SOPHOMORE Parents

<p>Man - are we so lucky to have Carolyn in our class or what? I was too late to cc last time, thanking my stars over here...</p>

<p>Irish, Thanks for your thoughts. The SAT prep class that my daughter took was only so-so. Gave her the basics of how to take the test, but didn't really help her polish her skills as much as she'd hoped. My son was close enough to NSM on this year's PSAT that prepping for it makes some sense. I'll have to look around and see if there are any specific PSAT prep classes in our area. It is just so hard to know upfront how useful they'll be, but you've given me some good questions to ask. Thanks!</p>

<p>Carolyn, thanks for the info about Beloit and Lawrence. Actually, Sarah Lawrence is on my daughter's list to visit. I am not sure how quirky she will want a place to be. I guess that depends on the nature of the quirkiness. At least at this point I am hoping she will want to visit Beloit and Lawrence. We have not visited Bard, so I don't know how quirky she will think the school is. I have a friend who is a professor of literature here at Emory who loves Bard -- that is how my daughter got interested in it. All I know at this time is that she loved Swarthmore and Yale; thought NYU had too little of a "campus;" thought Columbia was too crowded, but liked the campus; thought UPenn was too preppy; didn't like the "extreme" suburban feel of the setting of the Claremont campuses; didn't like the surrounding neighborhood of Occidental; and liked Lewis and Clark, but thought the campus seemed too quiet. Those are the schools she has seen. There is so much involved in locating those schools with the right combination of characteristics, as I know from the search with my son. I hope the experience turns out as well as it did with him. By the time he had to make the final decisions, he had a good idea of which schools looked right for him and why. </p>

<p>This is a great thread. So many folks with different kinds of kids. I really am looking forward to "working together' with everyone for the next two-plus years.</p>

<p>carolyn~glad the info may be of some help. I know exactly how you feel about your son being so close. S1 was just a few points off from what the cutoff usually is, so we knew the English needed some nudging. The extra benefit (besides scoring high enough for NMSF) was that he was then ready to prepare on his own for the SAT--took it once, and was done! We're not sure if S2 will need something else after the PSAT, given the new essay format for the SAT. He loves to write, and is very good verbally, so we'll see. </p>

<p>I appreciated the article about sophmore stress in your other post. We have always thought sophmore year is one of the hardest during high school in terms of adjustment to workload.</p>

<p>So here's my question. For these sophomores, where we decide that test prep can lead to high enough scores to make the effort worthwhile, and the kids are the type amenable to the prep (notice my qualifications...) IF you are not doing tutoring but just the Xiggi method, DO you get PSAT books now or just go right to SAT books? Inquiring minds want to know...</p>

<p>Carolyn - </p>

<p>University of Tulsa is definitely in a suburban part of the city. You can see downtown just to the west of campus, perhaps 3-4 miles away. The campus is a nice walking size, with no streets that cut through the middle of it and a large U with the library at one end, and academic buildings and dorms on the arms of the U. Downtown Tulsa can be seen at the open end. That large grassy quad and the color of the buildings reminded me of Virginia Tech, though on a smaller scale.</p>

<p>My son loved the small classes, non-preppy kids, and large dorm rooms. I loved the amount of merit aid given (80% or more get some - NMF can get full ride), band scholarships, and low cost for a private university. We were both impressed by the range of majors offered at a school that has only 2800 undergraduates - 4000+ total (A&S plus Engineering, Business, Nursing, and Graduate Law). They have a new rec center and are doing a fair amount of construction on new buildings and a "gateway" to the university. About 50% of their students are from outside Oklahoma, with 10-15% being International students. The students we talked to all raved about the accessibility of professors and the active social life on campus. </p>

<p>Definitely worth a look, even if you aren't from mid-America as we are.</p>

<p>Can pass along how my D prepped for PSAT (we figured that she would be close to NSM, so thought that prepping might be useful). Prepped with SAT book and took the SAT the week before the PSAT. (I know, sounds backwards) But going through a trial run under "test" conditions right before the PSAT seemed to help. She retook the SAT June in her junior year and was done with that. REally helped free up time during her senior year.</p>

<p>I am another parent of two very different kids. Daughter is very happy in her first year at Oberlin working toward a BM on double bass in the Conservatory and a BA in math in the College. She has always been very hard-working, high-achieving and an easy kid to parent. </p>

<p>Son is a sophomore in high school who has gone through 18 months of hell with depression, but is now starting to show signs of improvement. He routinely scores 90th percentile and up on standardized tests but will not do homwork or participate in class. His doctors have advised against putting too much pressure on him about school issues. He has not yet failed any classes, but his GPA hovers just below 2.0 and he has only accomplished that by doing really well on midterm and final exams.</p>

<p>He attended a private school freshman year for the smaller class size and individual attention, but he missed over a quarter of the year due to hospitalizations or by refusing to get out of bed. The school told us in mid-May that they would not accept him back for Sophmore year, leaving us little alternative to the local public schools he pleaded to be taken out of in sixth grade. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because he was ruled eligible for special services and put in a study skills class. He really clicked with the teacher of that class, whom I credit as much as any of his doctors or medicines with lifting his mood and getting him to show some interest in school.</p>

<p>We are hoping he will continue to improve this semester and in his junior year. At this point, the most likely outcome after high school is the local open-enrollment community college. If he turns things around in the next couple of years, perhaps we might also consider one of the less-selective public schools within commuting distance. Unless things change more than I expect, I think he will benefit from an extra year or two at home.</p>

<p>He is a smart kid who displays occasional flashes of brilliance when something really catches his interest. I think he will eventually find a niche where he can thrive, but the journey has not been an easy one. Any advice from others who have been through something like this would be welcomed.</p>

<p>My son refused to take any prep courses & mostly just looked at the "Real SAT" book on his own, at his own pace. He had also taken the SAT as a 7th & 8th grader (under Johns Hopkins Talent Search Program) & their entire school has all 9th & 10th graders take PSAT. He did as well or better than his friends & cousins who took prep courses (would have made NMSF as 10th grader & qualified as junior). Took the old SAT in March of junior year + one re-take because was annoyed he didn't score 800 math. Took ACT with writing & new SAT I in spring of Junior year & was done.
Daughter & her friends will be taking PSAT prep course this summer at their HS. Most sophomores from all over the state take it at this HS.</p>

<p>WOW, Atlantamom, you & your daughter have sure visited a LOT of colleges! I couldn't drag my kids to nearly so many schools, tho we've been in the hunt for several years (son is now a senior).</p>

<p>BassDad my D had serious emotional issues her Sophmore year and they came to a head in her Junior year (completely missed to receive residential treatment) which caused her to have to take Junior/Senior year concurrently. It's been a very difficult two years for our family. You are lucky that your son is responding to treatment and found a teacher who inspires him. D will be attending a local community college next fall if she continues to do well. I know how difficult it is and please know that you are most certainly not alone.</p>

<p>Wow, Bassdad, sounds like our family has been through a lot. Glad your son is on an upward trend and also glad that he's found a teacher he clicks with at the HS. That can really make a difference.</p>

<p>It is tough when kids have a lot of absences in HS, even if they are health-related. Is is possible for son to take some on-line courses? Some schools offer it as an alternative for bright independent kids & it might boost his self-esteem and give him more credits & options (especially since he doesn't participate in class anyway).</p>

<p>A friend had both of her sons go to CC after private HS & later transfer to local in-state U, where they graduated & went on to grad school further from home (law school in the state of WA & a UC for theater). The smaller sizes of community college can really be a plus in keeping folks from falling through the cracks--not sure whether it would suit your son's need for academic stimulation. It might be good to check out what's available locally. Independent study can be a useful option & many colleges & some CCs offer on-line courses as well.
Good luck & let us know what you learn.<br>
We may have to explore these options as well, as my daughter has MANY absences due to chronic health issues, which of course make learning all that much tougher. Her problems have a physical cause, but unfortunately no solutions in sight, despite conferring with numerous experts. There are definitely many kids struggling with mental and physical health issues which make schooling so much tougher.</p>

<p>HIMom, actually the college visits were for her brother and involved several trips during which we visited family. She enjoyed seeing these campuses because her brother was looking, not her. Also the overall trips were fun. She loved Portland, OR, by the way. That was a side trip.</p>

<p>BASSDad, one of my good friends has a daughter who went through similar tough times with depression during high school. She pulled through and went to Eckerd. She left there after two years, attended Georgia State in Atlanta and then transferred to Rhode Island College to finish a BS in nursing. Good luck to you. My friend's daughter is doing beautifully and became engaged this December.</p>

<p>My daughter was pretty bored when we looked at schools for her brother. We saw several in Colorado & a few in LA. Portland is a great city--as long as the grey & rain don't bother you. I went to school at UOregon in Eugene & loved my 1st two years when there was a drought but found it too wet & grey when the normal wet & grey returned in the 3rd year.
Glad to hear of the nurse who is doing so well--always inspiring to hear how folks triumph over adversity.</p>

<p>I'm going to be in the minority here....at least among the actual posters - but I have to believe that there are a lot of lurkers in my shoes. I have a sophomore D. (#2D....#1D is a college freshman) My #2D is happy to be in the top 1/3 of her HS class. Hasn't taken PSATs. Our HS doesn't recommend taking them before Jr year unless the student is in accelerated classes. She is just happy being average. She wants to go to college. Pushes herself academically, but gets average grades. She's happy. She'll end up somewhere. I just have to sit back and see where her college search takes us :)</p>

<p>Yeah, not sure what my daughter's rank is, but she's definitely not near the top of her class right now either. SHe plans to go to college as well. Hard to know how things will evolve for her at this point.</p>

<p>Hi, I'm one of the lurkers that oldmama was talking about. S#1 is a freshman at Big State U. He graduated 6 out of 440 at large suburban public hs. He was National Merit Commended, AP Scholar with Distiction, various honor societies, part of the "popular crowd" (meaning he had a busy social life), all while working 25-30 hrs per week at local gro. store. Won a 4 yr. NROTC scholarship plus to other merit scholarships (equaling out to a full ride) to Big State U. and is very happy there and couldn't imagine being anywhere else. Our HS gives the PSAT to every student every year. He took the old SAT twice with absolutley no prep, made 1400.</p>

<p>Now S2 is a sophomore and couldn't be more different. He takes a mix of honors and reg. classes, makes honor roll but never straight A's. His only real EC is football at which he excels(but not enough to be recruited). Was a starter as fresh. and soph. and was JV team CApt. as Soph. Will definitely start Varsity next year. He recently got a job at S1's gro. store. His PSAT score this year was 1610. He is a great kid with lots of common sense and good judgement who just happens to be an average student and is fine with that. He wants to go to college and will likely end up at a lower tier State U. where lots of kids from our HS go and he thinks he would be happy. I feel it is our job to encourage him to achieve HIS goals and not make him feel like he is in his brother's shadow. It has been hard not to compare them but now that we've gotten over that, we are eally enjoying cntemplating the possibilites for him. It's the old "love the child you have" thing.</p>

<p>When our kids are happy with the schools they'll likely end up at, it's great. The tough part is when they are upset that they likely won't be at as "prestigous" or "good" a school as their older sibblings, cousins, friends & classmates for whatever reason. We can tell them about folks who have gone to CCs, done well & then transferred, etc., but it is still tough for some of them to accept. Of course, they work hard & are great kids, but there can be quite a difference between their record & that of the others they're comparing themselves to.</p>

<p>I guess we are lucky here (in NC) that the vast majority of the kids at our school attend a State University school regardless of grades/rank. Out of the top 10 academic students in S1's class, 9 are currently in the State Univ. system and the 1 who went to more elite (also in-state) LAC has since transferred to State U.</p>

<p>At our kids' HS, only about 20% go to an in-state U. Most go away to other schools & 1% go to CC. There are quite a few who go to ivies & elite schools.</p>

<p>S1 is a sophomore at San Diego State, having (as even he admits) maybe a little too much fun, but doing just enough work to get just good enough grades to qualify for his major, etc. S2 is a senior who averaged over 700 on all his SAT and SATII test segments and will probably end up at a UC campus in southern California next year. D is my sophomore, who is probably between the two boys academically. She would like to go to school in southern California, too, but wants to go somewhere neither of her brothers have gone to, and she's a little peeved that they're taking all the good schools. One word of caution I have for PSAT and SAT prep: S2 tested NM commended as a sophomore, so I broke down and sprang for a test prep course, hoping for semifinalist. His score declined as a junior (lowest test results he ever got.) I'm strictly a Xiggi method proponent now.</p>