S20 said that APLang was much harder than the SAT reading section, so it’s interesting that AP tests would count less than subject tests.
Jumping in from class of 2019 and 2021 on the subject of APs vs. subject tests. @NYC2018nyc I agree with you. Why on earth would a school care about a Math 2 subject test which tests pre-calc if a student got a 5 on a BC Calc test? That never made sense to me. I think that’s why more and more schools aren’t requiring subject tests anymore. Our original plan for S19 was to have him take three subject tests but, once he got 5s on all of his APs, we bagged the plan of taking subject tests. He was worn out. He didn’t apply to any schools that required subject tests but they all said they would consider them if sent. He just decided to self report his APs instead.
**Everything I have heard has been that AP courses demonstrate academic rigor. The AP test score itself isn’t much of factor in admissions. When asked if it matters if one takes the test or not, I have only heard that they want to see that the test was taken and passed but but that they don’t include a 3 vs 4 vs 5 score into their academic eligibility calculations. This aligns with the fact that many schools look down on self studying for AP tests. It isn’t about passing a test but about being successful in a rigorous course. They are looking to for students who will attend class and not just show up for the final. At a recent road show, I think it was UPenn who said that they would rather see a student spend their time doing something that makes them happy (they used band as an example) than self studying for AP exams.
On the new update thread people are playing around with bolding text in order to make it easier to read. Do you guys like bolded text or is it annoying?**
@ikg4answers
I agree with you about the AP course/tests analysis. But the boldface is not very comfortable to read. I might be tired, felt all the words are glaring at me. The contrast is too huge? Sorry for being difficult?
@lkg4answers @makemesmart someone on that thread tried using gray text and bolding that so it was bolder than this looks but not as dark as the bold black. I don’t know how to do that but just mentioning the idea.
@makemesmart Thanks. That is why I asked. 
eta @CAtransplant this is what was posted for bolding in grey. [ color = gray][ b] Use these symbols without the spaces. [/color = gray][ /b ]
[color=gray]** Is that better? Or do people like the default thin font better?[/color = gray]**
@CAtransplant @lkg4answers
this new look seems to be getting users’ creativity juice flowing, to say the least. ?
I like the bolded navy better than bolded gray or thin. My biggest issue is still the amount of scrolling (font size). My tendinitis in my right middle finger is acting up again and I’m sure it’s linked to trackpad usage. .I have to consciously try to scroll with a different finger.
Back from our day at UMinn. And, 16,000 steps later, UofM has cemented itself as a firm #2 school. 35,000 undergrad makes it on the large side of what D20 is looking for, but she felt the nursing program was a good one, and some clinicals would take place on campus. There are over 1,000 applicants for about 115 spots, so like most other programs, the competition will be great. I think the nursing presentation could have been much better, but maybe it was just because it is summer.
It was pretty steamy, but campus was green and fairly pretty. Some of the buildings seem to have been crammed into open spaces, so the campus is kind of cramped in spots. Interesting that the Civil Engineering building has it’s entry at ground level (actually, a little below), and then goes underground for 7 stories.
The big ‘find’ was the Rec Center. It’s enormous, and has all the latest and greatest equipment. D20 fell in love with it.
The city is pretty, the food spots are plentiful, the football and baseball stadiums are just off campus, and there is a light rail right on campus that takes you into the city. All in all, a worthwhile trip.
Oh, and I agree with GPA being more important than all other stats. Also, while it’s hard to compare GPAs across high schools, AOs know most high schools and the rigor available. They know which are known for grade inflation or deflation. If they don’t, they can compare the applicant to the other kids in the school (via the profile).
@bigmacbeth Thanks for sharing how the tour went. I’m so glad you guys liked it!
I will say that while the buildings are really close together in some places, that doesn’t feel like such a bad thing in January. And, “the Civil Engineering building is the tallest building on campus - but it’s underground!” is definitely a favorite fun fact on tours.
S20 is retaking the ACT tomorrow. He has a goal and feels pretty confident. Good luck to anyone else’s student who’s taking it tomorrow, too!
Just went on a visit to the University of Illinois today. Daughter was actually impressed. I think at times, especially being in state, it’s thought of as much lesser than a well known school. Two interesting things the admission counselor said. While GPA is important what you do well in related in your major choice is more. While math and science is more important to a STEM major it is less important to a psychology major. And to a Psychology major English and social science is more important than to a STEM. The second thing was don’t sent us a subject test we won’t look at it
@bigmacbeth - What’s her first choice school? We were supposed to be at U of Minn today too, but the weather gods had other plans and we needed to bale hay.
@cshell2 Baling hay on a day like today is probably not a whole lot of fun.
Her first choice is U of Iowa. She likes the small(er) campus, direct admit to nursing, on-campus hospitals, and nice rec center, are the big draws.
No. Not fun. Not fun at all.
I’d like to take DS down to Iowa State. I think he’d really like that campus from what I remember, but I’m not sure I want to get him excited about a school that would cost us a lot more.
That’s very interesting of UMinn to have an underground building.
We were planning on visiting some more colleges but we are running into the engineering information sessions being full and even general sessions being full. I wonder if it is still worth it to visit a college if we cant go to an information session?
Good luck to all ACT takers today!!!
@MamaBear2001 I think it would still be worth a visit without the info session if you can get on an official tour. I went on five college visits with my S18 and two with my D20 (she’s been on three but my mom took her to one of them as I had to work) and I always found the tour gave us a much better feel for the school. I think a lot of stuff that’s in the info sessions can be found on the college’s website. Some were very good - like one at RPI that had a panel of professors that each spoke for about 15 minutes. Some really didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know. So while I wouldn’t plan a visit without a tour, I would visit without an info session. If it’s not too far away perhaps you can go back after an acceptance and wanting to get more info.
Does anyone else feel like their child has a very long list of schools they are thinking of applying to? With my S18 he had five schools, we visited five, applied to five, and bam, done! With my D20 we have only visited four schools so far, but she has several more schools she’s thinking of applying to. Some are far away. We’re in PA and in addition to four schools in PA, and one in Maryland, she’s thinking of ASU, NC Charlotte, FSU and UCF. We’ve decided to not visit the far away ones until she gets accepted and we also see merit aid. But 9 schools just seems like so many to apply to. Fortunately all but one use the Common App, so other than some supplemental essays it won’t be a ton of extra work.
Anyone else have a kid who has what feels like a long list of schools they plan to apply to? Or is 9 actually not that many and my son was on the lower end?
@voyagermom I think it’s perception. My D20 has 7-8 on her list. We visited the 5 most important and are waiting on acceptances and merit money to decide if the others earn a trip. I was beginning to feel like I short changed her and she should apply to more. My older 2 were were high stats kids with a good mix of reach/match/safeties. They applied to 12 each and everyone we knew couldn’t believe that’s all they were applying to. I learned a lot during the process and D20 has a great mix of schools that she is highly likely to get into. If your school list has schools that will most likely work for you regarding both getting in and financially, how many do you really need? So I guess after all that, it depends.