When is a good time to prep your child for SAT test or ACT?

[NY Disney fan]

And if those programs aren't right for her? Not all children are and thinking about prepping your child for them long before you can know if they are appropriate for her is rather alarming.

Like the PP, I do feel sorry for you child.

These comments are getting silly. I will not be coming back to this thread. Some Dis posters are just really mean.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Its too late at this point, if you're interested in getting into the Duke TIP or John Hopkins programs for kids. They want to see SAT scores from middle schoolers.

Your daughter is 3. She's too young for that as well.

NYC residents can't do the Duke program, we do the John Hopkins. They test kids in 4th or 5th grade. If they score high enough, they can take classes at local schools. They can take the SAT in 6th or 7th grade. If they score high enough, they can take summer. classes at various colleges across the country.

My son took the SATs twice in middle school (for John Hopkins). He only wanted to do it because his friends were doing it. He scored high to take a science class at some school in PA. He had a blast.

He didn't prep for the exam. Now let me tell you, there were plenty of people willing to prep him. Since the cost was way more than I could afford, I didn't bother with it.

It's super hot here today. Stop worrying about exams that are years away. Instead take your daughter to the park and let her run around in the sprinklers.

 

[Metsfan520]

I don't feel sorry for my kid. She has a mother who cares enough to know about deadlines and special educational programs that she should be taking advantage of. Unlike most parents who wait for them to be told what options are available for them (usually when its too late).

And I'd like to reiterate. I am not pushing my kid. I just wanted to see what other parents where doing. I don't push my child I just encourage her to be disciplined. If my kid wants to watch Fresh Beat Band on TV or some other show, she can. I'm not gonig to raise her like a soldier.

OK. I guess.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

If the child really needs prep on these tests to do well enough to get into these summer programs, the child is probably not the right candidate for these summer programs. I know I need a flame suit now, but really...

I agree. You can't MAKE a child gifted. And if you pressure them into it, it will bite you in the butt.

 

[tlens]

Its too late at this point, if you're interested in getting into the Duke TIP or John Hopkins programs for kids. They want to see SAT scores from middle schoolers.

ETA: ...and I'm not really pushing my child. I'm just one of those parents that want to be "in the know". I want to "game" the educational system because no one tells you anything.

How about letting your child decide what she wants to do? Maybe she won't want to get into Duke or John Hopkins. She might just like a state college to train her for what SHE wants to do. I can tell you, pushing a child into the career YOU want, not the one they want can be disasterous.

 

[arminnie]

Does it really make a difference to prep for SAT?

I went to a public high school in Arkansas with NO prep. I did very well.

I took it years ago before it got recentered which in today's world would have added points to my score. My friends my age all joke that we would have scored over 1600 (the max back then) with today's tests.

Nobody prepped. I have a couple of friends whose kids really did hit the perfect mark. Again no prep.

My niece who graduated with high honors from USC (So. Cal) last year did awful on SATs even with years of prep. It just seems like something else to spend money on.

 

[allison443]

Its too late at this point, if you're interested in getting into the Duke TIP or John Hopkins programs for kids. They want to see SAT scores from middle schoolers.

ETA: ...and I'm not really pushing my child. I'm just one of those parents that want to be "in the know". I want to "game" the educational system because no one tells you anything.

Actually you need to read up on these programs if you are interested in them...as far as I know (from when my dds were involved a few years ago) you have to be invited to take the SAT for the Johns Hopkins program, and the way you get invited is by scoring in the 97th percentile or above on whatever standardized test your elementary school gives....so stop worrying about SAT prep and start worrying about prepping your kid for the standardized tests they take in elementary school!!!

No I am not seriously suggesting this...it sounds ridiculous.

 

[allison443]

Does it really make a difference to prep for SAT?

I went to a public high school in Arkansas with NO prep. I did very well.

I took it years ago before it got recentered which in today's world would have added points to my score. My friends my age all joke that we would have scored over 1600 (the max back then) with today's tests.

Nobody prepped. I have a couple of friends whose kids really did hit the perfect mark. Again no prep.

My niece who graduated with high honors from USC (So. Cal) last year did awful on SATs even with years of prep. It just seems like something else to spend money on.

I agree with you that years ago nobody prepped...we certainly didn't!!

However, this has become one of those things that in some areas/some high schools "everybody does it". It is very common in our area to do some kind of prep. My dds took a prep class, they both did very well, was it due to the prep class, I doubt it but it certainly didn't hurt to learn strategies, test taking hints, familiarity with the tests, etc. Also in our area since so many people take a prep class, you don't want your kid to not have every advantage, kwim?

Also, I recall a perfect 800 being such a rarity that it merited an article in the local paper. Now it's not that rare (again, in certain areas/high schools).

That said, you probably could get the same benefits from the official website and a couple of prep books.

 

[claudia]

Its too late at this point, if you're interested in getting into the Duke TIP or John Hopkins programs for kids. They want to see SAT scores from middle schoolers.

ETA: ...and I'm not really pushing my child. I'm just one of those parents that want to be "in the know". I want to "game" the educational system because no one tells you anything.

My DS was invited to the Johns Hopkins programs before he took the PSAT's in middle school....he scored in the 98th percentile on the standardized testing in school.....

 

[disneyjunkie]

I agree with you that years ago nobody prepped...we certainly didn't!!

I wonder if prepping is a regional thing.

People make big bucks prepping kids. It has been going on in NYC for decades.


I'm 42. When I was in the 8th grade, the prep hawks were around my school as soon as the school year started. They all claimed to you would get into Brooklyn Tech, Stuyvesant HS or Bronx HS of Science if you enrolled in their program. None of the programs were cheap.

The hawks were around my high school each year looking for kids wanting to prep for the SATs.

 

[AndreaDM]

Wow, my poor, poor 7 year old DD hasn't been prepped for anything other than how to catch a fish, be kind to others and not eat her boogers. I sure hope she turns out ok and doesn't become the village idiot!

 

[allison443]

I wonder if prepping is a regional thing.

People make big bucks prepping kids. It has been going on in NYC for decades.


I'm 42. When I was in the 8th grade, the prep hawks were around my school as soon as the school year started. They all claimed to you would get into Brooklyn Tech, Stuyvesant HS or Bronx HS of Science if you enrolled in their program. None of the programs were cheap.

The hawks were around my high school each year looking for kids wanting to prep for the SATs.

It's funny you mention the 8th grade prep...I grew up in a borough of NYC and there was strong competition to get into certain Catholic high schools...there actually were prep classes for the co-operative entrance exam (the co-op) that the 8th graders took. I did attend a very strong academically Catholic hs but I don't remember SAT prep...

Now I live in NJ and my kids took the co-op test for admission to Catholic high school...there are a few prep classes available but certainly not like what goes on in NY! SAT prep is the norm, however.

 

[phorsenuf]

Wow, my poor, poor 7 year old DD hasn't been prepped for anything other than how to catch a fish, be kind to others and not eat her boogers. I sure hope she turns out ok and doesn't become the village idiot!

She's doomed. Tell her to get to like McDonalds as I'm sure that will be her only choice for employment.

 

[islandmum]

And I'd like to reiterate. I am not pushing my kid. .

course you're not! - thats why you're wanting to know about prepping kids for tests that are YEARS away.....

I presume you'll be getting her up to speed on her DMV test questions when she hits 11.

 

[FireDancer]

Wow, my poor, poor 7 year old DD hasn't been prepped for anything other than how to catch a fish, be kind to others and not eat her boogers. I sure hope she turns out ok and doesn't become the village idiot!

That is because us NE Ohio folk just aren't sophisticated enough to know we want to get into Duke at the age of 3.

I'm afraid that unless your child is solving differential equations while also participating in at least 8 after hours activities before they enroll in kindergarten they will be doomed to the short bus with the flavored windows for life. Hopefully she will at least be happy and won't need to medicate herself just to get through the day because the weight of expectation is destroying her before she is old enough to drive.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Wow, my poor, poor 7 year old DD hasn't been prepped for anything other than how to catch a fish, be kind to others and not eat her boogers. I sure hope she turns out ok and doesn't become the village idiot!

Well, if she is a happy village idiot would that be so bad. It beats self medicating the neurosis!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

My DD15 took the elem. school-aged test for Johns Hopkins and qualified. She opted not to go. She was invited to take her SATs in 7th grade--she opted not to. Her final report card, she had an unweighted 4.0 GPA, she was on the varsity cross country team, and she takes 8-9 dance classes each week. Her life plan is to move abroad and teach English to Spanish-speaking children.

My point in all this is that, being "gifted" isn't the be-all, end-all that a lot of people seem to think. Also, different people choose to use whatever gifts they have, in various ways. My DD's choices might not be the most hard-charging or glamorous, but they suit her very well. I'm sure I would have chosen differently for her, but instead, I let her make her own path. I'm very proud of her, not only for her accomplishments, but because she is a sweet, funny, talented young lady, who is confident and independent and not afraid of her future. And if I haven't raised her to be strong and moral and independent, I have failed her--regardless of any test score.

Bottom line, Mom, take a breath and take a step back. As others have said, if you have to prep, the child doesn't belong in the class. Instead, focus your energies on exposing your child to a wide range of activities and cultures. Worry about raising a confident adult, not on passing a test.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

My DD15 took the elem. school-aged test for Johns Hopkins and qualified. She opted not to go. She was invited to take her SATs in 7th grade--she opted not to. Her final report card, she had an unweighted 4.0 GPA, she was on the varsity cross country team, and she takes 8-9 dance classes each week. Her life plan is to move abroad and teach English to Spanish-speaking children.

My point in all this is that, being "gifted" isn't the be-all, end-all that a lot of people seem to think. Also, different people choose to use whatever gifts they have, in various ways. My DD's choices might not be the most hard-charging or glamorous, but they suit her very well. I'm sure I would have chosen differently for her, but instead, I let her make her own path. I'm very proud of her, not only for her accomplishments, but because she is a sweet, funny, talented young lady, who is confident and independent and not afraid of her future. And if I haven't raised her to be strong and moral and independent, I have failed her--regardless of any test score.

Bottom line, Mom, take a breath and take a step back. As others have said, if you have to prep, the child doesn't belong in the class. Instead, focus your energies on exposing your child to a wide range of activities and cultures. Worry about raising a confident adult, not on passing a test.

I love this. You sound like an awesome parent.

 

[AndreaDM]

Well, if she is a happy village idiot would that be so bad. It beats self medicating the neurosis

As long as my kids are happy with THEIR choices since THEY are the ones who have to live with them, that's all I can hope for!

That is because us NE Ohio folk just aren't sophisticated enough to know we want to get into Duke at the age of 3.

HA! Darn tootin'!

 

[Buckalew11]

I think you can begin prepping her for school/learning by reading to her. At age three, that's what you should do--read, read, read. Look at the pictures, discuss the story in fun ways. Go outside, play, look at bugs, leaves, dirt, sand, oceans, lakes etc. Make learning fun and something she'll want to do all her life.

Prepping at 3yo is a crazy idea. Relax, enjoy and have fun with learning.

When my dd was in 2nd grade I came home from work one night (actually I work out in the garage, lol) and there were leaves all over my kitchen table, all bagged up with the common name and the *fancy* name (lol, whatever that's called!!) on each bag.

I said, "I didn't know you had to do a leaf collection." She said, "We don't. It is for extra credit." I asked if she needed the extra credit because I thought science was going well. She said,"You can never have enough extra credit if you'd like to get into ___College."

And so it started a little life who struggled with pressure from within to be the best/smartest achiever. At 16yo, she's calmed down a bit but this was a kid who pressured herself until I thought I might go crazy!
She still wants to attend the same college as she did at 7 and I hope they let her in. *sigh*

And you're invited to do Duke Tips because of test scores also.

And OP, just a warning, if you get yourself all into all this, you'll most likely be taken advantage of by those preppers out there. Be very careful or you'll drop a bundle for nothing. And, in the meantime, you'll run your friends off and her friends off and maybe even her. Just focus on a love of learning.