<p>I just saw your question about ACTs. Having just gone through the ACT superscoring issue this past year, I found that more schools do superscore the ACTs than used to, but superscoring ACTs is not nearly as prevalent as with the SATs. For example, we learned last year that Wash U, GW, Hamilton and Rochester did superscore ACTs, and that Emory, Michigan, Rice and William & Mary did not superscore. That said, even the schools that said they did not superscore still advised our sons to send in more than one sitting of ACTs if each of those sittings included a stronger score in different areas of the test. For studying purposes, I agree with rockvillemom that you need to take as many practice tests as you can, and follow the time constraints. If you don’t already have it, get the red prep book “The Real ACT Prep Guide” and do all of the tests. The book has 5 (maybe more by now) full length tests. Also, one thing that I thought was good about the ACTs is that when you have them send scores to colleges, they only send the sitting that you want them to send (of course you pay for each sitting that you want sent), so while you may take the test multiple times, colleges will only see the scores for the sittings that you want sent to them. While you can achieve the same thing using Scorechoice for the SATs, a decent number of colleges don’t accept scorechoice, they want all of the SAT scores. We didn’t find that same issue with ACT reporting</p>
<p>D sent in the scores she wanted for all her schools for both ACT and SAT. It was never clearly stated in admissions material what many of her schools policies were in terms of score choice. Policies seemed to flip from one year to the next and it was confusing to sort out. So we sent all schools the same scores and never heard boo from anyone.</p>
<p>Nikkkki, definitely take the ACT’s again! My D2 took them 3 times April got a 27, June 29 and Sept 31 but superscored it was a 32! She will be attending U Miami and they do superscore there. Some of the lists about which schools are out of date, it is best to go on the school’s website or email the school for the info. I think 7 out of the 11 schools to which D applied DID superscore ACT’s. </p>
<p>Also wegotin - at U Miami if your ACT ENG is 32 you place out of one of the two required semesters of freshman English, my D was very happy about that!</p>
<p>@mumof2 thanks so much for that help! I really appreciate it. I love Miami but I would need a big scholarship to afford it and I heard you need like a 33+ too get a good amount! ill just keep tryinnnng:)</p>
<p>Nikkkki I was just wondering since you mentioned Texas if there were any schools you had your eye on. UT Austin is the only school that I know of that has a significant Jewish presence although there are other schools Jewish students could be happy in… At least I know that for sure for southern Jewish kids who are used to being a significant minority. In any case if you can tell me what you are thinking I’ll let you know if I have any suggestions. Honestly though many of the Jewish kids I know who are looking for a strong Jewish presence leave Texas if they don’t get into UT. UT is generally not generous with scholarship money and I’m not positive but suspect it is >30K for OOS. Your GPA is right where it would need to be. I don’t know how the 29 would fare and Texas publics don’t superscore anything.</p>
<p>Mumof2 is the English ACT just the grammar part or grammar plus essay? my daughter scored a 35 in English this time (not so lucky in writing though). How does it works when they superscore it, do they only look at the best English score? I will check my son’s score too. Actually he had the same composite scores as yours. What’s his major?</p>
<p>Re: Hillel services: They are generally open to the community. Growing up, when my family grew apart from our congregation, we would routinely buy tickets to the local Hillel for holiday services. As a young adult, when I couldn’t afford to be a member of a congregation, I went to local Hillel services. It was always great and a crowd that really, truly wanted to be at services, none of the “see and be seen” once a year folks.</p>
<p>Changing topics for a moment - two years ago - we followed the disappearance of Lauren Spierer - a Jewish student at Indiana University - and the possible role played in her disappearance by a few male friends. Saw this update and thought I would post - for those who are interested:</p>
<p>One more topic change. A friend just sent this to me and I thought some of you would also find it interesting.</p>
<p>Thanksgiving/Hanukkah</p>
<p>Hanukkah will be on Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving is set as the fourth Thursday in November, meaning the latest it can be is 11/28. 11/28 is also the earliest Hanukkah can be.
The Jewish calendar repeats on a 19 year cycle, and Thanksgiving repeats on a 7 year cycle. You would therefore expect them to coincide roughly every 19x7 = 133 years. Looking back, this is approximately correct the last time it would have happened is 1861. However, Thanksgiving was only formally established by President Lincoln in 1863. So, it has never happened before.
Why won’t it ever happen again?</p>
<p>The reason is because the Jewish calendar is very slowly getting out of sync with the solar calendar, at a rate of 4 days per 1000 years.
This means that while presently Hanukkah can be as early as 11/28, over the years the calendar will drift forward, such that the earliest Hanukkah can be is 11/29. The next time Hanukkah falls on 11/28 is 2146, which is aMonday. Therefore, 2013 is the only time Hanukkah will ever overlap with Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>Of course, if the Jewish calendar is never modified in any way, then it will slowly move forward through the Gregorian calendar, until it loops all the way back to where it is now. So, Hanukkah would again fall on Thursday, 11/28…in the year 79,811. Given our trajectory with global warming, it is fair to say humans won’t be here then. And if there are no humans, the holidays will be canceled.</p>
<p>So on November 28th 2013, enjoy your turkey and your latkes. It has never happened before, and it will never happen again.</p>
<p>Hi wegotin, the 32 ACT to place out of one semester of English at U Miami was just for the English section. And they will use the highest English if you submit more than one ACT. My D is in the business school, I am no sure if this pertains to Engineering also. But don’t get too excited, she did not get credit for one semester of English, she just has to only take one semester instead of 2 semesters of freshman English. She did take the AP English test and we are waiting to see the score but you need a 5 to get English credits at U Miami. So is your son going to be a freshman there? And do you have a daughter going there also?</p>
<p>Mumof2 yes, my son will be a freshman this fall. My daughter is a junior and Umiami is her top choice. My son hates English so he is hopeful let’s see what the advisor says . We are also waiting AP scores for Math. Now they are released different days according to region. I guess they are afraid the computers will crash or something.</p>
<p>So random Jewish coincidence. Last Saturday I went to temple in Oklahoma City and talked to the rabbi. We had previously spoken, but never in much depth. Well the conversation turned to where I’m from and I told her California. When she implored about where in California, I told her my county to which she asked which temple and which rabbi. It turns out that a rabbi based in the middle of Oklahoma City studied with my Southern California based one, and had even gone to my old synagogue a couple of times! Wherever you go…</p>
<p>wegotin,
What state are you from? We are from MA and I believe that her AP scores are coming out on Friday. My D is waiting for ENG, BIO and PSY scores. Did your son sign up for an English class? My D tried to sign up for 106 but there is nothing open, her advisor told her to just take it second semester if she doesn’t AP out. What dorm is your S in?</p>
<p>I went to a bar mitzvah several years ago in one state. Years later, another one somewhere else. The rabbi looked familiar. Then I realized it was the same one who had recently moved there. Yes, it’s a small world.</p>
ill just keep tryinnnng:)</p>
. We are also waiting AP scores for Math. Now they are released different days according to region. I guess they are afraid the computers will crash or something.</p>