<p>D just confirmed that they just finished up WWI and she’s worried they have too much left to squeeze in. Does anyone know of a good prep book for this? She’s actually telling me that she thinks she’s going to have to learn some of this on her own. (It’s a miracle that she is saying she’ll do that!)</p>
<p>In her school, they steer the kids toward APLit in Junior year and APLang for Senior year. </p>
<p>3girls3cats, my D’s school has an incredible array of classes too! It’s a shame D doesn’t have time in her schedule to explore more of them.</p>
<p>D uses the same book Maxwell has. It was recommended by her teacher. I believe AMSCO sells for a few dollars cheaper than Amazon. I also got a couple of retired exams from CB Store. I think it’s real helpful for kids to see what the actual exam looks like before taking it.</p>
<p>At D’s school, the AP Language is done in 11th grade and AP Literature in 12th grade. </p>
<p>Positive thoughts to parents with kids worried about APush. Maybe visit the test prep threads regarding self-studying for the exam for a list of study materials & websites. I remember when my S’09 had to self-study, he found this site and read through a bunch of threads while I ordered the books off Amazon. </p>
<p>Another helpful thread was Xiggi and his methodology for SAT study. We used the Xggi method to stuy for the ACT with different resources, of course, and S’09 scored a 32 his first & only sitting of the ACT. I plan to do the same with D this summer and be done with testing before the end of junior year.</p>
<p>D is taking a US History class, and the teacher said that she thought it would prepare them for the AP, but it’s not an AP exam, and not tailored to the test. She took a practice multiple choice last weekend and wasn’t very happy. So I guess there’s lots of studying in her future.</p>
<p>I have a happy news to share with our group. D made it to the state championship for Speech.
Her coach is more excited than us as she is the first one under his coaching to get to state.Her school has sent only 3 so far in its history to state.So a lot of expectations and a lot of hard work ahead.Actually iam looking for someone experienced in voice training and theatre to train her as her coach is not very experienced in speech.I contacted some people in the theatre department in the colleges nearby and some professionals too.I haven’t heard back from any so far.Any suggestions?</p>
<pre><code> D’s AP Bio class is 5 weeks behind schedule.She took a diagnostic test for APBIO and got a 3 .So she is stressed out.I ordered some books in amazon.We are planning to sit down and make a plan for studing AP bio and AP euro this weekend.
</code></pre>
<p>Congratulations tripleamom’s D - that’s very exciting!</p>
<p>My D takes voice lessons from a woman who was recommended by the choir teacher at school. Maybe you could try him or her as a resource, or someone in the music department. Good luck to your D and let us know how it goes!</p>
<p>Teacher work day tomorrow so no school! D2 is having friends over tonight to sleepover. I expect lots of giggles and nonsense, though some of them have track at 7:30 tomorrow morning- yikes! </p>
<p>D1 is heading to Costa Rica on Sat am ( part of her scholarship includes spring break travel) We live about 45mins from the airport, so she is bringing a couple of friends to spend the night, easier for them in the morning than coming from campus.</p>
<p>I LOVE having a houseful of kids- though I am sure by Sunday we will be glad for the quiet.</p>
<p>@tripleamom: congrats! A couple years ago we suggested to D. that she might do something like that. She refused. I actually think it’s important. But she said there were too many “important” things to do. :D</p>
<p>After reading testing woes on the Class of 2014 threads, we’re starting to make a summer study plan now. I do not want D worrying about sitting the ACT or SAT during 1st semester of senior year. </p>
<p>We also know which public U’s D would be happy attending since they have her major/minor along with a student body less than 15K students for undergrad/grad. Two of these school’s COA is slightly more than tuition at our flagship U. </p>
<p>Outside of this last grading period, I’m treating D as a Junior as far as college preparedness and visits are concerned, as it is almost mid-March, and summer is fast approaching, leaving us little time to visit campuses on breaks off from school next year, especially since I despise over the road travel. Flying and taking trains costs more, but worth my sanity. </p>
<p>Our goals for now thru June of Junior year:</p>
<ol>
<li>Be done with ACT & SAT II testing</li>
<li>shore up ECs, community service and D’s resume & portfolio explaining & showing her unique community service projects</li>
<li>Make contact with D’s intended major depts. regarding course of action since D will be at the very upper level in knowledge for her intended major</li>
<li>Determine which institutions D can double major without a ton of stress</li>
<li>Have all college visits done–leaving Senior year specifically for re-visits</li>
<li>Hire a college counselor in May 2014, not to locate schools, etc., but to make sure we are on the right track based on grades, testing scores & ECs/community service projects & get assistance with essays the summer before and fall of senior year</li>
<li>Begin spreadsheet of possible schools with info regarding COA, 50-75% test scores, gpa, if interview required, etc. </li>
<li>Determine which teachers will write D’s LORs. We already know she’ll get a raving LOR from her community service agency where she’s volunteered over 500 hours already since since last summer</li>
</ol>
<p>Um, yes, I’m type A (INTP), and a list maker & expert researcher. D is getting interested in the whole process as she watches her junior and senior friends begin or finish the college lottery. </p>
<p>Now to go look at dresses online with D for the Junior/Senior prom. I can’t believe they’re asking each other so early these days.</p>
<p>I would like my daughter to be finished with testing by January, if possible. We started college visits this year and will be finished by February of junior year. Spring break of junior year will be used for re-visits and interviews, if necessary. She will ask teachers for LOR in the spring of junior year, do her essays over the summer, and send her apps out in mid September of senior year. Then after she hears back she can visit again and make a decision. I am a type A as well…but I try and hide it in front of my daughter.</p>
<p>BunHeadMom, wow. That’s very impressive. I tried to approach the subject of college readiness yesterday and this led to a torrent of tears and then screaming and slammed doors. So, no visits here yet and definitely no clear path of study in sight.</p>
<p>The only thing I can say for sure is that D wants to get her testing completed as early as possible and based on what my older girls went through in high school, I agree with the plan.</p>
<p>BunHead–impressive list! I had one thought on your 6th point:
“Hire a college counselor in May 2014, not to locate schools, etc., but to make sure we are on the right track based on grades, testing scores & ECs/community service projects & get assistance with essays the summer before and fall of senior year.”</p>
<p>If you are going to go to the effort and expense of hiring a college counselor, would it make sense to hire one earlier in the process, perhaps before you embark on the round of visits? If the college counselor advises a course you have not pursued, you may need to double back to visit schools in an area you have already visited or may be rushing to squeeze in another standardized test.</p>
<p>I have not engaged a counselor so cannot offer any advice on the subject, but it strikes me that people should start earlier with the counselor.</p>
<p>Bunhead – You are super-organized and that’s an impressive To-Do list.</p>
<p>However, the way you’ve stated your point #6 sounds like you may be going about things backwards. Maybe I’m reading you wrong, but it sounds like you’re starting with a list of schools and then figuring out what grades, scores, projects and essays your D will need to shoehorn herself into them. Wouldn’t it be better to start with your D’s grades, scores, projects, and interests, and then look for schools that fit?</p>
<p>I found with my D1 was that it was impossible to predict midway through her sophomore year where her GPA, scores, etc., would end up one-and-a-half years later. So it was impossible to predict what schools she would eventually qualify for. I’m expecting the same difficulty with D2. My plan is, over the next year-and-a-half to research & visit a wide range of schools and try to figure out her “druthers”. Then, after we know her actual grades/scores (including end-of-Junior-year grades, SAT & APs), we’ll have a large list of schools to pick from and identify what looks likely & match-y & reach-y.</p>
<p>I have the same problem as mihcal commented. She may want to go to Princeton, but what if she gets a 1500 SAT?! (hopefully not, “just saying”) So I’m thinking, later this year, after she takes PSAT, SAT and maybe a couple SAT subjects, then we will talk. </p>
<p>But Bunhead you’re amazing anyway. Thanks for sharing.</p>