Has anyone received an HGC letter yet?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After reading some of the posts it seams like "Highly Prepared" should be a better name for the "Highly Gifted" program. In case someone wonders why almost half of the HG ES kids don't make it to the HG MS program ...

Interesting...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After reading some of the posts it seams like "Highly Prepared" should be a better name for the "Highly Gifted" program. In case someone wonders why almost half of the HG ES kids don't make it to the HG MS program ...

You have no idea what you are talking about. I would say 75% of the kids from my son's HGC are at the MS magnet. Some did not even apply....

[Anonymous]

4/5 (>80%) of the kids in both of my children's HGC moved on to the middle magnets (3 to 6 years ago)

perhaps things have changed in the Cold Spring HGC now

[Anonymous]

My DS was accepted with a lower SAS than some who were waitlisted for the same school (according to this thread). I'm worried now that he won't succeed in the program. He does perform at a high level in school and MAP tests, so it's not a total fluke, but those higher sas numbers are worrying me

[Anonymous]

Sounds like Cold Spring is just way more competitive than the other HGCs -- a reason perhaps not to pick those clusters if you feel your kid is a candidate for HGC.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My son is on waitlist of Cold Spring. His score is 141. Sigh.

WOW, 141 got waitlisted. I am wondering how much it needs to get into cold spring.

143 wait pool, cold spring
another friend, 142, cold spring, wait pool

That's crazy. Given the limited number of questions in the test, there is probably only one or two questions difference between those who got admitted and who got waitlisted.

Yep. The test this year is very trick to different kids abilities. That's why it was emphasized in the mail that test score is only one factor being evaluated and I sense it might be the least important factor.

What do you mean?

Test this year is easier and shorter with less questions. It's hard to differentiate one's ability by just looking at the score. One wrong question may cause big difference in the score. I guess the speed of answering the question may also count towards the final score.
BTW, who knows what the total score is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was accepted with a lower SAS than some who were waitlisted for the same school (according to this thread). I'm worried now that he won't succeed in the program. He does perform at a high level in school and MAP tests, so it's not a total fluke, but those higher sas numbers are worrying me

How much lower? I guess you could ask some questions at the open house -- maybe you'd be able to get a better feel based on those answers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My son is on waitlist of Cold Spring. His score is 141. Sigh.

WOW, 141 got waitlisted. I am wondering how much it needs to get into cold spring.

143 wait pool, cold spring
another friend, 142, cold spring, wait pool

That's crazy. Given the limited number of questions in the test, there is probably only one or two questions difference between those who got admitted and who got waitlisted.

Yep. The test this year is very trick to different kids abilities. That's why it was emphasized in the mail that test score is only one factor being evaluated and I sense it might be the least important factor.

What do you mean?

Test this year is easier and shorter with less questions. It's hard to differentiate one's ability by just looking at the score. One wrong question may cause big difference in the score. I guess the speed of answering the question may also count towards the final score.
BTW, who knows what the total score is?

Who says its easier? Curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like Cold Spring is just way more competitive than the other HGCs -- a reason perhaps not to pick those clusters if you feel your kid is a candidate for HGC.

ah? move to a lower competitive cluster? Kids go to HGC, spent less $$ on your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like Cold Spring is just way more competitive than the other HGCs -- a reason perhaps not to pick those clusters if you feel your kid is a candidate for HGC.

ah? move to a lower competitive cluster? Kids go to HGC, spent less $$ on your house.

yes - pick your house in a different cluster - that is what I was saying. If you are hell bent on HGC that is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is on waitlist of Cold Spring. His score is 141. Sigh.

WOW, 141 got waitlisted. I am wondering how much it needs to get into cold spring.

143 wait pool, cold spring
another friend, 142, cold spring, wait pool

That's crazy. Given the limited number of questions in the test, there is probably only one or two questions difference between those who got admitted and who got waitlisted.

Yep. The test this year is very trick to different kids abilities. That's why it was emphasized in the mail that test score is only one factor being evaluated and I sense it might be the least important factor.

What do you mean?

Test this year is easier and shorter with less questions. It's hard to differentiate one's ability by just looking at the score. One wrong question may cause big difference in the score. I guess the speed of answering the question may also count towards the final score.
BTW, who knows what the total score is?

Who says its easier? Curious.

To be honest, I had my DC done 4 mockup tests a week before the GT test. I was told the mockup is the exact same format and amount of questions as the real test. It has 3 parts, needs 2 hours to complete.
But the actual test is way more easier than the mockup (according to DC), and it took only 30mins.
That's why I thought the test this year is different. Unless I was told the wrong information about the Mockups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is on waitlist of Cold Spring. His score is 141. Sigh.

WOW, 141 got waitlisted. I am wondering how much it needs to get into cold spring.

143 wait pool, cold spring
another friend, 142, cold spring, wait pool

That's crazy. Given the limited number of questions in the test, there is probably only one or two questions difference between those who got admitted and who got waitlisted.

Yep. The test this year is very trick to different kids abilities. That's why it was emphasized in the mail that test score is only one factor being evaluated and I sense it might be the least important factor.

What do you mean?

Test this year is easier and shorter with less questions. It's hard to differentiate one's ability by just looking at the score. One wrong question may cause big difference in the score. I guess the speed of answering the question may also count towards the final score.
BTW, who knows what the total score is?

Who says its easier? Curious.

To be honest, I had my DC done 4 mockup tests a week before the GT test. I was told the mockup is the exact same format and amount of questions as the real test. It has 3 parts, needs 2 hours to complete.
But the actual test is way more easier than the mockup (according to DC), and it took only 30mins.
That's why I thought the test this year is different. Unless I was told the wrong information about the Mockups.

where did you get sample tests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was accepted with a lower SAS than some who were waitlisted for the same school (according to this thread). I'm worried now that he won't succeed in the program. He does perform at a high level in school and MAP tests, so it's not a total fluke, but those higher sas numbers are worrying me

I would not freak out. Go to the open house, talk to parents of kids who are currently in the HGC program, talk to your son's teacher. There are reasons he got in and reasons the committee thinks he will succeed. If you and he are willing to give HGC a try, go for it. The test is simply not determinative of a kid's ability to succeed in this program. As I've said upthread, my middle kid has been through it and while she and her cohort are extremely bright, I truly believe the "highly gifted" label is a misnomer. The curriculum is more like honors/advanced, not "highly gifted" level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

where did you get sample tests?

You can purchase mockup tests from Dr. Li. I think Aplus has, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was accepted with a lower SAS than some who were waitlisted for the same school (according to this thread). I'm worried now that he won't succeed in the program. He does perform at a high level in school and MAP tests, so it's not a total fluke, but those higher sas numbers are worrying me

I would not freak out. Go to the open house, talk to parents of kids who are currently in the HGC program, talk to your son's teacher. There are reasons he got in and reasons the committee thinks he will succeed. If you and he are willing to give HGC a try, go for it. The test is simply not determinative of a kid's ability to succeed in this program. As I've said upthread, my middle kid has been through it and while she and her cohort are extremely bright, I truly believe the "highly gifted" label is a misnomer. The curriculum is more like honors/advanced, not "highly gifted" level.

Well said.
Compare the HGC and your home school, also ask your kid's opinion. Decide which is the best for his/her benefit.