My D has MEHAP test on Friday. Of course it’s at noon and she has her school dance performances Thursday night and Friday night so they’ve been rehearsing late every day after school this week. WHY must they make the dance performance during one of the only two weeks of AP exams? When she gets done with the exam she will barely have time to come home and eat a snack before call time at the theater at 5 pm. Shaking my head.
I think visiting schools is really helpful if you can do it. D20 has a hard time imagining applying to a school unless she’s seen it in person. Luckily we are able to visit though I realize not everyone can.
My D18 visited a wide variety of colleges, starting early—summer after freshman year. It was really helpful in determining what was important to her. Some were colleges she was specifically interested in, and others were, “Hey, we’re nearby, let’s check this school out while we are here.” Even the trips to colleges she really didn’t like were productive, as she figured out what she really didn’t like. She ended up choosing the very first college she visited, but that’s not the point here.
S20 has visited several colleges already, too. He’s been asking a lot of questions on the visits and is starting to think about fit.
I know some seasoned posters on CC will say it’s too early to visit colleges, just let them enjoy high school. But I know several students in real life who waited too long to start the process, then were underprepared and overwhelmed, resulting in a miserable senior year.
DS has 15 schools on his list. We’ve visited 8 so far starting last summer and over breaks. So far he’s only eliminated 1. (Really didn’t like William & Mary.) The remaining schools are further and of course in separate directions - North, South, and West up to 6 hours away. Trying to schedule them over the summer but supposedly can’t get a good sense when school’s not in session. We’re limiting him to 10 to apply to so he’ll need to cull somehow. He’d like to continue music so we’ll try to schedule with music teacher too. What are you looking for on a visit? Is it that it “feels right” or liking the vibe or “I can see myself here for 4 years”? Or something more concrete? I try to not interject too much just let him talk out pros/cons on the ride home. He is aware that cost is a huge factor and we have a top figure. Loans are to be avoided if possible whether his or ours. His science major with research and music program are top draws for him. Have you set a number for applications?
@socaldad2002 my coworker’s son was also waitlisted at UMich. He begged parents to take him, they went, and he received his acceptance on the way home. Demonstrated interest is big there.
Regarding setting an application limit:
D18’s high school set a limit of eight. S20 attends a different HS and I don’t think they have restrictions. I will remind S how much his sister agonized over those apps, though. She submitted seven, plus one outside scholarship app and the NMF app, and it totally zapped her.
S is not likely to apply to many reaches (maybe some financial reaches if he guns for a competitive merit scholarship), so if he IDs three or four safety schools he is happy with, or goes the recruited athlete route and knows early where he wants to go, I think it would be a victory for all of us.
D17 visited schools that are within driving distance. Most of the schools dropped off her list after visit, so we said “stop”, otherwise, she wouldn’t have enough schools to apply ;). More than half of the schools she applied to were w/o visit, including uMich. She was accepted EA and fell in love when they invited her for a weekend visit expense paid. She had such a great first year and couldn’t be happier. S20 tagged along for most of D17’s visits. Contrary to D’s experience, he liked most of the schools, except uMich (too big, too overwhelming ). We now want to say “stop” too, because he might end up with too many schools on his list
a few of you mentioned prepping for PSAT this summer. So how do you do that? I’d like my kiddo to prep a bit without paying for it . . . but we’ve never prepped for PSAT. Hoping to hear what resources you use . . .thanks
@bgbg4us Khan Academy. D18 used it exclusively to study for the PSAT and made the NMSF cutoff. She liked Khan so much that she has continued to use it for her schoolwork. It’s a really great resource.
@bgbg4us I second Khan! There are also three books I highly recomend (you might get them reserved at your library if you don’t want to buy them) two books from Erica L. Meltzer
The Critical Reader, 3rd Edition: The Complete Guide to SAT Reading
4th Edition, The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar
and PWN the SAT Math Guide by Mike McClenathan
Both these authors has great info on their web pages/blogs.
Also take TIMED real practice tests! (available for free on line) look at all the answers make sure there is an understand of WHY they answer is right or wrong.
D20 took AP Psych and APES tests last week. She’s taking SAT2’s in Math 1 and Chemistry on June 2. May not need the Math 1 score since she’ll take Math 2 and US History after Junior year, but it’s a good warm up.
This is my first post and it is great to be part of this community. My S20 is attending a large public school which is full of highly competitive kids. I grew up and went to college in Canada (go McGill!) so am still learning about the college application experience here. I didn’t have AP’s and didn’t take any standardized tests - so a very different experience from today!
I am wondering when is the best time to take the first ACT or SAT - October of Junior year?
Timing of standardized test depends on the individual, the best time to take them is when they are ready for it! If your student does well on standarized tests you might want to think about taking the SAT in Oct of Junior year so any prep will also help with the PSAT if your student might be in National Merit range. I’m personally in the early testing camp so far (ds20 is the youngest of 3) my kids have taken SAT in Spring of 10th grade and again Fall of 11th and then they were done with testing. If ds20 doesn’t like his Fall SAT score he’ll still have plenty of time to give the ACT a go.
Also keep in mind that if your kid will be taking any subject tests they can take the regular SAT and subject test on the same day. Also not all subject test are given on all test dates.
@Octagon Welcome and Go McGill indeed! My daughter will start there in the fall. Will your S consider Canadian universities? If he’s a Canadian citizen, the value is hard to beat.
@Octagon Welcome! My D17 took her first SAT in HS (she took once in 8th grade) Oct of Junior year. She had a good score and we thought that was it. But she decided to take it again in Jan (last old SAT :D) and got a perfect score. S20 is planning to take his first ACT/SAT (he took SAT once in 7th grade) next month. The hope is to get a decent score and be done with it. We will see!
My D20 will be taking the SAT World History subject test this summer, in August, but probably won’t take the SAT until the spring. She is not advanced in math and needs all the classroom time she can get before tackling the SAT. We are also considering the ACT, as speed is her strong suit and from what I hear, the ACT is a good option for students who are fast readers.
It would be great to get a subject test under her belt before junior year. Then next spring she will take biology and French. She took bio in freshman year but we weren’t happy with her score, so she will give it another go after taking advanced biology (school doesn’t offer APs).
@Octagon I second that the best time is very dependent on your DC’s readiness and schedule. My DD20 wanted to take ACT for 1st time this spring. I probably would not have suggested that but since she wanted it, I signed her up. She also wants to take SAT close to time of PSAT this fall so that sign up is on my list as well. Compare your DC’s schedule to the available test dates and the “better” date(s) will reveal themselves. There is no “best” time.
First AP test (APWH) in the books! D20 said it was no more difficult than class exams, but that her brain was tired by the time she got to her last essay question (she forgot to take her ADD medicine this morning).
@3scoutsmom Thank you. I didn’t realize that some subject tests and the SAT could be taken the same day. My
S20 was at the Commended Range for the PSAT when he first took it without trying so hopefully has a shot at National Merit.
@ShrimpBurrito My S is not a Canadian citizen but I suppose could be - as I am still a dual citizen in Canada’s eyes.I loved McGill - tell your daughter that when I went to graduate school I found that my excellent training at McGill seemed to prepare me really well.
@whataboutcollege - Yes- I see the advantage of getting it out of the way.
@Dancingmom518 My S was planning to take the Math II subject test this June because he had just finished PreCalc but he has a math competition to go to that day - so perhaps August.
