<p>Hi all!
DD also got her ACT scores back today and her reading score went up 4 points. We are happy about that
Do most colleges superscore? Does anyone know if Bowdoin superscores??</p>
<p>fogfog - If Iâm understanding your statement correctly regarding the English score being lower than the others bc k2 was tired by then, I would have to disagree as the English is the first section. The test runs as English, Math, Reading, Science and finally the essay. Maybe you should compare scores of the ACT English section with the SAT writing section w/out the essay. Could English just be a weaker area?</p>
<p>DS also gets extended time and said he could not focus by the time he reached the Science section, yet that was his highest score! :{</p>
<p>It was his first time taking the test officially - hope he can improve his score enough to get in range of the schools heâs interested in. He practiced some at home and did much better than the official test, but he never practiced a full length test in one sitting at home. I still would have thought he would have done much better on the first two sections, and then bombed out!</p>
<p>Iâm trying to determine if just practicing/studying at home is enough or if an actual ACT Prep company will truly get better results. Any thoughts??? Anyone go through this process already of trying to do self-prep and then using an ACT Prep service?</p>
<p>I donât know how helpful prep is. D took her second ACT after a semester long prep course and scored . . . . Exactly the same. Score went up time three, without any additional prep, and I wonder if she was just better rested because school was out.</p>
<p>Rashel, most colleges do not superstore the ACT. There are some that do, and there was a list on one of these forums, but I donât remember which one. </p>
<p>Wrt the ACT writing, what is a good score on that essay? Obviously a 12, at what point will schools say, hmmmm. . . . Remedial English time?</p>
<p>Posts 5572 & 5579 have links for schools that superscore ACT. In addition, you probably want to confirm with the admissions office.</p>
<p>re: remedial English - I think most colleges give their own Writing placement tests to determine remedial coursework.</p>
<p>DS did absolutely no prep for the ACT, except for a quick glance at the science section the night prior (he says he spent 5 minutes flipping through the science section of an old test). He scored well, and science was his best section, FWIW.</p>
<p>But we are in the minority amongst most folks around here. I refuse to shell out the money for a prep course. I spent $60 on the online SAT course and $30 on a couple of books and DS didnât even finish one online practice test and maybe cracked open the books twice. He scored decently but nothing earth-shattering. I figured he would have the same attitude going into the ACT so I just bought the official Red Book for somewhere around $15 and told him to prep. I am cheap!</p>
<p>29 ACT superscoreeeeee. Come on, letâs hit 31.</p>
<p>Our prep course was through the school, so it cost nothing, but I did buy a $20 book. </p>
<p>Since all our kids are testing (SAT, ACT or both), what are we considering good/decent scores? Sometimes, I feel like cc is all about the top 2%. The top 10% of test takers score 28+ on the ACT and 1930+ on the SAT, yet many of the schools we discuss on these boards have bottom 25% of the class as anyone with under a 32. And I once saw a kid with a 28 ACT advised to look at community college, not because of finances or program preeferences, but because that score wasnât good enough to have a shot at decent colleges. What!?</p>
<p>I often feel like I donât want to post school names because of the haughty dismissal theyâre likely to receive as ânot worth itâ.</p>
<p>Obviously, revealing a kidâs score may feel like divulging too much information, so should we reference top 5, 10, quarter of test takers? I would like to know if folks with stats similar to dâs are looking at schools maybe she would like to consider.</p>
<p>ordinary, feel free to pm me and we can chat. mine had SAT in top 3 to 4 percent so I guess so we may be in similar boat. We are more looking at scholarship choices than so called prestigious schools. And nothing wrong with a prestigious school. I went to one but mine is just not that interested in prestige levels so we are expanding search. and if urs wants to run track, Iâd add that to equation too. I saw your earlier note too BTW. Amusing. These kids just donât seem that interested in our credentials or perhaps the wisdom we learned when going through this process Sigh⊠and to all, yes, I am being more jestful than anything else 
I have to keep reminding myself that my kid is well, acting 17 :D</p>
<p>Hello everyone! I have been away for a long time (too much Real Life) but am happy to be back. Delighted to see some old friends and so many new.</p>
<p>ctl, I hear you. Sâ14âs first SAT was fine with no prep (as in A pile at top LACâs and ok for HYP), but his guidance counselor dismissed it as inadequate, so we bought the tutoring package and the second attempt produced the required result. GPA is more problematic (good but not great, and his school has a history of anointing the chosen few and leaving the rest to swim). I want him to go somewhere that he will be happy, challenged, and find the support (professors and alumni network) that will lead him to a happy life/career. I also want him to take ownership of the process, which he is not doing. Growl. I think it is time for me to stop lurking and come back to CC for support.</p>
<p>Ordinarylives - Iâve found you do need to sift through a bunch of what you read on cc, but then again, thatâs true of many forums to be honest. Also, remember many posting are teens and are lacking the experience that comes from a few more laps around the sun. The vast majority of students at the high school where I work would be thrilled to have a 28/1940 (my youngest among them) and many go to colleges - just not Top 50 colleges. They end up with successful lives (success defined by being able to comfortably support themselves doing something they like).</p>
<p>We started with my major pet peeve yesterday from the recent SAT (had it before from the PSAT and ACT)⊠schools sending out those brochures to students not well matched for acceptance. My guy got Claremont McKenna yesterday⊠his scores are NOWHERE in their range. I reminded him that they have to ârecruitâ 8 - 9 ârejectsâ for every âacceptedâ student⊠but it really does annoy me that such supposedly âgoodâ schools would market like that. My opinion of those that do that goes WAY down. I can understand them sending something if a student expressed interest or when scores are in the mid range, of course, but⊠my guy didnât even know they existed, weâre a country away from them, and his scores just arenât there to even try for a school like that. Fortunately, he doesnât even want a school like them, butâŠ</p>
<p>Too many kids at school get those types of brochures and feel certain the school WANTS them (sigh). </p>
<p>My guy did add a possibility though - Juniata. Itâs not in HI or FL⊠itâs in PA. He loves everything about them except that they arenât tropical. He may apply. If they end up financially the best they just may be his #1. Heâd love College of the Atlantic and Unity College too, but both are in Maine and he axed that location.</p>
<p>Otherwise, heâs considering Eckerd, Palm Beach Atlantic (this one is a Christian school), Florida Institute of Technology, and University of Hawaii (Manoa and Hilo). He might also consider the University of Miami. His scores are on the lower side for them, but are still in their mid 50% - unlike Claremont Mckenna.</p>
<p>So there⊠I listed names and they arenât Top 50 overall, but they are for what he wants. ;)</p>
<p>Iâve heard good things about Juniata. it is in the middle of the state though so if he wants a big city experience, that wonât happen. Academically, it is very solid. And it is FAR from warm in the winter.</p>
<p>Juniata is further north than we are, so yes, itâs far from warm⊠he will have to consider that. </p>
<p>This kid most certainly does NOT want a big city experience. 
Heâd prefer a school in the middle of a National Park like the Everglades. Tents and port o johns would be fine too.</p>
<p>The last school we saw (Wartburg College) had skywalks between all the buildings. Iowans doesnât get as much snow as other places, but the ever present wind blows those little snow pellets around. Feels like being shot with tiny ice bullets. Anyway, nice feature.</p>
<p>juniata might work quite well then. and that area is GORGEOUS!!! I know of 2 kids who went there, both VERY bright who likely got a lot of merit aid. and pa can be nice for most of the year. its amazing this time of year when not humid and dreadful when humid. But pretty sure Juniata is in the mountains and that area generally can have rough winters. if he likes to ski thoughâŠ</p>
<p>Creekland, I believe UHM is in an urban setting. Something to look into (in person of course). ;)</p>
<p>UHM is definitely urban. Itâs one of the cons of that school for him (size/commuter school being another), but it is Hawaii and is well known by those âin the knowâ weâve asked about tropical Bio stuff⊠those are big pros. Weâve been to Oahu, though at the time werenât looking at colleges. He does have a sense of the urban nature there.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, while at Hawaii (Kauai, not Oahu) he and his brothers were in the water at a beach and I was walking along it just enjoying the day. I overheard one older lady telling another that she was ready to go except she wanted to get some pics of the native boys out there in the water (with boogie boards). I looked at the kids she was looking at. My guys⊠They are nowhere near native (this was even their first day at a beach in Hawaii), but they do look the part I suppose - esp with water. Iâve often wondered if they made some photo album as native Hawaiians⊠Youngest got his scuba certification on that trip at age 10 - the youngest he could do it. He had no problem with the training whatsoever. Our main âissueâ with him was making sure he didnât try to touch the critters he shouldnât be touching under water. Steve Irwinâs death (later than this) was a big learning experience for him.</p>
<p>ctl - he hasnât been snow skiing. I bet he would love it and do well⊠We should be able to visit Juniata this fall and he can decide if itâs worth an app. I only want him applying to schools heâd be happy to attend if they end up financially feasible.</p>
<p>creekland, def check out their merit aid then. it sounds generous. itâs not on our list cause mine wants UBER urban but I have the impression Juniata is very generous with merit aid. and I think need based aid too. Canât blame ur kid for wanting to go to school in Hawaii!!1 mine would give up the desired urban environment for that for sure!!! Funny on them being ânativeâ :)</p>
<p>If only they were native⊠I think that would give them a nice hook at many colleges for diversity issues (maybe not UH though!).</p>
<p>Funny!!!</p>
<p>Just got Sâs final grades. Not all that good. I have this familiar feeling â upset with him (thinking he didnât put in the effort), then feeling guilty for being upset, because what if this is the best he can do? For years, I have asked myself this question: is he unwilling to do the work, or unable?</p>
<p>I still donât know the answer. Probably some of both.</p>
<p>There were definitely times he rushed on a project or said he had no work to do when he probably did.</p>
<p>I saw something he turned in for English â tons of spelling and punctuation errors that could have been caught and corrected with enough time and editing. I have offered to proof read things for him but he didnât take me up on it. Just as well â I wonât be there in college.</p>