<p>@Hoosier…thanks for the tips. I’m aware of these colleges. We aren’t willing to pay private tuition and we wouldn’t receive much even thru Fafsa. Plus…DS went to a parochial grade school and Said he was finished with small private schools…I think he’s afraid he’ll have to go to church twice a week…haha. His HS now has almost 4,000 students, I think he will like a bigger environment…but they don’t know until they get there. I think I will have him apply to all the publics and Consider Ivy Tech the first semester. Still feeling bad this morning, must be this weather I’m so over it.</p>
<p>Very happy – spoke to the gym manager today, and D15 has a job waiting whenever she is ready!! Wonderful family gym where she used to train, and he’s been waiting for her to be old enough to work there for a couple of years. So once the school year is up, she’ll be coaching level 1 and 2 gymnastics, and can go in whenever she wants in the mean time to work out and get some coach training. She’ll probably also end up doing work with the level 3 students working on their floor routines, since she knows them inside out, backwards and forwards. She really misses the gym, and a lot of the girls that were on her team are also coaching there, so it will be a wonderful first job experience. </p>
<p>@petra…Congrats for your DS. It feels good to know they will be busy and earning their own money. My DS went on his interview yesterday to be a lifeguard and they told him he has the job as soon as he passes that 3rd part. I will be practicing with him. I guess the only thing good that comes from failing is he will probably never forget this part. </p>
<p>Wow, our thread is getting busy! Welcome, to all the newbies, and know there IS a school out there for each of your children.</p>
<p>Conmama,</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the average national SAT score is 1500 for all three sections–give or take a few points in either direction. Based on what you posted, your son’s score is within that range.</p>
<p>I agree with the others, please have your son try the ACT. It is not too late to register for the May & June testing dates. My D’s first two PSAT sittings resulted in scores not too much higher than your son’s scores. She was literally sick to her stomach, but she did well on the ACT due to its straightforward questions that aligned with a typical college prep curriculum. Additionally, I think understanding the test helps along with practice. Case in point, D’s Junior PSAT placed her in NMSF territory, but again, this is after sitting for it 3 times along with self-studying and taking 8 PSAT practice tests last summer. </p>
<p>I good book for your son to read is, ACT for Bad Test Takers. I help inner city kids prepare for college entrance exams through a free program offered through my sorority and brother fraternity. </p>
<p>Try to do the following if possible–yes, it is a lot of work for your child, but you will see increased scores:</p>
<p>Ditch the SAT and work on the ACT, as it is easier to gain points in a short period of time than the SAT</p>
<p>use the Xiggi method of testing–practice test after practice test after practice test. Here is the Xiggi thread: <a href=“Xiggi's SAT prep advice - SAT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html</a></p>
<p>Here is an outline of the Xiggi Method: <a href=“http://www.scribd.com/doc/48711714/Xiggi-Advice-CollegeConfidential-s-famous-advice-guy-s-tips”>http://www.scribd.com/doc/48711714/Xiggi-Advice-CollegeConfidential-s-famous-advice-guy-s-tips</a></p>
<p>Study the question types missed and figure out and understand why the test makers came up with said answer</p>
<p>There are about 4 real ACTs with answers (not counting duplicate tests with different issue years listed) <a href=“http://www.actquantum.com/releasedacttests/”>http://www.actquantum.com/releasedacttests/</a> This site provides a link to the test PDF and also provides video answers to the math questions</p>
<p>There are 3 ACT prep books out there as well for an additional 9 tests–one current with 5 real ACT tests, and 2 out of print. Do NOT purchase the 2nd edition, as it contains only 3 tests which are identical to the current 3rd edition. Only purchase the following:</p>
<p>Official Guide to the ACT Assessment: <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/dp/0156009951?tag=a00b9-20&camp=213761&creative=393545&linkCode=bpl&creativeASIN=0156009951&adid=0AMXS4GM4Y6CPPTVKN7B&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Ffreeacttest.blogspot.com%2F”>http://www.amazon.com/dp/0156009951?tag=a00b9-20&camp=213761&creative=393545&linkCode=bpl&creativeASIN=0156009951&adid=0AMXS4GM4Y6CPPTVKN7B&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Ffreeacttest.blogspot.com%2F</a> </p>
<p>Getting into the ACT: <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/dp/0156005352?tag=a00b9-20&camp=213761&creative=393545&linkCode=bpl&creativeASIN=0156005352&adid=0M960PMABBJF5B6NZYPW&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Ffreeacttest.blogspot.com%2F”>http://www.amazon.com/dp/0156005352?tag=a00b9-20&camp=213761&creative=393545&linkCode=bpl&creativeASIN=0156005352&adid=0M960PMABBJF5B6NZYPW&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Ffreeacttest.blogspot.com%2F</a></p>
<p>The Real ACT Prep Guide, 3rd edition (current w/5 tests) <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Real-ACT-3rd-Prep-Guide/dp/0768934400/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396094535&sr=1-1&keywords=act”>http://www.amazon.com/Real-ACT-3rd-Prep-Guide/dp/0768934400/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396094535&sr=1-1&keywords=act</a></p>
<p>Actquantum provides the answers to most or all of the math questions in the 3rd edition <a href=“http://www.actquantum.com/realactguide/”>http://www.actquantum.com/realactguide/</a></p>
<p>Princeton Review products are as close to the ACT than the majority of test prep companies. Use the tricks and information within the current Princeton Review prep book along with The ACT for Bad Test Takers.</p>
<p>Work with your son by creating real test taking conditions and having him work on a specific section of the ACT each week. Once he has a satisfactory practice score, more on to the next section. Once each section is reviewed and understood with a minimum satisfactory score, then begin with the Xiggi method. You can search the boards for the method as it is quite popular for those studying the SAT; however, the same methods can be used with an ACT study plan. </p>
<p>The next ACT test months are:</p>
<p>April 2014 with late fee, May 2014, June 2014, September 2014 for most states, and October 2014. You also can sign him up for the December 2014 sitting if he plans to apply RD to any schools with 2/1/15 or later deadlines.</p>
<p>Depending on his test scores, private schools may give enough merit aid to bring the costs down to OOS public tuition for sure. Unless your state participates in a tuition exchange program, a private with merit may cost less than an OOS public school with no merit aid. </p>
<p>What is your son looking for in school size, majors, location, and etc.? What is your family willing to pay–not your EFC, but your out of pocket bottom line?</p>
<p>BHG has an unpaid internship beginning this summer working with physically and/or developmentally disabled children using dance as a therapeutic means to work towards mobility goals. This is a perfect opportunity for her since she wishes to become a PTD. She had to provide 4 recommendations from current teachers and dance instructors as well as interview with the program, and then with families. She was chosen by all 4 families, but can only assist with 3. She hopes to work with the other family with the fall program if she can fit them all into her busy schedule, as the family is insistent that only BHG would be a match for their child. </p>
<p>Bunheadmom…wow, thank you so much. actually he is taking the ACT in April and his tutor has been working with him, but really was focusing on the SAT. I told him his scores ths morning, with the pep talk…but honest talk. I’m more upset about his scores than he is. I think he is disappointed but not devastated. I found a book that I’m going to use for the May SAT and help him with math…more strategic test taking, like leaving certain ones blank right off the bat. Depending on how he does on the ACT and May SAT…I may very well concentrate on the ACT. My plan was to try yo bring that math score up, then make him focus over the summer on verbal. He has always had reading comprehension problems, so his score didn’t surprise me. </p>
<p>I will take the time to gonthru everything you linked, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>We would be willing to pay. $25K which would include everything. Great for public…too low for most privates.</p>
<p>Conmama,</p>
<p>Does your state participate in any tuition exchange programs or has tuition reciprocity with another or other states? For example my state participates in the Midwest Student Exchange program (MSEP). This allows us to find schools in about 6 other states where we would only pay up to 150% of a school’s in-state tuition.</p>
<p>I don’t know, my son says he wants to stay close by. Because of that, I’ve never really taken a look at out of Tate schools. I do find that really interesting and a great opportunity, though.</p>
<p>How much do you all push your kids to study for the SAT? My son didn’t do anything on his own besides the tutor. With the dismal SAT scores (except Writing was a 500, which I’m OK with…his essay was a 9), I think he can bring up his Math and Verbal. Every weekend, I am going over a strategy book and after each section it calls for them to do a math test…which i am making him do and then we are going over the answers. I found the book recommended from The Perfect Score Project book. You decide what score you want (generally the goal is 100 points over what you got on your SAT), and the author gives you a format that shows which questions to skip…completely. We just started, so I’ll let you know if it works as we do the book. I like this author so far…he says the SAT is NOT SCHOOL. Go around the Algebra, don’t DO algebra and he gives you tips on figuring it out an easy way. He’s not a complainer, and of course I know he’d rather NOT be doing this on the weekend, but I figured it’s only 4 more weekends until the SAT. We’ll have to double up a couple weekends…do a test on Sat and then Sun. The MATH test is only 70 minutes for the 3 sections…no biggy I think.</p>
<p>Sadly, @conmama, in the beginning, the only way I could get D to take practice exams was if <em>I</em> or her father took the exam as well. Now, she’ll will take a practice exam on her own but sometimes I’ll take it as well. We only manage two (three, if we’re good and/or lucky) practice sections a week. The biggest stumbling block is going over the wrong answers. D hates doing that. BUT, her scores have gone up (over 2 months). For the ACT, the key thing is just taking the exams over and over again.</p>
<p>I don’t know about the SAT math but the ACT math is exhausting. 60 questions in 60 minutes and I hit a wall at around question 45. D’s working on the English section now. </p>
<p>SlackermomMD can you way in on UNC Greensboro?<br>
ACT retake in June is after finals yeah. Is your DD looking for big schools or just small schools.<br>
Mine continue to insist on big. But then again her intended major is only offered at large university.
She is in love with USF-- they recalculate GPA and it puts her in the top scholarship criteria; ACT lacks but not by much; she is motivated now to hit a home run on the test.<br>
Even if she doesn’t she is in the ballpark of our budget–but we won’t tell 
</p>
<p>DS is signed up for the ACT, but really hasn’t studied much for it. I almost wish I hadn’t signed him up, since his focus has been been on the SAT. I supposed it doesn’t hurt him to see the difference between the two, and it’s probably good to practice endurance testing. I’m interested in finding out the difference. He came home a little bummes yesterday as he’s hearing some of his friends tell their scores. </p>
<p>@hoosier96, sorry, I don’t really know anything about UNC Greensboro. I like the city - nice, small, clean. I usually hear about UNC-Greensboro and UNC-Wilmington mentioned after UNC-Chapel Hill. I talked to one girl visiting UNC-Asheville - she was considering UNC-Greensboro - it was bigger than Asheville but not as big as Chapel Hill. The vast majority of students are probably from NC (but that’s true of UNC-CH and UNC-A as well). If your daughter is interested, it’s definitely worth a visit. There is an airport in Greensboro - when I was a grad student at Chapel Hill, we often used that airport because the fares were cheaper than if we flew into Raleigh-Durham airport.</p>
<p>D is looking at small (very small) schools. UNC-Asheville is the largest school so far (4000 students). I jokingly suggested College of the Atlantic (300?) and Marlboro College (300?) and she actually came back with “interested in Marlboro”. </p>
<p>Thanks for the feed back. Do you think your DD wants rural because Hanover in Indiana is a great small school with a beautiful background sitting on the bluff of the Ohio River.
Also a free thinking child might enjoy New College in Sarasota my son.
I tend to know all the small LAC in the mid west but DD won’t hear about any of them :-@ </p>
<p>My DH is from Madison, Indiana. I agree that Hanover is indeed a wonderful school, in a beautiful setting.</p>
<p>Thanks guys! I will check out Hanover. So far the schools have been either in the south or PNW and not so many in the midwest. So any more suggestions for a small college (2000) with biology, environmental studies and psychology for the B/B+ student are more than welcome. I suggested Evergreen State to D because they also have written evaluations in lieu of grades like New College.</p>
<p>PM because I definitely have some suggestion just need to know your budget if you want to give it out? Learning style? Going abroad? Climate? I just wish I could use the info on my DD… Maybe on S16 doubt it he has his list already sigh</p>
<p>Hopefully you got my PM @slackerMomMD </p>
<p>@Hoosier96, yes, I did. Thanks! Definitely new names I need to research. Let me know if I can return the favor.</p>