<p>The separate email address for college stuff is a great idea. - no cutesy names <a href=“mailto:gibsond@gmail.xxx”>gibsond@gmail.xxx</a> is perfect </p>
<p>Looking forward to testing, xiggi has a great doc about SAT testing. I printed it out last year. I will look for the link and post.</p>
<p>4CookieMonster: *suzy100,Yes, there is a place for your daughter to put her email address on the PSAT test. I created a new gmail account for my daughter for all testing/school related materials. From what I understand, they may get a lot of information and she didn’t want that mixed up with her personal email.</p>
<p>Also, my daughter gives me access to the school gmail so that I can check it if needed. *</p>
<p>OK, thanks for this info! I did create a separate email account for all college-related things for her.</p>
<p>ahsmuoh, I have an older stepson who is now a freshman in college but I wasn’t really involved in this process for him at all, so much of this is new to me. My inclination for my D15 was always to tell her NOT to put an email address, but in her case some of the mailings may motivate her (even if her mother knows they are essentially spam :).) I’ll leave it up to her either way.</p>
<p>The other thing about checking the box to receive college spam is that sometimes you get free applications to colleges, often with quick turn around on admission decisions.</p>
<p>sunnydayfun, the scores can vary pretty dramatically so I wouldn’t suggest kids opting out of the PSAT junior year too quickly. My D went from a score that was <190 to a 230 the next year. SanSerif, there is a lot of room for growth from one year to the next. I can’t help but smile at the description though: “epic fail” gotta love it. Is she the kind of kid who tends to think that way?</p>
<p>My D felt that the test was not horribly hard but she realizes that speed is a challenge for her. She had to omit a math grid-in answer that she didn’t have time to complete and she didn’t have time to check her answers generally. She is a very careful, contemplative and thorough kind of thinker and as a result tends to take too long in all her academic tasks. She often finds she doesn’t have time to check answers or edit writing on tests and essays. It hasn’t been an obstacle yet but I think it will be more of an issue going forward as speed becomes increasingly important for school success.</p>
<p>I forgot to tell D about providing or not providing her email address. I hope she didn’t. Ahsmuoh, my first child received the onslaught of mail and I counseled the 2nd to opt out. The flood of spam that D1 received was ridiculous.</p>
<p>Dropping back in–again. It’s hard to keep up with you! As a re-introduction, I’m the mom with a HS D15 and a Carleton College S11 (who’s now getting a master’s in urban planning). And I just got a master’s in SW–the main reason for my sporadic participation!</p>
<p>My D15 is taking AP Euro Co, AP Lang/Co, AP Gov, Honors French II, Honors Bio I, Honors Algebra, Advanced Theatre, and Female Vocal II.</p>
<p>My daughter also took the PSAT yesterday. She just shrugged when I asked how it went. I guess we’ll find out in December anyway. I wish I’d remembered about the e-mail sign-up. I think my son put in a gmail account that he used just for schools. It’s a 9-year spread between them, so I guess I can my forgetfulness shouldn’t be surprising. </p>
<p>Wow, 3girls3cats, that was a great improvement in your Ds PSAT scores. In our HS, juniors have to pay for the PSAT (while sophomores do not) so it is not mandatory for juniors to take it if they don’t want to compete. School does encourage every student to take it and the majority of students do participate. As now, our senior class has 44 NMSF out of about 1300 students, which is only about 3% of the class.</p>
<p>What a horrible week this has been. I am sure the PSAT was a total disaster! Who cares it doesn’t count this year! Between sports, illness and tests plus several big projects all being due TODAY this has been one awful week for the poor little lady.</p>
<p>sunny what a huge school. We have a small school here and every couple of years we have an NMSF-my son was the last one and I hope we can add another next year-who knows-this is the first time she has taken any College Board test so I have no idea how she will do but with everything going on she had no prep. She already knows the math won’t be good as there were a few things she had no idea about and she ran out of time. </p>
<p>My son had about a 30 point increase but I think from what she tells me she is going to need a huge one to have a shot-if it isn’t possible I will have her think about looking into the ACT.</p>
<p>Pepper-The thing about being in such a huge school is that my sons are not interested in going to colleges that have less numbers of students than their HS.</p>
<p>Today is our teacher-parent conference day and students holiday. Got a phone call from sons WHAP teacher out of surprise. She commented that how hardworking S2 is with the class and how conscientious he is about making sure he does everything right. She knows that S2 does not get as good test/quiz grade as he likes to but she believes in him that he will do well and benefit from the class. She gave H and I compliments as well. What a nice thing the teacher did! It makes my day! Can you tell I have tears in my eyes </p>
<p>" SAT deducts points for wrong answers. However with coaching, students can actually use this to their ADVANTAGE." I don’t understand this. How?? can someone explain?</p>
<p>herandhisMom, I think it’s what OHMom of 2 said. If you have no idea how to answer a question, you don’t. If you’ve whittled the possibilities down to two answers and can make an educated guess, it’s in your interest to guess. And the grid-in answers carry no penalty for wrong answers.</p>
<p>My D is a member of the high school class of 2015. She’s currently taking: </p>
<ol>
<li>Early Bird PE </li>
<li>Wind Ensemble</li>
<li>Honors Chemistry</li>
<li>AP World History </li>
<li>Drawing</li>
<li>French II</li>
<li>Honors Algebra II</li>
<li>Honors English 10</li>
</ol>
<p>She has a 3.98 GPA, just took the PSAT’s on Wednesday. She’s a very silly girl with a fierce competitive streak. She loves wearing mismatched Chuck Taylors with mismatched socks. It’s pretty much her trademark. She’s passionate about GLBT causes, as her girl scout troop leaders were a lesbian couple who were involved in the case that made gay marriage legal in Iowa. She had an opportunity to lobby the Iowa State Senate for marriage equality and was thrilled by the experience. The only other thing I can think to mention is that she’s a vegetarian who refuses to wear leather. </p>
<p>D is looking into the following majors: </p>
<ol>
<li>Film production (In particular, post production).</li>
<li>French/International studies</li>
<li>Psychology</li>
<li>Neuroscience</li>
</ol>
<p>As her mother, I wish this list were flipped upside down. Alas, I don’t get to pick. Film is a scary major to send your kid off into, that’s for sure. However, my philosophy is that if she wants to study film, I’m going to make sure she has every opportunity to do it. </p>
<p>Her dream schools are Northwestern, Harvard and USC. I have a list of about 20 or so that we are trying to narrow down.</p>
<p>@OHMomof2 … I’m actually kind of surprised she doesn’t want to major in music. She’s played the flute since she was 8 and has won a lot of awards. She says she wants to play her flute forever, but she doesn’t want it to be her career. </p>
I guess we’ll find out in December anyway. I wish I’d remembered about the e-mail sign-up. I think my son put in a gmail account that he used just for schools. It’s a 9-year spread between them, so I guess I can my forgetfulness shouldn’t be surprising. </p>