<p>@ ParentSparkle - Unfortunately, there aren’t any other official resources for the Subject Tests that I’m aware of, other than some practice questions on the College Board website. They don’t have the QAS for the Subject Tests either, so there aren’t any “unofficial” questions floating around either. I suspect they recycle questions over and over, so they’re not releasing any old tests. </p>
<p>So you’re stuck with unofficial sources for additional questions. However, I think those options aren’t as bad for the Subject Tests. The Math Subject Tests tend to be a bit more straightforward calculation type problems; to me, they’re more similar to the questions on the ACT than they are to the general SAT. I generally prefer Princeton Review’s materials over Kaplan, so you might check out PR’s book.</p>
<p>I really don’t know how much colleges weigh the Subject Tests so I should probably keep my thoughts to myself on that one. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>I’m not a big sports fan, but I know we have a lot of Alabama fans on this site. This should have been a good game today between Alabama and Arkansas, but I’m afraid between our coach troubles and our star quarterback out this week for medical precautions, it’s going to be a blow out. Please have mercy on us!!! ;)</p>
<p>We’re starting to have colleges visit the high school - 3 scheduled for Monday and college fair on Tuesday. I suggested my DS sign up for one of the colleges on Monday and was surprised to find out that he actually signed up for two of them! The first one is a very nice in-state private LAC. I don’t think it will be a match because it doesn’t have his major, but still considering for their 3+2 engineering program. The second one he signed up for is definitely an admission & financial safety, but don’t think it has his major, either. It is a smaller, in-state public school! We’ll see what he thinks of the two compared to the two that he’s already visited.</p>
<p>I and a lot of my friends like to use Barrons for Math 2/Chemistry. The questions can sometimes be harder, but if the reasoning is that if you learn how to does those/understand the concepts well, a good score on the subject test should be very attainable.</p>
<p>beadymom: Despite the outcome of the Alabama-Arkansas game, you may want to suggest Alabama to your son, if he is interested in engineering. The program is a good one (my son’s two roommates are engineering majors), and the school gives up to $2500 a year for four years in the form of engineering scholarships.</p>
<p>Our high schools plan to host an area college fair in early October. My son knew all about it before I even mentioned it. And yes, he does want to go. Most of the schools that interest him probably will not be there, but at least he has an open mind about talking with others.</p>
<p>Beadymom: my S is also considering 3-2 engineering options…we visited a few LAC schools this summer all of whom have the program listed as available, but we found extraordinary variability regarding tour guide and even the admissions personnel knowledge for the school. For instance we all really liked Davidson, but were somewhat put off by the lack of response to queries about their 3-2.I’m curious what your experience has been thus far</p>
<p>momreads - we are definitely not ruling any school out yet - especially if they have free money! I’ve been reading good things about their engineering program. Good for your son for paying attention to announcements! Our school posts the daily announcements on the website so I’m able to keep up with things that way. My son doesn’t pay attention!</p>
<p>vandyeyes - I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything. This school teams with Vandy, WashU & Columbia for the engineering portion. My personal thoughts are more against it - it seems the student would be behind in their engineering courses. Why not start at the engineering school? Scholarships at the in-state LAC might be better for the first three years, but what would happen the last two? Lots of questions!!! But again, we’re keeping an open mind and not ruling anything out!!</p>
<p>Is anyone getting tired of nagging their kid to do their work? S’14 keeps saying “I know what I have to do!” but I keep thinking, I bet you don’t realize how long it will take.</p>
<p>Is this just a boy thing? In her junior year, D’11 just procrastinated then pulled an all nighter. I did that once in a while, but it is not conducive to producing your best work.</p>
<p>Classof2015: It is not a boy thing, because my older son was very good about time management and getting everything done. The younger one, however, has plenty to do. He knows it. He’ll get to all of it, he tells me. This morning, I went online and ordered a book that he needs to read for APUSH. It’s due in about eight days.</p>
<p>“Something we found useful for our 2011 to control the mounds of mail, was a file box and a bunch of hanging folders.”</p>
<p>We used a trash can for our D’12. She just checked the stuff in the recycle bin as it came in. she kept maybe a dozen of the 350+ bullitins and post cards that came in the mail.</p>
<p>DS’14 got in a couple of hours of PSAT practice this weekend. Hard to find the time between class work and sports.</p>
<p>I tried to convince S2 not to sign up for the mailings when he took the PSAT but he wanted the ego boost. He doesn’t actually look at most of them. He did decline the emails.</p>
<p>It doesn’t take us long to fall to page 3! </p>
<p>Went to college fair at high school tonight. I was disappointed at the selection of colleges attending. Mostly state colleges and small privates from our state and the two neighboring states. Very few with DS’s major.</p>
<p>Vandyeyes - I talked to the college that had the 3+2 program. She said basically you get your undergrad in 3 years instead of 4 at their college in Physics/Math/Biology, then transfer to one of three universities for two years of engineering specific classes. The financial end is not guaranteed at the engineering school - we’d have to work through all of the scholarship/financial aid again with the transfer. “She” recommended just getting the 4 year degree at her college, then going for masters at the engineering school. But then, she wasn’t an engineering major, either! haha</p>
<p>A few of the colleges asked if DS had taken ACT and his score. It was interesting how their demeanor changed when I told them what it was. All of a sudden, they were very interested in DS! :)</p>
<p>As for the filing system, I just can’t bring myself to throw anything away! You never know, he could change his mind and decide to go into acting or be a history major!!</p>
<p>beadyeye: thanks much for the follow-up information.</p>
<pre><code> we’ve given a fair amount of serious consideration to straight engineering programs versus consideration of the 3-2 option. Last spring break, one road trip over summer, combined with our family driving summer vacation allowed us to surprisingly visit a number of schools already (14 !). These have ranged from a few out of state flagship state universities, to small LACs, to a couple Ivies. Once we began looking in earnest, the more apparent (at least for my S) it became that schools on paper we thought might be the perfect fit (for instance a LAC that actually has an engineering program) it didn’t always pan out (didn’t like the school at all). So, for us, starting early to be able to really define a list of schools where he thinks he can be happy by next fall was a good thing.
One reservation I have for my son regarding going straight engineering programs is that, if he goes that route, I strongly want him to have an option “out” to other things (straight science, premed, or even English if he should choose!). I have friends who started at Engineering programs (one at a STEM school, one at an IVY) and hated them and it wasn’t a completely painless exit strategy. I (as parent) really am attracted to the schools that do have an engineering program, but don’t require declaration until the end of the sophomore year. We’ll see how the ride progresses I guess!
</code></pre>
<p>Any 14 ers taking the SAT this fall/winter? If so, what are they doing to practice? Self study? Prep courses? or nothing at all…</p>
<p>DD14 is taking it 12/1 and has been self studying in earnest for the past few weeks… along with her 3 AP’s. a college course at a local state U, a new job which is asking far too much of her already(they just opened last week), and her other EC’s…</p>
<p>So much to do, juggle, think about, discuss… 18 1/2 months until those decisions arrive in the mail(or email)…</p>
<p>just doing self-study here…mostly in prep for the PSAT, but then is scheduled for the actual SAT at early November sitting; if it’s a bust, then perhaps would look for outside support.</p>
<p>DD is taking a prep class for the PSAT on Saturdays and will take an SAT prep class on Sundays just in time to take the November SAT. She spent the month before school started self-studying but now that school is in full swing, there’s not a whole lot of extra time to devote to it. The plan is to see how she did and then decide if it makes sense to retake in the spring. We’re open to private tutoring if she were to bomb it. I’ve found for her that the prep class structure and required homework (taking timed practice tests) feels more manageable to her and requires less monitoring by me. The good news is that she knows it’s important and is being responsible about it. I know she will do her best.</p>
<p>Well Talked with K2’s advisor who tells me K2 wants to drop Chinese…
ahhh no
because k2 needs this yr…at a minimum…
We spoke about the very few schools K2 has seen…and we have a list for spring break–more colleges than will fit for the time so will be pruning.</p>
<p>K2 has done nothing for test prep…sigh
The advisor said she’d meet with k2 to recommend some things…</p>
<p>For parents who have a kiddo in college and your k’14 is your “only” now
you can probably relate to what we are seeing
a mix between blossoming being the “only” and tarrying between childhood and teen/adulthood.</p>
<p>Last year we had tough times with k’14 and pneumonia etc which tanked the 3rd qtr when k’14 was hospitalized and so the 2nd semester.</p>
<p>I love the kid on the couch. Can’t believe I will be a “free bird” ie empty nest-er in less than 2 yrs…</p>
<p>Glad to be with you all, many hugs all around. We will need each other a lot for “venting” in the next yr or so…</p>
<p>@newhavenctmom - DD14 is taking it Dec 1st. I have the blue books sitting in the kitchen, but she hasn’t cracked them yet. She’s way too bogged down w/ classes, work and ECs and I don’t want to push her. She mentioned she’ll start looking at them on the weekends when she has time … overall, she’s a crack test taker, so I’m not THAT worried. (Yet.)</p>
<p>And we just found out she made All State Honor Choir. Which, come to think of it, will be one more thing to drag her away from the big blue books! LOL!</p>
<p>DD has a PSAT prep class at school before and after classes a couple of days per week. She hasn’t said much other than its just boring practice and the big blue book is barely touched. I think a lot of it is the new schedule this year along with EC’s and a lot of homework (3 -5+ hours per evening). Not sure if she will sit for the regular test in December or January. She will most likely take the ACT in February. For that she will review her older brother’s old notes and study guide that he reviewed in a tutor program. </p>
<p>One of her top choice schools is test optional so we will just have to wait and see what develops.</p>
I’ve been reading good things about their engineering program. Good for your son for paying attention to announcements! Our school posts the daily announcements on the website so I’m able to keep up with things that way. My son doesn’t pay attention!</p>
Mostly state colleges and small privates from our state and the two neighboring states. Very few with DS’s major.</p>