If you go to the Common Data Set for each college, they will state whether or not rank is highly considered. Of course, they don’t define how high they need to be ranked. My daughter’s high school did rank in quintiles. No numbered ranking and even the Val/Sals were a bit ambiguous. It can be easily manipulated. My suggestion would be to worry less about rank and more about when they start meeting with college reps at their schools/in-town visits, etc., They should attend those sessions and it never hurts to follow up with a question or email. The local reps will be the first “reader” of their application. A good relationship with your regional rep can make the difference between getting in and not getting in. Many schools put a huge emphasis on demonstrated interest. Many students don’t take advantage of cultivating that relationship and then are surprised that another classmate was admitted when they were not.
Wow! Thanks to all of you for the great insights! I can see how the Mom I mentioned in my original post has made sure her daughter was first in rank. She has plenty of AP’s, Honors and community service and even takes classes at our local college. She knows the process and I better get hip to it too. We use Naviance and PowerSchool and I will look for ranking info on those sites. If not, then I will contact the guidance counselor for details.
2018 Son has a passel of friends over. They slept in the garage last night in between computering jags. They set up tables and bring all their electronic kingdoms and have a ball. They also don’t know I know they pee in the side yard during these events. When they never come in the house at all to pee, I can piece it together.
Anyone else starting to think about PSAT testing dates next year? I had just assumed we’d use the same test schedule that I used with D16 but know I see that with the “new” PSAT that the College Board is recommending 10th graders take both the new PSAT/NMSQT test (the same one the 11th graders take) in Oct and the new 10th grade PSAT (same level of difficulty but different questions than the PSAT/NMSQT) in the Spring of 10th grade. Of course they are also advising 8th and 9th graders to take the new 8/9 PSAT next year too.
I’m wondering if all this testing is really necessary. We’ll likely do it just because there isn’t much prep material out for the new PSAT yet and we hope for NM but it’s sure starting to feel like a money grab from the College Board!
“Money grab” is right. I am exceedingly weary of College Board’s hand in my pocket, and I will be so glad when I don’t have to pay them a dime ever again.
I hear you @Helimom74 ! Just this last year between my S18 and D16 I paid for 7 AP’s (at $90 a pop!) a PSAT, a SAT and SAT II. That’s almost a $1K to the College Board and next year it will be more …
Not to mention paying to send SAT/II scores to schools…2015 daughter had the Visa number memorized by the end of the application process.
We are pretty fortunate here as we do not pay for the AP tests (I think it is the school District, but maybe the HS?). Also, the PSAT is paid for (9,10 and 11 grade) as is one sitting of the SAT in 11th grade. Still, it does add up sending reports to schools and any extra sittings for the SAT or SAT IIs
Our district subsidizes the cost a bit for students taking more than one AP test ($67 each), but the ACT/SAT/PSAT are all parent full-pay unless the family has demonstrated financial need (usually Free and Reduced Lunch qualifiers).
PSAT in 10th grade is free in our school district, as are AP and IB exams so that saves a bundle.
Last day of classes today. Finals the rest of the week and then 9th grade is done.
Mostly tennis and music on the summer radar screen for S’18 (and some travel)
We have two more weeks before 3 days finals. DD’18 has 3 honor classes with high Bs, and she is trying to get those into A- by getting A on finals (20%), she feels bad that she didn’t take extra credit opportunities and careless mistakes on previous tests. She always thinks there will be time and chance to make up her grades, but time flies so fast and can’t predict how much homework, projects, tests will teachers give them before finals. I don’t understand why does she always need to wait until last minutes with 2% to pull into As… I still remembered she got a 88.9% B last semester because she doesn’t want to talk to teacher for a missing assignment. And she wouldn’t let me ask teacher or school to help.
My DD’18 counselor asked if she can decided on a potential college major so it will be easier to develop a 4-year plan that’s more aligned with her interest. After couple career assessment, we learned that she likes to slow paced environmental and likes to be hands on and work on details. She enjoys art and photography, but my DH is really against these as a college major especially she doesn’t prove to us her ability by participate in contests or competitions. I think she will be happy to be an art major, and wanted to support her. But I’m really hesitate.
I’m surprised that the counselor is asking on a decision about a college major. A lot of kids already in college haven’t even decided! I do think it’s worthwhile to consider iterests and potential careers, and the myriad ways to get there and how that might work into high school and college plans. But a major? I think it’s way too early for that.
Our DD would have to go to summer school to get in the Val/Sal race. She got a job as a lifeguard in the city pool, so there goes summer school. She will take Honors Biology, rather than AP sophomore year. We think the job experience and the wages (if saved) have more long-term value in her situation. She has a great GPA, but she will not be vying for the val. Not sweating it.
@2014novamom, I dont disagree with you, however, according to counselor, the earlier we can decided on a potential college major (he said this can be changed during the high school years), the better we can align summer work, internship, courae selection to help with the college app process. My DD1 spents lots of time this year try to master Biology Honor and Algebra II Honor classes (both B+), so she siad she won’t consider study Biology or Mathematics major in college, cause she is not good with the subjects and its too much hard work. She wants to work in a fun and relax environment, like photography or film production… I dont know what to say but ask her to keep an open mind…
@jjkmom sounds like the counselor wants to help map out the plan and I think it’s a great idea. There is always time to change but it seems like the general interest may be more in the arts than the sciences. This way more of the focus can be placed on this course of study. My S loves arts and is also good in science. We love the newer term “STEAM” which includes the Art in STEM. He is welcome to change but recognizes that even in science, creativity goes a long way!
Woot! S18 got his learn’s permit today! I was startled to see how grown up he looked in his picture.
@3scoutsmom Congrats! Does your state have many laws? I think there are so many rules in our state that I am not sure if we will pursue right away. We get the permit at 16 but they can’t get license until later and other rules about who can ride in the car etc. Is that the same in other states?
Yes there a lot of rules here too. Even if the kid’s are ‘parent taught’ you have to use an approved driver’s education program. We used Teen Driver for D16 and she hated it! We are using Driver’s Ed in a Box for S18 and like it much better so far. Here they can get a learn’s permit at 15 and a provisional license at 16 - you can drive alone and with siblings but are restricted as to the number of other teenage passengers and what hours you can drive unless for work. At 18 you can get your full license with no restrictions.
While they have their learner’s permit they must keep a log of their class time, observation time and driving time and they are limited to an hour a day. You have to have your learn’s permit for at least 6 months and complete all the course, driving time and observations and be 16 before you can get your provisional license and be able to drive with out an adult in the car.
We found with D16 that the old she got the less time she had to meet these requirements so we are going to get in as much of this as possible over the summer with S18. Yesterday S18 learned to pump gas so filling the tank is now his job:-) We also spent time getting familiar with the controls and I let him drive around our very residential, low traffic block to get the feel for driving. S20 thought it great fun to run around the block and make it back to the house faster than S18 could drive:-)