SAT scores came out from the April 8 test that was done in school. D26 brought her score up 70 points by studying for 2 hours the night before.
So instead of being DONE (this was her 3rd attempt but the first she did ANY prep for) she wants to take it in June.
I’m proud of her but also just kind of over this stupid test. She’s a straight A kid who loves to learn and yet this test is what has the potential to determine her future. Smith is her #1 choice but she is hoping to get a high enough score to use it for her application. (This time she was a 1320. 720 reading, 600 math. So awesome but not Smith awesome lol).
Well, S26 didn’t get into the art program. And he found out his recent ex is dating someone new (they broke up 3 months ago). He’ll probably see her with him at prom this weekend (he is going with a bunch of friends). I think he’ll be licking wounds some. I feel sad for him. But I hope he decides to keep his plans bc his friends are fun and they will cheer him up
My D26 has been digging in to try for a 750
or higher in math. She got a 790 on her practice exam last weekend so fingers crossed. Hoping this can be the last time she takes it!
C26 would have been doing it if they hadn’t been happy with the school day results… in retrospect thankful they’re not as this weekend is already full socially plus they have a pile of homework due Monday (and it’s too late in the school year to be asking for extensions). Good luck to your daughter and all others doing it tomorrow.
In other news, they have decided to do that engineering program. They are excited about a number of the elements in it, including AI/neural networks (for a number of applications including image and music which they are particularly excited about), rocket design using CAD, programming a drone controller, etc. I think it will be good exposure to a bunch of things that interest them but that they would not have formal teaching experience of otherwise. So it’s not their career goal as such but there are a number of things adjacent to that and of general interest to them. C26’s dad hasn’t said this out loud but I think he’s also secretly hoping C26 might decide to do engineering (like dad!) - I can’t see that happening but it’s nice to have a kid that is excited by math and science - subjects which were both a drag for their older sister. (These kids are very similar in some fundamental aspects but yin and yang on academic strengths).
S26 has been really cranky recently I asked him what’s the matter and turns out he has all his finals this week and APs next week. The teachers scheduled all the finals before the AP exams so the students would be prepped for exams but school isn’t over util first week of June so what will they do the last few weeks of school ? apparently watch film in class and take it easy.
He had a practice test that he did ok on and still wasn’t happy I pointed out that it was just a practice test and he said no it counts. So this teacher (my least favorite) has practice tests that count half as much as the final they take a week later. I really don’t think that’s what practice means but I am not the teacher. Either way can’t wait for this year to be over.
I know-- the next several weeks will be brutal for D26. SAT tomorrow; four AP exams over the next two weeks, and all the drama that prom brings. And the job that eats up all her weekends and afternoons… I feel bad for my poor Bug!
D26 learned a lesson from the School of Teenagers Who Sometimes Don’t Pay Attention last night.
Today, she has a huge (the final printed version including bibliography ended up being 45 pages long) year-long project for AP Human Geography due today. There’s been regular assignments for this all year long and she’s done all of those on time. But this week was the final push to complete the last 7-8 pages of it.
And she goofed and skimmed the details when she re-read the instructions last weekend. So she went into panic mode late last night realizing that it wasn’t a few paragraphs left to write, it was 7-8 pages of text to write instead.
Everything turned out fine. This week has just been review week, no new tests in any classes or anything. And she lucked out because I let her go to school 3 periods late this morning so she could finish. This is probably one of the only times she’s goofed like this, though. On the way to school, we talked briefly about how to learn from last night and this morning’s experience so you don’t get burned by something like this in college. Pretty sure she’s learned her lesson now because she said, “Oh my gosh, I am NOT doing THAT again!”
We have a math teacher like that too! Seriously, sometimes I think some of his teachers(only a few, most are really nice) are just looking for ways to make life difficult for the kids. And no I am not talking about allowing retakes for quizzes/tests or extra credit work. No retakes allowed at our school, very few teachers give extra credit. But at least stick to the policies laid out in the course syllabus which the teacher, parent, student all signed, instead of randomly deciding to change some, like homework in the last month is suddenly being graded on correction without any warning, instead of on completion which is what you have been doing the whole year!
I’m so feeling the themes of testing, exams, testing, prom drama and stress!
We are mostly over the hump here for D26. Her AP Physics teacher did the students a solid and gave a practice test that would replace the lowest previous test grade – or not go in the gradebook if it didn’t help. So D26 managed to bring her grade up to an unweighted A, praise be. Nothing left except to review for the AP exam.
Massive architecture project submitted, and the kid did well. She designed a two-story building with greenhouse on the second floor with culinary classrooms underneath, connected to an existing school building with a bridge. The teacher was very complimentary, and her project came in third in the informal class competition – but he said hers was the best one aesthetically and design-wise. (Which is good, because that’s her thing, lol.)
Final band concert finished. So she can breathe for a second, study for two AP exams, and then work on the final research paper and stuff for English. She’s sooo close.
S25, meanwhile, has five days of school left. I won’t be here for the last two because I’ll be helping D22 move out of her college apartment. I think he has one more major test left, a monologue to memorize – but no exams. Theatre banquet is the last major thing this week (then senior sunset, senior carnival, exit interview, grad practice, all that stuff. But the academic stress is almost over).
D26 is doing a one week residential “pre nursing” camp and otherwise lots of babysitting, working for a week or two at a tumbling camp locally, and m most importantly, getting those essays done before school starts in August.
It is so hard and D26 is in the same position with wanting/needing to take ACT in June for a third time to be competitive for her #1 school which is NOT test optional. She is so done with the school year and really feeling it right now.
Just introducing myself- I was last on the CC forums when my S20 was applying to schools and now I find myself back on here perusing through all of these forums looking for advise that I can pass on to D26 to help her out as needed.
Lots of good information has been found in this thread!!! Thanks to all that have been posting.
So far, I do not think her college application process will be too troublesome. She has narrowed down her list to only 4 places that she plans to apply to as soon as they open their applications up.
On free apply day (Do all states do this?) she will apply to a handful of other local schools just to ensure she has herself covered!
I do wish she would apply for some reaches (Ivies) just to see what could happen- but as of now, doesn’t seem interested.
Her top 2 choices right now are:
Colorado School of Mines
University of Limerick
Her second 2 choices are:
CU Boulder
and some college in California that I have never heard of? (We will use this as an excuse to go visit California this Summer if she keeps this one on her list I have been dying to go to the new Epic(?) Universe at Universal Studios!!)
She is interested in Computer Science (still not sure what area of CS she wants to pursue- leans towards system engineering)
Anyways- hello once again- I look forward to helping each other out over this next 3-9 months of the college application process!!
My D26 asked what I wanted to do for Mother’s Day, and I told her, “What I really want is for you to write your college essays without my nagging you all summer.”
She said, “Yeah, that’s probably not going to happen.”
Ha! I should say the same. My husband asked what I want and I said for them to meal plan for the next week and do all the shopping and cooking. But this may be even better!! Or BOTH
but I am not the teacher. Either way can’t wait for this year to be over.
I have been dying to go to the new Epic(?) Universe at Universal Studios!!)