<p>Kel, we buy prep books for AP. D had one for AP Lit last year and seemed to only use it for the practice tests. IMO, that is the best way to prep. What she did for AP Lit was have several works under her belt as her go to. If the essay called for a discourse on the tragic hero, for example, she had a couple ready. She spent most of her time on this. </p>
<p>She did extensively go through the Global prep book however.</p>
<p>Kel -
I buy prep books. My son doesn’t open them 
</p>
<p>Your son tests so well, I would only advise the prep books if he will use them and complete practice tests. If not, with his past experience of stand. testing, I believe he will do well without them. Or, you could be like me and buy them to make YOU fell better that they are available.</p>
<p>Rejected from TASP :(</p>
<p>Kelowna- sorry to hear about the rejection but that is one super competitive program. With your s’s stats I’m sure he will go far. We just sent my s’s app to the summer science program. Another super competition. I think this fed ex visit foreshadows my future!</p>
<p>I am in higher education. I have had college and graduate students in their sixties and seventies. It has always been an enjoyable experience for me,my colleagues and the students. You are never too old to learn. If you want to go back to grad school,do it. Of course it is important to have family support to achieve your goals. I witnessed a friend sabotaged by the man who is now her ex-husband. 15 years later she finally got the law degree.</p>
<p>Kelowna - sorry to hear about the TASP rejection, but as David1126 said, it’s a very competitive program and just applying is worth the experience. S’13 applied for just one summer program, but it’s very competitve and I don’t think they make a decision for several weeks, so we will just wait and see. Either way, preparing an application like that is worth the experience.</p>
<p>As for going back for an advanced degree later in life, I say go for it and enjoy. There is a woman I work with who started taking classes a few years ago just because she thought it would be interesting. She has completed a Masters program, started a Ph.D. program in a related field and just sat her tests to move on to the dissertation phase. I’m not sure how old she is, but her kids are (I think) in their 30s. It’s all in the journey and more power to those who want to go back to school just because.</p>
<p>Oh, I agree that the application process for very competitive summer programs is an experience in itself. Big bonus - getting used to rejections ;)</p>
<p>About SAT subject tests - when do you think is the best time to take Chemistry?
DS has completed a full year of calc based physics at the local college, so I think it speaks for itself that he is ready to tackle entry level university physics course. This year he is taking AP Chem with labs at the state flagship (what a logistic headache, by the way).
Next year he will be taking IB Chem HL. So…tackle Sat Chem or Physics?
I also would like him to look (because he is!) well rounded for the Ivies. So maybe another humanities subject?<br>
Oh well, and I wanted to be done with the testing…</p>
<p>TASP rejection here, too.</p>
<p>No summer programs here. They got “invited” to participate in “LEAD America” programs, what a joke. They don’t have time to do summer programs with their activity schedule. D literally has 2 weeks this summer where she doesn’t already have stuff going on. Part of that is a mission trip with our church that she is really looking forward to though. The rest of the summer is taken up with marching band and sports.</p>
<p>Sorry about the TASP rejections all. It’s the most competitive summer program isn’t it? D2 hit the button for the final 2 of her 3 summer writing programs earlier this week. All results due around April 1st. We’ll be away when they’re supposed to arrive so I guess we’ll have to ask DH if envelopes have arrived…</p>
<p>I thought I posted this before, but my post disappeared.</p>
<p>Found out this week, our public school is eliminating all honors courses.</p>
<p>This, after the elimination of the sole AP course this past year and the music program. </p>
<p>My kids will stay in private school as long as we continue to get merit/FA. But with my youngest in 5th grade, I don’t expect to be able to continue private for long. It looks more and more like we have to suck it up and move. I just can’t keep fighting our school district. </p>
<p>Our district is small, <100 kids per grade. The teachers are scratching their heads. In reality, the courses will still be taught on different levels. They may eliminate Pre-Calc. Aside from that, I can’t figure out where the “savings” is. I got it with the band (eliminated an instructor, uniforms, etc). I got it with AP. I don’t get it with this. The honors courses do not use different texts, just covers more. </p>
<p>Can’t wait for the board meeting.</p>
<p>Longhaul–that is a head scratcher. Whiny parents that have kids that didn’t make the cut for “honors” classes maybe?? How big are the honor’s classes vs the non-honor’s classes? Are there say 10 kids in honors vs 25 in each of the non-honor’s classes? That would eliminate a teacher if they could absorb those 10 into the other classes.</p>
<p>Longhaul- Sorry about the public school. They are making cuts everywhere! I don’t understand cutting the honors classes. In our district there are several levels of honors classes.<br>
My D is the lead in her school musical this weekend so we have been busy. She just got notice that she is a provisional recipient of a Best Buy $1000.00 scholarship. She just has to send in a transcript & verification of community service hours & she will get the scholarship!</p>
<p>socialdramamama–NICE!!! Those $1000 scholarships really add up!!!</p>
<p>Hopefully people are aware that many companies do scholarships like this!!</p>
<p>I had a friend in college that spent a week every summer writing to major companies around the country just asking for assistance in paying for college. I don’t know exactly what he said in the letters but he got his UG, 2 master’s degrees and 2 PH’D’s paid at nearly 100% over the years with some time, effort and stamps.</p>
<p>What do you mean - they will eliminate pre calc?
The highest level math class with be Algebra 2 or equivalent?</p>
<p>Just finished a great college visit to Mizzou. This was an “afterthought” visit, taken only because we were close for a competition with dd. </p>
<p>She really liked it and I had NO idea how easy it is to establish MO residency for sophomore year and beyond. Everyone was amazingly nice. This school just took a HUGE leap to the upper levels of dd`s college lists.</p>
<p>So glad we went.</p>
<p>VBCMom~ I used to work at Mizzou, and I love it! I think the school is great, and Columbia is a great town. I always just liked the feel of the city. We may make a few trips back this football season since they moved to the SEC. Good luck to your D!</p>
<p>I have a general question about the SAT vs. ACT math section. My daughter is signed up for the SAT next weekend, and took the ACT February 11. She scored a 29, with a 22 in math. She has been practing for the SAT, is doing very poorly on the math sections, and I am wondering now if she should take it at all. I know the ACT has more questions, but does not count off for wrong answers. SAT less questions, no trig, but counts off for wrong answers. D scored in the 58% for math on her PSAT, her ACT puts her in the 61%, with her subscores at 58/74/63%. Does anyone know anything else about the math sections, or any thoughts on comparing the two?</p>
<p>She will take the ACT again in June, with hopes she can improve a little in science(27) and essay(8), and maybe a little in math after some tutoring. The only reason we signed her up for the SAT was because she couldn’t gage how she did on the ACT, and the deadline for the March SAT was before ACT scores came out. We figured that she could take both, see which one she scored best one, then take that one again if needed. But, now I just can’t tell if it’s worth it!</p>
<p>The other difference between the ACT and SAT is the speed. The ACT is straight forward with the same sections given each time in the same order but you have to be able to work fast. The SAT gives you more time but the tests can be in any order and there is always a “bonus” section that doesn’t count but you never know which one it is. The SAT math does not include any trig but the ACT does. One big hint for the ACT: they reuse questions every couple years. I gave one of my kids some old Zaps ACT practice exams and one of the science questions was the exact same one he encountered on the exam. I was a little embarrassed when he ended up getting a 36 on the science section. He didn’t “cheat” on purpose.</p>
<p>@Midwestmom - I suggest taking SAT and then deciding onto which one she should focus.</p>
<p>MDWMom - Take the SAT. You already paid. Just don’t automatically send scores to colleges. And tell her to not stress about it. Since she plans on taking the ACT again, this should be viewed as a “let’s just see.” </p>
<p>Kelowna - Yes Alg II will be the highest Math. Very few kids (<15%) take above that. If they eliminate honors then kids will not start Alg 1 until grade 10. The irony is they just added a requirement for 4 years of math. So, now kids must take 12th grade, but the level of math is useless for college bound kids.</p>
<p>socialdramama - YEAH!!!</p>
<p>SteveMA - Honors classes are <15 kids. But the current schedule is NOT reducing the number of classes. Still don’t get the thought process. But now I understand why my neighbor opted to run again for the school board and has her kids in Catholic school.</p>