College Board offers summer SAT only for elite prep class kids

[sylvan8798]

Aren't the students who will be participating from a Gifted and Talented program - the students who would be getting the 2300+ scores anyways? It's hard to raise the scores of the ones already at the top.

[maggiedog]

My son is taking the SATs right now. It sure would have been nice if he could have waited another month. He is taking the SAT IIs, is not particularly prepared for them, and could have used some time to study, but was so busy with school, sports, AP tests, etc. Waiting until the Fall seemed pointless, since so much time would have passed. But having an option to take the test in the Summer, just a month after school is over, when he would have had time to actually study would have been perfect. Too bad it's not available for most students.

[kayf]

Its mail or wire fraud to report these as June scores which the College Board evidently intends to do.

[jandjdad]

The fact that they are labeling it "June" and not "August" indicates that they foresaw a problem. Calling it what it was would allow the colleges to know that this student had the advantage of taking it in the summer.
Either that or offer an August test nationwide with lesser testing sites and it opens it up to all who wish to take it then.

[Bay]

If student applicants put down on their apps that they attended this Summer 2012 Gifted and Talented program at Amherst, colleges will know they had the "special" SAT test option available to them. Not that it will necessarily matter to the colleges; I don't think they particularly care how their admitted students achieved their SAT scores, so long as they are high.

[Youdon'tsay]

^^^ Why would a kid admit to taking a high-dollar SAT prep class? I don't get the impression any other real learning is going on, like at CTY.

[Lakemom]

Because the name Amherst sounds impressive. Not so impressive to say I went to a G and T program at my state college.

[Youdon'tsay]

It would be impressive if you went to Amherst to take college classes. If I saw this on a kid's resume, all it would say to me is that the kid has wealthy, neurotic parents who feel compelled to spend $4,500 to help their already gifted kid try to score even higher on the SAT than they would have on their own. JMO.

ETA: It's their money, and they can spend it however they wish, but I'd be surprised is any adcom were impressed by having this on a resume. That's all I meant.

[Bay]

I was under the impression that the G and T summer program does not exist specifically for SAT prep, but the SAT will be offered in conjunction with it.

[Youdon'tsay]

Here's a link: NSGT University Prep - About Us

Lots of talk about global this and that, but the program seems to be centered on test prep. In other words, wealthy kids from around the world can spend three weeks together learning SAT tips!

[kayf]

I would not be impressed with the Amherst program, I agree, all it says is mom and dad have money.

[Lakemom]

I have not seen the flyer for the class but on a kids resume for college, they could simply write G and T program. Colleges are not tracking which of those summer programs are for SAT prep.

[Bay]

#55 link - Ok wow, that description really turns my stomach. It does sound like buying your way to special privileges with College Board. Ugh.

[Rob1995]

Really, they shouldn't even count the scores if it's supposed to be an experimental pilot program like they say it is.

Oh wait, I wasn't thinking rationally there. College Board only discounts scores when it's inconvenient to hundreds of city kids for having their desks being less than four feet apart.

[DrGoogle]

I think some kids overseas will most liked be fooled by the name and applying to this program.