<p>Congrats Longhaul’s S! Congrats to the Track Stars too! Here’s hoping for good scores all around on AP tests today.</p>
<p>Walker- I started thinking that maybe we have kids at the same high school until I remembered the basement(: Our Homecoming Prince also just won the “Hottest Man on Campus” wearing “The Hottest Man you’ll never have” Banner for the girls, very tongue in cheek. Our school has very little diversity except for the gay, straight alliance and it is one of the most popular clubs in the school. Probably because The “Hottest Guy” is president (: He is irresistible! </p>
<p>As I type, I hear my D having a ball on the phone with her friend for a long time. Meanwhile a huge outline is due, a research paper and two AP test on Wednesday. My heart rate is climbing…there is a chance of Linda Blair making an entrance or I will have to take the dog for a walk.</p>
<p>Hope it was a good Monday for everyone! Good luck to everyone this week.</p>
<p>Youdon’tsay- thanks for reminding me…I think I will watch that, tape America’s Got Talent and Smash tonight myself…my intellectual viewing instead of walking the dog! </p>
<p>My s and h were getting worried, so they are going to get her off the phone (: Now I just have to find the remote(:</p>
<p>Ah yes, S’13 is quite the charmer and he knows it. But he really is a sweetheart! I wish he’d put as much effort into school work as he does popularity, but he is who he is. The funny thing is - he spent much of his elementary years in social skills classes for kids with Aspergers. He couldn’t even make eye contact until 1st grade! What really made the difference is realizing that he liked to perform. His therapists taught him to “act” as though he was actually interested in other people. lol. I guess it has paid off!</p>
<p>Here we go again! DS took the April ACT and did really well in science and math…unfortunately his reading score was horrible!!! So he will be taking the ACT again in June hoping to get the reading section to go up and none of the other sections to go down. Now on his behalf, I have to say that reading has never been his strongest suit. He’d rather do anything than read! What do you think happens if a child has 27s in science and math and does really bad in reading (17)? He’s a 3.98 student wanting to major in engineering or video game design. I’ve heard that colleges look more at a student’s gpa then they do at test scores…keeping my fingers crossed that he does better in June!</p>
<p>mommaof5–our school suggests contacting the teachers now as well. The teachers write the letters and they got to the guidance office into the kids’ “file” for applications. They are sent off with the school information. Most colleges won’t accept a letter of recommendation sent in with the child’s application.</p>
<p>I am not looking forward to these last few weeks of school. I have to keep reminding myself to be supportive and not a nag when it comes to the boy and the hole he seems to love digging for himself regarding his classwork/homework. Now he’s feeling stressed because he has so much on his plate and it’s hard for me to feel any sympathy because this could have been easily avoided. I’ve bitten most of my tongue off as a result of my attempts to keep from screaming “I told you so!!!” But it’s his bed that he made and now he has to lay in it. On the way home, I’ll stop and get tequila for me and cookies for the boy.</p>
<p>Ana, Youdontsay-I loved Smash last night! I watched it with my S and H and they groaned through most of it! I taped Bachelorette…anything good? </p>
<p>Reenaz, my S15 is exactly like that. My D seems burned out and distracted…hoping for the best! Pass the tequila! (you’d think I was a lush but I hardly drink, change may be in the air)</p>
<p>Ter-Has he prepped for the test the second time around? He has plenty of time to improve his scores! Also, people here have lots of suggestions for test optional schools. Most agree that GPA is first and foremost and he is great on that front!</p>
<p>There were a couple of weirdos, one who made it to the next round! Not a lot of drama, but one weird thing: One of the guys is a race-car driver, like Emily’s late fiance. Should be a source of tears in the weeks to come. I already have a couple of favorites …</p>
<p>SteveMa ~ thanks, that totally makes sense.</p>
<p>My ds is digging a hole also! Last AP exam today (he actually went to study group last night), so basically everything is done except he is 2 months behind on his class work that requires using the microphone in his Spanish III on-line course, of course he likes to point out that he is ahead on the written work, so he considers it all a wash. I offered to let him stay home to use our computer/microphone tomorrow, but they will be having ice cream sundaes in AP Lit, so he said no! Way to prioritize!</p>
<p>terinzak - S made a 33 first time with no prep. His friend made a 35 first time with studying for two weeks. She used the Real ACT Tests book (it’s red) not sure of the exact name and Barron’s ACT 36. I think the Barron’s ACT 36 book gives tips and strategy and son is going to focus on that. I think several of us have kids taking ACT in June. </p>
<p>On the point of GPA’s, son had some graphs that showed GPA vs Test Scores and admit rates. What he found was that students with lower test scores had a better admit rate than students with lower GPA’s. He only looked for a few schools and there were a few outliers but overall GPA’s were much more important. Also, a Yale admissions counselor told him that high GPA’s can help overcome lower test scores but high test scores will never help overcome low GPA’s.</p>
<p>Well, it’s finally starting to wind down for D. Her tennis season is over as of yesterday due to a loss in the first round of the regional tournament. They had a fine season and all are happy with their effort. Prom got off Saturday without a hitch. D had a wonderful time and she looked absolutely beautiful in her gown. Successfully covered up the tennis tan lines with spray tan from Target and the last minute removal of her braces gave her a lovely smile. I’m still recuperating from the long night and stressful week she had with tennis and AP testing. D handles stress way better than I do. I had a chocolate binge the last couple of days…so mad at myself. Last AP tomorrow, and she only has one state test this year. It is US history of which she has already taken a SAT subject test and an AP test, so state testing should be a walk in the park. Still a month of school and week of exams left for her, but she is on the down slope of the mountain.:)</p>
<p>Re Smash…Karen got to play Marilyn!!! and Ivy was contemplating a bottle of pills as the lights faded to black…
Hope this didn’t spoil it for anyone who taped it…but i was asked…
Great Season …can’t wait for Sept opening…</p>
<p>I love what I call Evening Soaps…keeps me from stressing over D…</p>
<p>I think anything that distracts from watching the kids make choices we all “now at our age” wouldn’t make is really good! I’m still trying to find what works for me!</p>
<p>Megpmom: Congrats to your son!!! Love his outlook on life!!</p>
<p>APs: Jr had the “O” test but said that it didn’t seem that much harder.
One of his friends struggled with a FRQ and decided to write the following:
“I have absolutely no idea what the answer to this is, and I hope this won’t effect my grade, but please enjoy the following…”. He then proceeded to write out the lyrics to the song “One Week” by the Bare Naked Ladies</p>
<p>Smash: I am completely addicted, but had to DVR the episode as it was our Anniversary and opted for a date night instead ;). Will try to scroll fast so I don’t spoil it…but I am ROOTING for Karen!!!</p>
<p>MDMOM: I imagine the test graders will get a kick out of that! Our AP Bio teacher feels like they were field testing some questions for the curriculum changes next year (like the question on epigenetics).</p>