<p>Thank you Geeps! You just came out of no where haha. Must be a lurker to my thread :)</p>
<p>Ec, if you are black ( I am), you should read it ( your reference).If you are not, you should REALLY read it.</p>
<p>Another insulting ad hominem, ec. Really inappropriate. First, it isnt a “Book” and by what you posted its pretty clear you do not understand the summary that is posted. The full publication is not available, so I am guessing you havent read it. Do you have a subscription to this journal?</p>
<p>Do you understand the statistical variance ec? Really? And specifically correlation of tests and measurements in a minority population? Really?? Have you read this “book”? Obviously not. </p>
<p>Go write your essay. Surely you’ll win thousands of dollars in private scholarships. It is a far better use of your time.</p>
<p>no shrinkrap, he is not black.</p>
<p>I am not a big fan of the SAT., It has many flaws. So does the SAT. But it was developed to predict freshman year success, and hence originally, aptitude. Yes there are other factors that account for grater variance. But if you are going to post a citation ans ask if someone has “read the book” its probably better not to sound so unfamiliar with what you have posted.</p>
<p>Just because my father is Jewish/Eastern European and my mother is Italian doesn’t mean I’m not black, haha. But no I am not.</p>
<p>And I did edit my post and it now says journal.</p>
<p>Testmakers acknowledge
that high school grade-point average (GPA) or class rank are the best
predictors of first-year grades, despite the huge variation among high
schools and courses. The SAT predicts other outcomes, such as graduation
rates, even more poorly.</p>
<p>correct geeps. It is not a predictor of college success, and there are other factors that contribute to the variance.</p>
<p>You stated, “The SAT was designed to predict academic success in ones freshman year of college”</p>
<p>I don’t agree with your views on the SAT, but in the real world, no one is going to care what you made on your SAT.</p>
<p>MODERATOR NOTE:</p>
<p>I had to delete several posts. Please don’t bicker anymore or I will close the thread.</p>
<p>ANYWAYS, on the bright side, I am looking forward to Allegheny’s acceptance letter! :)</p>
<p>If you can afford to go. Go write those scholarship essays (minus all the grammatical errors) and find a financial safety you are willing to attend.</p>
<p>And The SAT WAS developed to be a predictor of freshman year performance, not of overall college success.</p>
<p>There are times in life when it is beneficial to be able to “play the game” whether that means learning test-taking strategies that conflict with your usual work ethic, or learning a prof’s preferred essay style and catering to it, or jumping through the right hoops at work to get promoted. You can say that the “game” is BS, and often it is, but being willing and able to play it can help you in a number of ways throughout life.</p>
<p>Your guidance office should have a listing of local scholarships. It may even have the applications for them. Be aware that many of these scholarships involve essays, recommendations, and a specific set of requirements to be eligible. Pay attention to cut off dates for submitting each application.</p>
<p>
No it isn’t. That’s a misunderstanding that people who never have actually seen the test sometimes have, probably because it has a section called “science” and they mistakenly think that it must ask questions about biology, chemistry, etc.</p>
<p>Question: early college has now been accepted to Clark and several other colleges. (I count 5 acceptances in hand). Clark is an excellent college and one that ec would be happy to attend; they have offered him a small merit award and their online calculator suggests that they will offer very reasonable need-based aid. The stats at college board say that on average Clark meets 94% of need – and generally students who are tapped for merit aid are also given preferential packaging of need based award.</p>
<p>So, while it is too soon to bank the money-- why are people harping on e.c. for his test scores? It’s too late for him to sign up for another round of tests this college admissions season. So why beat a dead horse? </p>
<p>I mean, I realize that ec’s early success, with several college admissions in hand by mid-December, must be really irksome to people who worship at the altar of the SAT — but the bottom line is that ec worked for this, and has gotten out of the process a reasonable result given what he has put in. </p>
<p>It seems to me that there are a few parents on this thread who must have been hoping that ec’s saga would one day be a great cautionary tale for other students – the kid who didn’t study for the SAT’s and paid a terrible price! But instead ec is the kid who applied early to bunch of colleges with EA or rolling admissions – resulting in an excellent array of choice.</p>
<p>Sorry: the “importance of test scores” message isn’t going to convince the kid. He’s just proven that there are people in this world who will judge him fairly based on who he is and what he has done… and not by the numbers. </p>
<p>I can understand where all the naysayers were coming from last February when ec first posted. But why pile it on now?</p>
<p>Sorry: facts are facts. He’s IN. Now all he has to do is worry about the payment. He already has better financial aid offers in hand than many students will ever get. Whether it is enough to meet his needs remains to be seen – but right now it looks like Clark will be affordable, based on the net price estimator on its web site. </p>
<p>To e.c. → one more tip, I forgot to mention: get a job. If you have a tough time juggling part time work while at school, at least get to work on lining something up for the coming summer. Employment has turned out to be an excellent way for both of my kids to generate money for college. And it is one more part of your life where you will be rewarded based on what you actually do, and no one will care about your test scores.</p>
<p>So if you say so it must be true. Um… Sure. OK. </p>
<p>Would <em>love, love LOVE</em> to hear that the OP has researched and completed many, many private scholarships within the time available and won lots and lots of of money, has gotten a job and earned an income, and has the funds to pay for a college of his choice. Will wait and see…</p>
<p>There are some posters who jump into conversations who may not have followed the back story. They make lots of incorrect assumptions, often presented as the gospel truth. Somehow their proclamations are expected to be sacrosanct. </p>
<p>Year after year student after student has acceptances to colleges they would love to attend but cannot afford. Lets hope this isn’t another repeat of that saga.</p>
<p>At this point, it’s a “waiting game” as it is for any other student who is a high school senior. Hopefully the acceptances will come with the needed financial aid. Anything more, at this point is just conjecture. </p>
<p>Some people get merit awards and then don’t get the need based aid they need to make up the balance. You never know what will happen…UNTIL it happens.</p>
<p>Let us know in April how all of the need based aid/merit aid, and acceptances wash down.</p>
<p>And do post a year from now to let folks know how you did your first term of college.</p>
<p>Just to clear things up for anyone who hasn’t been following this thread:</p>
<p>Acceptances: Clark University, Knox College, Ursinus College, Hiram College, Lenoir-Rhyne U, and soon will be getting Allegheny’s acceptance in the mail.</p>
<p>Wait-listed: Ohio Wesleyan U</p>
<p>Deferred until Jan: Georgia College and State U</p>
<p>Withdrew Application: Cornell College</p>
<p>Still waiting on: College of Wooster (Decision:Dec 31st), Juniata (first week of 2012), Wheaton College- Mass (mid-January), Lawrence U (Jan 30th), , Earlham (Feb), College of Holy Cross (Early April), Hobart and William Smith (April). </p>
<p>It will depend on the visits and each individual financial aid package. I LOVE Clark, but my only worry is the area of the college. I like how it’s urban, but it’s not located in the best area. Holy Cross is located in a better part of Worcester. I love the College of Wooster and Lawrence as well. Hobart is another great choice, they have a minor in Holocaust Studies. I am worried how HWS, HC, and UC may have too many rich/preppy kids. I really like Juniata and Allegheny, they’re both very similar. I really like how Wooster has those mainstream type of kids and is very down to earth. That’s what I’m looking for. I like some artsy students, but I honestly hate the majority of drama kids.</p>
<p>People on CC and in real life care way too much about the SAT/ACT. I would never want my parents to pay hundreds of dollars on a prep course; however, they did pay $90 for the math/english prep course at my school which sucked. My high school has a lot of local scholarships info, but a lot of them do not apply to me. Fastweb and websites of the like have been a waste of time. </p>
<p>I have the absolute worst high school counselor. First of all, she has never even heard of any of the schools on my list. She made fun of me to another student for applying to so many schools. I payed for 16 transcripts ($70) and she forgot to put two transcripts in the envelope. She just put the secondary school report in it. So, when I call Clark the day before the deadline they tell me they don’t have my transcript. I was furious! They got the envelope, but no transcript was in it. The transcript ended up coming a day or two later after the deadline, but they said it wasn’t a big deal. My counselor didn’t even tell me she was sorry and she refused to call Clark. An admission officer at the College of Wooster called her because he wanted to know the demographics for students going to a 4 year college. She refused to call him back (when it’s her job), so I did. He left me a not so nice voice-mail telling me he asked her to call him back not me. When I let her hear the angry voice-mail, she was LAUGHING! She wouldn’t fax my transcript to Allegheny when she forgot to put it in the envelope because “it’s county policy”. Well, she did it a couple weeks ago but I got another counselor to do it for me. Also, in the past if you go to the counselor it can take days for them to get even back to you.</p>
<p>Now, there is a very nice lady who was my freshman counselor. I’ve had my current counselor only for two years, they change them like every year. Well, my old freshman counselor is now the career/college part time counselor. I wanted to go to her from the start, but she is part time and wasn’t there when I needed my counselor recommendation and school report and I didn’t want to wait a few days. She has been a LIFE SAVOR. I have cut all ties from the loser, idiot counselor and will now be working with her for the rest of my application fiasco. </p>
<p>I go to a very big public school. It had about 3,300 students freshman year and I had 1,000 students in my class. Since they’ve built a new school close by, we now only have 2,600 students and I have 590 in my class. I am ranked 155. The majority of my class will be staying instate. Over 130 students last year went to the local 4 year college. UGA/Tech is where the top students go. The valedictorian will probably go to Tech, last year’s went to UGA. I have a friend who got a full ride to USC in Cali, but will probably go to Tech because it’s closer. We also get the Hope Scholarship which is now 90% tuition free, but I’d still pay around 13k a year for GCSU. Valdosta is much cheaper, but not that great of a school. My school is all about football. And currently we are the best AAAAA football team in the state, just ask Jym. We can not have drama performances when there is a football game. Plays and swim meets have been canceled because of football games, it’s quite ridiculous. I want to go to a college where football isn’t a big deal. All the schools but GCSU mostly are smaller then my high school.</p>
<p>Right now, I am heavily involved with theater. I didn’t do swim team this year because drama rehearsals conflicted. I have a major part in a play and we are also bringing our one act to Thespian Conference. So, I don’t have any time for a job. I plan on trying out for the musical (even though I can’t sing/dance) and a local community theatre play as well. My father wants me to intern for his company which is a health care recruiting business. He wants me to bill 2 placements (20k), so I can pay for my education just this year. It’s not realistic because he has over 20 people working for them and only 2 have even made 1 placement. Some have been working for months too. His job is just commission based. I also have no desire to go in the health care field, but it is sort of similar with talent agents. He wants me to work all 4 years, but his plan isn’t really that smart because he thinks I would make enough money to pay for my whole college. My mother thinks he is crazy. I could always get a summer job though.</p>
<p>BTW, I agree 100% with calmom. People give me way too hard of time on CC, especially those who haven’t kept up with my thread.</p>
<p>The OP has one task to do now. He needs to look at EACH website and read very carefully what they require for financial aid application documents/submissions. AND he needs to note the DEADLINES. Get things done early in case there are internet snags or something goes amiss. Do NOT wait until the last minute. </p>
<p>Get the parents to do their taxes AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after Feb 1 which is when most (except self employed) should have the necessary forms to do so. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL APRIL TO FILE TAXES. Sorry but the year your kiddo is an incoming freshman, you need to get this done ASAP after Feb 1.</p>
<p>Then it’s a waiting game.</p>
<p>The other thing to remember…there CAN be a difference between the bottom line the school offers (after they award you need based and merit aid) and what your family is able/willing to pay out of pocket each year.</p>