<p>RobD–well, our kids aren’t applying to any schools on that list so we should be good to go, right :D.</p>
<p>Cool chart, Rob. I’m confused by ds1’s school. Shouldn’t the acceptances + denials + WL = total apps? Wonder why it doesn’t add up? Am I to assume almost 2,600 got WL’d? Doesn’t seem right.</p>
<p>Ds just got home excited that he got a high 4 on their first practice BC Cal AP test. 
They’re doing 10 in the weeks leading up to the AP test.</p>
<p>That table is scary. Looking at the number of rejections at some of those schools! </p>
<p>Congrats to your D, blueshoe. The governor’s schools in PA were among the first casualties of the budget crisis several years ago.</p>
<p>^YDS: I was told that total apps also includes kids who did not send in everything complete. So they may have sent in Common App but didn’t get transcript, etc.</p>
<p>SteveMA - Thanks for checking on the school. Going to check out Kansas Weslyan’s info for sure. </p>
<p>Sacchi - You don’t know this but your post just put a year’s worth of planning in the trash bin. I don’t know how I missed that BU information, but it seems that Step-D will be taking three subject tests on May 5th NOT to enhance her application to the only school that wanted them. le sigh… I just called H and he said “let her take them - they are paid for.” Comforting myself by telling myself that excellent scores will enhance her application anywhere. sigh, sigh, sigh. Really want a margarita right now!!!</p>
<p>How does the Common app work? Is there a date on which one should access it and start filling it out? Are there essays within the common app? I keep hearing about suppl. essays, are these in addition to some standard essays? when do we know the topics? What about the teacher recommendations, do we print out some standard form from the common ap and give it to the teachers? I think I am beginning to panic.</p>
<p>Hi all, </p>
<p>Thank you for all the information about the SAT required colleges etc…
Congratulations to every one who got accepted to different summer programs.
RobD- thanks for the link- scary numbers!!!</p>
<p>We had been to northeastern today. S didn’t get all excited about it after the visit. First, he thought the campus is very dry- lot of building and no greenary. We specially toured the college of computer science. The program looks promising. The assistant dean, who presented a slide show said that the college of computer science is the most difficult program to get into at northeastern. This year they had about 1200 applicants out of which they are looking for a class of 140… So a highly competitive program.
Few things we liked-
The opportunity to combine majors. So you could major in computer science+ math/physics/economics etc etc…and can take the classes within northeastern campus.
Second, the co- op program. Very promising. 100% placement etc…
My S came out of the tour and felt that he could apply it and it would be a safty(mostly) that he will be fine to attend.
He really liked the academic part. So we are keeping northeastern in our list.</p>
<p>Tomorrow to Tufts and MIT</p>
<p>Occasional lurker here, just wanted to add that another reason to take SAT IIs is because it can beef up a dismal AP score. For instance, let’s say that for whatever reason your student bombs the essay section of the AP or simply isn’t a great writer but is an excellent multiple choice test taker (this is particularly good for LD kids). An SAT II is a great way to “prove” that your child knows the material. DS1 scores near perfect to perfect scores on SAT IIs (780-800), while his AP scores are almost evenly distributed between 3s, 4s and 5s. He scored a 33 without any prep the first time he took the ACT–but he didn’t take the writing section. So, he knows the material, he simply doesn’t do well writing it (even though he scores 99th percentile on “writing” sections of multiple choice standardized tests. Go figure.) Most colleges allow score choice. So if a critical AP score is lower than you had hoped, but the SAT II is much higher, you can submit those SAT IIs and show a higher fluency than the AP score might reflect.</p>
<p>A point about the “recommended” Subject Tests …</p>
<p>At one of those receptions for selective colleges (can’t remember which one), we were told if something is “recommended” you should consider it required. I noticed that Descartez’s list of schools that “recommend” Subject Tests includes CMC, for example. On the link Rob posted, CMC has an overall acceptance rate of 13%. If my kid was applying there you better believe I’d be doing everything possible to increase his chances, and that includes having him take and send STs. And this goes for “optional” essays. You need to demonstrate that you really want to go there, and going the extra mile helps do that.</p>
<p>ETA: Ds just said they also took a practice AP Latin test, and he got a 4. He said that if he knew he could take that score and not worry about it again, he would. lol. Wishful thinking. But it did make me wonder … anyone know how the AP Latin test might correlate with the Latin ST? Ds1 took the AP but not the ST.</p>
<p>Hi, everyone, DD is signed up for the Chem SAT II in June and will probably do the Math II test in the fall. DS12 did well so we’ll try them for her!</p>
<p>My DD is also signed up for Math 2 and Chemistry SAT Subject tests in June. She took AP Chem this year so I don’t think she’ll have to do much extra preparing. Math 2 is a different story though, I’m sure she’s very rusty on some of that material. She may end up tacking Physics onto that list, but she’s not taking Physics C until next year so I’m not sure how much extra preparation she’d have to do. The only program on her list that would require it is Northwestern’s ISP, so we’ll have to look into that a little more and then decide.</p>
<p>You have all been very busy the last two weeks. We are back from our family vacation. I will not be able to go back and catch up on everything and still sleep tonight. </p>
<p>I did read your suggestion finearts about the IB extended essay. I love the idea. D will work on hers this summer as well. I will talk to her best friends moms to see what they think about this. I also wanted D to get most of her apps done/ready to go by Sept since she will be leaving in Oct for Spain (also taking away from extended essay time). </p>
<p>D is alreadying having her IB meltdowns. Crying right now as she realized she has her Econ and Math exams in just over two weeks. Sigh- drama.</p>
<p>Nellieh, is she taking IB exams for econ and math? The nearby school district which offers IB program, where my friends son goes, doesn’t let them take their IB exams until senior year. Just wondering whether your D’s school has a different policy</p>
<p>Congrats to your daughter Blueshoe.</p>
<p>I agree with YDS. “Optional” and “recommended” mean “Do it if you want a real shot” in my opinion.</p>
<p>Still debating on Chem SAT II in June. The AP teacher says there are some differences from the AP Chem test, so she decided not to take it in May, allowing more time to study, but she has a great US Hist SAT II score, and a decent Math Level II score, so it may not be necessary. I am trying to convince her the Math score won’t hurt her in admissions and she doesn’t need a third score as she is not looking at engineering.</p>
<p>Older D went to PA Governor School before the program was cut. It was a great experience. </p>
<p>perrazziman, the common app essay questions don’t change much from year to year, I don’t think. There are 6 prompts, the last one is write about a topic of your choice. They are pretty broad - write about someone who influenced you, or a character from a book, history, etc, experience in your life, the site is commonapp.org. The website does not have next year’s application up yet. My oldest 2 didn’t use it; many of us will be new to the process, we will figure it out with our students! I think schools handle recommendations differently, your child will have to find out from his high school how they do it. Way too early to panic! Individual colleges will have their own supplements, those will be available on the common app site later on.</p>
<p>Thanks mamabear1234. It is our first and only child so we have no experience with the common app. process. Does this mean we have to wait until the ap is up, before asking teachers and counselors for letters of recommendations (lor)?</p>
<p>Congrats Blueshoe’s D! </p>
<p>Subject tests: DD is signed up to take them in May, right before the APs. She will take Math 2 and Bio. DS12 did this last year and it worked out. Of course, I could be wrong with DD13!</p>
<p>Longx3 - my DS12 is a marine bio kid. You might also want to look at SUNY Stony Brook and Hampshire College as they have a marine bio degree programs. Hampshire is part of a consortium with Smith, U Mass Amherst, Mt. Holy Oak and Amherst. It is very bohemian in nature and offers a nice alternative. SB has a good program too, but that is our home town school and DS was not interested. Having said that, my DS12 is going to U of Miami for marine bio in the fall and we are totally excited for him. U of Miami is a double major program in Marine bio and either bio, chem or geology. The semester abroad in the Galapagos Islands or Australia where top selling points to DS. Generous AP credits make that possible. Also, for relatively high stat kids they offer generous merit aid: 16K, 20K, 24K and full ride. It is still expensive, but it is a FASFA only school, so financial aid is there too. If your DD decides to apply to Miami have her apply EA, there is no obligation on her part and that is when they give out the most merit aid. Good luck!</p>
<p>Common App: The common app is a pretty well managed program. Due dates are on the site and stated very clearly as you long into your application. For kids who write well and easily, it is pretty easy. The hard part is the “knowing yourself” essays. The essays do require kids to think deeply about themselves, and let’s face it, how deep can a 17 year old be? DS12 started the process in Sept, applied to 8 schools and did everything he needed to do. It was not easy at times, but he is a very independant kid and he owned his own process. If you are applying to more schools then it can get more difficult. I am expecting my DD13’s journey to be more difficult as she is less organized.</p>
<p>Perazzkman - what worked for us last year with DS was that we identified teachers in junior year and then asked for lor in Augusr after first few weeks of school and before they had requests from other students. We plan to follow same process this August with DD. We have 3 potential teachers right now that we might ask for the lor. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Donrivan- IB tests are typically done at the end of a course. The standard levels are a one year course (Math, and ECON) so D is taking those exams this year. Higher levels are two year courses so D will have a boatload at the end of senior year. I am nos sure if that is just how we do it here or not. I confess the degree requirements are a bit confusing to me.</p>
<p>What laccrossemom said! Also, DS wrote letters to the three teachers, basically asking them to write the rec and giving a brief review of how they knew him (some were teachers and coaches). I think it worked well.</p>