@octagon I grew up in Canada as well and DS20 is our first kid through this world of SAT, AP etc… so complex compared to Canada 20ish years ago!!
Add DS to the AP Euro group tomorrow! His last AP test to do, after already doing chem and calc. He said neither chem nor calc were that bad…the writing always gets him in Euro, so well see how it goes!
We still have over a month till end of school so finals are still a bit away.
NHS induction next week, another banquet as well then little brothers track meets and band concerts and ceremonies. End of year is exhausting. Get off work, drive to event, go to bed, rinse and repeat!
@Octagon (and @Grad2020n23x2 )
If you were born in Canada, your biological children automatically have Canadian Citizenship. You just need to fill out some paperwork to obtain the Certificate of Citizenship that the Canadian universities require as proof. FYI it took about eight months for the paperwork to process in our case. Tuition at any Canadian university, assuming they are accepted, will be less than 10k CAD.
In addition, if the student has never lived in Canada, he/she is eligible for Quebec resident tuition at McGill, which is about 4500 CAD/year.
My S20 is not as keen about going so far away, both geographically and culturally, but for some kids it’s an amazing opportunity.
@Grad2020n23x2 - Yes things were so much simpler back then. Just applied based on my grades, had one passion (piano and band) and that was it. I am in awe when my kid manages to juggle so much (like sitting for 3 AP’s this week while staying calm (mostly!).
@ShrimpBurrito Thank you for the good idea. It doesn’t hurt to have options which don’t break the bank!
my scattered-S20 is taking his first AP tomorrow. he’s out with friends right now to “relax” – and went to a semifinal state baseball game last night. I’m slightly worried about how seriously he takes this. (definitely not as much as me!)
octagon – welcome; and well done to your kiddo with 10th grd PSAT scores. Did he study?
Welcome @Octagon You’ll find a lot useful information here. That’s great that your son did so well on his first PSAT. My son also attends a large competitive high school and he is planning on taking his first SAT this fall. I’m encouraging him to prep this summer for the PSAT in the hopes of making NMSF.
Good luck to all the Euro kids.
Closing out another AP season today…soon all our 2020’s will be Juniors!!!
@bgbg4us Thanks for the welcome. My S did not study for his 10th grade PSAT. Luckily he has always been good at taking standardized tests. He is great at math - in the advanced math program at his school. Surprisingly he did fine on the reading section despite not being a big reader. It was the writing section where he needs to practice more.
@Redslp Thanks for the welcome. I will encourage my son to prep as well since one has to prepare anyways for the SAT.
@Grad2020n23x2 Our school won’t finish June 20something!!! Holding onto sophomore a little longer! 
@whataboutcollege. Ours doesn’t finish until end of June as well, still pretty close to the end;)
When are your soon to be Juniors planning on taking the SAT, PSAT and ACT? Tentatively, D20 testing dates:
SAT - August 25th or October 6th
PSAT - October 17th
ACT - February 9th (2019) if needed?
A couple of random thoughts: a) I have heard it’s good to take the SAT/PSAT around the same time as the prep is similar for both;
b) you should get all tests out of the way as soon as possible your junior year to focus on academic classes, prep for AP exams in spring and summer for initial drafting applications/essays. Therefore, in the fall of senior year all you need to worry about is the actual college applications; and
c) apply to at least one match college EA to get a non-binding early acceptance taking some of the stress out of not getting accepted anywhere over the coming months.
Thoughts?
a) yes
b) Fall may be too soon for some - those Jan/Feb dates seem to work well
c) definitely!
I would add:
d) Complete Common App (including all essays etc.) before the start of school senior year
e) Identify ED, EA, rolling admission & any scholarship deadlines over the summer. Complete those essays over the summer
Here are My DS’20’s plans for standardized tests:
SAT II Math 2 (June 2018) after AP Calc BC
SAT II Chem (June 2018) after AP Chem
SAT (August 2018)
ACT (Sep 2018)
PSAT/NMSQT (Oct 2018)
SAT II Bio (June 2019) after AP Bio
ACT/SAT 2nd try (Aug/Sep 2019); May need a 3rd try in October before early/priority apps are due; Hope not.
I know there are 2 SAT subject tests and I’m not sure which he’ll take.
Anyone else have a kid that KNOWS where they are going to college? All three of mine made up their minds before the end of sophomore year or sooner, thankfully they are all both academic and financial safety schools.
One of the benefits is not feeding money to the College Board for tests that won’t be required;-)
Mine is very interested in U. of New Mexico especially if she makes NMF
I meant I wasn’t sure which Sat II Bio test he’ll take.
S20 schedule tentatively set as
Math2: done
SAT: June '18 ( repeat by year end if needed)
ACT:June '18 ( repeat by year end if needed)
Physics/Bio/USH: 2 of the 3 May/June '19
We don’t think PSAT will be of any importance in his situation, since we are not looking at NMF schools. And not to mention, our cutoff is crazy. Our state flagship’s flagship scholarship only looks at the SAT/ACT.
Great strategy @socaldad2002. I especially like the positive psychological aspect of c).
Also great additional tips @GMC2918. I will add this to our planned summer activities. I’d like to minimize interference with schoolwork wherever possible.
3scoutsmom- yep. pretty sure we know where s20 will end up. we kind of get what it takes to get full tuition there; that’s our goal. (no loans that way). kiddo will study this summer for psat. take ACT after XC in Oct; test prep/tutor over winter and then go all out in april for ACT. No extra SATs. If scores end up super great; maybe he’ll want to look elsewhere. It’s just we are now sort of gun-shy since our D16 went to an LAC out of state – and came back after 1.5 yrs. Not sure we want to go through that again.