<p>I should have told him to not check the box, but it never occurred to me he’d do well enough to get mail.</p>
<p>They have TWO more chances to check or uncheck the box…</p>
<p>Well, now, I want him to start getting mail next year so he can begin to think of what’s out there. Of course, after living through the past year with his senior brother, he’s probably had his fill of college talk.</p>
<p>Ds2 succumbs to flattery. I need to make sure he understands this stuff mean nothing, nada, zilch. He was so excited he created a “college stuff” folder and filed the e-mail. ;)</p>
<p>Haven’t been here in a while…
Second quarter good, same as first.
DS is thinking about college courses for math next year, thinking about the entire schedule for next year…
It is time to register for AP exams at our school and pay $86 per test 
DS is definitely taking AP Calc BC, AP Physics B.
Also considering AP Human Geography, after a year of Honors Geography. I really do not know. Any thoughts?
LA is stresful. Had to read Kafka’s Castle and do analysis.When I looked at the paper that was his guide to analysis of the text, it said AP English Language on top. Good and bad at the same time. He is a very good writer though so he will manage easily, I am hoping.
Also had to pick up classes for next year. So far it looks like this:
Honors LA 11
AP Biology
Honors Chemistry
AP American History
Spanish IV
Computer Programming
Design and Visual Communication (Fine Arts)
TV West (if he gets admitted to the school’s TV program- fingers crossed 
</p>
<p>Will have to take math at the local college - have not decided yet if it should be Calc 2 or Calc 3. Here is the thread I started about it:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/859299-college-courses-after-ap-classes-hs-student.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/859299-college-courses-after-ap-classes-hs-student.html</a>
He is on his way to becoming an eagle scout. Hopefully one more year and it will be over (for me). Became very interested with the debate team and will hopefully go to state competition (he reads very fast and has been put on varsity team as a freshman).
Violin is the last of his worries - has a very tough teacher and should be practicing over an hour each day but it seldom happens any more Solo competitons will be in March.</p>
<p>We have decided not to participate in talent search any more. DS took PSAT this year and did score high enough to be NMSF but not high enough to apply to RSI.
Looking at ROSS, Promys, USA/CANADA Math Camp. Will most likely apply to all three.</p>
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<p>Yep, mine will be taking it at both dates but I really do not know what tests :(</p>
<p>I am hoping AMC 10 A and AMC 12 B , but we will see.
The rules for AMC changed last year, I am really not following on it. DS spoke to some older friends and they all told him to take one 10 and one 12. I hope (fingers crossed) that he was able to arrange this at his HS :)</p>
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<p>Soooooooo true here. DS is in Calc BC and says he has to study math now and he really does not know how to. Everything so far was based on intelligence/intuition. This is coming from a kid who made it to nationals in Mathcounts !</p>
<p>Kelowna,</p>
<p>Wow! Your S is taking a lot of APs! I’ve been having a discussion with our counselor about scheduling. Typically, the higher achieving sophomores here take their 1st AP (APEuro) in 10th grade. One of the requirements for graduation is a 1 semester economics class that the Pre-IB kids take in 10th grade. Next year, they are offering an AP Econ class for the first time (also 1 semester) so I had asked about whether D should register for that one (since it wasn’t listed on the sophomore registration sheet.) The teacher and administration are worried about overloading the sophomores with too many APs at once in sophomore year, so they’ve told everyone to just register for the honors version. I’m really thinking that a 1/2 year AP class is not going to push anyone over the edge, especially when junior year the IB kids are expected to take 5. But it’s not worth my energy to fight that battle!</p>
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<p>Kelowna, your son is truly gifted. I’ve watched the videos of Mathcounts national finals. The kids were unbelievably fast. S2 did not participate, but one of his DOE Science Bowl teammates, won our states and advanced to the semifinal rounds. That kid passed the AIME and was invited to the USAMO last year, a truly amazing kid.</p>
<p>Kelowna - have you/he ever thought of him starting college early? Perhaps he does truly enjoy high school and wants to go all 4 years but it seems as if he’d truly excel being in an environment where he could really choose his own path. Yes there are many other reasons why that may not be right for a child, I was just curious because he truly seems talented and would likely enjoy being around like minds!</p>
<p>Hi sydsim, </p>
<p>Let me tell you, preparing for your teen to enter high school is a frenzy of stress, nerves and jitters. And for me, the worst part was not really understanding how to approach and handle the number of high school issues that my kids would go through - academically, socially, and psychologically. And on top of that, knowing that in four short years, college will be around the corner (goodness knows that high school is definitely an important year for your kid to succeed!). </p>
<p>Last year, I had a similar experience to yours when my son entered his freshman year at our local high school – and we’ll have to do it again this fall with my daughter. My hubby and I were so stressed out about AP courses, college planning, financial planning, careers, SATs and ACTs. Phew - it like we were going to high school, too, because we had to know and understand all of that! </p>
<p>But I got some advice from a few friends whose kids were also entering high school. They got this book Are you really ready for college? for their kids daughters and for themselves. The book talks about 12 key strategies on how students become independent learners in high school so that they can succeed, on their own, in college. And let me tell you, this book breaks it down in a clear, easy-to-read format. As a parent, confused and clueless on how to guide my kids through high school, I really got some good pointers on how teens should be studying, what skills they need to really learn the material and how parents can help them through the independent learning process. </p>
<p>Here’s the website for the book in case you are interested: [Are</a> you ready for college? - Home Page](<a href=“http://www.areyoureallyreadyforcollege.com%5DAre”>http://www.areyoureallyreadyforcollege.com)</p>
<p>And did I mention that this book is written by a former Dean of Wisconsin’s largest private university? So he’s got the inside scoop on what high schoolers are lacking in and what they can do to fix it. And some of the statistics in the book are scary – can you believe it, at least 1 in 4 college kids don’t return after their freshman year! And over 40% take longer than 4 years to graduate – talk about the price-tag on that education! </p>
<p>So either get this book or something comparable – that helps our teen become an independent thinker – because that’s what they’ll be doing on their own in college! I’ve used the book’s strategies last year with my son, and I’ve seen improvements on how he schedules his time for studying and other extracurriculars – like swimming, violin and math club. In middle school, he used to study in the kitchen with the TV baring in the background; but now he’s tried one if the book’s strategies to study in a quiet, private area, and he admits that’s it really helped him concentrate and save time. </p>
<p>When I read the book I was like, “That’s just stuff that I know already.” But my kid didn’t know it. And the book was written in a way that a teen (however rebellious) would understand and have a practical application. So I highly recommend it or books like it. Because, who are we kidding – their education is basically our education, right? </p>
<p>All the best</p>
<p>Nope, DS never mentions going to college early.
He is advanced in math, but there are so many things other than math that he is interested in pursuing. His big passion is moviemaking - that’s why he is hoping he can make it to TV west - his school does have a weekly TV program produced by kids.
Since starting HS he has become very involved with the debate team. We will see where this takes him.
As for AP - this school will pretty much let you do whatever you want. Since he is in Honors Biology this year, natural progression is AP Biology. AP American History is the course that most pre-IB sophomores take at this school. He wanted to take AP Economics but is really, really interested in the TV program, so no room for everything.
He will be writing some AP tests this year - BC and Physics B for sure, still not decided about Geography.</p>
<p>I love all his interests Kelowna - I’m excited to watch what he ends up with! High school will be a great time for him to really explore topics since he’ll likely knock off all needed requirements! I hope he’s able to branch into classes that work with his movie making interests!</p>
<p>Hi, all. I am new to this site so forgive me if this first question ends up in the wrong place. My eldest is a 9th-grader this year, and he is taking honors bio. I see on this thread that people mention the SATII as something they wish they knew about earlier: do you all recommend taking it at the end of this year, when he’s got the class fresh in his mind, or waiting until he takes AP Bio later on? If he tanks, must he report the scores? What are the risks/benefits of taking the test early? Thanks!</p>
<p>There is no hurry to take the SAT II bio subject test if your son is going to take AP bio before his senior year. Take it after the AP class.</p>
<p>I think that the benefits of taking SAT II early is getting it out of the way before the end of Junior year, when they generally focus their efforts on SAT testing. But do not do it too soon, wait till the kid is ready. If your son is going to take AP Biology next year, he should be better prepared for SAT II Bio after the class.
From what I have been reading here, it is generally better to wait till your highest class in the subject is completed. This is true of all the subjects but math. Math II should be taken after Pre-Calc class, if your kid determines that he is sufficiently prepared. After Pre-Calc all the trig. forumlas are fresh in their brain and it as as far as SAT Math II goes.
Others please correct me if I am wrong…</p>
<p>Welcome MomofNEA! I am grappling with that same question as my D is in honors bio also. She’ll take honors chem next year and then (if she stays with IB) she’ll take AP Chem or Bio in 11th grade and then IB Chem or Bio in 12 th grade (finishing HS with 3 advancing years of the same science.) But I really don’t know if she’ll stay in IB (I would prefer that she didn’t, but she says she wants to; her call, but her tune may change come registration time next year.) </p>
<p>Since we didn’t know about SATIIs until late in the process with D1 (and she ultimately ended up not taking any SATIIs at all) I don’t want to make the same mistake with D2. I think what we’ll end up doing is buying one of the SAT II prep books and see how she does on a practice test. If she does OK, then I’ll have her take it this year; if not; we’ll wait & have her take it after an AP science (if she takes a science SAT II at all.)</p>
<p>I guess it depends on how soon the kids are going into AP Bio. Mine will be taking it next year so for him it is a no brainer to wait another year. But if one is not taking AP Bio till junior year, it might be beneficial to look through the SAT Bio book now and see how much extra work will need to be put in.</p>
<p>How is it with AP US History? Isn’t it perfectly aligned with SAT US History? I think I remember reading here that those two tests are so similar that they should be taken at the same time. Am I correct?</p>
<p>Here is what my son decided for SAT II – World History this June as a 9th grader, Math II next year after Pre-Calc and science is up in the air. I am in the process of ordering him the Princeton Review for Bio. He’ll work on it on weekends - he is a procrastinator so I expected this really means Easter week break - and then decide based on the practice tests if he’ll take in June.</p>
<p>NOTE: MOST SCHOOLS THAT REQUIRE SAT II DO NOT PERMIT CHOICE REPORTING. This means you should NOT treat it as a “practice” run.</p>
<h1>Also remember, many schools do not require SAT II, some require only 2 and some 3 (Harvard is 3 I think).</h1>
<p>We parents told him he must take the following by spring 11th grade - 3 SAT II, 1 ACT, and 2 SAT I. </p>
<p>I mapped out his class schedule throughout HS and determined it was unlikely he’ll take an AP science before 12th grade (he’ll take Honors Bio, Chem & Physics first), so I don’t see a reason for him to wait to take SAT II science test.</p>
<p>His school generally does not permit students to take AP courses prior to 11th grade.</p>
<h1>He will be taking at least 3 AP courses in 11th grade, which means 3 AP tests in May of 11th grade. I don’t want him to be in a position to have to add 3 SAT II, ACT & SAT I to that mix.</h1>
<p>My advice is to see if your local library has the SAT II prep books with sample tests. have him take it “cold” and determine based upon the grade if it is worth the time to study it now.</p>
<p>My son was not on board with taking SAT IIs this year, but thanks to an older cousin and some senior classmates he also learned the stress & perils of the junior year.</p>
<p>Hi. Joining in even though I don’t feel quite ready to think about D2 and college. Maybe I’m still wrapped up in the college process for D1 (2010). (Hi to all the familiar posters from the 2010 thread!) D2 also seems more laid back than D1 about academics, although she is doing very well. (D1 is the kind of kid who self studies for AP exams if the class isn’t available.) D2 is very committed to dance and may want to pursue it professionally, so we’ll see how that plays out. She also likes history and art. It’s kind of nice to relax and see where this all takes her.</p>
<p>Not a lot of decisions to be made about next year’s schedule. She has room for one elective, which will be art, but the rest of the 10th grade schedule is pretty set once levels are determined for math and foreign language.</p>
<p>Kelowna–APUSH and the U.S. History SAT subject test are well aligned, but I would recommend some prep and practice tests for the subject test to get the timing down and to fill any small gaps in coverage of material.</p>
<p>First post here, but also a lurker/infrequent poster on the parents of 2010 thread, too. DD is taking ACT with NUMATS on Saturday. Our school does science differently for honors kids and starts them with honors chem, then bio, then physics. We were late to the game with SAT II for DS ('10), so we will keep watching board for ideas about SAT II. Is anyone having their kids take SAT I before spring of junior year?</p>