How hard is it to test into AAP in 3rd grade?

[Anonymous]

Your child's chances of getting in also depend on whether you are wiling to prep DC for the NNAT/ Cogat, and whether you are willing to appeal a denial w/ WISC scores. It may not be fair, but a child is more likely to end up in AAP if the parents press the issue.

For example, I don't believe in prepping. (i know lots of people on thIs board do though, and I am not judging). DC ended up on the cusp, and had basically the same scores as her bestie. Both girls were denied. DC's friends parents did not appeal. We decided to have a WISC done, which I was okay with, because I thought it provided good info, both for us and the school, about where she should be. She had strong WISC scores and got in on appeal.

[Anonymous]

PP: You did it the right way. The this is, prepping for the tests, as defined by going over practice tests for weeks defeats the metric of the test. The test assumes no prepping. It is not clear if prepping will help, but this is not like the SAT's or the Math final. And the kids are so very young.

Appealing is part of the process.

I did not prep my DD...heck, I did not even know the tests were coming. (to wit, we brought home a puppy the night before the CogAT).

Non the less, she is in AAP, and doing fine. In general ed, she may have been bored (she gets bored in religious school at our temple; says the pace is too slow).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP: You did it the right way. The this is, prepping for the t
ests, as defined by going over practice tests for weeks defeats the metric of the test. The test assumes no prepping. It is not clear if prepping will help, but this is not like the SAT's or the Math final. And the kids are so very young.

Appealing is part of the process.

1. Why, again, is it ok to prep for the SATs to increase the chance of admission to college at the expense of those who do not prep, but not ok to prep. for the CoGATs to increase the likelihood of gaining admission to AAP? Not sure I follow moral angle.

2. Why should one care if the "metric" of the test is effected is the effect is a result of one's kid scoring higher?

3. Even though my kid is "so very young" I still want him to have the best chance to get into the best educational program. Age has nothing to do with this. Those admitted and those rejected are all very young.

Unfortunately, appealing and taking the WISC is only one option for to increase the chance of admission. Some cannot afford the high expense of taking a private, tutored test administered by a high priced professional. Many do not even know of the option. I recently read Outliers, and it was quite enlightening as to how events and the sorting of kids at early ages result in long term opportunity for success or limit it. For example, my two boys are born 2 years 2 week apart. One on each side of the cutoff date for McLean Youth Soccer. One is the oldest in his group, made the travel team and is now in the elite program that will take him through high school with paid coaches and the best facilities. The other is the youngest, equally talented by age, but the smallest in his group and most likely destined for the house league (one has to qualify at age 8 through a grueling process for travel soccer. He will never have the opportunities of his brother simply because of the date of his birthday. The point is, if prepping your child helps him get in, the metric be damned, he then will have a superior education, more opportunity, be ahead of those outside the program when he begins high school, and then be better prepared for advanced classes, etc. It all builds. The world is a lot different from when I was a kid. The sorting starts at a very young age and decisions made by parents can have long term consequences for kids ultimate success. I highly recommend the book. It is quite eye opening.