<p>I forwarded yesterday’s posts, with tons of good information on ACT, SAT, and mix thereof, to a friend whose kid is taking the tests next year - thank you all for your good research. </p>
<p>I just want to throw one more anecdote into the mix. Long ago, when we were taking the test, I found out by chance that one good way to score well is to…relax! This was the second semester of my junior year at a fancy prep school. All of us tightly wound over-achievers were sent off to the local high school on Saturday morning to take the test. Mixed in were some students from the local high school, perhaps just as tightly wound as my classmates and I. At the last moment, two more guys stumbled in, obviously just dug out of their beds by force after a tough night. As luck would have it, they sat behind me. We chatted and joked during the breaks, (which was something new and different for me) and I can report (which may convince you I’m nuts) that I actually really enjoyed the SAT exam, and no surprise, scored out of my mind, and never got close to those scores again. </p>
<p>So…prep as needed, but somewhere at the end, maybe the best thing we can do for the kids is send them into the test ready to have a joke or two.</p>
<p>Good luck to all the kids that took the ACT today, and virtual coffee grounds to all with the java addiction. If I did not have my coffee brewing and ready before taking BHG to a test or event, she may not make it there–lol. Gotta have that cup of fresh brew right after brushing teeth and showering–forget hair, makeup or clothes.</p>
<p>ssacdfamily, you may have something there. The first time D took the ACT, when I asked her about it, her main complaint was she didn’t know anyone and had no one to chat with during the break. This time, she had a test buddy. She was more comfortable and felt the test was “easier”. To be sure, she studied but I think having a friend put her more at ease.</p>
<p>Next weekend she has the SAT and then she’s done until the spring.</p>
<p>crepes, I read the essay to D and we had a good laugh. She had told me the essay examples could be made up but I didn’t believe her.</p>
<p>I am under the impression that there is no rhyme or reason to the essay- write legibly ( sort of), finish, use all of the space, have a decent intro with some examples, and keep your fingers crossed!! I found that sample 12 essay very difficult to read. </p>
<p>My daughter took a practice math test last week where she scored very well, and then took another test yesterday where her score dropped because there was a section of questions that she really did not get. I told her that as she continues with these practice tests and learns how to solve all the different problems, her scores should develop some consistency. She still has another 6 weeks until the SAT and I am hoping that within that time frame she manages to see all the different types of math problems ( or at least most).</p>
<p>The SAT CR/ writing seem to be going well, as is the ACT. She already told me that she absolutely refuses to do these tests anymore after the February ACT, so whatever it is, it is. CC tends to give a warped sense of what a good score is, as it seems that everyone has a 36 and a 2300! When I look at our schools Naviance I can see that kids get into great schools with less than perfect test scores. This whole process is stressing me out and I would really like it to be finished. She will be pumping up the practice tests over the next few weeks- I am sure she will be thrilled. </p>
<p>It occurred to me that this college thing has become an obsession. I have not watched the news in two weeks ( ugh how embarrassing). </p>
<p>I have decided to sign her up for the Jan SAT and Feb ACT before the December scores come in just because I need to secure a spot at a school that I want. I am going to assume that her December tests will not result in a 2400 or 36. Even if her scores are " good enough" she will take them again. </p>
<p>We can soon cross October off of the calendar! Only 6 more months of AP physics LOL. My daughter decided that she loves her US teacher and now wants to be a judge! Her career choices seem to be dependent upon who her favorite teacher is. </p>
<p>Some people at our school are not grasping the amount of work that AP classes require. They are annoyed that their kids are not getting the grades that they got in 9th grade ( ??). Some do not get or accept the fact that good grades are not just handed out- you have to work hard. When I explain to people that my kid sits at the kitchen table for 10 hours doing homework, papers, projects, studying etc they look at me like I am crazy, but all of the kids who do well in our school have similar study habits. Yesterday she sat in the kitchen from 7 am until 7 pm until she finally got up and took her friend to dinner for her birthday. The good news is that she is happy- and for me that is what matters most. When I see my kids laughing and acting goofy, my day is made.</p>
<p>shoboemom, not a good source - a friend. Granted he’s a senior who scored well in the SAT. But that’s why I pooh-poohed the advice. I read that examples should not be personal, and that historical examples work best. </p>
<p>Congrats to your D on her belt and the demo team.</p>
<p>Historical examples do work best- that is why my daughter is taking a project from Global and using the person as her essay topic. Her teacher told her that she can tweak his life to make it fit any SAT essay topic.</p>
<p>How about 16 hrs at a softball tournament? Left the house in the dark at 6:45 am, first game at 8:30 - frost on the fields. Championship game started at 10:30 pm and finished around midnight. Played 6 games.Happy to report softball girls team won. Got home a little before 1 am. Travel ball is brutal, but D2 loves it. We get to do it all again in 2 weeks!</p>
<p>Sally travel ball is brutal LOL- congrats to your daughter!! My older kid played varsity softball and was invited to play travel but she turned it down due to the intensity. Unfortunately all of her friends who spent years and years playing travel ball burnt out when they graduated HS and now do not play at all. It is VERY intense. My friends kids play travel volleyball and they are all over the east coast every single weekend. Once again congrats to your daughter!!!</p>
<p>Twogirls, I’m glad your daughter is enjoying her AP US course. It sounds like her teacher must be emphasizing historical court cases, maybe using Commager’s Documents of American History? I wasn’t exposed to that material until college.</p>
<p>^ she is " just" in honors US LOL- decided not to take AP US because she is currently taking AP physics and AP Spanish which are known to be very difficult and time consuming. She should be in APUSH but chose not to and I did not fight her. Last year the assistant principal cornered her and told her to take AP, and she simply said " no thanks." She loves her current class and has not mentioned any regrets, and the GC will still be checking " most rigorous" so it’s fine.</p>
<p>She is currently writing a research paper about 1960s music and the upheaval ( ie civil rights, Woodstock) etc that occurred during that time. She has never been happier. Now if she can write the paper in Spanish then she could count that as AP Spanish studying!</p>
<p>I (and imagine several of us) would love to hear more about those kids with 'less than perfect scores that still made it into good schools. I think you are right about getting a skewed view of what a good score from CC. At least I hope so! We don’t have Naviance so we don’t get those comparisons to the norm sort of references.<br>
D feels that since she did “well” on the first PSAT she doesn’t need to worry about studying until she takes the official tests and then she will decide from there. There is some logic to it, but define doing “well”.</p>
<p>Congratulations Sally to you D and her team. I am glad that my D didn’t get involved with any travel teams, but would have suffered through if it would have made her happy I suppose lol. That is a huge commitment!</p>
<p>Twogirls, I suspect she made the right decision not doing APUSH. That was one of my D’s least favorite classes so far. She liked Euro, but US history seemed to be cramming in lots of names and dates, I guess for that AP test.</p>
<p>Last year my daughter took honors Global- she did well but hated it. The one good thing that came from the class was this huge project that she intends to write about for the SAT essay. Shoboe when I look at Naviance I calm down quickly because like I said, kids are getting in to very good schools without 2300+. Kids are getting into very respectable schools with 29’s ( gasp). Besides our in state options, mine is only applying to schools where I think she will get some merit.</p>
<p>Sally: I feel & live you’re pain of travel softball. Our family had an off weekend this weekend - thankfully! 2 more weekends of play & DD is done until after New Year. We have friends who are at Rising Stars in FL this weekend - their DD is only a sophomore & this is her 1 st time at an event that large.</p>
<p>If your DD is considering softball @ the next level, look on the NFCA website for the Pennsbury Camps in June. They have a specific camp for academic high achievers - 3.5 GPA, 1750 SAT 27 ACT - documentation of grades and scores is required to be supplied.</p>
<p>DD & I went This past June to the Academic Camp. In our year (2015) there was 1 outfielder at the Academic camp. </p>
<p>We also attended the regular Pennsbury Recruiting Camp the next day. There were more players just trying out for pitching than total attendees at the Academic Camp the previous day.</p>
<p>DD received lots of feedback from the DIII schools she wrote to regarding Pennsbury. It’s well worth the time & money.</p>
<p>I will also chime in here with a recommendation for Rise Ball High Honors camp. The college coaches run and coach the camp and the players interact with them all weekend long. You also stay in the same hotel. The coaches’ speeches are the best part. It’s better than any showcase by far.</p>
<p>Twogirls, no matter what your D’s history class is titled on her transcript, it sounds like she got an inspired teacher and that’s worth much more than an AP title! Teachers can feel restricted by the AP curriculum which tends to be a mile wide and an inch deep. I know AP is working on that but still…</p>
<p>threesdad/keepmecruisin thanks for the info. Looks like a great camp.</p>
<p>Softball girl has no aspirations to play in college. We have chosen her travel team this year very wisely. A solid B team. They probably will play a world series in June/ July, but most of the travel will be in GA.</p>
<p>Twogirls. D2 made the decision when she started HS not to push into the A teams. Her friends that did have quit softball. She has found a nice balance with her love of the game and the commitment she wants to make. We are happy that she wants to freeze her butt off at a softball park in po-dunk GA rather than engaging in activities many teens her age are involved in. I love it. The sport has taught her so much and it is fun to see her rise to a leader in the team. She is so positive and rallies the girls. She is worried that I will miss it more than she will when she goes to college. I have laughed that I am going to coach a U6 t-ball team at our local rec league. I love watching the little ones pick up daisies in the outfield! Seems no time since she was there!</p>
<p>@twogirls, I’ve heard AP foreign languages are extremely difficult. Does your D. spend a lot of time in it? Is anyone in your family a native speaker? Good luck! </p>
<p>D.is frantically practicing a clarinet piece. Her clarinet teacher says if she plays well, she can play a clarinet concerto in the community orchestra. she’ll have the whole orchestra accompany her. That perspective is very inspiring to D. I’m so glad D. is not in marching band anymore, even though it ended against her will, due to the teacher mistreating her. looking back, it’s really a good thing. She has time to focus on the real music, and of course, academics.</p>