<p>Another point to consider re relying on the October SAT – my D expects to be fully in the midst of completing applications in October (in addition to a rigorous senior schedule.) Several of the schools on her list have early November application deadlines for consideration for merit scholarships. We hope/plan to have all testing done by the end of junior year.</p>
<p>So this has been a very hepful discussion. I am thinking D can do some prep for the SATII over spring break. They do alot of AP prep in class, so she does not really need to do that. Probably will consider an English SATII since there really is not particular material. Maybe she can do History - but will have to do a little prep since I am not sure her current history class covers all of the material. If she wants to do Physics or Math II we will probably wait until June when the classes are complete. She has a solid Bio score from freshman year, so she only needs another one or two good ones.</p>
<p>In terms of language placement - I know Tufts does language placement by AP score, SATII score or internal placement exam, at the student’s option. Likely there are others. Also, I believe language with listening is only offered in November.</p>
<p>agree Walking Tesse… it will be great to be done with testing junior year (for the health and happiness of our teen and her family) and to let the focus switch in senior year to applications.</p>
<p>pathways, Vampire novels? I was watch a dumb vampire movie on TV last week. I sorely wished that I could get at least a little scared to spice it up. </p>
<p>Good point about not maturing much over the summer. I do think kids’ brain power is at peak in June not in October.</p>
<p>Hi Everyone, </p>
<p>Maybe you have already talked about this and if so I apologize for the duplication. </p>
<p>At this time in the pre-application stage (post PSAT and the PLAN test-taking) my D’10 was bombarded with paper mail solicitations from colleges. Of course, being the proud first-time-around parents of a rising HS senior we took it as an indication of our daughter’s appeal to a multitude of colleges. Haha! Now, 2 years later my D’12 is getting practically nothing in the mail. Just a couple here and there. I know she is getting emails from many schools. Is this a new trend? In a way, I’m glad. I thought it was a colossal waste of paper. But I can’t help feeling she’s not as wanted. FYI - their gpa and scores are very comparable. Is this what everyone else who had '10 kids is experiencing? Just wondering… :)</p>
<p>For us D is taking SAT in May and ACT in April, first time for both. My older daughter did this. She only took the SAT once. (I thought she should have taken it again.) She took the ACT a second time in June and improved her score. She also took 3 SAT II tests but not many schools require 3 anymore. </p>
<p>A quick but important point of information…When my D’10 entered school this past fall she went in as a second semester freshman because of the 20 credits earned from her AP tests. This actually hurt her because she is only eligible for her scholarship money up to 124 credits (this includes the credits she comes in with). As it stands now she will not receive any scholarship money the second semester of her senior year. That’s over $7000.00 ! Of course, she could graduate earlier but that is not what she wants. Her school has suggested a way around it by saving some of her major requirements for that last semester. I would not have known any of this if I had not heard someone else asking a question about it in one of the parent sessions during parent orientation. This is not something that our HS guidance counselors even knew anything about and I’m sure each school handles things differently. So, my suggestion is to hold off automatically sending AP scores to any schools before finding out how your child’s school handles AP credits with relation to merit money.</p>
<p>My own kid is so done by June-- finals have pulled the GPA down every year. In the fall she’s ready to take the world by storm. GC and her brilliant and beloved music teacher have both said that there’s a huge jump in confidence and maturity between Jr. spring and Sr. fall…GC said SAT scores tend to confirm that. </p>
<p>She’s my only so I have no experience to work from, but I’m thrilled she can take AP and SAT II in May and then be done-- and can use the October test to try to bring up SAT’s if she wants to.</p>
<p>Gwen, Interesting point. It is true of my kid to gain confidence over the summer. It’s been that way every summer I can remember.</p>
<p>That’s interesting intouch - thanks for the info. It’s weird (and annoying) that they count AP credits that your D came in with as hours covered by her scholarship.</p>
<p>Intouch1520, your D’s experience with AP credit and scholarship money is news to me. I will definitely ask that question when D applies next fall.
Gwen, my S matured quite a bit over the summer after his junior year. I feel my D will be the same. I can’t wait for the summer!</p>
<p>I’m a student, and I have a question for you parents - how far are you willing to let your child go for college? I know some parents send their kids across the country (I have a friend in a Texas school now). I’m from good ol’ CT and my mother wants me to stay around here (CT,MA,NY, and PA is even a stretch). I know she’s only being a concerned and protective parent (like she should be) but I feel like I’m missing out on great “second tier” schools that are in others states like IL and IN. I’ve ran through every school in my neighboring states and they don’t appeal to me as much as I would like them to.
how far would/did you let your child go?</p>
<p>3000:</p>
<p>We’ll be ‘allowing’ our daughter to go as far away as she likes. We live in Boston, and, frankly, we find the drive to Williamstown no less of an ordeal than the flight from LA. The expense is greater, of course, but it’s a small world these days.</p>
<p>Also, expanding your search outside your region can give you a small edge at some schools – you become the diversity!</p>
<p>DD is looking primarily in the northeast and midwest, but with some west coast schools in the mix as well. The Big 10 style schools have a lot of appeal to her, and there just isn’t a lot of that around here.</p>
<p>Our main demand is that each school has a sound explanation for being on her list. Your mom sounds reasonable? Perhaps she can be persuaded gently.</p>
<p>angry dad (nice sn)- See now that’s what I’ve been trying to get across to my mom…but she said she’s thinking in a mother mode and i’m not thinking about safety etc. I’m not too thrilled to be stuck in a whole new places miles away from home, but it would be a good learning tool. I feel like I’ve seen and heard all of what these Northeastern colleges have to offer…</p>
<p>Intouch - I think that the schools are doing more email than snail mail solicitation this year. My son is getting flooded with email but he gets about one snail mail a day lately. </p>
<p>CPUscientist - I would prefer that my son not go further than one time zone but he really can go whereever that he feels he will thrive. We did tell him that if he needs to take a plane to come home then he should not expect to come home very often (Thanksgiving, Winter break and Spring break). That said, we live in Florida. Florida State U is a 6 hour drive and UF is a 4 1/2 hour drive…MOST colleges are far from home.</p>
<p>seiclan- your son is in a better position than i am then, he kind of has to go away. not that i’m trying to escape. just a warmer climate is all i ask</p>
<p>How easy or hard a school is to travel to might be more important than how far away it is. It might be quicker and easier to get to a college across the country that is near a major airport than to an out-of-the-way school that is just a state or two away.</p>
<p>There’s a whole CC thread about this just now:<br>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1085746-distance-couldve-wouldve-shouldve.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1085746-distance-couldve-wouldve-shouldve.html</a></p>
<p>thanks^^ i have exhausted all explanations to my mother however. even if it’s near a major airport, she says in the event of an emergency she might not be able to get a flight whereas she can drive 3 hours to boston to get me</p>
<p>CPU- I have a friend who is just like your Mother. I don’t understand the need to have kids close. Our job as parents is to teach you to fly. If you pay due diligence in the college selection search, process, course of study, career aspirations, etc. Maybe that college is in your back door or a plane ride away. The right selection is where your Mother will find peace and smiles. A college where you thrive.</p>
<p>To appease her concerns you should include in your research, safety of school, college medical on site/off site, airport/train transfers, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks!^ it’s not that I want to go super far away…
We’re having our “college talk” on Tuesday to discuss my list (that has shrunk from 20 to 8) on the paper I typed up it has a column for the name, cost, my intended major, and the location. I’ll look up medical/safety etc! I didn’t think of that thank you:P</p>
<p>CPU, can you enlist the help of another adult who supports you? I know here, a group of parents and myself are actively talking about our kids’ college opportunities. We’ve learned so much from each other. Last night, while at such a get together, my friend’s daughter, who was home for the weekend, confirmed that classes at her college are really tough to get and that if students fall short of a minimum course load for two terms, they are put on probation. She is only a freshman! Well, that school will most likely be off my D’s list even though it’s close to home.</p>
<p>CPUScientist – nothing is stopping you from researching schools… </p>
<p>If you find good prospect(s) that are outside of your mother’s comfort zone, put together a list of reasons why that particular college is a great match. Be specific about how the specific traits of that specific school lines up with your interests (major, ECs, culture, etc.). Detail how it can contribute to your personal growth and prepare you for your future. Turn it around, too, and explain how you can contribute to the specific school. Don’t forget to address how the school will be affordable, and how you will cope with the distance (traveling to/from, and staying in touch with Mom, etc.) Spend some time really thinking about the pros – and cons – and then put it all into a good, articulate, persuasive pitch. This is the first step.</p>
<p>The next step is to identify a prospective advocate whose opinion your mother respects. This might be an uncle, a minister, one of your mom’s co-workers who has made a successful career, or one of your teachers. Ideally, someone who knows you pretty well. Talk to this person, and give them your pitch. Listen to them if they have concerns, and incorporate their feedback to improve your pitch. </p>
<p>Then … ask your advocate to talk to your mom. Sometimes moms can hear from another adult something that they aren’t open to hearing from their kid. A good word from a trusted compatriot might help your mom to see it from your point of view. It might give you the opening that you need.</p>