@2014novamom Thank you. My chemistry teacher said that the SOLs are a good indicator of how ready I am for AP Chem, which I’ll take next year.
Well, the Chemistry SOL felt pretty challenging, but I think I did well. It probably won’t be a 500, but at this point, a 450 and above would be okay with me. Thanks for the calming words @2014novamom They really helped calmed my nerves. I’m just happy to have it finally over with. Now all I have to worry about is the Algebra II SOL, which I’m definitely not as worried about.
Anyone have kids doing subject tests? Our D18 is a super strong history student and self-studied AP World and AP Human Geography, which was a stressful period of time for all of us, but I think she felt okay about both. Now, she’s prepping for SAT II World, which I know has an easier curve than most of the other SAT II exams, but she’s completely “800 or nothing” and my husband and I are getting a little worried; she’s far beyond stressed. She’s our first - what do we tell her a “good” score is? Do you actually have to get an 800 (which is 97th percentile) for it to look even passable? Please send some help our way!
Thanks!
@giraffe678 I don’t have an answer for you, but I am dealing with subject test issues too! My D is scheduled to take Math 2 on June 4, and we are seriously considering rescheduling for the fall for her. She’s taken only a couple of practice tests but the results have been so bad on them we’re thinking she just may need to take more time to study for this test. She does tend to be weak in math testing, but since she’s completing pre-calc this year, it seemed the right time. Maybe not.
Part of the problem for us has been that she is simultaneously studying for the June 11 ACT, which we decided to do because her school offered a free prep class. So the prep class is going well, BUT she has been working hard on moving swiftly through the ACT’s quickly timed math section, so when she does the Subject test she rushes through those as well, often finishing 15 minutes early at least!!!
So we are considering that maybe just focusing on one test for now may be the best course. And, it may turn out that none of the schools she’s interested in even want the subject tests! Then I’ll feel like why did we even go through all of this, ugh…
As far as scores go, I would just emphasize to her that there are many many good schools that do not even require subject tests, and her scores do not define her worth as a student or a person. I think my D felt better when we looked at a list of schools that did not require them and she was happy with those schools, so she knows if the subject tests don’t pan out it’s not the end of the world. We are looking for merit though, so she knows she needs to work hard for the best ACT or SAT score she can get, so that’s where she’s focusing her effort.
In retrospect, I wish we had not wasted so much time worrying about Subject Tests with D14. It certainly did not seem to make any difference in her college admissions (she got into 10 out of 11 schools–including an Ivy and received boatloads of merit scholarship money). At the end of the day, I feel it was more important that her voice, her passion, her essays that made the difference. Schools want to know HOW you will contribute to the larger community and HOW you will take advantage of the opportunities availed to you. Unfortunately the SAT, AP and Subject Tests are a cash cow for the College Board. Most savvy adcoms will understand that many kids cannot afford to take every fee-based standardized test. Unless you are looking at schools that require them like Georgetown, MIT and the Ivies, I would say put them down further on the To-Do list. I can see if you’re applying to an engineering school they will want to see that you can do well on the Math 2–but the rest of it is unlikely to make a huge difference.
Any HOBY parents here? We just dropped go2boy and 2 of his friends to their state seminar. If you haven’t heard about it, check it out at www.hoby.org It was a definitely a lifechanger for go2girl.
@giraffe678, an 800 is not necessary for a score to be “passable.” At this point I think I’d just try to get your D to relax about it, and let her know that if she doesn’t like her score she won’t have to send it.
My D is taking subject tests in Math2 and Chem, and I’m not sure if that child has even cracked a book. Her last final was yesterday so I haven’t bugged her about it, but I’m hoping she puts in some time over the next week.
I hope everyone has a nice long weekend!
@go2mom I am going to HOBY this summer! I am so excited. My parents are a touch worried because it will be first time away from home. Do you mind sharing your daughter’s experience with HOBY?
@go2mom I am a HOBY parent too! DS will be going next weekend and I am excited for him. Did your D14 participate in HOBY? We don’t know much about it except from what I have seen on our states Facebook HOBY page. Seems like high energy and great way to inject community service. There seems to be a 100 hour service project requirement after the seminar.
I am so thrilled @Kelvin82 and @magnetnh that you are participating in HOBY. My daughter attended her state seminar and it truly set her on an amazing trajectory of service, leadership and advocacy. After she attended her state seminar, she went to the World Leadership Congress in Chicago where she met over 400 other kids from all over the world. When I say it was “the moment” that changed her life and her view of the world, I am not exaggerating. It gave her the focus she needed to accomplish her dreams and developed perhaps the most amazing friendships with likeminded peers. As a “HOBY mom,” I get the added benefit that the most amazing young people have filled my living room year after year from all over the world. My daughter’s remaining years in high school revolved around making a difference and culminated in a full-tuition scholarship at Vanderbilt in service. She still does 20 hours of service a month and just worked at HOBY Tennessee. I’ve waited four years for my son to do HOBY and I’m so excited to pick him up and see how the experience affected him. If your kid can go to HOBY WLC, try to make it happen. Truly the best investment we ever made in our daughter’s development.
Thanks @go2mom for your sage words re the subjects tests. I’ve been gradually coming around to a MUCH more relaxed frame of thought wrt them as well. I think I’ve gone back and forth a lot on it, and am really working hard to put myself in a much more “zen” place as far as testing goes. Ironically, I had been right on with @suzy100 's advice. I told D if she scored poorly we just wouldn’t report it, no harm no foul. And I truly felt that way, but I also put the decision about whether and when to take these tests in her hands, she’s the one who has to take them after all. She was so mortified by her performance on the practice tests she decided she wanted to postpone so she could study more over the summer. So that’s what we’re doing. She’s still all in for the ACT on June 11 though. The prep class is going well, and she told me she “likes” standardized tests! 8-| I think she is relishing the idea of scoring well enough on this test that she can relax about testing during Junior year…
It feels good to shake some negative ocd impulses early in the process, hopefully I can continue the trend and we can proceed smoothly for the rest of the journey! lol ;))
@gotomom Thanks for the great info on HOBY. We have been receiving emails about the WLC and I was not sure if it was worth it. Did your daughter do it the same year that she attended the seminar? Or can they attend the following year? The WLC says its July 23-26 this year and DS is already committed to another program.
I was so glad to hear about the positive impact it had on your daughter and I hope to see the same impact on my son. I hope they assist in helping him determine the best community service project. He is really into the arts but I am sure will consider other projects.
I am also a HOBY parent. S’18 goes in 2 weeks. S’13 was also HOBY. He didn’t do the WLC, but the state seminar was great and a turning point for him as well. He’s a bit of an introvert and he learned that he could step up and open up. He took on several leadership roles after that. S’18 is not an introvert, but I believe HOBY will help him find himself in other ways. A terrific program.
I am not a HOBY parent but I did check out the website today and found out that there will be a seminar at the local university… However, there was no information on how to register and how much. I read the program description, it sounds like school nominate students and it’s for sophomore? I did send an email asking for more on how to join… My DD’18 is going to 11th grade and will take two subjects tests next week but she hasn’t prepare for them, and also finals are coming… I’m really worried that she continues to procrastinate… She seems like she studies all the time but not efficiently… I don’t know how to help her… I see that her phone (used to listen to music and snapchat) might be distracting her, but right now she predicted 4As, 2 Bs (1B in Chem H which is weighted class)… I don’t want to be mad but really hurts when I see her doing homework so late and knowing she could have finished much earlier and have time to either sleep or prepare for SAT exams.
@jjkmom The state seminars which will allow a student to participate in WLC are just held for high school sophomores. While some schools have the resources to nominate and send students, many schools (like my kids) will sign students up but the parents are on the hook for the fee. My daughter’s school had not sent anyone from their school to HOBY in years. So we sort of “reactivated” it’s involvement. This year they sent four students! This was the first year my son’s school sent any students but ended up sending three. WLC was a lifechanger for my daughter. It is basically the state seminar on steroids. So while there were 55 students at the state seminar, there are over 400 students from all over the world at WLC. The good news is @jjkmom is that the HOBY organization offers ALA (Advanced Leadership Academy) for juniors and seniors (being a HOBY sophomore ambassador is not a requirement) so if your child is interested, I would highly recommend it for next year. @magnetnh The state seminar should give your student a lot of ideas on how to take the leadership skills your son discovers about himself and translate it to his local community. The volunteer staff at your state seminar is there to support your son as he gets his footing. Make sure he gets all of their email addresses before he leaves. @dadoftwoboys - I’m so glad your introvert son found that being an introvert is not a weakness but a strength in leadership. I am a gregarious introvert and highly recommend the book/TedTalk “Quiet.” It’s a valuable, affirming book on the power of being an introvert. @jjkmom, I would also say, don’t stress your kid out on the subject tests. The reality is that they often do no coincide with the curriculum your child learned in the classroom. It is much more important that she focuses on finals (which translate into grades). She can always take them in the fall. And we have to be very cognizant that the brain doesn’t work on studying 24/7. It needs a chance to reboot. Kids this age need to socialize. Social media, texting, listening to music are all healthy outlets for them. They are not robots. They need to decompress. Your daughter’s grades are exceptional. She is exceptional. What often looks like procrastination is them refueling. Teenagers often like to work late which seems odd to us but is very age-appropriate. I share all this because I was you with my first kid. My daughter took two subject tests and did well in english but not so good in chemistry and math2. It made no difference whatsoever. She’s thriving in college and is so happy.
@jjkmom check in with your D re: the subject tests. Let her know it’s ok if she doesn’t feel ready and wants to postpone. Then find out from her when she feels like would be a good time to take them. The good news is you don’t have to decide until the last minute. She can just not show up for her tests, then when the official schedule of dates for next year is announced in the summer you can call up College Board and reschedule her at that time. I called them last week to reschedule our test and this is what they told me to do. The bad news is you do have to pay a change fee, but it’s a small price to pay for piece of mind if she’s not ready.
Thank you @go2mom and @1822mom!
@go2mom, thank you for sharing your experience regarding social media, my DD’18 has likable personality so many friends chat with her. She seems like she is always doing homework (not necessarily study) but I think she just doesn’t use her time wisely… Of course my DH and I left her goof off taking time eating dinner, taking shower, watching tv for the same reason, help her to relax and not stress out. It’s funny in a way that when she is studying so hard, I want her to take easy and often distract her with fruit or small talk, but when I see her on the phone snapchat or taking a long time getting to her room, I want her to focus and finish her work… But both my DH and I know that no matter which college she ends up attending, she will do well and have a happy college life just like your DD!
@1822mom, DD’18 didn’t prepare for this Saturday’s SAT Subject tests (World History and Math 2C), but she feels like her AP WH class and her math foundation should be helpful. Her finals are approaching so lots homework and projects due, she has couple courses in the boarder line so she needs work on them. She doesn’t have clues on whether she is ready or not, she will still take the exams and perhaps retake if she doesn’t like the scores… Is that possible? I don’t know if college board will keep or send to future colleges just the highest scores?
Hello! I am joining CC with a D18 and S19. Starting to get serious about narrowing down college choices for my daughter, who is a good student with no idea where she wants to go or any clue about her course of study. We are awaiting SAT results from May, she has a 33 ACT and 1440 PSAT. Small rural HS in TX. Anticipating a long, bumpy road these next two years!
Hello @ollie113
I forgot to mention that I received my SOL scores last week.
Chemistry: 478
Algebra II: 537
World History: 541
I felt I did fairly well!
@gotomom One more day before HOBY! I received an email from his student facilitator who participated as a sophomore in HS and is now a freshman in college. After re-reading your post I would like to ask further about your daughter’s community service scholarship at Vanderbilt. Did you have to apply separately for the scholarship? Or were you considered when you applied for admissions. What are the requirements to maintain it while at Vanderbilt? Is it for specific majors? I believe Tulane also has community service scholarships. If you are aware of others, please let me know. Preference would be in the northeast but we have been open to other regions of the country recently.
Here is the link to the Ingram Scholarship requirements. http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ingram/apply/highschoolapplicants.php I would encourage you and your student to read the profiles of current scholars. It will give you a good idea of their experience and commitment. There is fierce competition and a weekend of interviews. You can read more about it here: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ingram/ Other notable leadership/service-based scholarships would include Duke’s Robertson scholars and Notre Dames Hesburgh-Yusko scholars. Claremont-McKenna’s Seaver Scholarship is also leadership-based. It’s a two step process: first you need to be a phenomenal candidate for admissions and secondly have the additional background to be considered for the scholarships. I would liken it to winning the lottery twice!