My testing:
Last September: ACT (one and done!)
June: SAT 2s (Math II, Physics)
Next August or whenever: SAT (need for NMF)
the rest of my schedule:
May: AP tests: Calc ab, Lang, Stats, Physics a, Computer Science a, Capstone
June: SAT Subject Tests: Math 2 and physics
June/Sept: Possible Subject test retakes
Apparently, my school year might be extended by 1 week due to the 2x 5-day “weekends” I had a few weeks ago. I’m anticipating a lot of sad middle schoolers 
I’m disappointed about my SAT score. I retook it during January and got the exact same score that I got in October (even though I studied and went through all the level 4 problems on Khan Academy) I mean, its a pretty good score (1530) but I’m just frustrated that I didn’t improve (in fact, my essay score dropped 3 points after a semester of AP English Lang, makes no sense to me…)
My question is… Should I take the ACT? I would have to take it in June because I am just now considering it, but I have to study for my 6 AP classes and my SAT subject tests in June. I am stronger in science and math, if that matters.
*I’m aiming for the top schools.
@csunshine91 trust me, you’re fine. You should look at some of the result forums from 2016 for some of the schools you’re applying to. You are comfortably in that range. I’m applying to mainly top schools too, but I scored a 1350, which isn’t even close to what I need. I would pay for a score like yours. I understand where you’re coming from though. It’s like when I complain about getting a 95, which is an A, when I could have gotten a 100, which is an A+. People tell me I shouldn’t complain but if you honestly felt that you could have done better, then go for it. Take the test again, but I truly dont think you need to. Don’t waste your energy on it. Your scores are only a small factor when considering your application. You should try focusing on something else, like your essays (the common app just released the prompts for the 2017-2018 year). Your scores are pretty good. You should now focus on your essays. If you get them done before summer or during summer you will only have to worry about other things during next fall. But if not, then focus on your grades or extracurriculars.
Pretty much what I’m trying to say is YOUR SAT SCORE IS GREAT
@angelwings0137 thanks for those comforting words. I’m most likely going to not take it anymore. (After all, maybe this experience can be a great essay topic for a college essay) I’ll focus on my AP tests and others.
@ak2018 If you’re interested in learning to code Java (which is probably what your course uses) on your own or even in class, I’d recommend the book Head First Java by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates.
I used the book to learn Java over the summer a couple years ago. It only took me one month to get a working knowledge of Java, which consisted of one hour of reading the book each day and a half-hour session of coding the included projects in the book every couple days, then I was able to write Android apps without a problem (and develop my skills in more advanced topics with Android, like multithreading). I had no coding knowledge prior to learning Java.
Coding books are almost always dry and incredibly hard to read. But this book isn’t. And the logic for coding isn’t too. Remember that the initial learning gap is huge (like learning to multiply Matrices in Math times 100) because you’ve never encountered something like it before, but it eventually makes complete sense 
Edit: Videos are okay, but they often only show one way to code one specific thing. In practice, a task can be coded in several different ways (like solving for variables in Math), and coding can be applied to anything if you know how to write it. So IMO, I wouldn’t depend on videos. Also, contrary to what other people might say, Math is not a focus in coding. Anytime you happen to use Math while coding, you’ll likely won’t notice it. What is the focus is Logic, as you’ll definitely have to figure out how to code something in a way to make that thing work (and there are more efficient ways than others!). There is also not much memorizing to be done in Java (unless your teacher makes it unnecessarily hard!). You’ll have to remember the statements that make up code (ex. if, else, else if, try, catch, switch, etc), but the vast amount of method names (ex. .println() in System.out.println()) won’t need to be memorized unless your teacher makes it so as those method names will automatically come up in your IDE (Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, etc).
@acomfysofa @ak2018 yeah you don’t need to memorize method names EXCEPT for the AP test which is all pencil and paper. I think they give you a reference sheet but there are some you need to know. We used coding-bat (google it) a lot in class for problem solving practice and that’s really helpful and I would practice actually writing out AP FRQs like you’ll have to on the test. (Teachers get access to more FRQs than students and they’re technically not supposed to hand them out but if you ask they might). AP Comp Sci prep books are boring af and according to my comp sci teacher they go into too much unnecessary detail. A helpful (free) textbook that we used in class is the Blue Pelican Java textbook. Use it with the Blue J software.
Note: do not download fancy java software like IntelliJ until you’re really confortable with a program that won’t fill in the blanks (formatting, method names etc.) until later bc you’ll have to do it all yourself on the AP test (again, its paper and pencil). Blue J is a good software to learn the formatting and stuff and Greenfoot is a nice one too. The nice thing about Greenfoot is that you can program simple games right away which is fun.
Source: I got a 5 on the AP test. All the resources I mentioned are free.
@snowfairy137 @ak2018 It’s possible to disable the fill-in-the-blank autocomplete feature for methods, objects, etc with IntelliJ, as well as a lot of other things (like color coding code and different themes to customize the IDE). I’d definitely recommend IntelliJ once you get coding down because it’s obviously much better than notepad, but much more stable than Eclipse (because Eclipse has a reputation for crashing). You’ll never want to be in a situation where you’ve been working on some coding project that’s due the next day with Eclipse, and then Eclipse crashes on you and somehow never saves the work (which happened to this one unlucky person in my Computer Science class, but he got an extension ).
@csunshine91 Don’t write about taking the sat as a college essay topic! Really bad idea.
@ak2018 For beginners blue J, Jcreator($35 after trial), and DrJava are better options because IDEs like Eclipse/intelliJ take some time to learn how to use. Also, I love Head First Java! Weird humor, but pretty fun assignments.
I’ve been brainstorming and I think I might have a good answer to Common App Prompt #1. Basically, the reason I’m such an independent person is because there’s always been conflict between me and my parents as to how I should be educated. Elementary school, I was homeschooled. Although it works for some families, I constantly felt lesser than my friends because of it and always begged my parents to let me go to school. And after the economy crashed, I was “unschooled.” At that point I felt like I was being set up for failure and me, a literal 12 year old, starting emailing and calling online schools asking for information that I could pass onto my parents. Eventually I convinced them to enroll me in the 7th grade, and I immediately thrived. Straight A’s, two math courses in one year, and I got to skip 8th grade. Straight A’s and honors classes in 9th grade. As you can see, I had to be incredibly independent to be where I am today. I think this story would address the “background” part quite well, but what do you guys think?
@acomfysofa yeah I use IntelliJ too, its just not best for learning code for AP
How many of the common app prompts do we have to do (not including school specific supplements)?
Hey everyone! So I’ve been reading this thread for about two weeks now but haven’t replied at all…I want to join in on the conversation!
Not sure how to introduce myself but…
I’m a junior from NJ going to a public magnet school. I’m also an Asian female.
I’m super into looking at colleges, and I’m super nervous for next year ! Some of my hobbies include my instruments, baking/cooking, volunteering (esp for my school and at my local hospital), Netflix (huge SVU and Drag Race fan), going to the gym (I also run JV for school, not serious at all)!!!
I’m interested in top schools, but I think I have a good balance that I’d be happy at any school on my list. I’m interested in becoming a physician in the future, but I plan on majoring in Computer Science, Computational Bio, or Biochemistry.
Nice to meet you all!! Feel free to ask any questions about me (although I’m not super interesting) and I hope to contribute to the 2018 Discussion!!!
@madison2000 I think you only write 1 common app essay.
I’m super excited for my district’s solo festival this year! My lesson teacher is letting me play the first movement of Elgar’s cello concerto. RIP Jacqueline du Pré. :(( Daniel Barenboim can go rot in hell.
@LushLillies Welcome to the thread!! :-h
@acomfysofa @snowfairy137 @Hamlon Thanks for the advice!
@snowfairy137 FRC Bag Day lasted until 11:04pm for us. I had to leave at 4:30pm. I liked FRC, even though we didn’t have enough jobs for enough people, but this will likely be my first and last season. Next year, I plan to do a VEX Outreach program at my old middle school and become a mentor. I’m probably going to do something Robotics related again in college.
Also, I’ve potentially changed my schedule for umpteenth time. I changed it so that way I could take a class I always wanted to take: GEMS 12 (Philosophy). Even though I’m not in the gifted program, my counselor will likely allow me to take it. I want to take a philosophy class now so I could do it for free before my parents start complaining if I did one in college. If I like it, I might do it in college as another semester class.The class also comes with a weekly study hall, which is something I’ll definitely need next year. So here’s my schedule now:
PLTW Digital Electronics
GEMS 12 (Philosophy)
AP Physics C
U.S. Government
AP Calculus AB
AP Economics
AP English Lit
AP Comp Sci A (Online)
Got my ACT score back today from February (not the writing yet tho). I’m disappointed I was hoping to get at least a 30. I ended up getting a 29. Good think I’m taking it again in April and probably June.
@Hamlon Don’t worry I wasn’t actually going to. I think I have a few ideas for a common app essay, but my SAT score isn’t one of them