Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment DYS application

We've just had testing done. I've done some searching on the forums but haven't seen an answer (or I overlooked it), but does anyone know if they often ask for more information or reject applications if you meet the testing requirements for both IQ and Achievement tests? Or does meeting minimums for both generally mean you're in?

Curious about how much to stress about answers to the questions on the application.

Thanks!

I can just relate my personal experience. We just submitted qualifying scores for our DS, and he got into the program without anything further. I would guess that unless there's something unusual, qualifying scores mean you're in. But they will ask for more if they want more. I would suggest sending in what you've got.

ETA - Do your best to answer the questions, but don't stress too much. If I remember, there were a lot of questions about early milestones, and I'm sure not everyone can remember that stuff.

Sorry to hijack slightly DanaLyn,

SPG - does this mean you didn't submit the letter of rec? I am wondering about that for DS 6, his preschool director recognized his gifts but it seems crazy to go back to him at this age and with most others, he doesn't show everything. K teacher was blown away by one comment he made and even put it on his report card but she seems more focused on his not so superior skills and migth not consider him profoundly gifted regardless of his scores.

DeHe

DeHe - We did submit the letter of recommendation. Maybe I misinterpreted the question. We didn't submit a portfolio, but submitted everything else in the application. We applied when our son was 5 and the preschool teacher wrote a recommendation. She was the first one to really recognize his differences, and she was happy to do it. If you have the scores, I'm guessing the recs won't mean quite so much, especially in the youngest applicants who haven't really done much of anything yet.

DeHe I get that it seems crazy to go back so far but. It is quite normal for PG kids to go underground. That is the reason they need DYS.

DanaLyn fill everything out as quickly as you can. Don't stress out. Many of us have very distorted views of what is good enough. If they need more they will as for it. The staff isn't PG but they have tons of expertise. They will recognise the puzzle. Do it. Do it. Do it.

Grinity

I should add that you can guide the people writing recommendations a bit, by asking them to write about certain things they've told you in the past that might slip their minds. E.g., if the teacher at some point told you "wow, your DS did this most amazing thing and i've never seen kids this age do that." Or "you won't believe what your DD said about this." Refresh their memories! You can also ask them to try to write about anything showing that your kiddo is 2+ years ahead of their agemates.

Thanks SPG and Grinity!

DS is in a gifted school so I'm wondering if we are going to get the "we see kids like this all the time" because he is so slowly unfurling as he gets more comfortable. But then I might also be underestimating them. Pre school director was a bizarre individual but had been in gifted Ed and told us how rare DS was,so maybe he would be the best bet.

SPG - I like the leading aspect!

DeHe

We just subitted the test qualifying scores and recommendation letter plus the application and weren't asked for more. I sat down one night and wrote in all that I could remember and decided to stop analyzing everything I wrote then sent it off.
I wouldn't stress about the questions, just answer them honestly and to the best of what you can remember, or that you observe of your child.

Thanks all!

(I typed and thought I posted a reply yesterday, but it's apparently vanished.)

Grinity, I am working on the application now and it will get sent in next month. I'm not going to delay

We'll be getting the formal WISC results next Friday, but I was told his verbal score qualifies. Tester said she enjoyed giving him the test and thought his answers were a bit too creative for the test in some parts, so that's interesting. I'm very curious to get the full report.

I just wanted to be sure that it's not likely that my answers on the application would tank his acceptance. I'm feeling much better this morning about it as well since apparently I'd misremembered his composite on the Explore and it's not just at minimum.

This is just all a bit surprising to us. My husband still thinks testing results are wrong and our son is just bright and a good test-taker. He's an only child and we homeschool, so we don't see much in comparison to other kids his age. We're not using materials that're out-of-level, but we do discuss things in a bit of depth.

Good luck DeHe...Preschool director would be just fine.

It might be educational to talk to the current school and say, 'We are applying to a program for gifted kids in the top third of a regularly gifted group - do you feel you could write a strong recommendation for our child, given how shy he is?

Just to know what they are seeing. But I wouldn't worry about it too much.