<p>iglooo –</p>
<p>Assessment test at our CC for dual enrollment is an ACT residual. It’s an ACT test, but you can’t use the score anywhere else other than the school that gives it. It’s only required if you don’t already have a qualifying ACT score.</p>
<p>For adults returning to school, they use other tests, mainly for placement. Placement’s not as big an issue for dual enrollment because high school students are not allowed to take remedial courses.</p>
<p>LilMom: My older D did not take the AP Econ test and it was no great loss. She took all her other AP tests and got 4’s on all of them. She ended up with 32 units (quarter) at her university, which was great. So, I think its really up to your kid which tests to take.</p>
<p>As for scheduling, first kid we made the mistake of later SAT. She did March junior year for her first exam. I won’t do that again and here is why. She needed to retake. We couldn’t fit it in with AP exams and the SAT subjects (which you should take around the same time as the AP exams, preferably after, so in June) and getting her driver’s license (she was later on that one.) So in the end, she took her second SAT senior year, when she was trying to do all the crud you have to do to apply. What a stressful thing, although she raised her score 200 points.</p>
<p>This time, new plan designed to make sure no stress in sr. yr. to cause panic while trying to do college applications. Little D is taking 2 SAT Subjects this year (Soph) after her first 2 AP exams. (AP in May, SAT subjects in June). First SAT in October Junior year. Second SAT if necessary in March of Jr. Year. Then AP’s in May of Jr. Year, with second go round of SAT subjects in June. Then we are done. Nothing Sr. Year. Whee. Little D will also have taken at least four subject SATs so she will have her pick of scores to send.</p>
<p>Little D is signed up for a summer SAT course to get her ready and make up for the fact she won’t have had Junior Year AP English by the time she takes SAT. She will have done math through Algebra II, so she is okay for math. (Trig is next year.) Still, SAT prep all summer should also help with math. Should also get her nice and ready for the PSAT which will be AFTER she takes the SAT. </p>
<p>On another note… we are struggling with juggling spring sports with heavy schedule…
Anyone have this problem? </p>
<p>Little D has AP Chem, French IV and Algebra II now. She is playing softball. Lots of work. Crazy hours.</p>
<p>How do you and your kids cope with heavy academics and sports?</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>I just want her to have fun… Doesn’t seem like kids do that anymore. I don’t remember it being this hard…</p>
<p>chrissyblu, I appreciate the feedback. I am so disappointed in D’s school right now - D learned through a teacher that students should be allowed to take AP’s in their soph yr. Instead, they’re tracked to take all APs in jr and sr yrs. Hence, the stress of AP’s, SATs and ACT’s in the jr. yr. Ugh! If I had known this - I would have fought for her to take an AP class or two this yr. </p>
<p>My D is also in a sport that’s more or less yr round. I’m familiar with the softball schedule because my friend’s D plays softball for the HS and club teams. She’s a good student but has chosen to take some regular classes as well as honors instead of all honors. Its a good plan for her as she wants to pursue softball in college.</p>
<p>D spends most of the day on the golf course and studies at night. This is the first semester where she’s been staying up later. Ok, I also have to throw in that my D says she thinks it’s cool to be a nerd. Well, that explains her willingness to take on such a schedule. But when she’s tired, she has no problem taking a break or even a nap 
I won’t be concerned as long as she’s positive and doesn’t complain about her heavy load. Every kid is different. My S was the complete opposite!</p>
<p>How do you sign up for AP tests? My D’s school didn’t mention anything about AP tests, just SAT II. Most colleges on my D’s list recommend 3-4 AP tests. Thank you.</p>
<p>Iglooo, the kids at our HS sign up and pay for AP tests in the bookeeper’s office. The AP tests are given in May here.</p>
<p>If your D is enrolled in the AP class, she’ll get the info there.</p>
<p>lilmom Thank you. Is it administered by the school? My D’s school is a bit peculiar when it comes to AP’s. They must be doing with juniors and seniors only.</p>
<p>I think my son’s school automatically signs the kids up and pays for their AP exams (at least I hope so because I have not seen any paperwork and haven’t paid any fees and my son is taking two AP tests in May)!</p>
<p>On another note, son just got the notice that he was accepted into the National Honor Society. He had to apply with a huge packet which made him get two recommendations and multiple signatures documenting his community service and leadership. When I went to high school, NHS was only based upon your GPA and not leadership and community service! Many kids were not accepted because they did not fill out the paperwork correctly or didn’t have enough leadership to document! I have heard that many kids subsequently drop out of NHS because to stay in they need to maintain 60 hours a year of community service (of which 20 is for the NHS). I don’t know if my son will be able to keep up with all that CS, since next year he is going to be swamped academically (with 5 really time intensive AP classes and 2 honors). </p>
<p>Since when did high school become such a game of endurance?</p>
<p>^^My current junior has been tutoring in the school’s “help” center for NHS hours. He also chose to set up/breakdown at dances (3hrs) and usher at the various plays (3-4hrs). His school requires 24 service hours for NHS, 6 for each quarter though they can “carry over” to the next quarter. He also has regular service hours required for school which he fulfills each summer ahead of the academic year.</p>
<p>But don’t you think that 60 hours of required community service EACH YEAR is excessive for National Honor Society? I mean, its not National Community Service Society!</p>
<p>Our D also does tutoring for part of her NHS requirement…unfortunately despite the number of hours involved it only counts as 1 Community Service activity, and they need a minimum of 3 NHS specific events per semester plus 1 CSF specific event per semester. It’s frustrating, especially when the organizations don’t have a variety of events/times avaliable for sign up.</p>
<p>Iglooo –</p>
<p>Yes, AP exams are administered by the school. They’re not like SAT or ACT tests that you can sign up for by yourself without the school. You can, however, take them at a different school, but it’s all up to you to find the school, get them to agree to proctor you with their students, etc.</p>
<p>The last possible day to pay for exams at my daughter’s high school was more than 2 weeks ago…</p>
<p>D’s HS community service requirement is only 2 hours a semester for NHS. HS graduation requirement is 60 hours of CS over the 4 yrs.</p>
<p>I’m joining in because my oldest daughter is on a gap year as a Rotary Exchange student. This year doesn’t count so she has two more years and will graduate in 2012. She was a year ahead (skipped from K to 2nd) so I don’t mind. Last year she took
Honors English
Alg 2
newspaper
AP world
chemistry
French 3
IB psychology (She took psychology at CTD before 9th grade and scored a 5 on the AP psych exam).
At the end of sophomore year, she ended up with a 5/7 for an IB certificate and a 4 on AP world. Also a 4 on U.S. govt and a 3 on human geography that she self studied. In S. America she will take the AP art history exam this May. She wanted to take AP Spanish after learning Spanish all year but she had to register independently at an American school for APs and all their AP Spanish spots were taken by their own students. She will be attending a state boarding school for gifted jrs and srs when she returns. She seems to have learned some math this year so she may test out of precal and do calculus next year. We’ll see… She doesn’t think of herself as a math person. I’m just hoping she’ll do well on the PSAT NMSQT next year. Last year she scored 193 and her “Irish twin” brother scored 189. He scored 208 this year. Darn! 3 points short for our state. I’m hoping she’ll be in the range. She’s more ambitious than he is.</p>
<p>Seiclan, I’m impressed that your son was accepted into NHS as a sophomore. At my kids’ school that doesn’t happen until junior year. On a side note, my 2011 son was one of only 12 males inducted this year out of 45 students in a class of 700. I was disturbed that there were so few males. I didn’t see any of his friends from his G/T classes in middle school. Is this happening everywhere or just at our mediocre public school?</p>
<p>bumping this for my pals on the 2010 who are looking for a new distraction :D</p>
<p>Apollo- for my 2010 D the NHS class was I’d say over 2/3 girls. We only induct in fall of Sr year and the app required community service and leadership. I would not call this an active club in our HS.</p>
<p>My D has her schedule pretty set for next year but is deciding between AP Chem (taking H Chem this year) or H Physics. Rest is set. Pros and cons to both. The choice is hers. I don’t want her to overload as I’d prefer her to get the best grades even if slightly less rigorous schedule.</p>
<p>jackief, did you notice that we’ve resorted to cupcakes and margaritas on the '10 thread? :)</p>
<p>As parent of '10 and '12 students, I must say, this is a crazy ride we’ve jumped on! Actually, I think some of the '12 parents should check us out in '10 so they can see that while this college search and app journey is long and bumpy at times, the end is often a cause for celebration!</p>
<p>lilmom- I am passing out the margaritas over there! Seriously, those of us in the 2010 thread greatly benefited from those who had older sibs- scualum, CountingDown, Booklady, mathmom, and others I’m forgetting. We veterans will be happy to share our battle scars here for the ones entering Jr year with their oldest. It’s scary but we got through it (with drinks and sweets)</p>
<p>jackief, how could I have missed the HUGE marg. glass! I brought the cupcakes!</p>
<p>Seriously, one thing I’ve learned from the '10ers is that there’s a school for everyone…and to look at privates and OOS. My S applied to one private college and received $15k/yr in merit aid. In the end, he chose a state school because it was a better fit. For some reason, the HSs here really push the state schools. Some teachers do encourage the kids to look into the local privates.</p>
<p>I’m looking forward to my D12’s junior year.</p>