<p>Are you taking the ACT tomorrow without having prepped or taken sample ACT tests?</p>
<p>Re: Your schedule for next year:</p>
<p>You have had difficulties managing time/studying with 1 AP/year. What do you think it’s going to be like with three AP’s? </p>
<p>Yes, you should take your third year of a foreign language.</p>
<p>Many colleges don’t even acknowledge the AP Environmental Science course. You might want to consider dropping this AP. If you’re interested in taking the AP Psych. class, arrange your schedule so you can take it.</p>
<p>Pick AP English or AP Gov rather than both.</p>
<p>As long as you’ve completed the standard Bio, Chem, Physics science sequence, you can choose to take one of the science electives that may be of interest to you. </p>
<p>Your goal should be to take the rigor that best suits your ability to still earn a strong gpa.</p>
<p>I may just drop the AP Environmental Science and take the regular Enviornmental Science class. My school offers several science electives. I may just take two APs: AP Lang and AP Micro/Govern. I do not want to drop down to honors economics/political systems because I have been taking an AP Social Stuides class since freshman year. I also do not want to take Honors Language Arts because it is British Literature. In AP, you do not have to read as much British Literature. I have never liked British Literature. </p>
<p>Also, I only get two electives: Honors French III and Drama. I have been taking drama since freshman year, and it has always been my easy class where I can just relax and have fun. AP Pyschology is actually very easy though.</p>
<p>I know a very fine young lady who ended up with only about two years of credits after four years at her recognizable-here-at-CC-LAC because what had been bad test anxiety in middle school, and so-so test anxiety in high school, became full-blown life-anxiety in college. She is now living at home, has a part-time job, and is working on her anxiety with a psychologist. Her entire 200k+ college fund is gone, and her parents will not pay one more cent for her education. She will have to work her way through college if she wants a degree.</p>
<p>Your self-description is almost word-for-word the way she described her test experiences to me when she was still in high school. Please, do not let what happened to her happen to you. Talk with your guidance counselor, your parents, your personal physician, or another trusted adult, and get professional help. You may be able to benefit from a quick and easy fix. But if you need more than that, you want to know now, not a year or two (and a whole boatload of money) down the road.</p>
<p>I took the ACT today. Here are my thoughts:</p>
<p>English: I thought I did very well. I did have to guess on six/seven/eight or so questions. I did not finish. I did great on the questions I did complete though. </p>
<p>Math: I thought I did well in the beginning, but it got much harder and I know for a fact I never learned some of the material. I did guess on it a lot. I thought it was easier than the SAT Math. I didn’t have time troubles mostly because I either knew how to do it or I had no idea.</p>
<p>Reading: I did very well on the questions I answered. I had trouble focusing on it though. I didn’t have enough time to read the last passage, so I guessed on eight or so questions. </p>
<p>Science: It was BY FAR the hardest subject. I didn’t understand any of the passages/graphs and I have taken Honors Biology (B), Honors Chemistry (A), and Honors Physics (B). I guessed on most of the questions. </p>
<p>Essay: The essay was okay. It wasn’t the best topic for my style, and I thought I did better on the SAT essay topic. </p>
<p>Overall: I thought I did better, but I also thought it would have been easier. I had MUCH more trouble with timing (English/Reading). </p>
<p>Thanks happymom for the advice and I will also check into Bard College, maybe it isn’t as hipster as I once thought.</p>
<p>This part of the ACT is unlike anything on the SAT and really needs prep to get used to the type of question asked. It is not really measuring your science ability or what you learned in your classes, but is measuring your ability to understand and interpret graphs. Definitely prep beforehand for this section.</p>
<p>Ellemenope: I agree. I was not prepared for the science section at all. I really didn’t understand it.</p>
<p>I really do not fit any stereotype, lol. I have been acting since I was six, but I don’t fit in with the drama kids. I can be a little artsy, but not that much. I am definitely not preppy, and I do not want to go to a school with a lot of greek life. I don’t drink or do drugs either and I’m not that athletic, lol. I am on the swim team though. I’m into writing for the arts, but I may also want to work for the entertainment industry. I have been told by friends/family that my personality fits Entertainment Tonight or the National Inquirer. My dream job is working for the National Geographic Traveler or working for Variety. I love to watch television shows and then write about them. I also would love to open my talent agency one day. Out of all the schools I have researched, I think Clark and Emerson fit the best socially.</p>
<p>Wonderful encouragement on this thread. I joined CC just to add my two cents. </p>
<p>From reading about you, early, I suspect you are a right-brain dominant thinker. One of the trademarks of someone who is very right-brain dominant is that multiple choice questions pose a difficulty in that you are able to see all the possibilities. In life this is an excellent trait, but it really hinders you in the SAT. Do a bit of research into right brain learners and see if it sounds like you. Then you can search for study tips for the SAT, as well as general strategies for success for YOU. </p>
<p>Your natural intelligence and drive has apparently taken you very far. You can push to the next level with a better understanding of how you, personally, learn. My daughter is similar and learning about right-brain thinking changed the way she approaches certain tests, with great results. </p>
<p>BTW, if you discover that you are a right brain thinker and find a way to make it work for you in improving your scores (and even grades) it would make an EXCELLENT college essay. Good luck.</p>
<p>ec-
If your brother plans to get the HOPE, your parents should fill out a FAFSA. They can choose to fill out a HOPE scholarship and Grant application
</p>
<p>I know several kids who have gone to or are currently in Ga State and Kennesaw. Ga State is a good school. A good friend of mine is a dean there. It is downtown so doesn’t have a traditional “campus” feel, but it is a good school. Dont be so critical- students with stronger stats have gone there and are currently enrolled, and are happy with their eduational experience. Your college experience will be what you make of it. Think positively, not negatively. </p>
<p>As for Kennesaw, they are doing a LOT to bolster their programs and to be a more top notch university. </p>
<p>You might need to widen the view of what you are looking for in a school-- or button down and study for the SAT/ACT.</p>
<p>And we have been recommending to you for YEARS to get with your school counselor or school psychologist to address your testing issues. No more excuses. Do it.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Jym, I will tell my parents to fill out the FASFA. I find out my ACT scores Monday, I am hoping I did better! </p>
<p>Kennesaw visited my school a couple weeks ago. They stated once you have the required 2.5 GPA and SAT scores then you’re in. Many peers consider it a joke. I have friends who go there, and they didn’t even take one AP class. Kennesaw is way too big for my taste which is the reason why I wouldn’t consider it. Georgia State is also too big, and I really don’t like the city of Atlanta. I like urban areas, but I have never been fond of Atlanta. GCSU is the only instate school I like, but its location is a turnoff. I asked teachers who are recent graduates, and they admitted there was nothing to on campus. I really like GCSU’s size, but I really don’t want to have classes with 100 kids at the bigger state schools. It is a huge turn off. I like personal one on one attention. </p>
<p>My SAT Optional list includes:
Wheaton College
Sarah Lawrence
Fairfield
American
Wittenburg
Conn College
Susquehanna
Urinsus
Lawrence University
Drew University
Marist College
Hobart and Smith Colleges</p>
<p>I decided on my senior schedule:
AP Lang
AP Environmental Science
Honors Econ/Political Systems
Honors French 3
Trig
Drama</p>
<p>I looked at some of the schools I’m interested, and most did accept AP Environ Science credit. Thanks for the suggestion missy, but I think Depaul may be too big? I also know that there are a lot of commuters.</p>
<p>Some of the schools on your list are VERY expensive, and may not meet 100% need.
You might want to consider starting at a small 2 year school and then transferring. If you do that, you might be able to get your grades up and have a shot at some of our “dream” schools. BTW, I thought NYU was your “Dream” school. Its undergrad enrollment is about 22,000 (mix of part and fulltime). Thats not small.</p>
<p>Which schools may not meet full need? My plan is to apply, and see what happens. If I have to stay instate then it is meant to be. Ohio Wesleyan, Emerson, and Clark are my favorite schools right now. Although, they are not SAT Optional. NYU has always been my dream school, but honestly it isn’t anymore. It’s too big and expensive. NYC was the main attraction for me, and Gallatin had everything I was looking for. I could never afford it though. I had been told that being a guy, and my geographic diversity may help? There are not many Georgians at some of these schools. I would probably say that I’m not in “love” with any of the SAT Optional Schools. I really have my heart set on the three schools listed above. </p>
<p>I love Sarah Lawrence because of their seminar system. I love the small class sizes and personal relationships with professors. It’s also very close with NYC. Although, the students may be too “out there”. If I go to a school like GCSU I rather just stay all four years, and go to a good graduate school. I am not as set on journalism either. I’m also interested in anthropology and sociology. I would also love to be a talent agent/casting director which makes NYC and LA more viable to go.</p>
<p>I hesitate to share this, but you will probably run across it sooner or later so here goes:</p>
<p>
So there are some alternative ways to show knowledge base to NYU (including proof of an extraordinary accomplishment,e tc). That said, first of all, if you won’t have the required AP exams before senior year, that leaves only the SAT II tests, which you should take this spring. </p>
<p>Whats people are trying to gently say is to focus on the PRESENT. Get those scores and the grades up and worry about the college list (which seems to be an ever-changing one) later. And if you are struggling with the demands of a few AP classes, mixed with a few honors classes and some electives and exracurriculars, college is going to be harder, not easier. Picking schools that will simply be too hard for you will be an exercise in futility.</p>
<p>How can you stay instate if you won’t apply to any of the schools you are qualified for? Rather than be so negative about each one (too big, too rural, too {{{fill in the blank}}} it sounds like Goldilocks and the three bears!). Let go of the college search for now and focus on getting your grades and scores up. No excuses. Otherwise you’ll be at Ga Perimeter next year.</p>
<p>Jym- I did know NYU has changed their testing policies. However, it wouldn’t help me. I will have 3 AP exams prior to senior year, but I have gotten a 2 and 3 on them. I also will never have the option in taking an AP French class. Also, the SAT Subject Tests wouldn’t work. I would do decent on the US History subject test, but I forgot too much biology and chemistry to do well. I fail most physics tests (although I still received a B), so I doubt I would do well on it. I am only in French 2, and my French isn’t the best. I usually receive a B +, but I always fail the final. I usually have an A before hand. </p>
<p>Also, I have only been struggling in two classes: Physics and APUSH. I work very hard in school to keep my 3.4, and I’m also in the top 22%. I may not be the typical “CC” student, but I’m doing better than 78% of my class. There are also many students who never take one AP class. My APUSH teacher is the hardest teacher at my school. My grade was the average of the class.</p>
<p>I will apply to GCSU and Valdosta State (which I am already qualified for).</p>
<p>Thats exactly the point. Many of the schools on your latest list are simply going to pose too much of a challenge for a student who gets anxious, doesnt finish tests in the time limit, etc. So get thee to your schoool counselor and request testing tro identify possible learning, attentional or anxiety based issues. We recommended this at least a year ago. Your time is running out.</p>
<p>And the students in your school who dont take any AP’s are not trying to get into the kinds of schools you are looking at. It would be easier to guide you if we knew which HS you are talking about, but thats your call.</p>