So a little hiccup. D’s college counselor wants her to switch gears and take the SAT at the end of the summer as she is “stuck” on a 32 ACT. More testing, arghh…BTW, she is encouraging D to start filling out the common app now and working on the personal essay which she will use/tailor for her UC applications later (different app). She also is encouraging her to start really researching colleges to learn what they are looking for in an applicant. Will probably apply to 14 or 15 colleges. It’s starting to become real…
@socaldad2002
Is the common app open now for 2019/2010 cycle?
I’m not gonna lie, I couldn’t imagine retesting with a 32. It just wouldn’t happen for anyone in this family.
Yeah, my son got a 31 the second time and I’m having a hard time justifying taking again with that, but we’re not chasing any elite schools or applying to more than 3 or 4.
So my D20 told me she will not be applying to more than 8 schools! Glad she gave herself a limit.
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Our list will sound like a lot but it includes a half dozen UCs (one application) and a couple CSUs (one application with no essays). Neither the UCs nor the CSUs require LORs.
We are retesting on June 8th for the ACT. She got a 33 the first time but only 26 on the Science. Normally I would agree a 31 or 32 would be enough.
We are all taking different paths in this journey. All that matters is that we are comfortable with our trajectory. I had different paths for different kids. One got a 34 and begged for a do over (put my foot down and said no) another has a good score but I’m begging her to retake for a higher scholarship bracket. It’s all about who you are and what you want from your college search.
Speaking of college search, I read on another board that UMass. Amherst miscalculated and has over 600 extra freshman for the upcoming school year. If something like that happened to a school your student was looking at, would you take it off the list for next year? How would it affect your decision? I’m curious what kind of impact an extra 600 or thousand kids has on the school besides the obvious —- class sizes, availability of courses, dorm rooms. Thoughts?
Yes, @MuggleMom that school would be off the list. We have been watching a similar drama at VTech and are so glad we chose not to visit it. We will not pay an OOS premium to be in an overcrowded situation. There are lots of other great schools out there. We have even discussed that if that was revealed after 5/1 at the school DD had committed to that phone calls to the other schools to which she had been admitted would be made immediately.
@brown2024 Yes, Common App is open, and has been, for whenever you want to start filling it in. They do not wipe out any information anymore. Essays have been determined since Jan/Feb.
I’m hoping ‘brown’ in your username refers to your actual name, and not the university. 
@Nicki20 I’m sure you know this, but the ScienceNotScience section of the ACT is the least important part of the ACT, and is even ignored by some schools. But, I can see where the 26 is totally weighing down the composite score, so can understand the retake. Fabulous composite score already…but I would probably ask my D20 to do the same thing. 
@MuggleMom that happened at UT Austin last year and this year they were VERY strict about this years admissions. Not worth the added stress!
I’m starting to freak out that my baby (DS20) will be filling out his college application (yes, singular!) in August. Today is his last day of school and the reality of the looming “empty nest” is just starting to hit me.
@3scoutsmom Only 1 app here, too. The common app! 
(OK, maybe sending to 7 schools)
Ironically she is taking AP Chemistry and Biology next year but I did know about the ScienceNotScience. Ironically her goal was to get a 33. She wanted to do it again. In Illinois as you know you have to take the SAT with writing and hasn’t liked the last three years of PSAT/SAT testing as it is.
I’m torn on the common app. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities will share their application with any of the other campuses in the state and you only have to pay the one application fee. There is a chance we will only be applying to two MN schools. Plus Huntsville (not on common app) and Iowa State (not on common app). I’d like to throw his name in the hat for a few that are, but it might be pointless as I doubt the financial aid would come through.
@3scoutsmom - One application. Love it! I’m thinking we’d be fine doing that too. Best value, safety school, and DS wants to go there. We should just make life easy on ourselves.
@bigmacbeth
Thank you! Yes its definitely not the university!!
One App (Apply Texas) and one school!
@cshell2 It might be a good time (summer) to call the Financial Aid office at a couple schools you are thinking about to get a better read on how they might handle your situation? Obviously, if you are talking about a typical state school, the FA probably won’t work. But, a school like Embry-Riddle or other private? I dunno, maybe it’s worth a call?