My son took 3 SAT 2’s in Math 2, Physics and Chemistry because a lot of the engineering programs request them and because he is good at taking tests. I’m not sure they add anything to his profile since he already has strong SATs and grades and 5s on the AP tests. I also think that so many schools are switiching away from SAT 2s so it really won’t hurt not to take them. My daughter a few years ago had great verbal scores but a less than perfect math score, so she took the SAT 2 in Math 2 to show strength there. I think for her application it was more valuable than it will be for my son.
My son also has done research projects (no intel awards), an internship, and a selective engineering summer program. I don’t think they help any more than any other activities. In fact, I think it makes him look a little too generic. He looks to me like every other smart stemm kid on CC headed to engineering. How will they choose? I really like to think the process works but right now I’m feeling more than a little concerned that they won’t be able to know how special my kid is 
I wish they would just ask me!
Congrats @AmyBeth68 to your daughter! First choice with merit is what we all hope for!
@melvin123 Our district pays the Comm College a discounted price and we pay for books. The comm college professors come to the high school and 12 hours are offered junior year and 12 hours senior year in English Comp, British Lit, Govt, Econ, US History, and Speech Communication. I also have a D20 and rumor is that starting next year, parents will have to pay for the DE classes but we haven’t heard yet how much.
@MACmiracle praying for your daughter to have a complete recovery soon. I’m sorry for the additional stress this is causing and especially missing the scholarship weekend. Hope she feels better soon.
Yay @AmyBeth68 !
@melvin123 - our CC classes were free, not sure how that worked…just happy to be on the receiving end for a change ^:)^
@stemmmm love the “I wish they would just ask me!” But I think you’re right. How can they possibly choose when they have so many great candidates?
@Kayak24
Yes D took subj tests although they didn’t end up being required at any of her schools but they are “recommended” at some. We generally push ours to cast a wide net so our kiddos have options. D18 is motivated and willing, S21 will be harder to persuade.
Glad D did take them b/c she got an 800 on one in her desired area of study so that has to help. And she has one more score due tomorrow so fingers crossed…
Yes again to both research and job shadow. Again, highly motivated girl here. Not sure we’ll get S21 to do any of this 
Having said all this, I do agree with @suzy100 - remember that this group is a subset of the type A over-achievers. Encourage your D to soldier on. As they say, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take!
@Veronica02 - I think we have the same kids!! The class of 2021 board is going to be A LOT different for me than this one
:-t
@amominaz Looks like we’ll be figuring it out all over again with our 21’s!! :-S
'13/'16 parent who is now helping an '18 kid with his apps and following along here, and wanted to offer our experience on the internship question: my '16 daughter did take four SAT subject tests because she was homeschooled and we wanted to validate grades. However, she had no internships or even math/science/academic extracurriculars of any sort. She had one AP science (biology), two if you count AP Comp Sci (I was horrified to learn late into the college app cycle that some schools would count that as a math rather than science.) She had quite a bit of volunteer work, but she wasn’t curing cancer. She participated in several sports, but did not have the skills in any one of them to be recruited for a college team.
However, she was very successful in the admission cycle even with the weak-ish science background and lack of internships/research. Highlights were being chosen for the Stamps scholarship at Ga Tech, a likely letter to Dartmouth, direct admit to UW engineering, and admission to Princeton (where she attends now.)
Yay for @AmyBeth68 !
S scored a 1500 on the 11/4 SAT! Up from 1310 a year ago. Proud mom.
@apraxiamom That’s absolutely wonderful! Congratulations!!!
@1822mom I’m following along your application story. It is so painful to see kids fritter away options. I hope your D can find an essay-free safety school. I’m watching my kid not write his scholarship essays and it is so bothersome. He does have a couple safety schools done, but really, he is limiting his own options.
Congrats @AmyBeth68 That’s wonderful news!!!
@kayak24 My son did take SAT II’s because Georgetown required it. I think he only submits to those that ask. He did ok on Biology, excellent on History but bombed math - so he only sends them if required and won’t send Math unless they want 3.
@vistajay I know the feeling - my son missed a 35 by one question. He was bummed but not bummed enough to take it again.
@MACmiracle Thinking of you and your daughter. Hope things are better soon.
@amominaz and @Veronica02 - I also have an S21 who is so different from his brother. S18 has worked hard and done well (not 1600 SAT/valedictorian well but well enough). S21 just brought home report card with 2 C’s. I am so worried about S18s chances - S21 will be working at Gamestop if this keeps up!
@AmyBeth68 , so happy for your DD. Congratulations.
@apraxiamom , congratulations to your S.
@MACmiracle , speedy recovery to your daughter.
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I am wondering why some of your kids are aiming at highly selective engineering schools?
I was under the impression that most state flagships have good ABET accredited engineering programs.
Also what if your child would get a scholarship at Georgia Tech for example, but then has to maintain like a 3.5 GPA to keep it?
Wouldn’t it be better to go to a less selective school, one that facilitates internships, research, and coops, but had a lower GPA requirement?
The schedule is adjusted. Friday to Saturday only at D’s request. She will do the competition and only look at that school and come home.
I just can’t believe the weather report. Ugh. Another visit in the rain. Umbrellas are packed, and I’m bringing extra socks and sneakers for dry feet on the way home.
@apraxiamom - congrats that’s huge! Does thw new score change your son’s list at all? Could be a game-changer.
@mommdc - for us, my D doesn’t want a super large school. Our main state schools have 43K and 70K students. Entirely too big for her. So, we are looking at other options more in her comfort zone.