For those who have sent in portfolios, could you please give ideas / advice on what you have submitted for the YS application.

Thanks in advance!
Debbie

Here are some threads to get you started. I think anything goes which tends to show intelligence and/or advancement. If it is work or creative output of some type, it should be made without adult help. It doesn't have to be tangible; if I recall correctly, I've seen discussion here of recordings of children performing or doing math problems, or even just discussing topics of interest to them. I think I'd err on the side of including more information than you think necessary, but that's just me; I'm sure a single portfolio item could be compelling enough.

EDIT: I float in cyberspace corrected. See the actually informative post below. I don't know how I forgot the need for 3 items.

I'm linking my recent reply as well hoping it will be helpful. Hope I've done it correctly below. I think DYS requires at least 3 handwritten samples if I remember reading it correctly.
http://giftedissues.davidsongifted.org/BB/ubbthreads.php/topics/100776/Re_April_DYS.html#Post100776

We sent:

1. copies of DS's math tests from this year (he is accelerated two years in math) and still getting very high grades.
2, a report he wrote in first grade (it was actually typed, but we explained that the vocabulary was all his and he used words like viviparous.
3. a video of him talking about the Battle of Germantown (complete with his explanation of one of the generals being drunk ;O )
4. a couple of pictures showing things he has built with blocks, etc.(a cantilevered bridge and a huge train layout when he was 4).

I really stressed about what to send, but in the end I just went with what I could find easily and that seemed reasonable.

Also, I know they prefer handwritten, but if you have a kid who hates to write or has handwriting issues, that might be a challenge. If you send something that was typed, etc. be clear about who did the work. In my son's first grade report, I made it clear that the spelling and layout was not his. But the use of language was (I pretty much typed as he dictated).

Good luck.

Is there any limit on how far back you can go for the portfolio? Is timing (current) more important or quality (meaning how advanced)?

I have things from when DS10 was 6 that I would love to include. I also have some essays and science experiments. Finally I have an amazing baby video.

Is it okay to include IQ test scores even if they aren't 'qualifying' as an extra if you have the portfolio and the qualifying acheivement scores?

I doubt that old portfolio items will really add much to your application, and in some ways they might detract from the more recent (and therefore more relevant) stuff. For the same reason that the test scores have to be within two years (if I recall correctly), the Davidson folks probably give much more weight to recent portfolio items.

As for other test scores, I believe that you are required to send all scores that you have.