<p>she can also take the act… some students find one test better than the other. S2 did better on act, only took sat once (all the schools he applied to would take act). Some schools accept both act WITH writing or sat , some schools also want SatII…these will be things to know depending on the schools on her list.</p>
<p>MDmom: Why take the SAT before the PSAT?</p>
<p>I played around a little with an EFC calculator but it was from 2009 so not sure how accurate that would be. Judging from Harvard’s site, it would be cheaper to send D there than U of O. </p>
<p>Unless something major changes (and it may) D has said she’s looking for a medium to large environment with challenging academics, preferably not in the sticks.</p>
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<p>Well…that may be the case. BUT the first hurdle would be getting ACCEPTED at Harvard. They reject 90% of those who apply. </p>
<p>And if she has a “warm weather criteria” she won’t be thrilled with Boston weather:)</p>
<p>AND if she really ends up being a competitive applicant for schools on par with Harvard, there will be plenty of schools where she might garner merit aid that would make her cost of attendance affordable.</p>
<p>The reason my daughter took the SAT first was because I thought she might score high enough when she took the PSAT to be a National Merit Scholar (she did), so I wanted her to have some practice with a similar test in a similar environment. Since your daughter will miss the practice PSAT at her school according to your post, it is a way to get some practice if you think she might score really high.</p>
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<p>I spent a few months in Cambridge, Mass, as part of a work assignment… The weather in Boston can be very warm depending on which pubs you frequent :). Otherwise it is somewhere between awful and G*d awful. </p>
<p>But, Cambridge is about the best college/intellectual town in the known universe, so it is no wonder people put up with the weather. BU and Boston College are also in the area…</p>
<p>She can probably get a decent idea of her ACT/SAT simply by taking some practice tests. Be the proctor - time her, make her bring sharp #2 pencils and ID and look mean :)</p>
<p>This site: [CollegeData</a> - Net Cost Calculator](<a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/promo/promo_netcost_tmpl.jhtml]CollegeData”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/promo/promo_netcost_tmpl.jhtml) can give you an idea of what kind of need-based FA she might get at different schools. One thing I like about it is you put your own #s in once, then can see different schools’ average grants, etc without entering your info over and over again.</p>
<p>I’d suggest taking both the ACT and SAT as a junior (if not before). My S found he did much better on the ACT than the SAT and that is the score he sent to most schools in the end.</p>
<p>There is a free SAT online from Collegeboard. Have your daughter take to see what kind of score she gets. There is no need to do it official, save time and money. I would print the test instead of taking it online.
[Free</a> SAT Practice Test - Prepare for the SAT](<a href=“The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board”>Downloadable Full-Length SAT Practice Tests – SAT Suite)</p>
<p>Thanks ohiobassmom & DrGoogle for the links. It’s so nice to have this information. It can be a bit overwhelming. There is so much to consider aside from finances.</p>
<p>We live in the Pacific NW and D is really tired of rain. She told me today she could deal with Boston weather for Harvard or MIT :). Her first choices will be someplace warm and dry.</p>
<p>Our concern right now is finding a safety school that D can live with. Our in states are not a viable option. D has severe allergies to pollen and grass & asthma. OSU & U of O are miserable places to be in the spring. Spring where we live is barely tolerable but would be hell for her in the valley. </p>
<p>As far as testing goes, my MIL teaches reading SAT prep and said she’ll give D a practice PSAT this summer to give her an idea of where she is. Not concerned at all with math or science. Her vocabulary could use a boost tho.</p>
<p>A lot of Pacific NW people like Southern California where it’s warm and dry. USC could be a safetish(I know some parents will chime in and protest), it depends on your daughter’s stats. USC does give merit aid that would make it more affordable.</p>
<p>D took a catholic entrance exam for admittance into prep school. D will miss the early PSAT test due to an out of town tournament. The PSAT will be given to all juniors next fall.</p>
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<p>She should NOT miss the PSAT…some very large scholarship offers are linked to that ONE test.</p>
<p>The PSAT is offered on 4 days in October (2 wednesdays and 2 Saturdays)…since your D goes to a Catholic school, I suspect test day is on a Wednesday…is that right?</p>
<p>Anyway…check with your area public high schools to see if your D can test on a Saturday at their school…home-schoolers do this all the time…no big deal…just have to give the school LOTS of notice so that they can order enough tests…you will have to pay for the test…about $20 bucks. </p>
<p>You don’t want your D to miss the PSAT…</p>
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<p>Mom2…I think you misunderstood this post. The poster means that the student will miss the practice PSAT (EARLY PSAT)…she will be there for the PSAT in the fall of her junior year.</p>
<p>That is correct thumper. She’ll miss the early test - given as a courtesy - not the standard PSAT given to all juniors.</p>
<p>how does your son like UAB med school? I’d like to know the difference between UA and UAB. What do you think 7 year med school program at UAB? many thanks</p>
<p>Parent56: What do you think about UAB med school vs. UA med school? Any thoughts on 7 year program at UAB med school? is it hard to get in? is UAB safe? thanks</p>
<p>UAB has an 8 year program, not 7. They admit 10 students each year…very competitive…most accepted are instate kids.</p>
<p>UAB has a fabulous med school on its campus…The University of Alabama School of Medicine…but it is VERY expensive for an OOS student…COA is about $80k per year. </p>
<p>What do you mean, 'is it safe"? Are you asking if the SOM is a safety? It’s a top ranked med school and hard to get accepted to. Or do you mean is the area safe? </p>
<p>“I’d like to know the difference between UA and UAB.”</p>
<p>UA is the state flagship with students from all over the country. It is ranked #75 as a National University. This year’s frosh class had over 50% OOS students, 182 NMFs, and over 500 students awarded the Presidential scholarship of full tuition. It’s a traditional campus…beautiful, strong academics and friendly students. An OOS student would find many things to do and many opportunities at Alabama. UA is in the city of Tuscaloosa…a good-sized city and the campus sits on the Black Warrior River…very pretty area.</p>
<p>“She’ll miss the early test - given as a courtesy - not the standard PSAT given to all juniors.”</p>
<p>I misunderstood. I thought your D was a soph this year, and so when you said she’d miss the practice PSAT, I thought you were talking about next Oct’s PSAT as a junior. Your school gives some kind of “extra” practice PSAT before the Oct PSAT? </p>
<p>I know that my kids’ school gave a “practice” PSAT (a real one, but doesn’t count for NMF), during soph year.</p>
<p>Forgot to add…If you want to learn more about UAlabama, please visit its forum here on CC…</p>
<p>[University</a> of Alabama - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/]University”>University of Alabama - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>There’s also a thread where parents and students list what state they’re from…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1096387-what-state-everybody-roll-call.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1096387-what-state-everybody-roll-call.html</a></p>
<p>jlin… the med school for alabama is a uab. is is a 4 year med scool after undergrad (8 years). UAB does have an early acceptance bs/md program (still 8 years) but guaranteed spot in med school…very very selective… they only accept 8-10 students per year for that.</p>
<p>uab is about 11k undergrads, urban campus…not football, pary or greek school. about 6% greek. very strong for anything health or science related…does have a full compliment of all majors. ranked by princeton review as 3rd for race interactions (26% AA) and 11th for happiest students. Ranked 143 overall. Only about 10% oos students. 70% of freshman live on campus (2200 dorm capacity for 11k undergrads) many students live just off campus. large number are from areas close by… </p>
<p>automatic merit for specific stat, full rides for merit scholars. oos cost (tuition dorm and food) is 20-25K per year. dorms are suite style or full apartments.</p>
<p>uab recives more research money than all other alabama schools combines… much generated by the med school…but that benefits all undergrads…research readily available!! wonderful honors programs (sci/tech is incredible imo)</p>
<p>my son is not in med school at uab…he is in forensic chem and molecular biology…also in 2 honors programs… has been doing research since his first semester there.</p>
<p>sorry about typos…</p>
<p>some info on the med school:
In the 2012 edition of US News and World Report, the University of Alabama School of Medicine (at UAB) was ranked #30 nationally in research and #10 nationally in primary care [5].
Five medical specialties at UAB are ranked in the top 20 nationally by the magazine: AIDS, 4th; women’s health, 8th; internal medicine 18th; geriatrics, 19th; and pediatrics, 19th. The school’s primary care program was ranked 34th. [6]
In funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), eight departments within the School of Medicine ranked in the top 10; Anatomy/Cell Biology (No.1). Other departments in the top five are Surgery (No. 2), Obstetrics/Gynecology (No. 3) and Physical Medicine (No. 4).</p>
<p>I’m confused about UA and UAB. They both have Alabama and University in the name. What’s the difference?</p>