Parents of the HS Class of 2013

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
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<p>anniezzz: you can’t be too cautious with a concussion. One of my neighbor’s D’s got a concussion during a sport in the fall and is just getting rid of all symptoms. The mom was lamenting the major hit that her D’s gpa took in the 2nd & 3rd MP and was kiddingly asking if she could have an asterisk next to those two sets of grades on the transcript with an explanation :wink: </p>

<p>Depending on how many NMSF’s our school has, there’s not always an overlap between the top kids & the high scorers. A lot of kids with the top gpa’s are super hard workers; a number of the high testers can’t be bothered turning in homework or jumping through the hoops to get the 100’s, KWIM? </p>

<p>Professionalmom: welcome to our thread! Colleges get AP scores about a week before students get them in the mail. If you go to an earlier orientation (as my D1 did) the school makes an assumption that you “passed” the AP test & has you register based on that. Of course, it also depends on if the school you’re attending even gives credit for the AP tests.</p>

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Donivrian: I think this is one of the reasons why our HS doesn’t have the problem. Since we’re in the South, there isn’t a regional bias that Ivy’s & Top 10 schools are the end all, be all. A good percentage of people went to an SEC school, got a good education, had a good time & are successful. Plus so many people are in the music business, didn’t finish a degree and are financially very comfortable, so there’s not the mindset that if you don’t get into a good school you won’t “make it.” This years graduating class has some great acceptances (Princeton, Harvard, U of Chicago) but there’s a handful of kids each year who would even consider applying there.</p>

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<p>tx5athome- Agree with you- Looking at my siblings, which is a very small anecdotal sample, standardized test scores are definitely not anywhere close to predictions for future success. We were talking to my sister and brother last week, and they were congratulating DS on what they thought was an amazing ACT score, but he was telling them he wanted to take it again, as he wanted to raise it a few points.</p>

<p>We then talked about our own ACT scores, which were all taken in the mid-late 80’s with no prep. My brother scored a 21, went to Augsburg, a small LAC in Minneapolis that never gets mentioned on CC, graduated with great grades in Accounting, passed the CPA test the first time, got a masters in something computer-related, than later got his MBA from Georgia or Georgia Tech, I can’t remember which. He is now a COO at a medium-sized corporation, enjoys his job, owns a ton of rentals, and makes a mid 6 figure salary.</p>

<p>My sister scored a 16!!! on the ACT. She is absolutely awful on standardized tests, but did well in high school. She went to Hamline, a St. Paul LAC that also doesn’t get mentioned on CC. She graduated with a psychology degree with great grades, but did terrible on the GRE. She still got accepted into the PHD program at Minnesota in spite of her GRE scores due to her grades, recommendations and interviews, and completed her PHD there. She is an amazing and well-respected child psychologist in the area that she lives, and has a specialization with children with autism. She makes around $200,000 in private practice.</p>

<p>I, on the other hand, am a very good test taker. I scored a 31 in high school, no prep, and this was an excellent score back in the day. I absolutely know that I am not smarter than my siblings, I just happen to be good at tests, especially standardized tests. I just get how to take them. If there was a job for this, I would be very good at it, but we don’t necessarily need this skill to have professional success. I also have a nice career, don’t make anything near those two, but we all came out fine educationally and professionally in the end. </p>

<p>I just wanted to put it out there that our kids are smart, and if they stay hard-working, they will attain their goals, no matter what the ACT/SAT score, and no matter what college they end up attending.</p>

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<p>Wrldtravlr: BRAVO!!! EXCELLENT POST!!!</p>

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<p>MommyDearest, I do not believe there is a linear correlation between gpa/class rank and standardized test scores at my son’s school. However, as a general rule, I doubt there are many 14/15 year old sophomores who got As and 5s on AP Physics, Cal B, Chemistry, Biology, Lang and Lit who scored less than 1800 (first standard deviation) on the SAT, either.</p>

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<p>Wow! I have been away from this thread for over a month now because it, and all of CC basically, was stressing me out so much that I had to quit cold turkey! Too much information. Not that it is bad info in any way, it’s just that my brain gets too overloaded and then I crash. And of course my S '13 isn’t very motivated with all this, so all my reading and knowledge puts all the pressure (most of it simply perceived pressure) on me. Recently the only things I’ve asked him to do were to pick the 2 colleges for the PSAT scores, ask his teachers for LOR’s, and attend the meeting at school last night for Jr’s and what they should be doing over the summer. I have been the one anxiously counting down the days til the SAT scores were online today. I was even up at 4 am, just to see that they were “not available yet”. But at 6 am, there they were! For all his lack of apparent drive (I don’t think the overachiever book would describe his personality…) he is an excellent student and test taker. He is a math kid, and ironically on the March SAT, got an 800 on the written, but only a 720 on math. He wanted to retake to improve those 3 careless errors. Well, he did it! It made my day to see that 800 staring back at me. And he even improved his critical reading from 700 to 760!! He is thrilled. And the only prep he did was a few formal practice tests through Revolution Prep (free test then we didn’t take the course) and using a thread on CC about how to improve your critical reading score. He found that one VERY helpful! </p>

<p>SAT II’s in June, but then should he even bother with ACT? He really doesn’t want to take it, and with these SAT scores, is there any point? </p>

<p>Can anyone explain the SAT Superscoring to me? Do schools who accept superscoring ONLY see the best 3 scores? If we took SAT’s twice, do we get 8 free score reports, or only the 4? How could we have taken advantage of the free reports until we felt “done” with the testing? Do people choose to send reports after the first sitting? Sorry for questions that may seem obvious…</p>

<p>Also, I read many pages today, but am so hopelessly behind I can’t respond individually. I see so many familiarities! Asthma (though that would be me!), tennis (busy while it was happening and it prevented us from squeezing in a few local college visits before schools end), birthdays (son turned 17 on the 17th!), awards ceremonies, other graduations, driver’s test (is NJ the only state left that makes 'em wait til 17 for their license?) I should call it driver’s test disappointment because he actually didn’t pass. :frowning: What a crappy way to start your “Golden” birthday. Apparently, K turns MUST be made in 3 points. No readjustments allowed. Grrrr… But hey, that’s 2 more weeks of insurance with no “young driver”! And I’m having fun driving our new ('99) Honda Civic! </p>

<p>Girls, so far not an issue here yet, thankfully. School has become a joke since APS’s. They just finished watching Gattaca in AP Bio. B/C Calc was done weeks before AP test. And we still have school tile June 21st!! For S’14, only class of any meaning today was gym! He should’ve just stayed home. </p>

<p>As for S '16, just found out last weekend he has Osgoode-Schlatter’s disease. Any experiences with that? It’s sounds worse than it is. Knee problems, growing pains… But he LOVES that he can’t take gym for 2 weeks!! Both S’16 and S’14 will be attending camps at WPI this summer. Any experience? Frontiers and Launched. </p>

<p>How formal should “brag” sheet that is given to GC (I agree with the uselessness of the GC’s by the way…) be? All resume formal, or just something typed up neatly? </p>

<p>Sorry for so many questions!! I will hopefully keep up with this thread better this summer!! (Unless I get addicted again, of course! :))</p>

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<p>Mamabear
re Pomona – After calling a few months ago, son was told he does NOT need to send all test scores. He needs to send either All ACT or All SAT and SAT subject. If Pomona remains on the list he’ll check again, but he was very clear on the question when he called (I was there) because he was not sure he wanted to even bother with the ACT otherwise.</p>

<p>MommyDearest
My son’s school technically does not rank but they do have Cum Laude Society so we know how the top 3 are by 11th grade. The top kids are NOT the top standardized score kids. </p>

<p>I can’t say for sure, but class of 2012 and 2013 reasoning seems to be the top score kids take more standard academic subjects and therefore juggle more homework and exams vs. the top ranked who took more “small” electives with little homework and no finals.</p>

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<p>Wrldtralr: Thanks for sharing your story with us, It is nice to remind ourselves that every thing will turn out okay at the end and the hardwork pays off. I for one needed this reminder very much!!</p>

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<p>I’ve never understood the practice of multiple valedictorians. It does seem like schools are pandering when they engage in this practice. If they can’t fully get behind the idea of one val/sal, they should just do away with the honor all together as many schools have done. My D’s school has one val/sal and students are first made aware of their rank at the end of first semester junior year. Obviously, there is movement in the rankings between the time when students are first notified and graduation, but the order surprisingly remains fairly consistent. There are no online weighted classes a student can take in our system, so noone is raising their GPA through this method. AP classes are weighted 1 point, and honors/de are weighted .5. Honors high school classes taken in middle school are weighted, figured into your hs GPA, and listed on your high school transcript. No hiding from what you did or didn’t do when you took those risks in middle school. We do have some honors electives that require a considerable amount of out of school participation on the student’s part…particularly in the performing arts since D’s school houses a magnet program. D’s school is not a pressure cooker by any means, but there does seem to be some who are very competitively driven. In full disclosure, D is at the top of her class and everyone knows it. It is nearly impossible to keep that information private once grade reports are issued at the end of first semester junior year. Everyone knows the top 20 students in about five minutes! </p>

<p>Congratulations to all those who are finishing up junior year! Congrats also to all the great results in the classroom, athletic fields, and those successful in running for offices! D is running for President of NHS today! She doesn’t expect the win, but I love her spirit! She has run for office twice before with no success, but she hasn’t given up trying!</p>

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<p>my3gr8boyz, congratulations to your son on the SAT scores. Sorry, but I do not know about the rules on superscoring.</p>

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<p>D just called…she was elected president of NHS! Perseverence pays off!</p>

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<p>Congrats to all test takers no matter if the results were good or not so good. I would get about the max for putting my name on the paper and that’s about it. I think my ACT score was like a 19. Made it through college with a 3.25, so I guess I’m not a dummy afterall :)</p>

<p>DD13a got her paperwork for GSP finally today. She got her college site of choice AND her area of interest (bio and environmental studies)! Yippee!</p>

<p>DD13b had to go to the doctor today because she got bit by a spider Tuesday night and it just looked uglier and uglier. Pustules and EWWWW!! Anyway, doc said to keep an eye on it and gave us an antibiotic prescription to use should it get worse.</p>

<p>Superscoring: It is totally up to the school. Their admissions folks should be able to tell you.</p>

<p>Relationships: Both my DDs have long term boyfriends. One I like, and one I can’t figure out what my D sees in him. There is always drama to be found there.</p>

<p>Work: both my girls are working as lifeguards and DD13a is also a part-time nanny. She made BANK last year with the nanny job! No taxes. Suck it, Uncle Sam!</p>

<p>Concussions: Hope your D passes her IMPACT testing! We had a girl on the swim team get a concussion this year. She is a new swimmer who was doing the 50 fly. Her goggles had filled up with water and she rammed headfirst into the wall. She still has problems with headaches and such. Nothing to fool around with, fo shizzle.</p>

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<p>blueshoe, that’s so exciting! The camp ds is going to in July – this was his third try. I told him that I didn’t really support trying again. Argh. My these words are TASTY!! Bravo for perseverance!</p>

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<p>Well, after a disappointing morning with the SAT scores, D is at least happier now as the new historian for one of her honor societies. Her BF, who is a great kid and treats her like a queen, was unhappy with his subject test scores and lost the race for president so she’s sad for him. These kids work so hard. I hate seeing them disappointed.
Superscoring, for whomever asked (sorry, brain failed me there) is when the college’s computer receives scores from multiple SAT test dates and selects the top score for each section. So, perhaps math from March, reading from May, and writing from October. I do not believe they superscore ACTs however, though someone may want to correct me on that one.</p>

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<p>Blueshoe, so pleased for your D!! Sorry I missed that before I posted a second ago. This thread is flying today.</p>

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<p>CBGMass–our school is similar. The actual GPA never changes, just the class rank. If you never take an honor/AP class you can’t graduate #1, or realistically, higher than about 60% or so. I think its a good system and easier for colleges to figure out vs all of the weightings.</p>

<p>wrldtravlr-you could probably still get into those schools with those ACT scores but I agree, it’s what you do with your education that makes the difference, not what you got on your ACT score. I think that the importance of the ACT/SAT scores get blown out of proportion here since so many kids (or parents of kids) here are looking at highly selective schools and no, you aren’t getting into those schools with a 22 on an ACT. For 99% of the rest of the schools, you have a very good chance of getting into those schools with a 22 on an ACT (or lower for many of them). </p>

<p>Our push for higher scores on the ACT is for merit money–there, you do need a 26 or better for most schools to see significant merit aid.</p>

<p>Congrats to all the great scores, club officers, etc., etc., etc. I’ve been busy the past few days and haven’t been on as much as normal :D.</p>

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<p>DD13 received <em>very</em> good SAT subject test scores today and AP tests marked end of meaningful school work for this year even though we have 2 more weeks of school. Now on to recommendations and essays! She has a busy summer lined up and I have no idea where she will find time to work on essays or do all of the assigned summer work for next year’s classes. She amazes me.</p>

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<p>We are on FIRE today!!<br>
Just dropped D14 and her BFF to Disneyland for D’s Sweet Sixteen celebration. Not sure how the place will react with a large group of Cheerleaders roaming around. If they find room, this group is known to tumble at will or do a “tuck line” while waiting in line. Almost feel sorry for the D-land workers today…LOL
Just praying they all decide to behave themselves during dinner tonight at Downtown Disney.</p>

<p>Jr on the other hand is off to run his 2+ miles, then put an hour or so in at the gym before going back to studying for the 2nd half of his Hnrs Pre-Cal final tomorrow. </p>

<p>Someone REALLY needs to work on the schedule for next year…I am COME ON…who has Thursday off but then has school on Friday right before Memorial Weekend??</p>

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<p>U of Chicago is the only school we have come across so far that said they do superscore the ACT. There may be others.</p>

<p>Thanks for the Pomona update, longhaul!</p>

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<p>Not sure how current this is
[Colleges</a> that superscore the ACT College Admissions Counseling](<a href=“http://www.collegeadmissionspartners.com/college-testing/colleges-superscore-act/]Colleges”>Colleges that superscore the ACT - BS/MD Admissions by College Admissions Partners)</p>

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<p>I believe the SAT has been recentered. my guess is, an SAT 1240 from the '80s was the equivalent of around 1310-1320 today.</p>