Did your 7th grader take the SAT?

[smschex]

I have had three take part in the Duke TIP program so far. It was absolutely NOT a waste of money for my kids. The oldest has now taken the tests "for real" and felt much more comfortable after having taken them before with no pressure. They all did well enough to earn state recognition despite not having seen much of the math before--and math is not a strong suit for any of them. The only prep they did was the sample questions in booklet.

I think the stress level also depends on your child and how you approach it. One of DD's friends got massively stressed, partially because of pressure her mom put on her to do well. Now mom will not even tell the girl what she made because doesn't want her to worry next time.

They have not participated in any of the summer programs, but one of DS's friends goes to Duke every summer and feels it is a good experience.

 

[clh2]

My DD took both, one in 7th grad, the other in 8th grade. I don't regret spending the money at all. We even got her a test prep book for each of the tests.

Now - she would probably love some of the classes offered for the gifted/talented at Northwestern...but the cost was prohibitive, and our high school doesn't offer any credit for a class taken outside of our school - unless there is absolutely NO OTHER OPTION. And, they are really sticklers for this - because they are ones that determine what consititutes "no other option". I have heard that some schools offer HS credit for programs like this.

 

[cntrygal]

i took it in 7th grade, though john hopkins, never took it in high school, used by 7th grade scores to get into college!

 

[tar heel]

I'm in the group that doesn't think it's worth much. My son got honored by Duke's TIP and received mailings for a few years -- that was it as far as I could see unless you could afford the summer programs. He made a very high SAT score, and I honestly don't think the fact that he had taken it in 7th grade contributed whatsoever.

I've not done this with any of my kids, but I think taking the SAT in 9th or 10th grade before the PSAT could be useful in pushing up the National Merit qualifying score. If my 10th grader makes a high score on the practice PSAT this year, I might consider doing that to get him some extra practice since the PSAT can yield $$$.

 

[Schmeck]

I'm in the group that doesn't think it's worth much. My son got honored by Duke's TIP and received mailings for a few years -- that was it as far as I could see unless you could afford the summer programs. He made a very high SAT score, and I honestly don't think the fact that he had taken it in 7th grade contributed whatsoever.

I've not done this with any of my kids, but I think taking the SAT in 9th or 10th grade before the PSAT could be useful in pushing up the National Merit qualifying score. If my 10th grader makes a high score on the practice PSAT this year, I might consider doing that to get him some extra practice since the PSAT can yield $$$.

Do they allow National Merit standing if you've already taken the SAT before the PSAT? I thought it made the PSAT score invalid for it. At least that's what we were told a few years ago at a meeting about it at the school. They were trying to get my daughters to take all this testing/John Hopkins stuff, but they were too busy with school, activities, and sports. Found out that DD#1 didn't need to do any of it to get into her school of choice.

 

[disneymom2one]

We received a letter last year when DD was in the 7th grade that she could get in some program and take the SAT. I said, "phhhssst" and threw it in the trash. There's no need to take it now. It's just a money maker -- just like all of the "Who's Who" junk we get in the mail where they want to put you in a book -- for a cost, of course.

Your mileage may vary but my daughter had a great experience with Duke TIP last year. She did well enough to go to state awards. The program was at a big university and she had a great time. They had university tours, guest speakers, and a neat awards ceremony. It was one of those experiences she'll probably remember always. Definitely worth it for us. It also got us in touch with a local college's summer program (day) which she also went to and had a great time.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Your mileage may vary but my daughter had a great experience with Duke TIP last year. She did well enough to go to state awards. The program was at a big university and she had a great time. They had university tours, guest speakers, and a neat awards ceremony. It was one of those experiences she'll probably remember always. Definitely worth it for us. It also got us in touch with a local college's summer program (day) which she also went to and had a great time.

Good to hear. My dd is interested in getting her foot in the door to classes that she is interested in and this seems to be way for her to do it.

We are not concerned with it being a "practice test" to get into college.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My son took the SAT as part of the Duke University TIP program in 7th grade. In all the years of standardized testing he didn't do that well, still doesn't. But in 6th grade when they took the standardized test, somehow he got a 99+ percentile on the math portion which qualified him for this program. Some of his friends took the ACT test instead of the SAT test.

This was given at the same time as the regular SAT test, but it was a different one than the regular test created for the younger kids with different aptitudes.

He didn't do very well on the SAT he took, but it was an experience for him and he got to take the test at one of our local colleges so he actually got to sit in a college classroom to take the test.

He's really doing excellent in HS now with some honors courses and AP courses and will be taking the PSAT next month as well as the ACT for the first time. Hoping one time will be all he needs.

If your child gets an opportunity to participate in the Duke University TIP program, it's a good experience.

 

[tar heel]

Do they allow National Merit standing if you've already taken the SAT before the PSAT? I thought it made the PSAT score invalid for it. At least that's what we were told a few years ago at a meeting about it at the school. They were trying to get my daughters to take all this testing/John Hopkins stuff, but they were too busy with school, activities, and sports. Found out that DD#1 didn't need to do any of it to get into her school of choice.

Interesting question -- I've never heard that if it's true. Are you saying that even the Duke/Johns Hopkins programs negates getting a National Merit? If that's the case, then it most defintely was not true when my oldest came along. He did TIP and got a National Merit. He only took the SAT one additional time, but another National Merit recipient at his school took it a bunch of times, including before the PSAT. Also, my son's school gave a practice PSAT in 10th grade -- I would think that would be even worse than taking the SAT early . . .

 

[smschex]

Do they allow National Merit standing if you've already taken the SAT before the PSAT? I thought it made the PSAT score invalid for it. At least that's what we were told a few years ago at a meeting about it at the school. They were trying to get my daughters to take all this testing/John Hopkins stuff, but they were too busy with school, activities, and sports. Found out that DD#1 didn't need to do any of it to get into her school of choice.

Taking the SAT early doesn't change your National Merit status at all. DD took the SAT in 7th grade and then the PSAT in both 10th and 11th grades. She was a National Merit Scholar based on the PSAT (and subsequent SAT) score. And that does translate into some great financial perks for college.

 

[daisyduck123]

Yes DD took the SAT in 7th grade.

She's a 15yo Junior now taking AP Statistics.

 

[Ilike2Lurk]

My son had the highest math score of all of the 7th graders who took the test that year.....

All of the 7th graders in the nation Did they tell you that?

Cool for your son

 

[dawson5]

My DD took both, one in 7th grad, the other in 8th grade. I don't regret spending the money at all. We even got her a test prep book for each of the tests.

Now - she would probably love some of the classes offered for the gifted/talented at Northwestern...but the cost was prohibitive, and our high school doesn't offer any credit for a class taken outside of our school - unless there is absolutely NO OTHER OPTION. And, they are really sticklers for this - because they are ones that determine what consititutes "no other option". I have heard that some schools offer HS credit for programs like this.

I think you are talking about the NUMATS program. My son received an invitation to take the SAT through them also. He decided against taking it last year, hope to change his mind this year. I did do some light research into it and I thought they offered classes outside of Northwestern. I was pretty sure I saw something in the Cleveland area, which we could do. The classes are pretty expensive, but I think he would get a lot of out it.

ETA: Looks like the Cleveland ones are no longer, they were out of Case Western Reserve. I found the old course offerings, or at least that is what the link says:

http://old.ctd.northwestern.edu/summer/eligibility.html

 

[madge]

My dd13 received an invitation to take the SAT through Duke's TIP program.

I feel it is great for practice. My concern is the math portion will frustrate her. She is in Algebra I. After reading the other math thread it seems that a lot of Algebra II will be on the SAT.

Did your child prepare in any way for the SAT? She can take it in Dec. or late Jan.

She probably won't take any of the TIP summer programs. They are overly priced and not well staffed. My niece taught one of the classes last summer. I was shocked. She did not have any teaching experience and had never worked with children. She was terrified because TIP didn't give her any training and basically threw her to the wolves.

Lori

My DS both took the ACT through the Duke TIP program .. my younger son took great delight that he scored higher than his brother.

We didn't prepare our kids at all -- I just wanted to see how they'd do. Our younger DS qualified for state recognition, which was nice.

We didn't do any of the TIP programs, either.

 

[Green Tea]

Mine did. He thought they were "fun." Actually scored really well-he beat his cousin who was taking it as a senior.

 

[Mufasa&Simba]

SAT's in 7th grade????!! This is all totally new to me. I can't say how it is now here in Wisconsin, but back when I was in junior high and high school (10-12 years ago) nobody even took the SAT's, only the ACT's and even then you didn't take them until probably Junior year of high school for most students, maybe Sophomore year for some.

I guess things have changed for taking Standardized tests in the past 10 years!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

SAT's in 7th grade????!! This is all totally new to me. I can't say how it is now here in Wisconsin, but back when I was in junior high and high school (10-12 years ago) nobody even took the SAT's, only the ACT's and even then you didn't take them until probably Junior year of high school for most students, maybe Sophomore year for some.

I guess things have changed for taking Standardized tests in the past 10 years!

If your child scores high on a standarized test you get an "invitation" to take the test thru the Duke Tip program with a possibility to participate in young scholar programs over the summer. Optional of course.

I know when I was in college 20+yrs ago they were doing this program. So not new.

For my dd who is DYING to get into courses at a higher level this is something that she really hopes to get into.

We will see how it turns out.

 

[NewCrew42]

My DS took the ACT in 7th grade thru Duke TIP.

It was a GREAT experience for him.

Mr. Know-It-All walked out of the testing center and got in my car and said, "Wow Mom, I really need to pay attention in school the next couple of years. There were a couple of Math and Science questions on that test that I wasn't sure of the answer."

He qualified for state recognition.