But if they get into the magnet then they will receive a better education which makes the prep worthwhile.

Well, they might. Or they might not.

Well, tis better to have the choice of school environment, than not. I'll see to it my children are prepared. That's my duty as a parent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But if they get into the magnet then they will receive a better education which makes the prep worthwhile.

Haha. That is certainly not necessarily the case. If the child is not in need of that type of instruction, it won't help him and it could set him back. What is important is for kids to be taught in the way that best suits the way they each individually learn.

My kid does need that type of environment. We are prepping at home.

Anonymous wrote:But if they get into the magnet then they will receive a better education which makes the prep worthwhile.

Haha. That is certainly not necessarily the case. If the child is not in need of that type of instruction, it won't help him and it could set him back. What is important is for kids to be taught in the way that best suits the way they each individually learn.

Anonymous

You have finally come to your senses and recognize one can prep for "specific" and "non-specific" exams; and anywhere you slice it ... it is prep...whether the exam is tomorrow or next year!

LOL, I don't agree with you! Prepping for an entrance exam is a different activity than reading, learning in school, etc. I agreed that you could prep for this exam at home as well as at an exam prep service.

Anonymous wrote:But if they get into the magnet then they will receive a better education which makes the prep worthwhile.

Well, they might. Or they might not.

But if they get into the magnet then they will receive a better education which makes the prep worthwhile.

Prepping for an standardized test will help you on the test (maybe, but not necessarily!), but it won't make you any smarter. Some people spend a lot of time doing this kind of "prepping," not realizing that they are taking time away from many other more valuable academic activities.

There's waaaay more to a solid and deep education than being able to take standardized tests!

Anonymous wrote:My kids like to read - a lot! Is this prepping? I do not understand why such a lot of negativity is attached to academics and preparing for exams?

Yes, my kids are academically inclined. They also do not do drugs or break the law. My HS kid does not sleep around. These are all the things that they could do but instead chose to (GASP!!) - P. R. E. P.

Is there any hope for them? Or will they remain losers?

Only in America! Only in America!

You have finally come to your senses and recognize one can prep for "specific" and "non-specific" exams; and anywhere you slice it ... it is prep...whether the exam is tomorrow or next year!

Yes, that's true, you can prep for entrance exams at home. Do workbooks or computer programs that give similar problems to what's on the test, or what you think is on the test. It's prepping for
a specific exam.

What if the classes are non-profit, at home, with no payment to teacher or parent exchanging hands?

How can prepping be solely defined by taking a formal class at an entity on the NASDAQ? This loose definition leaves gaping loop holes to game the prepping system. Only an imbecile would think one has to only take a formal class from Princeton/Kaplan review to prep for a test? How utterly foolish and illogical. The driving reason why those of means tend to do better on these types of tests has nothing to do with genetics and everything to do with prepping even though the parents of these children swear their children do not take "prep" courses from Princeton/Kaplan.

My kids like to read - a lot! Is this prepping? I do not understand why such a lot of negativity is attached to academics and preparing for exams?

No, reading is not prepping. Taking classes or programs to prepare for a specific test is prepping. Just like taking a Kaplan course is prepping for the SAT, and reading the newspaper is not, although both may help you.

My kids like to read - a lot! Is this prepping? I do not understand why such a lot of negativity is attached to academics and preparing for exams?

Yes, my kids are academically inclined. They also do not do drugs or break the law. My HS kid does not sleep around. These are all the things that they could do but instead chose to (GASP!!) - P. R. E. P.

Is there any hope for them? Or will they remain losers?

I think a lot of kids go in unprepared bc they are not used to having such a short time period for completion (esp re essay and quantitative)

Other "kinds" of prep is prepping -- pure and simple. Let's not get to evasive, deceptive, and nuanced -- in dcummie fashion.