<p>Hoosier96 yup…that’s about the same…what a mess…I keep hoping that when they say that colleges “need boys” because too many girls are applying…one of them will like my son!! :)</p>
<p>Hi! Just popping in to say hello! My daughter is a senior and I thought I would encourage all of you to consider the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership program for your sophomores. My daughter attended both her state seminar and the World Leadership Congress, making amazing friendships with kids all over the world. Kids learn amazing goal-setting skills and the ability to commit to community service both locally and abroad. Here’s a link…I can’t recommend it enough! <a href=“http://www.hoby.org/leadership-seminars”>http://www.hoby.org/leadership-seminars</a></p>
<p>Dr123 need input–I know from reading CC for awhile that you have gone through the process.
What are you doing about encouraging PSAT prep or ACT prep.
DS did okay on PSAT but awful on Plan " hey it’s the first time taking them." He is extremely smart
when it plays to his advantage…just refuses to play along to get along ugggggg
Should I press for prep? DD who’s a junior is so different not has smart but so eager to work and do well.
She has been being tutor for a couple of months and never complains. Sometimes when I hear the teachers rave about a polite, inquisitive student I automatically think DD …no but it’s about my DS.
I really don’t know if it’s the same kid 8-| </p>
<p>Hoosier96: I did have both older kids go to a variety of different prep classes. for oldest, it was really for the SAT, but she was at a summer program that had an adjoining SAT prep class that helped her for the PSAT (due to the PSAT is in the fall of Jr. year). My middle D was such a ball of anxiety, I had her have a few preliminary “lessons” before the PSAT so that she would not be fearful of the exam… I did not have her “prep” for any score. I called ahead and explained to the “tutor” what I was looking for. so, they just went over basic test strategies…didn’t really go into 'scoring" or trying to “beat” any score…my current kid: DS’16…I am going to have a “consultation” with him, with a tutor…really because he sounds like your kid…not all that motivated and not quite understanding what the “buy in” has to be to get where he may want to go. So, I just told him that “this is what we did with your sisters, so we have to start with you”…because he knew the sibs did it, he hasn’t argued… This is my kid with organizational issues…so, I’m hoping they will be able to work in some basic strategies without him realizing it! 
if I ask him to do something, he says “no” without thinking! UHG</p>
<p>Most kids who can afford it take an SAT prep class somewhere. It does enough to prepare them for both SAT and PSAT. Summer after 10th is when many take it if they want to make use of the prep for 11th grade PSAT,</p>
<p>Thanks for the feed back. DS is making me gray alot faster than I want.
I spoke with our prep tutor he felt with DS that we should postpone any prep until late summer–hopefully “maturity” will have happen.
He sees this alot at this stage in high school, especially with boys.
Hopefully he is right, and that this will turn out all right–I can’t afford to have to be coloring my hair more frequently [-O< then I do now. 
</p>
<p>my DS is ambivalent…immaturity is a definite possibility! an I am very impatient!!</p>
<p>Well DS has done course selection for next year—APUSH —nope----AP English—nope; AP biology—yep-- kid HATES science ehhhh. Our teachers’ recommend placement without it you can not take the AP class…recommended for English and History but not science.<br>
He went to the department chair who was his freshman biology teacher and petition to be allowed to take AP Bio, asked for a over ride and was granted.
Does any kind parent want to trade me : one smart gooding boy with beautiful blue eyes, for a boy who will not eat me out of house and home and will just once go along to get along?</p>
<p>@Hoosier96 Maybe he doesn’t hate science as much as you thought??? I think it’s great that he took the initiative to get the override. My S16 is taking AP Bio now and it’s definitely tough. At our school, you don’t take any bio prior (just the life sciences stuff in middle school) and AP Bio is a sophomore class that is a double period. </p>
<p>DS16 course selection for next year: AP Chem (double period), Adv 11 Math (same weighting as AP, I believe it’s precalc and beg of Calc so on track for Calc BC senior year), AP Econ Micro/Macro, Adv Eng (we don’t have choice of AP until senior year), German III Honors, Symphonic Band Honors. He will take health online this summer and is fulfilling PE requirements with JV/varsity sports.</p>
<p>no course scheduling for DS yet…but, he wants to take APUSH, Physics, Pre-calc (tracked for the AP calc AB in senior year) and english 3 (the college prep, non-honors) english class. He’s also thinking of Organic Chemistry…of course, this is all on his list…not sure what the Guidance Counselor will suggest… I really just want him to learn how to be more consistent with his grades and classwork/homework! I don’t care, at this moment, what the courses are labelled! </p>
<p>It sounds like S’s schedule for next year is pretty close to set. They are offering a combination AP Physics/AP Calc class that he wants to take. He also has APUSH. 3rd year of French and possibly a class in Music Theory.</p>
<p>Had a conversation about college hunting/testing with him when he was home this past weekend. He is most probably going to take 2 SAT II tests this spring (might take 3 if he feels Chem is up to par). Planning on taking the SAT/ACT in early fall. We might take a week long college hunting trip this summer - just need to figure out what colleges we want to visit :)</p>
<p>No testing for this guy until winter then again in spring if needed next year.
He will be coming with us on school visits at spring break with DD15.
The schools that appeal to him are in 4 hour drive so we can see those on the weekend–if needed.
At this point in his high school career I am working on get him up and out the door, each morning.
Maturity can’t kick in soon enough… :-w </p>
<p>My DS thinks that if he just wants something bad enough…it will happen!..he reads on here (CC) that there are kids who have 2.5 GPA that get into Harvard or Stanford…and says “SEE MOM…IT’s NOT ALL ABOUT THE GRADES!!”… #-o </p>
<p>Ask him if he is the special kid who can play the tuba under water and score perfect on his SAT; Those are the 2.5 students </p>
<p>My son would quickly answer “yes” to questions like that – he’s got so much confidence!</p>
<p>yup…I think mine too… :-< </p>
<p>and no, he can’t play the tuba under water and forget those SAT’s…</p>
<p>go2mom (good name): Could you tell me more about how to get a sophomore kid involved with Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership program? We’ve been getting a lot of feedback from folks who work with teens for two years now that my girl has strong leadership skills. However, she’s not involved in a school that develops it now. We’d like her to be able to get a bit of training in it with other kids who like the work. How does one get involved with HOBY? </p>
<p>I think you have to get nominated. Only one or two students per school can go.</p>
<p>So, the school has to already be involved with HOBY? </p>