Parents of the HS Class of 2015

<p>I’m sure that’s true for the practice tests, but the actual study part is kind of worthless unless you already know how to do things. For instance, they give you a math point that is covered on the test and show you a couple of examples of what those are (not to work out, but here’s what they look like) and then maybe a single practice exercise if any. I was going to try to go through a chapter a night but a chapter on algebra had 10 pages of dense reading with no real practice. I don’t think the SAT math is that hard that anyone who was able to do well in Algebra II should have trouble with it, but everyone forgets how to do things over time, so I really prefer to use a study guide with more hands on practice. Just reading about it would be perfect if you could say, “OK, I’ve got that” and move on.</p>

<p>Actually the SAT tutor who made that suggestion ^ to us only tutors English- I forgot. She will be starting with the math tutor mid August- not sure what he will recommend.</p>

<p>I haven’t looked at the English part, but that may be better.</p>

<p>Laclos,</p>

<p>I’m so glad to hear your D is beginning to feel better after the antibiotics began to kick in.</p>

<p>I went back to my son’s account and now see the breakdown of the writing score-yikes. He only got a 5 on the essay. :frowning: He got a 76 on the multiple choice. He literally just began to write this year after many years of doing nothing. Sounds bad but when you’re dealing with depression and disabilities, you do what you gotta do. </p>

<p>He worked with a tutor for about 16 weeks just to get him to be able to write a 5 paragraph essay. He only managed to write 4 and obviously, didn’t do well. </p>

<p>On the upside, for the PSAT, that would be a 218 which is in range of NM. Gotta look at the silver lining!</p>

<p>Now I need to decide if he should do an online writing class or just take English at the local CC. Since they don’t make you take a writing test as a part of the diagnostics, he tested into honors English-not! :-(</p>

<p>Disabilities are quite interesting to deal with!</p>

<p>Sbjdorlo, do you know what sorts of skills the tutor worked on with your son? How does he do with memorization? For purposes of the SAT essay, I think having a canned response that can lend itself to a variety of prompts may be the best answer. That removes the anxiety of crafting an essay on the spot and it allows the writer more freedom to focus on the very specific (and not very developed) form the readers want. Taking a writing course might actually get in his way because reading between the lines, I’m thinking he has more than enough ability already. He just has to craft an essay on his own time and then essentially memorize it and shape it as needed. </p>

<p>Of course it’s entirely possible that I am projecting my own D’s perfectionist and anxious tendencies. :)</p>

<p>3girls3cats, My D loves ballet and modern dance, but is a realist who also wants a career that affords her the ability to make a decent income. D knows that will not happen for her as a professional dancer. It does not mean she does not wish to dance professionally, but not long term. We know we’re looking at a 5 year college plan for her so if she auditions and is accepted into a BFA program, she also wants the ability to earn a second degree (frowned upon by most top programs) or minor in a science field to prepare for a career as a PT/DPT. </p>

<p>If she chooses the BA route, a double major is within reason, BUT, that will make dancing professionally a bit more difficult. She could get commercial jobs or tour with a pop singer, but any chance of performing with a decent company most likely won’t happen. </p>

<p>If she does well GPA/MCAT-wise, D will apply to medical school to become an orthopedic doctor or podiatrist. </p>

<p>If medical school is not an option, then she’ll dance if able, then return to school for PT/DPT, become certified in various fitness areas, get hired by a practice or hospital, work as a fitness trainer on the side to save money towards opening a training center by day and dance company by night. </p>

<p>Dreams of the young!</p>

<p>Wow Bunhead your daughter really has it together! At least she is picking fields that are alike ie medical fields in addition to dance. My daughter can go from medicine to law in a flash. It gets me nervous, although I know that it shouldn’t. I really want her to have a major when she applies to school, but I realize if she does not it is ok- all of the schools say that the most popular major is " undecided." Funny- all of the dancers that I know want to become PTs. That’s a great field to go into, and a lot of schooling as well. I suspect that ultimately my daughter will double major in bio/Spanish, or minor in Spanish. She does not want to give it up.
I agree with 3girls about crafting an essay in advance that can match most prompts. That might be easier than creating one on the spot. SBj your son sounds like he is doing great!</p>

<p>Re college essays in advance. At my kids’ high school, many take AP language and composition as juniors, and one of their assignments is to write a college essay. Anyone else do this?</p>

<p>Now that the year is winding down, we are officially in the territory where it’s perfectly normal to visit colleges. We areno longer over anxious sophomore parents. Yikes. </p>

<p>Anyone trying athletic recruitment? Next week my son will attend a lacrosse event at which college coaches will evaluate participants. He’s a decent player, who started later than many–a project as they say. Kids are coming from all over to this event, but it’s local for us, so he thought it would be worth a shot at no great expense. I’ve heard that if you’re interested in a Division III school, and could conceivably make the team, it’s worth contacting the coach to express your interest. The coach will have a say, but at the top academic schools, it’s no guarantee. It can be added value if you are otherwise competitive for admission-- a tie breaker like being a legacy. You normally would have to apply ED. If the coach is going to make a recommendation he or she wants a commitment.</p>

<p>Latichever- there are certain classes ( not sure which) in our HS that have the kids work on their college essays during junior year. Yes you are right they are juniors!! Technically this means that I can discuss college without my daughter saying " you know I am a sophomore."
Recruitment for sports is tough- I always see parents videotaping at games so they can share these videos with the colleges.</p>

<p>Wow , it is easy to fall behind on this board!
two girls, I’m glad to hear that that your D is feeling a bit better from her wisdom teeth removal. Hopefully the recovery will accelerate now! I’m with you on being glad that it is now ‘legal’ to be looking at colleges since the kids are now officially rising juniors. I want to visit some this summer, but D is not enthusiastic about it. She says no one else is doing that yet that she knows of. </p>

<p>On the tests scores, I would definitely be checking those scores! lol I wouldn’t really think of it as a privacy thing. She’d be telling me the scores anyway, it wouldn’t be a secret. Besides D is the type who would look them up and then forget to tell me about them. I could imagine hearing,“Oh, yeah mom, I got those a couple days ago…” . </p>

<p>Bunhead, I was just watching a documentary (Netflix) about try outs for ballet awards and scholarships. It seemed pretty intense. Those kids really work hard, and it was so exciting to seem it pay off for many of them.</p>

<p>I think the College Board blue book is the one that Khanacademy reviews, question by question. So if you don’t understand a question you can get them explained there.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Yep, my kids’ HS does this and again senior year in AP English Lit.</p>

<p>3girls3cats,</p>

<p>My son does sound like your daughter. He is a perfectionist, is very hard on himself (he thought his SAT score was awful-sigh), and said the way they make you write the SAT essay is “stupid”…</p>

<p>I love your idea of crafting an essay ahead of time. Yes, he could memorize that. He knows Lord of the Rings well; I will suggest that he craft an essay off of that and then adapt it to the topic (if possible!). He can overflow with ideas and just can’t organize them in time.</p>

<p>He does still need to write, so I will definitely be looking for a composition class of some sort for this year.</p>

<p>I appreciate the feedback very much!</p>

<p>Sbjdorlo, yes that is my daughter exactly. She overflows with ideas and then takes enormous amounts of time organizing those ideas into written products, which naturally never measure up to what she wants from herself.</p>

<p>BunHeadMom, again I have to say wow. I won’t be able to articulate this well but I’m awed and also encouraged by the way your daughter sees her future. When I hear about a young person like this I feel like there is hope for the world. I love that she has such talent and is devoted to her art and that she is planning to find a way to keep it in her life along with whatever else she does professionally. </p>

<p>Latichever, no, no athletes in this family lol. Actually, both my older girls turned into athletes in college, one serving as captain of the track team. I hear that at D’s high school there are specific counselors who help with athletic recruiting because that path has become so popular there. It sounds grueling but very worthwhile.</p>

<p>New to this thread. My older son has graduated and has orientation next week, and My younge son just got his first Test score, so I’m starting to think about us starting the search all over again. So HI.</p>

<p>Welcome, Disneydad! Here you go again, right? :slight_smile: My oldest just finished his first year in college. I also have an 8 year old.</p>

<p>Greetings and welcome! I have a S11 and a D13 plus some younger ones but with the first two settled, I’ll be focusing on S15, at least while he’s home for the summer before leaving for boarding school.</p>

<p>Welcome Disneydad! I have a D12 who just finished her freshman year, and a D15. My D15 just started talking about colleges about 10 minutes ago. I think that she is ok with it now because she is no longer a sophomore- but a few days ago it was not ok. Go figure!!</p>

<p>Thanks for the welcome words.</p>

<p>Hi Disneydad, With Disney in your name I wonder if you are in California or Florida, or maybe just a Disney fan.
We are in Florida.</p>

<p>Sigh. I found a very good school for my daughter here in VA. It hits a lot of points, most importantly in that it offers a full tuition scholarship. It’s even located near one of the sister schools of our karate school which would mean she socialize or even make some money teaching there. But it’s an all girls’ school which makes it a no go. I feel like we’re on that show Love it or List it and I am trying to locate places that hit all her wish lists without breaking the bank, but one of us will have to compromise. I keep telling her that the community college needs students too…</p>

<p>I feel like I’m too new to this thread to welcome anyone, but what the heck. Welcome Disneydad!</p>