<p>re: Adelphi, I had always thought of this school as a small, commuter college, but I just looked it up and saw that it is indeed larger than I realized, with many undergrad and grad programs, and that it does offer residential housing. Definitely a school to consider for S…thanks, ccc and emmybet!</p>
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<p>We should talk about colleges for Jewish “C” students now! Merit Aid! Our students will be at the top of their game :)</p>
<p>Interesting twist - so S2 comes home from school today and shares that they went over the in-class English essay where he had a C - turns out his grade was one of the better ones in the class! </p>
<p>I was also ranting to DH and various friends that I had not yet heard back from the English teacher - those darn public hs teachers - and then I re-read my e-mail from last Thursday and noticed that I misspelled the teacher’s last name in his e-mail address, so he probably never rcvd the e-mail. Just re-sent it.</p>
<p>I’m feeling rather foolish at the moment. :)</p>
<p>Yes, rm - that’s very good to point out. My D is bemoaning her “low” grades on English papers, but I got a note from her AP Lit teacher today letting me know that she shouldn’t be so discouraged, that her 81 was one of the highest scores in the whole group, and very common at the beginning of the year (D1 as I remember got a B 1st quarter in this class, with this teacher, too - and she was a 4.0 kid). </p>
<p>Kids are so literal … and maybe we are, too, sometimes. I understand that coupled with the ACT score you would have concerns, and you’re reacting really normally. Definitely a rollercoaster. What’s amazing is thinking back to this time last year, and realizing how much they’ve changed, and imagining how much they will change yet again. That’s especially true with these later-blooming types.</p>
<p>RM, your typo secret is safe with us!</p>
<p>Many HS teachers like to set a VERY high standard in the first marking period, to shake kids up and send a message. Sometimes, on back to school night, I have heard them mention that the first set of grades were uniformly very low–followed by lots of relieved sighs from around the room! Of course, mentioning it to parents earlier via email or note sent home would have saved a lot of unnecessary anguish!</p>
<p>psychmom: Cool, glad to hear it…keep us posted!</p>
<p>rm: things usually have a way to work out for the best, even if we don’t see it that way at the time! If S got a C on an English assignment and most of the class did worse then maybe the teacher will take that into account…also, I’m sure an essay probably isn’t weighted as heavily as a quiz or test…I agree with emmybet, it’s still the beginning of the year and the kids are just getting used to the teachers and requirements…do you have p/t conferences coming up anytime soon? Email is great…better it worked out this way that you spelled the name incorrectly so you’ve all had time to calm down…</p>
<p>Anyone know anything about Rowan University? I see it advertised here on CC, but know nothing about it…looks like it’s not far from Philly?</p>
<p>With the budget cuts that began last year, I think class size in the public high schools are bigger and teachers are overworked. </p>
<p>I think Rockville Mom is very blessed to have excellent communication with her son and that she shines with a very caring heart. Good relationships with our kids is what is truly important.</p>
<p>Psych and Emmy, here is a link to a discussion last year about aid at Adelphi: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/adelphi-university/818536-those-who-got-accepted-adelphi.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/adelphi-university/818536-those-who-got-accepted-adelphi.html</a></p>
<p>Psych, a current theater senior I know likes it very much.</p>
<p>Choc, Rowan is not far from Philly. It was called Glassboro State Teachers College–and was the site of a US/USSR summit meeting–but then Mr. Rowan donated $ and it became Rowan (not different from how John Harvard and Elihu Yale gained immortality).</p>
<p>It has a nice campus, active D3 sports and somewhat of a suitcase rep. It battles with Ramapo and Montclair for in state positioning behind TCNJ and Rutgers. It stresses its liberal arts, affordability and small size for a state U.</p>
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<p>Wow, yabe, you are really on top of things! And quick too! Thanks for the info., re: Rowan. I had never heard of it before. I am so burnt out working with S1 on apps. now that I am sooo glad I have a bit of a reprieve for S2 who is a freshman. I hope to have at least a year or so breather before round two!</p>
<p>Thanks. My kids had what I call the kangaroo approach to college research–stick you rhead in the sand and hope it goes away. So it became my job! </p>
<p>Maybe by then, it will change its name to Zuckerberg University? I am surprised there is not a Gates Institute of Technology or a Buffet School of Business–but credit those guys for giving to charity what others use to buy sports teams!</p>
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<p>Quick update - heard back from the English teacher - nice response - he suggested waiting until the other major composition assignment is handed back - should be this week - and then meeting. He feels S2 is doing fairly well in the class. So, I’m dialing back my panic for the moment.</p>
<p>In other news, I am revising my position on SAT/ACT test prep. Generally, I hate it. I think for many families and kids - it is a rip-off. Some do better after test prep - some do worse. Every controlled study that I have seen shows no discernible improvement that can be solely attributed to test prep. I have always been of the opinion that you should save your money - buy a $20 book and do practice tests on your own.</p>
<p>However, I am coming to the realization that different kids have different needs and that some test prep may be helpful for some kids. I’m still not a fan of the group classes - but I am willing to consider that some private tutoring might be beneficial. I also acknowledge that I am too emotionally invested in S2’s process and need to step back a bit. </p>
<p>I have contacted a number of test prep companies - only to have them try to sell me a package of 24 hours or 30 hours, etc., for thousands of dollars. Yes, thousands. Then, I found a tutoring company that seems to be pretty well-regarded in our area - although it is not a big name company - where they will do private tutoring by the hour in the area of need. So, I am going to have S2 do a few hours of private tutoring later this year - primarily on the reading section of the ACT, but also on the essay a bit, and then take the ACT again in February. Hopefully he can improve his score a bit and then we will be done with testing.</p>
<p>I don’t know for a fact, but I heard it is very hard to improve the reading section. I heard the math section can be improved.</p>
<p>Well - that’s interesting - we can have S2 be a test case. He starts with a 24 on the reading section - I’m willing to pay for 4-5 hours of private instruction - and then he takes it again in February - and I will post his scores. He can be our little experiment and we will see if his reading score improves. (And if it doesn’t - that will have be an expensive experiment!)</p>
<p>rockvillemom:</p>
<p>Have you considered having your S take the SAT? </p>
<p>My S1 took an SAT prep class last year (junior year) that met only once a week…I think it was @Thanksgiving to March, then sat for the SAT test in March. From the time he took the test on the first day of the class with no prior knowledge of any questions to the end of the class a few months later, his score improved almost 400 points all together for all three categories: Reading, Math and Writing. Yes, it was a group class, but only like 7 or 8 kids…and the whole thing cost $600, well worth it. </p>
<p>He also took the ACT with no prep at all and got a 30, which was actually much lower than his SAT score, so he decided to go only with SAT…</p>
<p>Some kids find one easier than the other…maybe let him try both and see!</p>
<p>You might want to ask if the company will guarantee X number of points improvement or refund your money.</p>
<p>I think the 27 is a fantastic score. Rather, you might want to look at your son’s profile overall–do you think he has something in leadership, and/or extra community service, etc.
Perhaps take a community college course next summer–a plus for applications. I would not stress over the 27. It is really a wonderful score to be proud of.</p>
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<p>I would be amazed if any prep course offered a guarantee of money back–at most, perhaps a retake of the course (which might drive you and your child crazy if it didn’t help the first time). I think they are much bigger on claims than on guarantees–and probably insert provisos about your child focusing intently every minute of class and doing major between class assignments or the refund is voided.</p>
<p>A compromise could be to pay your child per hour spent working on the $20 book. The financial incentives I offered my son for grades and after school meetings with teachers were far less expensive than tutors and turned it from our cajoling him to go to hated tutoring to his owning the process.</p>
<p>Rockville Mom’s son studied the ACT prep book this summer. He did a great job with the book and a 27 is a great score. Unless her son wants to study more for another ACT and/or he wants to repeat the test, why stress about it? Good colleges look at the whole child and look for many things–gpa, test scores, recommendation, leadership, community service, special talents (sports, etc.).</p>
<p>I have a good (Jewish) friend whose son transferred to Rowan and he is very happy there. Interestingly enough he transferred from his first school largely because it was a commuter school and there wasn’t much to do on the weekends. Her S was deciding between Susquehanna and Rowan and selected Rowan. He is happy with campus life and the school in general. If you have any specific questions I can ask.</p>
<p>Chocolatechipcookie, that sounds like a great program. How many hours was the once/week class each week?</p>
<p>chocchip - I agree with you completely that kids should try both tests and see which one they do better on and then proceed accordingly. My son took the PSAT in 9th and 10th grades - abysmal scores. He took the PLAN in 10th and scored a 26. So, from that, I feel very confident that he is an ACT kid. In speaking with the prospective tutor today - she agreed that a kid who struggles with reading comprehension will do better on the ACT. The answers to the questions are literally in the passages; whereas on the SAT, you have to make inferences and draw conclusions from the passages.</p>
<p>mdcissp - I agree with you - and I don’t want to overly stress on the ACT. I think it’s worth him doing a little prep work with a tutor and taking it a second time. I doubt we’ll go beyond that. If his scores improve - we’ll be set. If they don’t improve - after paid test prep - then I really wouldn’t know what else to do anyway. So, either way, I’m hoping February will be it. I think the 27 is reasonably good - but I’d feel more comfortable about his chances if he had a 28 or 29 - so he is willing to see the tutor and take it again in February. I am really glad that he did take the September test though - if the worst case scenario is he applies with the 27 he already has - it’ll be ok.</p>
<p>I’d be shocked rockvillemom if where you live there weren’t some high school teachers or other professionals who tutored students privately for the ACT and SAT. It’s a cottage industry. Ask friends who have older kids and I’m sure they can tell you who they used. Or perhaps your school’s college counsellor knows who kids have used in the past. That’s what we did with this daughter. Our first went to the classes and my son saw a tutor for a while then decided he could do as well on his own. I think the kids often work better with a tutor who can spot their weak areas and tell you and your child. Then later on your child can use the books on their own.</p>
<p>It can be expensive per session but you can pretty much choose the number of lessons you can afford and stop if you don’t see any progress being made.</p>