Parents of the HS Class of 2015 - Page 107

OHMomof2 · 10-08-2012, 08:27 PM

I'd try the ACT regardless. Most schools will take either it or the SAT, and some kids do better on one than the other. S'12 had a better ACT score and used that for colleges rather than his SAT.

If you know that your D won't apply to schools that won't take the ACT over the SAT subject tests, then that's one more reason to take it, I think.

For my D, there aren't any SAT subject tests worth taking until late junior year so we can postpone that decision....she will take the ACT though, for sure.

I found this list which may be helpful: Are subject tests a must?

...I think it's likely that more and more schools will begin to take the ACT instead since that seems to be the trend. This list is already out of date by at least one - Columbia no longer requires the Subject tests.

suzy100 · 10-08-2012, 09:51 PM

I think my D is going to take the SAT Math II subject test in June - she'll just have finished honors pre-AP calc which I think is what is covered on this test. She might also take the American History (or whatever it's called) SAT II test in June also, since she's taking APUSH this year.

The plan for now is for her to take the SAT and PSAT in the fall of Junior year so studying for both can accomplished at the same time. She'll probably take the ACT soon thereafter - December? That will leave time to take both ACT and SAT again if she needs to in the spring and hopefully be done.

I have to say, I would never have known about the SAT/PSAT synergy (and studying plan) if it weren't for the great help I received from those on this thread who have been through this with older kids. Thank you all very much!

suzy100 · 10-08-2012, 09:53 PM

And Maxwell, don't you be wishing snow on us so early!!

Pepper03 · 10-09-2012, 08:45 AM

Gibson that is wonderful! Congratulations to those girls!

Mine is home today. The cold she has been fighting on and off for while turned nasty over the weekend. She is on an antibiotic to see if it will help but they see no evidence of anything bacterial-which is why I hate bringing them to the doctor and avoid it if at all possible.

If she isn't better tomorrow we have to go have bloodwork to rule out mono! I suspect it's a virus that she hasn't been able to fight because of the schedule she has. Last week in addition to classes there were four soccer games including two played in the cold rain.

I have made a firm decision and have made it clear to her. From this day on if I say no school it's no school. This may sound odd to some but she feels she needs to be there every day no matter what. She has been so intent on being on top of everything that it wasn't worth fighting over to keep her home. Well we still won't be fighting-I have gotten a grip and realized I am still the boss whether she likes it or not!

I think a lot of this is her fear of her position on the team. She is a swing player and I think she is afraid of losing her spot if she isn't there every day. It is a very odd team and I have seen really good players "punished" before if they aren't part of the in crowd-I wish I could phrase it better. I told her if that happens it happens-she needs to learn no matter what she has to take care of herself first and not be driven by fear-which is how these people seem to operate that team.

If it is mono I fear for her schoolwork-she could get very far behind very fast. I am trying to stay in the day though-if she has a good day that may mean whatever she has may be responding to the meds-or maybe just plain old rest and fluids!

Maxwellequations · 10-09-2012, 09:53 AM

@suzy, I really need a snow day!

@SansSerif, it's great your school offers review. I don't think my D.'s school has anything like that. A local CC has a SAT review course. They met several times in the summer, and then once a week since school started, until last week, for October SAT. D's school is very weak in standardized tests.

and marching band is crazy...

sunnydayfun · 10-09-2012, 10:18 AM

^^Pepper-I hope your D does not have mono. That is worrisome! Wish her the best!

S2 will take the PLAN tomorrow and the practice PSAT next week. I am glad that our district allows 10th graders to take both. No prep just to see where he falls on his own. I agree that kids take both SAT and ACT to see which one s/he is better at. Our HS PTSA also offers an assessment test to let students evaluate which one is better for them. My S1 took both and he did better on ACT. There are differences between the two and most institutions do accept one or another.

S2 post “likes Grand Valley State University” on his FB and happily informed me of its low tuition rate for OOS. During the summer he met a guy from the camp who is student there. The funny thing is my H was born and raised in Michigan and he never heard or knew about that school.

IJustDrive · 10-09-2012, 01:34 PM

re: testing:

With our D'12 she took the SAT the same week as the PSAT. Combining the testing that way minimized stress over those exams because they were together in time. Those scores were high enough that she (and we) didn't feel the need for her to do any more testing, so she never took the ACT, but did take subject exams. Again, she grouped her subject exams in 2 groups, one with the AP exams (the weekend in the middle of exams) and one really early on right after she finished the classes and in the middle of a bunch of other testing. So she really did spend the least amount of mental energy (and prep time) possible on testing and was done (for all intents and purposes) by May of Junior year.

I was thinking that D'15 should take the ACT sometime this year, but she has a standing commitment on Saturdays, and there doesn't really seem to be any good reason to have her test instead of fulfill her commitment. Perhaps June will work out, but if not, I'm not terribly concerned.

I was thinking that it could be fun for D'15 to go visit big sis over spring break. Sort of a college visit, but not really. But I'm not sure that either of them would really enjoy it. I think I'll postpone thinking about that one for a while as well.

SansSerif · 10-09-2012, 01:56 PM

Of course, D15 came after the PSAT review yesterday (CR) saying how she "already knew all that stuff". She's okay in English but not great, so I really doubt she already knew it all - or else it was a pretty superficial review, which is totally possible.

For kids like her who are not on any advanced track for math (she's taking geometry this year and will have algebra II next year) they let them know there will be a lot of stuff on the test that they won't be familiar with. My only concern is that she does as well as possible with the items she does know.

She's very stubborn and I think that the main purpose of the practice PSAT will be to show her that perhaps she doesn't "know all that stuff" and that a little studying might be a good idea for when it actually counts.

Pepper03 · 10-09-2012, 01:57 PM

Haha IJustDrive I like that plan-think about it later!

Do we have any Nook or Kindle users here? I have a Kindle but haven't used it to take out books from the library or even to buy one. My daughter has to read a book per quarter and since she is home with some time and she hasn't even started it yet I thought this might be a good opportunity to read.

Any suggestions most importantly for the book-if you know how to use the Kindle that would be the icing on the cake.

The only kinds of books she can manage to get through are about history-preferably the Civil War era. It can be fiction or non-fiction but she has to write a paper after reading it how it changed how she felt or thought about something. The shorter the better!

Sans I think we have the same daughter! She is in Algebra 2 and is good at math but her verbal skills are going to kill her-but like your girl she knows everything so she is about to get a rude awakening-hey it's good this is just a practice test!

OHMomof2 · 10-09-2012, 02:01 PM

Thank you IJD, your experience confirms our plan.

S'12 is a natural test taker and never did any prep at all. D is a more diligent student but not as strong a test taker...and is very interested in doing prep work. For her I think this kind of grouping will be best.

We've been working with a book that explains some basic strategies - leaving longer reading passages until the end of the section, recognizing clue words and patterns, knowing which sections go from easy to hard and which don't, that sort of thing, followed by practice questions.

Anyone use PSAT score for summer programs?

Threesdad · 10-09-2012, 04:16 PM

Gibson: We were off the radar for a few days. Official ATTA GIRL for the D's team winning out!!!!

To answer your question, when HS softball is played here in the Spring, club ball goes dark until HS season is complete- club ball begins right around Memorial Day weekend; so club & school ball really don't conflict. What this does is compress the club softball season into the Memorial Day to 1st week of August time frame in the summer. We don't have many free sunmmer weekends.

The D plays varsity field hockey for school in Fall, so balancing field hockey with 16U club softball is tough. The good thing at 16U softball is they are not playing in the huge collegiate recruiting showcase events every weekend, which require out of state travel. Most of D's club team plays a fall school sport, so the club coach will bring in some guest players to fill in for a game or two on a weekend. The D did one recruiting event this Fall which is more than enough at this age and skill level (she is not going to pitch for UCLA or Arizona).

D is up until 11 every night doing homework/studying, then off to school for 8 AM start (30 minute drive on the dad school bus). Field hockey practice/games are until 6 every weeknight. Club softball practice is Tuesday nights from 7-9 (under the lights) and her pitching lesson is Thursday nights at 7. D eats/studies and does her homework in the car so the time management skill is being learned. She makes good grades (B+/A-) in her classes in private school so she is not overly stressed.

Practice PSAT is next Saturday 10/20 at 8 AM. The school field hockey game time was moved to the afternoon as every sophmore & junior on both teams will be taking the PSAT.

I'm sure your life is just as hectic.

suzy100 · 10-09-2012, 07:17 PM

Pepper - maybe Burr by Gore Vidal? It's historical fiction and paints the founding fathers in a more human light, some not so flattering. Burr comes out not as he is traditionally painted in history.

I have a kindle. It's easy to buy books, but you will need to set up an account with Amazon. Do you have one? (It's been so long since I've had it, so I don't remember much about setting up the account. You may have done that when you bought it.)

suzy100 · 10-09-2012, 07:20 PM

Also Cold Mountain maybe. That's about the Civil War. I haven't read that one though.

IJustDrive · 10-09-2012, 11:24 PM

Pepper, many public libraries let you borrow books on your Kindle! Really! Our public library web page explains how to do it for our library. See if yours does.

Gibson1514 · 10-11-2012, 08:30 AM

Softball girl was nominated for Governor's Honors program by her lit teacher. Happy for her, great honor. Counseling dept handed her the paperwork on Wed and it was due back the next day. AAAArrgh!!! 5 questions that needed some time to process and develop answers. Thankfully college girl was available and the 2 of them worked together till the wee hours over skype developing her responses. I am so frustrated at the counseling dept. Why do they do this to students? This is not a new program and happens every year. I spoke briefly with principal about issue at the softball game and will be sending a follow up email ( once her application has left the building). He was apologetic and angry. D1 had similar things happen to her.

Softball team got knocked out of state last night. Battled hard against a better team. Lost 3-1 then 4 -1. Girls tired and disappointed. Thinking by the time the weekend comes they will be over the loss and happy about the shiny region cup and patch they will get for their letterman jackets!

Pepper- hope your d is feeling better
threesdad- I am exhausted just thinking about your d's schedule!