<p>S2 took Math Level II last June. Scored 100 points higher than his best practice test. We all shouted "Glad that's done!" and took him out for dinner to celebrate. No retake here.</p>
<p>I am just venting so this post is not particularly helpful to anyone, but I am seriously unhappy with D's guidance counselor. She is completely incompetent and I fail to see why D's math teacher should be the only one helping us out regarding a purely counseling issue. I don't want to post details (too easy to identify D) but I am furious.</p>
<p>Not only am I furious but I am afraid to alienate the woman who will be writing D's college recommendation (which will probably suck anyway). Luckily she is too lazy to actually actively do anything to hurt D.</p>
<p>Queen's Mom - I'm so sorry you're having a problem with your D's guidance counselor. I'm glad that at least someone on the faculty is able to help your D, even if it's not that person's job. I would probably have the same fear that you have - but I'm sure her rec won't suck.</p>
<p>Hi,
I have a D in the class of 2010. Interests are physics/astronomy and ballet. Plans to major in the former and continue the latter for fun in college. Like others, we are having a hard time figuring out when to fit in the college visits. The ballet commitment is a heavy one and is never on break when school is. I love all the resources on the other threads, but was glad to find this friendly bunch to commiserate with.</p>
<p>grr...</p>
<p>(oh before I start that, welcome astromom :D )</p>
<p>back to grr... I was looking at our school's calendar which is nice and puts SAT/ACT dates on it in addition to other school functions. I saw that D will possibly have a confict with the Apr ACT date with choir All States (if she gets in). I thought, ok, she can take it in Feb possibly, if it doesn't interfere with skiing. Well, it isn't offered anywhere close to use that date. Maybe December!? So off to Amazon to order the ACT prep book. H will have a cow, he keeps complaining when a new order of books comes in the mail...</p>
<p>Hello everyone, I am a parent of the class of '10.
I don't know if it was mentioned before but for the SAT II before you make your choices it's best to look at the colleges your kids are going to apply. Some colleges require specific ones If l remember correctly (D2 applied last year) U Chicago, Cornell and Stanford come to mind.
I usually make my kids take one math one science SAT II among the three they take.
Queen's Mom I am sorry about your problem with your D's GC. However be careful this is the same person who might go to bat for her if she is on a waiting list.</p>
<p>ontheedge, that is a good point. The UC schools require the Math2 I believe. We haven't run across any requirements so far in looking at schools, D is not looking at engineering more of a humanities type. She will try to have a well rounded group of SAT IIs.</p>
<p>welcome!</p>
<p>Queen'sMom: So sorry to hear of the grief from the GC. Grasp what you have with the math teacher. My S's GC is okay but we've got focused info from his math teacher (AP Calc BC), who's a great guy. He suggested our son explore options other than AP Stats this year to better position his college apps next year, so our S is being nicely challenged with linear algebra. He was already advised last year that we'd like him to write our S's recommendation and he said he'd be thrilled to do so ... and meant it!</p>
<p>Welcome Astromom (does your screen name hint at your profession??) My S's main interests are physics and water polo. At least water polo has a more definitive season than ballet, although the egg beater moves they use with their legs to propel themselves upwards to block shots have a kind of danceful grace to it, sort of. Above the water, it's all shoving. Think doing rugby in a pool.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I just found this forum and I am a parent of the class of 2010. </p>
<p>I have not read thought all the posts here and I'm going to do so during this weekend. I'm sure I'll find a lot of useful info here.</p>
<p>Does anyone take the October's SAT? The scores were posted yesterday. I'm wondering how others are doing.</p>
<p>Anyone knows any good summer camps that will help their college applications?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Orkinman:</p>
<p>Check out the summer programs (left hand side) listed on this web site, which I discovered last year from the JHU-CTY web site:</p>
<p>Cogito</a> - Home</p>
<p>FindAPlace--Not my profession--the screen name refers to D's current interest in astrophysics. Is your son interested in theoretical physics?</p>
<p>welcome astromom and any other new parents.</p>
<p>summer programs: Not as a help to college apps, but as a great learning experience D did the program at Phillips Exeter Academy the summer before last, going into 10th grade. I had done a similar summer program when I was in HS and I felt I grew extremely from it, so I wanted my kids to have a similar experience. She took courses and did sports and lived in a dorm with a roommate and did her own laundry and got herself up in the morning and managed her own workload. I felt better about the programs run at HS than the ones at colleges at the age she did it. My freshman daughter isn't quite ready for such a program yet (she can't get herself out of bed consistently) but she will do one at some point during HS. D1 didn't get credit or anything tangible from the program, but some good experience for when she goes into college. She did get grades and comments from her teachers. D1 is now working at GS resident camp during the summer, but if she had time she would like to do one of the language immersion programs.</p>
<p>Welcome, astromom, ontheedge and Orkinman.</p>
<p>orkinman - I don't know of any juniors who took the SAT this month, sorry.</p>
<p>Not sure that a summer camp will necessarily help with college apps - though it could provide your S or D with a wonderful experience. This summer, my D will be working, volunteering, and hopefully working on college apps!</p>
<p>ontheedge -- just saw your post from yesterday. UChicago does not require SAT-IIs.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Thanks all for sharing the information and views on the summer programs. My son has been taking SAT and SAT II tests since last year. He is pretty much done with all the tests and that's why I think he should focus on something outside the school and tests this summer. The link provided by FindAPlace is very helpful. My son found a couple of Summer Internships that he is interested and we'll definitely give them a try. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>orkinman, I'm sure I speak for several others when I say boy I am envious that your son is done with standardized tests. If you really are looking for an uber-exclusive summer program, check out other posts in the summer program area. There are a lot of kids applying to TASP and I'm sure if you post a query there you will get a lot of great suggestions.</p>
<p>
[quote]
UChicago does not require SAT-IIs.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Indeed. Admission officer Ruth Martin told a student in my hearing at an information session that U of Chicago doesn't even look at SAT Subject Tests if a student submits them anyway.</p>
<p>Yet another good reason to apply to the U of Chicago. Does anyone know how much they value legacies?</p>
<p>I've never heard anyone mention legacies having any special cache at Chicago.</p>
<p>RE: SAT-IIs at Chicago, tokenadult is correct. The SAT-W and the SAT-IIs are never put in the admissions file that is sent to the reader and committee. DH was told this at an info session in Jan. 2007, S was told at his interview, and his regional admissions rep confirmed that last fall when S's October physics score didn't show up. We knew SAT-IIs weren't considered for admission, but wanted them there in case the scholarship folks cared to see them. This is not to say that the scholarship committee DOES want to see them -- Chicago is notoriously vague on its scholarship criteria. We just wanted the full portfolio available.</p>