Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[Mickeyluver37]

Our entire county is going to quarterly exams next year instead of semester exams, so DS has mid-terms for the last time coming up. Talk about dumbing down the curriculum.... Anyway, DS did ok on the SAT his first go round, and got the same exact score on the PSAT, so I guess the new one is a good predictor. The new PSAT is only out of 1520, but still supposed to be an exact predictor. His math is 100 points higher than his reading, so we need to work on getting that score up. However, he's exactly like I was at his age! The last day to sign up for the ACT without late fee was yesterday, and I just realized this morning I forgot to sign him up, so I guess we will be paying the additional fee. :\

OT, but DD is a college freshman and she just left to go back this morning. I'm a bit melancholy as it goes by way too fast. I can't believe we are getting ready to get DS ready to go away as well. I asked him this morning if he would want to just go to a local state school and live at home, but I got a resounding NO!

 

[SmallWorld71]

So how did everyone do on the PSAT? DD did much better than anticipated given that the test structure changed. She has a shot at being a National Merit Scholar if the cutoff range for NJ is what's being predicted. Of course we've traditionally had the highest one in the entire country so who knows.

DS16 did very well, though I think he was hoping for better. We are in MA (which is right up there with NJ with the high cut offs). If I am reading the #s right, he'd have a great shot in 29 states, but will never make National Merit Scholar in MA. (Based on last years' Merit Cutoff Scores, anyway. His Math score was only the 98% and I believe both have to be 99% to even stand a chance.)

Anyway, joining this thread as I am pretty clueless about the whole college thing. Even though I went, that was so long ago and things have changed. My 20 year old step-son was never big on school so he decided to go the community college route. This was a great decision for him, but I know that's not what is best for DS16.

 

[Poohforyou]

DS16 did very well, though I think he was hoping for better. We are in MA (which is right up there with NJ with the high cut offs). If I am reading the #s right, he'd have a great shot in 29 states, but will never make National Merit Scholar in MA. (Based on last years' Merit Cutoff Scores, anyway. His Math score was only the 98% and I believe both have to be 99% to even stand a chance.)

Anyway, joining this thread as I am pretty clueless about the whole college thing. Even though I went, that was so long ago and things have changed. My 20 year old step-son was never big on school so he decided to go the community college route. This was a great decision for him, but I know that's not what is best for DS16.

The cutoffs for those who took the PSAT in October 2015 are estimated to be lower than in recent years because of the change in the points structure.

The estimate for MA is 209-213. NJ is 211-215. The actual cutoffs won't be announced until September.

 

[SmallWorld71]

The cutoffs for those who took the PSAT in October 2015 are estimated to be lower than in recent years because of the change in the points structure.

The estimate for MA is 209-213. NJ is 211-215. The actual cutoffs won't be announced until September.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Southernmiss]

The cutoffs for those who took the PSAT in October 2015 are estimated to be lower than in recent years because of the change in the points structure.

The estimate for MA is 209-213. NJ is 211-215. The actual cutoffs won't be announced until September.

Have you read the updated post at the testmasters site? It estimates MA at 219 for this year's test.

I think we really won't know until the official reports come out.

 

[aprilgail]

This is the 4th PSAT my daughter has taken and it was her worst one! The others were all good LOL- oh well!

 

[sksjasams]

Ugh. My DD doesn't take it until May. She starts an ACT prep in 2 weeks.

Robin, can I ask you, where are you taking your DD for ACT prep (we are in the same area)? I know my DS needs some prep, but I'm not sure how to choose. Thank you

 

[Poohforyou]

Have you read the updated post at the testmasters site? It estimates MA at 219 for this year's test.

I think we really won't know until the official reports come out.

Yes, I've seen those numbers as well as the ones I posted. I guess it'll be a wait and see game. Dd did ok last year on the old version and did wonderfully on the old SAT in October. She wasn't focusing on the PSAT because she didn't anticipate being in the 99% but she is so we'll just have to see. She's thinking of taking the new SAT in June based on how well she did on the PSAT.

 

[robinb]

Robin, can I ask you, where are you taking your DD for ACT prep (we are in the same area)? I know my DS needs some prep, but I'm not sure how to choose. Thank you

I PM'd you the information!

 

[AustinTink]

Can't believe they won't announce the cutoffs for National Merit until September. DS scored really well, I believe he will be on the cusp of the cutoff. His best friend scored a 1510.

 

[wannabee]

3 years ago this weekend, DS16 ( then 13) and I went to WDW for the long weekend. It was just the two of us as my husband was long ago Disney'd out. We had so much fun... rode RNR 10 times in one day. I had a feeling then that it would be our last trip and I was right. He's so busy with friends now that I feel I barely see him. It's bittersweet... he's becoming so grown up and I'm sp proud of who he has become but I miss my little boy so much.

 

[punkin]

I also need to find a good test prep place. The local community college offers one. I have no idea if it's any good. My DDs studied themselves but DNiece is not a self starter. She needs assignments to do.

 

[Poohforyou]

I also need to find a good test prep place. The local community college offers one. I have no idea if it's any good. My DDs studied themselves but DNiece is not a self starter. She needs assignments to do.

Another option you might want to look into is a one on one SAT tutor. My DD had one last summer and took the SAT in October. It was about the same cost as a lot of the classes around here and really worked for her. DD didn't need help with math at all so her tutor focused just on what she needed.

 

[punkin]

Another option you might want to look into is a one on one SAT tutor. My DD had one last summer and took the SAT in October. It was about the same cost as a lot of the classes around here and really worked for her. DD didn't need help with math at all so her tutor focused just on what she needed.

Thank you, but how do I go about finding someone?

 

[Poohforyou]

Thank you, but how do I go about finding someone?

Ask parents of hs seniors or college freshman. That's how I found the tutor we used.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

The cutoffs for those who took the PSAT in October 2015 are estimated to be lower than in recent years because of the change in the points structure.

The estimate for MA is 209-213. NJ is 211-215. The actual cutoffs won't be announced until September.

Can't believe they won't announce the cutoffs for National Merit until September. DS scored really well, I believe he will be on the cusp of the cutoff. His best friend scored a 1510.

I've seen the estimates as well, but they look like they are on the old scale? How can the estimate be 209-213 when the scores for this test are out of a total of 1520?

 

[Poohforyou]

I've seen the estimates as well, but they look like they are on the old scale? How can the estimate be 209-213 when the scores for this test are out of a total of 1520?

The PSAT score translates to an NMSC selection index that is used for the National merit qualification. A 1520 score would translate to a 228 index. The old PSAT max index was 240. The index is on page 3 of your child's detailed report that can be downloaded from the college board site.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

The PSAT score translates to an NMSC selection index that is used for the National merit qualification. A 1520 score would translate to a 228 index. The old PSAT max index was 240. The index is on page 3 of your child's detailed report that can be downloaded from the college board site.

Hope this helps.

But 1520 is the max on this test. So why wouldn't it translate to a 240 index? And why don't they just change it for example to say, the cutoff is 1480- 1500? Thank you though, I will have to go log into his account and read more. He only sent me a screen shot of the score. He's not in the NMSQT range anyway, I was just curious.

 

[aprilgail]

The last of the old style SAT's is this coming Saturday, of course the weather forecast is saying a foot of snow coming that day!!

 

[bjscheel]

Anybody thinking about prom yet? We stopped at a shop to look at dresses on Saturday and she tried on 13 but didn't get anything. There were three other girls from school there. We've found one online that she LOVES and there is one in stock just over an hour away so I'm hoping to run up there this weekend. DH is rolling his eyes but I'm trying to convince him he doesn't need to go with...and maybe then he won't ask the price Hoping if we drive up there we come home with something. She doesn't like strapless so that eliminates a lot. My mom could surely add some straps but we'd like something that's already the way she wants it. Fingers crossed our online favorite fits and looks good.

Second semester started yesterday, but all her classes for that day were the same. Today she starts Art TAG so I hope that turns out to be a great thing. She also starts Financial Literacy which sounds like a good life skills class. She's out of Stats, hurray!

She's done 3 sections of a practice ACT. I'd like her to do a lot more by 2/6 but it's hard when you go to school and do homework to want to do practice tests.