<p>Xiggi,
You're preaching to the choir here. I've got him down to playing after school work is done. Son knows I love a bargain so when the game came out he handed me the money to pay for 6 months. Would have gone for 3 but it was a better deal for six. He does have an on-line SAT prep program that he does do, just not as much as he should. Sorry to hi-jack the thread, back to the new member questions!</p>
<p>Yes about Sandpoint. I had actually written a comment about some really scary guys-one with a knife, I think-- that looked like Aryan nation types at the edge of the lake one morning when I was out walking but then decided not to go there and deleted it, but since you mentioned it....very creepy. And then on the other hand there was a completely relaxed arts and crafts fair in the afternoon.....</p>
<p>I suppose every state has people like that....and they could probably be found in both metropolitan and rural areas. </p>
<p>Sandpoint is in the vicinity of Hayden Lake/Rathdrum, where I believe one of those groups has (had) a big headquarter compound. When we'd go there when I was a kid I was of course oblivious to that kind of activity. However, most people I know who have lived there mention that there are a lot of hippie-types there (NTTAWWT ;) ).</p>
<p>I just realized that it may have sounded like I was visiting the SS headquarters as a kid. I meant Sandpoint ;)</p>
<p>Lest anyone get the wrong idea about me!</p>
<p>Kathiep: we were debating the ACT; maybe we should go ahead. My only reason for not going ahead with it is that I thought maybe S would be "tested out" after this spring.....but maybe we should rethink that.</p>
<p>DrDrewsmom, if your son's sport is not well supported in your state, it might be a good idea to put him into a summer program where he can be showcased as it would give all of you a better idea where he would fit collegewise, if he indeed wants to play baseball in college. I would call a few representative colleges' baseball coaches at schools that seem like they may appear on his list, and get some recommendations. Stanford is tough athletically, and the athletic card only carried the clout if he is a recruited athlete. Also, you should be making arrangement for the games to be taped this season, as the coaches do want to see these. Generally, you will need a good full game tape, and a highlights tape. Take a look at <a href="http://www.johntreed.com%5B/url%5D">www.johntreed.com</a> for a good description of ivy sports recruitment. You do have to hunt for his thread on this subject but it is a good read. A great book to get is "Accept my Kid Please" which is recommended on this forum. The kid featured in the book is a baseball player who ends up applying to mostly LAC, and the trials and tribulations of the college search written with a lot of humor. </p>
<p>Yale actively recruits for baseball, so that might be a good school to call as the coach there is always looking for recruits that meet the minimum academic requirements. Yale does have pretty firm numbers on what they accept, whereas many other colleges are fuzzy with threshholds. </p>
<p>Do bear in mind that Stanford, Yale, any of the top schools are truly long shots even with the baseball. My oldest son was a recruited athlete, and he did get a good deal in the end, but it was not the shoo in that many were sure it would be. It is important to find some schools where the sport is not needed for your S to get in. With is stats that won't be much of a problem once you look at the few schools that so ultra selective.</p>
<p>DrDrewmom - I was also worried about my daughter being "tested out" if we added in the ACT - but there's an April ACT date, deadline for signing up is early March. So, she is going to go for it and then probably take the SAT again in May.</p>