<p>Hey, we’ll take that Pitt priority app! D1 toured last fall. If you tour, then the app is free, but D1 was only a rising junior and it was too early to fill out an app. I’d think that Pitt would send her something, but there’s been nothing yet. Harumph.</p>
<p>There is almost no college mail at our house, due to D1 resolutely refusing to check off the “release my name to colleges” box on all standardized testing. </p>
<p>What snap apps are showing up in your mailboxes? Inquiring minds want to know.</p>
<p>Hmm…we’ve had brochures come in the mail - and lots of summer school stuff as well. But so far, I haven’t seen any of these free apps - what are the schools sending these out?</p>
<p>We visited CMU this past April and saw a few of the Pitt buildings since they are almost right next to each other, but didn’t tour Pitt since we didn’t have time. Rolling admissions and now free apps? Might have to convince D to take a second look!</p>
<p>DS got a letter yesterday from Pitt. Contingent upon him submitting a completed application it offered to waive the app fee, provide one night at a hotel for the student and parents and reimburse up to $500 in travel expenses. It’s a great offer, but the cost of a plane ticket for him alone would exceed the $500. We live in one of those underrepresented states, so my guess is they would like to increase geographic diversity.</p>
<p>With my older son we got several “priority applications” via e-mail. I think (but am not sure) that it was due to one of us asking for more information from Colleges websites or by filling out a card when we visited their booth at the Philadelphia College Fair. This son’s final choice, and the college from where he just graduated, was one of those applications. I remember talking him into filling it out because it was so easy. Visiting does usually generate a free app. We have a promise of one from Drexel from a visit last fall.</p>
<p>D2 and I are heading to Boston in the morning and will tour MIT on Friday. D1 will be coming to Boston by bus tomorrow from NYC & her summer internship to meet us; it will be her 20th birthday! Anxious to see what D2 thinks of MIT and to spend time with both Ds. It will be a first trip to Boston for all three of us.</p>
<p>phbmom, Enjoy your trip to Boston! We are heading out of Boston and going to Maine for the weekend. Million things to do if you have the time. Is your D considering other schools in the area like Olin, WPI, etc?</p>
<p>AP results available by phone today? I think if I had S’s info I might have been tempted to call in to get his results considering it is only $8. But, the info I need to call in is at home so it will have to wait.</p>
<p>FYI - AP results are now available. Just got them.<br>
Is anyone else amazed at how different (harder) this whole admissions thing is for our kids than it was for us? A shame, in my opinion. I am feeling very proud of my daughter - she works really hard! I wish she could have a carefree summer, though, with no essay drafts, lists to pare, AP pre-reading, etc. Hope you are all happy if you dial in to College Board!</p>
<p>Off to get senior picture taken! They said he could bring a prop like a football or an instrument. I said he’s a computer geek, should he bring his laptop? They said, sure!</p>
<p>I posted this to the AP results forum but I figured the parents might be able to give me some different feedback: My 2011 son scored 4 on English lang and comp, 4 on 2D design but only 2 on computer science, his intended major. What should he do when he applies to schools? He took AP computer science so it’s on his transcript. He got an A in the class. Obviously the teacher was incompetent since only 3 students even took the exam. He was one of the top students in the class. 2011 son would like to study computer game design. With the strong English and art scores, I think he shows aptitude for the story and design elements but the computer science score is disappointing.</p>
<p>I’m sure he won’t self report a 2 but I’m concerned that the university will see that he took AP computer science and intends to major in computer science and question his lack of a (passing) score. I guess he could retake it next May if he could find a tutor or would study a good prep book (didn’t crack one this time).</p>
<p>Apollo6: Unfortunately you are correct - the good colleges will see the score on his transcript and it will probably be seen as a red flag because it is his intended major. My recommendation is to take the issue head-on. Colleges usually have a space in the application where you can explain a specific grade or score. An honest response is probably the best. If he does want to go into CS, he probably should get some additional tutoring to make sure he has the fundamental concepts - and it’s not a subject that he would struggle with. I suspect as you state the teacher was pretty incompetent. I think the best approach is to state something like " my score certainly surprised me, I was expecting to do better and I intend to get some additional tutoring etc." But do make sure that your son feels confident that he can tackle the subject.</p>
<p>Another thought : He might want to minor in CS as opposed to major. If he is interested in game design he could end up eventually being involved in the “creative/story boarding” part of games as opposed to the “core implementation”. There are two types of CS schools - those that are tremendously theoretical ( think Donald Knuth ) and mathematically inclined compared to several others who are more practically oriented. “Computer Games” tends to be a very attractive way for CS programs to attract students just like Astrophysics/Astronomy does for physics. However to excel in the field, one really must have a very good foundation on math & logic and understand computer architecture and concepts in parallel programming etc. If you want to discuss this more offline feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>After dialing that stupid number about a thousand times, the score finally came. She got a 3 on AP Chem.</p>
<p>Somewhat disappointing…she worked like a dog preparing for this test. Struggled to stay on top of this class all year. She never would have thought to take AP Chem in the first place (she’s SONG-bird, not CHEM-bird, after all), but her super-strong academics and strong showing in Chem Honors last year prompted her teacher to encourage her to take AP. Her teacher felt she had aptitude for science and this teacher also works hard to encourage girls to go into the sciences.</p>
<p>Songbird did her best…got a B+ first semester and an A- second semester. Bore down hard all spring preparing for the AP test (in addition to the 6 million other things that high-achieving Juniors are doing in the spring). On in-class practice exams, she was pretty consistently in the 4-5 range.</p>
<p>After she came out of the test, she said, “I’m just praying for a 3.” I said, “A 3? As long as you’re praying, pray for a 5, and then we’ll take what we get.”</p>
<p>What we got was the 3.</p>
<p>Sigh.</p>
<p>It’s fine, really. At her first-choice school, they give full credit for 3 and above. Others on her list require a 4 or a 5, but that’s ok. She really didn’t take it to get college credit. She took it to see (for herself) whether she had the interest/inclination to consider a career in science. And she got her answer (by about October).</p>
<p>She’s taking it just fine. Mom needs a moment, then will be fine.</p>
<p>Hope all your AP-ers did great and/or are at least satisfied with their results.</p>
<p>Here’s a funny issue, that highlights how silly AP credit can be. My Son got a 3 on AP Test X. His school didn’t give credit for a 3 in Course X (only for a 4 or 5). He took Course X in college and failed it. Now he’s considering a transfer and the transfer school gives credit for 3s. So would the transfer school really give him college credit for a course that they can tell by his transcript that he took and failed? Pretty wild and as I said, silly.</p>
<p>dadmm85, I also have a son who is a prospective comp sci major. Can you recommend schools that have a theoretical focus? That approach is definitely what my son prefers.</p>