SOPHOMORE Parents

Parents Forum
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<p>I finally looked at the Xiggi method, which is very similar to what I did before I took the LSAT. This type of method worked beautifully for me. I was thinking of trying something like it with my daughter, and I will, but I worry about how this method will work for her with math. Carolyn, how did you find a tutor for your daughter for the math section? Thanks for the info about how your d's math psat rose after taking geometry. We will hope. </p>

<p>Also, I've thought Beloit and Lawrence might be good schools for my d, but am concerned about their location. My d is most interested in schools in or near cities. Bard is an exception, but the proximity to NYC appeals to her. I definitely would like to know more about both Beloit and Lawrence. When I have a chance I'll formulate some questions.</p>

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<p>Actually, Bard is just about as far from NYC as Beloit is from Chicago. :) </p>

<p>Ask your daughter's math teacher for a tutor recommendation. That was how I found the tutor my daughter worked with. Be sure to ask up front if they have worked with kids specifically on SAT math tutoring. The one my D. worked with was PERFECT for her because he understood math anxiety and he proposed the "Xiggi method" right off the bat (of course, he didn't call it that. :) ) What was interesting is that there were a lot of things that he helped her "get" that she'd probably been taught in school but had never really learned - little tricks for solving problems, and how to use all those fancy buttons on her calculator. He also helped her with her math coursework for school as necessary. She came out of the experience much more confident about math in general and it showed this year when she took Trig/Statistics.</p>

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<p>Thanks, I'll start trying to find a good tutor. Do the kids at Beloit go into Chicago at times? Do you know why she prefers Beloit over Lawrence?</p>

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<p>My daughter preferred Beloit because she felt it was a little more "Quirkier" than Lawrence. I personally don't see all that much difference, but, as they say, it's all in the eyes of the beholder. She thought Bard was way too "out there" for her, so perhaps Beloit is somewhere in the middle in her mind. </p>

<p>There is a low cost bus that goes into Chicago, as well as to Madison. My understanding from talking with current students and parents of current students is that students are more likely to go to Madison than Chicago, as Madison is just more geared for college students and a little closer. Beloit itself definitely isn't the greatest - I'd compare it to Poughkeepsie, the closest town of any size to Bard - but the downtown is within walking distance, and the school runs shuttles to other parts of town. From all accounts, there's enough going on on campus (theater, guest speakers, two museums, parties, special events) that most students don't feel the need to go off campus all that often. On the other hand, many students do at least a semester or year off-campus as Beloit has wonderful study abroad and domestic off-campus programs. My daughter thinks she'll be fine -- but, of course, we'll have to see how she feels once she actually gets there. ;) </p>

<p>If it had been me, choosing from her choices, I probably would have chosen Goucher - I love the setting, beautiful campus that feels like it is out in the middle of no where, but you step off campus and you have malls, movie theaters, restaurants within walking distance, and all of Baltimore easily reached by free college shuttle bus. But, again, I'm not the one going to college, so I have learned to just smile at most of her decisions as long as I think she can get a decent education in the end. Believe me, there have been some unexpected twists along the way and enough mother-daughter angst to last the rest of our lives. LOL! Should be interesting to see how it all turns out. :)</p>

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<p>By the way, if your daughter is looking for a high-quirkiness quotient, and wants to be close to NYC, you might want to have her take a look at Sarah Lawrence. It's closer to the city than Bard. Both are excellent schools with similar quirky feels.</p>

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<p>I wanted to apologize. I didn't start this thread to blab on and on about my daughter. Honest. So, let's pick up where we left off --- Sophomore parents, keep introducing yourselves. I'll try to pipe down. :)</p>

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<p>Wow! It's hard to believe we are on the brink of starting this process for the 3rd (and last) time! D is a junior in college, S1 is a college freshman, and now S2 is a hs sophmore. We have been catching our breath this year--though we are aware that it all really starts as soon as they are in hs. </p>

<p>D had a PSAT prep course over the summer before junior year--huge help and she was NM commended. S1 did an intense prep on the english during summer before junior year, and was NMF--math is his passion, so no extra prep needed for that. We are in an area that has the highest cutoff scores to make NMSF. S2 is only a few points off S1's sophmore scores, so he will definitely do the summer prep course--this time in math, which is not his passion, though he did fairly well. </p>

<p>S2 has been on many college campus tours by now--poor guy. He may apply to D's or S1's schools, but has some other thoughts as well, so we will be on the road again next year. We have actually found this to be a fun thing to add to a trip, or around which to plan a trip--so actually looking forward to that aspect of the process. </p>

<p>The scary part is that this class of '08 will probably face the largest number of applicants ever at all schools--estimates are that this will be the peak year of the "baby boomlet". We are not looking forward to the possiblity of disappointments, even though he is a highly qualified kid!! </p>

<p>Having seen his older siblings go through it all, S2 is well aware of college expectations and how things work, so at least it is not a mystery to him. He likes taking the very challenging classes, and works hard in them. So...we will see how things go!!</p>

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<p>My son is a sophomore at a medical magnet in a CA school. My first child is finishing his last quarter at UCLA (yay!) and my daughter is a sophomore at Yale. This son has strong grades and did well on the PSAT. He is starting to get involved in a lot of ECs including serving on a high school commission with a CA assemblyman which is a very interesting experience. My son puts himself under some pressure because his older sister got into some very prestigous colleges. He has the toughest position in the family -- he's the middle of three boys and has a tough act to follow as an older sibling. I think the hardest thing is to encourage him to do his best -- and he is extremely bright and capable -- while trying to convince him that he will go to the college that is right for him, etc. and that he is his own person, etc. I find that sibling issues extend into this process. His high school has an outside SAT prep course after school which he'll do in the fall as it's convenient and reasonable in cost. He's taking two AP courses this year and handling them quite well -- not sure what else to add. I usually visit CC sporadically but I'm glad to see this thread.</p>

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<p>Irish, Can you tell us a little bit about the SAT prep class your daughter took? How did you find it? What would you advise parents/students look for in these types of classes?</p>

<p>Mim, I agree with you about sibling issues extending into the process. I see it happening with my two, although in reverse of your situation. I know I will have to be very sensitive to my daughter's feelings as her brother will likely have more options than she had.</p>

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<p>My sophomore son is my second son - he got an early intro to college visits by tagging along with his brother who is currently a senior. Second son is a good student with no real direction yet on what he wants to do. He prefers math and science classes, but generally does well enough in the others as well. He's not into sports, but is a fairly decent clarinet player.</p>

<p>He's applied to spend his junior year in Germany, but we won't find out for another month or more if he will get to go. With that uncertainty looming, we are feeling like we may need to accelerate the college search process (college visits, SAT tests, etc) in case he is gone all next year. We made a quick visit to University of Tulsa Friday, a school he liked a lot and would apply to in a heartbeat if the decision were to be made today. He thinks he might like Rice as well, so if the test scores put him into that range we'll probably fly down to Houston before senior applications are due.</p>

<p>Going through this a second time seems much more manageable!</p>

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<p>I was just thinking about the sibling thing. Comparing D to S and then figuring out strategy is much on my mind.</p>

<p>As I see it, S will probably graduate with almost all As except 2-3 A minuses. A little lower than D. His SATs will most likely be a little higher than D, if their comparative sophomore PSATs are predictive, and she was 1470 in one sitting on the old SAT with a terrible Princeton Review prep class as her only prep that actually took her scores DOWN from the 740/750 equivalent she had on junior PSATs for NMF. D had national level ballet, and co-editor of the newspaper, and a Rotary award for calculus, and lead parts in school plays when she was too injured to dance, and teachers who thought (god knows why, really) that she walked on water, and summers spent teaching kids from the disadvantaged neighborhood middle schools so they could take college track high school. There's more miscellaneous, but you get the picture. And cross my heart it was all her idea. So the lack of stratospheric SATs and world class academic awards was made up for by demonstrated leadership.</p>

<p>S, as I have said before, plays soccer on a Class 3 team and was co-captain of JV last year. Will very likely start on varsity this year and continue. A skilled solid player, but not one of those instinctual amazing athletes. He also plays alto sax in advanced band and jazz band, but doesn't even take lessons outside of school and heaven forbid he would ever compete.</p>

<p>And, as he told me the other day, his current obsession with college b-ball, on TV and the Internet, means that he now knows more about the sport than anyone else he knows. Great. </p>

<p>So D got into Princeton and Stanford. Princeton I am a legacy. Stanford my father taught at for many many years, FWIW. Our high school has a tradition of sending a lot of kids to Stanford - 4-5 out of a class of 115 last year. S will have these same hooks. But no demonstrated leadership. And honestly, he ain't the type to demonstrate leadership. Maybe later in life....</p>

<p>But here's my question, after all my jibber jabber. What expectations do I set for S? If he studies the heck out out of the SATs and gets in the 750-800 range, let's say that's possible, does he have a shot at Stanford? Princeton? Does he get a boost for being a boy with high grades? In my D's year there were 14 kids with grades over 4.0W. 3 were boys:).</p>

<p>I just don't want him to feel that I urge him to set his sights lower because he is in some way less able than his sister. </p>

<p>Hmm. Think I am answering my own question. I bet the answer you all come back to me with is that I tell him he has exactly the same chances as D but that we cheated fate with her applications, given the lack of match/safety that fit her true criteria and for him we will do it differently. Choose 1-2-3 of the extreme reaches and the other 4-5 will be saner choices.</p>

<p>Love cc. You all don't even have to TALK to me and I get help? Thanks in absentia:).</p>

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<p>carolyn~Hi! Glad to fill you in on the test prep situation. If your D is going to take a course pick one that is focusing on the PSAT, as the SAT courses are including essay writing skills, which won't be on the PSAT--as you are already aware. If it is over the summer, make sure that they have strategizing techniques, test simulations and a book that includes at least 10 "real" tests--and that they will go over testing results from the simulations. A good summer course will also schedule a "refresher" set of sessions during the week or two before the actual testing date in October. That way they can refocus and get back in the "zone" (and by that I mean "comfort zone") before the test. </p>

<p>D took the Hunt course (might be more local--was recommended to us by a close friend who has been a college admissions officer, and whose D was also taking it) We were very pleased. It was for a month before the PSAT, 3x per week (2 weeknights and Sat. or Sun. afternoon), with a final session the Sat. before the PSAT. She had been below 190 her soph year and score in the 98th percentile junior year. She was NM commended, but, as mentioned, we live in an area which traditionally has the highest cutoff scores for NMSF. She was thrilled, as were we.</p>

<p>S1 did the course through his school (Catholic boys' school, S2 is currently a soph there) during July before his junior year. Had scored 98th percentile as a soph, wanted to push the English and make NMSF. They had four weeks of English prep (opted not to take the Math counterpart, as I have already mentioned), then had several afternoons of "refresher" work the week before the PSAT date in October. He went up dramatically on the English, and made NMSF, then was a NMS.</p>

<p>S2 will take the Math, and possibly the English this summer through that program.</p>

<p>Students can prep on their own if they are highly motivated. By getting a book that has 10 Real SAT's--or a PSAT prep book with at least 10 full practice tests--and reading through it carefully for the strategizing tips, plus setting aside at least 4-5 weekend mornings for test simulation, they can created the comfort zone and focus for themselves. It certainly is a lot cheaper!! But it is very hard for most kids to do it on their own. There are so many distractions and interruptions at home! And Mom/Dad acting as teacher/test monitor isn't always a positive experience. There is so much stress surrounding the need to do well! Everyone knows their own S/D, and hopefully can find the best method to help them feel comfortable/successful in testing situations. Good luck! </p>

<p>and carolyn~we have friends who have a son at Beloit (a junior)~he loooooves it!!</p>

<p>Alumother~hard to gauge how your S will do at those schools, when comparing to your daughter. He certainly has the same "legacy" hooks that she did, but your D had some significant activities. I can sympathize with you about your son's basketball obsessions--both of our son's could probably challenge him on his knowledge!! S1 was val of his class--unbelievable grades all the way through, great recs, scores, solid activities and some leadership and was deferred from one of those schools, and ultimately denied. We think it worked out the way it was supposed to (which I think always happens anyway!) and he is the happiest kid in the world at his college--the only one we pictured him going to since he was about 10. We were surprised he applied to the other!</p>

<p>Totally understand about the sibling thing, though. S2 lives in his brother's shadow on a daily basis, and is extremely bright and doing really well, but comparisons are ultimately made--and he is not as organized or math-oriented! He has many other strengths, though, and will be just as happy wherever he goes, too!</p>

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<p>Hi! I also have a sophomore in HS who is just beginning his college search. This is my 2nd time thru the process, and I am hoping it will be more normal (and less stressful) than last year's experience. Son #1 decided, pretty much on the spur of the moment (in Sept. of his senior year!) that he wanted to study design, even though his art background consisted of a single 6-week class. We had to quickly change gears -- he had been thinking about studying engineering up until then -- and learn all about art schools, portfolio reviews, NASAD accreditation, etc. in just a couple of months. Everything worked out in the end though, and he is now a freshman at his dream school, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).</p>

<p>Son #2 goes to an extremely competitive private college prep school that does not rank. He is not an academic superstar but has solid grades (3.5u, 3.75w) and 9 of his 15 classes in high school so far have been honors classes. His overall PSAT score was 93rd percentile, but unlike some of the other students profiled here, it was CR -- not math -- that hurt him. (99th percentile in math, only 87th percentile in CR)</p>

<p>He doesn't know what he wants to major in but is leaning towards math, or maybe accounting. He is quiet and reserved, and his only ECs are Key Club and intramurals. He wants to look at small schools, especially ones in the Pacific Northwest. (He's tired of dry and brown -- we live in the desert -- and he wants to try wet and green for a change.) Any suggestions?</p>

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<p>worried_mom</p>

<p>Look into University of Puget Sound. I think it has a business dept and is located within an hour of Seattle, I believe.</p>

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<p>I'm so relieved to follow this discussion on sibilings. In general, I'm convinced that siblings have a much more powerful impact than is usually talked about. I know my son will also probably apply to Stanford, Princeton and Yale where my daughter had admits -- the first two because he really likes them and the latter (he hasn't been there yet) because he has the sibling legacy (Yale does seem to take a lot of siblings.) I have explained to him many times that, while his sister was a strong candiddate, she just as easily could have been denied admission to all those places, that there is a total element of luck, etc. But I don't think those speeches matter much to younger siblings, particularly if they are the competetive type. Someone mentioned teachers who thought their child walked on water. My son has one teacher who claims my D was her all-time favorite student -- fortunately my S didn't hear her say that -- she just mentioned it to me. He also has the teacher who wrote her college recs. With my son, both teachers have been very professional and treat him as his own person but imagine following a high-powered sibling with the same teachers -- it's tough. Sometimes I think I had it easy as an only child.</p>

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<p>I'll play - sophomore S. Wants city (but hasn't really seen to any non-urban schools), undecided about size; wants music but not sure about music major vs. BM. Loves theater and musical theater; also strong in physics and math--maybe heading eventually to be a physics/math teacher who does music or music teacher who likes science/math. Typical strong CC profile - PSAT's 229; just about all A's in highest level at public H.S. An outgoing and personable kid who's a joy to spend time with - his positive nature is infectious; generous and supportive of his peers, a natural leader. All-state and national honor choirs. Nationals in Speech.</p>

<p>Thoughts for now....
Northwestern, U. Michigan, BU, Tufts, Brandeis, Brown, Syracuse, NYU</p>

<p>and if we get over the city requirement: Oberlin, Bard, Wesleyan, Vassar</p>

<p>Need help letting him take over the process since I've already spent a year lurking on CC trying to figure this all out from a parent and $ point of view!
Looking forward to the next 2 years with y'all!</p>

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<p>Sounds like we have some amazing kids--am looking forward to this journey. Having sibblings & close cousins is a mixed curse/blessing. We can tell our kids not to compare themselves, but it is hard for them not to, especially when all of them have done amazingly well & your younger one is a wonderful person but probably not NMF/val material. Her cousin also a soph at her school may be val & perhaps NMF; her brother was NMF & her older cousins have all done very well also. She says it's a lot of pressure to do well, even tho no one says anything to her.</p>

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<p>Just wanted to pass along an article about the stress of the sophomore year of high school - so much in it rings true for both of my kids!
<a href="http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/20/20060220-A1-04.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/20/20060220-A1-04.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>2SonMoma (love your screen name) - I'd love to hear more about your impressions of the U of Tulsa. From what I can see on their website, and from other sources, it looks like a great school. I really like their efforts to combine the liberal arts with pre-professional studies. What was the campus like? Would you call it an urban campus or is it in a more residential area of Tulsa?</p>

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<p>Worried_Mom, Another suggestion might be the University of Portland. It's a Catholic school, but only about 50% of the students are Catholic. It is the ONLY Catholic school my daughter considered applying to because she just loved how friendly and down to earth the students and faculty/admissions people seemed there when we visited. They have very good business programs, don't know about the math, lots of internship opportunities in Portland. Very nice campus. I felt like it was just the type of place where a quieter kid could could feel at home.</p>

<p>Willamette in Salem, Oregon is another nice choice. Although they don't have business programs, they do supposedly have a solid math program.</p>

<p>And, reachier, but probably within reach for your son, would be Whitman College in eastern Washington State. Again, no business, but solid math and economics programs, and a really neat closeknit campus that students seem to love.</p>