<p>My eldest daughter recently received her PSAT scores - a 217 (75 verbal,74 math and 68 in writing). It seems like that is pretty good but it I don’t think it counts correct? Also, we are receiving lots of college stuff. Does the PSAT sell the results of the tests to colleges? It must be because how else would they know. </p>
<p>At what point should we start making applications to colleges and plan college visits? She is currently a sophomore but we have friends whose children did not apply or visit until their senior year.</p>
<p>I think things have changed a little bit since I was in High school and was going through this process.</p>
<p>217 is a very good score. In some states it is a semifinalist score if you’re a Junior. Your increased mail is because of this score.(the colleges find out before you do) It is also very good for the ego. In many schools it puts you in line for a merit scholarship. This does not apply at the very elite schools: Ivy League, seven sisters, MIT Stanford Cal Tech etc. as they would have to give them to everyone.</p>
<p>Advice:
review for the October PSAT especially Math. The really bright students will be taking Precalc and Calc but the test is on Arithmetic Alg. and Geometry. your daughter will have forgotten some things. This test is about mistake avoidance rather than learning new material. My older daughter took several practice tests and made a list of her mistakes and used that list to review the night before the test.
2)Everything else can wait until the end of the Junior year.
You may want to visit some local colleges to get a feel: big Vs small: city Vs country. But her opinion will change. Save the serious travel for the summer of 2010</p>
<p>Welcome to CC, flagspin. Borrow or buy one of the college “big books” (Fiske, etc) for your daughter to look through. I agree with Mardad about visiting local colleges to help narrow down what type of college appeals to her. Use junior year to research colleges and narrow down to a list, then later junior year and that summer try to visit, if possible. </p>
<p>She should also be keeping a list of her activities and honors - she’ll need this for applications. She will also need to cultivate relationships with her teachers next year - they are probably the ones who will write her recommendations.</p>
<p>You need to look at your finances and figure out what you can afford - let her know what your limits are.</p>
<p>Applications are submitted in the first half of the senior year.</p>
<p>And keep reading CC - there is a wealth of knowledge available here!</p>