Parents of the HS Class of 2014 - Page 127

AvonHSDad · 09-18-2012, 01:09 AM

Rescuing from page 3.

We found the round file works best for the large majority of the unsolicited mailings.

mathmomvt · 09-18-2012, 01:23 AM

I tried to convince S2 not to sign up for the mailings when he took the PSAT but he wanted the ego boost. He doesn't actually look at most of them. He did decline the emails.

beadymom · 09-18-2012, 10:37 PM

It doesn't take us long to fall to page 3!

Went to college fair at high school tonight. I was disappointed at the selection of colleges attending.

Mostly state colleges and small privates from our state and the two neighboring states. Very few with DS's major.

Vandyeyes - I talked to the college that had the 3+2 program. She said basically you get your undergrad in 3 years instead of 4 at their college in Physics/Math/Biology, then transfer to one of three universities for two years of engineering specific classes. The financial end is not guaranteed at the engineering school - we'd have to work through all of the scholarship/financial aid again with the transfer. "She" recommended just getting the 4 year degree at her college, then going for masters at the engineering school. But then, she wasn't an engineering major, either! haha

A few of the colleges asked if DS had taken ACT and his score. It was interesting how their demeanor changed when I told them what it was. All of a sudden, they were very interested in DS!

As for the filing system, I just can't bring myself to throw anything away! You never know, he could change his mind and decide to go into acting or be a history major!!

vandyeyes · 09-19-2012, 09:07 AM

beadyeye: thanks much for the follow-up information.

we've given a fair amount of serious consideration to straight engineering programs versus consideration of the 3-2 option. Last spring break, one road trip over summer, combined with our family driving summer vacation allowed us to surprisingly visit a number of schools already (14 !). These have ranged from a few out of state flagship state universities, to small LACs, to a couple Ivies. Once we began looking in earnest, the more apparent (at least for my S) it became that schools on paper we thought might be the perfect fit (for instance a LAC that actually has an engineering program) it didn't always pan out (didn't like the school at all). So, for us, starting early to be able to really define a list of schools where he thinks he can be happy by next fall was a good thing.
One reservation I have for my son regarding going straight engineering programs is that, if he goes that route, I strongly want him to have an option "out" to other things (straight science, premed, or even English if he should choose!). I have friends who started at Engineering programs (one at a STEM school, one at an IVY) and hated them and it wasn't a completely painless exit strategy. I (as parent) really am attracted to the schools that do have an engineering program, but don't require declaration until the end of the sophomore year. We'll see how the ride progresses I guess!

NewHavenCTmom · 09-19-2012, 09:15 AM

Any 14 ers taking the SAT this fall/winter? If so, what are they doing to practice? Self study? Prep courses? or nothing at all...

DD14 is taking it 12/1 and has been self studying in earnest for the past few weeks.. along with her 3 AP's. a college course at a local state U, a new job which is asking far too much of her already(they just opened last week), and her other EC's...

So much to do, juggle, think about, discuss... 18 1/2 months until those decisions arrive in the mail(or email)...

vandyeyes · 09-19-2012, 09:26 AM

just doing self-study here.....mostly in prep for the PSAT, but then is scheduled for the actual SAT at early November sitting; if it's a bust, then perhaps would look for outside support.

pdxsuzanne · 09-19-2012, 11:48 AM

DD is taking a prep class for the PSAT on Saturdays and will take an SAT prep class on Sundays just in time to take the November SAT. She spent the month before school started self-studying but now that school is in full swing, there's not a whole lot of extra time to devote to it. The plan is to see how she did and then decide if it makes sense to retake in the spring. We're open to private tutoring if she were to bomb it. I've found for her that the prep class structure and required homework (taking timed practice tests) feels more manageable to her and requires less monitoring by me. The good news is that she knows it's important and is being responsible about it. I know she will do her best.

fogfog · 09-19-2012, 08:05 PM

Hello Parents

Well Talked with K2's advisor who tells me K2 wants to drop Chinese....
ahhh no
because k2 needs this yr...at a minimum...
We spoke about the very few schools K2 has seen...and we have a list for spring break--more colleges than will fit for the time so will be pruning.

K2 has done nothing for test prep...sigh

The advisor said she'd meet with k2 to recommend some things...

For parents who have a kiddo in college and your k'14 is your "only" now
you can probably relate to what we are seeing
a mix between blossoming being the "only" and tarrying between childhood and teen/adulthood.

Last year we had tough times with k'14 and pneumonia etc which tanked the 3rd qtr when k'14 was hospitalized and so the 2nd semester.

I love the kid on the couch. Can't believe I will be a "free bird" ie empty nest-er in less than 2 yrs....

Glad to be with you all, many hugs all around. We will need each other a lot for "venting" in the next yr or so....

KaMaMom · 09-20-2012, 03:05 PM

Caltech in the mail today.

@newhavenctmom - DD14 is taking it Dec 1st. I have the blue books sitting in the kitchen, but she hasn't cracked them yet. She's way too bogged down w/ classes, work and ECs and I don't want to push her. She mentioned she'll start looking at them on the weekends when she has time ... overall, she's a crack test taker, so I'm not THAT worried. (Yet.)

And we just found out she made All State Honor Choir. Which, come to think of it, will be one more thing to drag her away from the big blue books! LOL!

AvonHSDad · 09-20-2012, 11:53 PM

DD has a PSAT prep class at school before and after classes a couple of days per week. She hasn't said much other than its just boring practice and the big blue book is barely touched. I think a lot of it is the new schedule this year along with EC's and a lot of homework (3 -5+ hours per evening). Not sure if she will sit for the regular test in December or January. She will most likely take the ACT in February. For that she will review her older brother's old notes and study guide that he reviewed in a tutor program.

One of her top choice schools is test optional so we will just have to wait and see what develops.

Partyoffour · 09-21-2012, 02:50 PM

Hello, there. I think my family is still recovering from launching our D1, but must refocus and help D2 in her college search. She'll graduate from high school in 2014. We are getting a lot of mailings -- some of which I secretly filled out online forms for because I thought they fit her. Hey, if she shows no interest, no harm, no foul. But others just seem to show up. I wonder if that's a "sibling effect"? Most of the unsolicited mailings come from colleges D1 researched or visited. One even sent D2 a leadership application even though she's only a junior.

Classof2015 · 09-21-2012, 06:21 PM

partyoffour -- I still haven't recovered, and D's a college sophomore!

re: test prep -- S'14 keeps telling me he thinks he'll do better on the ACT, but I want him to take SAT in January anyway. He has not one, but 2 tutors -- one for English, one for Math. I'll see how long I can keep thi$ up.

mathmomvt · 09-21-2012, 07:59 PM

I'm setting S'14 up for a few tutoring sessions (starting Monday!) with the tutor S'11 used with good success. She is mainly focused on the English side, but fortunately my kids don't need any tutoring on the math side. He's supposed to do a practice PSAT before Monday and bring it with him so she can use it to diagnose his weaknesses and figure out what to concentrate on.

momreads · 09-22-2012, 06:45 AM

Wish my son had some free time for tutoring for the PSAT or ACT, but he really does not with all his AP work, cross country and a part-time job on the weekends. The funny thing is, I would not be surprised if his scores are decent when he takes them in October. He did a tremendous amount of reading, critical reading, through several classes over the past year. His AP bio teacher has been giving weekly prefix quizzes since school started a month ago. All of that could be a big help to him.

fogfog · 09-22-2012, 08:52 AM

^ Momreads... our older student- now a soph in college did almost no test prep.
Like your student, had a ton of APs and did fine. With school, sport and other commitments there wasn't time for the prep. K1 was a top 10% student and had nice grades.
One thing that may help assuage your worry is to check your HSs profile...for the avg SAT scores/ACT scores etc and also the passing/success rate of those taking the APs. There are lots of kids who take APs yet won't pass...If your HS has a very high rate of 4,5s...your student will likely do well testing in both the SAT/ACT venue and APs.
At least that is our experience.

Our K2 is twice exceptional (bright and LD) so the classes and rigor differ....and the journey will differ. There is no where to really add more to K2s schedule. I so want K2 to spend some time prepping for testing..and at the same time know the grades this term are more important than the psat...