<p>Bio has lots of memorizing so ShawSon didn’t try. Also it covers more than standard Bio courses so you have to do extra studying. Chem is mostly thinking. ShawSon found Chem and AP Chem easy. Math II very easy. Didn’t do Math I. Found BC Calc a little harder because he was sick for much of the semester.</p>
<p>I’m working on the non-financial profile–the high school’s profile that gets sent out with transcripts. This is a beauty makeover, mostly to include more information. I’ve managed to add a full-up curriculum description, put in some more descriptive wording about the program, and list the number of various types of AP Scholars. Aside from having to wrestle with the formatting in Word, it’s going well. </p>
<p>
LOL, amandakayak, JUST Cornell?!?!?! :)</p>
<p>Count us in the not saying much about where the kid is applying camp. Though there are people who are wonderfully non-judgemental, so they get the whole lowdown. </p>
<p>A hug your kids reminder: a high school junior at a local school, out running with his cross-country teammates was killed after being hit by a car. 
The vehicle was driven by an 18 year old, who drove another four blocks, and then pulled over in front of a parked police car, saying “I think I just hit someone.” She is now facing felony hit-and-run charges. Tragedy upon tragedy. D2 knew the young man, who went to school with one of her BFFs. Please, please, please, remind your children to be careful out there (as they used to say on “Hill Street Blues”). If they’re drivers, also remind them that if, heaven forbid, they think they hit something or someone, they need to stop IMMEDIATELY.</p>
<p>Both my S and I hate the question about his college list. Unfortunately, both of us (cringing inside) always answer it honestly. It seems that we cannot come up with a vague but acceptable answer on the spot. </p>
<p>I have a very dear friend whose D is a senior this year, but her stats are not anywhere near my S’s. Even for this reason alone, I don’t like bringing up the college application process with her. Her D wants to go to our in-state flagship, but it’s not a slam dunk for her. But she has no other schools that she researched and liked. I would be terrified in this situation. On top of that my friend is one of those people who has “seen the light” and now know the answers to all the questions. So it’s very hard to give her any advice. </p>
<p>I have another friend with a senior D, who goes to the same school, has similar stats to my S’s, their ECs and the college lists also overlap. We have very similar opinions about almost everything. We talk about the app process from time to time and support each other. But talking to this friend is like talking to myself. That’s why I like coming to this forum and learning about different prospective from parents who are open to the opinions of others, but also know what they are doing and what is best in their situation.</p>
<p>“just Cornell” because that’s how (beyond the prestige) I feel about that school. I went there for a summer language program during college, and loved loved it…but that was summer, I was young, unattached, childless…oh, the days. Me and the motly crew visited in dead of winter the day before the end of break and it was nice enough but we really didn’t get warm fuzzy vibes at all. Didn’t help that the tour didn’t want your name, didn’t take you into any buildings. There were hardly any people around too. Didn’t mean to sound all elitist and flip or anything.</p>
<p>amandakayak, my geeky heart was amused by what looked like MIT boosterism. 
It didn’t sound elitist or flip at all. Sorry!</p>
<p>I’ll vote for Math2. The curve is much more generous. For students that are in Calc, comfortable, and study for timing, you can miss more and still get a much higher score. The Math1 is far less forgiving. A couple of careless mistakes and you are under 700… Not necessarily a bad score at all, however a tougher curve. </p>
<p>Happy weekend to all. We are feeling like terrible parents, but pulled the plug on evening plans for our son due to priorities. He’s a great kid and I can only remember doing this one other time. I feel like a heel. He’s just dragging some things out way too long, and putting way too much effort into an academic EC. Hopefully the grumbling will stop soon.</p>
<p>I admire you bi. Don’t kick yourself. We all have to be the heavy sometimes. My D - remember the one who hasn’t written any essays yet? - manages to have “important plans” every evening, or be “too tired,” and I am readying my boxing gloves for the night I say “Enough.” I have already warned her that she’s very close to making me take charge, and I know she doesn’t want me to. But if she can’t make it work this coming week, she’s getting her wings clipped.</p>
<p>Thank you, too, for the perspective on the SAT Math 1. My D did great on the Lit, but of course ignored that when she called me in tears about her Math 1 score. I told her that 1) no one looking at her transcript is going to expect a high Math 1 score, and 2) the curve has to be ridiculous - the SAT2 is only taken by a small minority of kids anyway, and plenty of kids who should take Math 2 probably take Math 1 to boost their percentile. Our HS had a terrible math curriculum for several years which really hurt my kids; neither one could have managed Math 2 even if they’d tried, sadly (this being junior year).</p>
<p>18 hours until the end of ACTs forever!!</p>
<p>A good conversation, all. </p>
<p>Slithey, we may be neighbors. That awful accident has been the talk of SoCal. My D is at another Catholic HS, and they had a talk and a prayer about what happened yesterday. So terrible.</p>
<p>Momofsongbird, I put your plan into effect sooner than expected, and in the easy way! My D had planned to write her essay tonight, but last night she got the first break in the homework onslaught in weeks, and she was nervous that she hadn’t started her essay before today’s meeting with her GC. And she was not called for rehearsal. So she called me after school to talk through topic ideas-- turns out the topic she was going to do wasn’t the right fit, which is why she could never get the essay going over the last three months. I threw out a few thoughts but she didn’t like any of them, and she was so tired she couldn’t think straight. (She hasn’t slept more than 6 hours a night in two weeks.)</p>
<p>So she took a big nap, and I took a break from work and read some of the sample essays posted on the Conn College site. That process put a thought in my head about an experience she told me about from last year, so I texted her that thought. She woke up from her nap, read my text, it led to a brainstorm on her part, and she wrote furiously last night while I cooked dinner, and over dinner she talked about it with me and my husband. Then back to finish up. Success! It’s very rough and will need a lot of polishing, but she did it, and it says a lot about her, and reflects her personality, and she feels good about it.</p>
<p>So she’s a happy camper now. And so glad she’s not taking the ACT tomorrow like so many friends. Good luck to all your test-takers!</p>
<p>One small disappointment on her part from today’s meeting with the GC-- she was surprised that their quarter grades don’t count. She worked very hard this first quarter, which ended two days ago, and apparently her grades are excellent. She assumed they would be factored into transcripts for seniors, even though the school normally only officially counts semester grades. But they don’t factor them for colleges. Her apps will all be done long before semester grades. Oh well… her GC says her transcript is strong enough for her schools and not to worry, so she says she won’t worry!</p>
<p>S is taking Math1 in 2 weeks, he is not a great math student, more a humanities type. So you are saying Math 2 is easier? I know the curve is better. He has taken up to pre-calc.</p>
<p>It isn’t that the subject matter is easier on Math 2. It’s that the curve is such a killer on Math 1. Any little slip-up can really drop your score on Math 1 because so many of the kids do so well due to the easy subject matter. On Math 2, in comparison, you can get away with some bobbles or omitted answers; since the material is tougher, kids tend to get lower raw scores which causes the curve to be more generous. </p>
<p>If your son finished precalc his junior year, I would lean towards Math 2. Check out the links I posted for amandakayak to see if he is comfortable with it. Also, check the websites of schools at which he is planning to apply. Some, like Stanford, specifically tell you that if you have the background for Math 2, they prefer you take it. Other schools don’t care at all.</p>
<p>He might also feel more comfortable with a history/lit combo perhaps.</p>
<p>Indict - hop over to Subject Test forum. I recall many discussions on Math I vs Math II. Also have your son look at the sparknotesonline website for subject tests and see if the sample tests give him an idea.</p>
<p>[SAT</a> Subject Tests Preparation - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-subject-tests-preparation/]SAT”>SAT Subject Test Preparation - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>HI All , want to be sure I am not misunderstood. We dont normally discuss “the list” however this particular friend is close enough–and we talk so often, that we share alot about our families, kids, schools etc…so it just feels weird to have so much criticism heaped on “the list” when the other family’s student is so far behind.</p>
<p>What I was trying to comment on–and what is weird to me/our fam is how other kids/families seem to be so weirded out and stressed about the process as though discussing that the kids are even srs and applying is bad karma or something…
Admitting your kid is still working on essays, or is handling the pressure eating cookie dough, is just about community and being relate-able…
kwim</p>
<p>Our standard answer (which is true) is that kiddo is pretty flexible and happy with all choices other than one that might get put on as a safety safety…and so the answer is – that the list is varied and the student is happy etc…</p>
<p>For those with nappers rathern than working on apps–Just today a parent was lamenting how their student chose to nap than work on stuff…
I think part of that is a way for the student to “check out” from the stress and weight of the process…probolem for all of the teens is the avoidance of these “non preferred” tasks …and it gets harder as the time grows shorter…</p>
<p>Idcint, I suggest having your S take a math 1 and a math 2 timed practice test. See how he does on each. Look closely at the problems he got wrong on each and based on how he did on each test and how much he thinks he can improve decide which test to take. Really hone in on the types of problems he got wrong, don’t generalixe his studying, study only the areas he needs to improve in. I know there are some schools who want Math 2, but they are mostly engineering schools and it doesn’t sound like your S will be applying there. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Researching4, YAY!!! No matter how “rough” or in need of polish, that draft is a victory. I’m really happy for your D!</p>
<p>Regarding all the exhausted kids, mine chose to get 3 hrs of homework done after school, had dinner at 6:30, and she was out – totally down for the count – at 8 pm. Did ask me to be sure she was up at 6 (big day tomorrow), but I’m so glad she’s recharging the batteries tonight.</p>
<p>In the sad category of give-your-kids-an-extra-hug…we had a freshman suicide at a neighboring town’s public hs this week. I don’t know any details…don’t really need to…it just strikes me as so unfathomably sad for this young boy and his family.</p>
<p>D was contacted tonight by a Harvard alumni interviewer, just three days after she submitted her application. Maybe they do this with every applicant, I don’t know, but she was pretty excited about it. They’re meeting next week for the interview.</p>
<p>Count her in among the exhausted seniors. It’s been a busy year so far with no sign of slowing down. Naps have become almost a daily occurrence around here.</p>
<p>Tomorrow I’m starting Weight Watchers online again. Last year I successfully lost 15 lbs on it, but several pounds have crept back over the past 6 months, so I need to get back on the horse. So, no scones for me, thanks!</p>
<p>oregonianmom, I think I’m gaining one pound for every college my S2 is applying to. And if we’re counting the multiple UCs, that’s too many pounds. Ah, the soothing properties of dark chocolate.</p>
<p>I’ve been kinda quiet here, but reading faithfully. S2 seemed so behind most CC kids, but his school had a couple of days off last week and he re-tackled his main essay–multiple rewrites (!!) and it is now actually GC approved. He let his older brother read it and got some very sweet reassurance and a little very mild advice. What a relief to reach this milestone!</p>
<p>S2 has had a change of heart about his major, requiring a complete re-look at his list. 4 colleges fell by the wayside. I’d say this was a good thing (4 less lbs to gain?), but they were on more likely end of his list.</p>
<p>Must agree with all of you who mention how nice it is to come here and share stories.</p>
<p>Off to ACT! Anyone else?</p>
<p>She drove herself, and seemed to have everything … but called saying she forgot her wallet/ID. Luckily H was on his way to a meeting and drove right past. But sad that she had a stressful start. Well, maybe it will get the adrenaline going. At this point of course it’s just a case of getting through the morning. Then DONE.</p>
<p>The rest of the weekend should be nice. I suspect she’ll sleep in tomorrow, but there will be time for a chat about the essay. Maybe if she writes one of her “Why X college” supplements she’ll find herself in the groove. She just needs a topic, and a deadline. I totally agree that getting stuck on the wrong (or no) topic is typically the reason for block. </p>
<p>Raining here. Might as well be taking a test, eh?</p>
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<p>My philosophy about the whole thing is that most kids (I know) are pretty calm about it. It’s the parents who aren’t. Don’t read (into) cc too much would do parents and their kids some good :-)</p>
<p>Oh yeah, she’s there now. Don’t feel bad. For my d’s previous tests, once she backed into our other car on the way down the driveway, and yes, her most recent one she forgot her id and drove home to get it. I drove her this time, feeling that if she gets a non-traumatic start maybe she’ll ace it!</p>
<p>We’re leaving right after the test for a college visit so I hope she doesn’t remember that she forgot to pack something right in the middle of the exam. </p>
<p>Good luck to you and your daughter! The waiting is the hardest part.</p>
<p>Good Morning all,</p>
<p>I have been reading along:</p>
<p>Great post on the financials…it is a very personal decision</p>
<p>Yes you can change or add any SAT2 you take right there and then.
You will receive an additional bill in the mail if you take more that you register for :)</p>
<p>Good Luck to all ACT takers today…</p>
<p>Have a great day all and remember stay 
</p>