@apraxiamom, it sounds like your son has some pretty particular requirements. I would start a thread on the main board asking for suggestions.
Thanks everyone. We’re currently now looking at College of Charleston as the 3rd. Subject to change…
@sonoran – D18 got a 34 on her ACT Science subscore. She said there are several “tricks” online about doing well in it given the rapid timing required. I believe the tricks mainly had to do with not reading everything in the problem (because that would eat up valuable time) but rather to look at the answers first then work backwards. For example, if the answers related to a graph then only look at the graph and not read the problem text, etc.
Does NMSQT publish their current qualifying score? Is it an SI based on SAT, and from experience do we know what is typically? The fact the tests have been changing doesn’t help. I seem to remember the confirming score tracking close to the COMMENDED SI, but I might be making that up. I am just looking for more things to lose sleep over.
@DavidPuddy typically not published until after NMSFs are announced in September. It is SI based but range extended because SAT is scaled to 800.
@LOUKYDAD Thanks, would you infer that the SI is approximated to match the year’s Commended SI, the SF SI? Or we don’t know?
As above, I thought I saw it was relatively low, approximating the commended score. Make sense?
EDIT, I found where I read it, this pretty well answers it i think:
TheInfamousArt said basically:
The confirming score for the class of 2017 was set at a 209
Ranges from 60-240 rather than from 48-228 to accomodate the 1600 score test.
Don’t think the confirming score to will be higher for the class of 2018,
They MAY decide to matchit to the Commended Student cutoff.
The wonderful guidance counselor at our school retired. I will miss him.
The others aren’t bad - his replacement just called me today about something. But now I have to train somebody new.
=))
About National Merit confirming score, someone on another site (compass) claimed they called the National Merit Corp. and were told for this year the score is 206.
I can’t believe the confirming score would be lower than last years. But perhaps the kids in the lower cutoff states had a tough time getting the score.
Going back to the link on AP exams this year - YOUCH!
Re: AP BIO: “Free-response: many students really struggled with detecting DNA damage (Q6); 59% earned 0 pts on it:”
59% of test takers earned zero points on that question? Doesn’t that suggest a problem with the question?
And then there’s this: “It pains me to report this, but the AP English Literature scores this year are the lowest they’ve been this decade.”
Not good. Here’s the link again:
https://www.totalregistration.net/AP-Exam-Registration-Service/2017-AP-Exam-Score-Distributions.php
DD’18 was working on her college app. essays this morning . . . pleasant surprise. (She is so different than the two who came before her!)
Ooofaa! Wow. D will be taking that class this year. And we're waiting the results from the June Literature subject test. Still no BC and Lang info.
@suzy100, I asked D about how she felt about that Biology question and she doesn’t even remember it. Apparently it was so traumatizing, she’s blocked it from her memory. 
Do read the comments about the World History exam. They had major issues with particular questions and the rubric, so they essentially curved that test and are making adjustments for next year.
Any last minute tips for Parents and kid going on a SUMMER college visit trip? We will be hitting 5 schools. Given it’s summer, we know the limitations and are being realistic about what we find.
@DavidPuddy - in addition to all the usual stuff, try to get a walk around the town just outside of campus. If schedule permits, get lunch (or dinner) in one of the popular student hangouts off campus. Best of luck!
Thanks @glido , good point.
With driving and the visits, spare time is short but we will be sure to hit the local Uni spots for sustenance when possible rather than the ubiquitous chains.
@BingeWatcher per my DS16: AP physics was his hardest AP class but APUSH was the most time consuming due to the sheer volume of material. He would NOT have wanted to take them at the same time but he did take AP Chem and AP physics C at the same time after an Honors class in each. Math level prerequisites impact the science sequence allowed at our school. Is that part of why your HS has said no to your request?
@Cheeringsection,
No math is not the reason D will be in Alg 2 in 9th grade. So that is not the problem. They said it was simply not allowed and sited the TEKS which is the Texas Essential Knowledge. It absolutely makes no sense.
I know 9th grade bio H is non challenging, so it makes so much more sense to add chemistry H at that time too.
Banging my head.
Did your son say AP physics I (Alg based) is harder than AP physics C ?
Regarding summer college visits, we all know it is not the optimal time. I would say though, that if you are planning summer visits, try to hit up the large schools and save the small LACs for the fall. Large state schools always have something going on and won’t seem quite so dead in the summer. LACs, especially in small towns, are so devoid of activity in the summer that it is hard to even imagine what it is usually like. Even a school like Emory, not tiny and in a city, seemed so bland and boring to my D15 in the summer. That said, sometimes we have little choice. Our family is seeing Furman next month because we will be driving right by there on vacation, with a quick trip to U of South Carolina later the same day. I fully expect South Carolina to show better.
I am fascinated by all of the options many of you seem to have for courses: summer classes, online classes, college classes. Here you get what is offered at the high school during the school year and that is it.
We do have what they call “dual enrollment” but it is not like the DE that everyone else refers to. They are just high school classes taught by the high school teachers that also receive college credits from the local CC.
Can someone explain the logistics of how students actually take courses at colleges rather then high school? Like even a 50 minute class, with transportation would probably cut into 3 class periods. And if it is MWF, what does the student do TR? A lab would kill like 5 periods! How does the calendar work? We don’t start school until after Labor Day but college starts in August. Classes resume the day after New Year’s but college classes don’t start until the 3rd week in January. Breaks don’t line up…how is this done?