Learning about your cognitive profile - Revision history

Jsinick: /* Math competitions */

2013-12-14T20:55:04Z

Math competitions

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:55, 14 December 2013
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	If you're interested in developing your mathematical problem solving ability, math competitions provide a means of assessing your progress. These test your ability to solve non-routine math problems that require ingenuity and/or synthesis of several different mathematical ideas.		If you're interested in developing your mathematical problem solving ability, math competitions provide a means of assessing your progress. These test your ability to solve non-routine math problems that require ingenuity and/or synthesis of several different mathematical ideas.

	One of the most prominent examples of a math competition is the [American Mathematics Competition], You may be able to find others through your school. One resource for preparing for this kind of math competition is the collection of books [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/index.php published] by The Art of Problem Solving.		One of the most prominent examples of a math competition is the [[American Mathematics Competition]], You may be able to find others through your school. One resource for preparing for this kind of math competition is the collection of books [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/index.php published] by The Art of Problem Solving.

	There are also untimed math competitions with problems that take longer to solved. One of these is the [http://www.usamts.org/ United States Mathematics Talent Search]. A new website that offers weekly challenge problems is [https://brilliant.org/ Brilliant].		There are also untimed math competitions with problems that take longer to solved. One of these is the [http://www.usamts.org/ United States Mathematics Talent Search]. A new website that offers weekly challenge problems is [https://brilliant.org/ Brilliant].

Jsinick: /* Math competitions */

2013-12-14T20:54:46Z

Math competitions

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:54, 14 December 2013
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	If you're interested in developing your mathematical problem solving ability, math competitions provide a means of assessing your progress. These test your ability to solve non-routine math problems that require ingenuity and/or synthesis of several different mathematical ideas.		If you're interested in developing your mathematical problem solving ability, math competitions provide a means of assessing your progress. These test your ability to solve non-routine math problems that require ingenuity and/or synthesis of several different mathematical ideas.

	One of the most prominent examples of a math competition is the [~~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Mathematics_Contest~~ American Mathematics ~~Contest~~], ~~which is the first of a series of progressively more difficult timed exams.~~ You may be able to find others through your school. One resource for preparing for this kind of math competition is the collection of books [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/index.php published] by The Art of Problem Solving.		One of the most prominent examples of a math competition is the [American Mathematics Competition], You may be able to find others through your school. One resource for preparing for this kind of math competition is the collection of books [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/index.php published] by The Art of Problem Solving.

	There are also untimed math competitions with problems that take longer to solved. One of these is the [http://www.usamts.org/ United States Mathematics Talent Search]. A new website that offers weekly challenge problems is [https://brilliant.org/ Brilliant].		There are also untimed math competitions with problems that take longer to solved. One of these is the [http://www.usamts.org/ United States Mathematics Talent Search]. A new website that offers weekly challenge problems is [https://brilliant.org/ Brilliant].

Jsinick: /* Assessing whether you're keeping pace with your future college classmates */

2013-10-19T00:11:20Z

Assessing whether you're keeping pace with your future college classmates

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:11, 19 October 2013
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	=== Assessing whether you're keeping pace with your future college classmates ===		=== Assessing whether you're keeping pace with your future college classmates ===

	Students who are among the strongest at an academically unexceptional high school, and who go to prestigious colleges, are often shocked to learn that they're underprepared relative to their college classmates. ~~For example, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg~~ [~~http://www.amazon.com/Lean-In-Women-Work-Will/dp/0385349947 wrote~~]:		Students who are among the strongest at an academically unexceptional high school, and who go to prestigious colleges, are often shocked to learn that they're underprepared relative to their college classmates. See our collection of [[quotations on underpreparedness]]

	''I attended a big public school in Miami— think Fast Times at Ridgemont High— that was far more concerned with preventing fights in the halls and keeping drugs out of the bathrooms than with academics. When I was accepted into Harvard, many of my high school classmates asked me why I would want to go to a school filled with geeks.''

	~~[...~~]

	''Freshman year of college was a huge shock for me. First semester, I took a course called The Concept of the Hero in Hellenic Civilization, which was nicknamed Heroes for Zeroes. I didn’t have a burning desire to study Greek mythology, but it was the easiest way to fulfill the literature requirement. The professor began the first lecture by asking which students had read these books before. I whispered to my friend next to me, “What books?” “The Iliad and The Odyssey, of course,” she replied. Almost every single hand went up. Not mine. The professor then asked, “And who has read these books in the original?” “What original?” I asked my friend. “Homeric Greek,” she replied. A good third of the class kept their hands up. It seemed pretty clear that I was one of the zeroes.''

	''A few weeks later, my professor of political philosophy assigned a five-page paper. I was panicked. Five whole pages! I had only written one paper of that length in high school, and it was a year-long project.''

	You may be getting A's in most of your classes. If you're in this position, you know that you're doing well relative to high school classmates. But you don't necessarily know how well you're doing relative to your future college classmates. If you take opportunities to assess how well prepared you are relative to the country's best students, you can better determine whether you're on pace, or whether you should be taking extra measures to increase your learning.		You may be getting A's in most of your classes. If you're in this position, you know that you're doing well relative to high school classmates. But you don't necessarily know how well you're doing relative to your future college classmates. If you take opportunities to assess how well prepared you are relative to the country's best students, you can better determine whether you're on pace, or whether you should be taking extra measures to increase your learning.

Jsinick: /* Intelligence testing */

2013-10-17T19:22:28Z

Intelligence testing

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:22, 17 October 2013
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	Consider having your intelligence tested by a psychologist, who can administer a test such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford%E2%80%93Binet_Intelligence_Scales#Present_use Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition]. This can be very expensive, but is the most reliable way to learn what your intelligence level is, and your cognitive strengths and weaknesses.		Consider having your intelligence tested by a psychologist, who can administer a test such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford%E2%80%93Binet_Intelligence_Scales#Present_use Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition]. This can be very expensive, but is the most reliable way to learn what your intelligence level is, and your cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

	A less informative, but much cheaper option is taking a practice SAT. [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/ps/frey.pdf Historically], SAT scores were strongly correlated with intelligence test scores. Nowadays, people put a lot of effort into preparing for the SAT, and this diminishes the degree to which the SAT is a measure of intelligence. Nevertheless, taking a practice SAT can give you some sense for your intelligence level. The College Board publishes a practice SAT [http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-test online], as well as a [http://www.amazon.com/The-Official-SAT-Study-Guide/dp/0874478529 book] of 10 practice tests. The College Board publishes [http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/composite_CR_M_W_percentile_ranks.pdf a conversion table] that gives you the percentile rank associated with a given score for college bound seniors. If you're not yet a senior, your percentile within your age group is probably higher than your percentile within the group of high school seniors.		A less informative, but much cheaper option is taking a practice SAT. [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/ps/frey.pdf Historically], SAT scores were strongly correlated with intelligence test scores. Nowadays, people put a lot of effort into preparing for the SAT, and this diminishes the degree to which the SAT is a measure of intelligence. Nevertheless, taking a practice SAT can give you some sense for your intelligence level. The College Board publishes a practice SAT [http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-test online], as well as a [http://www.amazon.com/The-Official-SAT-Study-Guide/dp/0874478529 book] of 10 practice tests. The College Board publishes [http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/composite_CR_M_W_percentile_ranks.pdf a conversion table] that gives you the percentile rank associated with a given score for college bound seniors. If you're not yet a senior, your percentile within your age group is probably higher than your percentile within the group of high school seniors. For example, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Study_of_Exceptional_Talent Study of Exceptional Talent] reports that a 700 on math or verbal before the age of 13 [http://infoproc.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-talented-1-in-10000.html corresponds] to the 99.99th percentile of people in the same age group.

Jsinick: /* Math competitions */

2013-10-17T19:19:41Z

Math competitions

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:19, 17 October 2013
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	If you're interested in developing your mathematical problem solving ability, math competitions provide a means of assessing your progress. These test your ability to solve non-routine math problems that require ingenuity and/or synthesis of several different mathematical ideas.		If you're interested in developing your mathematical problem solving ability, math competitions provide a means of assessing your progress. These test your ability to solve non-routine math problems that require ingenuity and/or synthesis of several different mathematical ideas.

	One of the most prominent examples of a math competition is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Mathematics_Contest American Mathematics Contest], which is the first of a series of progressively more difficult timed exams. You may be able to find others through your school. One resource for preparing for ~~these kinds~~ of math ~~competitions~~ is the collection of books [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/index.php published] by The Art of Problem Solving.		One of the most prominent examples of a math competition is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Mathematics_Contest American Mathematics Contest], which is the first of a series of progressively more difficult timed exams. You may be able to find others through your school. One resource for preparing for this kind of math competition is the collection of books [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/index.php published] by The Art of Problem Solving.

	There are also untimed math competitions with problems that take longer to solved. One of these is the [http://www.usamts.org/ United States Mathematics Talent Search]. A new website that offers weekly challenge problems is [https://brilliant.org/ Brilliant]		There are also untimed math competitions with problems that take longer to solved. One of these is the [http://www.usamts.org/ United States Mathematics Talent Search]. A new website that offers weekly challenge problems is [https://brilliant.org/ Brilliant].

	Math competitions only involve some aspects mathematical thinking, and you shouldn't give them too much weight as an assessment of your ability. They're still a somewhat meaningful indicator of how you compare with students across the nation.		Math competitions only involve some aspects mathematical thinking, and you shouldn't give them too much weight as an assessment of your ability. They're still a somewhat meaningful indicator of how you compare with students across the nation.

Jsinick: /* Math competitions */

2013-10-17T19:19:00Z

Math competitions

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:19, 17 October 2013
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	=== Math competitions ===		=== Math competitions ===

	If you're interested in developing your mathematical problem solving ability, math competitions provide a means ~~to assess~~ your progress. These test your ability to solve non-routine math problems that require ingenuity and/or synthesis of several different mathematical ideas.		If you're interested in developing your mathematical problem solving ability, math competitions provide a means of assessing your progress. These test your ability to solve non-routine math problems that require ingenuity and/or synthesis of several different mathematical ideas.

	One of the most prominent examples of a math competition is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Mathematics_Contest American Mathematics Contest], which is the first of a series of progressively more difficult timed exams. You may be able to find others through your school. One resource for preparing for these kinds of math competitions is the collection of books [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/index.php published] by The Art of Problem Solving.		One of the most prominent examples of a math competition is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Mathematics_Contest American Mathematics Contest], which is the first of a series of progressively more difficult timed exams. You may be able to find others through your school. One resource for preparing for these kinds of math competitions is the collection of books [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/index.php published] by The Art of Problem Solving.

Jsinick: /* Assessing whether you're keeping pace with your future college classmates */

2013-10-17T19:17:48Z

Assessing whether you're keeping pace with your future college classmates

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:17, 17 October 2013
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	''A few weeks later, my professor of political philosophy assigned a five-page paper. I was panicked. Five whole pages! I had only written one paper of that length in high school, and it was a year-long project.''		''A few weeks later, my professor of political philosophy assigned a five-page paper. I was panicked. Five whole pages! I had only written one paper of that length in high school, and it was a year-long project.''

	You may be getting A's in most of your classes. If you're in this position, you know that you're doing well relative to high school classmates. But you don't necessarily know how well you're doing relative to your college classmates. If you take opportunities to assess how well prepared you are relative to the country's best students, you can better determine whether you're on pace, or whether you should be taking extra measures to increase your learning.		You may be getting A's in most of your classes. If you're in this position, you know that you're doing well relative to high school classmates. But you don't necessarily know how well you're doing relative to your future college classmates. If you take opportunities to assess how well prepared you are relative to the country's best students, you can better determine whether you're on pace, or whether you should be taking extra measures to increase your learning.

	== Assessing your academic skills ==		== Assessing your academic skills ==

Jsinick: /* Assessing whether you're keeping pace with your future college classmates */

2013-10-17T19:17:14Z

Assessing whether you're keeping pace with your future college classmates

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:17, 17 October 2013
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	''I attended a big public school in Miami— think Fast Times at Ridgemont High— that was far more concerned with preventing fights in the halls and keeping drugs out of the bathrooms than with academics. When I was accepted into Harvard, many of my high school classmates asked me why I would want to go to a school filled with geeks.''		''I attended a big public school in Miami— think Fast Times at Ridgemont High— that was far more concerned with preventing fights in the halls and keeping drugs out of the bathrooms than with academics. When I was accepted into Harvard, many of my high school classmates asked me why I would want to go to a school filled with geeks.''

			[...]

	''Freshman year of college was a huge shock for me. First semester, I took a course called The Concept of the Hero in Hellenic Civilization, which was nicknamed Heroes for Zeroes. I didn’t have a burning desire to study Greek mythology, but it was the easiest way to fulfill the literature requirement. The professor began the first lecture by asking which students had read these books before. I whispered to my friend next to me, “What books?” “The Iliad and The Odyssey, of course,” she replied. Almost every single hand went up. Not mine. The professor then asked, “And who has read these books in the original?” “What original?” I asked my friend. “Homeric Greek,” she replied. A good third of the class kept their hands up. It seemed pretty clear that I was one of the zeroes.''		''Freshman year of college was a huge shock for me. First semester, I took a course called The Concept of the Hero in Hellenic Civilization, which was nicknamed Heroes for Zeroes. I didn’t have a burning desire to study Greek mythology, but it was the easiest way to fulfill the literature requirement. The professor began the first lecture by asking which students had read these books before. I whispered to my friend next to me, “What books?” “The Iliad and The Odyssey, of course,” she replied. Almost every single hand went up. Not mine. The professor then asked, “And who has read these books in the original?” “What original?” I asked my friend. “Homeric Greek,” she replied. A good third of the class kept their hands up. It seemed pretty clear that I was one of the zeroes.''

Jsinick: /* Reasons for having your cognitive and academic skills assessed */

2013-10-17T19:16:22Z

Reasons for having your cognitive and academic skills assessed

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:16, 17 October 2013
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	=== Assessing whether you're meeting your potential ===		=== Assessing whether you're meeting your potential ===

	Extremely bright students sometimes get straight A's with little effort, while falling short of what they're capable of, because they're not being challenged or challenging themselves. In the other direction, more modestly capable students sometimes hold themselves to unrealistically high standards, feeling demoralized that they're unable to get top grades despite putting an enormous amount of effort into doing well. Knowing whether your intelligence is at the 10th percentile or the 50th percentile or the 90th percentile or the 99th percentile or the 99.9th percentile can help you determine whether you're meeting your potential.		Extremely bright students sometimes get straight A's with little effort, while falling short of what they're capable of, because they're not being challenged or challenging themselves. In the other direction, more modestly capable students sometimes hold themselves to unrealistically high standards, feeling demoralized that they're unable to get top grades despite putting an enormous amount of effort into doing well. Knowing whether your intelligence is at the 10th percentile, the 50th percentile, the 90th percentile, the 99th percentile, or the 99.9th percentile can help you determine whether you're meeting your potential.

	=== Assessing your relative cognitive strengths and weaknesses ===		=== Assessing your relative cognitive strengths and weaknesses ===

Jsinick at 19:15, 17 October 2013

2013-10-17T19:15:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:15, 17 October 2013
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	It~~'s sometimes~~ important to have your intelligence and academic skills assessed based on an objective standard.		It can be important to have your intelligence and academic skills assessed based on an objective standard.

	== Reasons for having your cognitive and academic skills assessed ==		== Reasons for having your cognitive and academic skills assessed ==