For those who are speaking about non-GMU scores looked at as less credible I would be curious to know your experience.
My experience in a 504 meeting with a private eval was that everyone knew and liked the private psychologist that I used. And I am going to submit it with the AAP app and I’m not worried at all.

I’m not a huge fan of GMU because the administrators of the tests are students themselves and still learning. However, I do think Fairfax County looks at the results from GMU as being more credible than results from others. In my observation, kids with high WISCs who don’t get into level IV aap mostly have non-GMU WISC scores. If you want to make sure they take your results seriously, go with GMU.

Anonymous wrote:I agree. It's not cheaper and faster. Plus GMU tests are sometimes taken by not very experienced students.

Yes! I felt an experienced professional would have helped in making my kid less anxious during the testing. I will not be using GMU again if any testing is needed in the future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you absolutely want to make sure your score will be taken seriously, I would do GMU. I know some private psychologists are highly regarded, but there are also the ones out there who are offering and charging ridiculous fee for "prep materials" for WISC before testing, which is why county is going to be more suspicious about the scores from some of those.

I’ve gotten quotes from 6 practices, including GMU. All except one were in $380-$400 range. All but GMU said testing took 1-2 hours. GMU quoted 3 hours. When I asked what the difference in time was, GMU said they like to spend the time to interview parents about the child before they start testing.

To clarify, GMU price quote was in the normal range (under $400).

Anonymous wrote:If you absolutely want to make sure your score will be taken seriously, I would do GMU. I know some private psychologists are highly regarded, but there are also the ones out there who are offering and charging ridiculous fee for "prep materials" for WISC before testing, which is why county is going to be more suspicious about the scores from some of those.

I’ve gotten quotes from 6 practices, including GMU. All except one were in $380-$400 range. All but GMU said testing took 1-2 hours. GMU quoted 3 hours. When I asked what the difference in time was, GMU said they like to spend the time to interview parents about the child before they start testing.

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Wasserman

Thank you!

I agree. It's not cheaper and faster. Plus GMU tests are sometimes taken by not very experienced students.

Anonymous wrote:My Special Ed Teacher friends have said that the WISC V is becoming more questionable because it has been in use for too long and needs to be revamped.

My understanding, from this board only, is that GMU is preferred because it is more reasonably priced and because GMU will handle a quick turn around for AAP appeals later in the year.

WISC V has only been in use for about 6 years. The lifespan for WISC tests is around 12 years before they revamp and renormalize.

GMU isn't necessarily cheaper or faster than any other psychologist. GMU and FCPS have some sort of collaboration for AAP, which is probably why GMU is the preferred provider.

My Special Ed Teacher friends have said that the WISC V is becoming more questionable because it has been in use for too long and needs to be revamped.

My understanding, from this board only, is that GMU is preferred because it is more reasonably priced and because GMU will handle a quick turn around for AAP appeals later in the year.

I really don’t want to malign the professionals and graduate students who give the WISC test for aap admissions (or private school for that matter). I believe most are on the up and up. I *have* noticed in my experience that kids get higher scores when parents are paying to try to discover giftedness. I know of quite a few examples of private evaluations coming up higher than evaluations done and paid for by the school—administered on the same child. But I believe that could be explained by a few things. There’s an unconscious bias when you are being paid by someone to get a high score. Private psychologists know they are looking for giftedness and will look harder than a psych working for a school and looking for an LD. A private psych may be able to have the time to develop a better rapport with the child. A private psych may be more experience in twice exceptional kids. GMU is no better or worse than a private psych on this regard. But I do believe FCPS is less wary of those results.

There is a lot of subjectiveness to the test.

If you absolutely want to make sure your score will be taken seriously, I would do GMU. I know some private psychologists are highly regarded, but there are also the ones out there who are offering and charging ridiculous fee for "prep materials" for WISC before testing, which is why county is going to be more suspicious about the scores from some of those.

Anonymous wrote:Why non-GMU? I heard they were more accurate.

They are not more accurate. I think people here like to opine that they can’t be “bought” but I don’t think that’s a real concern for the county unless there’s a certain dr or so with that rep.

Why non-GMU? I heard they were more accurate.

Dr. Wasserman

Can anyone please provide name of non-GMU WISC-V psychologist that they tried for their DC and were satisfied with their services.
TIA