<p>Good luck everyone on SAT tomorrow!</p>
<p>My D printed out her tciket(?) to the test. Everything looks good except the address. They got the street and house number right but not the town and zip. Is it a problem?</p>
<p>igloo - it’s probably fine, but either have your daughter mention it when she checks in, or call college board in the morning. I had to call them once when I couldn’t find 2012 S’s admission ticket back in 8th grade. I was shocked they actually answered the phone!</p>
<p>mom60 - so sorry to hear about your D’s test anxiety! That must make all of this very difficult. </p>
<p>My 8th grader already has his bag packed for tomorrow. He has his admission ticket, ID, 2 gatorades, 2 granola bars, 4 pencils (!) and 2 calculators (?). I’m not sure if he’s taking the SAT or running away from home!!! I’ll tell you, after getting 2012 S off to college somewhere, I think I’ll have such an easy time with my younger son. He is sooooo organized. </p>
<p>Good luck testers!!!</p>
<p>We’re doing protein bars and a pb&j sandwhich (comfort and protein) cut into 4 squares for easy nibbling. </p>
<p>Since my daughter is not taking the test at her high school that is what has most concerned. Where’s the bathroom, how does she find where to go, how many kids will be in her room (extended time), and, most importantly, who will she talk to during breaks?</p>
<p>At least it takes her nerves away from the test!</p>
<p>My daughter is taking the SAT’s for the first time this morning as well. Poor kid had finals all week - 3 hour tests every day. Poor planning on our part to schedule for today…I’ve been sending her “good thoughts” all morning =0)</p>
<p>Well, DS is at the test now (his first SAT). I am stressing out for him (he is not). He did not open a book for this test, even after telling me that he would at least look at a few problems last nite, so I am quite sure that today’s SAT will be no more than a practice run for him. He will most definitely need a June test and maybe even a October test. I already am checking our spring calendar for the best tutoring times. Although I have given him the reins all year with how and what he studies, I cannot, in good conscience, let him blow this college admissions test off. He is NOT a natural standardized test taker like many of the others on this forum but he is extremely smart (academically speaking…). With practice, he could score extremely well. He does have the ability. Without prep or practice he will score mediocre, enough to get him into our lower ranked or possible flagship state schools but not enough to get into the top 30 schools that he has his eyes on. </p>
<p>We always told him that we would send him to the best college that he could get himself into, no matter where it was (of course it needs to be within 30 min of a major airport) but now I am questioning if it is worth it (not just financially, but on other levels). Why pay so much for an out of state school if it is not the type of place that would open doors or have a definite positive impact on his future? I am thinking we should amend the old promise accordingly. What are your thoughts fellow CC’ers? IF MONEY WAS NOT THE VARIABLE (regardless of ability to pay, no one wants to waste money), would you allow your child to attend any college, regardless of distance or reputation or tier?</p>
<p>BTW, my son also had finals (called midterms here) every day this week too plus an AP chem lab after his two finals on Friday. His lackadasicle attitude toward today’s SAT might be just burnout. I originally did not want this test date but he blew off the October SAT (we postponed his test for a fee) saying that he was not ready. The March date is horrible for him, since his AP English class has a huge research paper due a week later (the kind of paper that kids miss school to finish…). May test is in the middle of AP exams so we figured he would be better to take the SAT 2’s then (shorter and he can cross study). Too bad there is no July SAT…where he could prep for the month of June without anything else going on!</p>
<p>Question for math moms & dads: There is not enough interest at Ds school for an AP Calc BC class next year…so they are offering the few kids who want it an online class. Any experience with online math classes? What factors might she consider in selecting this over Calc AB (face-to-face)?</p>
<p>Seiclan, Same boat here…this is the best date for the SATS given crazy spring obligations and APs/SAT IIs. I am sending good vibes to all the CC 2012 SAT takers this morning…and parents.</p>
<p>Pathways - The answer depends on the kid. I would have my kid do the face to face AB class not an online class. Some kids are better than others at doing online classes. My daughter, a college junior, has taken many online classes and done well but has told me that she hates online math because she cannot get the timing down and the computer programs sometimes lock you out. It is easier to write what you know than to type it in (in math). Of course if you can print the tests and fax in the completed sheets then it would not matter. </p>
<p>I think it depends on the individual kid but even my math kid, DS’12, wouldn’t do well in online Calculus BC. He is taking Calculus BC at his school senior year btw.</p>
<p>Good luck all SAT takers! </p>
<p>Seiclan- I feel the same way as you do. However, I think it really depends on your instate school options and what environment your kid will do well in. Different states have different school options. PA - one large “great” school with a lot of little “ok” schools. NY - three or four pretty good large and small options. Delaware - one choice. Michigan - great big school. I also think it depends on what your kid is interested in studying. I’d have a hard time paying out of state tuition at a large state school when our own options are pretty good. I feel the same way about the private schools. It we can get those private school tuitions down to around an instate school cost, then, I’m ok. However, paying 50K for a not hightly ranked LAC, when we have a 20K instate LAC option,seems silly to me. However, if DS can show that a particular school is a fit for him and his intended major, then I am more open to the larger tuition bill. For us, if DS goes bio/marine bio, then privates will be a better option for him and we will have to figure that out. So, I don’t think it is really a cut and dry answer. It really just depends on too many factors.</p>
<p>Pathways -my daughter just finished AB and will be taking BC next semester. I personally wouldn’t want my child taking it online. Dd and her friends really needed the face to face interaction with the teacher. If your Ds really wants to go the online route see if he can get a good Math teacher within the school to help mentor him. My daughter is looking into taking AP Government online and has secured the help of one of her old teachers as a resource. She is also hopeful that a few other kids will want to take it as well so they can have their own study groups…</p>
<p>Good luck to all of our SAT takers! </p>
<p>I’m also struggling with the idea of paying a large tuition for an OOS public when S has two good options available with in-state tuition. Unfortunately he has spent a lot of time at one of them, since H and I both work there, which makes it less appealing to him. </p>
<p>As far as privates go, I think it will be a case-by-case basis. I feel a bit like we’re trying to find all the right pieces to put the puzzle together. I know of one unique program that I think would fit him perfectly, however he would need to get into the program and we would need to feel like we could afford to send him there. Cost is definitely a factor and merit aid won’t be known until late in the game. I guess in the end it is once again a case of finding and loving your safeties.</p>
<p>seiclan - I know you’re mostly venting but it’s too early to put a nail in his coffin so to speak. See his view after today’s test and after the scores come back. You know you can ask for the whole test with corrections sent to you for a fee (of course), if you think that would help him focus.</p>
<p>Unfortunately Junior year is filled with tests and projects, way more than I’ve ever seen a college student have to endure, but that’s the way it is for most Juniors.</p>
<p>I am concerned about the quality of the online math course…I will ask D to see if there is a teacher at the school willing to act as an advisor and whether the kids taking the class will have a shared study-block to work together. Thanks for the suggestions.</p>
<p>She and many of the others considering this are only in Honors Precalc now…the math curriculum at the school is weak and ends with Algebra II for most and a couple of sections of Calc AB for the math-loving kids. This year only 3 seniors are taking the newly offered online course option (all Internationals who had advanced math training prior to coming to this school and Calc AB as juniors), and they are excelling from what I hear. </p>
<p>So, if she accepts the option --she and a few others would be an experimental cohort, as I see it. Worrisome. On the other hand, if she really, really wants a challenge I won’t prohibit it…as long as there is a back-out clause during the 1st month of classes in the fall!</p>
<p>OOS tuition/50K for a private: I agree with Geogirl that for many families, including my own, there would have to be a compelling reason to go this route (such as a top program in a specialized field or a child with particular needs that can’t easily be met elsewhere)! </p>
<p>Marine Biology sounds like one of those reasons–hear Tampa and Roger Williams have good programs and offer merit $$.</p>
<p>I am sending good thoughts to all SAT takers! And thanks for snack advice-- D will take in March; she has steam coming out of her head right now studying for the APUSH mid-term.</p>
<p>Thinking about seiclan’s question…as someone said, there are so many factors to consider, and there is still a lot of time to mature before the end of HS. But, if a kid wasn’t showing a lot of ambition or initiative, I think I’d want him instate just so I could keep a better eye out. There’s always the possibility of a transfer, when he’s got his feet under him a little better. </p>
<p>And Pathways–I agree, it’s the backout clause you want to be sure of. My niece did a number of online math courses and felt they prepared her well for college math. But it would be awful to be stuck.</p>
<p>pathways –</p>
<p>I would feel more comfortable going the online route if I got to choose the online course – they vary widely.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if there were a cohort at the school going through the online course together, then that would also be nice.</p>
<p>Perhaps some more considerations – how good is the face-to-face AB course? Do the kids do well on the exam? Do the colleges your child is looking at give credit for the AB?</p>
<p>Hi Mathinokc,</p>
<p>No choice --school uses VHS inc to extend course offerings…</p>
<p>[Virtual</a> High School Welcomes You! Welcome-Home](<a href=“http://www.govhs.org/website.nsf]Virtual”>http://www.govhs.org/website.nsf)</p>
<p>D’s wants to study Chem. If she goes the public college route she would place out of Calc 1 and 2 with a 4/5 (and from what we hear that’s not a bad route given the wide range of abilities at the in-state schools). If she goes the small private Univ/LAC route it varies, and we would prefer that she not opt out of any calc course (unless strongly advised to do so).</p>
<p>Not sure about who teaches Calc AB at the HS or how the kids do on exams …thanks, will ask Guidance about this.</p>
<p>Has been fun passing the time on CC this morning–one more hour before SATs are done! Should log out and get some laundry/cleaning done…yuck.</p>
<p>seiclan - Our oldest is an instate freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill. I feel so fortunate to have him there. Having good instate choices here in NC makes the money part of the college question a little easier. I have a hard time letting my child or myself go into debt for undergrad. All those school loans are a long term commitment. My H and I are still paying H’s med school loans. I guess my willingness to pay beyond a state school price would depend on the program S2 wanted. If the perfect program/fit was found at a far away school, I would be okay with him going. As far as cost of an OOS school or private, I think both of my boys think frugally about cost. We’ve shared with them how much we have saved and they know they can go instate without debt and private with debt. My older son at UNC wants to attend med school and he has no desire to start that journey with undergrad debt. </p>
<p>Neither of my boys has ever taken an online course, so I am no help in that area.</p>
<p>Pinotnoir, My '11, '12 and '14 kids all took the SAT and/or ACT in middle school. A couple of them took one in 6th grade. I was amazed that they really weren’t fazed by it. My '14 son actually wanted to do it twice in 8th grade because he was sure he knew more at the end of algebra II and could bring his score up- and he did. I do think it is a good thing because they feel more comfortable with the test as high school students because they are familiar with it. The ACT was always better for us but with PSAT NMSQT, the SAT is probably more important. I hope everyone had a good SAT experience this morning. '12 daughter has an interview today for a summer study abroad scholarship to learn Korean or Chinese. She also submitted her UWC application this week so, with luck, she may have another interview in the next couple months. DH wants me to plan an anniversary trip but I’m having a hard time tearing myself away from the teenage drama to think about us.</p>