Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Gifted interviews

I'm brand new here, so I am trying to get the hang of the abbreviations and lingo.

My DD8 just took the CogAT in November and her winter MAP tests. She scored in the 98th percentile on her reading MAP. We don't have the results on the other tests, but she did score in the 98th and 99th in both in the fall.

Due to some issues her school has had with the gifted program not being sufficiently diverse, they are now doing gifted interviews with all students who score at the 85th percentile and above, so I am pretty confident she'll be selected for an interview.

Does anyone know what these interviews might entail? Is there a way to help prepare her? I don't know if she is actually gifted, but she is definitely bright, and I think she'd benefit from the gifted program. Her friend has an older sister in the program, and I'd describe her as bright as well.

The gifted program in our district consists of a separate school and would mean she'd attend a "better" junior high and high school, so I'd really like her to be able to participate.

Thanks for any suggestions or advice.

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On a totally separate note, reading stories here has really taken me back to my childhood. I was a bright/high achieving student, and I did a supplemental gifted program. So many of you seem to have the kind of kids that I encountered in that program. It was very strange for me, after having been the smartest kid in my class, to meet students who were so truly and amazingly gifted that they made me feel completely inadequate. I was always in awe of what they could do. Being a parent of someone like that must definitely present some unique challenges. I look forward to reading more of your experiences.

Hi and welcome!

It must be very exciting to see your DD has the opportunity to take part in a gifted program. You are probably best to make sure she is well rested, fed on good quality food and feeling relaxed about the interview process. The most important part I would think is tell her to be herself. By trying to find a way in - regardless of the potential payoff of better schools etc, you run the very real risk of your daughter being placed in a environment that is too stressful for her.

Of course if she belongs there, and she has strong results and the interviewers find she is motivated (intrinsically) then I'm sure she'll be find.

You probably won't find too much support here for expansion of GT programs to increase diversity as most of us a trying to reduce GT classes so they can focus on the HG plus students rather than the top 5% or so that regular GT programs cater to.
Having said that - you know your daughter, if you believe she is gifted, if she is not achieving because of her giftedness not being catered for, then go for gold. Have a good look around the Davidson website and read up about identification and advocating see what you think. Good luck!!!

I would be a bit annoyed at a gifted program me that aimed for a diverse group in the top 15℅ rather than serving those that truly need it. However it is what it is. You can't really plan because you don't know what they are looking for. Well rested, fed and relaxed is as good as you can hope for. Maybe do something interesting a few days before so she has something exciting to talk about if asked what she enjoys etc.

Welcome! There is a thread called "List of Common Gifted Acronyms", which may be helpful.

From the information provided in your post, it is possible that the interview is an opportunity to screen for the diversity which the school was said to be lacking in its gifted program.

It is quite obvious that unless you live in an immense district, e.g. NYC, that the numbers to support a program catering to only the top 2% are unlikely to be there. C'est la vie.

Let's hope that your daughter's place in the program doesn't get bumped to free a spot up for a far less academically or intellectually ready but diverse applicant.

It sounds as if they are introducing a fuzzy criterion so they can tweak their numbers - test results being correlated to SES being correlated to race and ethnicity as they are. As others have said, it is sad if access to a gifted program is to be determined by policy considerations rather than need, but it is what it is and you do think it would serve your daughter well.
The worst thing for her would probably be to sound coached, or hothoused, so I agree with the others who suggested to make sure she is well rested and fed and tell her to just be herself. Maybe remind her of what she is enthusiastic about, in school or outside academics. I like the idea of doing an activity in the days leading up to the interview that ties into her enthusiasms and interests. Just not something that smacks of money being thrown around.

That is true but in this case they seem to have lowered the bar to the point too many kids have qualified so they can use an interview to justify the decisions they make to ensure 'balance'.