<p>Texas – I think you’re analysis is right, but for most kids pursuing schools that require SAT subject exams, 700 on any portion of the SAT reasoning exam would be problematic. So it depends why the kid is taking the test and for what it’s being used.</p>
<p>You get a lot of choice for SAT II, and unless your kid is headed towards a math/science/engineering program, there are no required tests. So you might as well choose an area of strength.</p>
<p>D has 2 subject exams in her pocket, and took the English Lit exam 2 weeks ago. She wasn’t happy, but we’ll see how it comes out. We’re sending it to schools that require all scores, but there’s no need to send it to schools that will let her pick and choose. There’s no way she’s retaking it. (I say now. Watch me eat my words.)</p>
<p>JenPam + mspearl: We ALL have to remind ourselves not to get caught up in the CC SAT score syndrome. The SAT scores that are reported all over CC are not indicitive of most of the the college applicant pool. I am sure that many of the scores we read are inflated, but also all are self-selected in that not everybody is on CC and the vast majority of the scores posted are posted by folks that want to broadcast their high scores. There are hundreds of thousands of kids who get into good schools with less than 700s on their SATs. Colleges are looking for a lot more than an SAT score. Sure, it makes since to practice and take the test more than once. But, the schools superscore and they look at grades, class rank, ECs and the all important essays. It is just not worth invest too much emmotionally into the SAT scores . . . there is a lot more to the colege application and there are a lot of great schools out there that have admissions officers looking more deeply into what our kids have to offer.</p>
<p>Thanks to all those who helped me with my percentile math :-)</p>
<p>"I think the percentile may have to do with the curve on the test. Math II allows you to get 800 with upto 8 questions omitted out of 50. So when someone gets your report, they can see that you got 48/50 for your 800 vs 42/50. "</p>
<p>Texaspg, so you think the colleges are translating, so to speak, the scores for each SATII depending on the curves? Do you think they’re doing that with the SATs also, depending on the testing date? Doesn’t seem likely, but who knows? I was amazed to see that DS 800 CR and 740 M scores on the SAT both represented two wrong answers.</p>
<p>Countmontecristo: we are in probably the identical situation as you. She WILL be applying to close to 20 schools because we need financial aid and she is submitting a dance supplement. Plus, she really likes a lot of schools and honestly doesn’t seem very picky. Maybe coming from the sticks makes you less discerning?? Lol. Probably just her personality! </p>
<p>In other news, the civil war teacher didn’t act like he thought I was crazy so that is good.(even though I am) and her final consists from questions taken verbatim from 5 previous tests…memorizing time.</p>
<p>Welcome, BCRobin! I think we’re all figuring it out step by step-- it’s so different now than it was 30 years ago that one’s own original experience isn’t all that helpful! There are so many on here who have sent kids to college recently and can offer tons of good advice-- I have learned so much. What is your son interested in–what type of school, what area, what major? One thing I know-- being the first generation to go to college can often be a factor in a student’s favor, so your lack may be your son’s gain!</p>
<p>BCRobin – The world of college admissions has changed so much since “our day” that first-hand experience (or lack thereof!) is almost completely irrelevant. Buy and read a book or two about the current college admission process (one of my favs is Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting into College by Sally P. Springer). And, of course, keep reading here on CC. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Welcome BC Robin. Like the others, I too am still figuring things out. It sounds like your son will have a lot of good options and it’s great he already has some ideas. </p>
<p>I found it very helpful to visit the Financial Aid Forum and really learn more about that aspect. You can also get a lot of information by visiting the websites of the colleges he is interested in. </p>
<p>Debbie7452 and SteveC: Thanks to both of you for the great information. I didn’t know about A&M matching offers for NMSF.</p>
<p>Welcome on board, BCRobin! My DH did not attend college, and I went to 3, but it is true that things today are very different. I recommend that you figure out what you can afford to spend, what your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) could be (based on this years’ tax returns), and what your child wants. Have you started looking at schools at all yet? Does he want a large school? Small school? Does he have a particular major in mind? If you give us some info, either on this thread, or in separate threads, there will be a lot of advice.</p>
<p>JenPam + mspearl, I second what Glido said. The scores posted here on CC are much higher than the general distribution. I think some people come onto CC just so they can brag. (Not that we aren’t all entitled to a little bragging.)</p>
<p>Also, you cannot believe everything folks say. One day this past fall my D showed me a bunch of her HS classmates bragging about their SAT scores on Facebook. Well, one kid in particular was claiming a score hundreds of points higher than his mom had shared with me that very morning. Now, I don’t know whether it was the mom or the kid who was being less-than-truthful, but I know for sure that they weren’t both right!</p>
<p>Enjoy reading your posts again this time! Have hd some of the same frustrations. My daughter is in the Summer Science Teaching Program at UF this summer. 80 students are chosen statewide each year to work on research projects. She doesnt know what research she will be doing, but she hopes it is in physics. But, it could be anything that UF chooses. Its June 12-July 30 and the students stay in one of the dorms, just like they are real college students. </p>
<p>By the way, my son is at the Univ of Texas getting a masters in structural engineering.</p>
<p>gnu, that sounds wonderful! BCRobin, welcome - we’re all figuring it out together. I’ve seen lots of kids go through the process (DH is a teacher), but it’s a whole other thing when it’s your own kid…</p>
<p>Gnu - your daughter’s summer program sounds incredible. I had never heard of that before. A master’s in structural engineering, wow!!! Two amazing kids.
My UF graduate is starting Law School at Nova Southeastern this Fall (after working in a law firm as an assistant for over a year now). My middle DD is now a senior at UCF in Orlando. </p>
<p>Welcome to BCRobin! Pull up a chair and we will pour you a cup of coffee.</p>
<p>Yes, our daughters do sound similar. My daughter is also not that discerning, but we do not live in the sticks (Southern California), </p>
<p>Has your daughter considered applying to colleges that only admit women? They seem to have difficulty attracting prospective students and as a result their admit rates are higher than comparable coed colleges. Although my daughter would prefer a coed college she is extremely interested in Barnard College in NYC. I know that your daughter is interested in NYU and is very involved with dance. It is my understanding that there is an emphasis on dance at Barnard and it is of course located in NYC. In addition, because of its affiliation with Columbia there is a much greater opportunity for interaction with the opposite sex. There is also Wellesley, a beautiful school just outside of Boston. If your daughter does not do so well on her SAT there is Mt. Holyoke, another extremely nice womens college.</p>
<p>@seiclan, thanks, great post–and I have OCD/anxiety as well, big surprise. I’ve taken your advice to heart and keep reminding myself that she’ll end up at a place that will be the right fit. I have to deal with my own feelings of competition.</p>
<p>@pathways, thanks–we’ve looked at the Fairtest site & are very grateful for those options! My dad is a Bard alum & really wants my DD to go there, but it’s too expensive. My main concern with the SAT-optional schools is that they are typically LACs and don’t offer my DD’s major. But in the end, it’s a great relief to know those schools are out there!</p>
<p>mutti2012 - colleges want official SAT reports. I dont know if you have seen the one online. If you look through it, it tells you exactly which answer is wrong, provides your essay etc. It can also provide an idea how hard the test was based on how many wrongs a kid had to get the score (you said math 2 wrong and it was down to 740?). This essentially means it was an easier where too many people had very correct answers which means one wrong might have been 760 (my kid’s test one wrong was 780). But getting back to what I was saying, if the college gets the official report they know how many rights and wrongs on a specific test even if the score is 800.</p>
<p>Being a data geek, I found the electronic data layout spec the college board uses for transmitting data to colleges. Colleges only see scaled scores–no raw scores. A raw 42/800 and a raw 50/800 will look the same to an admissions officer.</p>
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I’ve taken your advice to heart and keep reminding myself that she’ll end up at a place that will be the right fit. I have to deal with my own feelings of competition.</p>