<p>Welcome to all new to this thread. Owlice serves some fabulous virtual goodies here, and we all lend a hand. </p>
<p>It sort of unnerves me to realize our thread is much more valid now as our '11s are just a hop away from being HS juniors–and we are suddenly for real gonna have to think about college again. Like porkchop, entomom, Findaplace, and many others, my S1 is already in college finishing freshman year. I REALLY needed this year as a breather since S2 has totally different stats, interests, everything. </p>
<p>I haven’t heard of the Nintendo SAT helper, but a friend mentioned there was some such handheld gizmo for SAT prep that was all the rage on Gossip Girl. Um, with boys in the house, that isn’t on my radar but how could this hurt? I did find madboy2 has been less resistant to doing the SAT Question of the day (free daily email from College Board) than I expected. </p>
<p>Margaritas still plentiful. Thanks for the new salsa, Owlice. And a hot tray of Carnitas taquitos has been left for anyone who feels like nibbling.</p>
<p>Great point made on testing schedules. Oldest S is in 10th now - took Bio SAT II last June (800), taking Chem this June, then Math II and Am Hist next yr (I know he doesn’t need 4 but he is a strong Math/Science kid and wants to show his breadth with AH, especially since he will be taking APAH next yr as well). Between that, APs, etc., its a lot for them to think about. He is normally very organized but really appreciated the guidance on this topic…</p>
<p>I have a question eventhough I’m a parent of a 2013 high schooler. Can D2 take Bio SAT II after taking Honors Biology in 9th grade? D1 took this test after taking AP Bio. I’m trying to see if it’s possible for D2 to get one test out of the way in 9th grade.</p>
<p>I’m new here too-heard that this is the thread with the best food! </p>
<p>I have 2 daughters, one an '09er graduating in a month and one an '11er, who is enjoying life immensely in between preparing for AP tests and SAT 2s.</p>
<p>Re taking the Bio subject test for a 9th grader, we considered it for my older daughter, but didn’t because she was planning to take AP Bio the next year and could take it then. So many of the kids taking it have had 2 whole years of Bio, and it’s graded on a curve, so it didn’t seem like a good strategy. She was giving up a Saturday morning anyway in June of 10th grade. She actually took 3 in one day, Bio, World History and MathII. Our plan was to take subject tests when she was finishing PreCal (Math II), and in subjects that she was prepping for an AP test anyway (World History and Bio.) Dd2 has registered for June 6th to take 2 tests, but may add the third if she feels up to it. Getting dd1’s scores after 10th grade and realizing she was done with subject tests was a great feeling!!</p>
<p>Makes total sense and is what most old timers here on CC recommend. I only wonder why the GCs at our HS don’t inform our students of this :(! I talk to so many parents who say that their Sr kids are rushing in the fall to do Subject tests for courses they took a summer or year before.</p>
<p>madboy1 (class of '08) took Bio SAT2 after 9th grade as it was encouraged at his HS. He scored a sorta meh 650. Retook it (!) after AP Bio in 11th grade and scored 780. We wondered why we bothered to have him take it after 9th? May be a better idea for kids to take a science SAT2 in June of the year of their highest level lab science–so AP Bio or AP Chem or… Most would only need to take 1 science SAT 2, right? Anyway, we are trying this with Madson2 ('11) who will take AP Bio next year. </p>
<p>Agree with all about having kids take SAT2s concurrent with the APs in those subjects.</p>
<p>Columbia_Girl2 will take the following sequence: Honors Bio(9th), Honors Chem(10), AP Chem(11), AP Physics(11), AP Bio(12). She is a math/hard science kind of girl( of course it depends on the teachers) but I think to get the trio of science out of the way is best. Hence, AP Bio would be the last AP science that she will take. At least this is the plan for now. My rationale for her to take it in 9th grade is to at least get some form of standardized testing under her belt, she might not use the score if she does well in AP Physics and AP Chem.</p>
<p>Over on the 2010 board I got the suggestion to check on the AP forum to see how the tests went. Nice to have a different perspective than your own child’s. I’m waiting for the phone call to go pick D1 up after the test. My day was more fun than hers, since my boss scheduled a morning meeting for the local movie theater to see Star Trek. Which was great!</p>
<p>CIA – My soph S took Euro Hist today. Said it was kind of what he expected – not ridiculously easy but not too hard. He’s pretty subdued tonight. I think it exhausted him!</p>
<p>That’s our plan, I kinda like a well rounded approach: Math2, a science and a humanities Subject test covers all the bases for any school they may want to apply to (except some engineering programs). I’m adverse to giving the CB any more money than necessary ;).</p>
<p>Well, no medals for my son’s team this year, he came close. oh well, another year. He gets great comaraderie and leadership skills from the experience, more valuable than medals, IMHO. Now I am going to go back and read what has been posted here since i last visited. I have a DS HS’11 and a DD-McGill’10. It must have been close to 90 degrees here in Sacramento today. Plunged into the hotel pool. :-)</p>
<p>Medals aren’t everything. It really is the experience and what he takes from that. That is the big thing I keep trying to teach my kids. Win or lose, what did you learn and how can you grow? </p>
<p>90 huh? We still have flannel sheets on the beds.</p>
<p>While in Lowes this afternoon and waiting for help H started talking to a women who was also waiting for help. Ends up this women works in the admissions office at a small local LAC. (actually the one I graduated from) I love o say that she has confirmed everything I have learned at CC! She also had high praise for the GC’s at S’s local private school. She said the GC’s really know the kids and thier strenghts and weaknesses. We do not hold this GC in high regard (actually think very little of her), but while during H & my discussions tonight, we are thinking that the GC’s might put all their time and effort into the Sr’s and very little into the fresh, where we needed her help. I still feel like I have to do my homework to make sure S gets into a school I can afford and he will love, but feel a little better about the Guidance dept at this school.</p>
<p>I’m also new to this thread. I don’t have any food to offer right now because my kids and their friends have all scarfed it down! My middle son is a sophomore. I also have a freshman S at Cal Poly SLO (home for the weekend), and the youngest S is in middle school. </p>
<p>I just had to comment when I saw this:</p>
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<p>Holy cow thats a busy summer! Maybe this is the difference between girls and boys.</p>
<p>My soph’s summer schedule is HS football camp every morning from 6:30-9, then sleeping, eating, playing guitar, fighting with his brothers, pretending to study for the SAT’s, pretending to do the required summer reading for APUSH, then more sleeping and eating. For the two-week no-contact period in late July/early August we will take a family vacation, and then when we get back the 2-a-day practices start. Maybe a music camp or a summer lax league thrown in there, but all fun things, nothing too serious. Frankly, he’s burned out right now from APs, lacrosse, and SAT IIs coming up, and can use a break.</p>
<p>Boys ARE different. S got a part-time job the minute he turned 16 and added a full-time job that summer. While he did manage a few big scout trips, some volunteer work, and governor’s school over the two following years, it is very apparant that his job has been a source of pride. </p>
<p>My D, OTOH, is eager to do everything. She’d love the income from a steady job, but can’t imagine committing day in and day out to the same thing. She’s 15 so still has some time before she can work, and will eventually because we feel building a strong work ethic is important. For now she’s learning skills, time-management and hopefully, how to be responsible. </p>
<p>The differences aren’t just boy/girl, we’re all different and thankfully, most of us find success doing the things we love.</p>
<p>S2 wants to do that job thing too. However, I don’t see it happening unless something just falls into his lap. He just turned 16 a few weeks ago, and won’t be getting his driver’s license until later this summer (boy I’d love to not have to run him to school every morning at 6 am!).</p>
<p>CIA, D1 wasn’t happy about the essays, because two of them dealt with more modern eras that she didn’t know as much about. She was feeling pretty good about the multiple choice. Tomorrow is Physics B. The teacher for the class hadn’t taught that course before, and didn’t hit everything on the curriculum. On the other hand, the teacher did cover some things that are part of Physics C.</p>
<p>Stress continues at home - too many things going on right now. D has had no time for prep for Bio Sat II which she’s taking in June - she can always take it again next year if her score isn’t good. Anyone know how things work for Sat II scores? Do you report all or only the one you want?</p>
<p>My understanding is you only report the ones you want. Won’t she be studying for a final? I would think that studying for the final and a couple practice exams, to see where she needs more review, would be sufficient.</p>