DS is now done with subject tests too. Level 2 Math and Physics nailed both with 800! Still waiting on AP scores…
Now that he’s back from China, the rest of the summer is PSAT/SAT prep, working on getting Driver’s license, first DE class (Intro to Philosophy) and starting summer assignments.
Thanks @3scoutsmom I actually just found a really good ACT resource through my local library’s catalog. It’s called: The 5-Pound Book of ACT Test Problem. Made in 2015, it includes over 1,800 ACT problems made by experts. Thanks!
What summer assignments do your DCs have? I have to read Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer for AP English Language and Composition and two review PowerPoints and two review packets for AP Chemistry.
DS18 has a 62 problem math packet for AP CAL BC and for AP English Language has to read one non-fiction book either off their list of his choice that meets specific requirements and keep a list of all his summer reading including blogs and answer a series of questions about what he’s read.
@3scoutsmom Geez, that sounds like a lot. I actually just checked out Into the Wild from the library yesterday and its technically non-fiction as it was based off of the true story of Christopher McCandless, and I expect to finish the books in about 11 days, if I start today reading 20 pages a day and taking notes on every paragraph. I’ll keep my notes over the summer and use them for the timed-essay I have to write when I get back.
I remember discussing subject tests a while back in the class of '17 thread. I believe the general consensus was that most schools don’t require them. Of course the tippy top schools and particular types of programs are often the exception. My D17’s list requires none. So with S18, I’m going to wait until we have a pretty solid list (hopefully by next spring) and then see if he needs to worry about subject tests.
DD’18 has started making a list of colleges. I guess she was waiting for SAT scores. Today, I told her that there is a strong likelihood that her SAT score will increase since her first sitting was as a sophomore. So, she should aim a little high. The safety will stay the same, but she can mix up the matches a little.
Yesterday was the last day of school for D. She is now happily ensconced in her summer. She was happy with how her sophomore year went. She got her first B and learned that it’s not the end of the world. I’m glad it happened now. Next year will be tough, and there may be more Bs in her future and I want her to understand that that’s OK as long as she is working and trying.
We’re waiting on ACT scores, then I hope to make some time this summer to sit with her and look over the big list of schools I’ve been compiling. We’re going to visit some in state public likely schools this summer. Finding a good fit among our publics is going to be a challenge since she wants a small LAC feel, but we need 1 or 2 for financial safeties in case merit doesn’t come through at the types of schools she’s hoping for… trying to follow the CC maxim find the safeties first, and love them. 2nd part might be harder. :-S
go2boy is in his second week of summer vacation and is spending the mornings volunteering at a camp for kids with disabilities. His report card came back with a healthy balance of B’s and A’s. Phew! He’s begun his SAT tutoring and I’m requiring that he puts in an hour a day. Fortunately his tutor also helps him with math during the school year so she knows his strengths and weaknesses. Khan Academy is a fantastic resource for kids to get familiar with the questions. Unlike his sister who took a few classes to prepare her for the SAT and ACT and a lot of studying on her own, he needs a bit more hand-holding. The good news is that he wants to do well and (so far) is investing some time into it. He’ll take the SAT for the first time after the PSAT. It’s a good time of the year also to invest in taking the test–usually after mid-terms but before finals.
Last day of school for DD today! She recently got her license and drove herself to school for the first time today. So starting today, I am freed from the daily drop-off and pickups! (She attends a school outside our designated pyramid and we have to provide transportation).
She leaves for Chicago tomorrow for a summer program, and gets back on July 3. Home for a day and then we leave for a college road trip through Virginia and North Carolina. Six days home and then she and I go back to Chicago where she will attend a conference and then we do a Midwestern college tour.
From what I have read, most colleges only need or recommend 2 subject tests. But I see kids taking 3 or even 4. Is there any benefit in taking more than 2?
So, on the HS Class of 2018 student thread, we were talking about how the Common App is available to fill out, even if you’re not a rising senior. You would have to put down “Other Student”, but it would be kind of a good way to preview the application, at least for the schools that use the Common App.
So, my report card just came in the mail and I was ecstatic with my grades. They were better than expected. I expected 5 As and 2 Bs, but actually got 5 As, 1 B+, and 1 B. My GPA is not a 3.71, but a 3.77!
@ak2018 – Good work! Also, one thing to check is to make sure the Common App doesn’t purge accounts after the current application cycle. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the site since my older child graduated several years ago, but if I recall, accounts were purged after a cycle.
@2014novamom Thank you. I’ve heard that they will not be purging anymore, but this is only what I’ve been told. I would think they might just delete the senior applications and not all applications.
Happy to report that D18 actually sat down and made a preliminary college list recently. She has about 18 schools on the list at this point. She even has given some thought to a major although not settled on anything for certain yet. It is hard to make a more realistic list without ACT/SAT scores and a specific major.
She is leaning toward Anthropology or Sociology much to her Dad’s dismay (Dad is a STEM man). In the end I think she will apply to 8 - 10 school, 2 reaches, 4 matches and 2 safeties. D16 applied to 15 schools and that was too many IMO. D18 would like to apply to a couple UC schools but I honestly don’t know if it is worth while to bother figuring out the whole UC GPA system and application process. It would be out of state for us.
School year ended well for her mostly low A’s and 1 high B. She is anxious to get her AP World History score back but with the estimate of only 6.5% having scored a 5 and and 15.5% for score of 4 she isn’t holding out much hope for doing better than a 3.
The Common Application was mentioned here recently but has anyone heard of the new Coalition application which is gaining popularity. Any thoughts?
Ugh, I try NOT to think about the Coalition App @magnetnh Seems to me it makes the process unnecessarily more complex. Some schools are switching to Coalition, some are not, so by next year, some of our kiddos will be writing essays for the Common App, the Coalition App, whatever supplemental the schools they are applying to require, and then there are some state’s that have their own wheel of fun! We’re in CA, and D will definitely be applying to at least lower tier UCs, they just switched their essay requirements from 2 to 4! A year from now we’re going to be looking at a lot of moving parts… :-SS
Then again, I suppose it’s easier still than filling them all out individually by hand, which is how I did it in the dark ages (I think I even wrote my essays by hand, right on the app!) Of course, she’ll probably be applying to more than 4 schools…
@labegg, AP world history is very hard because it covers so much.
I have heard UCs are $55k for out of state, not sure if that’s worth it.
As for us we are concentrating on instate schools. We get a state grant if we do which is nothing to sneeze at.
There are a few schools that might offer some merit.
I’m with @1822mom in trying not to think about the Coalition App. From what I can tell, none of the schools DD is interested in is Coalition-exclusive and I’m hoping it stays that way!