@kittymom1102 that would be nice but she’s done. No more testing in her future. I’m sure it will be fine and she’ll end up exactly where she was meant to be. It’s just that the path will be more bumpy than I would have liked.
@MuggleMom I am sorry for your D’s disappointment at her scores. Perhaps you could contact those reach schools and ask specifically what ranges of scores they get, they want, etc. for subject tests. Also, depending on the school (some have departments review apps and help make decisions) then checking with a particular department for input might be helpful as well.
A couple of comments. I agree with kittymom1102, perhaps a different test might yield better results. There are some of the subject tests with more generous curves, so looking at that ahead of time and planning strategically is possible at times. Also, doing some prep (or more prep) can tip the scales. Also, each test date is different - S11 took the BIO subject test and the endocrine system questions threw him (he mixed things up during the test), so he did not do as well as he had hoped/expected. He prepped on that system before retaking the test…then on that test there were NO questions on the endocrine system.
If further testing is off the table, I just wanted to say again that admissions are holistic, and the test scores are one of MANY things that can make a student stand out. Your D is an amazing person in many ways I am sure, and helping to make that shine through on applications is so much more valuable than one set of test scores.
Rushing to get to work. Quick note.
@MuggleMom – I’m heartbroken for her and for you, but I’m not sure that her scores are the death blow that they seem to be right now. We’ll discuss.
@Mysonsdad – I remember when you first came on this thread, and your son was struggling with some of those standardized tests. He got some really ugly scores. It never really made sense to me (as we discussed on the thread). He deserves a lot of credit for not getting discouraged to the point of inaction, putting in some hard work, and performing on test day. Congratulations.
Now, pass on those Barron’s books to the next generation.
Hi all, Awesome congrats to all who received their scores and did well and also congrats to those who did not do as well as expected or hoped. Reason I congratulate the latter (my D is in this category) is because they persevered and kept trying. I try and try to help my D and S live by Winston Churchill’s sage words “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” and I truly believe it! All our kids have definitely shown that they have the courage to continue even when hit with unfortunate, inadvertent and beyond their control situations. That is a trait that will take them far in this world! Kudos to all!
@lvmjac1, I love that Winston Churchhill quote. Thanks for posting it.
@Sophmore1, I really do too. My pleasure. I think its very appropriate for the situation at hand and many others!
Yes, that’s a great way to sum up our perspective as well, @lvmjac1. Happy SAT results here, too. CR down (it was excellent last time) but math excellent where it should be and writing over 700. He didn’t really NEED to bring those up for most schools but it could help, and better reflects his true abilities. Now to polish off the remaining November apps. I’ll happy with 3 in-state submissions (2 are safeties) if he does 3 more in November that’s gravy.
S is leaving with wife for Temple this afternoon. If he really likes it I hop he gets the full tuition scholarship. I wish we knew the weighting formula; I have a sneaky suspicion that if they really want a kid and it’s close they’ll give them full tuition, and if they want them less they’ll be offered the lesser one.
Speaking of Temple (also one of my D’s schools), it is a test optional school IF you want it to be. They will also take scores, but there is something called the “Temple Option” involving extra essays and recommendations that eliminates the need to send scores. Merit aid can still be awarded. Mugglesmom-perhaps you can look into that? Or look for schools that do not consider scores for anything but the larger profile and class placement.
D took her SAT in school on the 14th so we don’t know how it went. She is not applying to any SAT 2 schools. We have a range of colleges-including some of the above type, both in an out of state, as well as two “test optional” colleges. For those who aren’t the typical CC kid with upper 700-800 scores, please don’t despair-there are many options still.
After reading some of these posts I am so glad that none of the school’s my son is applying to require subject tests .
I’m with you @carolinamom2boys ! D has one school that she just added to her list that says SAT II optional. She doesn’t have any SAT II to submit, but she has excellent AP scores and she had an optional interview. It will be what it will be. Having said that, anyone taking the ACT Saturday? D is taking a stab at it. Hoping she can pull all of her high sub scores from her previous two tests into one test result.
Got our second acceptance today. Total academic and financial safety but it is good to have options. Two more to go.
Weirdest thing I’ve done to-date to sway my daughter: I just found one more great financial safety to apply to. She’s not convinced. She loves local, organic, healthy, vegetarian food, which the college’s dining is well known for. So I find the dining services Instagram, screen shot pictures of their food, and email them to my daughter under the subject “food porn.” All I get in response is, “Really, mom?” Ah well, worth a try.
PS: @mstomper I can’t wait to hear about your family’s impressions of Temple. Daughter is definitly applying, but we won’t be able to visit.
DD took two SAT II during junior year. One score was very good and another one was not great. She asked GC whether the score is good enough and GC said yes. No more tests. Hope SAT II is not a critical aspect of admission process.
@kandcsmom Congrats on acceptance! Always great to have options! From what I am reading about schools my D is applying EA to we will not hear until sometime in January. I think one in state safe school has rolling admissions and may notify earlier but that’s the only one. So we have a long wait ahead…UGH. Last EA application and one RD (being submitted very early) will get submitted this weekend and then she is gearing up for the four or so remaining RD applications that she will need to complete in the next few coming weeks. I would rather the application process did not drag on until the bitter end.
Congrats to all for completing one more step in this process whether it was testing, the list, applications or acceptances. Nothing new to report here. The fall sport is dominating all at the moment.
DS16 just checked his apps. All 5 applications and additional paperwork and scores in, one honors app in. 2 more to go.
DS got his SAT scores and did well in math and reading, well enough in writing. He’s not a writer and never claimed to be, so the goal was good enough. No SAT subject tests–he took the ACT and we’re taking schools at their word that you don’t need SAT 2 if you have thre ACT. If they’re lying to me, so be it.
DD16 did very well in her SAT Biology subject test, so she is keeping 4 reaches/dreams on her list. She was planning to drop these if she didn’t do well on the subject tests. She is still has to take the second one in Nov, and then she will apply to those schools. She has already applied to 8 schools and got acceptances to 3 (2 safeties and one match) so far. She checked the match school’s website today and there was a big “You are accepted” on the first page. So she had a good day today. All 3 schools are financial safeties too (full tuitions or full rides).
@4kids2graduate “I just looked up a site that shows screenshots of the common app and gives direction about how to do each section.”
Which site shows the screenshots of “add the teacher” in common app? I still can’t find it!