<p>Shoboemom I hear ya LOL about the Spanish. There are native speakers taking the test and maybe it does impact the curve, unless the curve is pre-determined like on the ACT. I don’t know how that works, exactly. While D has a good score on the Spanish ( according to me- CC may be different and she may be told not to send it LOL) she probably won’t send it because her other 2 are higher. In any event, she is done. </p>
<p>I have to assume that if a student claims to truly be a native speaker and lives in a home where two languages are spoken and the student is really bilingual, getting an 800 on the test may not be as impressive. That’s my opinion, for whatever it’s worth. </p>
<p>@twogirls, congratulations on being done with testing! Thank you for the reassurances. D has started to worry that she will end up “stuck” with one of the big state schools. I can see that happening since she can’t seem to find other safeties that are more what she is looking for. Although, she says she still likes New College, definitely not a big state school, and if not a safety, it’s at least a likely. I, on the other hand, am not so sure about that fit. We’ll visit again, and keep researching. Thank you also for that info on Emory, and how they compare students. There was one student accepted at Emory from her school this year (athlete). I don’t know if he is the only one who applied, or if he decided to go there. There are a couple kids in her class that are just those superstar students…we hope they are not interested in the same schools as D. :-S </p>
<p>Emory stressed the importance of fit and how that needs to come across in the application process. I think they are more inclined to accept a lesser qualified student ( GPA, tests) who really wants to come and writes essays to demonstrate how well they fit into the Emory community than to accept a higher student who does not seem to fit in as well and who appears to really want to go elsewhere. Hope that makes sense. </p>
<p>I woke up at 5:30am and very kindly waited for DS to wake-up and check his SAT 2s. I think they are good, but the percentages are confusing, I know students who take SAT2s are self selecting, but what is considered a good score? His scores are American History 720 (81%), World History (88%), Lit (92%).</p>
<p>Also took a day trip to Muhlenberg yesterday. The campus and tour guide were nice. Learned a few interesting tidbits, the chapel is a scaled replica of the chapel at Princeton, all of the stain glass depicts academics and the brick path in front of the performing arts center is heated to protect dancers feet in the winter. The problem was without students it was very hard to get a feel if DS would be fit. He is unsure if he will apply. I think he will and see if he gets enough merit aid and then return for another visit.</p>
<p>DH lost his job just prior to Spring Break as most of you know. He has been working a temp position while interviewing. He went for a second interview yesterday for a job that would totally change DS’s college search. If he gets this job, one of the benefits is 1/2 college tuition (up to the high $40s) at any school for dependents after 2 yrs of employment. With 3 kids left, it would be like winning the lottery. The process is taking forever and it feels like a roller coaster. As someone, I think on this board said, we are praying, crossing our fingers and considering sacrificing a goat if that would help. The job will let him know in 2-3 wks. I hope typing this doesn’t jinx it, better find that goat.</p>
<p>Just found this on the college board site "Do Language Subject Test average scores include the scores of native speakers of the language?</p>
<p>Native speaker scores are grouped with those of students who have had less exposure to the language. This means that even students with high grades in language courses may not score as high as native speakers do. Data tables that exclude scores of native speakers are available so you can compare the two groups."
So, now I may need BHM to help decipher the data tables. @-) </p>
<p>The whole Emory thing is, well, challenging. I fear that she won’t get in…if that’s what she really decides she wants, and I fear that she will get in, but it won’t be affordable. I can’t remember if I already posted this, but I did ask the admissions person who gave the presentation about how it is handled if a student gets merit aid and need based aid…if the merit reduced loans first. His answer was basically ’ it depends." Guess its a case by case thing. </p>
<p>I just want to vent a bit. I’m trying to plan a few college visits this weekend as I ferry children to and from camps we will go right by several on D’s list. I find it disheartening that so many colleges have no weekend admission office hours. In order to pay these crazy college prices, we have to, you know, WORK. During the school year we have sports on the weekends and volunteer hours and extracurricular activities, all of those things that show the “well rounded student” they supposedly want. So I’d like to look at some of these colleges during the summer both for our edification but also to show the “demonstrated interest” that has become another “requirement”. They couldn’t open for a just a few hours on a Saturday? </p>
<p>@mom24boys fingers cross! No ACT yesterday and with the current luck of the Draw with the ACT I won’t hold my breath for scores tomorrow.
D continues to love her internship and it is giving her a real view of the profession. Yesterday she even mention maybe being a responsible adult really can be tiring. I smiled and thought to myself just wait until until a teen is in the mix. </p>
<p>@mom24boys, good luck on the job for your H! That would be wonderful…and I imagine the wait is very stressful! </p>
<p>I agree about the subject test scores being confusing. At first glance I thought D’s 2 scores were great and good, upon further study, I think they were more good, and average. Lol. Up until this point she just has not taken the testing very seriously, doing minimal prep. Like a lot of our kids, she went through many years of school being able to just show up and get an A. Although that hasn’t been the case so much in the last couple years, that seemed to be how she was approaching these tests! :-" Now she has taken them all once and says she plans real prep for the next round in the Fall. </p>
<p>I concur with campus visits they beg you “come join them on campus”. You can always join them on a Friday or Thursday. It sure would be nice to have all those “long weekends” . I would definitely put seeing a campus on top of my list for those weekends. </p>
<p>I think I have mention the mail has become insane in this household now we can add Happy Birthday cards to the insanity. I hope my mail carrier doesn’t come to hate my household; she is a very nice lady.</p>
<p>Thanks for the compliment @twogirls . S did set up all the college tours, however there are sometimes hiccups when you leave it to someone else. On my blog post I mentioned getting to U of U and they didn’t have anything for S. Come home and he checks his email that says yes, they can set up the tour and visit at the times he has suggested, however he NEEDS TO CALL to set those up. He totally missed that part. So learning lesson about paying attention to ALL the details. LOL</p>
<p>@Defour, I so agree about the Saturday tours! On our recent tour we ended up having to spend a weekend killing time between Friday tours and one last Monday tour. We also ended up going to one our state schools in the summer ( not the best time to fall in love with a Florida school) because they don’t do Saturday tours at all, so even though a weekend in the Fall would have been best, off into the heat of June we went. </p>
<p>@mom24boys fingers crossed-what do you need a goat for though?</p>
<p>My daughter had a tremendous increase! Now the total is still not up to CC standards but she is getting closer-with no prep still.</p>
<p>She feels great her expectations were far exceeded and she is already discussing prep this summer for the October sitting-I am very happy for her as if nothing else comes of this she at least doesn’t feel stupid anymore. I told her she was the same person before and after she saw her results and I wanted her to remember that next time if they go down or she can’t get them where she would like them to be. Do not use a number to define who you are or how you feel about yourself-or anyone else for that matter. I feel happy for the kid this weight has been taken off her shoulders but there are plenty of kids carrying it and it makes me sick.</p>
<p>I hate these tests-it is exponentially worse than four years ago. :(</p>
<p>We were able to cram 5 colleges into 4 days because Duquesne, lord love them, had a SUNDAY event. I am fortunate in that I have a ton of PTO at my job (I was saving up for surgery, but I can’t have the surgery anymore, so I’ve got all these days I have to use up!), but I used to have a job with 2 weeks vacation, one of which was designated for you, so I know how hard it is when you don’t have that available. Heck, I’ve had jobs with no PTO, for that matter </p>
<p>@wrestlersmom - TCNJ is about a mile south of the intersection of I95/295 & Rt 31, in Lawrenceville, not far from princeton. Rider University & The Lawrenceville School are a few minutes east of TCNJ. I’m not sure about public transportation but since the main campus entrance is on a State Highway, I have to believe NJ Transit would have bus service to the campus.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what her reaction to the school was…the majority of the buildings and facilities are new, there are 2 lakes on campus. I would gladly attend but I have not vote, just pay the bills. </p>
<p>We’ll have to go back and do another tour. TCNJ and RU in a NJ doubleheader day since she’ll make application to both.</p>
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