Well, my SSstb22, who barely graduated from high school, planned to get a Ph.D in Nanotechnology until maybe, oh, last year.  That plan seems to have gone by the wayside.  So I'm sure she'll hang onto her unrealistic plans for a while longer. 

All 5 of our kids (2 bios and 3 SKs) are intelligent.  One (#4)  completed college.  The oldest went to cosmetology school and while not entirely self-supporting, contributed to family finances with her ex and raised 3 kids.  $2 worked in the construction industry and is now a semi-retired contractor.  #3 went into the army early, has some college credit and is now employed by a communication firm making a 6-digit salary.  #4 who graduated from college is a SAHM.  #5 is a very successful salesman.

I have to say I didn't see the payback from #4's education but on the other hand, she's the only one who parlayed the $ we gave each for house down payment into a valuable home.  The others were rebellious and resistant to more education after high school but it worked out for them all except #1 SD with her drug issues later in life.

While college isn't for everyone... it is still possible for her to go to college.  She can retake the test.  She can do a prepwork class and practice and improve that score.  There may be schools that will look at more than just a score factor.  they may not be her dream schools.. but hey.

She could also start at community college for a year or so.. then transfer in to a 4 year school. 

Alternately.. she could explore military service... or trade schools/apprenticeships.

Let anyone attend C college. Who Graduate High School or GED. Depending on what they do in CC. Will determine how far they will go. 

If so, it's just the practice exam. I didn't do well on my PSAT either. I really didn't do fantastic on my SAT either. I graduated in the top five percent of my high school class though. There are tutoring courses now to help students prepare for the test. As long as she graduates from high school, she can go to community college. 

I thimk what you're seeng, Halo, is someone who isnt showing maturity about a life decision.  Not unexpected in a teen.  I wanted to share a hopeful story.

My GS, stb28, in an intelligent, handsome person.  He did well in high school.  There was some kind of problem which I still dont understand and my DD let him drop out!  I was shocked!  Long story short, 7 years ensued of him living with some buds, minor police trouble, drugs, etc.  He woke up about 3 years ago, moved back with DD & SIL, got his GED, enrolled in an online college's  computer program, got a degree and got a job with a major firm in another city.  He bought a house and is now going for his master's degree.

It's a miracle but if someone had told me it would turn out like this, I'd have said, no way.  It was looking pretty hopeless there for awhile.  Hoping your SD wakes up, too, but it might take a few years, like my GS.

People have been harping on the "you have to go to college" bandwagon for too long.

In reality they need to pick a career they are capable of and won't hate that will give them enough money to live on.  And I do mean "enough", because the whole "you can be anything you want" bootstraps propaganda is a load of hooey.  Not everyone can get rich and no one is entitled to be rich just because they want to be.

Once they decide their career, they then need a plan on how to make it happen.

Too many people are getting useless degrees "just because" and then aren't able to pay off their student loans.  And paying them is not society's responsibility.

It is, however, society's responsibility to pay every fulltime worker a fair wage.  That's what needs to happen.  Working class people generate almost all the economic activity, and paying them is the best stimulation.  And it's the right thing to do.

I have a degree I never use and I make way less than my DH who took some college and ended up just working.  BS has a bit of college, years of technical training and is on a really good career path.  If somehow your DH can convince SD to join the military or attend a trade school she probably won't need a four year degree where she majors in beer pong and STDs. 

A PSAT is really nothing. Colleges don't even look at the PSAT.  The SAT or ACT is what they use as their acceptance criterial standardized test.  I did okay on the SAT but not great.  1200ish. But I blew the doors off of the ACT. I got a 35.  

Try both tests and get the prep programs for them.  The ACT fit my test style much better than the SAT.

There are also non competitive entry college and university options.  Most universities have a transfer student option that does not use standardized test scores if a student transfers in 60 semester hours or more with a transfer cumulative GPA target.   A JC or CC can be solid prep institutions for transferring to a desired 4 year school.

Texas A&M is a prime example of a strong university with a comprehensive JC transfer option.  Many Aggies start at Blinn College which has a comprehensive agreement for coordinated programs starting at Blinn  and finishing at A&M with an A&M bachelors degree. A&M also has a similar relationship with NMMI for JC transfer students. Their NMMI agreement also works with the Officers commissioned through the NMMI early commissioning to finish their Bachelors degree.

There are any number of schools and paths to a Bachelors. Not everyone even takes an SAT or ACT.

The value in the PSAT is introducing students to standardized testing and for qualifying for merit scholarship programs, etc....  Don't give it more value than it deserves.

IMHO of course.

Halo, I think I get you on this.  The issue isn't that SD isn't academic, its that she won't apply herself to make the best out the talents she does have.  

I knew loads of people at university who probably shouldn't have been there as they were not academically inclined.  Some of them had personal tutors paid for by their parents to coach them through their undergraduate degrees (Oh, the privilege).  But they slogged away and somehow managed to get a degree.  Most of them are successful now but that's down to their other talents and interpersonal skills.

My youngest wasn't the best student. His middle school and beginning high school grades were mediocre. He'd say, "what does if matter if you get a C or an A. You go to the next  grade anyway."

Then mid high school, he decided on a career. He buckled down, his grades went to mostly A's, as he wanted to go to a certain college. He got in, graduated, went to grad school, and is employed in the field he wanted.

SD still has unrealistic goals, but all is not lost yet. She won't get into an ivy, but there are a myriad of options open to her.