<p>Anniezz - I was once told by an educational consultant that the ACT turns down all 1st requests for extra time just to see how serious the person is. Good luck with your appeal, it’s horrible how hard the ACT makes things.</p>
<p>ahs, my school gives them to seniors, but I don’t understand them, either. I think it’s just the top student in a subject area. I think it’s a great thing to put on a resume.</p>
<p>I thought book awards were mini scholarships meant to just pay for books.</p>
<p>Our school does book awards too. It’s all about sucking up here. I don’t suck up (I’m a PITA;) and neither of the kids do either. I think I might actually have a heart attack if my kids got anything other than the standard top 10% for one D and state choir recognition for the other D. Sports awards are done separately and the kiddos got tons of recognition there, so it’s all good.</p>
<p>At our previous school, the awards really meant something and they were sought after all year. It was friendly competition and drove them all to do well in school. I kinda miss that.</p>
<p>I’m horrified about the ACT not allowing extra time. That really bites. Sending good karma your way one your appeal!</p>
<p>Holy Proms wrldtravlr. </p>
<p>So sorry about your accommodation denial anniezz… That is horrible for her. IT is a good thing grades are more important. </p>
<p>Lol MDMom. Love how your D is testing the concept with you, D has warned me she will party in college. :0) To which I reply- shocking! My brother jokes that she will end up one of those drunk crying coeds if she doesn’t get practice before hand. I personally see her as the “I love you man” type. </p>
<p>Hello AHS- welcome</p>
<p>BerneseMtn–the books in the back of the car–simple osmosis, if you sit near the books long enough, you just absorb the material :D. </p>
<p>It’s prom today so we will be busy doing that stuff all day. It is also the end of the grace period for ACT prep, they get to start taking practice tests again on Monday :D. </p>
<p>Our school offers a class for the kids, $150. It’s more strategy/test taking type prep but they do practice tests as well. The kids took the prep classes for the April test. They won’t take them again. Not many people here take the expensive prep classes and I don’t know of anyone that hires tutors. Our school has about 90% of the kids take the ACT and the average score in the school is 25 so I think we do ok.</p>
<p>Anniezz–she may want to still take it in June, just don’t send any scores. It will be good practice and since you paid for it anyway, why not. It also might help the appeal process for a fall test if she can’t finish the test.</p>
<p>Hello Hello </p>
<p>I’ll join the torches and pitchforks brigade against the ACT and their lack of providing accommodations! That’s just ridiculous. I would call, email and do everything you can to get in touch with someone there and get this decision REVERSED! You have ample time before June 9th, and if we have to march on Iowa City (think that’s where the ACT originates…) We’ll do it! Who’s with me? ;)</p>
<p>Had a successful Faculty/Staff Luncheon yesterday at Step-D’s school. So proud of her as she was my ‘assistant’ and helped me with all of the moving parts. It was a very involved theme involving costumes, raffle items, etc, etc, and she was there on top of things every step of the way. The Faculty had a great time, so my year of planning was well worth it! lol They have drafted me again for next year, but we’ll see… I do live over 1000 miles away at this point! ha ha </p>
<p>Signed Step-D up for an individual tutor for the ACT. I won’t even tell you all how much it’s going to cost us, but I’ll say that it’s more than the $750 that I saw someone else quote. To be honest, we really didn’t think very hard about this decision. Step-D is only a few points away from being in the ‘range’ of her very top #1 choice and if this tutoring brings her score up from where she is, to the middle 50 percent (or above!) at her #1 school, then we feel it will be worth it. She gets good grades and takes challenging classes, but the testing is truly her achilles heel. H and I were in agreement. We have the $ and we didn’t want to look back and say “we should have…” Now we HAVE and we’ll see how it all works out. </p>
<p>Step-D did tell me something amazing the other day. We were out to lunch and I was saying that all I want her to be is ‘happy’ at her chosen school. She said “Calm Down! I truly believe that I will make friends and be happy just about anywhere I go. Unless it’s in the middle of Utah somewhere!” Have no idea what she has against Utah (she’s never even been there - lol) but her attitude makes me feel a whole lot better. Seems she’s not really ‘stuck’ on one place for her happiness. </p>
<p>Happy Prom to all of the Prom people today! I’m going to Disneyworld (literally) and I’ll say ‘hi’ to Mickey from all of you Lucky 13’ers! :)</p>
<p>laurendog- sounds like your step D has the right attitude. </p>
<p>My D told me something similar the other day. One of her comments was, it’s not like I am marrying the school, if I don’t like it I can transfer. Sometimes I think we worry more about fit than they do.</p>
<p>Re. Book Awards: The purposes of these awards is both to draw attention to the college that is awarding them and to give the college the contact information of a student who is eligible for admission. Typically the college contacts the high school guidance office and asks them to nominate a student. At my school, the requests are given to me (the head librarian). I contact all the department chairs for nominees and then choose the student who is favored by the faculty. Usually the schools are LACs. I haven’t seen any of the students attend these schools yet - I don’t even know if any of them have applied - but I do encourage them if I know them personally and think it would be a good fit.</p>
<p>annie: I’m sorry about the snafu with the testing accommodations. Hopefully the appeal will be successful; I think the fact that her case manager was stunned says something. Sending lots of good vibes for a reversal.</p>
<p>MDMom: you mean your kids aren’t aware that you might have had something to do with them turning out OK? I love the conversations that your kids had with you; I think it says a lot that they’re comfortable saying that stuff to you. And you know, your D might have the right idea. I don’t mean that I’m supportive of underage drinking or anything, but so many kids get to college and have no idea how to handle the freedom so they go overboard. Guess you’re not putting those quotes in their baby books ;)</p>
<p>laurendog: so glad that your event went well! And say hi to Mickey!</p>
<p>D2 is almost relaxed. 2 1/2 days left of exams but nothing too strenuous. She has a few outings planned this weekend with friends so it almost feels like summer. </p>
<p>For those of you with proms with weekend, enjoy!</p>
<p>Laurendog: I laughed outloud when I read your daughter’s comment about Utah! I used to think the same thing till I moved here. Utah is so beautiful–amazing National Parks, skiing, friendly people, and an extremely low cost of living. We are very happy here and glad that we left California behind 4 years ago.</p>
<p>Now for some good news—my DS is going to have a brother next year 
Actually, we’re going to host a foreign exchange student. I think this will be an amazing journey for both of us! My son is an only child and I hope that by our hosting, he’ll be used to living with someone so he won’t have such an adjustment to living in the dorms.</p>
<p>June 1 will see us touring his #2 choice school-University of Utah. Later in June, we will be making the trek to his #1 school-University of Colorado Colorado Springs. My hope is that he would stay in Utah but I’ve become resigned to the fact that the decision is his. </p>
<p>4 more days of school for him and then he’s officially a senior!</p>
<p>MDMom1314 - Ha! My D11 just finished her first year her first year of college in Boston. She claims that the MIT frats have the best parties…;-)</p>
<p>Ahsmouh - re: Book Awards - I think it depends on the HS. My D13 just received a book award for outstanding Social Action and Civil Engagement and her school does not give out many awards overall - only the top two kids in each academic discipline are recognized…e.g the top two in math, LA, Science, etc…the book awards give them a chance to recognize other kids that have made outstanding contributions. The book awards are usually sponsored by the College and alumni, some have scholarships, some don’t. It just helps her resume.</p>
<p>Happy Saturday/Prom/Disney/Test Prep Day!!!</p>
<p>Nell: I too see my daughter as a “I love you man”…but I also see her beating the guys in every drinking game possible…LOL</p>
<p>Ldog: LOL on the comment about Utah 
But love the attitude she has!</p>
<p>RobD: THANK YOU!! And no, these quotes will not be going into the baby books ;)</p>
<p>Boston: So Jr’s info was correct! Now if they only had a Div 1 Track team…either way, we will be checking it out after his Harvard recruiting day.</p>
<p>Ter: Not going to lie…you had me nervous for a second But good for you and your family on hosting an exchange student!! What country will they be from?</p>
<p>CIF Finals are today for Jr. Not sure how his team will do as we are in a VERY tough division. Last year, he made it all the way to State which is extremely hard to do for Track in CA. So, I will be holding my breath around 6:30 tonight…then making sure a cocktail is waiting for me when I get home.</p>
<p>Have a great weekend everyone!!</p>
<p>Mdmom: We’re hoping for Germany but he could be from anywhere in the world. This school year they had kids from New Zealand, Germany, Spain, Bolivia, China, Thailand, Japan, and several other European countries. We’re not really picky but would prefer not to host a student from Asia. My DS says that, in his school at least, they make no effort to speak English (they hang out with other Chinese students) whereas the students who come from other countries make the effort to fit in with the other highs school students (playing sports, etc.)</p>
<p>I just got back from my bank. I finally opened a checking account with debit card for my son. I’m going to have his allowance deposited as a direct deposit from my paycheck. He’ll have complete reponsibility for managing his own money and making his own personal purhases like deodorant and shampoo and stuff since I never get the right brand/scent…lol. He’ll be 18 in January and I told him that I would match what he manages to save between now and then and he can get a secured credit card from the bank. I figure the 6 months or so before he leaves for college while he’s still under my direct influence will be good for instilling good financial habits as far as credit goes. I’ve been freaking out a little ever since I saw some thread here about debit card vs credit card for a student. So many things I hadn’t even thought about.</p>
<p>Apollo 6 - thanks for the inside scoop on book awards. My DD’s was from the University of Louisville. Her school only recognizes the top student in each discipline so it did seem that the 6 or 7 book awards went to the top kids that may not have gotten a specific subject award. My dd is often the “bridesmaid” not the “bride” so it was nice to be recognized beyond the top 3 kids in the grade!</p>
<p>Hi Everyone,</p>
<p>Anniezz- I totally echo everyone else who is enraged at the decision of the ACT folks. I do think the idea of using that test as a baseline could be a good one. Either way, I think a note from the GC to the colleges is definitely in order.</p>
<p>Today is Prom prep day. Hair has been done and the house has been ready for the droves of young ladies to descend. I’m looking forward to the excitement, laughter and energy in the house… and hopefully very little Prama!</p>
<p>Then the guys come for pics with the dates and off they go!</p>
<p>Tomorrow D and I are going to the CTCL Roadshow so she can touch base with some of the colleges she’s interested in. There has been a very nice lull in college talk around here and I know she has been so glad for it. I have been too, really. I’ve been freaking out instead about ADRs for Disney b/c I have to book those first thing Monday morning. I asked her if she had any interest in having a meal in Cinderella’s Castle, totally thinking no, and she said “Yes! Yes! Yes!” with her eyes twinkling and shining. No matter how old they get, they are still our little ones inside. It was nice to have a moment of seeing that little girl shine so brightly. May it always be so!</p>
<p>Ahsmuoh- Congratulations to your D on the book award! That is fantastic!! Very happy for her.</p>
<p>MDmom - My D belongs to a sorority and they are invited as a group to MIT, Harvard, NEU and BU. MIT frat parties are the biggest but the Harvard sport team socials seem to interesting also. BU frats are the rowdiest…NEU is mostly smaller apt parties…</p>
<p>ahsmuoh - My dd is also always the bridesmaid…the books award are great way to recognize them.</p>