PSAT Advice Needed, Please

[TinkOhio]

My DD is a sophomore and will be taking the PSAT for the first time tomorrow. We're still torn about whether or not to have the scores automatically sent to colleges. My daughter will most likely take the test again next fall. She is a solid student who participates in the gifted and talented program and usually tests very well.

What happens if she doesn't test as well as she hopes? Will the schools look at her initial scores and not consider the second set? She hasn't studied for the test. Her plan is to see what she needs to work on so that she can nail it next year.

Advice is welcome and appreciated!

 

[xCourxCorex]

Is that even an option to send your PSAT scores to colleges?? It wasn't several years ago when I took them. The purpose is just to see where your strengths/weaknesses lie, and prepare for the SAT, which schools DO see, and will (potentially heavily) weigh in on admission.

For the SAT, you could take them once, have them automatically sent to whichever schools you select, and you can also do that a second time. So long as it is prior to the deadline, most (if not all) schools will consider your highest scores in each category (ie: 1st time around you score very high in math and reading comp, the second time the same but better in writing, they'll typically consider the "best of" any scores submitted). The alternative is to not send any scores, wait until you've taken it however many times, and send your best scores to the schools you'd like. I believe it is a small fee though.

In any case, schools generally do not consider PSAT scores; they are looking at the regular old SAT, so just tell her to relax, eat well beforehand and do her best! Once you have the results, she can tailor her studying to her weak areas. It's a good idea to take the SAT the second portion of junior year, so that you have multiple opportunities to re-test before most college deadlines.

ETA: I also wouldn't indicate any schools to send the scores to if it's an option; who knows where her interests will lie in the next year and a half... wait until at least next year. Also, in the next few months you'll start to receive all sorts of college mailings.. those brochures are a good way to get a jump on what type of school she'd like.

 

[scrapquitler]

My DD is a sophomore and will be taking the PSAT for the first time tomorrow. We're still torn about whether or not to have the scores automatically sent to colleges. My daughter will most likely take the test again next fall. She is a solid student who participates in the gifted and talented program and usually tests very well.

What happens if she doesn't test as well as she hopes? Will the schools look at her initial scores and not consider the second set? She hasn't studied for the test. Her plan is to see what she needs to work on so that she can nail it next year.

Advice is welcome and appreciated!

I never heard any discussion about sending PSAT scores to colleges, I don't even think its an option. In our district, PSAT scores as a sophmore are strictly for PRACTICE and the experience of taking them. When they take the PSAT in junior year, that PSAT score is the one they use to determine the National Merit Scholarships.

PSATs are not the same as SATs. I'm wondering if you are getting them mixed up.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I never heard any discussion about sending PSAT scores to colleges, I don't even think its an option. In our district, PSAT scores as a sophmore are strictly for PRACTICE and the experience of taking them. When they take the PSAT in junior year, that PSAT score is the one they use to determine the National Merit Scholarships. PSATs are not the same as SATs. I'm wondering if you are getting them mixed up.

Actually you can check for your scores to be made available to colleges & if you do they will contact you based on scores. The better the score, the more selective the college. When my sophmore took it we were contacted by some very good schools & said child is being actively pursued by some great schools. Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[clh2]

Dd is now a sophomore in college. (I.e it has been a few years!)

The PSAT I think makes scores available to colleges. Those colleges will start to send mail, more mail and more mail! It is much more for marketing purposes. The better your dd does, the more colleges will be interested.

I don't think your DD will be specifying colleges to send the scores to.

 

[aprilgail2]

I didn't even know you could send them to colleges. My 9th grader took them this past Wednesday. I know they told us we wouldn't know what they scored until December though!

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for all of the advice. I think we'll have her check the box to send the scores to schools. Her friend took the test last year as a sophomore and did very well. Many colleges have been in contact with him since then. He has been working with a tutor this past year with hopes of securing major scholarships after taking it again tomorrow.

 

[georgina]

I'm not sure the schools get a specific list of names and scores. There may just be a list of students who scored in a specific range. It won't hurt her if her scores aren't as high as she hoped.

 

[xCourxCorex]

Thanks for all of the advice. I think we'll have her check the box to send the scores to schools. Her friend took the test last year as a sophomore and did very well. Many colleges have been in contact with him since then. He has been working with a tutor this past year with hopes of securing major scholarships after taking it again tomorrow.

I believe as a junior, colleges may look at scores to award national merit scholarships, but as a sophomore I wouldn't worry about it. Even if she doesn't do well, your mailbox will be filled with college mailings

My sister took it last year as a sophomore and since then we have received hundreds of flyers, brochures etc. ... From all over the country; none of which she had to name specifically to get info on, or to send scores to.

 

[happymommy]

I believe as a junior, colleges may look at scores to award national merit scholarships, but as a sophomore I wouldn't worry about it. Even if she doesn't do well, your mailbox will be filled with college mailings

My sister took it last year as a sophomore and since then we have received hundreds of flyers, brochures etc. ... From all over the country; none of which she had to name specifically to get info on, or to send scores to.

My son is taking it today as a Junior. Sophomore year it's just practice, as this poster has said. Junior year is when it is used for the NMSQT.

You will receive tons of mailings from colleges regardless!

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds15 is taking them this morning. I never had dd17's sent, and yet I am still getting dozens of emails and mailings every day. It's $11 to send them yourself. Three more kids to go - my mailman already hates me.

 

[tar heel]

PSAT scores are irrelevant as far as college admissions goes. Marketing, yes, but not admissions. If you want your physical and computer mailbox full, go for it.

Only a very few students qualify for National Merit. Unless they're willing to go to one of the schools that embraces the program in a big way, it's not much money any way. Of course, every little bit helps, so if your kid breaks 200 on the pre-junior year PSAT, it might be worth his taking the SAT for practice before the official one. IMO the PSAT's main purpose, however, is as a practice SAT.

I've never heard of paying to send PSAT scores to colleges. I wouldn't.

 

[acebatonfan]

Coming from a current senior (who is busy applying to colleges):

The PSAT's is just a guesstimate on what your child might receive on the SAT, possible career choices and college majors, and her potential for AP work. It is only supposed to be a tool for you and her with regards in beginning the college search and possible scheduling of AP courses junior and senior year.

Most colleges only care about the SAT (both the exam and subject tests, if applicable) and the ACT+writing. As a side note, if she decides to take the ACT, do the ACT+writing exam. Many colleges want that specific type of ACT, but, because I was super cheap when taking the exams last year and did not purchase the writing portion, I now have to retake the ACT exam, because my school of choice wants to see my ACT+writing score.

It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to take the PSAT's junior year also, as she will qualify for National Merit scholarships if she does well on the exam, though I think you only qualify for NSMQT semi-finalist if you score within the top 1% and then have to take the SAT and prove "consistency" to become a finalist.

Be prepared for two/three years of junk mail and tons of email from colleges. It got to the point where I needed a new personal email, because I received 20+ emails from colleges every evening.

 

[TLuvsD]

Set up a new "college only" email account. Something like Firstname.lastname@gmail or somewhere. Send all the college email to that account. We had access, as did our D. Made it easy to follow up on applications/scholarship forms, etc.

D let the colleges have access to her scores, but we didn't send them until Senior year.

 

[ZachnElli]

My DD took it this morning too, as a sophmore. When I picked her up she said that they will send her scores to colleges. I thought that was weird. I just had her take it to get an idea of what to expect next year.

 

[imsayin]

My DD is a sophomore and will be taking the PSAT for the first time tomorrow. We're still torn about whether or not to have the scores automatically sent to colleges. My daughter will most likely take the test again next fall. She is a solid student who participates in the gifted and talented program and usually tests very well.

What happens if she doesn't test as well as she hopes? Will the schools look at her initial scores and not consider the second set? She hasn't studied for the test. Her plan is to see what she needs to work on so that she can nail it next year.

Advice is welcome and appreciated!

They want to send her scores to colleges so that colleges can send her info on their schools (based on her results). The results will not go on her college record at any time.

Only a very few students qualify for National Merit. Unless they're willing to go to one of the schools that embraces the program in a big way, it's not much money any way. Of course, every little bit helps, so if your kid breaks 200 on the pre-junior year PSAT, it might be worth his taking the SAT for practice before the official one. IMO the PSAT's main purpose, however, is as a practice SAT.

Being a National Merit Scholar opens the door to many scholarships, several that are full rides and many other valuable ones. Being a NMS also looks good on your college applications. Colleges like to brag about how many NMSs they have in their freshman class.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

Two in college now, DD15 took the PLAN (Pre-ACT) this month and her bf took the PSAT last year (his jr year). Pretty much, the scores just tell you whether you need to beef up your studies, but honestly, I don't see it as a good measuring stick. Some kids score extremely well on standardized tests and some don't. My son took it and DD's bf took it and they both scored high enough to be placed on mailing lists to colleges. But, it didn't mean anything to the college when it came down to admissions. Fosterson scored pretty well, but not high enough for the college chasing so he wasn't concerned when it came to the ACT/SAT for admission...He scored enough for admission, but not for wonderful grants/scholarship. He actually said that he had blown off the studying.

Best advice..just take it and see what they tell you after. The more you stress over anything, the worst it will be.

DD's scores have been used for moving her into AP and other accelerated High School courses.

 

[musicmama]

Being a National Merit Scholar opens the door to many scholarships, several that are full rides and many other valuable ones. Being a NMS also looks good on your college applications. Colleges like to brag about how many NMSs they have in their freshman class.

I can attest to that - DD was a National Merit Scholar. Thanks to that, she is on full academic scholarship to a school that would NEVER have been in our price range. Yes, your DD may get lots of mail but that mail may help you decide on a school as well as acquaint you to opportunities and programs you/she might not know about otherwise. Since you're posting on the Budget Board, I'm guessing that college costs may be an eventual concern.

Taking it in sophomore year will give her an idea of how standardized tests work, and may help her in the all-important junior year test. It also is a guide as to how her SAT testing may go. The high school senior who posted previously also made some really good points to pay attention to about the testing process.

 

[aprilgail2]

I can attest to that - DD was a National Merit Scholar. Thanks to that, she is on full academic scholarship to a school that would NEVER have been in our price range. Taking it in sophomore year will give her an idea of how standardized tests work, and may help her in the all-important junior year test. It also is a guide as to how her SAT testing may go. The high school senior who posted previously also made some really good points to pay attention to about the testing process.

Our entire school takes the PSTAs in the freshmen year, they just did them last week. I don't know if they take them as sophomores too-I will have to ask next time I am at the school!

 

[mhsjax]

Our entire school takes the PSTAs in the freshmen year, they just did them last week. I don't know if they take them as sophomores too-I will have to ask next time I am at the school!

Ours take them as freshman, sophomores and as juniors, before they take the "real" SAT later in the year. I love that they get lots of practice. ALthough many juniors don't take it, my DS did for one last time, before it counts.