<p>My daughter did two practice science ACT subtests. Both times she commented that the tests had passages and charts that she had read in school. I would love to push the testing back to January instead of December and do Jan SAT, Feb ACT, March SAT and then possibly an April ACT, but I am nervous that it will cut into her AP test schedule for studying. She is going to want to begin mid March. I am not in a rush to get through the testing, but at the same time waiting til senior year gets me a little nervous. I guess she will start in December and see how it goes. She can always take them again.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the great advice. I guess I need to clarify why S needs 34 and reason for postponing the test. Please correct me if I am wrong on this 
His dream school is Yale though I think any Ivy will be wonderful, others are Duke or Rice. From my research online, Ivy’s average score is about 34 and they seem to discourage taking ACT more than twice. I know some schools don’t require all scores to be sent in, unfortunately Yale does. So my son doesn’t want a 30 to show up on his report. He will be taking AP Bio, AP physics, AP statistic, AP Lang/Comp and AP US Hist this year. I feel that his scores will improve after all these classes. He scores 30-31 on all the practice exams, about 4 of them now. He will continue studying, and we will make a decision when registration rolls around next month.</p>
<p>No test studying since she took the ACT in June. PSAT comes in October and I think she’ll take the SAT around the same time so she can study for both at once. ACT…not sure when. Maybe early spring before all the AP tests and finals and maybe even SAT 2 nonsense. Next year is going to be hard. She’s chosen challenging classes and that junior year GPA is so important for the reachier schools she’s interested in. I hope she can keep a good balance, she also plays two sports and has a social life!</p>
<p>But. I know that if she can get a 32 ACT or 1400 (M+CR) SAT, she’d automatically qualify for some pretty significant merit scholarships at some schools like Temple (full tuition + research $ for summers, for instance). Same with National Merit - if she can get there, for our state last year it was a 212 PSAT I think, then that would also open up some good scholarships at certain schools. So it’s something to shoot for if she wants those options on the table senior year.</p>
<p>Ugh forgot about those SAT 11s!! Another reason for testing to be finished by April: AP tests, finals, SAT 11…Realchk: I have a family member who got rejected from Yale with a 36 ACT, 800 SAT 11s, and top 1% of his class, along with amazing leadership positions. Make sure to apply to some safety schools.</p>
<p>OHMom, man, sometimes I really wish we didn’t live in California! The NM cutoff is so high; the Bay Area really skews the cutoff. Most of the rest of California isn’t like that. Our local high school’s average SATs for three sections is between 1250 and 1300.</p>
<p>Do you have a list of colleges that give merit aid for 1400 M/CR? Since my son already has that, though I am hopeful he’ll score higher, we might want to look at some of those schools.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>^ what location is your son interested in? What size school, city/ no city etc. I have been going to the school web sites to research merit information. I also called two schools and asked what their largest merit award is- they were very receptive to the call. Some merit awards require a recommendation from guidance, while others are automatic and do not require any extra work.</p>
<p>realchk – the [Common</a> Data Set for Yale](<a href=“http://oir.yale.edu/common-data-set]Common”>Common Data Set | Office of Institutional Research) lists ACT 25%-75% range of 32-35. So there is no reason your S “needs” a 34. If he can clear low 30s his scores won’t keep him out, and it’ll be other factors that either do or don’t get him in.</p>
<p>I depressed my S15 last night when I told him the NMF cut off for international school students was 221 last year. He was hoping he could aim for our much lower state cut-off (about 214). I wish I hadn’t mentioned it. :(</p>
<p>Does anyone know why the NM cutoff varies by state? Is it a desire to have the same per capita proportional representation in each state? The range in cut offs is–if memory serves–between 15 and 20 points. They do even this out a bit by offering a commendation to everyone over 200.</p>
<p>Do you think this geographical affirmative action is fair? Reminds me of the All Star Game (go Matt Harvey!) where each team, no matter how mediocre their players, is guaranteed one representative.</p>
<p>I believe you’re correct about proportional representation. My kids have tended to be in the “close but no cigar” range but S15 has a higher bar to reach than his older sibs had so it is a little discouraging for him. I think it’s fair, though.</p>
<p>Sbjdorlo-- I’m in the same state and yes it’s really tough. Ds PSAT in sophomore year would be high enough for many states. But for this year’s to be good enough for NMSF in CA is going to be very very hard.</p>
<p>I wonder if there are people who move to a more favorable state. I wouldn’t be surprised. I live 2 hours from a state where my son would have already qualified as a soph. But here he has some points to go.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Right here on CC in the handy dandy financial aid forum! </p>
<p>Automatic: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>Competitive: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>There’s also a “schools known for good merit aid” thread, and one for less-than-full-tuition but automatic-based-on-stats scholarships.</p>
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</p>
<p>Holy cow. </p>
<p>Here are the cutoffs for 2013 if anyone is interested…Oh to live in Wyoming…</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html[/url]”>http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html</a></p>
<p>They also say:</p>
<p>**To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. **
<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php</a></p>
<p>I think it’s fair. Not all states have the same resources as others. I think it’s a good way to honor the kids who perform well under circumstances they have no direct control. Having said that though, my state - Maryland - has a relatively high cut-off (219-221 historically). It’s a tough mark to get to. My boys made it, now I am hoping D can make the cut this year.</p>
<p>OHMomof2 - thank you so much for drawing our (my!) attention to this: “There’s also a “schools known for good merit aid” thread.” I was aware of the other threads, but not this one. Good info there.</p>
<p>I think the cut off for class 2014 comes out in September. Another thing that S has to study 
By the way, there’s not many PSAT prep books out there, S is using the blue book. What do you think?</p>
<p>I guess it’s fair but in a state the size of California, resources are definitely not distributed evenly.</p>
<p>The year my 2012er was a NM finalist, the cutoff was 221. Last year it was 219. I don’t expect it to go lower, for sure.</p>
<p>OhioMom, thanks very much for the list. My son’s combo is 1420 now, so we’ll look at all these options.</p>
<p>My daughter is using the SAT blue book to prep for the Dec SAT, which will also prep her for the PSAT. Right now she is focusing on vocab. I bought a PSAT book but was told that it’s better to just prep for the SAT instead and this way she will cover both. I guess I should return the PSAT book, and while I am at it I should return the SAT 11 Lit book that she never used… Skipped the test and just did chem. Oh well.</p>
<p>Serendipitous but apparently happy ending to my son’s search for volunteer/intern work at the local university. </p>
<p>A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that my son had sent out an email blast to STEM profs asking if he could possibly do something in their labs. He received a positive response from one guy inviting him to visit, but just like one of those promising contractors who stops returning your calls, he displayed the same behavior. Dead end. </p>
<p>But just a couple of days ago he received a similar invite from another prof. He visited today, and they’re putting him to work for a full day tomorrow. So, yay!</p>
<p>I’m hoping this could be something he does for the last couple of his high school years, and maybe even beyond if he winds up at that university. </p>
<p>I hope he enjoys this, he probably will, but as an over involved parent, a college reference from a college prof won’t hurt. </p>
<p>File this under: Doesn’t hurt to ask–and ask again.</p>
<p>latchiver, what a good experience for S in dealing with the unpredictable behavior of adults, and congrats on the work!</p>
<p>D prepped for the PSAT just a little, by using an SAT book. That was the last prep book i actually bought, I’ve since learned that our library carries EVERYTHING, if not our branch than another in state, and I can just go online and request it be delivered to our branch. She can’t write in the books of course but otherwise it’s great to have the latest editions of everything without cost.</p>