<p>zoosermom - that's pretty much what my D's GC said that most colleges will do - at least something along those lines. </p>
<p>About the foreign language issue, maybe you can contact the schools your D is interested in applying to and ask what they suggest your D do. I can't imagine that they would hold it against her, if the course isn't offered at her school. Perhaps she can take the 4th year class at a local college over the summer between her Jr and Sr years? Or maybe during her senior year? </p>
<p>It's interesting that your D's school offers newspaper and the lit magazine as a class. At my D's school, those are both very time-consuming ECs. I've heard other schools offer Yearbook as a course, and I can't get over that because it seems like such a classic EC.</p>
<p>The magazine/newspaper aren't a class, it's a journalism class required of all junior/senior year members of those organizations, as well as interested people. It's an actual class with homework and stuff -- very writing intensive as you would expect. It's definitely an elective, but it's required as a class and treated that way. Work on the actual publications is done after school.</p>
<p>I started a differerent thread, but I'm wondering whether any of you junior parents have ideas about subject tests. Math is the only one s is the least bit prepared for, so what do you think of having him take Math I and II in the same sitting and then figuring out which to submit?</p>
<p>
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According to our GC, all classes except PE are counted in the cum average, but most top schools will remove art and music classes when they recalculate the GPAs.
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<p>S2's school provides two GPAs, one is overall and the other is for core subjects. However, they also do not weight courses, basic biology counts the same as AP Chemistry in the core GPA. </p>
<p>One reason S2 has reluctantly began building his college list is to see if any of the schools require SAT subject tests. Some schools do, others do not, and yet others do not if one has taken the ACT. If the majority of schools on his list do not, then he doesn't plan on taking them. Older brother never did and was accepted to his reach schools, so I am not sure how important they are if submitted as optional.</p>
<p>Count me in! Last child is a HS junior this year. He is working this summer and doing assignments for APUSH and AP Chem. When he's not playing computer games & hanging with the neighborhood boys. </p>
<p>None of the other 3 did SAT prep courses and did fine, so I trust this one will too. He's done great on practice SAT & ACT tests. </p>
<p>And we have given no thought to SAT IIs. It's like my memories from the other kids were erased! I guess junior year is high time to start taking them, huh? Or to form a list of likely schools & see if they're really necessary. ;)</p>
<p>zoosermom - got it! We have a class like that too - well journalism and advanced journalism, so two classes. D got really lucky because the faculty advisor to the school newspaper noticed her as a freshman and was able to get her into the advanced journalism course the spring semester of her freshman year. At her school, it's basically a soph/jr course. The teacher asked her if she could fit it into her schedule, and as luck would have it, the class was offered during her free period. </p>
<p>Youdon'tsay - about the Math SAT IIs - I probably wouldn't do it that way. I think I would find out which exam his coursework has prepared him for - and/or have him take practice tests for each and let him decide that way. No sense taking two math tests in a row - that could be exhausting for him which could have an effect on how he does on the second exam.</p>
<p>It sounds like your S is prepared, since he has taken practice exams and done well on them. I signed my D up for the prep course thinking that's what she'd be doing - because she wouldn't do it on her own. Instead, the course was a big waste of time - stupid advice, a reviewbook full of errors, a teacher who talked down to the kids. They finally did give them practice exams the last night of each course, and D did well on them thankfully. </p>
<p>And yes, probably time to start thinking about SAT IIs.</p>
<p>went on our first college visits. First was Dartmouth and the visit was ok and we saw lots of good things about the school. D had this as her first choice previously and had even mapped out a d-plan! She would want to apply ED and left with that impression still intact. Then we went on to Middlebury. Wow just wow, I was blown away with how much I liked it. D did also but still has her firm plans. We will visit other LACs/small uni's when we have a chance this fall to hopefully make her more open minded to differences between schools and willing to consider other options. Ran into my boss at Midd visiting with his son :-0 And I was a good doobie and posted my visit reports, kind of sparse but at least I did it. I can see the value of any visit, but also of one during a regular session.</p>
<p>I will at least use her love of Dartmouth to encourage her to do some SAT (PSAT) studying in the few weeks left of summer.</p>
<p>I need some input...Does it make any sense to take the October SATs? That's even before D takes her PSATs, but really, the prep for both is the same (and she has been prepping - somewhat) and it will give her more time (and incentive) if she does worse than expected to study more for a re-take.</p>
<p>Queen's mom- I have read on here of several people who have done just that. We are going to wait and see how she does on the PSAT and then have her take the SAT in the winter. Of course with the score choice option strategies could change, so I guess there isn't a downside to what you are considering. I don't know the Oct date offhand but we have several crew races plus D's 16th birthday so I don't think we would try to fit it in anyway.</p>
<p>jackief, D's birthday is also in October (sweet 16), but we are not planning anything outrageous so it is not an issue. In fact, beginning of October (it's the 4th, BTW) is great for us, because it is about 3 weeks before finals. That means she has plenty of time to study after the SATs and PSATS (given on October 15).</p>
<p>jackief - glad your D liked Dart and Middlebury. I'll go read your reports after I post this. We'll be visiting Dart next week - any advice?</p>
<p>Queen's Mom - I hadn't planned on D taking the SAT in Oct. Our plan is to see how D does on her PSAT, and then possibly take the SAT in the winter. I'd like her to get it out of the way before the end of the school year so that she can concentrate on APs, SAT IIs, and end of year projects.</p>
<p>She took her first practice exams last week (the final week of her SAT prep). The course was a big waste of her time and my money, but she ended up doing very well on the exams, so that was exciting for her. I think that once she takes her physics exam this week, she may actually spend some time taking practice tests.</p>
<p>LIMOMOF2, is this the SATII in Physics? I thought conventional wisdom was to let them take it as soon as they finish the class. D is planning SATII in Math in June, right after she finishes precalc.</p>
<p>jackief - just read your reports - and I got the impression that you preferred Middlebury to Dartmouth. We're going to be visiting the day after school ends, so I'm not expecting to see many students around. I was especially interested in seeing a dorm room, so I hope our tour guide is able to give us access - maybe, since school will be out?</p>
<p>I don't like the fact that you had the impression they were nickle and diming the kids.</p>
<p>Queen's Mom - not the SAT II in Physics - my insane D decided to teach herself physics over the summer. She's taking a diagnostic test (in place of a Regents exam, since no Physics Regents is being offered this summer) so that she can be placed in AP Physics this year. </p>
<p>My D has taken two SAT IIs (Bio E and Chem), and she'll also be taking the Math II SAT II in June after she completes Precalc. I think she'll also take the US history and possibly the physics SAT II exams as well. She wasn't thrilled with her scores on her earlier tests (she's a perfectionist, and her scores were in the mid-700s on both - so really, they're fine - but she thinks she could have done better).</p>
<p>Ok, I got it. Good for your D. Mine just wants to veg during the summer (oh and babysit, cause she makes a lot of money while watching TV or reading a book when the kids are asleep). ;)</p>
<p>youdon'tsay, I don't think taking Math1 and Math2 the same day is a good idea. Just take a couple of practice tests. Normally if you are taking pre-calc you should be well set for Math2 at the end of the course.</p>
<p>Did I post this already? My rising junior's summer project is to read all the Star Trek novels and see all the movies in timeline order. He's read about 50 books and seen the first three movies (the more recent ones) and figures he still has forty or so to go.</p>