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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3396 |
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Posted: Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 11:12 pm |
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Hey Junior parents and students ---
Some of you are just starting out with college planning, others have already been on a few campus visits. Still others have only been "lurking" so far. Whatever stage you're at, trust me on this: it helps to have company on the road to college.
Here's your own special thread to share the journey between now and May 2009!
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Kayleigh_9109
Member
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Posted: Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 02:16 am |
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Thanks for the thread Carolyn!
It's good for people like me who anxiously waiting....
So much to get acomplished, so little time!
614 days until I graduate 
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Descartes
Super Moderator
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Posted: Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 05:20 pm |
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Here we go! My S is "on deck" for 2009, too.
His public HS gives all students a chance to take a "practice" SAT or ACT every year, which he took last week. The local Sylvan people administer it for free, which seems to be a win-win situation: they get direct exposure to prospective customers and the students get practice and results from which to work before taking the real thing. They didn't plug their services more than to say where their offices were...perhaps they weren't allowed to.
I wasn't impressed with the Sylvan staff, however, in their de-briefing (at which scores are distributed). Some bits of "information" they shared with their audience:
-- Some schools require the ACT and others the SAT (they were unaware that all four year schools accept both nowadays)
-- They called the mid-50% score ranges for schools "requirements."
-- One said she had only just become aware of the SAT Subject tests in the past week. There were "three," she said, and "a few schools require all three."
-- They had distributed an ACT sample test guide to one of the students (printed on newsprint rather than white stock) by mistake. She used it to take the test, transferring her responses to the official answer sheet...and they scored it against the practice test key, returning the test book with the responses. It took a while to figure out why she hadn't done very well.
Last edited on Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 05:23 pm by Descartes
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Kayleigh_9109
Member
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Posted: Sun Sep 23rd, 2007 05:35 pm |
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Oh my.. Those people seemed about as well informed as my Guidance Counselor...
Last week he came in to my English Class to sign people up for the PSAT. Well last year he said that a good score was a 150, and didn't even talk about the NMSQT part or anything about Commended/State Levels anything. Plus he told us if we take the one practice test in the book we should be more than prepared, and if we take the PSAT that's the most we should do to prepare for the SAT...
I nearly cringed... Just because I go to small school doesn't mean I want my choices limited.
I'm really hoping I do "well" on the PSAT this year.. Last year I got a 170 and feel I could've done much better.. As much as I'd love to be a NMSQT SM, I'll be thrilled with a 200..
Then this week is homecoming, not to mention my classes are getting crazy.. I got a B- on my Accounting test last week because I was sick one day and she never told me what pages we covered or what we learned, she just said we did so and so out of the workbook, well there was 10 points worth of questions on the test about transferring checks, something she never pointed me in the direction to look at so I assumed she didn't teach it.. Not I have a 92 A- and I have to get it up to a 94 and I only have until the 12th to do it..
Plus I have to memorize all the Polyatomic Ions for Chemistry by tomorrow.. Fun :S
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 03:11 am |
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Just a heads up, but Princeton Review also offers the same "free" trial test thing through their local offices (you can find the one near you at the Princeton Review site). I suspect that they may be a little more on top of things that Sylvan. 
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moewb
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| Joined: | Mon Jul 30th, 2007 |
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 06:13 pm |
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I, too, have a son graduating in 2009. It seems so strange to be started on this road already (heck, he looked at colleges last summer) but we might as well enjoy the long, and bumpy ride before empty nest syndrome sets in. Carolyn is very on point with her insights and suggestions...
Good luck to all. M-
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Kayleigh_9109
Member
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Posted: Thu Oct 11th, 2007 07:56 pm |
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As much as I wish this year and next were both already over, I do think this year is going by quickly. This term ends tomorrow for me... I have one more test to take before I know all my grades though.
Plus PSAT is Wednesday... 
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Deja
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| Joined: | Thu Apr 13th, 2006 |
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Posted: Fri Oct 12th, 2007 03:50 pm |
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Hello from another junior parent. Ds is taking the PSAT for the third time next Wednesday (his school has some freshmen and all sophomores take the PSAT for practice).
This is going to be a hugely different college search process than we had with our oldest (now a senior in college), for a lot of reasons.
We have neither the time nor the money to take him all over the country on college visits before applying. So he'll visit the nearby schools, and then visit the faraway ones (and there won't be too many) if he gets accepted. Except for a few standouts (at this point) that have programs not available elsewhere, I don't think he needs to travel across the country to go to college.
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Wstrdg
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
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Posted: Fri Oct 12th, 2007 04:20 pm |
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Kayleigh_9109,
Our homecoming is this week, too! The homecoming dance is the night before the PSAT. I don't know what dummy dreamed that up, but it's typical for this school, so you're not alone.
When I phoned the school in Sept to find out about PSAT sign-ups, I was referred to the Assistant Principal. "PSAT? Oh, that's tonight, in the cafeteria," he told me. No, I said, tonight is PTSA, Parent-Teacher-Student-Association. When I explained what the PSAT was, he said, "Well, now YOU'RE teaching ME something! I'll get back to you." Which he never did.
Just grin and bear it. Can't do anything else. 
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warblers
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Posted: Fri Oct 12th, 2007 06:45 pm |
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My sister is also a junior and the main reason I'm on here. She's pretty apathetic about the college process (and high school in general), so I predict a long two years.
As it turns out, we'll both be applying for Fall 2009- her for college, me for grad school. Fun times!
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Fireflyscout
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Posted: Fri Oct 12th, 2007 11:41 pm |
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OMG, I'm cringing at some of these stories. I work in the administrative offices of a school district, and "college readiness" is the current hot topic.
I don't know how I missed this thread before - I've got a junior son, who wants to major in computer science. I think he's already got his college picked out, too, but we'll be roadtripping next summer to make sure. Since he's my kid who focuses in on what he wants til he gets it, with no deviation in between, I don't think his preference will change. It's a bonus to him that this college serves chocolate chip pancakes on the weekends.
Good luck to everyone on the PSAT next week!
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WestrnMom
Super Moderator
| Joined: | Fri May 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | West Coast, USA |
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Posted: Sat Oct 13th, 2007 03:58 am |
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I am a junior aunt. Does that count? I'm helping with the college process since I have so much experience with my children.
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
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Posted: Sat Oct 13th, 2007 06:44 pm |
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First, adding my good wishes for everyone taking the PSAT this week. When the score reports come back in December, don't forget to check out the great features on the College Board MyRoad section - the password will be on the PSAT score report, and there's a lot of helpful stuff in there to help prepare for the SATs, and choose a major/college/career.
Warblers, I hope you will post here often to let us know how your grad school plans are coming (hard to believe you'll be applying to grad school next year - where did the time go?), and also as your sister moves along.
Firefly, I am really looking forward to following your son's journey -- after meeting your daughter, I know your son must also be a wonderful kid.
And, WestrnMom, junior aunts definitely count, especially when they're as knowledgable as you.
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DesperateDad
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| Joined: | Tue Mar 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
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Posted: Sat Oct 13th, 2007 08:56 pm |
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Also have an '09 in the House. D is on ASB, so it was easy to gather her buddies to veto holding any dance the night before a college test. But, noooo, at the last minute, the Athletic Department had to change Homecoming to the night before SAT this month. Needless to say, there were few seniors at the dance.
Descartes: those Sylvan staff should not be allowed to speak about topics of which they obviously know "nothing, nothing". (said in Sgt. Schultz accent). 
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Kayleigh_9109
Member
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Posted: Wed Oct 17th, 2007 08:09 pm |
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| Hopefully no one else feels they did as poorly on the PSAT as I did.. *shudders*
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Kayleigh_9109
Member
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Posted: Fri Nov 30th, 2007 01:32 am |
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Well... I got my PSAT's back today. I got an 11 point increase from last year! 181, I was hoping for a 200+ but wasn't expecting it. I got a 57 CR (which I believe was lower than I got last year) a 64 math (higher) and a 60 writing (much higher!)
So I was pleased. The highest was 223, then 197, then 183, then 181 (me). So not to bad as far as top scores in my school. The 223 was the highest my school has ever had.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Fri Nov 30th, 2007 06:06 am |
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| Congratulations - those are very decent PSAT scores. The key is in your last line: The highest was the highest your school's ever had. Don't forget that your high school will send a profile explaining the median scores. So, as 4th highest in the class on your PSATs, my suspicion is your SAT scores will be viewed positively in that light by many colleges. And, with a bit of prep, your SAT scores are likely to be terrific. Congrats again!
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scoop
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Posted: Fri Nov 30th, 2007 10:31 am |
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Congratulations! My D hasn't gotten her scores back yet. She's so loaded down with homework lately that I haven't even mentioned preparing for the SAT and ACT tests. D was just notified that she was one of 32 kids in her junior class of about 450 who scored at the advanced level an all subtests on the CAPT - our state achievement test, taken last spring. At the breakfast given to honor them, the principal made a big speech about reading and how important it is to read for pleasure. My D looked at me and commented that she would love to if she didn't have so much homework. I repeated her comment to the principal and he said "she has to carve the time out". The doctor just gave her a lecture about how she has to continue to find time to relax but oh yes, you are not getting enough sleep. She turned to me with tears in her eyes and said "I could get more sleep if I did nothing but homework and go to bed". She really feels torn in a few different directions.
Oops, sorry for getting off track here but I guess I needed to vent. Good luck to all kids getting their scores back soon.
Last edited on Fri Nov 30th, 2007 11:47 am by scoop
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Lupine
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Posted: Fri Nov 30th, 2007 03:48 pm |
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scoop wrote: Congratulations! My D hasn't gotten her scores back yet. She's so loaded down with homework lately that I haven't even mentioned preparing for the SAT and ACT tests. D was just notified that she was one of 32 kids in her junior class of about 450 who scored at the advanced level an all subtests on the CAPT - our state achievement test, taken last spring. At the breakfast given to honor them, the principal made a big speech about reading and how important it is to read for pleasure. My D looked at me and commented that she would love to if she didn't have so much homework. I repeated her comment to the principal and he said "she has to carve the time out". The doctor just gave her a lecture about how she has to continue to find time to relax but oh yes, you are not getting enough sleep. She turned to me with tears in her eyes and said "I could get more sleep if I did nothing but homework and go to bed". She really feels torn in a few different directions.
Oops, sorry for getting off track here but I guess I needed to vent. Good luck to all kids getting their scores back soon.
I feel her pain. My D rarely does much non-required reading (other than newspapers & magazines) during the term, but there just isn't enough time, particularly since she does not like starting a book and finishing it over the course of a month. (I agree with her -- the only thing that sucks more energy out of reading is having to annotate the reading.) One of our standards is to vist Barnes & Noble during down time of finals week so that she can pick out some books for fun to read during break.
This year D's precalc teacher assigns an ungodly amount of homework. Monday night it was 40 problems. H (who's an engineer and GREAT at math) says it would take him an hour and a half of heads-down fast work to get through many of those assignments, and he really knows the material. The teacher did agree that she could be done with math hw after 90 minutes on any given night, but still....
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scoop
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Posted: Fri Nov 30th, 2007 04:16 pm |
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| Thanks for commenting Lupine. My D spends about the same amount of time on math homework. Don't they realize that when you multiply that by six or seven classes, it really adds up to their whole night? Some weeks just seem worse than others and it has been a tough couple of weeks. D was told to fit in time for exercise, relaxation and sleep as well as schoolwork. Hard to do when you get up at 5:30 and spend 5 hours on hw after school. My D is a night person and could easily stay up until midnight or so. I've started getting out of bed and telling her to get some sleep just because I am worried about the long term consequences of six hours per night. D is hoping to be able to give up math as a senior. I would really like her to have a study hall since she will be dealing with applications as well as preparing her art portfolio. I think that extra hour in the school day would help a lot.
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