@Golfgr8 have you read this piece on the AP this year? https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ap-exams-online-stress-inequalities?fbclid=IwAR2KRkQ2VMp9CUWncFIh6zBzYLYTCaZj59slLPNTfK5t16NZQjXkE1LBZkc
Thanks @Calliemomofgirls for sharing! Yes - very stressful time. I hear from a couple of students that they had issues uploading info @ Calc B/C AP test this week and are being offered to retake in June.
Yes, that’s what I read in the article (the June suggestion). Sounds horribly stressful. Also: I was floored by the idea that some kids have to take the test on their cell phones. Wow.
@parentofnicekid , I am sad to say that is not my dog. I just think Shibas are crazy cute, especially with the tongue out like that.
On a cell phone… oof
AP Gov had technical problems too. Retakes are next week.
DS was very fortunate not to have any issues with his AP exams. Even the language one where he had to use the phone app. I think we underestimate our kids’ generation and their familiarity with phones/apps. I don’t think he gave it a second thought.
We were proactive, though. With each test, we turned off all devices that used WiFi except my work computer (for obvious reasons). I also had my air card on standby. I’m just glad those are finished. Now he has 6 assessments (final exams, research papers, speech, etc) to work on to finish out the year.
We took DS to see my alma mater yesterday. No one was there. We were able to break into some buildings, though. We have gotten pretty good at that. It has grown a bit in 35 years. And the apartments we lived in aren’t so nice anymore. (Ok, they weren’t so nice 35 years ago when I paid rent with my waitressing money).
He was ready to go after a quick drive through of campus and a walk through of just the engineering buildings we could get into. So, the surprise of the day was when we got back to my parents’ house and he told my dad the school “exceeded his expectations “.
I’m not so sure how to take that…lol.
We just returned from a necessary NE trip, which had a bit of a detour. DS was slated to see John’s Hopkins, Lehigh and Lafayette on our way home from Boston. He ditched the JHU visit about 2/10s of a mile from campus. It was reminiscent of his reaction to Georgia Tech but more decisIvely.
He really liked Lehigh’s campus, although Bethlehem is a rather depressed town. There were several deer and fawns everywhere we turned. The facilities were quite nice and he was able to peek inside some of the engineering labs.
Lafayette also had a beautiful campus, but he wasn’t convinced enough to put it on his list.
Is anyone’s school using SCOIR and/or KickStart? DSs CC adjusted his working list recently to be more reflective of the school’s success with some colleges than what the program(s) calculated. It moved some schools from targets to likely and then others from reach to unlikely. He now only has one target school and is feeling pressure to find another. I’m not sure it’s worth it but I don’t know this process too well.
@buuzn03 Cate uses SCOIR, but I haven’t seen it. The CC office loves it, and said the graduated seniors did too. I would love to hear your thoughts.
I think a number of schools have transitioned to SCOIR. Really interested in hearing more from all of you on your experience.
@CateCAParent I’m a bit of a novice with SCOIR, as he mainly used it early on in the process.
What I do know is it a helpful tool. It gives a comprehensive list of colleges and overviews. It helps find schools and narrow down lists based on majors, location, demographics, town setting preferences, etc. It provides scattergrams like Naviance did (I’m told) showing likelihood of acceptance based on past students’ successes/stats. Parents and counselors can suggest schools to the student and they will show up on his list for consideration, so it’s easy to communicate especially when you’re 2000 miles apart.
My son likes KickStart for his application process more than SCOIR. It grades the list of schools, is more specific regarding targets/reaches. It provides suggestions on how to improve the variety of the list. It also has quick links next to each school regarding application deadlines, test requirements (up to date as things changed frequently during COVID19), likelihood of merit, FA opportunities, quick links for recommendations and to the common app/coalition sites straight from the site. It keeps your application checklist all in one place. And it tailors everything based on the high school’s past performance with specific college acceptances.
Not sure how helpful that is. I know DS has relied on KickStart more recently since he’s been finalizing his list. The school uses the two in tandem for the most comprehensive approach.
Oh. The downside to KickStart, at least for us, is that they don’t give parents access/accounts. So, I have to rely on DS sharing with me to see his specific results.
The scattergrams, graphs and tables in addition to the application tools/checklist system are pretty comprehensive, though.
Thank you @buuzn03 ! I really look forward to hearing how this year goes for buuznKid. So much to process through. But I have no doubt he will get through it all with aplomb! (Slipping in an SAT word for you, just to stay on theme).
Good luck to those taking the SAT/SATIIs today! We are thankful DS was able to get these done!
I know that CC censors is for profanity…but I just can’t hold back this one extremely bad word…FAFSA.
OK. I may have to go to the principal’s office for that one. Sorry, guys.
Good luck to anyone with a child who has or soon will submit an ED application. Our kiddo submitted earlier today. I know for sure only because I saw the debit for the application fee. I haven’t seen a word of any part of the application itself.
@CaliPops and others- Good luck! DS needs to compare financial packages or he would’ve definitely gone the ED route.
He did submit EAs, I found this out when he called for the credit card number. ? but none of his top schools offer EA. So we will have a long waiting game.
Hello, I haven’t been on here in awhile. DD is in full college app/decision mode. She didn’t get into her ED school, but has been accepted to some solid options. Just waiting on financial aid. She’s still doing school at home, I hate that she’s missing her senior year and honestly her grades are suffering from it. How’s everyone else doing?
1 Like
@makp715 Good to see you again!! Glad everything is going well! DS did not apply ED due to needing to compare aid – but he has received some solid acceptances with merit from a few schools. His top choices (and of course, most selective) will not be known until the Spring, along with everyone else.
He is back on campus (well, quarantining in Mass for the rest of the week with move-in Saturday), but had been remote since Thanksgiving. This go-round, remote was much more difficult for him. I also hate they are missing the ambiance of a senior year. But, I think because of the lack of spirit-- he is ready to move on to college.
I miss others from this class - @sadieshadow @CTMom21 @HMom16 @cinnamon1212 to name a few