<p>It’d be interesting to see how our 2015s did in the PSATs. My d. couldn’t comment on anything except: (1) she was very nervous (don’t know why) and (2) math was easy. She did two practice tests back in September. Then band got busy she didn’t do anything. When she practiced, I noticed in math she got right on those she attempted. so it might be a good sign that she said the real test was easy. Reading is tricky - they could feel good but got the wrong answer. So there is really no way to predict. I don’t know why she was nervous because she knew this was really the year to practice. She did SAT back in 8th grade. She wasn’t at all nervous then.</p>
<p>I am gradually accepting that my son is in the class of 2015 as the class of 2014 begins to have experiences such as the official PSAT testing that he won’t have until next year. Kid number 3 is currently in China on an early “gap year” with NSLI-Y. He is only studying Mandarin this year and won’t get credit. Last year he took AP English lang, AP stats, AP Spanish, AP U.S. govt and microeconomics, physics and band. I’m not sure where he’ll spend his last two years of high school but probably at our state residential school for gifted juniors and seniors. He turned 17 last week and it was his first birthday “away”. Ugh! He’s going to have to do some serious studying this summer in preparation for the real PSAT. He was 7 points short of our state cut-off last year but he isn’t studying any math this year so that is going to toughest part. I’m barely hanging in there watch his older sister go through the college application process this year. I don’t even want to start thinking about number 3!</p>
<p>Hi Apollo! I remember you from other threads. 
Good to see you!</p>
<p>Welcome to all our new posters!</p>
<p>Homecoming week. She has the dress and the date (not quite sure which is more important) We are hosting dinner for her group of friends, currntly at 20. Busy tidying the house and prettying the yard! The weather looks perfect for Saturday and d2 wants to set up tables outside so they can all eat together in one big group. It may get chilly once the sun sets , but they can move indoors if they want. I am sure they will be happy to be outside with out the parents.</p>
<p>I just looked at Collegeboard’s site and the SAT subject scores from the Oct 6 come out in 2 days. Hopefully D studied enough to improve her Bio score from June–she said it was an easier test this time so hopefully that’s a good sign.</p>
<p>Waiting along with all of you for the PSAT results–D and her friends all thought that the verbal was not too hard but that they hadn’t learned enough Math to do really well on that section. She wasn’t too fazed by it, though, knowing that she has another school year to catch up on the math.</p>
<p>I don’t know how her school handles the release of the PSAT scores; according to this thread there are lots of different policies
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/1406616-when-will-psat-scores-come-out.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/1406616-when-will-psat-scores-come-out.html</a></p>
<p>Our GC said January…</p>
<p>Thanks Suzi and PN for the encouragement on getting accommodations. I just realized as I was filling out the form that academic testing can be up to five years old, so I am going to try and get accommodations for the diagnosed math disability. My son said that would be his biggest help, he thinks.</p>
<p>So different from my 2012 kid. (And I don’t want to even think about my 2022er-ha!)</p>
<p>Hi all,
Thanks for the welcome! Please excuse me, because you may have already covered this topic with the same conclusion, but this column in New York Times “Choice” blog jives with what our GC’s tell the kids–admission test scores rank as the third-most important factor in the admission decision, behind grades in college prep courses and strength of curriculum.</p>
<p>[Part</a> 2: Answers to Readers’ Questions About the SAT and ACT - NYTimes.com](<a href=“Part 2: Answers to Readers' Questions About the SAT and ACT - The New York Times”>Part 2: Answers to Readers' Questions About the SAT and ACT - The New York Times)</p>
<p>Our HS gives the kids their PSAT scores on the last day before winter break. </p>
<p>Gibson - good luck hosting the pre-homecoming dinner! I hope it all goes smoothly!</p>
<p>Nice article Maystarmom.</p>
<p>I don’t know when D’s school gives the PSAT results, but I don’t understand why any of the schools would hold them beyond a few days just to get them organized, etc. Is there some logic behind holding them? OHMomof2 - January? Really?? Is that for juniors too?</p>
<p>I haven’t checked in for a couple of months D’15 has been busy and is doing well in school. She too took the PSAT recently. Her school didn’t give results last year until late Jan. I’m hoping this year that we can get them earlier to use in applications etc. She thinks she did better than last year, which was pretty good to begin with.</p>
<p>Today we got a letter that her school nominated her for the Princeton Book Award from the local alumni chapter. Apparently different chapters around the country do it differently. In some cases the schools choose the winners and there are anywhere from 1-several from each school. Our letter says that each school in the area (30+) gets to choose 2 kids total from the jr. (and sometimes soph.) class. D’15 was the soph. that the GC and teachers chose. The alumni then review the apps and give out approximately 10 awards for our large metro area. One of the parts of the application asks for PSAT scores, so I am hoping guidance will give us those early :)</p>
<p>She also gets her learners permit in 2 weeks so she is looking forward to that.</p>
<p>congrats TV4caster!</p>
<p>What’s the use for sophomore PSAT except for self assessment?
D. took it last week and can’t wait to see the score. :)</p>
<p>D will use her soph PSAT score for a couple of summer programs she is applying to. Also it may give a rough idea of the selectivity of colleges she should look at, though everyone i know says their score went up a lot junior year.</p>
<p>It will only be used here for self-assessment. She didn’t even finish the math part-and she guessed on many since she didn’t know how to do the problems.</p>
<p>She should do much better next year but who knows? It is a one day thing-my friends son had a high enough score as a sophomore that he would have qualified that year if eligible but as a junior his score went down and while still great missed the state cutoff by one point-if he had lived in over half the states in the country he would have qualified with his score. I am not really a fan of the whole thing even though it worked out well for one of my children-</p>
<p>My daughter had a brutal week last week as various issues all came to a head and the result was some pretty lousy test scores and assignment grades-for her-probably a good 10 points below her normal. Not a good week. She is having a much better week this week in part because the JV portion of the season is over and she just has Varsity and it’s only playoffs so no game for a week and she actually got to come home the other day from school-she slept most of the afternoon. Something is going to have to give next year but for now she is getting some much needed rest and time to catch up.</p>
<p>Meanwhile my son who had a great week last week is totally distraught over perhaps not getting a coop he covets-I hope he gets a definite answer today one way or the other.</p>
<p>It’s like Whack-a -Mole around here-just when one of them is up the other goes down-UGH!!! ;)</p>
<p>Pepper, I’m sorry your D had such a rough week. 
Good luck to your S on his coop - fingers crossed! That PSAT story is my nightmare scenario, all the way around. My D is a very good test-taker and I imagine she will be in the running for NMSF unless she has a bad day, which is entirely possible. The one-point thing would have done me in. Hope things smooth out for you and yours soon.</p>
<p>TV4caster - good to “see” you and kudos to your D! My D will get her learner’s permit at the end of November. I’ve taken her driving around in a church parking lot near us. It’s so weird to see one of my kiddos driving a car!</p>
<p>Good luck this weekend Gibson!</p>
<p>@mihcal1, thanks for the suggestions on beginning a college search. Good ideas! </p>
<p>Also enjoyed reading other recent posts, but I’d like to go directly to a question I have for any parents of students studying music in HS and/or college:</p>
<p>DS is a member of HS orchestra. Our district is known for its quality orchestras except for DSs HS. The teacher has a behavioral history thats too complex to detail here, and most top orch students transfer to a different HS because of this, but DS has hung in there. However, Im not sure <em>I</em> can put up with all the hassle for another 2 years. This is DSs 5th year with this teacher (incl middle school) and the situation gets worse every year. The number of orchestra members continues to decline and DS gains no value from the class whatsoever, nor does he enjoy it. However, he appreciates that the class is soooo easy aside from the teachers volatility. </p>
<p>I suggested to DS that he continue private instrument study but switch to choir (HS program is supposed to be great and DS has a very good, yet untrained, voice). Through choir, he could continue down a musical path, and hopefully have enjoyment, learn new things, meet new students, broaden his horizons, etc. However, DS might want to play his instrument in college as a non-music major, possibly obtaining a small scholarship for doing so (we know other students who have done this). If hes not a member of HS orchestra for 4 years, would he even have a chance to play in college? He would continue private study, but have only 2 years HS orchestra. </p>
<p>FWIW, DS earned a “1” in state-level instrument competition last year, the only student at his HS to do this. And only 2 orch students even made it to state, unlike band & choir - in which dozens of students qualified. So DS does fairly well at playing his instrument.</p>
<p>Weve considered going to the administration re: the teacher, but students & parents have already done this over the years. Nothing is going to change. And the teacher has ongoing health issues, so we arent interested in adding more stress. I just think choir might be a great, new option for DS, but would welcome other perspectives. He is undecided, though basically miserable in orchestra. TIA.</p>
<p>Is there a district or municipal orchestra he can join? Our HS has a nice orchestra program but the more talented/motivated kids also play in a local symphony made up of HS kids from all the schools in the area. I don’t think it is even a requirement that the student be in his home school orchestra.</p>
<p>Certainly this is a plus on a college app, even if instead of HS orchestra and not in addition to it.</p>
<p>If that’s not an option perhaps a different instrument in band, or choir as you suggest, would work?</p>
<p>Our HS doesn’t weight GPA at all so an easy A in orchestra is helpful, but D only stays in it because she also enjoys the teacher and class.</p>
<p>Goaskdad,</p>
<p>I agree with OhMomof2. Maybe your son can join one of the competitive youth symphonies. My boys (violinist and cellist) have always played in a free community orchestra (we’re homeschoolers, so it’s not like there’s a school orchestra). As well, my oldest, now a college freshman, played in a fantastic soloist strings orchestra his last semester of high school. It was the highlight of his orchestral experience.</p>
<p>I hope your son is able to continue to pursue music at the clearly excellent level he is doing now.</p>
<p>On another topic, I went ahead and sent the accommodation forms for my son’s math disability to College Board because I was out of time on that one. I’m still waiting to hear from his doctors, but at least I got the ball rolling. </p>
<p>If anyone else has kids with disabilities, do know that the people answering the phones are super friendly and helpful.</p>
<p>Goaskdad, I’m sorry to hear about the situation. How awful that it’s gotten to this point. I agree that a youth orchestra might be a good alternative but be careful: some of these require that their members also participate in their school orchestras. Another alternative is participation in a chamber group or small ensemble. There are lots of these around and they vary in their intensity. My D did both at varying times and really enjoyed the small group experience. Perhaps a combination of one of those options and choir would be a good way of giving your son a good experience. I pretty much lived in the choir room during high school and I think it’s a fantastic way of building musical competence/literacy.</p>