Help with guidance on PSAT/SAT
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Anonymous
| My DC is a sophomore and we were wondering about the PSAT schedule and when and how best to prepare for it and take it. Any guidance please? I heard colleges start scouting students based on the PSAT scores, is that true? Also, do colleges look for a certain number of AP classes as a selection criteria? Thank you in advance! |
Anonymous
| No. Colleges do not scout for kids on PSAT scores. Focus on SAT instead. But if you’re close to being national merit, then go ahead and study for PSAT junior year. Colleges will compare you to your peers at your school and the rigor of classes. This may vary from school to school. Some schools barely offer any AP classes, others may offer 30. But it is in your best interest to take most rigorous classes and do well. |
Anonymous
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For sophomore year, there is nothing that needs to be done. If the kid could potentially be in range for national merit, then prep next summer for the fall junior year PSAT.
Likewise, kill two birds with one stone, and plan for a first SAT in the fall of junior year if the kid could potentially score near their highest potential score (especially if they are taking alg 2 sophomore year and precalc junior year, might get that math section over with). |
Anonymous
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To prepare a sophomore - go on Khan Academy and do lots of free test prep as well as diagnostics to see where kid is strong and where needs to practice.
In terms of college - no they don't "scout" per se based on PSAT scores, but they do direct their mailings. So a kid who gets a very high score will get a different set of mailings then a kid who gets an average or lower score. |
Anonymous
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For APs, try to find the balance between great grades and rigorous classes. The GPA and/or grades are incredibly important.
The number of APs is not especially important - which ones and how many will depend on the kid's interests and abilities. If this is a top student aiming for top schools, a rough rule of thumb would be to have at least one AP in each of the core subject areas if possible (English, science, math, social studies, foreign lang), though it's also possible to let one subject go by the wayside. I'd aim for 6-8 total if top-20s are on the list. If the high school ranks by GPA, pay attention to weighting and what the other top students are taking. (Yes, I think it is a game, one that can be played wisely/carefully without overloading.) But, it isn't a race, and ultimately more of a you-do-you scenario. |
Anonymous
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OP unless you are shooting really high, grades count so much more than SAT per Naviance the college tool that our school offers which plots acceptances and rejects on a scattergram.
I think you'll cause your child more anxiety than anything by focusing on this now. Maybe ask your child do spend 15 minutes per weekend on it Khan Academy. Next summer is the time to prep. |
Anonymous
| ^PP again- it's really Ivies and top 30 that you need a 1450 and above and even at those schools it's mostly just a gate but there are a lot of rejects in that range. |
Anonymous
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It is too soon to prep for SAT. A lot of improvement happens over time as academic skills increase. Much more efficient to wait until next summer at the earliest. Many students score higher the later they take the test.
On the APs, upon further consideration (I am a PP), the number matters to the extent that affects the weighted GPA. In a test-optional world, GPA has increased in importance, and yes I'd game it to the extent it doesn't put undue pressure on the kid. In addition to some core subject APs (which you would try to add for rigor purposes), some APs have a reputation for being less rigorous and colleges know which ones. But this angle I'm speaking of is not about increasing rigor, but increasing weighted GPA. In fact, I'd specifically choose some APs that, at least at the particular high school/with a particular teacher, have a reputation for being less burdensome than others. More GPA benefit for less work. This may require some creativity and luck as far as finding out which teachers/classes have a lower workload at your particular high school for these "easier" APs. This gaming is what the test-optional movement inevitably leads to. And test-blind takes us there in a nanosecond. It's hard to offer suggestions without knowing the specific kid. You know your kid best. A happy kid is much more important than any of this nonsense. Accordingly, try to find a balance between appropriate academic challenge (for college prep), gaming (for admissions), and stress level (for health and happiness). |
Anonymous
| My DD went up 330 points from sophomore year PSAT to SAT this year without intense studying or prep. |
Anonymous
| The only time PSAT matters is when your kid is close enough to hit NMSF cutoff score for your state. Otherwise, it's a meaningless test. Colleges get kids information from PSAT application and start sending letters/junk mails...etc. These are meaningless too. They want your kid to apply just lower their admit rate and raise their US News ranking. It's just a game. Crazy sh*t. |
Anonymous
Great theory, but acceptance rate isn’t even considered by US News when ranking colleges. |
Anonymous
| Anyone who takes the PSAT will receive tons of letters from many colleges, regardless of how they scored. The letters do not indicate anything about the likelihood of gaining admission. |
Anonymous
Dumb a$$. Selectivity is very commonly used criterion when ranking colleges. US News is not the only ranking out there. |
Anonymous
| NP. Regardless, the point of taking the PSAT is not to receive spam. The purpose is for mere practice and for potential national merit. Nothing more. |
Anonymous
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OP people told me when my DD was a sophomore not to fret and I didn't listen. We didn't prep though but I was an anxious mess when I saw my DD's scores. I'm the one with the DD who went up 330 points.
Everyone will tell you to wait until summer before junior/senior year that's long enough. |