<p>Wow! Everyone is here for Monday morning coffee and chat. </p>
<p>amandak–loved hearing about your son’s last band performance. But… is this guy who was dancing on the field this past weekend the same guy who was just (seems like yesterday) having major surgery? They heal fast in your house!!</p>
<p>As for the list of teary “lasts,” I hear you, too. S2 is my last chick in the nest–so every last is really really a last. Sigh! Although, we are joining Pepper03 in mini-celebration in that S2 took his LAST thing-that-shall-not-be-named on Saturday. And that is one “last” experience we are happy to see the back of around here.</p>
<p>Update on that: I called the College Board to find out how to send score reports from the standby testing. The guy in customer service told me that 1) the score results from the Dec test date will be merged with S2’s online account. (How? When?) No answers, it “just happens.” Hm. As for ordering score reports, he said the only way to get the 4 free reports is if the info was entered on the paper registration. S2 did not list any. I asked if we could update that? He said no. I asked if we could pre-order score reports then. He said no. So, according to Jimmy, the scores would just magically appear somehow on Dec 21, merged to S2’s online account. After that, we could order (and pay for) and reports.</p>
<p>Seemed too weird. Could they really disallow ordering one’s free score reports after the paper registration was submitted on the day of testing? I–ahem–thanked Jimmy, hung up, and called back. This time I spoke with Keely. She had a completely different answer! She said we have until Dec 13 to pre-order score reports (including the 4 free reports) if we want. To do this, we will need to call customer service (I’ll be sure to avoid speaking to Jimmy) and they find your online account and can add them. Later, when the tests are scored, they get uploaded to the online account and score reports are sent. Or so Keely explained. I sure liked her explanation better than Jimmy’s. But we shall see.</p>
<p>Anyway, the fastest way to get scores sent is to pre-order. They are sent on the date (sometimes even the day before) they get released online. Of course, the student will not get to pre-screen those scores. If they are lower, still get sent. Also, no score choice. For those who wish to wait to see their scores, she gave this info re: the $29 rush charge: For once charge of $29, CB sends the scores to all schools on your list (at $10/school, of course) and promises to process those reports in 2 business days. That means, they are available for electronic download (to colleges that get their scores that way) and mailed to colleges who request that method 2 bus days after the order date. Without the rush charge, it can take up to 2 weeks (!!) for this processing. Of course, some schools will only choose to download scores once a week, for example. So it can be wise to check with the schools in question if the rush wouldn’t be a help.</p>
<p>Hopefully, the kids here do not need this last-minute rush advice. Even for S2, he’s sent his previous scores to all schools already, so no panic. But we’ll likely take the 4 free score reports (hmm–if Keely was right and Jimmy was wrong!) just in case.</p>
<p>End of lengthy and hair-pulling report on dealing with them-that-shall be named.</p>
Probably one of the best emails I have gotten.</p>