<p>How do these test optional schools work? I have checked the admissions websites of a few and they all say scores must be sent. Do they simply not count if the GPA is high enough?
I could enroll him in the local high school for his last semester and get a diploma that way, getting Dual Enrollment credit for his CC classes but it seems like a dumb idea.</p>
<p>I don’t know about test anxiety. How do you tell? Some people have suggested his nodding off during the test could have been shutting down but he didn’t seem stressed by it.</p>
<p>If we do it again we will prep all we can with a tutor. I just don’t know if it would be worth it.</p>
<p>From what I heard at the test optional schools my son applied to they only request your scores after you have been accepted for statistical purposes. Believe it or not there are kids who have really high scores who don’t submit them because they don’t believe in tests- it’s just not low scoring kids who don’t submit them. </p>
<p>Also, test optional schools usually require additional essays if one doesn’t submit score. </p>
<p>My son was over thinking the questions on the tests and his tutor worked with him to stop him from doing that. It wasn’t easy for him to do it but eventually he did stop. There is quite a but of strategy involved and learning to recognize similar types of questions, etc. Private tutors (not the group thing like Kaplan) are able to work on each and every question from many practice exams over and over with the kid so by the end they can recognize in a second what they are being asked. It’s not cheap - I paid $100/wk for two hours for the English tutor for about 4 months and $120/wk for two hours of math for a month but was definitely worth it, imo.</p>
I don’t think it is a dumb idea, unless he is content with going to CC and transferring after two years. For homeschoolers SAT/ACT scores are more important than for regular students.</p>
<p>I would also choose his college carefully. There is obviously some real problem with his test taking. Getting 12 on ACT for a kid who gets As in CC classes is beyond “not testing well”. I would investigate what the problem is before he goes away to college.</p>
<p>At my kids’ HS, one of my D’s friends had a great GPA but got an 18 on the ACT. She is now a junior in college and she has straight A’s so far. They also have a friend who graduated last year who also got a 12, but his grades were also pretty low. He had athletic offers from some colleges but I don’t think he could meet their minimum requirements.</p>
<p>If he does want to try the ACT again, for the February 12 test the regular deadline is today (can sign up later for extra $).</p>
<p>I took an SAT II (I think it was, this was a really long time ago) in Spanish and scored really, really low. Based on the score I was placed in a Spanish class in college. I was allowed to transfer to a much higher level when I demonstrated I could read and speak very well. They gave me a different test at the university and I think I transferred from like Spanish 102 to Spanish 350? I have no idea what I did on the test that produced such a low score.</p>
<p>Perhaps he could consider getting a two year degree from the community college. You want to check to see if your community college has an articulation agreement with any four year schools. If they do, your son would be guaranteed acceptance at those schools and courses taken at the CC would transfer too. His SAT scores or ACT scores would NOT be considered.</p>
<p>Reviving this thread to let everyone know that S retook SATs, did much better, applied to two good fit LACs and was accepted at both. H and I have discussed his maturity level a great deal and have decided that he will do better in a sink or swim situation. He may come slinking home in disgrace in December but we are going to give him a chance to fly. Thanks for all the ideas and support!</p>
<p>ZD, can you say what were the key elements that made the big difference in your S’s performance? And how much of a boost (in points) did he get and over what period of time?</p>
<p>I think the biggest difference was he finally relaxed about it. He actually had more pressure in Jan. of his senior year than May of his junior year but he was less stressed. I think he had time to consider his options and consequences and felt that community college would be OK if that was how it had to be. He also agreed to move on if a problem stumped him. I don’t remember the specifics but he improved at least 150 pts. over all three sections.</p>