Okay, I’ll take the bait…
As a point of clarification, in the particular instance of S17, he had no previous relationship to the PI of his lab…never heard of him. I’ve still never laid eyes on the man. S17 was admittedly fortunate that his school has an appointed Science teacher to provide extra support for a small cadre (2 or 3 students per graduating class) of students who excel in Science. They are identified coming out of 8th grade, have an intense summer Biology course, and then have an accelerated science curriculum and support system, such as the opportunity to take Organic in addition to the APs. Getting foisted into a lab by a parent or teacher without a meaningful buy-in from the student will quickly fizzle into drizzle.
As to participation in national science competitions, the particular one S17 participated in is not for the weak-kneed. Being grilled for 10 minutes by a panel of 5 adult experts from the field you’ve just spent 20 minutes formally presenting your data to does not translate to a satisfying end if you don’t completely understand the research, the background, and the context. The judges are there to absolutely decifer real understanding and meaningful participation by the student. It was an amazing experience beyond the experiences in the lab itself. fwiw, S17s experiences in the lab seemed comparable to the other presenters (there were about 10 in his specific field of study). And yes, in all instances the students acknowledged the personnel and institutions involved.
@SincererLove - just sent you a pm about getting stuck this weekend, etc. @carachel2 My D17 just had a bit of a nail biter getting back from D.C. this weekend…made the 2nd flight with 6 minutes to spare!
@Ynotgo I would put DC’s preferred name. They don’t have to match records and, as you said, the school has both the given and the chosen name.
@picklesarenice - It’s a bit of a gray area…D17’s GC had asked Stanford for clarification as she was thinking about doing SCEA at Stanford but also considering Tulane for their merit, where, for the bigger (named) scholarships you have to apply (non-binding) early action.
This was what we received back from Stanford:
From: Admission Group Account
Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 10:25 AM
To:
Subject: RE: REA Exemption
Hello,
Your student may apply to the other school’s early action process only if an early submission is required in order to compete for a very specific scholarship (e.g. president/chancellor scholarship) or academic program (e.g pre-med program).
Best,
Office of Undergraduate Admission
Stanford University
355 Galvez Street, Montag Hall
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 723-2091
admission@stanford.edu
@picklesarenice and @LoveTheBard,
I think it is clear that you can apply to Tulane and Agnes Scott and many other EA schools under the guidelines. Tulane clearly has scholarships deadlines that you may choose to meet, and so does Agnes Scott. I would apply. We will apply to Tulane EA under the guidelines that UP ED has. There is a November 1st deadline for tulane scholarships , thus will apply. Let’s be honest, the schools have no way of knowing…And even if they asked, you are ethically and morally covered. I would not even ask. You interpret the rule, and apply it as you see it. I would not worry. Interpret and act in your own best interest. That is what the schools are doing…I would not call either of these two examples anything but following the rules
@srk2017 @vandyeyes Your DCs are amazing STEM students! I am wondering if I should talk D into doing something else, competition is too fierce 
@CT1417 Thank you very much for info of Lehigh and Lafayette. I have passed along your tip to DD :)>-
@whataboutcollege - Please don’t ask D to do something else. US need lot of STEM graduates 
@srk2017 We can use some in the humanities and social sciences too…
Dear parents of STEM kids looking at engineering - I see that CMU requires Physics SAT subject test (or chem) even if took the ACT. Thought I saw other colleges that want a science SAT science subject test close to intended major but now having hard time finding them. (DS took Bio & Math 2 so far.) Anyone now possibly of other colleges that would require/recommend SAT Physics (or chem) for engineering besides CMU – don’t go to any trouble for me - just checking in case other have looked into this.
@LoveTheBard - I thought shortage is in STEM fields. It is good to have smart kids in all the majors since we need a a balanced society.
@CA1543 - I heard lot of schools prefer Physics for engineering especially Electrical Engineering (U Penn is one of them)
@CA1543 The UCs generally require/recommend something like the SAT Physics test (or a related science) for engineering.
UCs also want the Math II subject test for engineering.
Different topic - How important or not important are all of the high school honor societies? We have CSF, NHS and a dozen other honor societies at our school. How do you list them all when there is limited space?
I’m feeling down.
We got a phone call from collection agency. My H’s former business partner disappeared without paying the business phone bill. Now my H is responsible for the $2,000+ charge.
And on the same day, he lost one of his part-time jobs.
It sucks…
I am so sorry @HiToWaMom. That totally sucks. I hope that your husband is able to find another part time job, or better yet a good full time job soon.
@CA1543 @youcee That depends on the UC. I looked at it for the UC’s S17 was applying to a few weeks back since he only has the SAT II for Math and didn’t see that requirement for any of them. (Except he’s added Davis… they might have had such a requirement…Off to check right now.) But Davis is a reach anyway, and Engineering only a possibility so it’s not a huge deal.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/examination-requirement/SAT-subject-tests/ Seems it’s UCLA, Berkley, San Diego & Irvine.
I hope not since he can’t take the Physics Subject test yet as he is just starting it tomorrow, and hasn’t taken Chemistry at the AP Level and I couldn’t get him to take the Subject test after sophmore year.
@srk2017 - To my mind, the shortage is in "well-educated* people. The pendulum will swing as it may…in a mad attempt to make up for decades of losing ground in math and science in world-wide assessments, coupled with the rising cost of education that results in students’ need to consider the “return on investment” of their college educations, we are now eschewing the arts and humanities, and society will be the worse for it. We may find ourselves with a generation of engineers, mathematicians, and scientists that cannot write coherently, let alone with precision or eloquence, and that have no appreciation for the arts, literature, etc. nor a sense of history or geography or the world outside of their limited spheres.
And yes, we do need excellence in all fields, and a society that values education, creativity, and the life of the mind, in addition to science and technology.
Here’s to an educated and well-balanced HS class of 2017!!
@HiToWaMom, I am sorry to hear what you are going through.
@mtrosemom Thank you. Yes, full time position would be really nice. :((
@HiToWaMom – so, so sorry to hear that bad news. I hope your husband though can find the guy or he turns up and pays his share. And of course that he can find a good replacement job. Thoughts are with you.
Thanks @youcee and @srk2017 – appreciate the info you sent!!