@2muchquan Like colleges that have tendencies to do grade deflation or inflation, high schools do the same. Colleges know some of their feeder schools’ situation. But I don’t believe they would be able to classify all high schools effectively and objectively. add in home schoolers and international students into the mix, it would be even harder. So I feel standard tests are still the most level setting tool. Especially for large state colleges that admit 10 of thousands of students.
I didn’t even know what was NM when PSAT happened :(( . It is too late now. I heard NJ has crazy cut off. Why can’t they allow real sat instead. 
QOTD 1 (engineering portfolios): I think portfolios are really good for any field, not just engineering (and of course fine arts, where they’re often necessary). I can understand why some colleges, especially those that have a huge applicant pool relative to the size of the admissions staff, wouldn’t ever think of using them, though—I mean, it’s a lot to evaluate. That said, my D19 is interested in industrial design, and though she’s not sure whether she wants a straight-up industrial or product design program, or to go for industrial or systems engineering with a design major, either way a portfolio for those sorts of programs would be a good thing. Similarly, I would think, a coding or electronics design portfolio for electrical or computer engineering, or maybe a robotics portfolio for mechanical engineering. Not sure what one would do for something like, say, fire protection engineering or structural engineering, though, at least not without a few million dollars funding your application.
@itsgettingreal17: I think you misunderstood what I was getting at (and phrasing badly) with percentiles—I was trying to say that you can’t base expectations of scores for the SAT subject tests on the same scale as the basic SAT, since the curves are radically different. What I meant with actually using percentiles was in comparing scores across subject tests—the scales are radically different (e.g., a 650 on one might be 57th percentile, but that same 650 on another might be 92nd percentile), so you can’t just go with numbers and say one score’s better than the other.
QOTD 2 (relative weighing of test scores): Standardized tests still have pretty intense biases (not as bad as it used to be, of course—there are no more questions that assume the test-taker is familiar with what a polo pony is—but issues remain), and they remain subject to gaming based on test-taking strategies rather than knowledge/ability. That said, they provide a decent check on GPA, which can be gamed by individual schools (there’s a payoff for grade inflation by high schools, in that it makes their graduates look more impressive)—and I think that’s their best use, as one of several error checks on GPAs, but as a thing that’s useful all on their own? No.
Addendum to QOTD 2: There’s a general agreement on CC that colleges know from individual high schools’ course rigor and such, but I suspect that’s not actually always the case. I mean, as I’ve said before, my kids’ high school is pretty small—my oldest’s class has 28 students in it. This means very few students from that school are applying to top-100 schools (however defined)—most of them end up going to one of our state schools (all of which are noncompetitive entry, anyway). Why in the world would the admissions office at, I don’t know, let’s say Colgate have any information on a school that may actually never have had an applicant come from there, let alone a matriculant? Now, they do end up sending a student to Macalester every couple or three years, so I’m sure they have a file on the school, but that’s a pretty singular case, you know?
@picklesarenice: Or your daughter could look at it as the chance to practice and build her chops on how to (gently, gently) bring people around to her own viewpoint, so there’s that, too.
@BusyNapping That is an amazing outcome!
Although it would not result in a kid murdered and another one behind bar 
8-X
in my house, the brother will get a slave contract for life =)) >:)
@dfbdfb Agreed.
Big thanks to the poster that recommended collegedata! So much easier than looking up each individual school’s common data set.
@mtrosemom You made me laugh!
Boys had dental appointments recently. The x-rays found no sign of wisdom teeth.
Both parents did not get wisdom teeth until in their 20s.
DS17 bombed his SAT Chemistry test because he had no sign of wisdom! :(( =))
Looking at his score, I am worried about his AP Chemistry score as well. ~X(
@srk2017 June 4th SAT subject scores will come out on July 21st.
Hoping DS did better in physics. :-S
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Why does it take them 7 weeks for scoring what amounts to a bunch of scantrans?
@texaspg – I am wholly with you on that one!
@texaspg Little known fact, the test first have to be hermetically sealed in old mayonnaise jars, and kept under some dude’s porch, for at least 6 weeks, before then can run them through the scanners… .true story!! :-bd
@texaspg I suspect that they want all test scores for a given date to be released at the same time. So the subject tests have to conform to the timetable of the regular SAT, including time to hand score the essay. Given that the CB has riled up a lot of customers lately, I don’t think this policy is a particularly wise one. It would be nice if they could get back to the 3 week turnaround time that pertained for the old format.
That said, I like @Gator88NE 's explanation better.
@mtrosemom I loved your OK review. Thank you. That is the next one we need to plan.
@ct1417, @texaspg, @Gator88NE , hope that gives them time to identify the kids who had the same tests as March!
I agree with @2muchquan on grades being more consistent indicator. Sometimes the test scores just demonstrate the power of tutors.
@picklesarenice , sorry for your and your D experience!
D is in a girls leadership conference and for 72 hours, not a beep, as she had too much fun! I had to stalk the organizer’s FB to get a glimpse of her…in all pictures, she was in her natural smiles 
Congrats for those happy with SAT scores and big hugs for the rest. There’s always the fall.
@BigPapiofthree I know how you feel about being a college snob. My D16 only wanted an ivy and she applied to UF as her safe school. Well, here we are a year later and she is going to UF. Not what she expected but she is now happy with the outcome (esp. because it’s free and she has all the $$ from her 529 for grad/law school) She had it all but no hook. Oh well. Lesson learned. My D17 is definitely taking a different approach. We will see how it pans out. Good luck!!!
wisdom teeth My kids both had their wisdom teeth taken out in middle school. Their oral surgeon suggested taking them out before the teeth grew from a little bud to actual teeth with roots. He said it’s easier to cut open the gum and scoop out the bud instead of pulling a grown tooth with roots that can cause possible harm. Best decision ever. Very little discomfort for my kids.
QOTD Both are important but a college can at least compare standardized test scores across different states rather than GPA which can mean different things for different schools.
Only logical explanation I can think of CB needing 6 weeks to score SAT IIs is they need week or so to get answer sheets from International students unless they have different dates. There is no logic for one year process for NM!!
Wow, you guys are moving too fast again!
D17 had her final NY state regents exam today (US History) so she is officially done for the year. To say she’s relieved junior year is over and done with would be a rather serious understatement.
Waiting on June ACT scores next week (have heard several rumblings that the test was a recycle of Feb '15 which had a murderous curve on both reading and science sections - 1 wrong dropped you to a 34) which is not pleasing to a kid who was hoping to improve from a 33. Just when I was feeling better about ACT than CB! :-L Also waiting on AP and June subject test scores to be released in July.
Going back a QOTD to the college to-do list for the summer: We will try to sneak off for at least a couple more college visits, but given that summer is our crazy busy season for work, that might not be possible. Mostly though, she’s going to have to focus on deciding on the rest of her list. We are pretty well set with safety/match options, but she should probably decide on a reach or two to round things out. Get started on essays, too, as her schedule next fall is going to be pretty tough.
Time is flying, flying, flying…
Re: @itsgettingreal17’s QOTD: I just realized that I misread the question as what is most important vs what do we think should be most important. I think courses taken and grades should be most important. I am anti-testing. But, the craziness of GPA grubbing described on here is equally repulsive. Courses taken for the value to the student vs just GPA should mean something. (I just read about a student who gave up valedictorian status to attend SSP. Camp starts before her final exams. Quite a sacrifice, but an awesome experience. Hopefully AOs will recognize that choice.)
I have no answers.
Congrats to those who are happy with their scores.
QOTD2: Grades vs. scores I fall on the grades should be more important side, because testing is just a 3-4 hour chunk of time.
One nice thing is that there are a lot of colleges out there, and different ones put the emphasis on different aspects. The UC system supposedly puts more emphasis on GPA than on scores, though that varies by campus. Some of the reason behind that is getting underprivileged, first-generation kids into college; high scores often go with high $$$ for prep. Same thing with the Texas system that favors top whatever percent at a high school, so more beneficial to kids not at great high schools. And, there are score-optional colleges. On the other hand, for the kids with high scores, there are colleges that admit mainly by scores, so lots of variety out there.
The admissions officer @Mom2aphysicsgeek dealt with probably wasn’t normally an especially helpful person. I don’t know that you can necessarily extrapolate to college admissions from 10th grade DE.
I know the UC system does computerized pre-filtering of the 200,000+ applications they receive, but that is filtered on GPA and completion of enough courses in each subject area. There’s no pre-filter on test scores at the UCs as far as I’ve seen.
I do believe colleges that require essays do read them at least once for all kids who pass any initial filters. Maybe I’m naive at taking them at their word.
I would suppose that some large or high-achieving schools send enough kids at least regionally to colleges that the regional adcom has a feel for grading and courses at that school. For small high schools, not so much, and they probably hope the school profile is useful.
By comparing grades and scores – such as AP class grades and self-reported scores, adcoms can get an idea of whether grades are inflated or deflated at the school. So, AP scores may be more important than Subject Tests in that regard.
Subject tests: I don’t think SAT Subject Tests are near as important as the regular SAT or ACT. Probably just yet another piece of data. The history one is supposed to be pretty tough. I agree with @saillakeerie that the kids who take SAT IIs are a self-selected group, so the percentiles aren’t out of the whole population of college goers and need to be thought of differently than SAT/ACT percentiles.
@picklesarenice Sorry your D is hating Girls State. I’ve heard those can be pretty conservative. This is a difficult time for a liberal kid to be in an environment like that. I learn some “valuable life skills” by going to a very conservative college and learned things about myself too. Luckily, there are only a few days left. Hugs!
@MichiganGeorgia “Wall street on West Peachtree” sounds fun!
@mtrosemom Thanks for the OU trip report! It sounds like they put together the grand tour for your DS!
Oh, I knew that about science but not about reading. DS decided not to take the June ACT. The only other ACT he took was that February one, on which he got 34s in reading and science.
@Mom2aphysicsgeek I agree about course selection also being important. But, the opportunities for different kids vary quite a bit, and colleges have to be aware of that. Where’s the post about SSP vs. valedictorian? I should go say something supportive to that kid.
@ynotgo I read it in one of the SSP emails we get.