<p>Oh, wow. The wait must be intense. I’ll be taking the SAT this fall, if all goes according to plan. How did you study for the SAT?</p>
<p>Blue book mainly. Read the material, did practice sections, took a practice test, scored it, etc. I probably shoulda taken more practice tests. Anyway, judging how well I think I did, I just might join you in the fall…</p>
<p>Ok, so I’m a sophomore and I am considering applying next year, I’m kinda on the fence that I will make it. For instance, I’m in a concurrent enrollment program (graduating with my associates in science 
), I will have taken physics and business statistics by then, but no calculus at all. (my counselor is having us take stats first because the previous students practically failed college calc…) Also, my psat score compares to dirt 
(168).</p>
<p>What do you think my chances are? </p>
<p>And my big question was if it would help my chances if I took calculus as an elective next school year, versus the “physics with technology” course my school offers? Which would be more helpful if I did make it? </p>
<p>I love astronomy so I really want to go! This is all very helpful, thanks :)</p>
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Woohoo, test buddies! </p>
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<p>I’d have to say your chances are good, just like anyone else’s. There’s really nothing else to say other than “good,” because there’s more to the application than test scores and classes, and it’s all so very unpredictable. So until those letters are mailed with an acceptance or rejection, everyone’s chances are just “good.”
Really, your best bet is to put your heart into your work for the next year and give it your best. Then submit all you have, and see if it’s enough. </p>
<p>I don’t know which class you should take, but they do seem to have an emphasis on both calculus and physics. Perhaps having some calculus experience would be better than none, but in the end, you’ll have to make the decision yourself. Also, you probably shouldn’t rearrange your whole lifestyle for this one program (there’s always a chance of rejection, and there are still others out there to apply to). Just do what you think is right. Best of luck, I’ll re-apply next year as well, as soon as that rejection letter comes in the mail ;)</p>
<p>umm hey guys. I’m kind of confused. Are most US applicants still awaiting a decision? Because I applied as a US applicant (even though I live abroad - it’s because I’m a US citizen) and I’ve already got an answer - in fact, I got it almost a week ago. By the way, I got the reply by email (but again, I don’t know if that’s exclusively an international thing). Oh and that also might be a reason why other US applicants appear to have not received a response ;)</p>
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<p>Yeah, people inside the US are still waiting for a response. People who applied from outside the US (whether you’re a “US applicant” or not) should have already gotten replies (like yourself and Challenged - both US people who applied from outside the US). Sorry if the terminology has been confusing thus far, by US applicant I mean people living in the US that are applying from inside the US. </p>
<p>Soooo you’re accepted?! Congrats!</p>
<p>Yeah I got accepted - thanks! I wouldn’t go as far to say that I’m in utter shock, but I am pretty surprised; my test scores are definitely below average (thanks to English :P), but I guess it’s all the other factors, including my actual curriculum grades, my essays, etc, which helped me get in. I guess it’s just proof that the SAT and PSAT aren’t weighted as heavily as everyone thinks (but that still doesn’t mean it’s ok to not have that great a score for applying).</p>
<p>Is anyone else going to Socorro? And is there any kind of Facebook group or anything for this sort of thing?</p>
<p>I know there’s a Facebook group for alumni and stuff. Not sure about incoming people, but surely one can be created if there are more CCers accepted. </p>
<p>Your application gives me hope, because I didn’t submit SAT scores (sophomore still) and my PSAT was good, but nothing spectacular. My strengths were in my essay and the questions (which I’m starting to worry about - perhaps my tone was too casual??), and my transcript is pretty good as well. </p>
<p>How far are you in math/physics/chem/bio? I just want to get a better idea of what they’re okay with… Also, did you attach a resume or explicitly list any independent/extracurricular stuff in your application, because I really didn’t dedicate any time to them… Wow, congrats again on your acceptance. That really is great, you’ll have to tell us all about it come summertime!</p>
<p>You’re probably not familiar with the curriculum I took as a freshman and sophomore. I took the British IGCSEs (doesn’t really matter what it stands for). Basically you take a bunch of subjects and at the end of the two year course you take your final exams. I got A+ for all ten of my subjects apart from one (PE, which I got an A :P). </p>
<p>I currently take IB (International Baccalaureate) which I have heard is more rigorous than AP, but of course I wouldn’t know because I don’t really know anything about AP. I think a lot of people taking IB just say that to make themselves feel better haha. I’m taking HL math, physics, chem, and SL chinese, english and philosophy. HL math I think will prepare me enough (we cover all calculus, trigonometry, matrices, statistics & probability, induction, etc). In physics we don’t do any astronomy, however we do do a topic in astrophysics in our senior year. But we do study all the regular stuff like mechanics, electricity, fields and motion, thermodynamics, nuclear physics, etc. </p>
<p>How does that compare with what you do? I guess it’s not really fair since you’re still a sophomore, but I guess it gives you a rough idea.</p>
<p>I didn’t attach any resume, and I didn’t really talk about any extracurriculars apart from the essay question about what I do to balance my studies. And don’t worry too much about having an informal tone - I feel I was a bit too laid-back at times too.</p>
<p>Good luck with your response - it’s pretty amazing for sophomores to get in, and don’t worry if you don’t; it’s great experience and you’ll have an even better shot next year.</p>
<p>By the way, did you put a preference for Santa Barbara or Socorro?</p>
<p>@drwsuf: I beg to disagree. AP curriculum is way too more rigorous than IB. I switched from IB to AP because it was not challenging for me. The depth of knowledge in AP Physics (Mechanics, E & M), Calculus, Biology and Chemistry is truly college level. I have two cousins, who graduated through IB so we study together, share materials etc. My cousins, who are one year apart, ranked 1st in their respective classes in one of the best IB schools in the nation. I made it to US Physics Olympiad Semifinals, Chem, Biology olympiads. They couldn’t even make through the qualifying exams. I got 800’s in SAT Physics, Chemistry, Math I + II, and Biology, before I completed my AP exams. My cousins SAT scores were nowhere close to my scores. I don’t want this to be a bragging contest. I would suggest taking a look at the recommended text books for both curricula or checking out [Truth</a> About International Baccalaureate](<a href=“http://truthaboutib.com%5DTruth”>http://truthaboutib.com)</p>
<p>There’s obviously scope for differing opinions, but I can say as a student of IB that I find it far more rigorous as a whole than AP. AP Calc was a breeze last year, and IB Math may not be all that much harder, but I certainly think the questions are more challenging. Same with History, and Computer Science.</p>
<p>IB Physics HL may not be computationally rigorous, as is AP, but it does require a conceptual depth of knowledge. I did a few AP problems the other day, and had no difficulty in completing them, despite not being in an AP class.</p>
<p>Obviously there will be differing opinions, and what may be true for some courses may not be true for others. But as someone who has had experience with both (though, obviously, I’m still completing my IB) I can say that for me AP was easier.</p>
<p>Here’s a quote from that website you linked:
</p>
<p>Are you serious?</p>
<p>
Santa Barbara. I live about an hour drive from Westmont, and my parents don’t want me flying anywhere, so that was my only choice -_- </p>
<p>You seem like an amazing applicant, no wonder you were accepted!</p>
<p>Do you know how many accepted applicants quit the ssp (because of preference of other programs, etc)? Just want to see what my chances are, as a waitlister.</p>
<p>Wait, its possible to be waitlisted ?</p>
<p>@aopsrox: thanks for the info. I didn’t really know which cirriculum is more rigorous. I’m not sure how many AP subjects you have to take, but I have to take 6 IB subjects, and regardless of whether they are higher or standard level, each is very demanding. Can someone tell me which course out of AP Calculus AB and BC is more advanced? Because I looked at the course description of AB, and HL math looks harder because of all the other topics we have.</p>
<p>I think AP Calculus AB and BC cover almost all the same topics, but BC is more advanced. </p>
<p>Or at least that’s what my teachers told me.</p>
<p>Calculus BC is Calculus I and Calculus II, while Calculus AB is just Calculus I. So, BC has about double the material of AB give or take.</p>
<p>@mrfairladyz: thanks! but it’s gonna be so amazing & humbling to see just how much better some people are at SSP.</p>
<p>Oh and @Aopsrox: That website you linked about the truth of IB, the person who wrote it is not biased at all… -.-</p>
<p>Ugh -_- I didn’t get results back yet. The wait is terrible.</p>
<p>I think I have a fair chance tho. 4.0/2400/Physics C, but my teacher recs were HORRIBLE sajkdfhawiuefhuiawef and my essays sucked balls.</p>