<p>D had a conflict last year but ended up taking the SAT. </p>
<p>Again, is the trip a one time thing or do they take many trips? </p>
<p>Although less than ideal, the SAT is also given in Nov and Dec for any late retakes--assuming no EA or ED schools.</p>
<p>More info: D is a fairly good student but has test anxiety and usually doesn't perform as well on tests as her grades would predict. We are not yet sure of all the schools where she wants to apply, but certainly will apply to main campuses of Pitt and Penn State (PA resident). She has some interest in LAC's and more competitive colleges. </p>
<p>I think she might have fun on the band trip but she is not a "band-buddy". There are other annual band trips which she has not elected to attend. OTOH, she has many performance opportunities that are not attached to a trip. At this point, I think she is truly undecided.</p>
<p>
Yes, isn't that always the way! :D</p>
<p>Last year my son took the January SAT. He was registered for the March SAT, but then found out that an important debate tournament had been rescheduled to that date. So he skipped the SAT. Fortunately, his first SAT scores were good enough that he (eventually) decided he was "one and done." He took two SAT2 exams in June, and one more in October. Taking the SAT in January was a very good thing for him, as he would have been scrambling if he hadn't!</p>
<p>I'm having a good laugh at Pumpkin's post because we had a similar series of events and I did get blamed! I honestly can't remember exactly what happened, but DD ended up with one test date to either up her SATI or the IIs. In the end, she did not get into the schools she really wanted but did transfer to one two years later. I guess it all works out.</p>
<p>OP--with that new info, and the fact that she's in a prep class now (correct?) I would say skip the band trip and take the SAT. It's a good excuse not to go on the trip.</p>
<p>I don't know if this would be possible in your case, but it may be worth considering if the logistics can be worked out. We had the problem of allowing daughter to come with us to a music festival that ran from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon on a May weekend vs. staying home to take the SAT. We found a test site close to the festival and let her take the test there on Saturday morning, then she was able to attend the rest of the festival with us. Other than not being able to stay up late on Friday, she didn't miss a whole lot of the music.</p>
<p>I agree with the warning that test dates can "disappear", especially the ones in the spring when a lot of school and social happenings are already scheduled or soon will be--if not for Sat. morning, then for the Friday night before. We panicked when we looked at the test calendar along with the school and sport calendars. There were very few possibilities that did not conflict with something very important, like prom or the state championships in D's sport. As it is, she will miss a track meet to take the Jan. test. I'd err on the side of taking it when she's sure she can without serious repercussions. Also, D fit in an SAT II last spring as a soph, precisely for this reason. However, the score was not good so now she may have to find an additional date or else take 3 subject tests at the same sitting, which is not ideal.</p>
<p>Our son was in the same situation as was several of his band mates. They merely signed up to take the SAT at a hs in Ohio. BTW, the band trip was to that big roller coaster park west of Cleveland(Cedar Point??). Several parents shuttled them to the park after the exam.</p>
<p>Standardized tests need to be changed so that you can take them anytime you want. They could set up permanent test centers all over the country where you make an appointment, go in, and take the test on a computer terminal, and get an instant test score.</p>
<p>^^^Graduate level exams of all types are done that way, but they are done on computer and I have a feeling that there would be too many test-takers for the test centers to accommodate. Great idea though!</p>
<p>Even more info: I just discovered that in addition to there being a band trip on the March SAT date, there is apparently a band trip on the May date and commencement on the June test date (where the band plays too.) It figures! Doesn't anybody check the calendar? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Yikes! That's a lot of conflicts. Not to mention this fall when marching/competition season is in full swing.</p>
<p>I had looked into taking the SAT in the city they were visiting, but it conflicted with the competition. But it is a great idea if it works.</p>
<p>I ended up sending D's guidance office a nicely worded note because I was stunned at the amount of school sponsored, mandatory conflicts that existed. Definitely going to look at it much more carefully when D2 comes along. </p>
<p>The test is so important, which seems to be downplayed by her guidance office or school administration. We found it to be extremely important in obtaining merit aid.</p>
<p>At least D doesn't do marching band...because it CONFLICTS with fall sports! </p>
<p>I think things were much simpler when I was a kid.</p>
<p>D commented to me recently that she thinks high schools seem to actually try to force kids into labeled categories by their inflexibility regarding activities. You have to be the band kid, the theater kid, the academic games kid, the sports kid, etc, because of the time commitments and lack of flexibility in scheduling. I admit, it seems pretty hard to climb to the top in more than one category when you are competing with kids who dedicate themselves to only one thing.</p>
<p>One thing to know is that if you are registered for an SAT and you end up needing to particiate in a school sponsored activity, you can petition the collegeboard (with a supporting letter from your counselor), and they can offer you an alternate date. </p>
<p>I have looked into this because my daughter only has the May test date available for her subject tests but she will have a conflict if her team qualifies to compete in the national championship tournament.</p>
<p>That is possibly great news! Do you know if they offer some alternate date around the conflicted date, or do they offer another regularly scheduled date?</p>
<p>Light years ago, my kid took the SAT on an alternate date. State math contest conflicted with the March date. Immigrant parents were unwilling to let their kids participate, so the math league arranged an alternate date. Worked out great!</p>
<p>Does this trip include Sunday? There are always Sunday tests for Saturday sabbath observers. If Sunday is a possibility, check those dates out too.</p>
<p>lkf725: I don't know the details, but I think the biggest hurdle is to convince collegeboard that it is 1) an unanticipated and 2) unavoidable conflict 3) related to a school activity. You should call up collegeboard and explain the situation to them.</p>
<p>Definitely choose the Band Trip</p>
<p>Band Trip! Sign up for the May and June SAT dates.</p>
<p>I haven't read the whole thread, but have we ascertained where the band trip is to? Is this an amusement park trip or playing at the Rose Bowl?</p>