Buy your grand kids a better SAT score?

[billwald]

http://www.alternet.org/story/15572..._new_program?akid=8884.85218.xNtudu&rd=1&t=24


This Week: $4,500 for a Better SAT Score? The College Board's Unfair New Program.


For those with high school-aged kids and an extra $4,500 laying around, the world of college admissions recently got a little bit rosier: thanks to the College Board, the company that owns and administers the SAT, you can now buy your kid an extra shot at taking the all-important test this summer – but only if your child is deemed “gifted and talented.” And only if you cough up the dough to enroll her at a special summer program at Amherst College.

 

[Gina B]

That seems so unfair, but such is life. Those with money have better opportunities.

I always try to remind myself that's just how it is. I do have a gifted/talented daughter, but even a kid with lower scores and such can end up doing better because their parents have the money to pay for the extra tests and such that will give them higher overall scores on their grade reports in school just for taking them, meaning it LOOKS like they did better, even if they didn't. They just had the money to earn the bonus points.

That's how the world turns. Everything is money. Always has been, always will be. It seems unfair, but my kid isn't a hog so I'm not looking for her to earn a blue ribbon from the fair anyhow. LOL She's still RADIANT. :laugh:

 

[targus]

This is a non-story...

The test doesn't count - it is simply a practice test...

Which anyone can do through any number of SAT training classes at much lower cost.

Did the author of the OP even read the story through to the end?

 

[LadyEagle]

This is a non-story...

The test doesn't count - it is simply a practice test...

Which anyone can do through any number of SAT training classes at much lower cost.

Did the author of the OP even read the story through to the end?

There are free SAT practice tests, just google. Amazon has some for as low as $15.

You're right, a non-story.

 

[Gina B]

While it may not be happening with this particular test, there are tests that do count and that do cost money, reserved for those who can afford it or at a reduced priced for those who get free/reduced lunches.

That's what really stinks for the kids who come from families that make JUST enough to not be eligible for the lunch program, but too enough to shell out $60 (or the cost wherever you are) per test per subject to help the student stand out on their transcripts. Sad...another student may have performed at a lower standard, but then takes the tests and gets bumped above the one who spent the year studying.

Money money money.

Money.

I wish the schools around here had money to buy BOOKS for the students. That would be nice.

"If you're having a hard time, why on earth aren't you bringing your book home and studying instead of coming home and playing on the computer or going out with friends?"

"Mom, we don't HAVE books! We share them at school and we're not allowed to bring them home."

"Do I look that stupid?! It's a school! Of course you have books, how else are you supposed to study? I'll be talking to your teacher about this!"

"Hey teacher, my child expects me to believe you won't allow kids to take books home."

"That's right, we don't have enough books. I don't know when we'll get them. My request was denied for this year, but I'm going to resubmit it."

Yep. Money money money.

Now someone with more money could go out and hunt down all those books and buy them, but so many parents don't realize how expensive public school really can be. I'm quite sure that most people assume books are part of the free education for all kids deal, right?

I've put out over $1,000 in the last 60 days for two high school students, and there's still a ton of stuff that could help them if I had more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

I'm so TIRED of it all costing so much money! UGH!

 

[billwald]

>I wish the schools around here had money to buy BOOKS for the students

Another few years and most people will be more comfortable reading a computer screen than a book. It would be cheaper to issue every kid a text reader than buy hard bound books. The text material should not cost anything.

http://www.khanacademy.org/ for example.