Ah, thanks!
@goatmama, I had no idea other than my kids’ own impression, so I asked the CC. He told me what deciles they were probably in.
Have any 2018s taken SAT IIs yet? Because of accelerated time frame of recruiting process, 7D2 sat for a few in May and June. May or may not take again depending on June scores. Interestingly, some schools on daughter’s list seem to have de-emphasized SAT IIs over past few years. They used to be mandatory at 2, now just “recommended”.
She took the March SAT without studying and will take august SAT (with studying). We are deciding whether to take the ACT.
@NYCMomof3: FWIW, based on practice tests (at prep center), my daughter did much better on SAT/hated the format of the ACT. But I know that some kids do better on one than the other.
@NYCMomof3 My daughter (class of 2017) took both the SAT and ACT. While her composite SAT scores were very similar to her composite ACT scores, the scores qualified her for different scholarships. Also, the verbal section of the SAT exempted her from a Freshman class while the ACT composite score exempted her from a different Freshman class. Though we didn’t know it at the time, it literally paid off for her to take both.
My son’s CC recommended that he not take the SAT. He did extremely well on the ACT as a result of getting a near perfect score on the Science section. I think they based this on his score on the PSAT which was very good, however, not in the same range as his initial ACT score.
I would listen to whatever the CC recommends.
@SevenDad , both kids have taken several (last year and this year). That’s one area where I’m not sure they are getting the best advice. My son was adamant about taking Math 1, even though he was finishing Calc AB at the time. No idea why he thought that was so important except that the school-provided test prep tutor had said he should. It was not the best use of his efforts, shall we say.
@SevenDad S17 took Math2 in 9th, Spanish & Chemistry in 10th and Physics in 11th. He was done with SAT II in 11th. And SAT and ACT. With the option that he could have taken one again in the fall if needed.
S20 took Math2 this year. He was signed up to take Physics last month, but some practice tests showed he wasn’t ready and didn’t have enough time to prep. He’ll plan better and probably take Chem next spring.
What a waste of time and money. For starters he should have taken math 2, based upon his math sequence. In the second place, he should have taken it in May/June the year he took precalc; taking it later runs the risk of forgetting topics since he’s now so ingrained in calculus. And in the third place, any college requesting subject tests will wonder why he took M1 if he’s in calc. But these kids - there’s just no reasoning with them sometimes. 
Anyway back to @SevenDad IMO, Subject Tests (if needed) should be over and done by the end of junior year. Science subject tests and history are best taken the year the subject is taken. The only ones I would ever suggest taking as a Senior ar Literature (which is really SAT CR on steroids - nothing to actually do with literature) or foreign language. Other than that, the student is either too far removed from the subject if s/he already took it, or does not know enough if s/he currently taking it.
As for the shift in test requirements, “recommended” means required unless you can’t afford it, or so I have been told. The shift is largely meant to encourage accessibility. As a BS kid, plan on taking subject tests.
So Math2 after precalc? Bio after APBio? Chem after chem honors or after APChem?
Does the Physics subject test cover Algebra-Based physics only (Honors Physics or AP Physics 1/2 level?), or also Calc-based physics (AP Physics C)?
Yes, @carpoolingma .provided those are completed by end of junior year.
Bio after intro bio, chem after intro chem, physics after intro physics (or AP Physics 1 and 2). The AP versions are not designed to prep for Subject Tests (they are college level after all) and cover less breadth than is tested by the Subject Tests. Some students (especially if they are on CC ) prefer to wait until they’ve taken AP, but it is not necessary, and extensive review of concepts from the intro class may be needed.
Algebra. No knowledge of calc needed.
DD is a bit behind on testing & has only taken the ACT once. She will test again in September. But she has taken 3 SAT subject tests - French in November and Bio, USHist in May. She may take literature in August, depending on her US Hist score. Because she’s taking the ACT my understanding is that the SAT subject tests aren’t as important (unless you’re applying to Gtown, which she is). The only AP that she has taken/will take is French.
We have some schools to see this summer, but primarily LACs that have more holistic admissions & want to see that you’ve visited. At this point, she has a half-formed list, with 2 or 3 clear favorites and a solid match that she is happy with. We probably won’t see every school on her list before applying, there just isn’t time. We are taking DS (class of 2020) with us on college visits as well.
DD has worked for her dad’s company for the past 3 summers for around 4-6 weeks. 2 weeks travel with friends in June, then a couple of weeks family vacation in August. Writing essays throughout. It feels very busy to me and I wish that she had a bit more downtime, but she seems comfortable with it.
I know scheduling is difficult but I’m surprised so many are saying they are doing college visits in the summer. I think it is really hard to get a feel without students on campus.
@doschicos , summer visits were a necessity for us in spite of having used junior spring break for this purpose. Too many schools and 2 distinct geographies and a spring break that coincided with that of many colleges (empty campus, different season!)
DS was a spring and fall athlete, had IB exams, and just a whole host of other scheduling issues and our school gave one excused absence to juniors in the spring for college visits. Summer visits allowed him to see campuses and interview.
We saved the fall weekday visits (excused absences) for the schools he was considering ED so that he could sit in on classes, stay overnight, and get the vibe. And he went to several accepted student events spring of senior year.
I would say you should not ED or attend a school you have not visited in session, but at least for us, summer visits were essential. And based on how many other people were touring with us, we weren’t alone.
I will add that DS saw one he really liked in the summer and wanted to consider ED that fell to the bottom of his list after spending a day there with students, so yes, being there while school is in session is revealing.
It would certainly be better to see all schools in session, but that’s not possible for us. My daughter and I are visiting a couple of schools next week. When my son is home, we will do a road trip to Rochester, Case, and Pitt that I did not want to make in early March with short days and uncertain weather. Schools further into the Midwest will not be visited unless the kids are accepted. My daughter had her first college interview this past Thursday (any other kids starting that?). A lot of schools don’t offer interviews until the fall, so we will have to fit those into the breaks.
thanks @MA2012, @twinsmama @gardenstategal @skieurope @doschicos @GMC2918 for explaining all these things, you are wonderful people; daughter took some APs and SAT II end of this school year, but why? We have no idea, now it makes sense.