<p>Just thought I'd bump this up to see if any new members might be interested in the thread (getting jealous of all the recent activity in the Class of 2010 thread!)</p>
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<p>It is for this reason that I had both my kids prep for SAT's in August before Jr. year. They each did a 5 week course, really studied and practiced hard, then continued with practice tests in Sept. By October of jr. year, they were "primed" for both the PSAT's and the SAT's, which they took on back-to-back weekends. In both cases, their scores were complete "keepers", they were NMS finalists/scholars, and they were then able to use the school year to focus on courses and SAT II's, which they took one at a time. While lots of their friends thought they were crazy to prep and take the SAT so early, they ultimately were envious of their being done. I believe strongly that when a student does prep courses during the school year, they end up either compromising their school work or their SAT studying, and that the advantage of doing it the summer before and then taking the test right away in October outweighs the advantage of 8 months of maturity.</p>
<p>S has said that, as a favor to the person paying the bills, he will do some PSAT/SAT prep work in August in an attempt to hit the NMF number (but Delaware is brutal -- 220-221 most years). My company has a pretty good scholarship program available, but making semi-finalist is a pre-requisite -- which isn't completely fair, since other employees live in states with much lower cutoff numbers, but that's another rant. We'll see if he follows through -- his AP English summer reading assignments may get in the way.</p>
<p>Donemom, sure wish we were that organized...though my D was gone all summer both of the last summers (8 weeks) studying voice at a music camp and probably wouldn't have done much on her own.</p>
<p>Quiltguru,--its definitely a dilemma when kids want to be involved in away programs all summer. My daughter did a program from the end of June through July that year, and went away the full summer between junior and senior year. In my son's case, he was doing research while living at home, so there was no conflict.</p>
<p>My son spent all his high school summers studying music for 5 weeks, one week recovering from jet lag and 2 weeks visiting family in the states before our return. The idea of using any of his summer for SAT was only a pipe dream. In the end, his passion in music proved more helpful than any SAT score in the college search- scholarship process.</p>
<p>That's good to hear, overseas. Hope it does the same for my D! ;)</p>
<p>I'm a rising junior too and although my parents aren't registered on the thread I think it's super addicting. I know it's early to be thinking about colleges and whatnot but I feel it motivates me to do well (especially heading into such an important year). 2011 all the way!</p>
<p>RunR:</p>
<p>You are right that junior year is the most crucial year of high school. Prepare a bit for the PSAT which will take place in October;consider your list of ECs. I'm assuming that you will be taking challenging classes.
You may want to look at your high school's vacation calendar to schedule some college trips when colleges are in session; high schools often have vacation days while colleges still hold classes. In CT, you are only a couple of hours away of many great colleges. Talk to your GC about your list of colleges some time in the Spring.
Don't stress but BE PREPARED!</p>
<p>I'll add one:</p>
<p>Screen Name: fredo (and I'm a mom, not a dad!)
Gender of rising junior: male
Home state: Indiana</p>
<p>Preferred location: probably prefers somewhere warm where he can golf for more months of the year than he can here in Indiana</p>
<p>Possible interests: wants to be a golf course designer</p>
<p>Jr. year courseload: AP chem, physics, U.S. history, American literature, pre-calc (re-taking at the "regular" level after bombing the honors class this entire year), Latin III and his fun electives of cooking and P.E. class called lifetime sports (golf and tennis).</p>
<p>EC's: golf, golf and golf. </p>
<p>Schools on list: DePauw (because he likes the on-campus burger joint that specializes in garlic cheeseburgers)
Schools visited: DePauw - it's where his sister goes. When he told her he wanted to go there, she let him clearly know that he didn't have a prayer right now but if he tried really hard...I think it fell on deaf ears.</p>
<p>GPA/Rank: 3.1 (it was a 3.3 before the beginning of the second semester - ugh!!), rank is probably right around 50%.</p>
<p>PSAT study plans: mom will be in his face nagging him and reminding him that this test actually DOES count for something. He took it as a sophomore and didn't try at all because he knew it didn't count for anything. Scores reflected his "caring" attitude.</p>
<p>He's probably headed to a state school - which I'm perfectly comfortable with. Right now, he has little to no motivation regarding school work and I'm not inclinced to pay big $$ for him to go laze around somewhere. I'm also thinking a gap year might be just the right thing for him - especially as I read some of the gap year articles recently. </p>
<p>Can you all sense the exasperation I'm experiencing??</p>
<p>This thread is just what I've been looking for!</p>
<p>Son is a rising junior at a very fine public school on Long Island (one of Newsweek's 100 Best). Grades are nothing special (88 unweighted; school doesn't rank). Hoping for very strong SATs as he's done well on some other standardized tests. Varsity wrestling, football and lax but will not be a recruit. Peer counsellor. Many quirky interests such as baking, collecting key chains, sports memorabilia. Taking a very tough curriculum next year (maybe too tough?) involving 4 APs, one honors, other electives.</p>
<p>Interested in business programs especially entrepreneurship. </p>
<p>Would love to follow his older brother to Cornell but that is a mega-reach. Looking very tentatively at other reaches: Michigan, Lehigh, Maryland, NYU, Syracuse. Will probably end up at SUNY-Binghamton, -Albany or -Stony Brook. It's really tough to even begin a list when you don't know if you're looking at 1100 or 1500 (or 1750 or 2300 or whatever they're calling it now).</p>
<p>Okay guys, time to bump this thread -- school has started for most everybody in this important Junior year. I was pleasantly shocked to see that my S has become quite diligent with his homework already. Then again, we told him that he won't be allowed to drive to school until we see how his first 9-week report turns out, so the bribery angle might account for that. </p>
<p>The idea of studying for the PSAT/SAT became the victim of a very busy Summer, and with his two AP classes and advanced math class already piling on the homework I doubt he'll get around to it. </p>
<p>As noted, S had a busy Summer (baseball, leadership camp, volunteer firefighting and a vacation to Walt Disney World), and I think it went well. Seems a lot more confident and engaged in things. </p>
<p>Planning on a few college open house visits this Fall (Mary Washington, Hampden-Sydney, Randolph-Macon, Roanoke, St. Mary's of Maryland), and then some more during Spring break. </p>
<p>Would like to hear how the summer went for these kids. Wishing everybody a great (and relatively stress-free) school year. The real stress will come this time next year!</p>
<p>thanks Iderochi for pulling this one back up.</p>
<p>Summer went fairly well for my S.....
- more engaged in his summer SAT tutoring class than I imagined he would be....lets just say he tolerated it & seemed to score fairly well on practice tests, & I do think what made it tolerable for him was certainly not the material..... he enjoyed being with some different friends. Biggest issue on the standardized test front now is whether to take SATs earlier (this fall) than the school recommends, or buck that recommendation. Leaning to a January SAT test time.
- summer community service work turned out to be more schedule-consuming than any of us imagined. He taught ESL, and could only do 2 hours at a time over the entire summer when he had no other engagements, with travel to & from, rather than what we had hoped of spending a concentrated block of time there for just a couple of weeks. In order to maximize his time teaching ESL, he could not fit in paid summer work.
- lots of lacrosse playing, camps, tournaments and the like. Separated his shoulder in the last tournament of the summer, necessitating some physical therapy & not being in tiptop shape for early fall soccer, but all is OK now.
- visited 2 colleges for practice per carolyn's advice.....Dickinson & Wesleyan, perked up his college interests, but I wouldn't say he's totally engaged yet.
- now finishing (I hope) his summer reading before school starts next Weds.
- standard parental comment........tough having a new driver who wants instant independence at home with us all summmer!</p>
<p>I spent the summer learning how to (1) paint a house, (2) drive a boat, (3) fish mackerel, and in between, (4) do a whole lot of cooking. No organized activities; no resume-building. I nearly went into neurosis and started a thread about it (ohmygodillnevergetinanywhere) but eventually reconsidered.</p>
<p>School doesn't start until September 6th, but I'm actually looking forward to my classes. I've calibrated my schedule to perfection (my Higher Level French class has two other students), and the IB Diploma will be a nice challenge. I'm taking a SAT class to prepare for the November test--I figure I might as well get it out of the way.</p>
<p>My mom has been invited to a conference in Chicago the days before Columbus Day weekend, and I might go with her for some college visiting. The Great New England Colleges Roadtrip has been scheduled for spring break. That one'll be a family affair (my family is obsessed with roadtrips).</p>
<p>I feel strangely ready for this year; I hope this newfound confidence doesn't evaporate after a week of classes!</p>
<p>thisyearsgirl, sounds like a pretty good summer to me, and I'm sure you'll have a great year. Maybe this it the time when most young men and women start getting more confident (I can't remember, since it's been soooo long). And for my S I'm not even sure that "confidence" is the right word. It's more that he seems to be more comfortable with who he is, a little more self-assured, more comfortable around adults and willing to join in their conversations. Whatever it is, I like it. </p>
<p>Keep us posted, please -- particularly after the Nov. SAT which I assume will be the first crack? S is taking ACT in December. Here's hoping that you nail it well enough so that it's the only time you have to take it.</p>
<p>I took the March SAT for practice because I wanted to know what my abilities were (I didn't study). I know this isn't recommended, but it worked out well, and has been an incredible stress reliever. </p>
<p>The scores weren't bad--740CR, 720W, 660M--but due to a registration error won't be sent to colleges. I obviously hadn't planned for that, but it means that my November score will effectively show up as my first. </p>
<p>Overall, it couldn't have worked out better.</p>
<p>Hampden-Sydney College has a guest house (Hampton House) on campus.When arranging a visit ask the admissions office if you can stay at Hampton House.There's no place in America like HSC!</p>
<p>Thanks TR. We're actually visiting during one of their weekend open houses, so I'm pretty sure the guest house won't be available.</p>
<p>Are PSAT's done in 10th or 11th grade, by the way? I think I remember my son doing them in 10th grade.</p>
<p>I'm sort of intruding because my D is actually class of 2012, so I'll be hanging around until there's a 2012 thread :). If the PSAT's are done in 10th, then she needs to do a little prepping. </p>
<p>Also for all you juniors. Is there anything you're glad that you did in your sophomore years (not acadmically), or wished you had done?...in other words, advice for sophomores?</p>
<p>mom0809, the PSATs are taken officially in the fall of junior year (11th grade). Some schools give the students a practice PSAT (PPSAT ;) ) in 10th grade to give them an idea where their strengths lie and for experience with the testing style for those who are not familiar with it, but these scores don't count.</p>