<p>@sunnydayfun,
DS took soph PSAT with 1 practice tests and scored 206. I made DS take 2 practice tests each for SAT and ACT over the summer before Jr year and he was scoring 2050 and 2210 and 30 and 33. DS stated that even though his scores were comparable between SAT and ACT, he found the ACT much easier, particularly regarding the changing subjects constantly. The difficulty level of ACT is easier than SAT. As for timing, because the ACT is always the same order, the same ratio of questions in the science section etc, the same # of trig problems, it’s easier to plug thru the questions in the allotted time than it is on the SAT. Your math knowledge should include trig. The English section is more like editing an essay, whereby you also evaluate word choice in addition to things such as commas, sub/verb agreement, parallelism, but the word choice gives more context clues as to the correct answer. Also, you can miss more on ACT and get a fairly high score compared with SAT.
Final result was 35 ACT; 3.2 GPA UNWTD…</p>
<p>Yohoyoho-Thank you so much for the insight! Much appreciated. I did not think of that way as the ACT formatted may be a better fit for some students. I think it is probably not that easy for my son to switch mind gear between the variable sections of SAT. The 45-minute section of one subject a time is a lot more in line with tests he takes at school. </p>
<p>Congrats on your son’s great score! :)</p>
<p>@sunnydayfun, my daughter isn’t a very good test-taker. She took both the SAT and ACT - did okay but nothing special. She is retaking one test in June. She chose the ACT because it is so straightforward even though it may have more difficult problems. You take the English test (45 minutes) then Math (1 hour) then Reading (35 minutes) and last, Science (35 minutes). The order is always the same and the time is always the same. Her brain doesn’t have to switch back and forth between subjects as on the SAT - D hated that.</p>
<p>Thanks Slackermom for the feedback. It is going to be challenging to have S2 to do the ACT prep for the June test because of the second sitting of SAT in May and all the AP and final exams after that. He may have to take ACT in the fall.</p>
<p>I have been reading the 2014 3.0-3.3 thread. Many of the kids have had bumpy roads throughout HS. It is encouraging to see the good acceptance results for this group of kids. </p>
<p>Where is that 2014 3.0-3.3 thread. Can you provide a link to that?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/class-20xx-community/1469626-parents-of-the-hs-class-of-2014-3-0-to-3-3-gpa.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/class-20xx-community/1469626-parents-of-the-hs-class-of-2014-3-0-to-3-3-gpa.html</a></p>
<p>@sunnydayfun,
I would suggest that you have ur kid take a practice act from the red real act book under timed conditions to see what he thinks of the test. If he prefers it, I would cancel his 2nd sat in may and study for the act in may or June (I don’t know for sure when it is offered). It’s hard to plan for College applications if you don’t know where your test scores are. If kid waits until fall for the act, then u won’t know the range of target colleges to apply to until you have that act score back.</p>
<p>Hi again everyone, and thanks for the welcome. Well, I am disheartened to go to collegeboard and see his scores. I really thought they would be a little higher. Reading - 410 (PSAT 440) Math - 460 (PSAT 420) Writing - 500 (PSAT 460). Sigh. He had 30 hours of tutoring since last summer. He doesn’t want to go out of state, he wants to stay close to home. He will take the SAT again in May. CollegeBoard said they will release the details on April 1st, so I can see where he really did poorly in Reading. I have a feeling he guessed quite a bit. He’s always had reading comprehension issues, so I know there is no way to teach “smart”. I think the best strategy this go around is to see where he really bombed, and just have him not even worry about those questions, and just concenctrate on the ones he did do the best on. I’m 100% sure he needs to just skip those completely to not have that 1/4 point deduction.</p>
<p>I have a math strategy book to help him work with, too. To be honest…I think he needs to stay home and go to Ivy Tech for one semester to get a feel of college courses, do well with support and get good grades, then transfer spring semester. He’s an easy kid to live with, so unlike my older one which i was ready for him to leave…this one I could live with and he likes us, too. I’m just disappointed right now, and am trying to pull myself together before I talk to him about it to keep his spirits up.</p>
<p>@conmama- Sorry to hear about the SAT scores. Hang in there. I always told my son he is more than his grades, ranking and “scores”. These numbers will not define him. It may seem so hard to live with the disappointment at the moment but to discover what is working and what can be improved on are the valuable lessons to learn.</p>
<p>I think your plan of having your son go to a school near home the first semester is a good idea. How comfortable I feel with my son’s ability to transition from home to college life is important to me. With my S1, I felt confident that he would do fine when he went away for college because he had proven to us being responsible and doing well academically (without any nagging from me) and at his part-time or summer job during his HS years. I was told recently that 25% of our HS graduates last year went to the local community college. Besides the reason of the college costs these days, some kids are not ready to leave home at 17 or 18, especially boys. IMO.</p>
<p>@conmama, your son may also be another one who’s better suited for the ACT. If I recall correctly, colleges look at the Math and English portions of the ACT more than the Reading and Science. The English ACT aligns well with the SAT Writing - it asks about grammar usage and rhetoric. The downside is that the Science section is basically a reading comprehensive section with charts and graphs thrown in (in other words, you don’t really need to know actual science facts, just know how to read the charts and graphs). </p>
<p>I do the same as sunnydayfun - I tell D she is more than her grades and test scores (we have no idea about her class rank - way too chicken to find out). I believe that D is more than ready for college but she is definitely what I would call an underachiever. We are looking for small good but not highly ranked schools that support students and not try to weed them out.</p>
<p>Thanks SunnyDay and SlackerMom. I’ve been thinking all day what to say to my son tonight. I will definitely use the “you are more than your grades” approach. I will point out all his good qualities and why he will succeed in life, regardless if he can pick apart a paragraph and not know difficult vocabulary words. I will talk to him about how the ACT may be better and to not give up! He will get there…point A to B. Might just be a little detour along the way. He perseveres and works hard…and those are qualities for success…along with being able to get along with people…which he does. He will feel bad…but i will do my best to pump him up.</p>
<p>I honestly think most kids aren’t ready to go to college away from home. The admissions director told us at orientation with our first son that he couldn’t believe how bad freshman do that first year. The graduation rate for most 4 year public schools in our state is only 34-48%. 75% or so after 6 years.</p>
<p>Well, thanks for listening. I will continue to post and be part of the community. It’s nice to have help and support. </p>
<p>The best thing about ACT - NO vocabulary words! (I always had the best intentions to study those words. Never got beyond “abalone”). </p>
<p>@conmama—have you considered test optional schools? Here is a list:
<a href=“ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest”>http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional</a></p>
<p>@conmama I don’t know what College counselor you have available at your school? You may want to pick his brain, especially for the b student and his take on some regional colleges or universities in your area.
The fair test schools are fine to review and look at but the feel I get from them is the cross over from no testing leaves this group of 3-3.30 with few choices.<br>
If any others want to chime in about this I am open to new and all information. Especially because my 2016 will have the gpa for highly selective schools but test poorly.</p>
<p>Thanks CT 1417. There are actually universities that would probably take him here in Indiana. I guess in my mind they were always the least desirable schools. That is not really even fair because I have never been to them. They are the schools that nobody says much when you say you are going…because it says you didn’t get into the 1st or 2nd rate public universities. But when you look at the stats,…that is where he would fit in. But when I read reviews the students seem to dislike it and want to transfer. What a confusing mess. And you know the kicker…he doesn’t even know the SAT scores are out today. That is how disengaged he is right now. I’m not going to say anything to him Until he asks. I really think CC would be the best, but I’m sure when all his friends leave it would be depressing. I’m just having a bad day.</p>
<p>I totally get the “disengagement” issue. Both my twin boys know that college is what is expected, but other than being attentive at the college visits and wondering when the ACT scores are coming out (back in Feb), they have done virtually zero. They haven’t even begun wondering about jobs this summer. It’s frustrating.</p>
<p>We are visiting UW-Stevens Point and Northern Michigan Univ next week. They are ready to do it, but they aren’t jumping up and down excited. </p>
<p>I have another question for you all. Are your juniors getting jobs this summer? If not, what are they doing? Both my sons got volunteer gigs, but it’s only 1 day a week. No jobs lined up. Might do some training for their sports. I see some of their classmates at stores, etc, working. Others do nothing. What’s even normal these days?</p>
<p>OH Kmanshouse…I wanted to laugh when I saw your question about jobs. Today is a day I want to put to bed. DS has spent his entire springbreak week this week taking a lifeguard class. Mon-Thurs 9:30 - 5:00. He passed his written and CPR classes, but didn’t do one of the swim tests in the right order (put the person on a plank and tie them down foot to chest. He did it chest to foot. She wouldn’t pass him on that and he has to take it again when she does her next class…April 12!!! He has an interview tomorrow and they know he is taking his class this week. What is he supposed to say! OMG! This class cost $240. I was trying not to be ticked off at him, but just said, maybe he wasn’t meant to be a lifeguard and if the reason he did it was because he thought it would be easy…well, I hope this shows him it is not. It is an important job, blah, blah, blah. He better think of something to tell the interviewer. You know…his saving grace is he’s a nice, friendly kid or I think I would have to strangle him.</p>
<p>I read somewhere that the majority of teens do not work in high school the way we did. I think that’s odd and I can’t remember the reason.</p>
<p>@kmanshouse – D15 is taking summer courses at the CC that is a part of her DE program in order to knock out two more GE undergrad requirements. There are no summer programs in our area, and can’t afford to drive her down into LA regularly for anything that might be available there. She may also get a part time job as a gymnastics coach now that she is 16 and now can legally work. (She was a competitive gymnast until starting her HS program). </p>
<p>S2 will work this summer. He has received an offer and promotion from the camp he worked last summer. He is also waiting to hear back from an internship that he has applied to. During the school year, he works very little just enough to fill up his gas tank. It is common here kids get jobs once they start driving. Most seniors I know have part-time jobs.</p>
<p>Daughter will be a CIT at the camp she has spent her last 7 summers. She gets paid this summer but the most important factor is that she will have employment the next few years if she wants it as a counselor.
@conmama I want to suggest some schools that have a good graduation rate and the institions have a favorable reputation with the major employers in Indiana.
Bethel; Manachester; Taylor ( has become a real hot school) may be a real reach; I love St. Joesph in Calumet—tution is reasonable but the main reason is that the kids seem happy who attend.
I understand your frustration about the testing but if you look up the average SAT for Indiana he is not far off–sad but true. College board reports these averages for boys: reading 499; math 531; writing 482.</p>