<p>@arisamp – ?Am concerned that you misunderstood my comment. I was simply pointing out that the curves on the SAT Subject Tests are significantly different than the curve on the ‘regular’ SAT’s, i.e., that a 650 on many of the SAT Subject Tests is not the same as a 650 on the CR, M, or W SAT. I wasn’t making any value judgements on anybody’s score, etc., nor any comment as to the importance of the Subject Tests in the grand scheme of college admissions.</p>
<p>I agree strongly with fretfulmom that the Subject Tests are a poor metric of whether a kid has mastered math or specific science. It’s why I was beating the drum (on this thread) prior to the tests regarding the need for preparation SPECIFIC to these tests. My S14 did extremely well in (regular) Chemistry this year, and just did very well on the Subject Test, but he told me that there were a number of test questions that were on topics that had NOT been covered in his Chemistry class. He got them right only because he’d used the Barron’s prep book. Also, as fretfulmom pointed out, it really helps to be familiar with the format/type of questions that are going to be asked – again, testimony to the importance of taking practice tests beforehand. </p>
<p>My opinion is that a good score on the Subject Tests means something – I don’t think you can finesse the test well enough to get a high score without knowing the material. I don’t think the converse holds true – a less good score really doesn’t mean much.<br>
As has been pointed out, a lot of schools don’t require Subject Tests. S14 applied to Miami (Marine Science), which doesn’t require Subject Tests. He had a M2 of 780 and Bio 800, and when their Director of Admissions was doing an info session here in the Bay Area I asked her if good Subject Test scores would help an applicant. She replied that because Miami doesn’t require them, they won’t even look at them if they’re submitted (!!), as they view it as unfair to the other applicants. . . I think that the elite science and/or engineering schools might wonder why a kid scored lower than expected on the relevant Subject Tests, but I don’t think that it would be a dealbreaker if they otherwise like the applicant. Tangible accomplishments and personal recommendations outweigh these test scores.</p>
<p>Finally, sorry for the long rambling stream-of-consciousness post.</p>
<p>I want to start a tradition here that we did on the parents of 2011 thread I was on for my D. Quite often, on Saturdays, I will set out cyber coffee, tea, bagels, and fruit. Sometimes, if I am especially productive, I may set out waffles or pancakes and eggs and bacon.</p>
<p>I am running late today, so there is just coffee, fruit and bread and peanut butter and jelly for toast. I will try to have more next week.</p>
<p>So, grab your drink and food of choice and dig in! Brunch is on the counter, lets have a leisurely Saturday visit!</p>
<p>took D2 to see University of Delaware a couple weeks ago and loved it! it was interesting because when I took D1 we liked it but it was about third on her list. when we took d2 it seemed to fit her personality much more and now it is a top contender which I didn’t expect. it is interesting how different colleges appeal to different kids.</p>
@Mysonsdad - I can see someone not doing well on Math II because I have always been told not to let kids take it if they are not done with precalc. SAT II Math I is supposed to be at the Algebra II completion level but has a much harder curve. Math II allows someone to get several answers wrong but still get 800 while Math I curve is closer to SAT I Math curve where one gets an answer wrong and never get 800.</p>
<p>Visited harvey Mudd yesterday. Very interesting small college. D fall in love immediately. I am not exactly sure. Price tag of $62k per year. Do not know how generous is financial aid package. I do not understand their engineering- general major. We will keep it on a list for computer science.</p>
<p>@seal16 – There are precious few private colleges for which it’s worth paying full-price, but in my opinion Harvey Mudd has to be considered one of them. Tremendous math/science academic and research opportunities, a chance to take any course you want at the other Claremont schools, glorious southern California, and enough name cachet to get a job after graduation. Best of luck to your daughter. At least she has good taste.</p>
<p>Does anyone, maybe @class2020 or those with older kids, know about transferring credits earned in high school? D’s school has a post secondary option where they pay for courses at “any Ohio college you can get admitted to”. The catch is you have to have a study hall to take advantage of their tuition offer, something she can’t do until senior year and still graduate with honors and play in her beloved marching band and jazz band. She plans to do this, probably taking freshman English comp and English lit, that way the study hall will replace the honors English 12. She applied and was accepted as a non-matriculated student to Ohio University and is currently taking her first class on line which I am paying for (Human Communication).</p>
<p>I know if she chooses OU the credits will transfer. Do we approach her other schools or just see what happens? She will likely have about 30 credits and I’m limiting what I’m paying for to 100 and 200 levels outside of her projected major (psychology/chemistry double major)
TIA
-K</p>
<p>@Kandcsmom It depends on the school you want to transfer the credit from. My D '11 had all kinds of credit, both AP and dual credit, that would have transferred to any public in Iowa. She went to Tulane instead, who accepted the AP credit but not the dual credit classes. Many universities will not accept transfer credit if it is taken on a high school campus, they require that it be taken on a college campus.</p>
<p>It does really depend on the school your student ends up at and what their policy is.</p>
<p>@bajamm she is taking them through distance learning. In the high school program they can take them that way or on the campus/branch campus. I did the same and they applied to my Master’s Degree. I’ll contact the school… Thanks. </p>
<p>@Mysonsdad – I’m jealous. I grew up in New Jersey, a bit different than growing up near Claremont, CA. Am now living in the East Bay in the northern half of the state. . . Am familiar with a lot of these schools after all the research and due diligence for S14. Harvey Mudd was out of reach for him, but might be in consideration for S16. </p>
<p>I really don’t know how the dual enrollment class credits will be handled ( unless she attends a state school–then they will seamlessly transfer) however, I think this program will be a better fit than the very large public that she would otherwise attend. The classes do all take place on the community college campus. I will be sure to ask once we start doing college visits.</p>
<p>These are not dual enrollment, these are classes I am paying for at a college. We don’t have DE and we have very few APs. We are a good school, but small. Apparently there is a website, transferology, where you can see if classes transfer from one school to another. D’s likely school of choice is Bowling Green University (Ohio, not Kentucky) unless she gets NMS then it will be UK (full ride with NMS, otherwise a bit out of our comfort zone price wise). At this point I think she will take the classes through BG’s distance learning, that way we know they will transfer to her choice. </p>
Kandcsmom!</p>