PSATs
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PSATs
| Wed, 09-19-2007 - 12:41pm |
OK, I don't know what I'm doing wrong because I always seem to be behind the eight ball! My DD is a sophomore in HS this year. I found out yesterday that one of her friends has been prepping for the PSATs since the summer. The PSATs are given during October. I had written down the date as well as the dates to sign up for them at the HS, but I had no idea that they required any prepping! I certainly don't remember taking any courses or doing anything special before I took them. I think I prepped for the SATs and I know I did for my grad school entrance exams, but certainly not the PSAT. Did your kids do anything to prepare for the PSATs?? If so, what did they do?

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At DS's school, they give PSAT's automatically to juniors; and sophomores can pay to take it the same day. He did take it last year, and just studied the manual they gave him.
He is taking it in October this year, and I have told him to study hard for it, because it can lead to several scholarships. It is actually very important for different reasons than the SAT. He will take the SAT in the spring, and then again next fall. Again, he will study on-line for it, but not take a course. There are many kids, though, who are spending a lot of money for courses in our area, up to a $1000.
Lisa
Why would someone stress out about PSAT's?
Maybe it's different in other parts of the county, but DS, who took it last year as a sophomore, has received over well over a 100 letters/packets from university's all around the country; as well as several other programs in the US and across the world - all who saw his scores on the PSAT search. He did well, but not extraordinary.
We're definately not stressing about the test, just normal preparation for an important test. Many universities in our area use the schools as a basis to offer scholarships and offers.
Also, in our school there are no groups singled out for taking it in the sophomore year, it's offered to anyone who wants an extra year to practice.
"and also overwhelming at times, but bear in mind they are businesses and they are marketing to your child."
Oh, I definately agree. We didn't keep any of it, but DS enjoyed seeing info. from different university's. I'm not sure how it worked, but some of our mailings (not the regular college pamphlets), did mention his PSAT score, so there was some way for them to get it.
I don't know if there is any difference across the country - the fact remains that PSAT's are not used in determining who gets into what colleges.
"the fact remains that PSAT's are not used in determining who gets into what colleges."
I absolutely never said they helped kids get into colleges. I did say they were very important thought, for several other reasons I and a few others mentioned in other posts.
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