@vistajay That’s a busy boy you have! Some kids thrive with schedules like that. My older daughter would have hated it, but my younger one is not yet finished with marching band when she is already asking to sign up for water polo on top of everything else she has outside school!
D22 and I went to NYC this past weekend for a girls trip with friends and she has declared that she wants to go to school there. As in right in the city or in close proximity. This from a girl who, 2 years ago, visited Elon in NC with us and S18 and thought it was the perfect campus for her with its traditional layout, trees, green space and cohesive campus feel. Obviously, NYC could not be more of the opposite. Should be an interesting next couple of years with her to see how many times she wavers again. She is, and will likely remain, a ‘B’ student, so the makings of a list of viable options might be a wild ride.
Hello, all, good to be with you. Our D19 has just sent off her EA application to Parsons, and our S22 is in an application process as well. We’re moving to Boston next summer after six years overseas (four years in London, and it’ll be two in Geneva by the time we leave; lived in Westchester County, NY, before that), and S22 is applying to a private day/boarding school in the area. He’ll probably be a day student if he gets in, but there’s a chance he’ll board during the week because of basketball and baseball. He’s taking the SSAT next weekend, and we got him some tutoring that we’re thinking will help him quite a bit. His practice tests have been in the 80th to 87th percentile, and we’d like to get him above the 90th for a better shot at this very selective school. If he doesn’t get in, we’ll look to live in a town with a good public high school, maybe Cambridge or Newton. He’s a very good all-around student, though not a top-of-the-class type, and an excellent athlete. While he’s a good reader, he doesn’t enjoy it and never reads for pleasure, which is sad for me as a professional editor and longtime lover of words. Maybe he’ll come to it at some point. Anyway, he’s generally a delight, as is his sister—we’ve been very lucky.
First weekend of the fall musical is over. S22 has a great comedic part and was hilarious. Hopefully he can get some rest this week and strengthen his voice. He also found out he made the JV soccer team at his school, which is a big deal for him because only 3 freshmen made the JV team (there is a lower team comprised entirely of the other freshmen players). It looks like about 25 players are on the JV team, so playing time will be scarce but still will be a good learning experience for him.
Here’s a STEM oriented question. My S22 currently is interested in computer science and math for his future college. I’ll stress “currently” because I know things can change. But given that, I wondered if any veteran parents (i.e. have older kids already in college) have any insight regarding SAT Subject Tests. Several STEM colleges want/will consider SAT Subject Tests for math and science. I’ve read that SAT Subject Tests should be manageable with standard high school courses, vs. AP courses. For instance, regular high school Chemistry would be sufficient. Anyone have experience in this area?
Our S16 took two: Math Level 2 and Physics since several of the schools he was looking at recommended two subject tests(some actually mentioned Math Level 2 and a science). He did very well on both. The only AP math or science class he took was AP Calc BC, but I don’t think that was necessary for the Math Level 2 test.
He should take Math level 2 and one science. Sorry I do not know about SAT Chem test but Math level 2 can be taken after doing precalc at school.
@sfSTEM Our D19 took the chemistry subject test and got a 680. She’s in higher-level chemistry at an IB international school, but a good student in regular chemistry would probably do just as well.
S22 did three SSAT tutoring sessions with two different tutors – and scored in the 60th percentile on his final practice test, a complete collapse. Left him really rattled for the actual test the next day. He said it went better than that practice test – he didn’t run out of time on any of the sections – but still was “hard.” So, we’ll see. Might have him retake it in January if he scores much below the 85th percentile.
We’ve been rethinking our school plans for him and now think we’ll probably apply to other private schools, as a friend who also moved overseas from our Westchester town and then back to the States warned us about the challenges of public-school re-entry for a black American expat kid. His first-choice school, Milton Academy, may be out of reach depending on his SSAT results. We’ll also look at BB&N, Rivers and maybe a couple of others. Thoughts welcome!
My daughter is so excited!! She just found out she got the lead in the musical!! It’s been a great start to the year. The musical is in March, so lots of time to rehearse. Singing and acting are her favorite things.
We are talking about doing a summer college tour in New England. One of her brothers went to Wesleyan University, so she’s been there, but she wants to see other campuses. Yay to college visits. I love the whole process!
Congrats to your daughter, @sewemma !
Newbie here! I have a S22 and D23. College prep is a whole new thing for me! Both are avid golfers, play on school teams and travel tournaments. My son wants to play college D1 golf. He is strong in math and in the IB program at high school. He gets just about straight A’s with an occasional B here and there. He will start prepping for the SAT later this year. Any other advice to help him get on track to a good school is appreciated.
S22’s SSAT scores are out. His total was 2094, 63rd percentile. 692 verbal (61st), 716 math (56th), 686 reading (66th). A bit disappointing, and we’re going to have him take it again on Dec. 8. Will try some different test prep this time, online and self-directed rather than in-person, as his last tutoring only seemed to muddle him. I keep thinking of the 87th percentile he got on his first practice test – I know that wasn’t a fluke, but rather reflective of his real knowledge and potential. Will keep you guys posted on his progress.
My d19 took Math 2 after she took Calc BC and wished she had taken it a year earlier (after PreCalc). Nothing from Calc BC was on it and being a year further away from some of the earlier high school math made it a bit more difficult.
She took the Chem SAT after AP Chem as recommended (IIRC it is recommended to take the science SATs after the corresponding APs) and was glad as she did see material she had learned in AP Chem and wouldn’t have otherwise known, although she did wish she had studied a little more of the high school Chem material as a refresher. She had friends with only hobos high school physics backgrounds who sat down to take the Physics SAT and were completely lost. She knows some people have done well on those without AP sciences but those people are both strong test takers and were able to teach themselves a large portion of the sciences not regularly covered in high school curriculums.
Are anyone else’s kids preparing to select courses yet for next year? This week at d22’s school, teachers are having conversations with kids to determine recommendations and kids themselves are chatting with each other about various options. D22 is hoping to double up on honors math and science, along with honors for French, English, APWH and the required PE class. I foresee the possibility that they might have trouble fitting 2 sciences with labs into her schedule, but she wants to at least give it a shot and see if it works out.
Still in the process of figuring out what kind of school S22 will be attending next year. He hasn’t been terribly focused in his preparations for his SSAT retest tomorrow. My wife kept him home for a day of intensive prep today (she’s working from home lately), and this afternoon they decided he should skip tomorrow’s test and switch to the January date. I went online to do so – and the January date is unavailable in Switzerland, so he’s on for tomorrow anyway. As I told my wife, even in the worst-case scenario, he won’t end up poorly educated – we’ll just move somewhere with an excellent public high school and send him there. They’re visiting Boston in about a week to tour two privates (the only ones we’re considering that had tour availability) and two publics, so we’ll have a more tangible sense of the options then.
@mom2twogirls No course selection yet. I don’t think we do that at my son’s school until March. One thing he will be doing. Honors Geometry this summer. He’s taking Algebra II/Tri this year, skipped Geometry. But many schools want a Geometry class, so he’ll take it over the summer. Then pre-calc sophomore year.
That’s an early course selection time! Not here, although I think she knows what she is taking. She dropped down in math this year because her middle school does not give the best math prep. In the long run, though, I think it will be great because she’ll really understand Alg. 2! I don’t see her taking Precalc next year, it moves super fast, so I’d rather her take the 2 year version that includes stats and trig and then she can do calc senior year. She’ll take Eng 10 GT, French 3 Honors, Chem GT, her first AP history class (although she may drop down in this. It’s just not her favorite subject), a tech class of some sort to get that credit done, and then an elective. It’s pretty formulaic here.
No course selection here yet. I think the 22ers meet with their counselors in late January. The electives fair is next week, but S22 plans to continue orchestra so he has no room for an elective until Junior year.
@redfraggle Which AP history might she take? It’s possible my son would take AP World History next year. I admit to some trepidation about AP courses just yet. Much more reading and analysis than he’s done previously. But you gotta dive in at some point.
@sfSTEM we do Gov’t and Politics in 10th here. S20 took it and did well, but he’s more inclined to that type of thinking. He really enjoyed the class and got a 5 on the exam despite being absent for an entire semester due to a mental health crisis. I know D22 could do the class, but if it isn’t an area of interest not sure it’s worth it.