Parents of the HS Class of 2018 (Part 1)

This year, students will receive their PSAT scores via email from College Board, assuming they provided an email upon registration. Scores should be sent in December.

Really? I thought it was still the paper report to the schools which is whenever they feel like it?

I’ll bet that my S18 will get his November full SAT report before he can access his PSAT scores.

It’s weird to me that SAT’s are quicker to grade than PSAT’s, but I assume perhaps they are doing more data analysis because of the scholarships involved?

@rhandco my guess is that it takes longer because of the shear value of tests taken on one single date (at least this year!) and trying to report that information to every high school on the same date. SAT testing is spread out over several testing dates but that’s just a guess. I have two kids that took the PSAT this year as homeschoolers so I’m wondering if I’ll get their scores before they are emailed to the kids.

It would be great if the kids were emailed the same time the schools were.

However, we did get emails from colleges who my S18 sent scores to, before he got his scores, confirming they did get his scores.

I got an email from DD’18’s PreCal teacher that her HS is offering prepping class for AMC10 (Math test?); school charges $5/class with 8 classes but it’s optional. I’m confused on why my DD’18 said many of her friends don’t know about the test and she feels like she shouldn’t take it. I guess it’s not a mandatory or required/recommended test? Anyone has experience on this AMC10? Thank you,

Both the AMC 10 and AMC 12 were offered at my son’s high school. The AMC 10 was mandatory for all freshmen (magnet STEM school) and the AMC 12 was optional but many kids took it anyway. No prep offered for either but students did well anyway because of the school’s focus.

If your daughter is a strong math student why not take it? They are challenging exams but only 75 minutes each.

Delay until January for the PSAT results is disappointing. Was hoping to get a leg up on investigating potential college/universities over the winter break and spark a fire under D18.

Anyone else have a DC18 that has absolutely no idea what they might be thinking about for a college major? I know is it early and I suppose my D16 spoiled me, she’s had on firm idea since she started HS (although there was a serious secondary contender for a while!) but D18 is truly clueless.

She seems to do well in math & science (mid to low As in honors level classes like Algebra II and biology) but has NO interest in a medical field or engineering. She is a high B average honors social studies student and a low A/high B honors english student. She is not a musician, she dropped flute for cheer as a freshman, or a theater kid, she dropped advanced theater this year to fit honor latin II into her schedule (they classes met the same period). The only EC she is truly interested in is Cheerleading (she is an competitive All - Star and School cheerleader) which takes up so much of her time there is very little time left to pursue other interests (if there were any).

Career aptitude testing has indicated that business/marketing might have potential, but I can’t get her interested in exploring anything, perhaps by joining Business Professional of America club at school. Occasionally she mentions teaching but she doesn’t really seem comfortable with children and I think she is only identifying it because she doesn’t know what else to do.

Not sure how to direct her at this point.

My S18 is more aware of majors than his older sister. Hoping he keeps focused–she seems less aware as a senior than she was as a sophomore.

AMC 10 and 12 are very well known and highly recommended to take.

My S18 has a few very varied ideas on majors, as well as a possible trade path. So we are looking for schools with liberal arts and science at the very least.

DS15 was a big math kid and loved math competitions. If your DD enjoys math and a challenge, it doesn’t hurt to take the tests. DD18 had 0 interest in them.

Just gotta voice my opinion that it is WAY too early to start asking kids what they want to major in. They haven’t even been exposed to many of the possibilities yet. My older D did have something in mind at this age, but it not even close to what she actually ended up majoring in.

Spending this weekend in Albuquerque with my DS18 at the USATF Junior Olympic National XC Championships! His race is at 1:30pm Mountain. Think fast thoughts!!

Thank you @2014novamom, @rhandco & @KSMom1518 on AMC 10 exam feedback, I will encourage her to try and take it. My DD18 is like @labegg DD who can do Math (currently in PreCal honor) but don’t have interest in medical or engineering either. She doesn’t know what she wants to major in college yet, but I know she won’t choose liberal arts, not strong in reading or memorizing. Social study subjects like history has been the hardest class for her. She is current serves as director of Design in one club, she enjoys design and drawing. I tried to guide her into graphics design or product design major but she doesn’t like the idea that her hobby or art work to be judged
 Hard to help her if she doesn’t know what she wants. @GertrudeMcFuzz thinks it’s Way too early. I’m actually worried that she is way too late not knowing what she wants, especially when many kids already know what they want.

I’m with @GertrudeMcFuzz
No need to know now. I do think it makes it easier to pick schools (later!) if they have an idea what they want.

Having a general idea of their interests is good, but I don’t think it’s necessary to know what their major will be. They’ll probably change it sometime their freshman year anyway!

I agree there’s no rush to certainty on the major
 if they have a few ideas it’s certainly helpful for school selection but as one who was certain when she went off to school and ended up with something on the opposite spectrum, my general feeling is the best thing is to allow them to sample many things early and go from there.

My D has expressed concern that she doesn’t know what she wants to major in, and I’ve told her there’s plenty of time. I did buy her the book “What color is your parachute for teens” no idea if it’s any good, but it seemed from reviews and description that it would lead more to direction rather than specifics, which I think is better at this point when she feels very aimless. Though I’m pretty sure she hasn’t read it yet. She’s still very much in the “if I ignore it it won’t ever happen” mode when it comes to thinking about the future. Which is fine, for now. Aimlessness can be a fine thing for a 15 year old.

Agree that there is certainly no cause for worry that a H.S. sophomore is unsure on a college major. Second semester sophomore year is when it’s time to start getting concerned. (Engineering majors should no when undergraduate studies start, I have heard.)

Wishing everyone well as exam week begins!

Totally agree that it is super early to decide what to major in, lol, just wish she had some idea which direction she might be interested in pursuing.

Thank you all! My DH is going to guide DD’18 into considering for Computer Science (as everything will be computing based) but I am still look into Industrial design or area whether she can apply her talent in art & design. DD’18 however doesn’t really care nor want to listen to our advice. She just wants to hurry up and grow up and work. She said. She likes working. I told her that she should make the most of her student life, then she will have a better 40+ working life. But sometimes I wonder if that’s a true statement myself.

Is she working now? Nothing like some real work time to make education appealing!