Prep classes for HGC and MS magnet tests

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the HGC test CoGat?

No but I think its similar.

This is poster that did the workbook, I just wanted to post since there were times I felt like if we didn't do one of these prep classes my child would not get in. We rolled the dice and found that to not to be the case. If you have a bright/motivated kid they can get in with minimal prep and not spending $800+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^ Above, we've had exposure to A+ and Dr. Li.

So are they equal in results?
One mentiones 1 hour of math+1 reading+1of writing. Another say 1.5 of math, 1.5 hour of reading+writing
On A+ they mentioned classes of 12 kids (limit), and 5 mock test.
I could not find anything on Dr. Li's site, regardless # of mock tests and kids per class. Any experience?

Also I have seen some complaines for Dr. Li, that nobody went over shildren's mock test. (At list parent felt such way.)
Also A+ posted how many kids got to Takoma vs. Clementy. I know Takoma is much more competitive.
According to A+ they got 12 kids accepted to Takoma and 37 for Clementy Math in 2012-2013.
From Dr. Li site I could not get similar statistics. It looks that numbers are not that high, otherwise I am sure they would post them.


Can somebody share their exerience?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the HGC test CoGat?

No but I think its similar.

This is poster that did the workbook, I just wanted to post since there were times I felt like if we didn't do one of these prep classes my child would not get in. We rolled the dice and found that to not to be the case. If you have a bright/motivated kid they can get in with minimal prep and not spending $800+.

What do you mean by prep? My DC did no "prep" work specific to taking the HGC test but got in. We have an enriching home environment - online math games suggested by the school/teacher; DC enjoys doing mathdoku and reading for pleasure, etc... but this is about it.

I think if a kid is really bright, the kid doesn't need any prepping to get into HGC.

[Anonymous]

PP yes that is probably true too. Good point. We did a little just so he knew how to take a test like that. But doing nothing probably works for some too.

[Anonymous]

Well, I mean obviously it works for some too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP yes that is probably true too. Good point. We did a little just so he knew how to take a test like that. But doing nothing probably works for some too.

I'm PP... that could be true.... It may have helped my DC just be more familiar with that style of test taking (even though I have no idea what that style is). I have no idea if it would've helped DC's scores, not that it makes a difference since DC got in.

[Anonymous]

So - everybody preps in one way or the other. It could be prep classes or enrichment at home or CoGat book. Out of everyone who applies - a small %age gets in. Nothing is a guarantee. The end result that everyone hopes for is that the kid gets in - and if they get in - no one cares how they got in.

When you get a 2400 in SAT, it does not matter to the colleges if you studied for 2 months or if you were smoking weed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ Above, we've had exposure to A+ and Dr. Li.

So are they equal in results?
One mentiones 1 hour of math+1 reading+1of writing. Another say 1.5 of math, 1.5 hour of reading+writing
On A+ they mentioned classes of 12 kids (limit), and 5 mock test.
I could not find anything on Dr. Li's site, regardless # of mock tests and kids per class. Any experience?

Also I have seen some complaines for Dr. Li, that nobody went over shildren's mock test. (At list parent felt such way.)
Also A+ posted how many kids got to Takoma vs. Clementy. I know Takoma is much more competitive.
According to A+ they got 12 kids accepted to Takoma and 37 for Clementy Math in 2012-2013.
From Dr. Li site I could not get similar statistics. It looks that numbers are not that high, otherwise I am sure they would post them.


Can somebody share their exerience?

Thanks.

I'm the poster who has tried both Dr. Li and A+. We've had good experiences with both but our end goal was not getting into the magnet program. It was providing our kids with an enriched environment, which they both accomplished. We have chosen the programs at different times based on how they've worked with the rest of our schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So - everybody preps in one way or the other. It could be prep classes or enrichment at home or CoGat book. Out of everyone who applies - a small %age gets in. Nothing is a guarantee. The end result that everyone hopes for is that the kid gets in - and if they get in - no one cares how they got in.

When you get a 2400 in SAT, it does not matter to the colleges if you studied for 2 months or if you were smoking weed!

But it could be an indication whether your kid would struggle in a more challenging class environment, as in "your kid doesn't belong there". You can prep for a test but that won't help you do well in the program, or in college for that matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So - everybody preps in one way or the other. It could be prep classes or enrichment at home or CoGat book. Out of everyone who applies - a small %age gets in. Nothing is a guarantee. The end result that everyone hopes for is that the kid gets in - and if they get in - no one cares how they got in.

When you get a 2400 in SAT, it does not matter to the colleges if you studied for 2 months or if you were smoking weed!

But it could be an indication whether your kid would struggle in a more challenging class environment, as in "your kid doesn't belong there". You can prep for a test but that won't help you do well in the program, or in college for that matter.

I know people like to say this but I don't find it to be true. No dumb kids can get 2400 no matter how you prep. If you can get 2400, you have the smart and perseverance for any colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So - everybody preps in one way or the other. It could be prep classes or enrichment at home or CoGat book. Out of everyone who applies - a small %age gets in. Nothing is a guarantee. The end result that everyone hopes for is that the kid gets in - and if they get in - no one cares how they got in.

When you get a 2400 in SAT, it does not matter to the colleges if you studied for 2 months or if you were smoking weed!

But it could be an indication whether your kid would struggle in a more challenging class environment, as in "your kid doesn't belong there". You can prep for a test but that won't help you do well in the program, or in college for that matter.

Actually, I do not believe that. How many kids go through these prep classes and do not get in? A big majority in my experience. How many kids get 2400 in SAT after sitting in a commercial prep classe? Very few.

These Prep classes are only useful to make the brightest kids feel reassured, They are not teaching content, they are familiarizing kids to test taking techniques. These kids had a great chance of getting in without prep.

If you want your kid to actually learn something and improve - you should try their tutoring classes or camps. These go on throughout the year and they are like having a tutor in a subject you are not great in. I do not see a single child at my kids HGC who did not deserve to be there or who could not handle the workload and pace - regardless of if they came through prep classes or studied at home. And they all had parents were involved and education was given a priority in the household.

A weak student cannot prep and get in. Prior content knowledge is assumed in the prep classes. And even then only 1 in 4 kids taking the prep class gets in (and that is a generous guess - I think that it is even less than that!).
Think of it as sports. A top athlete has to have a lot of raw talent to begin with. Only then a good coach can polish that raw talent. The best coach cannot help an athlete with no talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So - everybody preps in one way or the other. It could be prep classes or enrichment at home or CoGat book. Out of everyone who applies - a small %age gets in. Nothing is a guarantee. The end result that everyone hopes for is that the kid gets in - and if they get in - no one cares how they got in.

When you get a 2400 in SAT, it does not matter to the colleges if you studied for 2 months or if you were smoking weed!

But it could be an indication whether your kid would struggle in a more challenging class environment, as in "your kid doesn't belong there". You can prep for a test but that won't help you do well in the program, or in college for that matter.

Actually, I do not believe that. How many kids go through these prep classes and do not get in? A big majority in my experience. How many kids get 2400 in SAT after sitting in a commercial prep classe? Very few.

These Prep classes are only useful to make the brightest kids feel reassured, They are not teaching content, they are familiarizing kids to test taking techniques. These kids had a great chance of getting in without prep.

If you want your kid to actually learn something and improve - you should try their tutoring classes or camps. These go on throughout the year and they are like having a tutor in a subject you are not great in. I do not see a single child at my kids HGC who did not deserve to be there or who could not handle the workload and pace - regardless of if they came through prep classes or studied at home. And they all had parents were involved and education was given a priority in the household.

A weak student cannot prep and get in. Prior content knowledge is assumed in the prep classes. And even then only 1 in 4 kids taking the prep class gets in (and that is a generous guess - I think that it is even less than that!).
Think of it as sports. A top athlete has to have a lot of raw talent to begin with. Only then a good coach can polish that raw talent. The best coach cannot help an athlete with no talent.

IMO, there are many more kids capable of doing the HGC workload than get in, so even borderline kids who might not have made it in without prep are usually smart enough to handle the work once they get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not with Dr. Li but with Dr. Tchevenkov or Dr. Bluestein (same deal, same drill)

Again, any idea how to contact people above?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So - everybody preps in one way or the other. It could be prep classes or enrichment at home or CoGat book. Out of everyone who applies - a small %age gets in. Nothing is a guarantee. The end result that everyone hopes for is that the kid gets in - and if they get in - no one cares how they got in.

When you get a 2400 in SAT, it does not matter to the colleges if you studied for 2 months or if you were smoking weed!

But it could be an indication whether your kid would struggle in a more challenging class environment, as in "your kid doesn't belong there". You can prep for a test but that won't help you do well in the program, or in college for that matter.

Actually, I do not believe that. How many kids go through these prep classes and do not get in? A big majority in my experience. How many kids get 2400 in SAT after sitting in a commercial prep classe? Very few.

These Prep classes are only useful to make the brightest kids feel reassured, They are not teaching content, they are familiarizing kids to test taking techniques. These kids had a great chance of getting in without prep.

If you want your kid to actually learn something and improve - you should try their tutoring classes or camps. These go on throughout the year and they are like having a tutor in a subject you are not great in. I do not see a single child at my kids HGC who did not deserve to be there or who could not handle the workload and pace - regardless of if they came through prep classes or studied at home. And they all had parents were involved and education was given a priority in the household.

A weak student cannot prep and get in. Prior content knowledge is assumed in the prep classes. And even then only 1 in 4 kids taking the prep class gets in (and that is a generous guess - I think that it is even less than that!).
Think of it as sports. A top athlete has to have a lot of raw talent to begin with. Only then a good coach can polish that raw talent. The best coach cannot help an athlete with no talent.

IMO, there are many more kids capable of doing the HGC workload than get in, so even borderline kids who might not have made it in without prep are usually smart enough to handle the work once they get in.

I agree with this statement. I do feel that the HGC program can be expanded to take in more students than what they currently take in.
And I also feel that kids who are in HGC - are well suited to be there - regardless of if they did "prep" or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not with Dr. Li but with Dr. Tchevenkov or Dr. Bluestein (same deal, same drill)

Again, any idea how to contact people above?

There seems to be a secret handshake involved...before that information will be shared!