<p>Apollo - I think you’ve posted about the Ole Miss program somewhere before, but it’s a great reminder because I hadn’t written it down! However, I see a minimum ACT or SAT score required, so does that mean your DS15 has already taken one or both? My DS15 took the ACT in 7th but did not score a 25 composite. He also took the SAT in 8th but writing was factored-in so I don’t remember his CR+M score, though I could dig it out. Don’t plan on having DS take the ACT “for real” before his JR year, though he just took a “practice” ACT at our community center, so I’m curious to see how he did on that. Congrats on having your DS in that program - it looks very interesting.</p>
<p>Finally bought a cello for DS today, after all these years of rental! Just could not find the time/money/energy to invest in an instrument prior to this year. But he has a nice cello now - and we also ordered a BAM case (midline range) which should see him through many years of use. All that’s left is the bow and we have 3 on loan from the luthier to see which one works best for DS. I’ll be glad when this whole cello saga has concluded, but it’s nice that he finally has an instrument of his own. Hoping for more practice time as a result! ;-)</p>
<p>Congratulations on the new cello! I can appreciate what an investment that it is but I envy you getting to hear your son play. When I told my son I would miss his piano playing he told me I could always listen to his Youtube recordings LOL.</p>
<p>It’s true that a student would have to take the ACT or SAT to be eligible for SCHS but with score choice, I don’t think it’s a big deal to take it early. There are only a few schools that require that you submit all your scores and the kind of kids who apply to those would probably score high starting quite young. My son is probably a bit older than yours because our state has a later school entrance cut-off than most and he will be older still because he is choosing to take a year out of high school for an overseas adventure, but he started taking the ACT in 6th grade for academic talent search. He’s taken it about once a year since and has improved each time. He says it gets easier with practice. He texted me from a Memphis river boat excursion this evening. They have finals on their college courses on Tuesday but they were all having fun and it was a “required outing” It’s definitely not all work and no play. ;)</p>
<p>D. started her 3-week CTY chemistry from last night. She told us she knew close to zippo in the pretest. The teacher has lovely British accent which she adores. Her roommate, who is also a 13 year old rising 10 grader had just made a 800 SAT subject score in physics!</p>
<p>GoAskDad–yay for a new cello. How does your S like it?</p>
<p>S is off at bass camp. When he got the schedule he almost tore his hair out because he was the first one scheduled to play in the advanced master class–intimidating because he is the youngster; all the others are upper classmen and college students that he admires. What’s nice about the master class is that the students are encouraged to bring a work in progress, not something completely polished. I reminded him of that as I left–told him it was no pressure and to remember that. Sniff, sniff…it is VERY quiet on the homefront without that guy here.</p>
<p>I’d also be interested to hear reports on CTY. DS15 was eligible for Duke TIP camps, but - wow - those camps are expensive and far from home. I’m just worried about whether DS will even want to leave home for college, let alone camp! It’s great that some kids are more open to those new experiences.</p>
<p>Got DS’s ACT results back from the retired test he took at our community center and he was very pleased. He can still improve on math and science - and he didn’t do much prep for this test - so I’m cautiously optimistic about his long-term prospects. He is currently taking a week-long ACT/SAT class for 3 hours/day, but isn’t getting anything much out of it, so that was probably money down the drain. Apollo 6, we may have to re-think when DS takes the ACT. Unless this test was a fluke - and it could have been - he might be ready to try it this Spring. But don’t want to push him and do want to make sure he’s fully prepared in the math category, which is definitely not his strongest area.</p>
<p>Caught DS watching a video of Yo-Yo Ma on YouTube, so the new cello is having a positive affect perhaps! However, HS baseball practice was canceled tonight, due to heat, and I couldn’t persuade DS to practice since he has the night off. It’s just give & take, but hopefully he will practice tomorrow when the house is quiet. He is “auditioning” various bows at the moment.</p>
<p>momsings, it sounds like your S is having what I would think of as the perfect experience - so much of a challenge but he’s sort of allowed a little room to grow, given that he’s so young. I hope that’s the case at least - I admit that I’m not familiar with this type of camp, so don’t want to downplay the pressure he feels. I imagine that this is hard for both of you. </p>
<p>GoAskDad:I’d also be interested to hear reports on CTY. DS15 was eligible for Duke TIP camps, but - wow - those camps are expensive and far from home. I hear you. My kiddo took the PSAT in 7th and 8th grade, but nobody ever even told us about CTY, TIP, or the opportunities for kids who scored well - it seemed like more of a way for the school to brag. Not saying that’s what happened with you it but I’m sort of mad about the total lack of info about this stuff from our school district when my kiddo was younger.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure all is well at bass camp. I try to be hands off and respectful when the guys are off doing something, but yesterday I texted him to say hi and asked him how it was going and received the monosyllabic reply of “good” in return–always a terrific sign (truly). I am looking forward to the recital tomorrow that ends with ALL the bassists getting on stage and playing together…quite a sight.</p>
<p>Brown, CTY, Duke, many others offer financial aid if there is need, and there are also outside scholarships like the Joyce Ivy (for girls in the midwest, just one example) that pay for such programs. Then there are totally free summer study programs like TASP.</p>
<p>It IS possible to do many of these programs for a lot less if they are not affordable.</p>
<p>We started visiting colleges when my older daughter was a HS freshman, and it really helped her narrow down her preferences. We picked schools close to home, and visited a big state school, a private LAC, a smaller state school, an art college. It was surprising what a strong preference she had for the size and type of school; that made looking over the next few years much easier, whenever we had family vacations would check nearby schools of her type.</p>
<p>It also helped to drop by the Academic offices for the different majors she was considering, and hear about the requirements, licensing, etc. That also takes time and sifting thru a lot of info. We think an early start was a big help, so we are starting D15 the same way.</p>
<p>Suddenly got the feeling that sophomore year is about to start. S was in his room practicing his mellophone and marching in place. They had the first marching band rehearsal yesterday and we got the fall newsletter with all the paperwork to be signed today in the mail. For S and D13, band camp starts in about 4 weeks :eek: and then school starts immediately after.</p>
<p>STEMfamily–wow, our timelines are so different. School just got out (technically last Monday, but no one went). We have until after labor day before S is offically a sophomore.</p>
<p>Yay–bass camp a complete success. S always comes back from that so revved up. S is looking foward to a break though since this came right on the heels of school being done and with a big grad party the night before the start of camp for older brother. I am happy things are quiet for him this coming week.</p>
<p>momsings: Yeah, it was getting so bad with earlier and earlier fall start days that the school board finally set a policy of not starting BEFORE the second week in August! So now school starts the second Monday. Thank goodness for air conditioning although if we get our traditional July/August rains, August can be cooler than June. Hqven’t gotten those rains in a few years now though…sigh</p>
<p>DS has now completed driver’s ed and has his permit, so he’s ready to begin driving under the supervision of an adult. That would be DH, for sure. DS and I are too similar in temperament for me to be involved in his driving adventures. Figure I’ll drive with him when he’s 25.</p>
<p>Got DS’s final 9th grade transcript today and checked it over (thanks to advice obtained here on CC). All looked good, though he was shorted a few service hours, which we’ll probably just let go. The teacher who monitored service hours last year was extremely unpleasant, but she has thankfully moved on and DS won’t have to deal with her again. DS made copies of all his service hour logs, but it’s only a few hours difference and too much of a pain to revisit. Also found out that his counselor has retired (which is a good thing) and a new, outside counselor has been hired. Our HS counselors are surely very overworked, but they have an awful reputation when it comes to college counseling. If the student wants to look beyond in-state, the student is basically on his/her own. Perhaps this counselor will be different and I’m going to ask DS to go introduce himself at the start of school in August.</p>
<p>There was a note along with DS’s transcript that he owes $13 for undefined materials not returned. Never had that happen before. So I’m having him call the school on Monday to sort it out. He swears nothing was unreturned…but I’m betting it has to do with his orchestra class. There’s a bow tie upstairs that he probably needed to take back. So he will have to sort it out and, if he’s fined, his first paycheck just got $13 lighter!</p>
<p>DS is ranked 1st unweighted, and 7th weighted (kids advanced in math have a head start), but out of 320+ students, he did really well, IMO. He had a tough courseload and lots of sports/ECs, so keeping a 4.0 was a real accomplishment for him. Not sure it will last into 10th grade, but want to make sure he continues to try his best. And return his stuff to the school!</p>
<p>DS has now been practice driving for a couple weeks, mostly with DH but some with me. I must say I am MUCH calmer with him than I was with DD13. But then he told me I correct too much, like “You’re about to hit the curb” (said calmly of course ). I informed him that was the whole point of practicing with an adult in the car. For once he didn’t have a comeback ;)</p>
The teacher has lovely British accent which she adores. Her roommate, who is also a 13 year old rising 10 grader had just made a 800 SAT subject score in physics!</p>
). I informed him that was the whole point of practicing with an adult in the car. For once he didn’t have a comeback ;)</p>