What about Santa Clara U @typiCAmom - they ironically just sent my daughter an email yesterday. It’s not a school I typically think of in the Bay Area, but seems to have a lot of pluses for some kids. The stress level is just so high right now for these kids!
No TASP for my daughter, she received the email but wasn’t intrigued by the program - she also received an email for RSI unfortunately. That one she’s interested in - good luck with that insanely competitive program.
Did the email that your kids received for TASP go out to the email address associate with their college board (PSAT test) account?
Yes @janiemiranda - although she uses her school email for everything. I know, know we need to set up a different one.
@Darcy123, thanks for mentioning SCU, unfortunately it doesn’t have a foreign language program that DS is interested in as a second major, minor, etc. 
@Darcy123 Thank you. My d has too many email accounts and she is getting college stuff at all of them. Unfortunately she is so busy with school work right now that she has not been keeping up with the email accounts. She needs to get down to one dedicated email address for all of this college stuff.
I’ve been lurking for awhile but decided this would be a good time to do my first post.
1.) Washington State University (Colorado State is option #2)
2.) Animal Science/Pre-Vet
3.) Strong vet and animal science program and in state to try to save some money for her dream of vet school.
For anyone who has been waiting SAT scores are now posted.
Really happy for my daughter. She took the Dec 1 test as just a trial run to get a good baseline to know what to study for and relieve some anxiety for taking it in the spring. She ended up with a 14040 which is so great. Now she can just relax and take the one in April without any stress. Hopefully she will still study a bit but we are both more than happy with that score. 1400+ was her end goal but she had just hoped to be in the 1200’s the first attempt.
@ikim10 Welcome and congratulations to your DD for a happy SAT score!!!
@typiCAmom I was going to suggest Santa Clara as well. We are in southern California and they send a lot of e-mails to my child. What about UC Davis? It isn’t in the Bay Area but it is far enough to get away and close enough to come home on weekends when she wants. I don’t your child’s stats or interests but UC Santa Cruz is also close.
@lkim10 Welcome! I’ll suggest UC Davis to you as well. They have a very strong undergrad Animal Science major.
Finally, the TASP invite did go to the PSAT e-mail. At the bottom of the invite it said, “Why am I receiving this message? You have received this message because you opted to allow the Educational Testing Service to share your information with us. As one of the top PSAT/NMSQT scorers in your area, you were identified as a promising candidate for TASP. PSAT/NMSQT scores do not, however, play a role in our admissions process once you apply.”
There is still plenty of time and we know that he will change a lot over the next year. Our goal right now is to visit the options that he has expressed interest while schools are in session and he will be able to sort it all out as it gets closer. It is very challenging to get him to agree to take off of school to go visit schools since his schedule is so packed and missing one day puts him behind for a week.
Right now he is enjoying high school,and not too interested in looking towards the next step beyond positioning himself (getting the grades, taking the rigorous schedule of APs, finished testing, etc) While at this stage our dd17 was excited about the search and the research and things beyond high school, this one is not too interested in looking ahead and he hanging on to his last few years with his friend group (great guys/girls who have been friends since elementary). We are trying to follow his lead but it is tough because we know how quickly this year will go and we want him working on apps next summer and for applications to be completed by October. That is less than a year away!
@lkg4answers thanks so much. Yes UC Davis is on the list as kind of the “dream school” but the cost for out of state is so high we aren’t really sure it is worth it. She could get in state tuition prices for Colorado State and we are in-state for Washington State. WSU has a great program, she will receive a good amount of money with her grades and test scores, she will have friends/classmates going there and it is in driving distance of home so seems like an obvious win but we will definitely keep our options open and look at the choices. Oregon State is the other one that has a good animal science program but we know the least about that one and it doesn’t offer in state tuition for Washington residents. Thanks for the suggestion!
@lkim10 that makes sense. My oldest goes to Davis so if you have any questions, I might be able to help.
I think the grass is always greener on the other side. The UCs are often dream schools for OOS kids while my California kid wants to go to a non UC school. For us, the UCs are so financially attractive. I am looking for non UC schools that offer merit aid as we don’t qualify for financial need.
@lkim10 Congratulations to your D! Same score for my D here, and we are very happy as well. She is probably done, as none of her choices require SAT Subject scores, either. She can enjoy her senior year test-free.
Speaking of that, don’t forget: CA essay prompts will be announced in January!
Do those essay prompts ever really change? Or are you talking about the school-specific essay prompts?
UCD (alma mater) is great but as an OOS maybe save it for their vet graduate program which is the best in the world.
FYI - parents that have kids that took the December ACT the results for multiple choice should be available next Tuesday 12/18. Cross fingers to all…
i’m sort of nervous thinking about my S20s ACT results next week. He did not study. he will take it again through school in April; and we are planning on prep class over winter. Anyone else feel nervous? (like seriously, my stomach feels in knots! So strange considering 4.5 yrs ago we would just wait til my S15 got his in the mail! Thanks CC!)
Wondering if anyone opens their kid’s ACT account and peeks before their kid does?
Top school choice- A. What he says: The school he gets into. B. What he’d love: MIT, UCB, Cal Poly
Intended Major- Mechanical Engineering/Computer Engineering
Reason for #1. A. Because he’s practical and has heard too many stories of top students being rejected from competitive schools. B. MIT- Great engineering program and loves Boston. UCB- Urban, Diverse and great engineering program. Cal Poly- Collaborative, affordable and hands on.
@bgbg4us I’ve got a different set of ACT worries for D20. She took a proctored practice exam at school a week ago, got a 30, and has decided the score is fine and probably a good reflection of what she can do, so has declined any test prep tutoring. She’ll do some self study before the April test and call it a day. Part of me is really proud of her confidence in making that call, but I also know (as she does) that this score rules out some schools on her reach list. But she’s fine with all those decisions and implications, so I’ll try to be, too!
@Waiting2exhale Yes, occasionally they swap out one of the essay questions. Not every year.