<p>Time for me to crank up my obsessiveness! I posted here once or twice before. I mainly post in the college of 2016 group.</p>
<p>Most of your kids are way more high achievers than my d, so we’re probably looking at a completely different group of schools. After tons of deliberation and research we narrowed her schools to 10. </p>
<p>She’s got great grades, is a very good studious student taking ap’s and honors - standardized tests are her achilles heel. She starts tutoring tomorrow for the ACT. She’s going to take the tests once a month til she’s so sick of it she isn’t sick with fear over them. Math is also her biggest weakness, so I’m hoping it’s the easiest one to fix. </p>
<p>I keep telling myself I won’t freak out this go round, not sure if I can really do that or not. </p>
<p>" . . . After tons of deliberation and research we narrowed her schools to 10. " - eyemamom</p>
<p>Good to “see” you eyeM (I am from the College '16 too). Our DS’14 has a couple of schools he is thinking about, plus a reach, plus a state flagship safety. he recently asked how many schools he should apply to. I said, “oh maybe about ten, wait to see you accepts you and then start worring about it.” He replied, “WHAT . . . TEN. What for?” I wasn’t sure how to answer. Maybe he is right.</p>
<p>So nice to see so many new parents on the board! Welcome! D14 is upstairs right now studying for finals. I feel a little helpless–I just keep bringing up salty snacks and try to make her feel supported. Two down today and she felt reasonably well but tomorrow it’s a double whammy with AP Chem and Honors Biology. One thing that’s become abundantly clear this semester is that she prefers chemistry over biology, although I’m not convinced that the Bio teacher is one to insprie her students. Doubling up on sciences this year means that she will finally have two semesters her senior year to take something “fun” like creative writing, which has been pushed aside to meet all the other requirements. Pretty soon they will be forecasting senior year and it looks like 4-1/2 AP/College level courses will be on her schedule. She’s had 3 this year and has handled them well. I have to admit that I get a little overwhelmed looking ahead to college applications. I see how many students are applying for such a small amount of spots and you wonder how these admissions folks do it! I think I just read that Duke had almost 32,000 seniors apply for 1,700 spots! Crazy!</p>
<p>Hi all!!! I have only been on this site a couple times, but I hope to come back more in the upcoming months. I just spent about 5 hours last night perusing CC threads comparing northeast technical colleges (not MIT!)…over and over and over again, reading comparisons of RIT vs. WPI vs. RPI and occasionally Clarkson and NYPoly. I figured the more threads I read, the more the opinions would start to straighten out and line up. Not so sure it happened. My head was spinning and I feel like I wasted my night… DID get an RIT brochure in the mail today, though… coincidence? </p>
<p>DS took SAT in December and has prepared a bit more for this one, but I’m not feeling great about it. His scores are really decent, which means the difference to improve is a matter of questions. He really wants to perfect his math score and I’m worried, because he is the king of careless mistakes and I worry about him living in his brother’s shadow (he is one of those 1,700 Duke kids!). Last year, the day his bro got AP scores (we did it over the phone, cuz older brother had 3 tests, so we figured $8 over 3 tests was OK to spend), DS14 overheard, and wanted his score, too. It was only 1 test, so the $8 seemed like a lot, but I couldn’t say no. Well, older bro got all 5’s and DS14 got a 4 . He only expected a 4, but there was always hope… He DID get a 790 on the SAT II for that subject (AP Chem) and bro “only” got 780 on AP Bio, so that is great!! It’s not like I openly compare them, and DS14 doesn’t even SEEM to mind the shadow, I just worry about him and want so much for him because HE is the one who is the really hard worker. Older son is more of a coaster… Hopefully THAT will change next year!!</p>
<p>So because I have the one son who just went through/is going through it, I can maybe answer some questions about stuff, that is, if 89wahoo hasn’t answered them already! </p>
<p>I actually have a question about the SAT - anyone know if they are ever cancelled because of snowstorms? If so, does it get rescheduled quickly? Didn’t they have to reschedule SATs due to Sandy last fall? </p>
<p>Lastly, did anyone determine if it was the PSAT or Dec SAT that caused an influx of mail? Son is getting e-mails and we are getting mail with his first name spelled wrong, but the same “wrongness” on every one. So maybe he bubbled wrong?</p>
<p>Apollo - good to know about Ole Miss’ Junior tour day. I’m looking at my spring break schedule and wishing it was offered the week before! Not sure if we can make it since our Friday night reservations are in Nashville. Looks like a little over 4 hour drive between the two cities. I wish they did Saturday visits outside of the special events. Maybe we can do a drive through on our way south.</p>
<p>Welcome, RenaissanceMom, eyemamom & my3gr8boyz! I look forward to learning from your previous experiences!! </p>
<p>Eyemamom - you’ve already narrowed down your '14er to 10 schools or was that for your older kid? I’d say you’re ahead of the game with your '14er if that is who the 10 schools are for!! We’ve been looking, but by no means have come up with a list yet!</p>
<p>My3gr8boyz - I think the influx of mail is due to the PSAT. I remember that last year, too, when DS took it as a sophomore. He’s taken the ACT twice (April & June last year) and has not taken the SAT, so our extra mail is not due to either of those.</p>
<p>Speaking of testing and Classof2015’s dream. DS rode with a friend to his first ACT last April, so did not need his wallet for his driver’s license. BUT, did not think about needing his wallet for his identification to get in the test!! Luckily (and maybe I shouldn’t say this!), one of the teachers knew him and vouched for him to be able to take the test. I’m guessing that wouldn’t be as easy this year with the new requirements of picture id’s.</p>
<p>Apollo - Ole Miss just got chopped off my list but I wonder if I’m over reacting. After reading on here, which I know you have to take with a grain of salt, I got the impression Ole Miss was kind of a good ole boys, go greek or go home kinda school. We live outside DC and my d grew up in a very diverse school and life and racial tensions would be so far out of her norm she wouldn’t know what to do with herself. Of course just watching The Blind Side makes you want to go see it, and of course now root for the Ravens.</p>
<p>Our 10 is for my junior. We are starting to plan trips, tutoring, etc. In doing this with my son having the list done and places visited and schools picked by the end of junior year was truly the way to keep us from losing it. He had all apps done by early November, and accepted at his #1 choice in December. Not spending the spring freaking out was really nice. I make spreadsheets to track all info on each school and it keeps us sane and lets you really compare the info I care about in one spot.</p>
<p>We have 3 safeties, 2 reaches and 5 in the spectrum in between. Not sure the gc likes all those apps but my goal isn’t to make life easy for the gc.</p>
<p>We are a very liberal family but my kids aren’t overly concerned that they’d have trouble finding like minded students at Ole Miss. My son spent last summer there taking 4 college courses for credit for free because he had a full scholarship to their Summer College for High School Students. He had a great time and got to know both local and international students.individuals</p>
<p>I’ve been away the last little while and now find 15+ pages of posts – serves me right! DS14 has wrapped up the semester – hard to believe we’re half done with junior year! In another couple of weeks we have the annual ‘articulation’ meeting, in which DS (and DD16) will pick their courses for 2013/14.</p>
<p>DS and I and DH spent some time last week building a spreadsheet with target colleges that meet his preferences as to geography, potential major and general vibe and are more or less in the ballpark of his stats and have the potential for decent merit/FA. I also found some cheap flights from FL to the northeast over DS’s spring break (I guess we’re going against the tide:)), so we’ll check out Drexel, Lehigh, Stony Brook, WPI and Northeastern. Like eyemamom, I think having a pretty firm list by summer before senior year (and getting all testing done if possible) is a good hedge against insanity.:))</p>
<p>Good luck for all 14er’s taking the SAT this Saturday!</p>
<p>Welcome back Renaissance, Eyemamom & My3gr8!</p>
<p>We’re in the throws of finals week for DD’14 and there is much teeth gnashing and hair tearing and that’s just me having to listen to my child do the semi annual Finals Freak Out And we have extra angst tonight as finals may be delayed tomorrow if there is freezing rain. </p>
<p>Dowager–ouch! That’s a lot of driving through our rather congested Northeastern states. Look forward to reading your report upon your return, as it looks like you have a nice spectrum of schools. Reading others’ posts, I realize I had better stop procrastinating and consider booking some interviews and tours for the April break week.</p>
<p>Re: SAT cancellations due to weather. Many schools in the Northeast were still w/o power on the November 3rd test date this fall after storm Sandy. The exam was rescheduled to either Nov 17th or a date in December. While highly unusual, something to keep in mind for those planning to use late fall test dates for apps.</p>
<p>re: extended time for SATs – does anyone know how it works? D didn’t need it; S has it. He gets time and a half. So knowing him, I’m afraid he’ll end up spending a lot of time on one section then end up racing through another one. Does anyone have older kids who had extended time? Did they give themselves 35 minutes to do a 25 minute section? Any feedback/info is much appreciated.</p>
<p>My son had 50% extended time. You get 50% for each section and it doesn’t roll over into the next section. So for easy math - if the section is 30 minutes, they get 45 whether they use it all or not. Then if the next section is 20 minutes, they get 30,etc</p>
<p>He will test in a separate room with other kids with the same accommodation. One time ds was alone. </p>
<p>Apply early - we needed to prove he received the same accommodations in school, and had the testing to prove he needed it. He was also one of the only people I’ve heard who got to use a keyboard for the essay. Good documentation is essential.</p>
<p>^^^aahhh – good to know – thanks – I didn’t realize it was per section – that’s better than having the kid have to parcel it out over the whole test. Our GC applied for it Spring of sophomore year and it did take several months before we got the “code” from College Board, but it’s on his admissions ticket so he should be ok using it. Thanks eyemamom!</p>
<p>Classof2015 my DS will be writing with accommodations as well (first time for him also). He actually qualified for use of a keyboard and 50% extra time for all sections, but he only needs and wants the use of the keyboard. I spoke to the GC and he is allowed to decline the extra time, but he needs a signed note from me. I don’t know if that means he’ll write everything but the essay with the “regular” kids or if he’ll still be off somewhere separate.</p>
<p>We’re still waiting to hear back from the ACT folks. He’s supposed to be writing the early February ACT if they get their act together in time…</p>
<p>Thanks mathmomvt – the keyboard idea sounds like a good one.</p>
<p>Next step is getting the same accomodation for the ACT.</p>
<p>Poor boy this morning was finishing his breakfast before leaving to take another midterm. He said “mom can you give me some pretzels?” I thought, that’s wierd, something that salty in the morning? I hand him the bag. He looks at me like I’m crazy. “I said pencils.”</p>
<p>I can just see him at the SAT opening his bag full of pretzels packed by his loving mom…</p>
<p>Classof2015: My oldest son swears by pretzels – took them with him the morning he took his SAT (got two perfect scores) and his AP exams (11 5s and 2 4s). He also snacked on them the day he led his HS academic team to a state title.</p>
<p>Good to see some new (and old/new) faces. S3 is in the middle of mid-terms like many others. Three down, four to go. One was graded immediately, relief of an A, short lived to be made an example of in front of the class as only 7 out of 32 (she even listed the 7 in order). Was that necessary?! She takes it very personally if the students don’t do well in her class, and a personal insult, sign if disrespect, if they don’t earn an A. Can’t make this stuff up. :mad:</p>
<p>I questioned if the January SAT would have been a better option then the Dec date for S3. I waffled, but January fell in midterms and ‘h3ll season’ for his EC so I just didn’t see much additional studying happening. I think the baseline in Dec was useful. DH and I have a difference of opinion on a tutor, so for now DH is the tutor. He’s assessed all testing (PSAT, SAT, practice tests) and identified areas of difficulty, tagged them in the BBB and will be working with S3. They have set hours. I’ll let you know how this works out. :o</p>
<p>I’ve started the mega spreadsheet. So far only 5 schools. By spring break he’ll have visited all and I’m hoping none get axed. He absolutely needs another safety, and there is no clear match currently with his scores…close but I know better. There was a match, but he took it off <silent sobbing="" as="" i="" realize="" how="" much="" harder="" my="" job="" got="" with="" the="" delete=""></silent></p>
<p>I’ll have to add pretzels to the snack bag on test days. ;)</p>
<p>Classof2015: pencils or pretzels … you just wanted him to carbo-load for the big day!!! Gotta sustain that energy for the full 3+ hours! And as momreads suggests, the brain loves a salty carb :)</p>
<p>My DD is in the thick of finals week. She’s probably spent more time figuring out exactly what she needs to make on any particular final to maintain her A than actually studying. But I guess there is some wisdom in such efficiency?!?</p>
<p>So a question: I steered over to the 2014 student side of CC and discovered quite a number discussing their summer plans. These included some mighty competitive summer internships and research opportunities, etc. My girl really works hard all year, does very well in her rigorous choices, but come summer, she wants to sit on the porch swing with all the good books she has not had time to read during the school year. Now I’m hearing that the summer between junior and senior year is so important. She’s applying to two (one an eight-week and the other a two-week) but in her heart of hearts, doesn’t want to spend weeks away “working.” What are your dear ones planning for this summer? And for those of you who’ve been through this before, how important is this particular summer, anyway?</p>
. He only expected a 4, but there was always hope… He DID get a 790 on the SAT II for that subject (AP Chem) and bro “only” got 780 on AP Bio, so that is great!! It’s not like I openly compare them, and DS14 doesn’t even SEEM to mind the shadow, I just worry about him and want so much for him because HE is the one who is the really hard worker. Older son is more of a coaster… Hopefully THAT will change next year!!</p>
</p>
DS14 has wrapped up the semester – hard to believe we’re half done with junior year! In another couple of weeks we have the annual ‘articulation’ meeting, in which DS (and DD16) will pick their courses for 2013/14.</p>