<p>MamaBear1234, thanks for catching my typo…we stayed at the NITTANY Lion Inn when we visited the campus in February. </p>
<p>My D thought the ACTs “weren’t too bad” except for the science section (she’s had earth science, biology, chemistry and physics this ear) which she found “tricky.” Now on to APs and SAT I retake on May 1. She and her dad visited a local private LAC today that’s just down the road from our house – just to get an idea how it compares to similar schools she’s visited in nearby states (very well, except too close, which is unfortunate). Trying to figure out when to squeeze in the remaining campus visits.</p>
<p>^^ Thanks W-K
I hope thats correct–as it would be ncie to see how the scores are shaping up-- </p>
<p>Really don’t want to have our student take the ACT again come June…so it would be nice if this one was a winner. Our studnet thought the ACT was definitley a better fit…</p>
<p>the SATs finding the error/no error–choose the best correction is a section that trips up lots of people.
I think its because we aren’t reading something written in our style and unless we have learned editting skills, we aren’t looking for errors–and just like we often overlook someone’s error in speech–we overllok the written ones… </p>
<p>The next 6 weeks or so are ridiculously busy for the Jrs…</p>
<p>Here’s what I found…so we can hold our breath for 2-3 weeks I guess…</p>
<p>"Most scores are available online within 2 ½ weeks after each national or international test date. Your scores are not reported any faster if you view them online. Score reports are usually mailed to your home within 3 to 8 weeks after each test date. If you took the Writing Test, your score report will be mailed only after your Writing scores are available, normally 2 weeks after your multiple-choice scores (within 5 to 8 weeks after the test date). "</p>
<p>SAT subject tests-----what are your kids taking? And are most taking in May? Anyone in June?</p>
<p>I’m trying to decide if LuckyBoy should take two tests in June. It will be the morning after his school’s graduation (he has to play trumpet at the ceremony–the other first trumpet is graduating). He has to take the regular SAT on May 1, with 4 APs during the following two weeks (Physics C Mech, Calc AB, English Lang, USHistory).</p>
<p>I just looked at the subjects available for SAT2. I can see him taking US History and Math II. Physics is out because he hasn’t yet had E&M (his school splits AP C into two different courses). He’d have to review too much for Chem or Bio to take either in June. He is not currently interested in any of the colleges/universities that require 3 SAT 2 tests. His current front-runner “suggests” two SAT 2s of the student’s choice, especially if applying for the Honors College. For someone interested in enviromental science & public policy (as an interdisciplinary approach) would US History and Math II be appropriate? I’ve read that the English Lit test is a killer.</p>
<p>And would the June date be better than trying to review for the October date? Gosh, if he’d need to retake the SAT 1, he’d have to use that June date, huh? :eek: The state flagship deadline for scholarship and honors consideration is Dec 1.</p>
<p>Our current plan is to take the SAT in May, AP’s in May and SAT 2’s in June. I am hoping he breaks 2000 on the SAT, which will be an improvement over his score from May of last year. But, so long as he hits 1900 we will probably stick with it. His grades don’t merit a top tier school and his SAT’s and GPA are already unbalanced. The only reason for a retake would be merit money. By summer we should have a final list of schools and if it looks like a higher SAT will bring more money we will have him retake in the fall, otherwise he is done SAT wise. My kid is not the typical motivated cc kid and although I would love to see him break 2200, it is very unlikely. He has already taken 2 SAT 2’s last year (chem and USH), but CMU will not allow them because they were taken soph year. Plus he wants to take math 2.</p>
<p>We are thinking of having him take the ACT in June. I will have him take a practice test over April vacation and see how he does. Surprisingly he isn’t fighting me on this, but other than a practice ACT test in April, we need to concentrate on the upcoming SAT so there will be no in depth studying for the ACT, yet.</p>
<p>I don’t know if any of his schools he is considering, except CMU (which is a reach), want SAT 2’s because we are far from coming up with a final list, so he will take 2 or 3 tests in June just for “the fun of it.”</p>
<p>Whoops, too late to edit my post----if he should need to retake the SAT 1, he’d have to use the OCTOBER testing date for that!</p>
<p>Merit money is a major consideration for us. A 2100 is at the upper end of the mid50 range for Honors College admits at the state flagship. If he gets above 2100, he should get a good chunk of merit money (like the amt of in-state tuition), based on what seniors from his school have been offered this year and last year. We’re certain of admittance, which is a very very nice situation And it turns out the state flagship has the perfect major for LuckyBoy, with 3 different concentrations to choose from, required interships and research and possible study abroad! </p>
<p>His list might be really short. I don’t know if that is more or less stressful than a long application list…</p>
<p>KLucky, retaking the SAT I in October to meet the Dec deadline for honors etc at your state flagship should be fine. Check with the admissions office, just to be sure. I’d definitely have a kid take SAT IIs in June instead of having to review over the summer. D1 did that with Math II (a family commitment meant no way around it), and I’m sure it hurt her score. </p>
<p>D1 is also not sure what SAT IIs to take in June. I’ve got a thread up in the parents forum asking some questions, because D1 was warned that the English subject test has a wicked curve. She will definitely take US History (coming off the AP). Her choices for #2 are then a retake for Math II (in hopes of bringing up her score), Chem (coming off AP, but feels shaky in the subject), or English. No idea yet what she’ll decide to do.</p>
<p>My S will take 2 SAT II tests in May, he already took 2 of them his sophomore year. I am not sure if he is planning to review anything before the test day, but he is taking Math II and Physics and these are his best subjects. He got 2390 on his first SAT I test in March and is done with SAT Is. I registered him for the April ACT before we knew his SAT score, but he decided he doesnt need that. So, it looks like he wont need to take any standardized tests his senior year. :D</p>
<p>S is taking SAT IIs in June, rather than May, to give him some time to prepare. Although he is done with the SAT I based on last October’s score, he has 5 AP tests, and I thought taking the SAT IIs in May was too much (particularly because his varsity sport is in season right now also). As for the difference between May and June, it probably depends on the tests your student is taking. For my son, although the material for the US History SAT II is probably pretty similar to APUSH, I know the Math 2 covers entirely different stuff than BC Calc, and he needs to review.<br>
I wouldn’t wait until the fall for SAT IIs if its based on a class the student is taking this year – too much time to forget!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input------kind of what I thought, but I needed some support I think I’ll have the guidance counselor “suggest” the June testing date when we meet with him later this month :D</p>
<p>And it would be lovely if he doesn’t have to take any standardized tests during senior year!</p>
<p>Was quite surprised by D1’s reaction to ACT, she couldn’t stand it. </p>
<p>From what I’ve read about it seemed it might be a ‘better fit’ test for her than SAT. Sigh…we’ll see what the scores are but don’t think she’d consider taking it again and she’s already planning on the June SAT.</p>
<p>Good luck to all of you with the SATII planning!</p>
<p>I am amazed that the GC at D’s school (a quite well-regarded large one) has said nothing about SATII’s. In fact, if not for this Board, I would not have known about them! It doesn’t look like the colleges D is currently considering require/recommend them. On the other hand, that list could change, and I’d hate to have her pass up the opportunity to take the US History one as she’s finishing up her APUSH class. But - I’m not sure about adding that to her May crunch of final exams, and she is planning on taking the SAT in June (which is a late decision - she had only planned to take the ACT). And you can’t take the SAT and any subject test on the same test day. Still thinking about how important/necessary it is to take the SAT II.</p>
<p>S2 finalized a reach heavy school list, subject to our condensed visitation schedule at them in late June - he will delete if need be…he’s circumspect having seen S1’s results, but does have an advantage in that his transcript is not the alphabet soup of S1, though his EC involvement is not the extensive, intense one of S1 either…S2 is also more engaged in the process of applying, and has read extensively about the schools on his rather long initial list…He still does not have a safety that he adores so here’s to working on that. </p>
<p>His SAT1 results were solid in October, so he will retake those next fall. Now for the SAT2, and the APs of Junior year…</p>
<p>The rollercoaster is at the starting gate again…</p>
<p>I have not been convinced by the experience of close friends that private consultants are a good value. I think in the current economy, I would research and possibly choose to spend that extra money on a financial planner that specializes in college finance - if falling into the upper middle to higher income brackets (particularly if there are assets to protect as well).</p>
<p>^late registration for the May SAT is through April 15. cooker, take a look at a list of schools that require SAT IIs [Compass:</a> Admissions Requirements](<a href=“SAT Subject Test Requirements and Recommendations - Compass Education Group”>SAT Subject Test Requirements and Recommendations - Compass Education Group), and see if any of the schools at all pique your D’s interest. If so, you’ll want to strongly consider paying for the May test date. She will never be better prepared for the US History SAT II in May than in October. If there are any schools that ask for more than one, come back and ask on CC what collective wisdom recommends for your D. </p>
<p>Alternatively, is she doing the ACT? Some schools will take the ACT, with its science section, instead of SAT plus subject tests. </p>
<p>lovingbird, there are lots of different opinions here on hiring a private college counselor. Some parents like them because the counselor can get the kids to do things (such as writing essays, or thinking about what kind of college they’d like to go to, or being more organized) that the parents have tried to get the kid to do, with no success. Other parents don’t have insight into how to make up a good list of schools that their kid will apply to. And some kids go to schools where the counselor knows very little, or is very overburdened. I’ve found that reading posts on CC has given me just as much knowledge (if not more) than what most counselors have. Ask a bunch of questions here, and see if that works for you. </p>
<p>One reason NOT to hire a counselor is because you think it will help your child get into their dream college. That’s generally not the case. Very few, if any counselors have a super-secret inside track to the admissions officers at super-selective colleges.</p>
<p>Welcome, lovingbird! I’m glad you found this website. Personally I think that between what you can learn from this website and from reading some good books, a college consultant isn’t necessary. Two books I highly recommend your student read are “On Writing the College Application Essay” by Harry Bauld and “How to Get Into the Top Colleges” by Richard Montauk and Krista Klein. The second book was our “go to” book as we went through the process. You don’t need to be applying to a “top” school to benefit. The Bauld book is a delight to read. It gives great insight into writing an essay that sings.</p>
<p>SlitheyTove,
Thanks for the message.
Yes, I think the reason that I am thinking perhaps she needs a college consultant is to have the 3rd party to ask her to do things and she will know she really needs to get her SAT1 done! Parents’ request is sometimes no success. :-(</p>
And it turns out the state flagship has the perfect major for LuckyBoy, with 3 different concentrations to choose from, required interships and research and possible study abroad! </p>