<p>Hey collegemaw…look on the bright side…since the PSAT will take up most of the school day, there won’t be too much homework the night before and your kid can come home from soccer, shower and go to bed. Plus, there won’t be any time to be nervous and most kids do better when they have a million things going on. See? It works in your favor :)</p>
<p>More on summer programs…wow, I am blown away by some of these experiences. My D’s summers have been going on a cruise after school ends, then playing in a tournament every weekend where she plays 3-5 games a day in 100 degree heat, goes out to dinner with the team and then they run around the hotel giggling and playing ding dong ditch at the coach’s door. Maybe she should start looking at lower end schools lol ;)</p>
<p>twogirls – if you press your D to go to the college fairs, will she do so cheerfully and put on her best face? I figured out long ago that there’s no point to making my D do stuff like that if she’s going to be resentful and sullen! I can tell her about it and maybe do a sales pitch, but she’s got to buy-in that it’s a good idea or else we’re better off just staying home.</p>
<p>My daughter’s school has a football game ( away locally) on Friday night (PSAT is Saturday morning) which means she won’t be home until about 9:30. Friday night will consist of her tutor, followed by her game, followed by a football game. I guess she won’t be eating fish for dinner!! I am kind of hoping that when she comes home she will allow me to read vocabulary to her for 30 minutes before showering, but who knows. I just hope that she does not walk in and think she is staying up until 1:00 am doing hw. </p>
<p>The summer programs that some kids do are unbelievable. I am with you Keepme!! LOL I understand your tournaments because my older one had that going on ( softball). </p>
<p>If my kid has a relatively light hw night and no tests then I can get her to at least one of the college fairs willingly. If she has tests the next day I will not make her go, but I am hoping that at least one of the fairs will be on a night where there are no tests. There are two schools that will be at these fairs that track interest big time so I would love for her to say hello and leave. We have already visited these schools and plan to go again during the summer, but I would love to have them be able to place her name to her face. I am also hoping that they come to her school. </p>
<p>She did her SAT work without complaining and is now doing SAT science so I can get some sort of sense as to how she may do. She already took a math baseline and next I will get English and reading ( but not today). I am shocked at her good mood- I think it is due to the fact that school is closed tomorrow. She did two science sections in the summer- one timed and one not. </p>
<p>My house and my life is now turning into a shrine to my daughter. I have to remind myself that I do have another kid ( away at school) who also needs my time LOL. She needs to keep her grades up because her major requires grad school right away. She also just sprained her ankle while running and attempting not to collide with someone ( always something). </p>
<p>I see lots of parents at the field videotaping their kids. The sports world and college admissions is very very competitive- lots of amazing athletes out there. Occasionally one or two rise to the top and get full scholarships to play, but it’s hard. In the past three years we have had 4 girls getting full scholarships: 2 for softball and 2 for basketball. The remaining athletes ( who were amazing) burnt out and are no longer playing competitively in college. The two softball scholarships were to local schools. Basketball had one in NJ and one in MD ( UMD-BC). My older one was a 3 sport varsity athlete with her share of softball travel tournaments, and now just plays for fun in college. She had no interest in being on a school team.</p>
<p>You guys are making me nervous with the talk about summer already but I know you’re right to look now. My sister usually had summer plans finalized by February for her kids when they were young. </p>
<p>D has to complete an internship for her STEM program. The program usually helps in finding one. She has contacts in a couple of places. I found an outside one for her to apply - just for kicks - she’s interested in finding a few more.</p>
<p>Anyone know of high school internships (residential) in environmental science or biology research that are not biomedical and not cancer-related? </p>
<p>Last summer she spent four weeks living at a state parks volunteering in the Youth Conservation Corps and did a couple of short one week summer programs. August was almost totally unscheduled - that’s when I got the study books for the SAT and ACT. </p>
<p>Right now, D is working on a short story for a little scholarship. I think D is discovering she likes putting together characters and figuring how they interact with each other in certain situations. She’s definitely having fun with this little piece; I think she’s a good writer but she had set writing/story telling aside because of all the STEM emphasis. I’m glad she’s taking a baby step back to it.</p>
<p>You made me nervous, BHM! Fortunately, the CLV staff applications don’t come out until December. He should be able to fill it out while he’s home on break. It is a good idea to remind him about LORs. Thanks!</p>
<p>@Slacker, I used to feel so strange planning for summer even before the previous winter started. I still do. But the problem is by April, the deadlines for most good summer programs will be passed and she’d be stuck home with us. This year we have a little different approach. We decided if she doesn’t get into a good and free program, she WILL stay home. We’ll try to find her some local volunteer work for her, or a job, even though she’ll still be a little too young for a job. but who knows, if the job market desperately needs people (haha fat chance). The thing is, in order to be even considered in any good and free programs, we have to start now. </p>
<p>D. had a great time at homecoming dance. This is the first time she had a “date” and he is truly a beautiful date. Now the party is over, back to work.</p>
<p>You made me nervous, BHM! Fortunately, the CLV staff applications don’t come out until December. He should be able to fill it out while he’s home on break. It is a good idea to remind him about LORs. Thanks!</p>
<p>Collegemaw – I would ask the opposite question: Why did the school schedule homecoming for the week of the PSAT? It seems a matter of priorities, IYKWIM.</p>
<p>We are enjoying the long weekend, though it hasn’t been nearly as productive as I would have liked. Of course, the weekend isn’t over yet.</p>
<p>D has had her permit for about 15 months, and is ready to take the test, but I’m being cheap about paying her insurance, since she can’t have a car at school. So now she hasn’t driven for a month. We have to get her back behind the wheel soon. Grandpa took her out in his sports car over the summer, so she can drive our cars and feel deprived.</p>
<p>I have an event for my alma mater this afternoon, and I’m dragging D along. I’m making her dress in something other than jeans and a t-shirt too. I leave for a 2-week business trip on Thursday. I hope she is organized enough to put it all together with me gone, and doesn’t get too distracted by her other parent, who doesn’t keep her schedule. (That’s my job. He has his own schedule to worry about.)</p>
<p>D had yet another EC disappointment this week. It does seem that this kid just can’t get any breaks! First quarter is over on Tuesday, and the results will be good, but not as good as I (or she) would like, I think. There’s still time.</p>
<p>Slackermom, you sound very much on top of things! If you are the “Slackermom”, I hate to think who I am! My D likes writing too (even though she wrestles with it). I tried to nag her to submit something to Scholastic last winter and she kept putting me off. Finally I told her that it was up to her and I would no longer say a word about it, that if it wasn’t something she cared about that was her decision. She did end up submitting something and winning a regional gold key. Now the submissions are open again and I’m afraid to say anything. Good for your D!</p>
<p>Keepmecruisin, those summers sound impressive to me. </p>
<p>IJustDrive, sorry for your D. She’s bound to get a break with the ECs soon. These ups and downs are just the way of things sometimes. There’s still time. :)</p>
<p>There’s no long weekend here. D had a relatively low key day yesterday. She got together with one of her GWC buddies and they socialized/worked on their app. The girl told D that the PSAT cutoff was 233 this year! LOL! What a great way to make 223 look “easy.” (J/K!) She has an AP Comp Sci exam on Monday so today will be a bit busier I think :)</p>
<p>D finished her last practice PSAT this morning using 2013 booklet school gave out. She thinks she is ready to go. So, no more PSAT preps for her. Yeah!</p>
<p>If I get through junior year without developing high blood pressure it will be a miracle. I try my best to get to the track or walk the treadmill a few times each week. I feel as though each day is filled with stress.</p>
<p>3girls I think it is your daughter who struggles with the SAT essay despite being an outstanding writer. Get this: Friday my daughter had a sub in one of her classes. The sub was actually a teacher at the school who was asked to fill in. The discussion turned to the SAT essay where this teacher stated that the most important thing about the SAT essay was the handwriting, followed by one or two great introductory paragraphs. She stated that the SAT readers only have 2 minutes per essay and they only really look at the " gist" of it- not the detail. Is this true?? My kids handwriting stinks.</p>
<p>I scored her ACT science and was happy with the result. I can now cross that off the list until the PSAT is finished. </p>
<p>I have been getting my kids a flu shot even though they are not high risk. The thought of having my junior miss a week or two of school gives me the shakes. She gets her shot tomorrow.</p>
<p>FromMD how long is the PSAT? I want mine to complete the booklet that the school sent home but I won’t ask today because that would be pushing it. She has already done 2 hours of SAT work and 35 min of ACT work. Now she is frantically listening to Spanish. </p>
<p>If she gets to it that’s great, and if not, oh well…</p>
<p>twogirls - about 2 1/2 hours from start to end. D started at 9 and got it done (including scoring) by 1130. I think it’s one of the retired exams so I highly recommend it before the real thing.</p>
<p>D is working on the PSAT practice test now. I didn’t say a word to her this morning. Help, an alien has stolen my child. She has matured quite a bit this year. I think her recent visit to Penn was an eye opener on the type of Unis available. She also connected on her visit to our state flagship and would be happy with that also.</p>
<p>My kid did a PSAT in July- I had my older daughters real test from 2010 that was sent home with the answer key. I went on line and found the conversion tables. I would like her to take the practice test that she just received, but I can’t ask her today. Maybe I will ask her tonight to please do it tomorrow since she will be home all day in a quiet house. </p>
<p>From- is there a raw score conversion table in the book since it’s a retired exam, or is there just an answer key?</p>
<p>D was trying to tell me this morning if she can go the other way (back page to front), she could get 240… Given all answers are on the last page.</p>
<p>LOL very funny!! I just looked and sure enough it is on page 31. I think I may ask her to do it tonight and I will bribe her with a foot massage. If she can get two practice tests under her belt I will be happy. </p>
<p>December will be fun- waiting for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. My nerves will be shot.</p>
Fortunately, the CLV staff applications don’t come out until December. He should be able to fill it out while he’s home on break. It is a good idea to remind him about LORs. Thanks!</p>
This year we have a little different approach. We decided if she doesn’t get into a good and free program, she WILL stay home. We’ll try to find her some local volunteer work for her, or a job, even though she’ll still be a little too young for a job. but who knows, if the job market desperately needs people (haha fat chance). The thing is, in order to be even considered in any good and free programs, we have to start now. </p>
Now the party is over, back to work.</p>