that the scores don't reflect what her teachers have always said about her performance. I'm worried there's something going on other than just disappointing scores, and would like more data.

Performance in school can be very very different from the scores on these tests. These tests are not about what is taught in school. Well, I guess for quantitative, it's important to have been taught math. But verbal is generally beyond what is taught in school, so I think would favor kids who are simply very verbal and have read a ton. non-verbal section is more a logic test, like an IQ test, I think. PP, I'm sorry you're worried, but honestly I think if you have a kid who performs very well at school and didn't do so well on this test, then you have a great kid who will do great through school. I'd be more worried about a kid who excels on this test but does poorly in school. (that is, a kid who is either lazy or for other reasons not meeting his potential.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if theres a way of getting more data about what your kid got right/wrong? I don't actually care about her going to the school, but I am concerned that the scores don't reflect what her teachers have always said about her performance. I'm worried there's something going on other than just disappointing scores, and would like more data.

It is normal to have well below accepted median score because these scores are for "highly gifted". Roughly, kids with normal learning ability should have score around 100 or get 50% correct answers.

Also kids with a bit preparation for the test will improve significantly on scores.

My DC 1 did the test two years ago (without knowing anything about test, absolutely not prepared), the scores was around 100 -- and roughly 50% correct answers.

My DC 2 did the test this time with preparation on CogAT book (from amazon), and the scores were around 30 points higher, placed on waiting list. I am sure if I had placed DC2 on some preparation class (focus on beating the test such as manage time, or skill of guessing the best answers), the kid might got into this time.

Don't take too much on the test score, you know your kid --- one snap shot of testing can't be more than you know your own child.

[Anonymous]

Has anybody else still not heard? At what point does it make sense to follow up?

[Anonymous]

We haven't heard, I expect it will come tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

We got accepted into Cold spring. But most likely will turn it down. There is one other child that we know of that was accepted from school and they will probably decide not to attend also. I just think that DD would miss her friends too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got accepted into Cold spring. But most likely will turn it down. There is one other child that we know of that was accepted from school and they will probably decide not to attend also. I just think that DD would miss her friends too much.

joke or jerk

[Anonymous]

How do you already know who else was accepted? Did you already poll the whole school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got accepted into Cold spring. But most likely will turn it down. There is one other child that we know of that was accepted from school and they will probably decide not to attend also. I just think that DD would miss her friends too much.

joke or jerk

Not the PP you were responding to, but I have known parents who passed on HGC because their child did not want to be separated from their friends. I also know a disappointed parent who thought some of the work in the HGC was a little bit for "show" (to show the parents that kids could stretch themselves to work on something really abstruse, although it did nothing for their understanding of concepts) and that the teachers did not use the best pedagogical methods.

Had my child been accepted, I would have placed him in the HGC without question.
But insults are uncalled for, PP - other parents have a right to place more value on friendships and their child's social wellness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got accepted into Cold spring. But most likely will turn it down. There is one other child that we know of that was accepted from school and they will probably decide not to attend also. I just think that DD would miss her friends too much.

joke or jerk

Not the PP you were responding to, but I have known parents who passed on HGC because their child did not want to be separated from their friends. I also know a disappointed parent who thought some of the work in the HGC was a little bit for "show" (to show the parents that kids could stretch themselves to work on something really abstruse, although it did nothing for their understanding of concepts) and that the teachers did not use the best pedagogical methods.

Had my child been accepted, I would have placed him in the HGC without question.
But insults are uncalled for, PP - other parents have a right to place more value on friendships and their child's social wellness.

DD has a big group of friends and I am happy that she got in but I think there is more than going to s good school. If my child is happy why make them go someplace that they don't want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got accepted into Cold spring. But most likely will turn it down. There is one other child that we know of that was accepted from school and they will probably decide not to attend also. I just think that DD would miss her friends too much.

joke or jerk

My DC was accepted last year. DC didn't want to go, and was extremely upset about the prospect of leaving the home school, so we were not going to push DC to go. DC had a change of heart at the last minute, so DC ended up going. Had DC remained steadfastly opposed (very emotional about it), we would not have pushed DC to go. There was no point in making DC go if DC was just going to be miserable the entire time, and potentially not do well because of the misery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got accepted into Cold spring. But most likely will turn it down. There is one other child that we know of that was accepted from school and they will probably decide not to attend also. I just think that DD would miss her friends too much.

joke or jerk

My DC was accepted last year. DC didn't want to go, and was extremely upset about the prospect of leaving the home school, so we were not going to push DC to go. DC had a change of heart at the last minute, so DC ended up going. Had DC remained steadfastly opposed (very emotional about it), we would not have pushed DC to go. There was no point in making DC go if DC was just going to be miserable the entire time, and potentially not do well because of the misery.

Did he regret (going to HGC) later?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone passed up the choice to go to HGC and not regret it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone passed up the choice to go to HGC and not regret it?

Two children accepted to HGC. Older child rejected and stayed at home school. Was happy and still got into the middle school magnet. Younger child accepted to HGC and is finishing up program. Heading to the same middle school magnet program next year.

First child could be a stronger writer, but overall, it was the right decision for him. And it was the right decision for the younger child to go to the HGC. It's the first school he's been truly happy at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got accepted into Cold spring. But most likely will turn it down. There is one other child that we know of that was accepted from school and they will probably decide not to attend also. I just think that DD would miss her friends too much.

joke or jerk

My DC was accepted last year. DC didn't want to go, and was extremely upset about the prospect of leaving the home school, so we were not going to push DC to go. DC had a change of heart at the last minute, so DC ended up going. Had DC remained steadfastly opposed (very emotional about it), we would not have pushed DC to go. There was no point in making DC go if DC was just going to be miserable the entire time, and potentially not do well because of the misery.

Did he regret (going to HGC) later?

PP here, no, DC doesn't regret it. DC still misses the home school a lot, but DC made some good friends at HGC, although it took a while. DC has already stated DC doesn't want to go to middle school magnet and wants to return to the home MS. A bit premature since DC is only in the 4th grade now, but, like last time, we will see if DC can even get in first (MS magnet is much harder to get into than HGC from what I am told), and then go from there. But, I do know that many of the kids pull of out the MS magnet because of the commute.

For parents of kids who don't want to go to HGC because they don't want to leave their friends, I would suggest telling them to go to the Open House (if your HGC is having one), go to the HGC for a quarter, and if your child still doesn't like it, then you can always return to your home school. The Principal at our HGC told us that we should give it at least a quarter before pulling the child out.