<p>@momofzag: I’ve been told (don’t know if it’s true) that marching band is one of those things Adcoms know is not so much a class or an EC as a way of life: one of the biggest time sucks in the history of high school. I certainly hope so, anyway.</p>
<p>@asleepatthewheel – thanks but that’s just it. My son is definitely a BWRK - bright well rounded kid rather than someone with a specific passion and super high level of achievement in one area. He is on varsity for his sport but is not interested (or accomplished enough) to be recruited and only wants to play his sport at the club or intramural level in college. Band at our school is only a time commitment first quarter - a high level of musicianship (and nearly 400 members) but they don’t compete just play at the football games. I think he is sticking with it so he can go on the trip next year and so he doesn’t have to add another academic class to his schedule LOL. He is definitely not a serious musician. During the fall marching band eats up most Saturdays but beyond that, it’s not all that much (different than many schools). But I do agree with others who have noted that these laundry lists of clubs aren’t all that impressive either. I am sure it will all work out and he will end up where he is supposed to be. Plenty of colleges will want him – I just wish he would figure out what he wants.</p>
<p>It is time for a cyber brunch. I have coffee, tea, bagels and fruit are on the counter. Come on over and help yourselves. Let’s forget about the kids for a bit and talk amongst ourselves about anything and everything else for awhile.</p>
<p>Sorry to have missed brunch! I was off attending to those kids. Anything particular you wanted to chat about?</p>
<p>@momofzag – Your confidence that “it will all work out and he will end up where he is supposed to be.” is heartening. We were repeatedly given this advice throughout the process with S14, and as incredibly imperfect a process as it was it turned out to be the case. </p>
<p>Our kids’ high school has an annual ‘Back from College’ night in December, where college freshmen and sophomores share their thoughts and experiences vis-a-vis the admission/choice process and their specific schools. My wife has been involved with the event for the last several years, and she’s listened to a lot of the panel discussions and spoken to a lot of the kids. Her take is that (with some exceptions, of course) the determining factor of how good a ‘fit’ it is for a kid has nothing to do with whether they’re at their dream school or fourth choice, or whether they’re at a large state school or a small LAC, etc. It has everything to do with the kid. Some kids are upbeat and positive by nature, and they’re going to get engaged in the academics and non-academic opportunities wherever they go, and some kids by their nature will find the cloud in every silver lining. . . Reading the notes on the Parents of the Class of 2014 thread, with the exception of some bad roommate situations and similar random conditions, by and large the kids are pretty happy where they’ve ended up, again regardless of whether it was a top choice or not. I guess that’s all another way of re-stating your statement of confidence. </p>
<p>Wow! @dyiu13 I can’t believe they are just telling you this now. I would think your GC could make arrangements for what ever accommodations are needed at different school. If your is only going to take the SAT one time I would try to get in for the PSAT at another school if she’s going to take it twice then I wouldn’t worry about it too much.</p>
<p>Looks like we are done with PrepScholar for now, yesterday she got a message on her dashboard saying, “You’ve mastered all the skills, which means you’ve completed the program. Congratulations!” but she still has six lessons and six skills still showing, not sure what’s up with that. I’m asking D to do them anyway. She did very well on her last practice test so maybe that’s why? I guess we are in the home stretch as far as test PSAT/SAT prep is concerned.</p>
<p>I spoke to her GC and confirmed that she doesn’t have to take the ACT in April if she doesn’t want to. Evidently I’m the only parent who has ever asked that their child not take the <em>free</em> ACT test. D is pretty stressed out about the amount of testing she has in the Spring. The school changed their policy on exempting final exams this year so she has several more exams than she planned on, six AP exams, and some waste of time state required testing. I just don’t think she needs to take the ACT if she does well on the SAT. It turns out the school tells the11th grade kids they are required to take the ACT (given during the school day) because they use the test data for the “college readiness” in national high school school ranking.</p>
<p>Just registered my DS for the 12/13/14 ACT! With such a cool date, it has to be lucky, right?!? No blizzards, sinus infections, power outages, midnight emergencies, stomach bugs, or other distractions from the test. Plenty of time to take it again if not pleased with the score so no need (for anyone) to overly stress about it–at least that is my story, and I am sticking to it!! </p>
<p>^^^ Love that date!</p>
<p>@Cheeringsection I just signed my son up for that same date.</p>
<p>@3scoutsmom - Yes, I’m trying not to be, um, angry about this PSAT snafu. Especially now that I see that the disabilities accommodations deadline was in late-August. That’s the last time I fail to get out in front of all these deadlines, etc. Had been asking the school about PSAT testing accommodations as early as last June, and again in early August, and again… and no one said anything about the test not being offered much less the accommodation app deadline, so I didn’t worry. I am going to assume the school has some rationale for this. Hope to find out this week. I think the ACT will be DD’s stronger test, and she’s going to do the SAT in January only. So, I guess we’re just going to live with that. I keep repeating to myself that she already has a super-super safety. It’s helping me not “lose it.”</p>
<p>Change of plans, D is doing well enough on test prep that she has agreed to take the advise she was given from PrepScholar and take the SAT in Nov instead of January. If she nails it she’ll be done and if not she can still take it again in January.</p>
<p>Time for a survey! Did you go to UG/G school within 3 hours of home ? Was your 1st real job after graduation within 3 hours of your school? Do you live within 3 hours of that school now? How would describe your school (top 50, state flagship, state directional, LAC, etc.)? </p>
<p>UG school was more than 3 hours away from last address (I was independent so I moved to attend school but it was more than 3 form my last residence)
first job after graduation was more than 3 hours from UG school
don’t live within 3 hours of UG school
UG school - state flagship</p>
<p>I went to UG about 1½ hours from home, it is a small LAC. My first job after college was 12 or so hours away by car. I now live about 2 hours from the LAC and 3 hours from my parents and siblings. My D is a 16+ hour drive from home at a mid size private university. </p>
<p>My UG was about 9 hours away from home. First job was about 3 hours from UG. I now live back in original midwest home city (my kids go to same HS I did). My UG was top 10 east coast LAC.</p>
<p>yes, yes, yes, top 50</p>
<p>Grew up midwest. College east coast. Job west coast. Now midwest. Top research university.</p>
<p>:) survey - </p>
<p>Did you go to UG/G school within 3 hours of [parents’] home?
About a 3-hour flight for UG #1. About 4-hour flight for UG #2. About 1-hour drive for grad school. </p>
<p>Was your 1st real job after graduation within 3 hours of your school?
Post-grad 1st job = 24-hour drive.</p>
<p>Do you live within 3 hours of that school now?
Yes, now live well within a 3-hours’ drive from that grad school.</p>
<p>How would describe your school (top 50, state flagship, state directional, LAC, etc.)?
Grad school: within top three professional programs for my field in the country
UG #1 & #2: LAC</p>
<p>Nowadays I’m running calculations for flights and drives for DD16’s possible UG and G options — from a 20-minute train ride to a 4-hour flight. 
</p>
<p>UG 12 hours from home; 1st job 8 hours from UG; we’ve moved several times, but current job is same location as 1st job; top 20 school </p>