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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have the exact opposite question.  And I am genuinely not trolling.  At what point can you not worry another getting your DC’s scores up?

My sophomore had a 1440 (out of 1520) completely unprepared PSAT sophomore year— 700/760 V and 740/760 M.   That’s consistent with PSAT 9 and SSAT sore ranges, so probably not a fluke.   At that point, mid year junior PSAT scores could be well above 1500 without much effort. So, my thought was to get DC a PSAT and an SAT prep book this summer, and hav them work so practice tests, especially in heading.  Then get the PSAT done in Oct and the SAT in Nov. If the SAT score is at or above 1520-1540, then just stop.  And not worry about SAT vs ACT it trying to get the score 40 points higher. 2 SAT subject tests done today, Math 2 and history, and it would be great to let DC focus on junior year grades, AP tests and college applications, with SATs out of the way.

Is 1500 plus SAT realistic based in the sophomore year PSAT?  Is there a point where the SAT score is just fine and the kid can stop?  If so, what is that number?  Or should DC fight for every point?  Is a 1540 vs a 1560 vs a 1580 going to matter? [/quote]
I know another poster has accused you of a "humble brag" but I am not going to because my dc has similar stats and I also wondered whether it was worth the expense and time of a prep course.  We don't have $600 to throw around and so like you I wanted to make as fully informed a decision as possible What I decided was to buy a SAT prep book for $15.  I will have him work on it in August and have him take the test in November or December.  
For the top colleges you definitely want to aim for a SAT score above 1500 but I don't think a 1570 is necessarily better than a 1550 in their eyes.  
Good luck[/quote]

Thank you. It really isn’t a humble brag. In fact, it’s not an issue I want to raise with DCs friends parents because it sounds obnoxious.  But DC is looking at scholarships and admissions at some pretty competitive private schools. And even WM and UVA are very competitive in 2018.  The difference between a 1520 and a 1560 or a 1540 and a 1580 significant is a legit question, IMO.  There is just a ceiling. My kid will likely miss a few and top out at a 1560ish no matter what.   Up to that point, does every point count?  In our case, I think the limiting factor is time more than money. But yes, not having to pay for the class would be great too.  Stopping after junior fall with say a 1540 would be fantastic. Plenty of other things to worry about junior year.  But we won’t if the extra 20-40 points are the difference between being admitted to UVA and not, or getting a merit scholarship and not.

I’m new to this. I’m from the Take the SAT Once And Live With the Score generation. And, no, I don’t want to say to a friend, is a 1520-1540 high enough?  It is obnoxious.  And Princeton Review will tell me why he needs the class.  Hence the wisdom of DCUM and the BTDT parents.

If you have BTDT, what is the point/score you stop and say “high enough” for selective colleges, but not Ivy, or top ten LACs (ie, for LAC with merit aid). UVA, WM, Davidson, Kenyon, Oberlin, Grinnell, Vanderbilt, etc.  At what score do you stop?  When does the cost outweigh the benefit?[/quote]

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