College prep questions

DD is in 9th grade. I havent been hovering over her grades this year as she is pretty independent and overall a good student. She seems more motivated than earlier in the school year and i want to support whatever she wants to do. She asked to take a $190 regents prep course for 2 of the exams in june. I will pay if she wants to do it but it got me thinking that i am not familiar with college prep and admissions requirements. What do i need to know at this stage of HS? Does the actual score on regents exams count for college? If so does it include 9th grade?

She also said that the school doesn’t really share stuff so she feels lost as far as how to take AP courses etc. (large school in queens). I called the guidance counselor and he said she should stop by and see him but she has yet to do so. This is a parenting issue too - don’t know how involved or not i should be, should she start figuring stuff out on her own, advocating for herself? I do no want to “helicopter”.

So when should she take PSAT prep classes? Start beginning of 10th grade?

Re: College prep questions

Is there a way you can have a meeting with the GC and your DD? That way you can cover all the bases.

College prep questions

I would see if the school has a college info night scheduled or something along those lines to help you get informed and see what the school has to offer. You can also ask the teachers if they do review sessions before the regents before you shell out all that money. My district did review sessions after school in May and June.

I don't know if it varies by school but where I taught the regents was the final exam grade, so 20% of their overall grade for the year. Ninth grade does count toward their GPA so it does factor into college admissions. Figure your applying to colleges early in your senior year so majority of the gpa will be 9th, 10th, 11th grade.

As for the PSAT, most schools offer it in 10th grade. I'd buy her a prep book and see how she does. The test is just practice so yoy can see how it goes and decide from there I'd you want to do an SAT prep course outside of school or see if the school offers one. They typically take that in their junior year so you'd want to do the prep then.

College prep questions

Having just gone through the college admission process with my daughter, I would not pay for prep for the PSAT. It is a practice test and is not reported to colleges. And then, depending on how she does on the PSAT, I might do an SAT prep depending on how she does on the PSAT. My daughter did not do prep for her first SAT, but took it a second time and did a prep class for that and went up to a score she was happier with. She's been accepted to a college, but just found out that she would get $5k more in scholarship money if she can increase by another 10 points. So she's taking it a third time in May.

They give the test every few months so she can take it as much as she wants until she gets a score she's happy with. And only the score she chooses will get forwarded to the colleges she applies to.

Hope that helps!

Re: College prep questions

The score on the Regent's makes a difference in whether her diploma will be a Regents Diploma or a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation. Now, I'm not even sure if that matters for college, since Regent's are ONLY in NY.

College prep questions

Also, the Princeton review website, as well as Khan academy, have practice tests she can take online for free. And your local library probably offers a free prep class if she insists on doing on. You usually just have to pay for the book they use.

Re: College prep questions

College prep questions

Message edited 8/10/2020 12:36:11 PM.

Re: College prep questions

Thanks all this was helpful.

I left a msg for the guidance counselor. Its a large overcrowded school where i think you have to advocate for yourself/your child because resources are limited and info doesnt get around.

She said her LE teacher doesnt teach so i did sign her up for the prep course. I dont want to say no because of $ if she is asking for it.

Re: College prep questions

Re: College prep questions

I work for the College Board and worked in test prep previously.

Most students won't "prep" for the PSAT unless they think they'll be a National Merit contender. To do that, you need to have a top score on the test.

Even in that case, the 10th grade would be too early. The PSAT only counts towards National Merit in the 11th grade.

If she wants to get a head start with some SAT and PSAT materials, we offer Official SAT Practice through the Khan Academy. It's free!

As far as AP goes, it's always recommended that students challenge themselves with higher level coursework (without burning themselves out). Most AP courses start in 11th grade, but you can do history ones in 10th grade in some schools (AP Euro/AP World).

Let me know if you have any questions! She can also get lots of information at bigfuture.collegeboard.org. And they have parent webinars and tips for you as well!

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/for-parents

Message edited 3/16/2018 3:45:21 PM.

Re: College prep questions

I went to one of the best high schools in Queens.

I didn't find regents prep necessary but if she wants to take it, why not? it could only help.

My high school did all that college prep and admissions with us back when I went. They had college fairs and prep sessions, admissions guidance classes, etc. That will probably not start until 10th grade though.

College will be interested in AP classes. Guidance counselors help enroll you in that stuff. But those usually don't start until 10th or 11th grade. At the time, they only offered 4 different kinds of AP classes.

I never heard of PSAT prep classes, just SAT ones. I would enroll her in SAT prep as soon as possible. I started in 11th and it was too late. I was an EXCELLENT student and did HORRIBLE on the SATS. It def. affected my college scholarship offers. Because my grades were so good, I still got admitted to all my choices but my testing was so low it was a factor for everything else.

Re: College prep questions

Message edited 8/10/2020 12:36:35 PM.