<p>JenPam-
14-26 years plus 18 year old twins in between? Wow! If I’d had twins, we would have been done. That takes courage. We, however, have five altogether and a four year old granddaughter, so who is crazier, right?!</p>
<p>APs- S’16 is taking AP Calc. That is definitely not the norm at our school, though.</p>
<p>Coming on board. Have a S’16 taking all regular classes. Alg 2, French, English and the like. </p>
<p>Critter- congrats on your S taking AP Calc as a freshman. He must really like math. He obviously excels in the subject.</p>
<p>carlson2 & critter - my S at 14 is one of the youngest. Many people here hold their kids back for sports, maturity or various other issues. It seems more of an issue for boys, though.</p>
<p>Hello everyone!! Hope all is well with all of you and the kiddies. </p>
<p>My D is always one of the youngest in her class. She’s turning 14 next month. A part of me now wishes that I held her back a year, mostly because I want an extra year with her before she heads off to college ;)</p>
<p>My self-proclaimed writer daughter is struggling in English and excelling in math and science. She thinks its hilarious. I think she needs to put a little more effort in her work. And now I found out she has a boyfriend. I am so not prepared for this. But she has the best kind of boyfriend because he just moved to TX and we are in NY. </p>
<p>Thanks for letting me vent a little. Happy Holidays everyone.</p>
<p>my DD’13 has submitted her apps for college. So, now I feel I can pay more attention to DD’16. I am not used to the boy thing. I grew up in a household of girls…and have older daughters before D’16. He is a smart kid (I think)–not gifted/not genius, just a cool, smart kid with good common sense…except when it comes to doing his school work! I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the grades he is bringing home. I really think it is maturity (lack of)…but, my girls were so on top of things…and had the grades to show it. I have no idea what the best approach is to getting him to study more, take notes in class, etc. of course, now is the holiday/vacation time…he isnt wanting to go anywhere near a “conversation”. Anyone have some ideas/advice that worked/works for them? taking away video time seems to work for the week, then, forget it…back to the same old thing…</p>
<p>DS’16, not DD’16. (freudian slip?)</p>
<p>I finally found a group of Moms as crazy as I am. I have a son class of 16 as well. He is in a math/ science magnet and is doing well. The school is much more challenging than the ones he has gone to before. He is having some issues I think in not being the “smartest”. Unfortunately he has made the decision that it is not worth the amount of time necessary to get all a’s, one b is fine. I am ok w/ that but worried, that one B will become 3 B’s etc.</p>
<p>He has not taken the PSAT. but has taken the SAT and ACT the last 2 years for “talent search”. I think it is good for them to take it, becuase it takes all the mystery out of it, and allows them to be calmer when it really counts. He tends to score really well in Math, and pretty good in Reading… The english is however a mess… I am sure when it counts, I can get him to study ;).</p>
<p>Looking foward to joining you on this board, and following our kids progress the next few years…</p>
<p>my DS is convinced he is not as smart as his sisters…so, “why bother”…the fact is, I think he is equally smart, or smarter…he just happens to be the youngest. I just don’t know how to motivate him in a way that will work.</p>
<p>I hear you drmom123. My DD2016 wants top grades, but just doesn’t put in the work. She’s much younger than DD12 and DS05 and doesn’t remember the hours they put in to get top grades. She wings it far more than I like and so I have become the helicopter homework mom to keep her on track. I don’t like it, but when left to her own devices, she pays the price with a low grade. She’s a smart girl, just needs to pay attention and continue to improve her organizational skills. Sitting on A’s and B’s now.</p>
<p>Her PSAT was poor (as expected). All over the board–got some hard questions right, missed some easy ones simply because she did not read the question entirely. Sigh.</p>
<p>S just turned 15 and is already planning a sophomore schedule. Yikes
We cracked down on him after 1st quarter and some of the problem grades went up 5% so that was a relief. Only the final year grade counts so he needs to work hard the rest of the year so the c+ disappears.
His fall sport finished up in early oct. so he has had lots of free time. He has a small part in the winter play so he is about to get really busy.
Happy new year!</p>
<p>Happy new year everyone!</p>
<p>Can’t believe how quickly the first semester flew by. Is anyone looking at interesting summer programs? My son is looking at math ones, but most of the applications don’t open for about a month.</p>
<p>Our 1st semester ends the end of Jan. Son needs to pull his grades up a bit by then to stay on track for his “dream school”. </p>
<p>Still don’t know the results of his PSAT as his school hasn’t passed that back yet. </p>
<p>Summer- DS is hoping to get a position working at BSA summer camp. He would be unpaid because he wouldn’t be 16 yet. Oh well, it would count as more volunteer hours.</p>
<p>Oh and our school did give back PSAT scores – the week before finals. Since it’s just for practice the kids all seemed to mainly take it in stride. My son is a natural standardized test-taker, and his scores reflected that. </p>
<p>He knows it’s generally better not to talk about it, but he did tell one girl who had scored close to his score (they were all comparing scores), and by lunch everyone in his small school knew his score (it was over the NMSF cut off although of course it doesn’t count). Kids talk. </p>
<p>It’s probably like that at most schools. But after a couple weeks (days, maybe hours!), everyone’s forgotten everyone scores but their own. Which is probably better.</p>
<p>Okay … thought that I’d get a leg up with my S16 and join the group. I see some familiar faces from the HS 2013/college 2017 board. 
I wish I had found this site when D13 was a freshman!! LOL!</p>
<p>S16 will be very different that D13. D is quite internally motivated, but I face more issues with S like inattentiveness & disorganization (He is JUST like me at his age, including the same ECs! Hahaa). Plus, since he’s just like me, he decided he’d go live with his dad in another state, so his process will be long distance. This will be fun!! </p>
<p>S16 took PSAT & I think he did really well for a freshman. I’m glad he took it & I think he’ll have a good shot at NMF in 2 more years. We’ll have to see what is in store.</p>
<p>Nice to meet you all!!!</p>
<p>Carimama makes me want to ask a question of those who’ve BTDT (been there, done that). What’s the one or two things you wish you’d known when your older child(ren) were freshmen? What will you have your child do differently this time around?</p>
<p>I have a DD’13 also. I wish I would’ve started reading advise books sooner. I’ve read a couple of really good ones this year that did help us “package” DD’s application but we got lucky with a few things- she was very self motivated to do extremely well in school so already had the rigor and GPA. She picked an excellent sport EC (rowing) in 9th grade and went all in with it. She also has chosen to major in a hard science (and had ECs that backed that up) which is a plus for a girl. All of this helped get her into her #1 choice.</p>
<p>DS’16 I think will be more work so I’m glad I have already read the books. He often needs to be prodded to do his work/ turn it in. His current #1 choice will require a very high GPA. He does have a very good #1 EC and 2 more good ECs- just need to make sure he keeps seeking out the leadership roles, etc. </p>
<p>I think the best tip is learn how to “package” your kid.</p>
<p>Critter, your son is taking AP Calc as a freshman? Awesome!</p>
<p>What I wish I’d known when my older children were freshmen…probably to document, document, document! In a few years, you and your kid won’t remember the details that the Common App requires. I had a short resume for my older kids that I updated throughout HS, but I should have been more explicit (time spent on activity, details of commitment/involvement, etc.).</p>
<p>Happy New Year, everyone!</p>
<p>Happy New Year, everyone! Looking forward to a great year for everyone and their children.</p>
<p>Each year is a learning process and each child is a work in progress. What matters is that we parents have a forum such as this to share our common goals and interests. Glad that we are all here.</p>
<p>Wish you all a very Happy new year!</p>
<p>Dragonfly - Could you recommend a good book to “package” a high school student?</p>
<p>yesdee- PMed ya</p>