<p>Onegirlsmom - I completely agree - it is arbitrary, and way too much importance is placed on the PSAT and the SAT. I really think the only thing they test is the student’s ability to take standardized exams - like being able to curl your tongue or wiggle your ears, it’s interesting, but ultimately useless. In college, in grad school and in the real world, intelligence and hard work are what matters, and no one knows or cares what these scores were. I hope your daughter keeps that in mind as she goes forward to the next big stage in her education.</p>
<p>mamom - same answer as several others in that we stay with the pediatrician through college if the child is comfortable. DS doesn’t seem to care and its easier for DW as the peds office is much more convenient than the main practice facility. They still handle the annuaul athletics physicals as well as the routine visits and the allergy calls in the spring and summer.</p>
<p>Want to know how out of touch I was before CC? I didn’t even know the PSAT and the National Merit thing were in any way related. We thought it was just a practice test. Gee, maybe that’s why she didn’t do so well…because she didn’t think it mattered all that much. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles, I guess. </p>
<p>We are waiting to hear from two PG schools and another college. Then we’ll know what’s what.</p>
<p>AvonHSDad – Congratulations on the $$$ award from MiamiU!</p>
<p>Blueiguana – It looks like for blujr PSAT turned out to be exactly what it is designed to be - ‘Practice’ SAT. </p>
<p>I thought after applications are out, seniors have easy time in HS. Not our senior. Between scholarship applications, alumni interviews, EC and homework, he is as busy as ever. He has one interview scheduled for today and another one tomorrow. His EC team went on an out off state overnight trip this morning. But S has to miss it, because he has an exam in one of his college classes today. </p>
<p>We won’t qualify for finaid in most of the colleges on S list, but since I had to file it for one, I am sending it to everyone else as well. IDOC documents are not due till 3/1, and I am procrastinating here. </p>
<p>Have a great weekend, everyone.</p>
<p>Our son continues to go to the peditrician although, thankfully, he is rarely sick. The peditrician has teenagers and college students himself and relates well to our boys. He goes on mission trips to strange places as our kids have done so he knows what shots and pre-meds they need to stay healthy there. </p>
<p>Older son, now almost 21 and a married father, misses the pediatrician. But his father-in-law is an urgent care physician so he’s in good hands. His primary needs are usually orthopedic: dislocated shoulder snowboarding, dislocated shoulder wakeboarding, broken foot doing “ramps” on a moped…(wearing a boot in his wedding photos!) Is it any wonder his son (now 17 days shy of his first birthday) has already climbed up the step ladder in the kitchen?</p>
<p>I’d love the kid on the couch–if only he would have just stayed on the couch!</p>
<p>Hey, thanks everyone. The consensus is to continue with the pediatrician. S has never complained about the pediatrician, I know he likes him, and I love the office. Just seemed funny to be bringing him there still.</p>
<p>Emmybet: So glad to hear things went well for your D in Chicago. (You were probably right around the corner from my office!) When you posted that you were heading to Chicago for the “unifieds” I must confess that had to look up what that meant on the Theater threads-LOL. </p>
<p>To all the NMFs & their parents- congratulations. My D is a Nat’l Achievement Finalist (NAF), which is for African American students. </p>
<p>I agree that the PSAT/NMF/NAF thing puts too much emphasis on the score of 1 test on 1 day. However, since it does have the potential to pay off in a big way, I am going to have my younger D prepare for it (not with tutors, but at least with the book) and I am recommending some level of prep to friends w/ younger kids who are good test-takers. </p>
<p>SlitheyTove- Loved the Chinese skype video. So touching- and really what I think some of us are experiencing in terms of kids who think that they want to get away from us while not appreciating that they will miss us more than they think once they get away.</p>
<p>Have a great weekend all.</p>
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<p>I’m totally with you here! Although bluejr is S2, S1 had a totally different path in high school, so bluejr is really the first one we’ve gone though this with. We understood NMF, but no prep. S3 (a freshman) totally sees the writing on the wall and groaned the day we ‘unsubscribed’ bluejr from the SAT Question of the Day, and ‘subscribed’ him. A passing of the torch. Yes, he’ll prepare at home online, but that’s it.</p>
<p>Just got an email from my S’s private school that because they have had 6 snow days already, the school is adding back 4 days by eliminating one local holiday, the sr retreat day, a teacher Professional Development Day, and a faculty retreat day. Kids are not happy, but the decision was made in large part to accommodate the teachers with AP classes who already feel there isn’t enough class time.</p>
<p>Mommylaw and blueiguana – Absolutely agree with you. It’s unfortunate that $$$ decisions are made based on 1 test / 1 day. And in cases when a kid was not feeling well or had some major trauma a day or 2 before it’s really unfair. But the rules are the same for everyone and when you know that this test results can bring in some serious $$$, it makes perfect sense to prepare for it. </p>
<p>I am not necessary talking about prep classes. Just taking a full length test or two beforehand can make a big difference.</p>
<p>I missed one day with you guys and it took 20 minutes or so to catch up. Fortunately it sounds like it was mostly great news. Congrats on the new acceptances and fin aid awards. AK - Kudos to your son on his Chem SAT II.</p>
<p>Congrats to all the NMF and their parents. My son chose to get a tutor b/c it was important for him to become a NMF and also do well on the SAT and ACT. He figured this would be the most time efficient way to achieve his goals. The tutor covered all the bases and he met his goals. </p>
<p>I asked him if he was going to notify his schools about this news. His answer - “I don’t know. Could you ask the CC moms?” So what are your kids doing? BTW - We would not have known about the connection between the PSAT and the NMF and the potential for scholarships if it were not for CC.</p>
<p>Curfew - My son NEEDS his sleep. He gets up at 5AM every morning in order to catch the bus an hour later. We are pretty strict about a 10:30 in bed time altho sometimes books accompany him for a while. On Fri and Sat, he has to be home by 11:30/midnight unless there is a particular reason. We can’t stay up much later.</p>
<p>FAFSA & IDOCS - I agree that the FAFSA should be filed JIC. You never know what life will dish out. I called the schools requiring IDOCS. Each said the deadlines were really recommendations. That is when they will start reviewing FA forms. The sooner you get stuff in, the better, but it HAS to be FINAL.</p>
<p>Pediatrician - Son is OK staying with pediatrician. I guess he’ll change after he gets a job when he graduates. No reason to change now.</p>
<p>Funeral - There was standing room only at the funeral yesterday. Says a lot about the person. The daughter spoke beautifully. Big surprise was the Rabbi read a eulogy written by the deceased. He obviously knew he was not well. It sounded just like him. Theme was I Did. He felt he had a great life with no regrets. He did everything he wanted and took advantage of the gifts G-d gave him. He asked us to celebrate his life and not cry, but there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. </p>
<p>Movie - I have a movie recommendation which talks to the theme of What If. It is called SLIDING DOORS. It is my all time favorite movie. It is a story of two parallel universes. In one, a girl gets on the train. In the other, she misses it. Don’t read the summaries b/c they tell you too much of the plot. Just rent it. I promise, you will love it. It will make you think. OGM - You may want to watch it with your daughter.</p>
<p>MaMom,
fwiw
Had the same talk w our ped re kiddo–college, and the hpv shots etc etc…
we’re are sticking w the ped at least into frosh yr…then may transition…</p>
<p>On the PSAT, kiddo is the oldest and we had no clue the PSAT mattered much…so no prep/took it cold etc. Kiddo did fine w app/acceptance however.
We will do better by kiddo 2, though that will be a different journey-the writing is on the wall…so to speak.</p>
<p>
Thanks Slithey Tove. For those of you who have not viewed this yet, please do. It shows moms around the world share many of the same experiences and feelings. And teens, all over, roll their eyes at their moms.</p>
<p>FlMathMom - It sounds like the service was nice. I hope it was part of the healing process for you. The eulogy sounds amazing and I’m sure was very, very moving. Thanks for the movie recommendation. I just put it on my Netflix queue. Only on DVD, no streaming, bummer.</p>
<p>keylimepie - I totally agree that every student has the same rules, the same shot on a single day so it’s very fair. Like I said, that lousy score on one section was a blessing and a big red flag. It was very clear where bluejr needed to study and it paid off. No regrets!</p>
<p>mamom - I’m so sorry about the additional days. I know some districts are adding them, but most of the time it’s at the end of the year so the Sr’s are not getting hit.</p>
<p>Wow, that Chinese skype ad is powerful. Teenagers, so much alike. I recall being that way too.</p>
<p>Flmathmom- that is amazing that he had written his own eulogy. I’m sure that was very moving and a very generous gesture from him to his friends and family.</p>
<p>Sliding Doors is a great movie!</p>
<p>And Slithey, that video killed me. Granted I seem to cry easily these days but it was a killer. I love the universal truths in it.</p>
<p>Congrats to all those NMF’s! Like Novelisto, I didn’t even know they were tied to the PSAT. My daughter and I had a post-PSAT conversation not entirely unlike BlueIguana’s and yes, she also got her butt in gear and did much better on the SAT.</p>
<p>Congrats to EmmyBet’s daugther on the audition and break a leg in those upcoming! (Do you say “Break a leg” to a singer? Maybe it should be “Blow a lung” or something?)</p>
<p>Congrats to Avon on the merit $$.</p>
<p>Schokolade, I would think that a note praising your essay from admissions is almost as good as a likely letter. I mean, it would seem cruel to send one to a kid you’re going to reject!</p>
<p>FlMathMom, if you liked Sliding Doors, you should definitely read The Post-Birthday World ([Amazon.com:</a> The Post-Birthday World: A Novel (P.S.): Lionel Shriver: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Post-Birthday-World-Novel-P-S/dp/B002BWQ4VY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297447667&sr=8-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Post-Birthday-World-Novel-P-S/dp/B002BWQ4VY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297447667&sr=8-1)) Very similar premise and beautifully done.</p>
<p>My daughter has her first dance scholarship audtion on Sunday. It’s on the other side of the country and I just found out my niece and nephew will be able to meet up with us the evening before. My daughter loves hanging out with her cousins (they are in their 20’s and super-cool of course), so I think that will be nice to have right before the audtion.</p>
<p>She just got her very first acceptance! Ursinus is the only school she applied to EA and she found out through their web portal. If they offer some hefty merit aid, she should have at least two options this spring (Ursinus and in-state U).</p>
<p>Congrats on the Ursinus acceptance snoozn! Ursinus was one of the very first colleges I visited with my son. On the way there (only about an hour drive) he said that he really thought he wanted a major that they don’t offer. We did the tour anyway since we had made the appointment, but he didn’t apply. Collegeville is such a nice town and the Ursinus campus is beautiful!</p>
<p>Another fan of Sliding Doors. I’ve always found the premise of, “what would have happened if…” very interesting. Also liked the Chinese Skype video. We have not reached the spoiling the nest stage yet, so whenever I think of son not being here next year I can tear up.</p>
<p>snoozn - Congrats to your daughter on her acceptance. Will keep my fingers crossed about $$$. Thanks for book suggestion. I put it on my list. I’m buying myself a Kindle or the like as a HS grad gift and going to read all the books I missed over the past few years. Did you read the first review on Amazon? Reviewer compared book to Sliding Doors!!</p>
<p>FLMathmom, re notifying schools re NMF status - my son sent an update to his colleges, which mostly focused on EC’s and other new accomplishments but mentioned the NMF status in the academic update section. I don’t think I would update just for the NMF status for the type of schools where most applicants achieve it.</p>