@whataboutcollege DS was very interested in taking AP Bio and pushed to be allowed to skip honors bio and go right into the AP class. He struggled at first with the higher expectations and had to learn to how to study for that class. Once it clicked, he did much better. He loved the labs. (I also have an older daughter who never took AP Bio, so it was new to us as well!)
DD20 earned a 3 in AP Seminar. Curious if anyone earned a higher score? Seems a hard one to do better on, given the scores reported here thus far. It is new at her HS so had no idea what to expect. AP Euro score is not yet available. She was quite annoyed by that.
@carpoolingma Good job and congrats to your DS! My S20 took the honor Bio freshman year, so hopefully he will start smoother. Most of his classes are doing AP Chem in Junior year. He is one of the few doing Bio instead. Our plan was to have him taking Physics and Bio subject test ( or maybe US history ) at the end of Junior year.
@whataboutcollege DS20ās science pathway is a little different. He took honors chem in 9th grade, AP Bio in 10th (but didnāt take the subject test. grrr) He will take AP Chem in 11th and honors Physics in 12th. He took the math subject test this year. Since he didnāt take the bio subject test, he will probaby take the chem subject test next year and maybe literature?
DD20 hasnāt taken any APs. She takes equivalent courses instead at the community college. D enjoys the college classes more than her high school classes, so this has worked out well for her.
D loved band camp at Univ of Alabama and says she wants to apply there. UA would accept her community college classes as credits towards her degree if she matriculated there. Iām currently researching other colleges that accept the community college classes for both high school and college credit. It seems to vary, with public schools being most lenient about it. Iām hoping that between finding merit and using Dās community college classes, we can maximize our college savings.
DS emailed me during his 30ā internet access today that he got 5s in both apush and AP stat. He is very happy so am I.
He is going to take his SAT in August then Math II in October, fingers crossed that he could wrap up standardized tests by then.
@makemesmart Congratulation to your DS!!! Also good luck to his up coming tests!
It feels like summer has entered into a slow motion. DS is enjoying the relaxation and hasnāt start looking at any of his summer homework yet. I guess this might be the last slow summer before things become super crazy!
@whataboutcollege
Thank you!
Just lurking at the 2019 parent thread is a stress-inducer, lol. I am not sure what to think of the next year, we will officially start the IB program, and many people are telling me junior year is the hardest year. So, I will try very hard to enjoy the slow pace as much as I can.
Speaking of the 2019 thread, I got curious and looked at their thread from this time last year. They had almost one thousand more comments on July 8th, 2017 than our thread does now in July 2018. Are we just a quiet group, or are there just a lot of lurkers out there?
@hgtvaddict
Lol, are you a data addict as well 
Since there are quite some talks about dragon babies (parents by extension), class of 2019 has the second half of these babies born in the latter half of 2000/early 2001, so there are 1) more of them and/or 2) more parents putting high expectations on them? Tho for many of class of 2020 kids who are born in the year of ālittle dragonā, ie snake, or āhorseā, we might be quieter, but could be mightier, at least a lot more real! :))
It will probably pick up for you (thread-wise) about August. (Common app opening). Ithink I joined ā18 about that time. I asked about common app, potential colleges based on major, financial aid, etc. Then itās a whirlwind from August on. S18ās homeschool began in August along with his online classes. He had his first acceptance in late August. He had Fafsa in October, scholarship deadlines, acceptances in December/January, a snowstorm college tour in January, decisions in January, Scholarship results March-May, financial aid final plans April/May. He had AP test in early May, classes (homeschool and online) finished in May, and AP results in July. Now itās 42 days until he leaves for college.
S18 will be attending his August acceptance college. He is not majoring in what he thought he would a year ago.
My point here is: itās going to go fast!
i looked at their thread too; and got side tracked on the proxy-server idea for looking at AP scores. interesting. hoping what i saw was correct; kiddo will be pleased tomorrow.
@makemesmart yes, I really like researching data. Iāve already got all kinds of spreadsheets and research notes for this college search. My husband thinks itās a bit over the top!
@apraxiamom what a whirlwind year youāve all hadā¦even a snowstorm college tourā¦wow! I didnāt know that colleges accept students as early as August. That must be sort of reassuring to the students to know all senior year that they have at least one acceptance somewhere, to take the pressure off.
My D reminded me today that she starts her junior year in only three weeks, so yes, time is definitely flying by.
This morning I enjoyed watching my 15-year old coach 6-year old brother in breaststroke. I know they love each other, but they also have a healthy sibling relationship and he knows how to push her buttons. But today was a motherās dream. She was so patient and kind with him, he was attentive and diligent and making progress. A stranger was so impressed, he asked if D was a coach giving lessons. So much
Oops, sorryā¦ anyway, just wanted to share. In ten years, will probably forget what grades and scores my kids had, but hopefully todayās memory will never fade and will be treasured always 
As a 2019 and a 2020 parent, I honestly feel like junior year, if properly planned for testing, etc, can be just fine. S19 knocked testing out early and that definitely eased some stress. He and I have worked together to get ahead in the overall process and that has given him a little more stress relief. His goal is to have most of his applications in by the end of the summer. May add 2 more in the fall but waiting on some info before deciding. Hoping S20 can follow through with his part of the process in the same manner. But every kid is so differentā¦
Congratulations all around on all the AP scores. Nice to hear other positives, too, like your story, @typiCAmom! S2 is working (partly paid, partly volunteer), doing SAT prep, and practicing driving (aka making me grayer every day). He heads off to ānerd campā next weekend, which heās really looking forward to. I am trying to relish every moment because as much as I think youāre right, @mountainmomof3 (about the fact that junior year can be fine), it will definitely not be as relaxing and rewarding as this summer has been for us so far!
I am alone here? I just donāt want to do more college visits! Lol. (We only visited three schools so far!) We are planning a trip to the west before school starts in mid August, I am dragging my feet and not doing any planning/reservations! Wish I am as organized as @hgtvaddict
@typiCAmom
I am so with you, I believe the things we stress so much these days will fade away and become less and less important while these family fun/love moments will be treasured forever.
Congratulations on AP scores!
Our summer is not turning out to be as relaxing either @HarrietMWelsch. We got summer school, then SAT Prep, then driving school, plus volunteering work. With two younger kids with their own summer schedules plus S20s busy schedule (Oh, I canāt wait until he can drive on his own!), its turning up to be a busy summer. Honestly, I canāt wait for the school to start LOL.