To Those Who Will Appeal if their Child is Not Selected for AAP

[Anonymous]

For my U's:

University of Texas
Freshman Appeals Process
*If you would like UT Austin to reconsider your fall 2010 freshman admission decision based on new or different information that was not included when you originally submitted your application, you may submit an appeal to the Office of Admissions. The appeal must include documentation that supports the new or different information on which you are basing your appeal.

UCLA here (only open for 2 weeks after rejection): https://www.admissions.ucla.edu/appeals/Login.aspx

Odds on appeal are low but they do make mistakes and usually have a remedy..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really need to get over yourself. Really gifted kids do just fine in large classes because they are little sponges who crave learning and will find a way to acquire knowledge in any circumstances.
While some people may be pushing the envelope to the detriment of their kid, others should absolutely appeal if they feel their child's ability isn't reflected in the original package.
If your child is "suffering", maybe he/she doesn't belong in AAP.
It's the mission of the schools to fairly educate EVERYBODY.

signed,

mom of AAP kid who got in on the first round without us lifting a finger and who is excelling in a large class.

LOL! Know many gifted kids? ADHD gifted kids? Gifted kids with emotional problems? (The smartest child I ever taught couldn't handle the large class sizes in AAP and was eventually home-schooled.) IME, the brighter the child, the less conventional & typical is his/her behavior. You can't generalize about "all" gifted kids.

I'm the PP and you're right about that. 2E kids may have problems handling large class sizes but that's true of kids with special needs in a regular classroom setting as well. Our school happens to have pull-out groups for kids with these special needs, both in an AAP setting and in a regular setting. This has nothing to do with the OP's desire that kids whom she views as "less deserving" because they appealed be excluded from her cozy little group. BTW, having those kids remain in the regular setting increases those class sizes, doesn't it? And you could argue that kids in a regular classroom might benefit from more attention.
AAP happens to be too easy for my kid. Guess what? I don't go around complaining that they should take the top three or four kids from each of the AAP classrooms at the school and let them form their own classroom so they can progress much faster. Gifted programs are under siege all over the country and attitudes like OP's really alienate other parents and undermine support for the program. Be glad for what you have.

[Anonymous]

Here we go again. Every year we get some entitled AAP mom who thinks the kids who appeal are unworthy and are abusing the system to get into a classroom with their little Pwecious.

For the record, my Pwecious got in first round, and there was no one in my kid's class that didn't deserve to be there. I couldn't tell who got in first round and who got in via appeal. I bet you couldn't either, OP.

The AAP process has an appeal system in place because the AAP process is designed and implimented by flawed human beings.

[Anonymous]

You know, I have a theory that the people most annoyed by the appeals are the people whose kids were on the cusp and who need to feel validated that their kids are smarter than the average bear.

I think those of us who have kids who really need this type of program are happy that our kids are finally in a place where they can move at a level that is closer to their abilities. We don't care who else is in there because our kids are in the right place for them.

My kid almost hit the ceiling on his test. When I picked my kid up from his test he told me he missed 3 questions (and his scores confirmed this). One of the questions he figured out in the car on the way home. He can be really great and normal, or really really quirky, depending on his peers. Most of the crazy smart kids I know are like that too. I prefer having a slightly broader peer group to help normalize his school experience. Who cares how the other kids got there. If they worked their asses off prepping, good for them. They will probably pass my crazy smart kid in grades because they know how to work. My kid does not need to work to learn, which is a bad thing. Luckily, some of that borderline kid work ethic is starting to rub off on him.

Just worry about your own kids and don't stress about how others got there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Just worry about your own kids and don't stress about how others got there.

Yes, Yes, Yes.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know, I have a theory that the people most annoyed by the appeals are the people whose kids were on the cusp and who need to feel validated that their kids are smarter than the average bear.

I think those of us who have kids who really need this type of program are happy that our kids are finally in a place where they can move at a level that is closer to their abilities. We don't care who else is in there because our kids are in the right place for them.

My kid almost hit the ceiling on his test. When I picked my kid up from his test he told me he missed 3 questions (and his scores confirmed this). One of the questions he figured out in the car on the way home. He can be really great and normal, or really really quirky, depending on his peers. Most of the crazy smart kids I know are like that too. I prefer having a slightly broader peer group to help normalize his school experience. Who cares how the other kids got there. If they worked their asses off prepping, good for them. They will probably pass my crazy smart kid in grades because they know how to work. My kid does not need to work to learn, which is a bad thing. Luckily, some of that borderline kid work ethic is starting to rub off on him.

Just worry about your own kids and don't stress about how others got there.

anyone else notice that the people who preach on these posts can't seem to do it without telling us what a genius their kid is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know, I have a theory that the people most annoyed by the appeals are the people whose kids were on the cusp and who need to feel validated that their kids are smarter than the average bear.

I think those of us who have kids who really need this type of program are happy that our kids are finally in a place where they can move at a level that is closer to their abilities. We don't care who else is in there because our kids are in the right place for them.

My kid almost hit the ceiling on his test. When I picked my kid up from his test he told me he missed 3 questions (and his scores confirmed this). One of the questions he figured out in the car on the way home. He can be really great and normal, or really really quirky, depending on his peers. Most of the crazy smart kids I know are like that too. I prefer having a slightly broader peer group to help normalize his school experience. Who cares how the other kids got there. If they worked their asses off prepping, good for them. They will probably pass my crazy smart kid in grades because they know how to work. My kid does not need to work to learn, which is a bad thing. Luckily, some of that borderline kid work ethic is starting to rub off on him.

Just worry about your own kids and don't stress about how others got there.

anyone else notice that the people who preach on these posts can't seem to do it without telling us what a genius their kid is?

ever notice how the people who complain about the preaching have not so bright kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know, I have a theory that the people most annoyed by the appeals are the people whose kids were on the cusp and who need to feel validated that their kids are smarter than the average bear.

I think those of us who have kids who really need this type of program are happy that our kids are finally in a place where they can move at a level that is closer to their abilities. We don't care who else is in there because our kids are in the right place for them.

My kid almost hit the ceiling on his test. When I picked my kid up from his test he told me he missed 3 questions (and his scores confirmed this). One of the questions he figured out in the car on the way home. He can be really great and normal, or really really quirky, depending on his peers. Most of the crazy smart kids I know are like that too. I prefer having a slightly broader peer group to help normalize his school experience. Who cares how the other kids got there. If they worked their asses off prepping, good for them. They will probably pass my crazy smart kid in grades because they know how to work. My kid does not need to work to learn, which is a bad thing. Luckily, some of that borderline kid work ethic is starting to rub off on him.

Just worry about your own kids and don't stress about how others got there.

anyone else notice that the people who preach on these posts can't seem to do it without telling us what a genius their kid is?

Sorry, but OP's complaint centered on the fact that having larger class sizes due to the "undeserving appeals" kids was hurting her child. Those of us who have kids who are doing very well in the large classes and who could care less who got in on appeal and who didn't are just pointing out that maybe her kid isn't as bright as she thinks. I imagine she would be livid at the thought of an appeals kid doing well in AAP (and I'm sure there are many who do).

ever notice how the people who complain about the preaching have not so bright kids?

[Anonymous]

E other thing is the number of kids in aap does not increase class size...the county had a maximum class size, and if the school exceeds it, they will add a class

[Anonymous]

ever notice how the people who complain about the preaching have not so bright kids?

No I have not noticed that but I'll bet that their kids are smarter than you... I'll take that bet any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

ever notice how the people who complain about the preaching have not so bright kids?

No I have not noticed that but I'll bet that their kids are smarter than you... I'll take that bet any day.

My point is the parents who complain have children who didn't make the cut. I understand a little disappointment but then they need to get over it. Especially if their kids knew they were in the pool. It's up to the parents to teach their kids to press on through life's challenges with their head held high. Not take every opportunity to complain about the process and make accusations about prepping regarding the kids who got in.

AAP wasn't so bad when they were applying, suddenly it's the worst thing ever when they don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ever notice how the people who complain about the preaching have not so bright kids?

No I have not noticed that but I'll bet that their kids are smarter than you... I'll take that bet any day.

My point is the parents who complain have children who didn't make the cut. I understand a little disappointment but then they need to get over it. Especially if their kids knew they were in the pool. It's up to the parents to teach their kids to press on through life's challenges with their head held high. Not take every opportunity to complain about the process and make accusations about prepping regarding the kids who got in.

AAP wasn't so bad when they were applying, suddenly it's the worst thing ever when they don't get it.

You shouldn't make such rash assumptions. I posted that first comment and both of my kids are in AAP (first round, all subscores above 140, and GBRS of 14 and 16). No sour grapes here. I'm just tired of people explaining how their kid is above everyone else and above AAP. It accomplishes nothing other than self-gratification.

[Anonymous]

Are there any studies going on in the district, or the state, to look into the quality of criteria being used to place kids into AAP? It seems to me that if so many children get in, either initially or on appeal, to create a class that is larger than the equivalent non_AAP class, then there is either something wrong with the selection system, or there is something wrong with the regular curriculum. What am I missing here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: It seems to me that if so many children get in, either initially or on appeal, to create a class that is larger than the equivalent non_AAP class, then there is either something wrong with the selection system, or there is something wrong with the regular curriculum.

According to the presentation (see link below) provided to the School Board in April 2012, 18% of students in grades 3 - 8 are in centers. 18% is not "larger than the equivalent non-AAP class."

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/8TBMUR5C7D68/$file/APR16%20-pptforSBworksessionHIGHRESOLUTION_weblink.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: It seems to me that if so many children get in, either initially or on appeal, to create a class that is larger than the equivalent non_AAP class, then there is either something wrong with the selection system, or there is something wrong with the regular curriculum.

According to the presentation (see link below) provided to the School Board in April 2012, 18% of students in grades 3 - 8 are in centers. 18% is not "larger than the equivalent non-AAP class."

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/8TBMUR5C7D68/$file/APR16%20-pptforSBworksessionHIGHRESOLUTION_weblink.pdf

I thought she meant the class sizes are larger. (true in our experience).