@dyiu13 I think my daughter is too. The stories/experiences we can share that first year. I hope they are all positive.
I am a little worried too for my DD to be in predominantly male environment. Current democratic for her major has about 20% girls.
Congrats, Great news about Temple! I for one cannot wait until all this incessant testing is over. It is stressing these kids out and while its an important indicator of their abilities, itâs a one day snapshot which not the same as the more consistent indicator of multiple years of consistent course work. I know that all high schools are different and there needs to be a way to determine studentâs ability levels across different high schools, etc. but these kids are so stressed with all the testing requirements necessary not to mention everything else! It is so difficult for them to keep all the balls they are juggling up in the air. The struggle to maintain their coursework, sports, music, extracurricular activities & volunteering is a constant internal (and sometimes very visible external) battle. And what about some just plain fun? It is sad that many (us included) have a difficult time scheduling college visits because of all the students academic and extruMy D is very intense about her academics and extracurriculars but she also likes (and needs) to let loose and spend time with friends which is in very limited supply lately. Since she has the SAT 2 tomorrow and as a result she has to cut short her soccer team pre-game pasta dinner tonight and decline an invitation to a party afterwards (their soccer game Saturday morning was rescheduled to the afternoon to accommodate the players taking the SAT). Thank god she is only taking 1 subject test and not the full SAT exam as she is totally drained after a full exam and would not be in good shape for a game. I feel bad for the juniors and sophomores that are taking the full exam and then have to play. Anyway thanks for giving me a chance to vent. LOL.
@Ivmjac1 Thank you for venting for me too 
You are also describing my Dâs life too, except replace soccer with golf. She is also taking SAT2 test tomorrow. Everything else is the same. She takes SAT, ACT, SAT2, AP, and IB exams, in addition, she has all the clubs, ECs, volunteering, and summer jobs. Someone at work asked me if she works!! Really? She has 7 weighted classes this year, adding SAT2 exams, and applying to 11 colleges. I donât think there are enough hours in the day to add a job too. It is just too sad to watch these kids!! It was so different when I went to school many many years ago!
Fortunately DD finished her tests during junior. One sitting for each SAT 1 and two SAT II tests. She did not want to 3rd SAT II test saying sheâs not applying any school requires 3 SAT II test scores. She hated to study any standard test and fortunately, her scores look OK.
OMG @lonetreegrad our situations are so similar its crazy. My D does work a few hours a week only since this summer but is not right now during soccer season. She too is taking 5 AP classes and College Spanish and applying to 11 (possibly 12) schools. My husband and I lament about how in âour dayâ it was so different. Yes there was stress and pressure back then but no where to this degree. And the things they are learningâŠboth my husband and I are college graduates but wow their course loads and the level of academic work they do makes us feel dumb in comparison. LOL. I worry all the time and simply try to keep her gently on course and sane in the process!
I too feel for those still doing testing. I wish them all the best and am grateful DS finished his testing junior year. I think setting that as a goal was the best advice I have received on CC.
@NYDad513 D16 is done with her SAT and ACT. SAT is not big in our state, so we didnât know about SAT 2 subject tests until after she took the SAT 1 for confirming her PSAT to become a NMF. After taking her SAT and researching some selective schools in Spring, we realized that she needs the SAT2 now. It makes me mad that she has to do another standardized test on subjects she took in Freshmen and Sophomore year!! These subject tests are really unnecessary when the kids are taking all these IB and AP classes!! It is just another test to take!
@IVmjac1 I agree. I keep telling her that it will be all over soon! She told me yesterday that she would have had an easy schedule if she could just focus on her 7 weighted classes (5 IBs and 2 APs) rather than all the extras she has to do!! :-S
So happy D was able to crush the ACT so we just ignored SAT entirely. Otherwise, totally agree with the âoverwhelmedâ atmosphere. She was crying in her room the other night because she is so worried about her DE calculus class. I am more sanguine, but she stresses. She took her test this morningâhopefully she will be more chipper tonight.
For those of you with kids in DE classes at the community college, do you request transcripts from those CC? DDâs community college classes are on her HS transcript. I am not sure if we need to request separate transcript from CC.
Our goal was to be finished testing by Junior year as well, but we didnât know how close weâd be too additional merit opportunities until my son started his senior year. Glad to be done now though. No superselective schools to apply to so no SAT 2 scores needed.
We will be sending transcripts from the CC.
The CC sends the transcript free but High School charges $10, go figureâŠ
Anyone here find that their children bristle at the mention of the âSAT II,â and become insistent that it is called the SAT Subject Test?
@Ballerina2016 you do have to request the transcripts thru the college. It was an easy process for us and was received well before her HS transcript.
@Waiting2exhale Both D and I call it SAT subject test. I have only seen it as SAT II here in CC.
I grew up calling it that, and thought the colleges used that terminology as well. As I understand it, AP/IB-specific tests are termed âSubject.â They make me feel like I still use a rotary phone.
We grew up calling it SAT IIs as well. My kids are used to either. Only a few kids at their school take them so what theyâre called isnât a big deal.
I thought we were done with testing, but D may go for one more round. Iâm leaving it up to her. I mostly just want to pull my hair out at this point.
At some point most schools will want the DE class transcripts sent directly to them for proper crediting. I do not think it is necessary at this point but sometime in the summer it may.
Dâs path is very different from most (all?) of your kids, but she is still very busy. And at only 16 this month, a job hasnât really been an option, even if she HAD time. Driving hasnât happened either. She did well enough with her ACT that she will have automatic acceptance to the honors college at one of her schools. but itâs not selective at all, so even an ok ACT is enough. She needs to bring her SAT up (she didnât care for the ACT at all and wonât be retaking) a bit to get the full tuition at her top choice. As of now, though, sheâll get enough to make it affordable, whew! Her entire senior class takes the SAT at school on Oct. 14. Then the testing is over-her school does not have AP or IB, and state testing is not given to seniors unless they didnât pass one of the subjects in previous years.
Speaking of being super busy-do any of you have friends or family who just donât get it? We were at a family party the other night and some of the folks were almost badgering D about getting a job. When she said SCHOOL is her job, they were all, âYou should be helping your parents out and working.â Then others donât understand her desire to go away to college, or why she doesnât just start at community college here, or why she signs up for so many thing. Most of Hâs family, their SOâs and THEIR families did not go to college-I suppose that accounts for the attitude? Theyâre proud of D, but they donât understand her. She gets irritated sometimes.
I used to agree that the AP and IB classes should mitigate the need for the SAT 2âs until I heard of other high schools in other districts and states that typically do not even try to finish the curriculum or even encourage the students to take the exams! In our district if you are in the class, you are required to pay and sit for the exam. Some teachers are not always able complete all the chapters but it is their goal. Last year my D had to read and teach herself the last 7 chapters of US history in order to be prepared for the exam. Not all schools treat AP classes in the same way (and I would assume IB also but I have no reference to that) so I think that is why they need students to take a test that will compare them across the different high schools. I personally think each high school course (regular, AP or IB) should culminate into a test like SAT subject test, AP or IB exam depending on the level of class taken. This would negate the necessity of all these various state final exams. This would compare students across the nation and make many of these other exams unnecessary or at least less necessary. Streamline the process a bit. Just my two centsâŠ