@soxmom – we found the exact opposite, which is why D19 will be retaking the ACT in June even with a pretty strong score already recorded, and she’ll “never see the SAT again” (said with an over-the-top Scarlett O’Hara accent). 
@dcmaan My D17 had testing in middle school but had to have more recent testing to get the accommodations. It is expensive (like 2-3K? I think. I remember gasping.) and we had to schedule 2 months out because all the local people were booked. My D did have a plan in place starting elementary school and we had always requested accommodations. Did not do that with the eldest and he was never able to get accommodations even with testing documenting his LD. Testing companies said he did fine (average) without accommodations so he didn’t need it. So he had to go the test-optional route.
Just finished tour of CMU (my Alta Mater) . Their CS program is hedging towards 5%! admit rate. One that that got brought up in the CS program is that its not the typical CS program and more theory and very very MAth heavy. They look more at Math grade and science, than if you have taken a CS class before. Also they want to attract more women and are 50/50 now. Another piece of info is that they are taking away the interview next year, and wont consider DI much anymore. They dont have adcom’s that are regional either. The only good thing is that my S19 realized he needs to get his act together.
Initial reaction to UAH… wow. Great tour, they had us meet 1:1 with Honors College rep, Admissions rep, and with the Electrical Engr dept head. Tour ended up being just us as well when another kid didn’t show (and were able to be golf carted around, really appreciated since my feet still angry at me lol).
S19 now shifted GMU down the list; if he doesn’t get lotto/longshot MIT, then UAH is first choice. More detail on Saturday when we get home, but the campus, people, opps exceeded expectations
@parent2one UAH does roll out the Red Carpet. It is above our instate safety as a choice. The only downside is that we did not feel that their CS dept is as strong as many others we are considering. The dorms are so nice.
I was looking at Naviance last night and something dawned on me that I had not considered previously.
When looking at the data charts for the kids that have applied from your school, the data point of a kid shows up as their single score. from the SAT, not super scored. This is kind of important. My son has a large score difference in his math vs English. His single sitting score on his SAT is what shows up on Naviance and the score is fine, but when he super scores his results his data would place him much higher on the Naviance graph. He would basically go from the " low-medium" chance into the “good zone”.
I had never really taken that into consideration when I’ve looked at Naviance before and I’ve seen some acceptance below the " good zone". Maybe some of those kids had very good super scores.
@parent2one What school is UAH?
@RightCoaster I would call your GC and make sure that’s true. Our Naviance is superscored for SAT but not ACT.
There are a lot of things behind the scenes of Naviance. We are looking at one school where Naviance says that 4 kids applied and zero got in. When I asked our GC, she said that one of the those kids didn’t finish the app and the other three withdrew their apps because they got into their ED school. Well, THAT’S not the same thing. Basically no one applied.
@homerdog I don’t think our school shows superstores because when I look back I can my older sons scores and they are not super scored. I guess I should check just to clarify.
The Naviance data is definitely iffy at our school too. I definitely don’t trust it, especially for schools with less data points. For the big state schools it works fine, gives you a basic over/under line that you can predict better.
@homerdog both schools my children attend do not use Naviance for some of the reasons described above.
I have so many questions about Naviance and don’t understand the system at all. My son’s scores and GPA is not current. I sent an email this week to the IB Diploma coordinator at his high school with a few clarifying questions and she hasn’t replied yet. My son’s guidance counselor is out for surgery and recovery until May. I have found the same thing about applications and acceptances. The Maryland schools have a high number of applicants but schools in surrounding states have maybe two or three applicants and maybe one acceptance. I can’t understand the data points used and if the data is correct.
I wish I could see the data for other schools in my county…
@Kona2012 I’m assuming University of Alabama Huntsville, which is a CC favorite due to the very good merit, good academics, and good student quality of life.
@Kona2012 UAH is University of Alabama-Huntsville
Our scattergrams in Naviance show countywide numbers, I am assuming because our high school doesn’t send many kids to colleges that aren’t CCBC, Towson and UMBC.
For our district, Naviance pulls back 10 yrs of data pts in the scattergrams which could misrepresent the current year’s acceptance experience. Also, SAT scores do not automatically pull in - a GC has to push in the scores.
@Samsmom2019 , re: Princeton, I don’t believe there is one typical kind of student that they look for. As with other Ivy League colleges they are quite quirky and do indeed take a holistic view of the applicant. My son is a prime example of it. While his stats were good, they were nowhere near perfect. He was/is passionate about science and music and it showed through his essays, and he had a great interview. He had only regional level awards in those, but he did make an impression on the jazz music director. That same year he was admitted there were several from his school with better profiles (valedictorian, national awards) that did not make it in. So if your child is interested and has stats that are in range he should consider applying. You never know unless you apply. I hope that helps.
For you people who are thinking of sending your kids north for schooling, guess what? Still snowing!!! Crazy. Next chance for a storm is Tuesday and they might have to cancel school depending on the timing.
Then next weekend is going to be 66 and sunny. Hallelujah
@RightCoaster still snowing in Chicago too. 38 degrees as a high today with 22 mile an hour winds. I am so done.
And for those of you with kids considering ASU, 91 degrees today! (This is not said with glee, I assure you. I’m not a hot weather kind of guy.)