<p>My son is in FIrst robotics too, but they have a one day tounament called Monty Madness. I think it’s here in PA, but I’m not sure. I volunteered to drive, so I’ll find out! They did the one in Trenton and the one at Drexel, oh and another little one in the fall with the old robot. We’re not doing so well this year but hope for good results Saturday!</p>
<p>Blueiguana- Yes my S is in FIRST Robotics. After Altanta season is over except the school is hosting a big event this weekend.
Kathiep - Monty Madness is the event our school is hosting in NJ. hope to see you there LOL</p>
<p>kathiep & randrmom, are your kids FTC, FRC or both? We have 4 FTC teams and 1 FRC. My son participates in both. It was wicked this year as the FTC VA tournaments NY & Delaware were all during FRC build :@ !! The FLL team he mentors went on to states so that was another few weeks he didn’t count on (glad the kids did so well, but wasn’t expecting it!). We only took 13 kids down to Atlanta this year so it was far more manageable that previous years!
Good luck at Monty Madness! Sounds like great fun! (A LOT of work goes into it I know so good for you!). Our kids have hosted FLL tournaments, but the FTC tournaments have gone to other teams in our area in recent years.
What are your team numbers? It would be fun if our kids ended up at a competition together :)</p>
<p>I took the AP Psychology exam today. The essays were… weird but I think I did well. The multiple choice also went well.</p>
<p>Just one more exam, tomorrow! AP English Language.</p>
<p>Best of luck CIA!</p>
<p>Thank you! I’m so exhausted. These AP exams are just frustrating, and I’m not quite done either. I still have SAT II’s and an ACT in June plus state tests.</p>
<p>But it’s almost over (for this year)!</p>
<p>Good luck with your test Wed CIA. My S is also taking it, and taking SAT 2’s and the ACT in June. No state tests though. Almost done! </p>
<p>It will be interesting to see how S does on the ACT, he is the only kid we know, in real life, who is taking it, actually not just this year, but ever.</p>
<p>mamom, what made him decide to take the ACT over the SAT?</p>
<p>Most of my son’s friends sit for the ACT at least once to get an idea if the test is tailored more for them than the SAT. You have to take the ACT w/ writing for it to take the place of the SAT from what I understand. All of my son’s target schools will accept either. With ACT’s you don’t need the SAT2’s. The ACTs have higher level math than the SAT, as well as science. For a student who is a math & science kid, they may do better on the ACT. Students who have taken it have shared that there are fewer if any ‘gotcha’ or double negative questions on the ACT. This is purely anecdotal, but most felt this way.</p>
<p>CIA,
He is taking the ACT for the heck of it. He took the SAT in MAY 09 and scored in the mid 1900’s, not well by CC standards, but well enough. His SAT is already out of line with his low GPA. Our hope is colleges will look at his realtively high SAT (or ACT) vs his low GPA and decide to take a chance on him. I do not think he will do better on the ACT vs the SAT but figured he is free that Sat in June and it can’t hurt him to try.</p>
<p>oh, and he is scheduled to take the ACT w/writing.</p>
<p>Our student said the AP Chem was about what was expected…and maybe a bit easier than the testing and work done all year…</p>
<p>any other thoughts …</p>
<p>AP Eng tom.</p>
<p>FWIW I did AP Bio years ago–I think it was the only one our hs offered…I passed out of 2 semesters 8/hrs bio/lab…</p>
<p>LuckyBoy decided to take the ACT in June too. He doesn’t know anyone else in his “group” who is taking the ACT at all-----in fact, he first said to me “isn’t that for the kids who don’t do well on the SAT?” I told him the tests are different and some do better on one that the other. And that there is a science section about interpreting data etc—he thought that sounded sufficiently interested to ok the test. I also told him I’d need him to do some BASIC prep to get familiar with the format.</p>
<p>So I took LuckyYoungest to refill at the library today and picked up the Ruggs Guide, the only ACT prep book the library has (Barrons, I think) and a copy of The Gate Keepers, a book I’ve seen referenced for the two-ish years I’ve been reading about the college process. Wow, the book is a good read! I’ve been reading straight through since dinner, about half way now. I thought it would be boring (admission counselors reading apps and deciding on a Wesleyan class, blah blah blah) but am definitely enjoyed it :)</p>
<p>LuckyBoy and Austrian Exchange Friend are watching The Matrix after spending a few hours down on Main Street. Being a university town, we’ve got quite a selection of shops and eateries. AEF was totally impressed by a music store (I almost typed record store 
) we take for granted. No studying or stress about tomorrow’s AP English Language. It’s all good.</p>
<p>I found the AP Chem exam to be easier than the past exams I used to practice (although this may be in part because doing many exams will make the actual exam seem easier).</p>
<p>D1 gave a big thumbs down on Chem; I didn’t mention to her that word on CC was that the test was easy. But it’s over. English tomorrow, which she’s not worried about enough that she watched Glee tonight.</p>
<p>My son thought AP Chem was a bit easier than the practice exam he took last Saturday, but still couldn’t answer all the questions. He wouldn’t study after his practice exam. My S will be taking the ACT in June, just to see if it’s a better test for him. He considered taking SATII in June but the schools he’s looking at don’t require it.</p>
<p>Back in the day, my school had no APs and I had no idea they existed until I got to college - it was a rude awakening. My H took several AP classes. He went to a much better high school.</p>
<p>My son is also one of the few kids from his HS taking the ACT in June, but I guess it’s getting popular because the only school within 20 minutes from here that had an opening was the bad reputation HS in the nearby city. Yes, I signed him up for it. I figure the miscreants won’t be at the school that day. The genius’ in our state decided to have all the state testing in April, just to make it more challenging for the AP teachers and students. And years ago they decided to make 11th grade one of the test intensive years.</p>
<p>I read The Gate Keepers a while ago. Don’t remember all the details, but I do remember liking the book. Another fictional book I read a few years ago about college life I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe. But, is not for the faint of heart. It is a bit over the top, well I hope it is but, I can see some kids getting sucked into life at college as Mr. Wolfe portrays it. I sometimes wonder if I should loosen the leash on my son now so he gets it all out of his system before college. </p>
<p>[I</a> Am Charlotte Simmons - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Charlotte_Simmons]I”>I Am Charlotte Simmons - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>[how-rich-are-you:</a> Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance](<a href=“http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgetingk/article/109517/how-rich-are-you?mod=bb-budgeting]how-rich-are-you:”>http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgetingk/article/109517/how-rich-are-you?mod=bb-budgeting)</p>
<p>Interesting item in the news–</p>
<p>Yes–Liked Gatekeepers–</p>
<p>However–after the first couple of pages of I am Charlotte Simmons–I took it back–Not my style of literature…</p>
<p>AtomicGirl
FWIW
Our student thought the ACT was MUCH easier and a better fit than the SAT…because if you are a good student, it tests really what you know. The only section close to the SAT seems to be the reading section…
Good luck ;o)</p>
<p>I read “I am Charlotte Simmons” a few years back, and loved it. Shocking, yes. Over the top, probably. But a really good story. I think it was a not-so-subtle reference to Duke.</p>
<p>11 school days left for LuckyBoy, 18 for LuckyGirl '13 and 21 for LuckyYoungest '18 :)</p>
<p>Raining again this morning, bleh. Have much gardening to do! Oh well, should probably work instead 
though all I want to do is finish “The Gatekeepers” while drinking more coffee!</p>
<p>Hope AP Eng is not terribly difficult today. Anyone have economics or World History tomorrow? I looked at the AP exam schedule for next year----S is not going to be pleased as those exams won’t be as spread out as this year’s.</p>
<p>Glancing through the ACT prep book last night, I thought the exam format will be a good fit for S. After his last exam on June 2 we’ll see how the practice exams go! By then the May SAT results will be out so hopefully we’ll be able to work together on The Big List :)</p>