BS Class of 2021 Thread

Prep School Admissions Prep School Parents
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Thanks @CaliPops I really can’t see how his composite score will be improved that much which is why I’m like…just take it and move on. But I want him to feel that way, too. So much emphasis is placed on these stupid test scores and AOs will tell you they are just a small piece of the puzzle. Just like BS-he scored very high on SSAT but schools don’t just look at that. So why put yourself through more for little gain (but again…I may be wrong).

His school acts as if APs are just a given, and since he had to register for exams in the fall…he’s going to take them. Subject tests are also required for STEM majors, so he’s taking those, as well. I think that’s why I’m more inclined to just leave his result as is.

You are right about it being ultimately his decision. And hopefully with a non-parental authority (CC) giving advice, he will be satisfied with not taking it. I’ll be fine with him going with whatever the CC says…even if it’s not my approach. I just have read some of the other side’s opinions on this matter (I know i should stay away but I get the notifications and it’s like a train wreck—I have to look) and started to doubt myself.

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Thanks @gardenstategal for that breakdown!

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@gardenstategal I was surprised at the relatively low number of students who take APs at DC’s school. Although I advised my child to consult the CC, I think the likely result is that my child will take some “extra” APs (in addition to the at least 2 DC will definitely take to test out of certain classes). DC doesn’t feel like sitting for a few more exams this year is a big deal (which was a somewhat surprising thing to hear). For one of the classes this term, the teacher noted during parent’s weekend that every student from their class who has opted to take the AP exam so far has scored a 5, and it’s a class in which my child is strong. Pretty sure my child will opt for that one as at least one additional one. I guess we’ll see.

About the self reporting, I thought I read somewhere that ALL of one’s APs test scores are reported in a single report (though it’s possible to “cancel” certain scores), which would tend to weigh against just taking a test with doing some test-specific studying. I could be misinformed. I’ve been purposefully trying not to be too involved, but I may be behind the curve on this issue.

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I meant “without doing some test-specific studying.” Sadly, I am prone to typos.

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Wow, @buuzn03, that’s great! Regardless of whether he takes them again, he must have done really well — one less thing to stress about!

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@CaliPops , your kid is smart. The hassle of a little extra review and an AP exam is nothing when compared with taking a whole college course (and midterms and exams) to repeat the material in college. My kid, who didn’t take two APs (for a different reason, irrelevant here!) would be the first to tell him that.

So here’s the deal on APs… On the common app, you report your own scores for the exams taken. The rule of thumb is to report scores of 4 and 5, omitting anything lower.

After you have taken all your exams (and most kids at most schools kids take some senior year) and after you have decided where to matriculate (iow, summer after graduation), you have the college board report your scores (all of them) to your college. Your college will give you credit or placement based on that. And some schools will give credit/placement for a 3.

So bad scores have no impact on admissions. These were intended not as part of the admissions testing but as a way to get college credit or placement from high school work. As such, only the college giving that credit needs them.

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Thanks @gardenstategal — this is very helpful.

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Agreed, very helpful @gardenstategal.

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@gardenstategal thank you!! I feel like I’m wading through a forest at midnight blindfolded most of the time with the whole college thing. This is very helpful.
DSs school doesn’t offer AP specific courses, but advanced…that being said, anyone in an advanced class is expected to take the AP exam that corresponds to that course.
SAT Subject tests are admissions markers, though, from what I’m understanding here and from other things I’ve read. So I hope those will offset his science section on the ACT.

@CTMom21 thanks. DS didn’t get Ivy-esque scores but I think they were good enough that he can focus on other things now to round out his application. (Key phrase “I think”). His CC stressed so much (as did the guest college AOs) at the parent/college counseling weekend that the test scores were a small part of the application. So I figure if they’re in range, he should take them and run. We shall see.

I just want to get through this with as little stress and as much enjoyment as possible!

That being said…has anyone done a visit or have any planned? Our first visit will be over Thanksgiving break. It is DSs top choice (on paper). I’m getting anxious/excited. He’s emailed some professors to try and speak with them while he’s there—he’s received no response as of yet. I’m also wondering about talking to coaches of some of the club sports—does anyone know how that works? Is it worth it or do they already have their eyes on “recruits”? Sorry…I’m clueless over here!!!

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Our kiddo has done a handful of low-key visits, just showing up for tours and asking questions. Count me a fan of doing them in a no pressure way. All of the schools were of similar academic caliber, and had programs of interest, but my child had wildly different reactions to them. Most fell into “I like it, and everyone seemed nice” category. At least one fell into the “I hate this campus; it gives me bad vibes, and I want to leave now” category. And one fell into, the “I definitely want to go here, and it will be worth whatever work I need to do to give me a good shot” category.

Sadly, I can’t speak to sports recruiting. My kiddo falls into, " I hope I could be a walk-on" camp.

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Talking to club coaches might help your kid understand how the club sport works, and if being able to play is important, you can try to set that up. Sometimes club teams are student coached. This really depends on the school and the sport. (Some D1 schools have really impressive club operations. Equestrian is almost always club and usually has a dedicated professional who works with the team.) They almost never recruit, though, so this will not move the needle in terms of admissions.

Our experience is that most of those resources were made available at accepted student events. This, of course, is not helpful if your kid is trying to assess clubs or ECs in order to select an ED school but at this point in the process, that’s probably premature. But we were surprised at how familiar tour guides were when DS asked questions about club sports.

And @buuzn03 , trust me, I know the feeling!

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Thanks to both of you for the feedback!

@CaliPops DS is definitely in the same “hope to walk on” boat. But he’s picked up some sports that he loves and they aren’t a NCAA classed sport…so he dreams of being able to compete at some level while in school.

In the spring, we are doing a week of tours…I’m hoping it’s a “low-key to just get a feel for each school and does DS really want to keep it on the list” kind of thing. DD will also see a BS or two, hopefully able to narrow her list down, as well.

I appreciate y’all’s input so much!

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Have fun with the visit, @buuzn03! I think we are only going to see one school over Thanksgiving — one that would be lowish on the list by t close and we’ll do a drive-by, and it’s easy to go back and visit if DS wants to.

We have done a bunch of visits since the summer and have found them to be a lot of fun. I have found when you’re there, it’s pretty easy to forget about admissions criteria and just take it all in and enjoy the enthusiasm of the admissions reps (and of course the people watching). Having been through this on a smaller scale with BS, you’ll feel like a pretty savvy customer. I have also noticed that the other HS juniors and seniors on our tours have been extremely quiet (though we’re not visiting tippy-top schools— it may be different there), and although DS isn’t extroverted by any stretch, he tends to ask more questions of the tour guides than anyone else (even if it’s one).

I am not sure about club sports but would assume that it doesn’t hurt for DS to get in touch with anyone he wants. DS is on the recruiting path for one of his sports (D3) and they are at the back end of their 2020 classes and evaluating 2021s, but I don’t know much about other sports or club — they all seem to have their own process.

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This is our closest school. And it’s 9 hours away. Lol. But my parents’ house is in between and 6 hours—we always go there for Thanksgiving anyway…so we will get up early from their house and make it a day trip. It’ll be interesting to see how DS interacts because all his BS visits were coupled with interviews. I think it may be awkward to transition to low key at first. ??

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DC was also surprised at how few questions were asked on a couple of tours. My introvert-leaning kid felt bad for the tour guide and asked a bunch of questions. My sense is that kids who went into BS leaning introvert come out with a greater comfort interacting with new people.

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I envy you all having these visits with your kids! This was one of the highlights for me – not just spending time with my kid but getting some insight into what he was seeing on these visits and learning what he wanted his college experience to be.

I do think BS kids have great perspective as they go through the process having spent time in a living/learning community. They aren’t imagining what life will be in a dorm, living with classmates, eating every meal in a dining hall, for example. They know that. They are looking at THIS community.

And my kid was quiet on tours! He just took it all in…

But enjoy this time!!

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@buuzn03 DC will likely apply to a school or two on the West Coast but is really only interested in schools in the Northeast. We feel ya.

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Has anyone popped over to the other side’s class of 2021 thread? I just can’t handle it. I tried to unbookmark it so I would quit seeing the comments but they keep coming into my email inbox. Do people really really walk around talking about their kids like this?

I’m so thankful for y’all and your humility and grace. If that’s the first thing I had seen on CC, I don’t think I would’ve ever come back. I must live in a bubble…because I know of no one that acts/talks like that about what their kids are doing. #shocked

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I have been over there briefly and just don’t want to get sucked in. I already feel like I am thinking about college and recruiting stuff 24/7…I don’t need to verbalize it and/or add to the stress, especially with folks coming from a different setting! As the months go by I realize how incredibly fortunate we are to have good school resources available (not to mention the advantages of BS/LDS). I can’t imagine having gone a different route. I am also overwhelmed by the passage of time and how fast HS has gone!!

Most of the friends I spend time with in person are from my kids’ (very down to earth, non-cutthroat) K-8 school and many have kids in BS, LDS, or parochial school, and while some are stressier than others, it’s not the kind of people who are comparing test scores and achievements. There are all kids if kids with all kinds of aspirations. If we were in a different town or had kids in one of the Tiger Mom LDSs, it would be different!

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Stay in our lane, @buuzn03 ! :smile: Your kid is already in a college-like environment and functioning independently of his parents. He is managing his workload without your help. He is taking care of his health, hygiene, laundry, and relationships without your help. He will likely manage the majority of his college applications without your help (sans the driving and possibly the FAFSA/CSS Profile). And when he starts college, he will stand head and shoulders above the most, also without your help.

Here is a reality check from a fellow BS parent: I don’t know my kid’s Common App password. Heck, I haven’t seen the Common App. I haven’t talked with the coaches that she’s communicated with in the past 2 years. (I tried one time, got my head bitten off, and learned to back off.) It’s her process, and she is managing it start to finish. Do I not care? Anyone who knows me will spit their coffee laughing! It takes an utmost restrain to only offer input when asked, but my Type A suffering is totally worth it. Here are two contrasting examples.

Every summer I get a number of students, both undergrads and graduates, wanting to do research internships. The majority of these kids won’t think independently, problem-solve, or even attempt to figure stuff on their own. The amount of hand-holding is unreal, and the whole things ends up being a huge waste of time.

On the other hand: At a conference the other day, someone comes up to me and says, "Hey, there was a kid that worked with us this summer, is she your daughter? I just wanted to tell you how impressed we were. We gave her something very complex and data-heavy that no one knew what to do with. She not only came up with a solution in just six weeks, but also taught others how to do it. When she presented her method, we just looked at each other and said, 'Yes. She is good. She knows how to think and how to problem-solve. Whatever she decides to do, she will be great at it.”

Ignore the fact that it was my kid, the point is not the parent bragging. The point is that this is the kind of training in independence, critical thinking, and perseverance they’re getting while being away. Your son is trained the same way. If our kids can figure out how to analyze 3D scans of celia movements, they can figure out the Common App. Not trusting them to do so is condescending, in my opinion.