<p>Thanks PRJ. I’ll keep the link, first time seeing it. Regarding the SAT IIs, I won’t be surprised when they are dropped everywhere, given so many kids take APs.</p>
<p>Great link PRJ - thanks. I agree with lake42ks, the SATII’s seem redundant. My son took both the AP and SAT 2 in World History. It just seems silly. I was trying to figure out the difference between the three different math SATs too. Math is part of the regular SAT score. Then there are two SAT II tests for math as well. I understand that if you take Calc in HS, then the SAT II 2(?) is a good test, but why take the SAT I math test when you already take a math SAT test and the college can see what classes you took and your grades. Again, seems way too test happy to me. </p>
<p>I think my son plans on taking the SAT IIs in any subject that he takes an AP in and then we’ll have to figure out math since he’s not taking calculus in HS. We moved states and the curriculum changed enough that he even though he was on track in our first state, he couldn’t do it in the second state. We are just hoping that doesn’t come back to burn him.</p>
<p>geogirl, My understanding(limited) is that SAT II’s test more of achievement, SAT I more of aptitude.</p>
<p>PRJ, Thank you for the link. Good to have them all on one place.</p>
<p>warning - lengthy post!</p>
<p>My D (class of 12) may be about to step off her HS’s traditional highest-rigor track for something different and I would welcome your thoughts. By way of background she is a 4.0 student at a small HS in a small midwestern town, with limited AP options and no honors classes. She was scheduled to take AP Eng Lang, APUSH, an integrated Physicis/Analysis class, Spanish IV and a Film Lit elective this year. These would have been her first APs - there are none available before the junior year.</p>
<p>Instead she is applying to an interdisciplinary english/history/arts/cultural studies program in a neighboring county - she will attend her home HS in the morning for science, math and Spanish, and then go to the other program in the afternoon. The program fits her to a T - designed for “independent, original thinkers who are intellectually curious and creative, motivated by real life learning experiences, and committed to having a voice and making a difference. The program challenges students to become analytic thinkers, effective communicators, successful collaborators, and responsible citizens. Students prepare for life in the global society by pursuing in-depth research projects, examining local international connections, engaging with the local arts community, and making major presentations in a variety of forums.”</p>
<p>She is beyond excited about the program and I am thrilled by her excitement, but I am just a teeny bit apprehensive about her giving up the traditional measures of HS academic success that will be familiar to college adcoms. The program director assures me that their students are accepted to some of the best schools in country and I am inclined to go with my gut and let her do this, but figured I should do a little CC due diligence 
</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>PRJ. I think it sounds like an excellent opportunity for your D. If she’s excited, what’s not to like? :)</p>
<p>It sounds great! The best way to know if it is as good as it sounds may be talking to other parents who’ve gone through the program. Someone with kids who had similar stats to your D’s and gone to the type of colleges your D is looking.</p>
<p>I agree that it sounds fantastic as well. Maybe you could ask to see how the school describes the program in their profile. Also, which GC would be writing the college recommendations? It could still be described as “most rigourous” courseload.</p>
<p>geogirl1 –</p>
<p>The Math Level 2 SAT Subject Test doesn’t include Calculus. You should take it right after finishing the equivalent of pre-calculus.</p>
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<p>PRJ, my two cents, S was on the “most rigorous” track and decided to take a detour. He chose not to take the most AP’s possible and took the ones that challenged him in his favorite and best subjects. He took the SAT once and the SAT II’s (not by choice) and was accepted to his first choice - a selective school (but not tier 1). He is happy to have made those choices as he is not one who does things in a conventional way. He is an out of the box thinker who taught me that there are different paths that lead to college. I can only surmise that the adcom looked at his application and read his essay to find a young man who was committed to his passion for music. His other stats - grades and test scores, were no different than other applicants (and maybe even not as great). </p>
<p>My D '12 is another story. She is a scholar-athlete who is now faced with a challenging junior year. APs are only offered to juniors and seniors at her school 
and she has a boatload of AP’s as well as her demanding year round sport (which she loves). She is choosing to drop her Chem AP class for college prep chem. This would allow her to balance all of her school and sport demands. </p>
<p>As I mentioned earlier, S taught me that kids can be unconventional and find success. We learned that it’s not about fitting the square peg into a round hole. It’s about finding that square hole. </p>
<p>Your daughter is excited about this and program sounds challenging and innovative! As parents, we are nervous about veering off the “tried and true” path to college. As mizzbee suggested, the GC will contribute greatly with a good description of the program and it’s rigorous coursework.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your support and advice. I will follow up with the program director to get a better sense of how they support the college app process - who writes the GC recommendation and what kind of program description they provide. </p>
<p>As a the parent of an out-of-the-box square peg, this thread with its amazingly talented round(er) pegs can be a little intimidating! Thanks again :)</p>
<p>PRJ, all of the kids in this thread are amazing in many ways. As a parent of a rising college freshman, I can say that particular thread (2010) really evolved as we followed them from their junior through senior years and now on to college. Now, some of us are here in this thread! </p>
<p>I am looking forward to the sharing of info and support in the coming year. My D thinks she wants to attend college on the east coast and I’ve been learning about the many different possibilities through CC. Some schools I hadn’t heard of since we’re here in CA. </p>
<p>Enjoy the rest of the summer!</p>
<p>PRJ we’re in a similar situation. My younger daughter is only taking one AP class (Eng.) even though her grades would allow her to take APUSH and AP Chem. I worried a bit about that and then realize, why? Even if she did well in those classes she would be unhappy and her college choices have to fit HER, no one else. She’s a hard worker but doesn’t do well under stress plus our high school just initiated a two-year independent study humanities pilot program that sounds similar to what your daughter is doing and she is so excited to have been asked to participate. </p>
<p>Colleges look at the applicants whole application and try to get a picture of who he/she is and how that student might fit in with the colleges program. Our childrens choices of classes, extra-curriculars, essay topics, etc. all help show who they are to the various colleges. The right match is what will make them happy and productive and, in the end, isn’t that what we are after?</p>
<p>PRJ - sounds like it would be a wonderful program for your DD, especially if she really likes it. Sign her up! Logistically, who drives her back and forth from one HS to the other in the middle of the day? In a snow storm? Hope it is not you!! Will this effect any of her after school acitivites? Hope not! Good luck!</p>
<p>Mathinokc - Thank you for the info. So Math Level 2 SAT subject is really for kids on the calc track as they complete Pre-calc at the end of their Jr. year. My daughter will take it then (she’s a '13). However, my son won’t take Pre-calc till his senior year, so it’s not the test for him. What is the difference between Math Level 1 SAT subject test and the regular SAT math section? These are different tests, correct?</p>
<p>Yes, Math Level 1 Subject Test is different than the regular SAT math section. I know Level 1 covers about 1 year less material than Level 2. I’m not positive about the Level 1 details because we only looked at Level 2. </p>
<p>If nothing else, the format’s a little different. The subject test is a single hour-long exam. The math score in the SAT comes from several different sub-tests (for the big SAT they break the whole test into about 10 different sections that make up the 3 scores).</p>
<p>PRJ— you should read a book that I just got done reading. It is called " How To Be a High School Superstar" by Cal Newport.</p>
<p>It is basically how to be a stand out in college admissions by doing less and being a more authentic person by doing what is true to you. It was a great book and it is so my S. One of his points is that college admissions people are so sick of seeing the same HS resumes from every student, that if you are authentic and do what you love doing, even if that means taking less AP’s and doing less EC’s, you will stand out. I thought it was an interesting and enlightening book. My S is also doing something different next year as Junior. He is going for a semester to a school called The Mountain School in Vermont. We live in CA. It is a working organic farm and you live with and go to school with 45 kids from all over the country. He had to give up a few AP’s to do it too, but I think what he will get in return will be so much more. He is very excited to go too. He is definitely not living his life for college admissions. He figures when it gets time he will find some schools that are a fit for him and go from there.</p>
<p>wow, 5boys, the program in VT sounds like a wonderful opportunity! Best wishes to your s!</p>
<p>5boys - the book sounds great. I will definitely look for it. We have good friends whose D went to the Mountain School and had a GREAT experience. she is now a rising junior at U of Chicago. Kudos to your S for seeking out this adventure!</p>
<p>geogirl1 - great logistics questions. I will drive her, or rather she will drive with me in the passenger seat, for the first half of the year. she’s just a few weeks away from getting her license and then I want to be very confident before she starts driving into the (mid-size) city on her own. we’ll have to deal with bad weather as it comes. She doesn’t have many after-school activities (her major ECs are not school-related) but she does play tennis, so talking to the coach about being a little late for practice is her next task. We met with her home school principal today to discuss the opportunity - D was all ready to make her case, but the principal had already done his research and was extremely supportive.</p>
<p>lilmom - I’ve lurked a bit on that 2010 thread - you’ve got a great group over there! We’ve got a wonderful, supportive 09/13 thread too, although we haven’t been together as long. I have high hopes for this thread over the next few years ;)</p>
<p>hi as another parent of a 12 and a regular (too regular, I do have a day job) 10 poster.</p>
<p>My 12 D2 is not a superstar but she is a great and genuinely a nice kid. I hope also that this thread can have a wide range of kids. PRJ- I also follow your great 09/13 community and I think the program for your 12 D sounds great and I hope it will work out. I am very zen about the college program. Our mascots in the 10 thread are these cool dudes -> 
</p>
<p>Anyway, my D is not taking AP in Eng or History, I do worry most about how serious the kids will be in the classes. It is a private school so we are not dealing with issues that some do, but she has already told me that they get checked on if they do the reading in regular history, where it is assumed in AP. I hope this is the right level for her. The school has been giving mroe access to APs recently and inflating grades- pushback from parents who are spending their $$ and want their kids packaged the best for college.</p>
<p>Her schedule-
AP Calc AB
AP Chem
AP Latin
US History
H American Lit
CADD</p>
<p>Enjoy the rest of the summer. Classes start very end of Aug for us.</p>
<p>Oh and for the non school/college info (always the most interesting stuff IMHO) she is getting her driving hours in and will take driver’s ed in the fall. She also had a paying job at a day camp this summer.</p>
<p>This could be a good way to prepare for the SAT if a kid starts early (or maybe everyone is doing it). For us parents, it could be a way to keep us young (mental exercise).</p>
<p>^I access my question of the day on my blackberry every morning. It’s like doing a quick crossword puzzle!</p>