<p>How did I forget to mention the extra-curriculars. As far as letters of recommendation, is it hard to get teachers to write them? I write a lot of them each year, sometimes it gets pretty crazy. There are about 5-6 teachers on our campus that end up writting the vast majority of them. I have only ever turned one student down. I will admit some of the ones I write are better than others.</p>
<p>Btw, I canât remember who recommended PrepScholar (sorry) but my S seems to be sticking to the schedule pretty good and is making improvements. I am curious to see how accurate it is when it comes to the PSAT next month. He had a lot of homework this week so he didnât start his PrepScholar until yesterday He is taking a nap right now and will do his 4 hour test this afternoon, after a conference call with some people from a national organization he is a part of. The last test he scored in mid 1900âs. </p>
<p>That reminds me, someone on here had asked me about PrepScholar grading the essay. The other day I saw an email sent to him about the essay being graded. It said he got a 7 out of 12 (I didnât open the email, that was just a summary).From the little bit that I could see it looked like they were going to break down everything that he had done wrong. I donât know what to think, I am glad they are finding things wrong and PrepScholar has him doing work to improve for the SAT, but at the same time, my school is pretty highly ranked (within the top 100 in California) and yet I feel his test scores should be higher. I think it goes to show what may be wrong with public education. Schools only care about API scores (API scores are the state test scores for schools in California). I tell people that as a parent, the API means very little to me, AP and SAT scores are what I am interested in, but because a principals job does not rely on AP or SAT scores they mean very little to them or a district. FWIW in 8th grade he got a 1520 on the actual SAT, 180 on the PSAT and now PrepScholar has him at 1970. So, if PrepScholar is correct, it is an improvement. </p>
<p>@Mysonsdadâ the scoring on SAT and ACT essay has very little to do with traditional essay writing skills. My D got 8 on both actual ACT and practice SAT essay and she is a good writer. As our tutor explain to us they have certain skills to show on their essay to be able to get a higher score.</p>
<p>I think that was me @Mysonsdad. Glad your son is sticking with it! Thanks for the info on how they grade the essay on the practice tests since D is skipping that for now, she will find this very helpful when she starts in on the essays. Since PrepScholar uses the real practice tests from the College Board Blue Book I think they should be as close as you can come to an accurate predictor of the test out come, if their test prep curriculum is increasing the practice tests scores and of course the actual test, that is the big question.</p>
<p>D has been able to spend some time on PSAT prep today and has completed half of her PrepScholar weekly lessons so far. I had high hopes that she should get through all ten this week but sheâs just now got the some of the music for the paying church gig she has next Sunday, still waiting on one piece <grr>. The only rehearsal is Wednesday night so I guess her âfree timeâ will be spent practicing. Sheâs played for this church once before but Iâm going to suggest, that in the future if they want her to play she insist they provide the music before she agrees. Thankfully itâs only four or five songs and not too challenging but she really needs to <em>know</em> the music by Wednesday when she plays with other musicians, it doesnât give her much time and sheâs still waiting on one more piece.</grr></p>
<p>Weâve recently discovered the new Sherlock series on Net Flixs and I just bribed her with watching another episode if he works in another hour of PrepScholar;-) </p>
<p>What did your kids have to give up this year to fit everything into their schedule? My D had to reduce her sport practice time from 25 hours to 6 per week. Just had a very unpleasant conversation with her coach. </p>
<p>My D just received a packet with class ring information. I wasnât sure that anyone ordered class rings anymore(?), but she indicated everyone plans on ordering one. She has always wanted one. I have suggested we go to the jewelry store and look for a nice ring she likes and have the inside inscribed. @-) </p>
<p>D gave up the area wide orchestra that she had been a member of for several years - it was very hard especially because they usually give long term graduating senior members a small scholarship and she had been in it for 5 years. She has cut back on Girl Scouts activities and declined to do regionals this year, which puts her out of the running for state. She also may not finish her Gold Award project that really hurts my heart.</p>
<p>D doesnât want a class ring and would rather that money go toward college. Heck, she wonât let me buy a year book until her senior year.</p>
<p>DS has not given up anything yet but did announce today that he may not play his winter sport. I cannot tell if this decision is more about a new player joining the team (played with him in past with unpleasant results) or feeling like his time is better spent on the academic demands of junior year. It is not uncommon for this particular sport to lack juniors at his HS. Some do return to play senior year. </p>
<p>D gave up volleyball at the beginning of the year. It was a good choice with the demands of academics this year.</p>
<p>Yep. DD16 gave up her fall sport to spend extra time with academics. Sheâll go back to it in spring. (The only season itâs off is winter. Ice.) Iâm hoping she isnât lured into another sport at the school for winter. </p>
<p>Sâ16 hasnât given up anything yet except some free time. He is heavily involved with the Boy Scouts but most of that takes place on the weekends. He is working on earning Eagle this winter. He is in Tae kwon do and planning to earn black belt in spring. He has been president of a club at school for 9, 10 and probably will be again this year. I think he plans on running for regional or state level office for senior year. They meet once a week. He is also a member of another club at school. He doesnât work during the school year but did work all summer. </p>
<p>My older daughter was in IB and was on the Crew team which practiced 20 hours+ per week year round. It can be done it just takes careful planning and keeping on top of stuff. </p>
<p>Senior year did require slowing down some stuff in order to complete all the college apps. Dâ13 missed a lot of crew practice fall of senior year and also had a study hall at school that year. That is why our plan is for Sâ16 to have all testing done by end of Junior year and to have earned his Eagle Rank and Black Belt this year. </p>
<p>We did class rings last year. MIL paid for D16âs as her Christmas present. They were expensive!!! </p>
<p>D16âs marching band qualified for state competition and was over all grand champion against 3 AA bands (they are A, it goes by size). She rocked the solo and now some pressure is off. </p>
<p>@kandcsmomâ That is great. congratulations!</p>
<p>@3scoutsmom your D does not need to earn her gold award this year does she? My D earned hers the spring of her senior year. She was not able to talk about a completed award on her college applications, but she did put âgold award in progressâ on her apps. Your D can slow down a bit on her award, still work on it when she has time, maybe speed back up after testing is done and finish after college apps are done. It is something that will be with her for her entire life, she should not be doing it just to put on college apps.</p>
<p>@Mysonsdad: How does he do all that? Iâm assuming youâre not also requiring that he have a girlfriend or sleep, because weâre finding the sleeping part to be expendable.<br>
D hasnât had to give up anything this year but her habit of spending a bazillion hours online. Her schedule only includes two APs, but there are two volunteer jobs and three ECs (though Spanish Honor Society doesnât take up much space).<br>
S has given up sleeping, orchestra (but not band) and most of his trips to play Airsoft with his friends. Theyâve had to cut back, too, so he at least isnât missing out on as much as he could be. This is H*ll Year, for sure, for him, and he knows to expect it to stay that way for awhile. Heâs trying to remain philosophical about it. I just really hope it pays off.</p>
<p>@petrichor11â Me too. I hope it pays off. One of 2014 kids at our school with 2400 SAT, 4.7 GPA and accomplishments and leadership positions in everything you can think of got 9 rejections this year. </p>
<p>Eek! That hurts.
He has one school on his list which is pretty selective, but which should be a good match for admissions because of a specific (and very very niche) skill set he has that will give him an edge at that particular school. Sadly, they are not one of the âmeet need without loansâ schools, which is a big factor. If they were, they would totally be his first choice. </p>
<p>@3scoutsmomâ, I figured it was either you or cheeringsection who told me about PrepScholar. Thank you so much. My S was supposed to take the 4 hour test today but I stupidly let him convince me to spend last night at a friends and he was too tired to take it, so I will have him take it tomorrow after school. He did get in his 5 hours for this week though.</p>
<p>@seal16â, my S does not play golf as much as he used to, but this is Mock Trial season. So far he finds this year easier than last year.</p>