<p>D’s ECs have always been performing arts related, dancing, acting, singing and Musical Theatre; she has zero athletic ability. She’ll be continuing in Debate next year and is auditioning for the girls’s varsity select choir next week. </p>
<p>Thanks for the responses about leadership summer activities v. dance. We chose dance for at least one more summer; as was mentioned above when they go away for a six week intensive there isn’t room for much else. We received a bunch of stuff from CTD about the CTD Civic Leadership Institute: Chicago 2010, which is what initially sparked my questions because she thought it looked sort of interesting. She has quite a bit of scholarship money available for Debate camp, but it conflicts with her ballet intensive.</p>
<p>She took the National Spanish Exam yesterday, it’ll be interesting to see the results - still don’t know how she did on the math test - is that something you receive a score sheet for (we both knew that she wouldn’t do very well on it, but are curious how “poorly” she actually did)?</p>
<p>Son took the National Spanish Exam and when he got home he said he wished he had studied for it. So maybe he will study next year for the next level of the exam.</p>
<p>Sorry for being ignorant, but what is The National Spanish Exam?</p>
<p>And on the note of those volunteer hours for vet school - how many years back can they go? Any idea if time working/volunteering abroad counts? My brother in law has a vet practice in Europe/rural area; whenever we are there DD spends lots of time with him.</p>
<p>And she did amazing on proficiency but as expected bombed the grammar (achievement), no shock there! Level III Score 292 - 73%, out of the prize hunt.</p>
<p>I will devote myself to exploring the site later in the evening.
Is it basically for native speakers or not at all? How good does one have to be to place?
How do you use your results later on?</p>
<p>About the vet hours - I think all hours can count starting in high school. Our vet graduated 3 years ago and this is what she told son. She graduated from University of Georgia Vet School. I would document all hours including the hours abroad.</p>
<p>Hello. Glad to see I am not the only parent thinking ahead. I have a couple questions for you more experienced parents. Are you having your children take the SAT subject matter exams when they finish the class? For example, my DD has taken Biology and may not take another BIO until she takes IB Bio in senior year. Is it best to take these exams now? </p>
<p>My D is a freshman attending an all honors/IB school taking an advanced program. She has had a successful freshman year with grades ranging from A- to A+. </p>
<p>She is very involved in sports (soccer, swim, skiiing), and in music (band, chorus, musicals, and guitar) in school leadership (class president and involved in creating a new club just this week). If I allowed she would do even more but I think fun and hanging out with friends is just as important to life success. </p>
<p>Best of all, she is a great kid- funny and sweet (sometimes 14 is a hard age). </p>
<p>Last question, is there any value to the summer on campus programs? Are your children attending? My D has asked to attend a summer writing camp which is pricey for us at this time. She will work this summer as a junior camp counselor for most of the summer, so I think she will at least spend her time in a productive way without the additional schooling. Mostly she is doing this because I work and don’t want her spend her day sleeping, waking at 2, and then watching TV.</p>
<p>nellieh: If you wait until after Senior year to take the BIO SAT Subject Matter test, you won’t be able to report the results on her college apps.</p>
<p>My son (a freshman) is taking advanced bio this year and will definitely be taking the subject test this year (oh, I think I need to sign up for that soon!). Thanks for the reminder!</p>
<p>nellieh: welcome! I’ve been pondering this question all year too as my youngest is taking Bio I Honors as a freshman (I didn’t know about SAT II tests until far into the process with my older D.) I’ve decided to hold D off until Bio AP (which should be at the end of junior year if she stays on our IB path.)</p>
<p>As to the value of summer programs: for me they were valuable for my oldest in terms of being baby steps to get ready to go away to college “for real.” Being responsible for being up & ready, dealing with a roommate & dorm food, doing laundry etc. She had great learning experiences too, but I don’t think they were vital elements in her resume when she applied to colleges. D2 will take part in a few programs this summer; one short, inexpensive local journalism program; a 1 week program with our youth group & a 2 week expensive one for kids who test in via a talent search. The 2 week one will serve all the purposes I noted earlier for baby steps & it will also be a big academic jump for her, probably the most intellectual material she’s ever been exposed to (Cognitive Theory & Literature.) There’s a couple of writing programs she’s interested in but they’re earmarked for later summers; and she may apply for Governor’s School one year too.</p>
<p>AtomicGirl…I went to a very interesting session offered by the AAVMC. At their annual meeting in Washington they sent out invites to high school and college students to come to presentations on getting into vet school and had many vet schools represented giving out brochures, info and little plastic pigs and horses. My nephew is a foreign student so I picked up lots of things for him and dropped off his resume with schools. ANyway, the moste interesting thing I learned was about the hours of experience…it isn’t so much about the number of hours (particularly in HS) but the VARIETY! they want kids who go into a Vet program to have tried a variety of roles for vets because when they go to vet school they will be doing large and small animal training. SO…as time goes by get daughter into activities with access to large animals too…my nephew assisted vets at horse jumping competitions, carried the bag for a vet working in a rural area, and will work for my father at a large research lab (mainly pigs and sheep) this summer. He has also volunteered at vet clinics and adoption clinics. The schools were thrilled, and I mean thrilled, at the variety of research/large animal/small animal–pet/farm animal combination. Also, be clear, right now the push is to get and keep students interested in LARGE animal vet medicine to work in rural and underserved areas (Southwest). My nephew–hispanic, bilingual and very very strong with an interest in large animals–is an URM on every aspect. Spanish is actually a highly valued skill for vet schools all over the country. Go to the AAMVs website to see their now common application system, info for high school students, events, etc. Great people, love their work…wish my D was interested.</p>
<p>Fineartsmajormom - very well stated. S’s experience to this point has only been small animals. Our vet has offered to hire him for the summer after he turns 16 and he will have access to horses and exotic birds. </p>
<p>Son loves animals but isn’t sure about vet school yet. He is keeping track of his hours in the event he decides vet school is for him.</p>
<p>Thanks fineartsmajormom! I knew that they wanted some variety and we will work on that, but for now, I just want to get her started. We do have a small local farm on the fair grounds that kids take field trips to, that I hope to get her involved with too. I believe they have a 4-H club. But getting info has not been easy, we should just show up one day with resume in hand.</p>
<p>My sister has connections in her area, with the horse crowd. So if all else fails maybe she can spend time out with her getting some experience. She has a good relationship with the local vet that comes around and my D might be able to do something there. But that would only be summers.</p>
<p>Next summer, D is eligible to take a ROP course working with animals. From what we hear that will help her get her foot in the door at vets offices.</p>
<p>Rachacha responding to your post a month ago. I did see the possibilty of reducing the number of Regents classes. Not sure if they will actually do that given the backlash I am hearing. I am not sure how I feel about that since my DD does great with these types of tests. She took 4 last year in 8th grade: Earth Science, Algebra, Spanish I Proficiency (not an actual regents), and her school participated in the English I test regents. Actually what my DD found is a couple of practice tests to get you used to the format is really beneficial. I strongly recommend a couple of practices for the regents exams your child is taking this year.</p>
<p>So to update you all…my DD started her volunteering with a local cat adoption agency today. We went in Saturday and she handed in her volunteer form. They never asked her, her age and we didn’t offer. They did ask her if she was doing hours for high school. Her high school doesn’t require community service so she was able to say that her motivation was purely liking animals and wanting to become a vet. They asked her to start the next day. I think they were impressed that she took the trouble to download the application and fill it out before coming in. Today while she was being trained they found out she was only 14, which surprised them, but they’re keeping her! She’s ecstatic. So she will work next Sunday too, and they promised more hours in the summer for her! (I think we hit them up at a time when they are really hurting for volunteers. DD said she would work with dogs or cats and they said they really needed cat people, so they wouldn’t share her with the dog people for now.)</p>
<p>Thank You for all your ideas and encouragement!</p>
<p>Tech week for musical here (Fiddler). When dropping LuckyGirl off this morning, she mentioned that the older kids told her that the nightly 6-10 rehearsals tend to run really late… Just what I wanted to hear NOT :eek: Today after my usual volunteering at the 10yo’s school I have to whip up a skirt, apron, and headscarf for her costume. </p>
<p>Hey, it’s a nice distraction from the AP stress associated with LuckyBoy '11 :D</p>
<p>S will continue his work with the animal shelter for the summer. He has also been offered a volunteer position at the hospital. He will volunteer 8 hours per week. S has always said he would like to be a vet but in the last few months he has shown great interest in medicine. So I think just being in the hospital will be a great opportunity.</p>
<p>That’s great AtomicGirl, congratulations to your daughter for landing the opportunity! :)</p>
<p>Kelowna - no, the test is not just for native speakers; I think there are “national tests” for most foreign languages. There are levels of achievement honors as well as eligibility for scholarships/prizes based on results/grade level.</p>
14 is a hard age). </p>