<p>mamom, someone here suggested that CMU might be of interest to my son (if he ever gets interested in colleges!), so it’s one of the sites I’ve browsed. While I find it the hardest to navigate of the dozen or so admissions sites I’ve visited, they do pretty clearly state that they want the SAT’s taken in junior or senior year - unless you’re applying for early admission as bookworm’s son did (i.e., skipping senior year of high school and going to CMU after junior year). It’s the only one of the sites I’ve visited that has this requirement. See the first paragraph at this link:</p>
<p>The second link is also useful in that it sets forth for each part of the school which specific SAT subject tests are required - e.g., for the science schools they require math plus either physics or chemistry. Even the humanities requires you to do the math subject test, plus one more of your choice.</p>
<p>thanks nynyparent. I looked at the Test Requirement section and it doesn’t say that. I suppose if he did apply he would read the website better and we would eventually have figured that out. </p>
<p>Anyone have a student taking the SAT on Satuday? </p>
<p>I had wanted our student to take it–however, another commitment created a conflict and so the SAT got jettisoned to June…</p>
<p>OK- thinking about what we as adults do and what is expected of our kids
so if there are 24 hrs in a day- does anyone know an adult with as much on their plates as these kids?</p>
<p>I haven’t read that title about “The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids” yet think I see a little of that around me…(not my student --some friends/classmates—there is a lack of balance, kwim?)</p>
<p>y S isn’t taking it Sat but his bball game was rescheduled because so many other kids playing are. S is signed up to take it in May and todo the SAT2’s in June. </p>
<p>I agree on how much these kids have on their plates. I have had other parents tell me my S should be doing more around the house. After 2-3 hours of homework, sometimes more on top of EC’s he participates in I refuse to throw a lot of housework at him. But, if I asked him if he wants to drop anything, he says no. Oh, and despite the fact that my kid does spend a lot of time doing things, I would not catagorize him as an overachiever.</p>
<p>My D is also taking hers this SAT. I am hoping the prep class takes some of the fear out of the test taking. That would probably be the biggest hurdle for her this first time out.</p>
<p>My S is taking SAT this Saturday, too. He didn’t do any prep, except study SAT vacab in his English class. My plan was for him to take another SAT I test in May and then 2 SAT IIs in June. But now, I think that if his first SAT I score is good enough, he won’t have to take another one. So, I will register him for SAT IIs in May and if he needs to retake SAT I, he can do it in June. </p>
<p>nynyparent - Thanks for the link. Yes, it says only “junior or senior” scores. I called CMU admission office this morning, the lady confirm it and suggest “re-take” the test. I can’t image how D will react for this. She took two subjects during freshman and sophomore after the advanced classes and her adviser recommended her to took the tests. If she needs to re-take the tests, she might needs extra time to do some preparation. I really don’t want to see her spend her summer time on it.</p>
<p>Even though my kid isn’t interested in CMU, I found the restriction on when to take Subject tests so bizarre that I took a look at the website. The footnote saying tests can only be taken in junior or senior year is supposed to be indicated by a superscripted “a”, but for the life of me I can’t see any little superscripted a’s in the test requirements. They’re being clear as mud.</p>
<p>One thing that would absolutely drive me nuts about the restriction is the Math subject test. Lots of kids strong in math finish pre-calc in freshman or sophomore year. No surprise, that’s when they take the Math II test. CMU really wants them to wait a year or two to take the Math II? That makes absolutely no sense.</p>
<p>Kathiep - study for the SAT on Friday? Didn’t you know that they recommend not studying for it the night before ? Friends of ours are home on spring break and the plan (according to D) is to get together for dinner on Friday. I mentioned that the SAT is on saturday - so perhaps she should put off the dinner plans till Saturday. I was told that the website recommends you don’t study on Fri night!! Don’t know what else she learnt in the SAT prep - she definitely picked up on not studying Fri night!!</p>
<p>LOL, back in the dark ages when I was studying for the bar exam, that was the same advice: Don’t study the night before. A friend who was a young lawyer told me to go to a movie and he even told me what movie to go to. (Back to the Future.)</p>
<p>They are dropping the requirement for subject tests for the class of 2012. Our kids are going to be the last ones who have to take them to apply into the UCs.</p>
<p>As far as kids and chores around the house…
my kiddos :
pick up their rooms/put away clothes
set table
do yardwork if asked (if we have an "off sports practice Saturday for example)
They do more if asked–(and if home)</p>
<p>With school 7:45a-3:45p, sports 4-6:30 and sports on Sat ams 8-11,
plus othe EC commitments, church etc…
…its not like they are hanging out on the couch with a controller in their hands.</p>
<p>I guess what I mean by lack of balance, I see kids who never spend time with family, who sleep a few hours (2,3,4 hrs) at night, who aren’t happy with themselves unless they have A+ for eveything they do, and seem pretty driven like they are on a hamster wheel. I wonder how satisfied they are with themselves apart from achievement.
Meaning when all is still, quiet and they aren’t moving–are they at peace with themselves? Can they be happy letting someone else be “first” once? </p>
<p>As far as SATs go–I have heard the
“don’t study, relax, eat well, sleep well” mantra for standarized tests…</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone’s kids for Saturdays testing.</p>
<p>Today my AP US History teacher, for the first time all year, did not assign us homework. He told us he saw how stressed out we all were and that our “assignment” was to take at least an hour this weekend doing something we enjoy. Painting, playing music, even playing video games. Whatever we like.</p>
<p>He said we only get to be children once and high school should be a great time, not a time where we “wake up, go to school, do EC, homework, sleep, school, EC, hw, etc…”</p>
<p>Back from an evening at D2’s school for 8th grade parents, with a discussion about changing district graduation requirements and the UC/CSU a-g requirements. seattle_mom, they mentioned about subject tests no longer being required, but they are apparently “recommended.” What the heck is that supposed to mean? It’s like reading tea leaves. At least there will be a year or two of data to examine before D2 enters the maw of college admissions madness.</p>
<p>CIA, applause for your APUSH teacher! I hope you’re doing something more relaxing than posting here. ;)</p>
<p>D is also taking the SATs tomorrow morning, and I can guarantee that it never crossed her mind that tonight might be a “review” night! She did take them in November, and will take them for a third and final time in May - just for the opportunity to get the best “super score”. November testing did go well for her, but she has had a bit of SAT prep since, so it will be interesting to see if there is any difference…SAT subject tests will be in June - and then she will be FINISHED with all SAT testing - phew! GOOD LUCK for everyone testing tomorrow!!</p>
<p>Regarding CMU requirements, they don’t seem to have a problem getting applicants to comply with their timing requests - an excellent and very popular school, with absolutely no shortage of applicants…I guess admissions there can be as “quirky” as they like!</p>
<p>I’ve just fired off an email to CMU about the subject tests. Mine took two subject tests as a freshman and one as a sophomore. Given 780/800/780 scores, it seems silly to retake, particularly in math where he is now way past the math 2 material.</p>
<p>Son has headed off to bed to get some sleep for SAT tomorrow morning. Really didn’t do as much prep as he (or I) would have liked, but school/EC schedule was insane. Did about three or four practice tests and results weren’t bad, so here’s hoping. Good luck to everyone’s sons and daughters who are taking the test tomorrow!</p>
Friends of ours are home on spring break and the plan (according to D) is to get together for dinner on Friday. I mentioned that the SAT is on saturday - so perhaps she should put off the dinner plans till Saturday. I was told that the website recommends you don’t study on Fri night!! Don’t know what else she learnt in the SAT prep - she definitely picked up on not studying Fri night!!</p>