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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]08:59 -- this is all based on a single test score -- and perfect or close to perfect ones at that.  Many kids go on to fantastic colleges without perfect scores.  Our oldest child is a senior in a public school and is headed to an Ivy (which some people care way more about than we do, as neither of us went to an Ivy and things turned out just fine).  He wasn't a national merit semifinalist or even commended based on his PSAT scores;  his SAT scores went way up -- but they weren't close to perfect.  Bright kids will bloom where they are planted.  I happen to think that for middle and high school the most important thing is that kids are happy and well supported by teachers who really get to know them. (So after talking to him a lot about it, our second child is in private for HS).  As long as those things are true, and they are dedicated to working hard, things will work out fine.  So enjoy elementary school!  :)[/quote]

So true. My DC is a candidate, but I am confident that no college will be jumping up and down about it. Any kid who scores over 2250 is plenty smart enough and hopefully as demonstrated it in more meaningful ways than scoring well on a stupid standardized test. [/quote]

You can be proud of your child and not discount the accomplishments of others at the same time.  Some of the kids that I know on this list are academic superstars (by that, I mean curve setters who have the capacity to be physics PhDs or brain surgeons).  I am not suggesting that they are the only ones, by any means.  I can't stand all of the celebration of athletics, and often mediocre athletics, when the Brainiacs can't get a moment in the sun without someone denigrating their accomplishments so that they can feel okay about not matching their mark.  Congratulations recipients!  From a group of very smart students, you stood out for once.[/quote]

I certainly didn't mean to denigrate anybody's accomplishment. No offense intended. Congratulations to all the candidates.  I also think the accomplishments of brainiacs should be celebrated much more than they are. I couldn't agree more with you on that point.

I just meant that there is little difference between a kid who scores at the 2250 and kid who scores at the 2400 level, and colleges know that. Also, I question whether scoring well on a standardized test is a particularly meaningful accomplishment for a brainiac. Calling something an accomplishment implies effort. Doing well on IQ tests, talent search tests like the SCAT, and yes, the PSAT and SAT, reflects innate ability and usually educational and socioeconomic advantage more than achievement. Bright kids are too often praised for being smart rather than what they do with their smarts, which can be counterproductive.

The kids who go to the trouble of writing all the essays and are selected to be semifinalists and scholars based on all their academic and other achievements will really have worked for the honor, and colleges will no doubt recognize that. [/quote]

Don't forget that many (or most) kids at private schools take the SATs or ACTs more than once.  They are thus work their way up to a perfect or close to perfect SAT/ACT.  There's thus a built-in advantage for more affluent students who can afford the testing feels (and who are coached to take tests multiple times).[/quote]

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