@Darcy123 Thank you. That is very helpful. Recently I called our school counselor about naviance and unfortunately our school only began tracking info that way in the last year or so. I know we are lucky to have one kid a year go to Vandy from my D20s school though.
The marginal returns (if there are any) of having high SAT AND ACT scores are so small that I really donāt think they add anything additionally to a personās appliacstion to top schools.
I have heard many anecdotal stories about kids with high test scores (and high GPAs) but otherwise non-hooked didnāt get into their top choices (but many of them are happily enrolled in state-flagships or in great post-graduate places).
I think once one of the test scores (with balanced math/EBRW or ACT composite) is above certain threadshold, students should move on to other aspects of their applications.
@janiemiranda Your question is best answered as āknow the school.ā For most schools the answer is no difference. BUT, Vanderbilt is known for putting huge emphasis on high test scores. So for Vandy the answer is yes.
Yes, the school definitely matters. And sometimes the score matters not for admission, but for merit. At some schools (Iām specifically thinking of Pitt here), it doesnāt matter what the rest of the app looks like, if you donāt meet a certain test score threshold, you wonāt get merit money.
My D20 had signed up for the SAT really early (like in december for the May 4th test). When she got her 36 on the ACT we told her she can skip it (I hate throwing away $50 though). Before reading the last few pages on here though I did think that some more prestigious colleges preferred teh SAT over the ACT. And now that National Merit Semifinalist can confirm with ACT scores there is really no reason at all to take the SAT.
@janiemiranda @Darcy123 Our school has had lots of admits with 34 and under ACT. Not many under 34, most WITH 34, and a few more over that. We had: 20/16/33 accepted in the last 3 years.
@bigmacbeth That is reassuring! 
You have a lot more data @bigmacbeth Our school is 1/10 in 2018, 2/6 in 2017 and 1/3 in 2016 - so as I said not a lot of data. I did miss that there was one acceptance with a 28 (knowing our school, most likely a very, very good athlete) - and then denials for all the rest between 29 and 34 (with the majority clumped at 33 and 34). Itās tough for me see what to do with Naviance in general as thereās just so little data for most out-of-state schools. Other than see that even for high stat kids, most are denied.
@Darcy123 I didnāt use Naviance at all for D17, and wonāt for D20. Itās interesting, but as you pointed out there as student athletes, as well as ED kids in there. Not useful. I think the CDS is more useful, as are the specific college admissions threads here on CC every cycle. You can drive yourself crazy with all this info.
Iād rather just have a well thought out list, and a kid who has a good attitude about the process and the proper expectations.
@bigmacbeth: āIād rather just have a well thought out list, and a kid who has a good attitude about the process and the proper expectations.ā
I really like that, and it is generally the way we have done it so far with three kids. Having an overabundance of information available to me does not make for much more than a stressful process.
We have begun to look at Naviance with this one, because he has begun to look, but donāt like to use ratings charts and websites and such.
Interestingly, as this one is the last of the bunch, I have found that as he awakens to the weightiness of this process, he mostly wants to know which schools his siblings looked at before choosing. (It is possible that mentally he is comparing, but he never does much more than ask a question or two, so Iām not really sure.)
He knows he brings his own gifts to the table, and has walked his own path (where they all had each other to look at and lean on; could look over at the other as find a reason and a way to dig deep and reach high), and will study things none of them ever did.
That helps him to develop āthe proper expectationsā as he figures out what is right for him.
So basically all the summer programs that my D applied came up with waitlists. Not totally surprised as they were affordable/free programs and I assume the competition was fierce. One program said that the waitlist is very active and not to lose hope but still. She has a part time job lined up and waiting to hear from another job. She is also thinking to spend some time coding. Any ideas of an online coding class that has good structure and not very expensive? She says she ll it do in on her own but I think a bit of structure will help.
Also after the waitlist fest we are revisiting the college list making sure we did not over reach. LOL!
FYI visited Marist (Pougkeepsie, NY) today for their Psychology program (also featured education, criminal justice, and social work programs). 1st visit for D20 but 2nd visit for me as S19 visited/applied/accepted (attending College of Charleston in favor of a warm southern school 
)
Posted in the other 2020 section as well.
Positives:
- This school is SO beautiful - many buildings show view of the river. Stone architecture, lots of grass, hills (great for sledding in winter). School was quiet (probably because students were still sleeping at 10 am) but did see students walking around.
- Academics, especially for psychology (her interest) very good and well-represented. Especially liked that psych and the other majors must do an internship to graduate. Iāve seen this stressed in other majors, but not really for psychology. I appreciated this.
- Tour guide was awesome. Knowledgeable, spoke well, etc. Biomedical major. Said hi to friends/passers-by (I always look for this as a good thing for friendly population)
- Info session given by the dean who runs these majors. Gave lots of great facts about professor longevity, combo of FT faculty and PT professors currently practicing in professions (judges, policemen, psychologists, etc. etc.)
- About 4800 students. Entering class this year is 1200
- Great, established study abroad programs to Florence and Dublin (which my kid will never do. Just going to college will be a feat
). I did like the two week intensive option to go to several places. Teachers get to go to Hawaii for 6 weeks and study. - Liked the focus on community service.
- Liked the under Route 9 tunnel so they can cross the busy street safely and access other things (Rite aid, food, etc.)
- Everything needed available on campus. Cheap tickets to broadway and other stuff. Seemed active student body. Free laundry.
- New fitness center to open 2020 year (yey). Looked BIG and will offer area for D1 sports to work out separate from regular workout people (smart).
Negatives:
- D20 thought it was too big (whhaaaa?) Remember this is coming from a social anxiety kid. I think it was her perception because there was grass between the buildings ha ha. Iāll have to talk to her more about that. I think sheās just overwhelmed at the thought of navigating college in general. That being said, I am going to keep an eye on this for future visits to gauge if this is a pattern. Which means I will have to add more 2500 or less colleges.
- Price could be a factor as her SATs will not be that high so most likely not much merit. Off the table if no merit for our budget.
Other miscellaneous:
- No car until 60 credits earned. Looks like parking could be a problem.
- Dorms were standard doubles. Juniors/seniors live in townhomes and all get singles (adding this to positives). Housing guaranteed Fresh/Soph but anyone who wants to live on campus can. Many also choose to live off campus at that point.
- Social work major graduates with enough credits/stuff so that if pursue a masters can apply for advanced standing and only need 1 year for masters (they do not offer the masters program at Marist).
- Interesting walking bridge a couple miles away.
- Good/Quick email response from adviser/admissions when S19 applied.
- Test optional school. If do well in school, merit will still be given and no difference in amt. However, sending a low SATs could actually reduce merit (but help raise merit if good SAT).
- 1 dining hall (excellent allergy free area/vegan options), 2 starbucks, a sandwich place. Restaurants across the street.
Have to chat with D20 but pretty sure she will apply.
HTH! (hope this helps!)
@cakeisgreat Thanks for the descriptive review. I was drawn in to the river views, hills, and sledding. You painted a pretty picture with your words. Iām always interested in how a campus looks but DS just says meh.
@am9799 DS had horrible success with summer acceptances too and made us re-think his college chances. We were waiting on the last summer app which was also his first choice and found out last week that heās in!!! Canāt tell you how excited we all are. Plus itās a paid internship doing research in his chosen area. Holy cow! Now all along weāve been trying to stay positive for him but wondering what Plan G, H, and I would be as A-F were either denials or waitlists. He wants to add 1 week of music intensive so still need to get that sorted out. I want him to take a writing seminar at the local CC as it helped our eldest with college essays, but not sure itāll fit in this summer.
May will be quite busy as he has 6 performances over 2 weekends, AP exams, and DE college class final. Junior year has been the toughest by far, but weād been hearing that all along. So true. DS did start looking at Common App Essay prompts. Canāt remember who suggested it on CC, but thank you. Since theyāre no changing, hopefully DS will be able to start on those soon after school is out.
@am9799 Have you checked out any of the online classes like edx or coursera for coding classes? DS took a few of those and theyāre basically free unless you want a certificate, I believe. Seems like there are a lot of universities who participate. Good luck on that.
@SoccaMomma, Congratulations on the internship!
As I was reading your post my D texted me that she just got accepted to the very last program she was waiting to hear from. In shock! In my mind I had moved on already. Funny how things turn out. Now lots of paper work to fill and on with the APs, the varsity meets and the rest of the very busy junior year. We have one more college to visit but it is very close by and no travel involved.
@SoccaMomma @am9799
Congratulations on the internship acceptances. How exciting!
DS only applied to one summer camp (didnāt get in), so he will be ābusyā working on application, extended essay (IBD requirement), music and of course swimming.
To our surprise, junior year has been smoothier than sophomore year and DS thinks it is because he uses his time more productively.
Just one AP (calculus AB) and two IB (Physics and Latin) exams and two SAT subject tests to go for the next one month!
We are considering a visit to UChicago during the summer, am I alone in worrying too much about the weather of a place too much? Snowing this time of year in Chicago bothers me!
Congratulations on the summer program acceptances! @SoccaMomma & @am9799
Thanks @makemesmart and no you arenāt the only one worried about the weather. Lots of talk on the 2019 thread about cold weather gear for those students going to much colder states for school.
Thanks and congrats @am9799!! So glad it worked out for summer plans.
@makemesmart no youāre not alone in weather concerns! weāre from CA and visited Boston in February which I thought was a good idea so my D could see what the weather is like in the winter. We just visited Northwestern and U Chicago mid-April and while it was sunny and not too cold, the wind off the lake at Northwestern was terrible - we could hardly hear the tour guide, she had to speak louder because of it. She said itās normally windy there but not that bad but it was definitely not a plus for my student. At U Chicago the same day, the weather felt more pleasant and much less windy. But at either one, the winter would be quite different than what my daughter is used to obviously!
My S20 says he doesnāt care about the weather, since heās looking everywhere from Boston to Miami! Some people just donāt get bothered by it as much as other people. Of course, flight delays and that sort of thing will always be a problem for us if heās flying to school!
The weather thing does make me laugh. S2 would be fine with more cold and snow than we usually get here (though it is a real winter), but heās drawn a heat and humidity line and will not budge below it. Iām fine with it - there are plenty of great schools well within his go-zone.