<p>Ds refused to speak further about details on yesterday’s test (he is in the middle of a game on Xbox). He did say that he had 3 math sections so he probably didn’t have the experimental math section, which means his math score will be lower (since he had trouble with some of the questions and was hoping that he had the experimental section). The reason we are focused on that is that is the one section where he should have done the best (since he got a perfect math score on the PSAT). Oh well. </p>
<p>I read on the SAT forum that normally they have 3 math sections, 3 reading sections, 2 writing M/C and 1 essay and anything over is the experimental section (which dosen’t count toward the score).</p>
<p>Oldfort- I think much of what you are saying is true. My D was more willing to talk today. She said she definitely will be taking it again but next time will be much easier.For her it was not so much the material that threw her but the nerves of taking the test and the uncertainty of being at an unfamiliar location. The timing is important. For the meds you need to take them early enough that they begin working at the beginning of the test but not so early that they run out before the test is over. I think she is pleased with how it went for the first time. Hopefully she will still feel that way when the scores come out.</p>
<p>DS has the day off of school today. It is a teacher planning day so that the teacher’s can input the grades for the second quarter, midterm exam and semester. As I expected, he did not do as well as he could have, which will hopefully be a wake up call for next semester. It will be about a week or two before the online transcript portal will reflect the new class ranks and I know that DS (and I ) will be sad to see his move. He is my first and only child in a public high school (my girls both graduated from a private prep school which did not rank) so I am unfamiliar with the ranking system but I do know that merit scholarships to colleges are frequently tied in with class rank, so I hope he can stay in the top 5%. </p>
<p>I saw that the SAT scores for Saturday’s test will be available on February 10th (a Thursday) if anyone was curious. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, I am trying to convince my son to “do something” this summer (besides his college apps for the Florida schools, which he must complete). I have gotten brochures from many different academic programs and teen tours but he is not interested. I know that the college counselor (when we have our meeting next month) will tell him that he MUST find something to do and hopefully that will motivate him.</p>
<p>Some colleges I heard only look at the hard science and literature courses in HS when they calculate GPA. So, class ranks could be higher for boys in the eyes of college adcoms.</p>
<p>Seiclan - most of the schools we are looking at for merit use GPA and SAT scores. Not class rank. At our school we can actually choose to report class rank or not.</p>
<p>seiclan - when does your S’s school get out for the summer? I’m just wondering since his semester break is so late compared to ours (ours ends right before Christmas).</p>
<p>Question - for all of you doing colleges visits as early as junior year. Does your S or D go ahead and interview, or do you do the tour & info session and leave it at that for these early visits?</p>
<p>PN-- it seems as if a lot of schools don’t want to interview juniors. But D did interview at one and will again in Feb. It definitely seems worth doing if possible-- D felt more confident about everything after her interview-- she’s a bit shy and once she had one under her belt she knew she could do it.</p>
<p>Our semester ends this Friday-- finals start tomorrow. Summer break begins June 22, I think?</p>
<p>PN - When we went on a fall tour DS was not “interviewed” but did have some one-on-one discussions with Prof and Administration at a couple of schools. If you can get something like that setup I would go for it. Doesn’t count as an official interview but it dis give DS a chance to get to know the school a better and practice his communication skills at the same time.</p>
<p>Thanks, Gwen! Wow - June 22 seems so late. June weather is the nicest we get all year - I’m glad S is out by June 1st!</p>
<p>MemphisGuy - that sounds like just what we need to try to set up. We’re planning a college visit trip during spring break. I’ll let S decide if he feels like doing his official interviews at that time. Some of them would be hard to get back to in the fall.</p>
<p>My son’s school district gets out on June 9th for the summer. I have no clue as to why they cannot do semester exams before christmas break, it seems silly the way they have it all set up. They certainly start up early enough (August 23rd)!</p>
<p>My D’s hs runs on trimester schedule. Next week is the mid second trimester that would be half of her school year. That poor kid’s B-day is in the mid trimester. Almost always with many exams and projects due for the mid term progress report.</p>
<p>We’re NY and we don’t get out until after the Regents are all taken so it’s 24th! We usually start the Tuesday or Wednesday after Labor Day. Mid-year is this Friday.</p>
<p>Sometimes I wish my parents were more like you guys, in regards to holding more knowledge about college admission, scheduling, standardized tests and preparation for them, than your children. It can be frustrating and definitely stressful to figure this out all on your own (and through CC) as a student. Just a thank you from a class of 2012’er</p>
<p>How kind of you, hellUVAchance! Thank you. We’re all so full of our research, I’m sure we can help you think things through too. College admissions has become a lot more complex since we were young-- I think some parents aren’t aware of how much thought needs to go into it these days.</p>
<p>welcome, HellUVAchance! From your mouth to my S’s ears - I’m not so sure he appreciates my wisdom all the time! Seriously though, my parents offered very little guidance to me when I was a teen - I might make mistakes as a parent, but being unengaged and passive isn’t one of them.</p>
) will be sad to see his move. He is my first and only child in a public high school (my girls both graduated from a private prep school which did not rank) so I am unfamiliar with the ranking system but I do know that merit scholarships to colleges are frequently tied in with class rank, so I hope he can stay in the top 5%. </p>