<p>S2 also gets “Needs to participate more” every term in English. He has told me in no uncertain terms he doesn’t plan to. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>My favorite though was the time his Latin teacher wrote both “A pleasure to have in class” and “In danger of failing” - I was sure it was a mistake, but it wasn’t.</p>
<p>Question about the National Merit first and second choice colleges–does anyone know if these can be designated online? D cannot find the letter.</p>
<p>S2 did his online – but there is a username and password on the form letter to log in. Here’s the number for NMSC – (847) 866-5161 – they might be able to get you another form or your D’s ID/password.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.collegeplans.org/[/url]”>https://www.collegeplans.org/</a></p>
<p>But I’m not sure it’ll do you any good without the code. Good luck.</p>
<p>Some of the less than pleasant comments on S’s progress reports have included “talks out of turn,” “needs to focus,” and “has trouble settling down.” Hopefully those are all in the past. Recent comments were much better. Like I said, those comments don’t really tell me how he’s doing in the class, just that he was being annoying. </p>
<p>D still hasn’t done her National Merit thing either - and I asked her which schools she was thinking of selecting, and she named two ivies. She isn’t interested in hearing why those aren’t the best choices. What to do…</p>
<p>Ds went with a nearby LAC that says demonstrated interest is “important” and his no. 1 choice.</p>
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<p>Too funny.</p>
<p>You get comments on your kid’s progress reports and report cards? Those stopped for my brother and I after six grade. Though all students did get a comprehensive report with every graded assignment for every class each 3 weeks (school was on 9 week marking periods) all the way through HS. I guess it was to eliminate those “but I didn’t KNOW I was failing” end-of-the-term protests.</p>
<p>One of the nice things our tuition $$ buys is a 1/2 page of comments per teacher at each mid-trimester, and a page or so from the advisor at the end of every term.</p>
<p>The practice math SAT was the math 1, which she doesn’t plan to take, but with a small number of practice tests at our disposal, she is saving the two math 2 practice tests until closer to the date. Unfortunately, no History practice this weekend.</p>
<p>On the general comments on SAT optional schools, what we have heard from info sessions at other schools is that if they enhance your app to include them. the 50% threshold is a good one. It could also be good to show a strong score in an area where the grades might not be as strong.</p>
<p>Here’s a two part question.</p>
<p>1) What do y’all think of a student’s SAT scores that put them at 40% for CR and W and 90%+ for M? Should one take a weighted average of the score and assume that’s where they might fall on the spectrum of the 25% to 75% that the schools publish, in terms of just one measurement focus for “chances”? If not, what then?</p>
<p>2) Since I haven’t found a place yet that publishes school percentiles for SAT subject scores, let’s say this same student also scores in the 700-800 range for three subject tests, one math, one science and one non-math/science. Does this affect your answer to part one of the question and if so, how?</p>
<p>FAP, I have seen schools say that SAT II subject tests in that high range (700-800) can make up for lower SAT I scores. My opinion is that you cannot take a weighted average to determine the 25-75%.</p>
<p>I’d take the avg, not weighted, of the two percentiles. So, the 40 and the 90 would avg out to 65% and try to go from there. Then I’d get the percentiles for the three subject tests and avg. those in as well.</p>
<p>That’s what I’d do. Not sure it makes any sense.</p>
<p>In good news, ds narrowed down schools last night to 14, though I sense that he wants to put Grinnell on there. Can’t get past the Iowa part, though.</p>
<p>I look at the sum of CR + M. The total tells me whether the scores are in range.</p>
<p>FAP, who knows, but I’d take the average, but probably count it down a bit for being under the 50% mark, then I might up it a bit if the SAT2 scores are higher. No one really knows what the adcoms do - they probably don’t know either. This all more an art than a science. I’d count the school as a match in any event.</p>
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<p>Another CC participant pointed me to MIT’s page on that. </p>
<p>[MIT</a> Admissions: Admissions Statistics](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/admissions_statistics/index.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/admissions_statistics/index.shtml) </p>
<p>That shows the interquartile range for the unspecified math subject test and unspecified science subject test MIT requires of all applicants.</p>
<p>I want to change what I wrote earlier. I don’t think I read the question closely enough. I thought the STs were in the same areas as the SAT, like the CR on the SAT was at the 40th percentile, but that an English ST was in the 90th percentile. I realze now that can’t be what FAP meant because how could a kid jump from the 40th to 90th percentile in the same area. My bad.</p>
<p>I agree with the idea it’s more art than science. For me, it would depend on what area the “weakness” was in and if it corresponds to the applicant’s major. If an English major scored lower on the math portion, I wouldn’t care as much as if the same applicant scored lower in the CR portion.</p>
<p>CountingDown and YDS–thanks for the replies about National Merit. We’ll call tomorrow.</p>
<p>FAP - not exactly sure how to answer your question. I’ve decided not to worry too much about that too much since she’s in range or above for all the schools on her list. Like your S, her CR score is at the lower end of the 25th-75th percentile and her M is at 75th or above for all. Writing is above as well. All 4 SAT IIs are in the 700s. She is retaking both the SAT and the ACT in June, but after that, it is what it is. Her list isn’t made yet, though we’re meeting with her counselor this week and she should have completed it by now. Not sure what she’ll tell her.</p>
<p>YDS - yay for your S narrowing down his list! I wish my D would get moving on hers. </p>
<p>Off to pick up the kids - S is hanging with friends; D is working on a group project.</p>
<p>Thanks, tokenadult and I do recall that info being on the MIT pages. Despite his desires and likely major, my S ruled out pretty pure tech schools (e.g. MIT, CalTech, Mudd, etc.) due to fit. I gather he’d like a broader mix of interests in the greater student body. As a fit criterion, I found this to be a good call on his part as he’s the only one that can decide if a tech environment would seem too constraining.</p>
<p>I should amend what I said previously to say that MOST colleges don’t publish the ST ranges or percentiles and, unlike SAT results, these are not reported out in a standardized fashion on something like, say, the Common Data Set. This makes some sense as, unlike the SAT/ACT, far fewer U’s require, or even recommend, the ST.</p>
<p>Admission statistics</p>
<p>tokenadult–do you know if many schools have statistics like the ones you posted for MIT? It’s interesting to the see the admit rate for different score ranges. I know Brown has it.</p>
<p>Cross posted with FAP.</p>