@carachel2 D will check today. The interesting thing about that is Pitt doesn’t superscore for scholarships so not sure why convert. It is, however, indicating a preference for the SAT (which many schools have always had).
Just read our high school was placed in the top 130 high schools in the country in a new poll. That was good to read, good timing with apps going out soon. I’m a bit suspicious of these ranking things, but we’ll take it! I think it was a Newsweek poll maybe?
.
H2P states this about merit scholarships a few weeks ago:
“For the SAT - Yes, we will superscore your SAT Critical Reading or Evidence Based Reading and Writing subscore and your math subscore. We will use the highest of the SAT superscore in reviewing your application for admission.”
We double checked the portal last night and everything is indeed converted and it has the appearance of being super scored.
@carachel2, I think that’s what Pitt used to do. Convert the English and math ACT subscores to SAT scores and superscore.
I thought they had changed it according to their website where the wording changed to “highest composite ACT”.
My D only had (old SAT) scores, but I think @amandakayak reported before that this was the case with her kids.
@mommdc …interesting! I’m wondering if it is also possible that they are converting it but maybe still just using the highest ACT Composite? If they are converting it and superscoring I will say this looks to be a really good thing at our house.
QOTD - VOLUNTEERING - DS’s school does not require volunteer hours, although their honor society does.
QOTD - APPLICATIONS - DS is doing it all, but I’m checking (he is prone to typos, etc.) and giving feedback on all essays.
BAND - DS has band as a class all year, but he still put it in as a single activity and the college guidance counselor apparently approved.
Funny about the misnamed college mailers. My law school alma mater used to send me requests for money and consistently call me Mr. (not a man, never was). My first name could go either way. I eventually had to tell them that if they ever wanted me to donate they had to get that fixed.
Question re college visits - we will be visiting WashU which does track interest in November for DS17, but it could end up on my DS19’s list as well. When you register for a tour, etc… it asks how many people in your group, etc. Should I sign up my daughter separately so that she gets credit, sign up as a group and then ask about it at check in, or don’t bother?
I have to imagine the ACT/SAT conversion allows the AOs to make an easier comparison. One consistent number for each applicant. Much like how some schools calculate their own GPA for each student. This makes sense to me.
I don’t think they use their converted numbers for merit purposes, only for consistency when looking at applicants.
@pittsburghscribe – I would sign D19 up separately, even though it may not get you anywhere, but worth the effort.
We registered for and attended an info session & tour at University of Washington (in Seattle) last summer. Have never heard a word from them since, but I have never heard they track interest (unlike Wash U). Perhaps they also do not bother marketing.
@Gator88NE
Yes, 100 hours of community service is required for Bright Futures - Florida Academic Scholars (highest award). 25% of the students at my D’s school earn Bright Futures scholarships, I imagine they are about average. Since BF does not count volunteers hours worked to meet club or honor society requirements, most BF recipients have quite a bit more that the 100 hours.
School Demographics
White 60.0%
Hispanic 25.0%
African American 9.0%
Asian 4.0%
Multiracial 2.0%
Native American 0%
Pacific Islander 0%
Reduced lunch 34.6%
I think considering Hispanic as a race throws things off as I know the school has a good number of students that would identify as white that are native Spanish speakers.
Out of the loop for a few days as we are on the rest and relaxation (aka my by design college app essay writing trip).
QOTD: volunteering - S17’s school does not require volunteer hours. The kids are very active in volunteering.
QOTD: applications - S17 did the first one (non CA) and ask me to sit with him while he did it. Almost everything he needed was on an excel already. He looked at the CA went through the questions and asked me to put the information in while he worked on the essays. I had no issue inserting the administrative information for him. College decisions will be based on grades, test scores, essays, EC. He did the work on the substantive aspects. Typing in the profile won’t make or break his future success.
GPA: S17’s school doesn’t computer gpa/ rank. Colleges will convert them as they will.
CMU: For anyone who has a child considering CMU that hasn’t been to the website, take a look at how clearly they state demonstrated interest is considered in the app process. As someone already mentioned, they even tie it back to the essays. I read something that said they would want you to talk about things about campus that you really like which make you want to go there and then things you discussed with your interviewer that made CMU someplace you really want to be based on things you learned about CMU from the interview. I am not 100% sure, but if memory is correct, they want you to list the name of your interviewer. Apparently some kids get stumped on this and can’t remember the interviewers name.
@paveyourpath – I have not looked at the CMU essay question but my son has and he pulled the letter they sent to him and put it on his desk. It was at that point that I suggested he scan it and start a CMU file so that he will be able to find the name of the interviewer when he finally sits down to write the CMU essay in December!
@pittsburghscribe I would sign up D19 as well. why not.
The only con: The more junk mail the merrier. oh well.
DS’s name is usually spelled correct as it is easy to spell, but from one school, they have it consistently wrong as DS scribbled the postcard when the AO visited our school.
I can see that the person typing it could have read that way but would have thought what a strange name. DS’s is in top 10 common first name. ;))
We’re back from vacation 
I’m not even going to try to comment on all the discussions from the past 10 days! I kept up with the reading but hate replying on my phone.
D’s classes start on the 29th. She has yet to do anything with applications. She still has to do her summer English assignnment for a post-AP online class.
She did find a local Rotary club to sponsor her through their study abroad process, so she has to schedule the interviews (for parents, too!) and start the (incredibly long) application today. She’s very serious about a gap year.
College applications will be started on Monday.
I’m hopeful some essays will work for multiple applications: Rotary, Common App, school-specific apps, program-specific apps (honors etc), and the alphabet soup of government-sponsored study abroad programs to which she will apply (NSLI-Y, YES, and CBYX).
:-SS
Well, D’17 (and S’20) started school today. D’17 finished her summer reading assignments Wednesday night. She worked till 7 P.M. yesterday and had to be at school today at 6:30 since she is a freshman mentor. Got up at 5:15, by herself, so she could buy munchkins for her freshman.She gave herself the night off last night to watch olympics. Volunteered to work extra on Saturday, already scheduled for Sunday.
College application, essay work completed?
Nothing.
Nada.
Zilcho.
Did I mention I am starting to silently freak out?
@WhereIsMyKindle what is her first choice? Going abroad for the yr or starting college?
@Mom2aphysicsgeek I think going abroad is her first choice right now.
My only reservation is that she might feel stifled by being subject to a high school’s rules, after having all kinds of freedom as a homeschooler. She chafed a bit under the regulations this summer (curfews, mandatory afternoon meetings and activities), living as a minor on campus.
@Dave_N I could have written that post exactly about my D. Finished summer reading night before school started - check, Worked late and Up at 5 for Freshman mentor - check, Watched olympics-check, work this weekend-check. apps and essays Nothing Nada Zilcho - check, Silently Freaking Out Mom - CHECK!!!
@CT1417 You were right; letter arrived from CMU today.
@Dave_N and @stlarenas --I can feel your pain. I returned from a few days away to learn that nothing really happened in my absence. (Those pesky thank you notes were written and mailed, so that is something.) He surprised me today by logging into the CA and asked me his city of birth. We have lived in the same house since he was born…but not knocking progress of any sort.
Question for any of you who are further along with the CA. Have they removed the national honors section? I recall that from older son, who had nothing other than National Merit Commended to write in that section, but this son has several national things he could list but tells me there is not a section for that.
Another unrelated question: has anyone visited U of Rochester? Have it on tap for next week but trying to weigh the importance. I must have thought the interview was important or I would not have scheduled it, but dreading the long drive home after a day of tour, info session & interview.
@Dave_N if your kid can get herself up and going at 5:15 in the morning all on her own, I bet the applications will get done no problem. Probably WAY later than you want, but a kid who can juggle as well as yours can probably already has some thoughts regarding the apps percolating in the dark recesses of her dunkin’ fueled brain