Parents of the HS Class of 2016 (Part 1)

<p>Thanks @AKFirefly I thought they did but just couldn’t find it stated on the CB’s web page.</p>

<p>@AKFirefly‌ So you did not have to pay for the rest of the tests either? You used free option for your latest SAT, but the rest of the test was sent for free? </p>

<p>D didn’t send scores on her first SAT but she will on her second one in Nov. D and I discussed this last just last night, she’s going to send one to National Merit and hope it doesn’t jinx her by sending in SAT before we have the PSAT scores in hand and the others to her top three choices.</p>

<p>Why are you guys sending scores already?? I think I am missing something…</p>

<p>@Sophmore1‌ Today is a deadline to use free score option for Oct SAT. Since some schools require all scores anyway we are discussing use of this free option. </p>

<p>Because I’m a penny pincher! The Nov 8 SAT will be D’s last SAT and if she sends in scores when she takes it (or with in 10 days) you can have 4 scores sent for free after that you have to pay. Some schools also look at getting scores as “demonstrated interest” </p>

<p>Thanks, @seal16 and @3scoutsmom. D is only doing the ACT.</p>

<p>@Sophmore1 I thought ACT did four free score reports too but I could be mistaken?</p>

<p>Catching up a bit --</p>

<p>@Mysonsdad – Congrats on your son’s amazing first quarter. I know that he makes you crazy at times, but he’s to be commended on his performance in school. Using an NFL draft analogy, my older son (high test scores, not so high GPA) said, “Dad, your high school transcript is like a college kid’s performance on the field, and the SAT’s are like the combine. If you nail them both you’re golden, a first-rounder. If you’ve got a great GPA the colleges know that you can perform. You’re a solid second or third round pick. If all you have is a good combine maybe some college will take a gamble on you and take you in the middle rounds, based on your potential.” GPA is much more important than test scores to admission committees. Your son will be fine.</p>

<p>Next topic – Aforementioned son is doing better grade-wise in college than he did in high school. He thinks that it’s because the nature of the testing (so far) is different. He feels that in his current college courses he’s being tested on facts and concepts, and not writing squishy essays that are capriciously graded. Unfortunately I think he’ll have more squishy essay courses next semester.</p>

<p>Finally, we’re not sending any scores out until all the scores are in and we know to which schools S16 is applying. We could save some money by sending out scores earlier, but somehow we feel in more control of the process this way. That may or may be actually be true.</p>

<p>should read, “may or may NOT actually be true”.</p>

<p>A correction: just came from the College Board website, and realized I misspoke yesterday. When I sent the SAT scores, they did NOT send the other Subject Test scores.</p>

<p>We’ve decided it is too early to send out the ACT/SAT scores. Don’t have a list of schools just yet, don’t know if this will be his first and last attempt at the ACT/SAT either. So, even if it does cost us a tad bit more, we will hold off on sending the scores.</p>

<p>Term 1 is almost at a close for S. Keeping my fingers crossed that he will do well on his end of term assessments.</p>

<p>In other news, we got an email from the guidance office at the high school - they need us to fill out a questionnaire about S, his interests and the schools we think would be good for him etc. They will use this to come up with a list of suggested schools for him. Ack - now, I have a deadline!</p>

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<p>Not sure what you mean since it is automatic that they send everything that they already have on file. Only way to stop it is to uncheck the send on the older scores one does not want to send. </p>

<p>What is considered a reach school? If a student is within 25% is it a reach? How do you determine a match? Common Data sets only have 75% and 25%. </p>

<p>Now, see, that is what appeared to be happening when I sent the scores! But when I went to the website last night, they only showed having sent (or that they would send, since the scores are not available yet) that one SAT score. In the end, I don’t know what was sent, lol!</p>

<p>I was wondering if we could have a philosophical discussion about how to teach our kids (okay…it’s my kid…) how to tolerate disappointment. REAL disappointment…and to learn that life is really okay…even if you don’t get what you think you deserve or feel you tried your hardest at…and it still just didn’t happen…I’m just having a hard time figuring out how to just sit and watch him go through this…'cause there’s really nothing I can do anymore…he’s a Junior…and in two years…he’s out the door…where ever he ends up…no more just “change the playdate” or switch the class…</p>

<p>Princeton Review’s definition:
“A reach school is one where your academic credentials fall below the school’s range for the average freshman. Reach schools are long–shots, but they should still be possible.”</p>

<p>Certainly if scores and/or GPA are below the 25% to 75% range it’s a reach. Within that range it’s likely a ‘match’, although you’ll see terms like ‘low match’ or ‘high match’.<br>
The other obvious point to be made is that the ‘lottery schools’ should be considered a reach by almost everyone, and the schools with admit rates in the mid-teens or lower should be considered a reach even if your scores/GPA are dead in the middle of that range.</p>

<p>@drmom123 I’m with you on the pending disrailment that may be heading this way with my S. My H and I just had this conversation and the conclusion drawn was that some never learn until it hits them in the face.<br>
Maturity for some come earlier than others and the reality for most will definitely happen; its the reality that we wish would be clearer so maturation would happen before hand.
We have the maturity and know the reality, that they just do not see or get just yet…I say this as I’m looking at S grades. How do you explain 4 A’s and a B- in a subject that you have gotten high marks in for two years…because he doesn’t like the teacher. Yeah reality is going to hurt sometime next fall-winter. :-< </p>

<p>@akfirefly If the report has not been sent yet and you are still waiting on scores, wait until they are released. You normally can see the entire report of what was sent to each school you picked. If you did not make any choices in terms of holding back some, the default is ALL.</p>

<p>I keep having to back up a few pages every time…you guys are really moving along!
FWIW, we send in test scores right after the applications go in. We don’t use the free ones because we don’t know which ones we will use, with SAT 11s, etc. The strategy varies school to school. One thing we have learned is to find out what your kid’s HS is sending. Sore choice doesn’t mean a thing if your school automatically sends every score they have, like ours does. Our kids had to request that their school not send test scores with transcripts. Yikes! I wonder how many people even know to ask?</p>

<p>Re: The college list…our kid’s changed during the process as well. But they definitely did not finalize in the summer and/or fall of senior year as bajamm mentioned-their lists have been basically nailed down by the end of junior year. Our guys got back from summer activities and had to be ready to go on the common app essay. Just came across S '13s, dated August 24. S '16 was thrilled to get the ‘finish the common app essay before school starts’ speech! But he will roll right into fall sports and we ask them to finish apps by the end of October. There are so many other things to deal with later at school and there are scholarship essays and interviews that keep popping up. Plus, I like them to be able to enjoy senior year. (That’s why all of the testing has to be done by the end of the junior year too.) The other thing is, we have found that they are relaxed in the process that way, and we have had admissions officers tell us that it is nicer to read those early apps, so that could definitely be another plus. I also try to remember it is the last year they will be home, and I don’t want to spend the whole time dealing with college apps, especially during the holidays! In S '13’s case, he ended up with a girlfriend in Nov- senior year, so we were really glad most of the hard work had been done…and so was he at that point!</p>