<p>Hopefully it's not too early to start this thread. In reading the forums here, I've discovered (in some cases) it's never too early to start college planning and questioning!</p>
<p>My 8th grade son is our resident Trekkie and techie. His dream school is MIT, and he is undaunted by the narrow chances of admittance. I admire his spirit. He took the ACT for the first time in December 2013, and earned a 31 composite.</p>
<p>These forums have been such a boon as I prepare to send my oldest child to college (class of 2015). Best wishes to all the kiddos as they make their way to college!</p>
<p>I was too shy to start this thread myself, but I’ll be on it for DS2! He has also taken the ACT (did not score a 31…that’s an amazing score HeliMom74!) and he has taken the SAT, as well. He did much better on the SAT than the ACT, but I’ve read that the SAT will be changing to be more like the ACT in the next couple of years :-(</p>
<p>I also have a DS1 (Class of 2015), so I’m still learning everything via his journey. And DH & I have 2 more after that…Classes of I Don’t Know Because I Haven’t Counted On My Fingers Yet…</p>
<p>To any parents out there who are starting this process with their oldest DC, I highly suggest reading a prior Parents of Class of 20XX thread. Start at the first post and read some each day if you can. Not only is this highly informative, but it reads like a novel! I highly recommend the Parents of HS Class of 2013 thread started by RobD. Those parents taught me so much, bless them. And find out what an EFC is…plus an estimate of what yours might be. Do this sitting down. I wish someone would have explained this to DH & me in the maternity ward w/DS1. </p>
<p>Good luck to all as we travel this road together!</p>
<p>Thank you, GoAskDad! (I giggled at your screen-name.) </p>
<p>I did learn from my Class of 2015 daughter that it would be wise to have my Class of 2018 son take the SAT earlier than junior year, as it is causing her inordinate stress in hoping she’ll have the appropriate confirmation score for National Merit stuff. </p>
<p>Ugh, all the testing: I know it’s necessary to have some sort of measurement, but I despise how kids are ruled by the numbers for their years of school.</p>
<p>I have learned MUCH from these threads. Is there a thread which explains all the acronyms used by posters on these forums? Some I can figure out using context, but others leave me scratching my head. </p>
<p>What is the best site to use to figure the EFC? (That’s Estimated Family Contribution, right?)</p>
<p>Thank you again for your reply, and I’m looking forward to hearing and sharing good news (and commiserating with the bad) with all the moms and dads and kids of this class!</p>
<p>BunHeadMom - thanks! I’m sure I’ll be directing the parents of this thread toward your many helpful postings on other threads, including Parents of HS Class 2015.</p>
<p>HeliMom74 - I believe EFC stands for “Expected Family Contribution” - emphasis on the “Expected.” I recall using a rough calculator on FinAid dot org approx 1.5 years ago. The result was shocking to me but - after reading a lot here on CC & elsewhere - I realized that we will be “expected” to pay full freight for virtually any college to which our DCs are admitted. Our EFC would be well over most any annual tuition. So all our kids will need to attend schools w/high merit aid, or start at Jr. College and then transfer. DH & I came out of college w/less than $5K in debt for him, and no debt for me. Our parents helped us cash-flow college back in the Stone Age. Understanding our EFC was a sobering realization and, even though we have saved somewhat for college, we have not managed to save even close to the amount we’re supposed to have available. I do suggest that parents read the Financial Aid threads on CC, as those provide a wealth of info and - if one reads those threads throughout the course of an application year - one can really glean a lot of good advice. I also read a book about college financing and I’ll have to jog my memory on the title…but it was depressing (to me, anyway).</p>
<p>Yikes! This thread makes me realize how time is marching on. I have a class of 2018 son and will be finding out next week whether he’ll be getting an academic scholarship at the private HS which is his top choice. He’s going there anyway (the tuition is reasonable, not one of those schools that cost as much as college) but it would be a great bonus so keeping fingers crossed.</p>
<p>My D (class of 2015, hello to names I recognize from the 2015 board!) has commented a couple of times that he’s lucky to be getting the benefit of her experience with navigating APs, PSATs, SATs, SAT subjects and ACTs. And at least 2018ers will be the 2nd class to take the revised SAT. I would be stressed and mad if I were a class of 2017 parent! </p>
<p>I have to say that I’m glad that S is our 2nd child. He took the SCAT in 6th grade and qualified for Johns Hopkins CTY courses and is a great test taker but (deep sigh) is more interested in sports and video games than in academics. He’s reading through Lord of the Rings but otherwise right now his college ambition is to go to a Big Ten school so he can watch football :(</p>
<p>S2 is in this class! We are still navigating which HS he will attend. He has been semi-participating S1 2014’s search for a university. I am happy to have a several year break between decisions. Look forward to taking this ride with other parents of 2018 Freshmen.</p>
<p>My DD is Class of '18 as well. Her older brother was Class of '11, so it will be interesting to see what has changed since he graduated. She is already interested in researching colleges and potential majors - and even though she changes her mind often I’m glad she’s thinking ahead. </p>
<p>Looking forward to many conversations with all of you over the next few years!</p>
<p>Signing on as another younger sibling of the Class of 2105 lol. My S1 is a 2018’er. He won’t take any standardized tests until he takes the PLAN and PSAT in 10th grade. Up until then he will only have NY Regents exams. They are not difficult but they are stressful to prepare for as an 8th and 9th grader.</p>
<p>This is my super-athletic child. He is advanced for his age in volleyball but there are only a hundred plus colleges with a varsity volleyball program so that may not work out for him. He can always play club.</p>
<p>Visiting colleges with his older sister has made him step up his game academically. He was always smart and did well in school but he has taken it up a notch since visiting Villanova. He really liked it and he talked about it for weeks. He may not be able to go on the next round of visits as those will be attached to D’s volleyball tournaments which he isn’t going to.</p>
<p>Looking forward to the years ahead with the group.</p>
<p>Okay - I’m in. My DD2 is a 2018. She just took the entrance exam yesterday for the H.S. her sister (DD’12)attended, so I guess it is okay to join up on another thread. Nice to meet you all.</p>
<p>Hello to all my fellow Class of 2018 parents! Keepmecruisin, I agree with you: my Class of 2015 daughter has laid a helpful blueprint for my 2018 son. My 2018’r wants to take the PSAT as a freshman, just to see how he’ll do. I think taking the PSAT as a freshman and sophomore really helped my 2015 daughter do well when it counted this year (junior year).
Has anyone’s child had success going directly to AP Bio without taking the Pre-AP Bio class?</p>
<p>HeliMom, our high school has two prerequisites for AP Bio, Honors Bio I and II, that cannot be waived. It essentially makes it impossible to take AP Bio prior to senior year, since those classes have prerequisites as well. Does your school allow kids to go straight into AP Bio?</p>
<p>Our school does not let kids into AP science classes until they take the regular/honors class. But now with AP Physics being restructured, our teacher thinks they will let kids into AP Physics 1 (or whatever the first class will be).</p>
<p>Our high school lets kids go to AP classes without any pre-requisites. It’s a sink-or-swim type situation. I just need to research to see if going straight to an AP science course as a freshman would cause problems for my son’s schedule in the rest of his high school years.</p>
<p>The SAT is going to change for our 2018s. We will have to keep an eye on the proposed changes together. I have read that it is going to be more like the ACT, but we will have to wait to see. I think it helps to get the kids exposed to the format and timing of the test, so I hope it doesn’t change too much. Both of my older kids took the SAT - maybe my '18 will take the ACT.</p>
<p>The article omedog linked says “We have made the decision to adjust our schedule for this work and will now release the revised PSAT/NMSQT® in fall 2015, followed by the release of the revised SAT® in spring 2016.”</p>
<p>So it’s class of 2017 (Juniors in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016, Seniors in Fall 2016) who are the first batch of guinea pigs. Our 2018 kids are the 2nd batch. Still worrying but not quite as bad for us as for the 2017ers.</p>
<p>Ironically it’s my 2015 D who seems to be better at the ACT.</p>