<p>leicestermom,</p>
<p>tokenadult makes a good point in #29–the admissions processes of universities outside the US are different, and more narrowly focused on academics (by using the word “narrowly,” I don’t mean to suggest that this is bad). Might your daughter want to apply to a university in the UK or Canada?</p>
<p>In your post #34, you refer to the “mighty SAT.” I don’t think many of the parents here would characterize the SAT in that way. It’s just a test, and your daughter shows the clear capability to handle it well, based on her PSAT scores. People of my generation rarely prepped for it at all–I worked through the practice test in the booklet that I received from the College Board when I signed up, and that was it; similarly for my spouse–neither of us had a study guide, let alone a prep course. </p>
<p>Your daughter might benefit from going through the writing sections of the study guide, though, to observe what (American) grammatical points are emphasized in the writing portion. </p>
<p>You yourself might benefit from looking at the math portion of the SAT I, and the math IIC, chemistry, and physics SAT II tests. There is a separate book available from the College Board, containing real versions of the SAT II’s. This will free you from any fear of the SAT, and I doubt that you’ll ever think of it as “mighty” again. (I have the impression that the admissions exams for IIT or Chinese universities might be “mighty.”)</p>
<p>Re: volunteering. Yes, the age issue is a problem that we encountered also. There are some agencies that will permit a 14-year-old to volunteer, if you or your spouse are volunteering at the same time. That might work for your family. Otherwise, your daughter could look around for independent opportunities to do something useful. She should ask the staff members at the community service agencies what they need, and see if she can help to supply it in any way.</p>
<p>For example, the food bank near us often needs fruit, vegetables, and protein-containing foods with long-ish shelf lives (canned tuna, chicken, and peanut butter). Your daughter might be able to work with her classmates to organize a food drive.</p>
<p>Our local food bank also carries paper products that people need, and they have more requests for disposable diapers than they can fill. (Please, readers, don’t flame me about the environmental consequences.) If your family is sympathetic to such requests, your daughter might also be able to organize a group to raise money for diaper purchases–or for cloth diaper services.</p>
<p>Your daughter may have a particular cause or issue that is meaningful to her, and she could think of a way to pursue service related to that.</p>