He goes in waves about acknowledging how much it matters. Some days I don’t think he gets it, others he is freaked out about it. All days he is pretty resentful that 3 hours on a Saturday has such a disproportionate effect on his future. I agree, but can’t change the rules.
He is getting a lot of athletic recruiting attention, but most of it is from places that want to see scores in the 27-30+ range depending on the school. So it’s a bit more extreme in his case probably than in some others. Get a 27, you can (maybe) be in the Ivy League. Get a 25, and you are at the directional state U. There is less of a gradual drop of where he will be able to go.
@dadof4kids Can I just say that a prep class can be worth the money? It gives them classroom like structure with homework and all. My kids did much better with it than just go study.
Probably good advice @toomanyteens. My issue has been that his schedule hasn’t worked with the prep class offered locally. He has been using prepscholar online, because then he can do it on his schedule. Unfortunately, he seems to always have something more pressing to do today, he will get to it tomorrow. If he doesn’t do as well as he needs to, we may have to do the live class for next time.
He took the test in Sept, so I guess in a couple of weeks we will see if he was able to BS his way through it. He will take it again twice in April, and then June and July if he has to (which for the sake of our relationship I hope he doesn’t). April is when our school administers it as part of state testing, so he will sign up for the regular test and then take it 2X within 2 weeks. He is pretty consistent on English and Math practice tests, but all over the place on Reading and Science, so having a few stabs at it may make a difference.
I think D is done with testing. H surprised us by asking when she was planning on taking the SAT again. He usually just listens to college discussions. I said I was hoping D’s score from the August test would go up just enough so she wouldn’t have to take it again because she really doesn’t have time to prepare. D agreed she wouldn’t have time. At least we are on the same page.
The summer was the time to prep, and she ended up working two jobs and attending two camps. All great experiences but no time to prep.
Oh well. It is what it is. The reality is, the best deal will be at an instate public, exactly what it would have been if she had taken the SAT just once. At least now, she’ll get very decent merit and likely admission to honors programs.
The best prep for SAT/ACT is lots of rest, a clear mind and knowledge that if you stay focused for 3+ hours and pay attention of all of the details including the ridiculous questions about specifics in each reading passages, you will likely never need to take such a generalized standardized test again. Focus!
Unfortunately, this generation has been taking standardized tests since elementary school (for the benefit of the school district), so they should be proficient at the mechanics and time management for test taking. College will have may exams but they will be subject based and mostly on topics are children are passionate about.
My oldest 2 children say, “Studying for the SAT is ridiculous, read a book instead, you might actually learn something.”
"@dadof4kids Can I just say that a prep class can be worth the money? It gives them classroom like structure with homework and all. My kids did much better with it than just go study. "
OMG yes!!!
The most valuably and impactful thing I did for my three kids was to hire outside ACT prep. First, outsourcing it means it gets done. Second, adding two or three points to your ACT scores just totally game changes where the kids got in and how much merit money they got.
Although fall of senior year is not a great time to do it. Summer between JR and SR year worked for us.
This is an interesting topic. My D2 is done with all tests before Senior year started and has been working on the application since last month while I was away from home for a few weeks. When I was back, I found she have picked several reach schools in CommonApp to apply. She is emotional very sensitive that I have to be extremely careful in explaining the application process to her. First, I showed her the NPC of each school and eliminated one OOS school from the list. Then she added another private reach school from that area as she has a friend living there. She does have the stat for those reach school but I also know the chance for admission at those schools are pretty low anyway. We already have a very good in-state flagship that is almost a safety for her. So I am not so worry about those reach schools. I just set a budget for her so she can apply to 5-6 schools. Anything above the budget would be on her own. I kind of know the outcome already and have a backup plan which is not likely needed. I just let her go through the application process for those reach schools for the excitement of college applications.
@melvin123 We just visited Goucher College and they have a video application option in lieu of the common app. No essay, nothing written, just a video of yourself. Catch: you can’t qualify for merit scholarships.
@northwesty I had the opposite experience. Hired test tutor for my son, spend several hundred dollars. After all that, he got the same score he’d gotten on the practice test. He took it a second time and once again, got the same score! I was kind of mad, to be honest. Lots of money down the drain.
She seems to be stuck. She isn’t going to do ED and now the overwhelming task of getting BFA and BA applications in is hitting her. I am losing sleep over it and she is sleeping more.The BFA and BA deadlines are urgent cause apparently audition spots fill up before the 12/1 deadlines. We have such different style of working–well to be fair, I’ve developed a different style of working over the years. She is moving forward so slowly…I actually thinks she doesn’t understand how long it takes to actually fill out applications on line with all the supplements and video auditions. I want to be supportive but I feel frustrated. This is the venting area, right?
@123Mimi , You are not alone. DD is planning to EA 3 schools but hasn’t finished the essays yet. I’ve offered help but she doesn’t want it. Well, she is right! Those are her essays, although I am pulling my hairs out in frustration.
We’ve had our drawn out talks, tense moments ramping up to college applications for months and months … Been so hair pullingly stressful. At the end of summer, I stepped back to let DD take over (with completing the to-dos, managing her time, etc.). She is not a type A … I never thought I was until this whole college process hit. Heh
The pressure has gotten to me and I lost my cool (facade) tonight . This is IT week for EA to be completed as WE here know. After weeks and months of advanced writing, she is still trying to complete these dang prompts (which does not give any time for proof reading to her poor teacher/counselor). DD asked if she could have a group project meeting here this Sat, and this is where I imploded —“not if you don’t have your EA applications proofed and submitted!” She said that another classmate can’t come over during next week because of theater practice … me, “well I don’t know if she is planning on applying to colleges EA, like you - this is priority for you!”. DD replies, “so if I get it all submitted on Friday, then I can have the group over?”
I mean, really!? Yah, that sounds smart … cram the rest of it in and rush to submit these applications in on Fri?! Plus she overslept this morning and I had to wake her up. So that did not help my frame of mind.
@123Mimi I have an actor, mostly BA schools, and now that my kid’s show has ended, I hope the momentum builds. I am grateful he did not audition for the next play. Just know you are not alone. Lucky he’s not a MT kid, that is even harder.
@SFCA2018 Don’t worry – vent away. I said horrible things to my kids during senior year. It is stressful for us, as they lack the perspective we have. Maybe that’s okay, because they can sleep at night – which they need-- while we are probably going to lay awake, worrying about something, anyway.
I keep thinking, there should be a thread like this for how to preserve your relationship with your college student/grad on the job hunt as that is a similar, but different, level of tension.
I really hate her essay. She finally showed it to me. It doesn’t capture her depth or her voice. It’s safe and boring. Don’t really know what to suggest. I think she has to start from scratch and go it from a different place. But the deadlines are here if she wants to get the auction spots…
Ugh…I feel your pain! DS is driving me crazy with his “chillin”. I’m beating my head up against a wall trying to make sure that he has everything done. He’s applying ED and then EA to 8 schools. Common App is done but he’s got a couple essays to finish and most importantly, his portfolio isn’t ready yet. Its driving me nuts! I’m pulling my hair out to schedule his interviews and portfolio reviews and keep him on task and its even harder because he’s away at boarding school and his college counselor seems to be “chillin” too! His scores and GPA are not great so his essays, EC’s and most of all his portfolio need to be great. I don’t want to stress him out but I let him know that he has to have everything done by the 28th, including his portfolio. His art teacher is amazing but is of no help because he decided to go to Costa Rica with his daughter so now I’m putting on my research hag hat and finding out everything I can about portfolio reviews, what certain schools want to see…even how to get the dang portfolio on the plane while DS, his counselor, DH and most of his teachers are happily “chillin”.
