Thanks. A few schools we visited talked about using both the FAFSA and CSS (I think that is the college board one). For FA process.
We are off on our first official college tour/visit next week! We have walked around a few campuses but that was very casual. It should be interesting…
I ran a few net price calculators on college websites for S17 and a couple schools asked about secondary tuition. So I assume only those few schools will consider it. Check out by googling your college name + ‘net price calculator.’ NPC is simple and quick to run (if your finances are simple, that is.) Only private schools and perhaps only selective LACs might consider secondary tuition.
I just saw on the College Board website that they don’t anticipate having scores from the March SAT read to release until after the May sitting. So much for the notion that SoxBoy would take the March test with little prep, see how he did, and then decide if he wanted to take it again in May. Frustrating!
Oh sorry @soxmom that release date was there since December or earlier; that’s why I didn’t sign up S17.
With snafu on PSAT score release, I wouldn’t be surprised if March scores were delated even more.
Yeah, I probably should have actually thought to look! I guess I’m just so used to the fact that the SSAT scores come out so promptly that it didn’t even occur to me. Well, he says he felt like the test went really well, so maybe we’ll just run for luck. I suppose he could always take it in June instead of the subject tests if he had to.
Since S17’s PSAT score is not close to NMSF range, he has no need for SAT score.
He will take ACT in April (and in June, and September (maybe October) until we are satisfied or runs out of time.)
He won’t prep, so actual test is the only prep for him. S17 is at home by the way (not at BS), and his local charter school hired princeton review and gave two full-length ACT prep tests to juniors as ACT is state-graduation requirement. (From next year, SAT will be the state-graduation requirement, i.e. all juniors are mandated to take SAT.)
What irritates me is that the May SAT Subject test score will not be available before June test unlike in past years.
Although there is no change in Subject test, the score release date is tied to the new SAT release date. 
I asked CB about this.
I signed up S17 for chemistry Subject test in May and physics in June. I had figured that he can take both chemistry and physics in June if his May chemistry score is not good. But we won’t know it this time.
He took Math 2 subject twice, and the second score was much higher. Both times taken cold.
I have been looking at some NPC, and wondering how (if?) schools take into account travel expenses. Many are not considering DS2 HS tuition. DS might be considering some schools on the other coast, so airfare would be a consideration. I know we won’t really know until next year when we get offers from schools, but trying to think about how schools calculate this.
@payn4ward , my class of 17 DD (in public school) won’t prep either. It’s frustrating.
However, we were just out to dinner with an out of town friend and her family. That friend did prep (for the old SAT) using on of the go-to prep companies and scored worse on the sitting after the prep course. I think that would be even more frustrating!
@MA2012 It depends on the schools he is considering.
FAFSA only schools will not consider the tuition your family pays for private school for siblings - that is not even asked on the application.
Some private universities will consider private HS tuition in their calculations but tha t is not the norm. Even those schools that take into account private K-12 tuitions paid, do not give them a huge consideration. The private school is more likely to adjust the sibling’s FA once DS starts college than a college will be to consider the private school tuition expense.
Many more selective colleges do consider secondary tuition for siblings - there is a spot to include it on the CSS forms used by many schools. There is also a place at the end of the form to note any additional info you feel the schools should know. It will not impact federal aid however as noted above.
Thanks. Do colleges consider overall expenses like travel?
@MA2012 Awards can vary depending on how badly the college wants your child to attend. Every school has it’s own formula. For schools without merit aid (all Ivys I think?) and/or that are need blind, I think most do consider travel - they list an amount on their fees page. This is the type of thing that you can also raise with a school when you are comparing offers I would think?
Thanks. Trying to get some info this year and figure out what questions to ask during visits.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19533841/#Comment_19533841
So NMSC Commended cutoff is 209, highest in recent years.
am coming to count on you for my data needs, @payn4ward !! 
Does anybody send ACT/SAT scores to colleges by registering to do so for free the week after the administration? Assumption is that the scores are fine and that the receiving schools are visited and high up on the apply-to list at end of junior year. Thanks, and am double posting on this query.
@Charger78 , I also have a 2017 kid, so I have not yet btdt. However, some school require ALL scores from all sittings of the ACT/SAT. For those schools, I would register for the scores to be sent over for free.
@Charger78, we waited to see the scores. Both kids took the SAT/ACT well in advance of senior year. I wouldn’t wait until the last minute. It’s somewhat risky to assume the scores will be ok. I feel all students (not only those whose parents can afford to pay for later reports) should have the option of seeing the scores, without paying extra.
To put it into perspective, the cost of an “extra” score report for the SAT is $11.25. I really think it’s money well spent to see the score before submitting reports.
Also, be aware that colleges love to send email spam. Taking the ACT/SAT/PSAT will put your kid on spam lists, unless he or she does not share data with the testing services. We couldn’t figure out how to do that for the ACT. The spam doesn’t mean that the colleges are interested in your student individually; it’s marketing.
I don’t think submitting scores early gives you any advantage in the process. As far as I know, college admissions department roughly work in cycles: Marketing (including college visits)/Reading/Admissions Committees/Managing Yield by getting kids to commit/Waitlist time…and then back to marketing. I don’t think they have the free time to look at Juniors while they’re still dealing with seniors.
It would be more effective to get the attention of a desired college to visit and tour the college, as well as contacting the area rep for the college–if the college has reps assigned to regions.