<p>Since we are talking about MIT, has anyone had experience with MITES program at MIT? I know it’s a competitive program to get in. But it seems like a good summer program for my son if he can get in :)</p>
<p>There is a loooonnnng thread about MITES in the Summer programs forum: </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1400439-mites-2013-discussion.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1400439-mites-2013-discussion.html</a></p>
<p>I agree with the college “drive-bys” and fitting some in even if reaches. My son went to two college sports camps, which were eh, but he got to see Maryland and Swarthmore and compare and contrast the feels of the campuses. He didn’t like Maryland’s CP campus (previously a top choice) and liked Swathmore’s (but they don’t have his major).</p>
<p>CT,</p>
<p>Thanks for the head’s up on SAT II dates. I see that the subject tests are not offered in March, so we’ll probably go with May for the lit.</p>
<p>I am one that thinks all campuses are lovely. I thought MIT’s campus was great. Yes, Princeton’s was breathtaking, to be sure, but MIT, next to the Charles River, was beautiful when I was there last August. We’ll be there in Oct. so should see some fall colors. </p>
<p>Penn was a bit odd plunked down in the middle of downtown Philly but it’s very pretty. I even thought UT Dallas was really nice-lots of new buildings.</p>
<p>Cornell and Lehigh are two of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen. My friend’s daughter hated Lehigh - did not like the architecture. Just goes to show you that everyone is different. I am trying to decide when to sign up for the December SAT and ACT. I don’t want to be closed out of our high school, but it seems a bit early now ( you never know).</p>
<p>I’m not sure what type of campus would interest my D. We’ve seen Notre Dame and UChicago. She thought ND was just OK, liked UChicago but wasn’t wowed by it. (I was!) This is going to be a long year of visits methinks.</p>
<p>D will need to retake SAT II US history, since she messed up the previous one. Here is a prelim. plan of SATs - </p>
<ul>
<li>SAT II US history, October 2013</li>
<li>PSAT, Oct. 2013</li>
<li>SAT I, November 2013</li>
<li>Jan. or March 2014, SAT math II</li>
<li>May 2014 (or later) SAT lit.</li>
</ul>
<p>her&hisMom–will give my plug again for the Oct SAT I date b/c then you can receive a copy of the test your child took. That service is offered for the Oct, Jan & May test dates but not for the other four SAT I dates. Also, you mentioned SAT Math II for March and it is not offered then. The SAT I is, but not the SAT II.</p>
<p>BTW–my son found SAT Lit challenging but he aced the CR section of SAT I. Different material obviously.</p>
<p>CT, thanks!
We’ve heard that SAT lit is very difficult. People who got 800 in CR got around 650 in Lit, not uncommon. So D’s actually not sure if she’ll do lit. but she wants to do a 3rd SAT subject, in addition to math II and one of the histories. (either U.S. or world). Foreign languages seem to be even more difficult.(She is not a science person. She took AP chem, did well. but opt not to take SAT chem.)</p>
<p>herandhis,</p>
<p>I’ll be an encourager here. My oldest son got 790 on CR and a 730 on SAT II Lit. He was happy with that, so I think over 700 is doable. He had had 1 1/2 years of honors literature by the time he took it.</p>
<p>I am planning on my 2015er taking it because it’s one of the few that I think he has a shot at breaking 700. He didn’t ace the CR (got a730) but I think last year, he took a practice SAT II Lit exam, and got 650, so I’m thinking with more experience with literary analysis, it should go pretty well.</p>
<p>D’2012 took SAT Lit and AP Lit in the same week (back in 2011) and found a lot of overlap, including analysis of the SAME reading passage.</p>
<p>Some kids are good at these sorts of tests, and some aren’t. I think figuring out which ones your kid is good at is helpful.</p>
<p>HerandHis, make sure that D checks out which SAT Subject exams she needs for the majors she’s interested in. There are some schools that require only 2 SAT Subject exams, but they need to be Math2 and a science.</p>
<p>My eldest girl scored an 800 on the SAT Lit and this was without any special preparation. My sense is that a kid who has been a passionate reader throughout his life and has had the benefit of an AP English Lit class of some sort will do well on this exam and won’t find it difficult. I don’t think that the skills required to excel on the SAT CR translate neatly to the Lit exam though. The AP is a closer match but it’s easier to score a 5 on that exam than to get an 800 on the Lit exam. I’m not sure whether youngest D will elect to take it because she will have enough others but that might change over the course of this year. Too many variables right now…</p>
<p>That’s great!! My daughter has two ( chem and bio) that she can use. She was signed up for lit along with chem this past June and decided at the last minute not to take lit- she did not know what to expect. She wants to take " a few more" at the end of junior year- we shall see as she already has two. You are right- too many variables right now.</p>
<p>Is taking AP Bio after taking H. Bio still going to be challenging? Just want to make sure my D16 does not overwhelm herself. She will defiantly be taking AP Computer Science and APWH. Need to know if AP Bio is still challenging after taking H. Bio.</p>
<p>Your D can see what’s covered on the AP Bio test and decide: <a href=“https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/ap-student/course/ap-biology-2012-course-exam-description.pdf[/url]”>https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/ap-student/course/ap-biology-2012-course-exam-description.pdf</a> or perhaps try a sample test here: [AP</a> Biology | AP* Practice Exams](<a href=“http://www.appracticeexams.com/ap-biology]AP”>AP Biology Review | AP Practice Exams)</p>
<p>seal - it’s so dependent on the school and the teacher. Can you ask around and find out what reputation the class has at your school?</p>
<p>Unfortunately no. We have a very difficult Bio teacher. Majority of the kids take either one of H or AP class. We do not know anyone who took both. But for the next year they got a new teacher.</p>
<p>Yes it really depends on the school, the teacher, and the student taking the class. I think OHMom’s suggestion is a good one.</p>
<p>Seal, does your school allow kids to take AP after H? At the two schools we know best, everyone is required to take basic bio and can then elect to take AP Bio after the intro chemistry class. In some schools, kids can go right into AP without the intro course. Is that the case in your school? Do you have a course catalog or course descriptions that go over what’s covered and what’s different between the two classes? Every school is different so it’s best to ask other parents with kids who have taken each class at your D’s school or to talk to a guidance counselor. In D’s school, APUSH is reputed to be so difficult and unpleasant that LOTS of smart kids forgo the experience. But that’s not the case elsewhere.</p>