Class of 2021 Parents

[mjkacmom]

Same here, DS19 got college credit for several of the APs he took in high school and depending on where he goes, DS17 will too. AP classes are the "track" for gifted students in their high school and they would be bored in anything lower. DS19 did not take AP US History but took AP World and AP Gov and said looking back, he probably should have taken AP instead of honors that year.

I'm the opposite, I am glad they got to experience sports, activities, etc. for so much of their schooling before this pandemic hit. Yes, I am not happy DS19's freshman year of college was interrupted and he's taking online classes now and that DS17 is sitting at home for school rather than having senior year homecoming week and sports, but they have the maturity to deal with it. Not to mention if I had to figure out how to work from home full time and supervise elementary or middle school, my sanity would have been long gone.

Dd19 dud not take AP chemistry or AP biology, big mistake since she then faced college chemistry and biology with just honors. She made it through with good grades, but she struggled (she took other AP sciences that were easier). She was my only science major, the business majors were fine without them. I’m a SAHM so I’d be fine with elementary students, I could help.

 

[QueenIsabella]

It's similar for my DD, with her IB classes. They count for college credit. If they don't offer an IB course of something, then they take an AP class instead. We aren't looking for her to finish college early, although she could, but she'll be eligible to take higher level courses early on, and have more room for interesting electives. She's going psych/pre-law, so I imagine there will be a ton of interesting psych classes she'll want to take.

She's applying Early Action to the state flagship university. It's an excellent choice for her--her goal is to save $$ on her undergrad, so Mom and Dad are able to pay for law school.

 

[mjkacmom]

It's similar for my DD, with her IB classes. They count for college credit. If they don't offer an IB course of something, then they take an AP class instead. We aren't looking for her to finish college early, although she could, but she'll be eligible to take higher level courses early on, and have more room for interesting electives. She's going psych/pre-law, so I imagine there will be a ton of interesting psych classes she'll want to take.

She's applying Early Action to the state flagship university. It's an excellent choice for her--her goal is to save $$ on her undergrad, so Mom and Dad are able to pay for law school.

Another plus fir my daughter is that the more credits you have, the earlier you can sign up for classes. A lot of her friends were locked out by the time it was their turn.

 

[Eureka]

Dd19 dud not take AP chemistry or AP biology, big mistake since she then faced college chemistry and biology with just honors. She made it through with good grades, but she struggled (she took other AP sciences that were easier). She was my only science major, the business majors were fine without them. I’m a SAHM so I’d be fine with elementary students, I could help.

DS19 took both of those classes but did not take the Chem test. Long story there. He only got a 3 on bio so did not place out of science. He’s done half of his requirement and is hoping he can do his lab science next semester in person. He’s a government major but was in a biotech track in high school (so is DS17, but he’s taking honors organic chem instead of AP) so likes science.

 

[Eureka]

Question on another topic: DS’ guidance counselor said she uploaded his transcript to the common app. We see her rec letter has been uploaded and the teacher recs too and then “school report” is uploaded. Does that include the transcript? I don’t remember it looking that way when DS19 applied, I thought it said transcript but not sure. DS17 asked her (on email bc they’re all virtual) and she just said she uploaded it but didn’t answer his question about what it’s under. He actually emailed the common app people to ask but thought I would see what you all say. Thanks.

 

[mjkacmom]

DS19 took both of those classes but did not take the Chem test. Long story there. He only got a 3 on bio so did not place out of science. He’s done half of his requirement and is hoping he can do his lab science next semester in person. He’s a government major but was in a biotech track in high school (so is DS17, but he’s taking honors organic chem instead of AP) so likes science.

At their school, you pay for the tests the second week of September, you need to take the test (plus the final) to get credit for the class. Dd19 is on her 3rd virtual lab.

 

[nikkistevej]

Wow, my DD just got her first acceptance letter. We applied October 8. That was FAST!!! It was one of the harder ones. Not her top choice, but one that she liked enough to apply. It was at the bottom of her list. Offered a great "package". So we'll see how this all works.

 

[Eureka]

SAT and ACT scores are in and he did well. Not quite as high on ACT as I expected but not bad. Showed us some honors program essays today and wasn’t happy with our feedback, said he didn’t want to change them and wants to submit everything this weekend. I hope he changes his mind, he usually has been very enthusiastic about getting this all done and well. Maybe it was an off day. I know he’s just “done” with it all, but I wish he’d hang in there just a bit more to end on a high note without regrets that he didn’t give it his all. Maybe he will.

 

[kittylady1972]

Longtime lurker here, first time posting. I have a DD who is class of 2021 and NOT at all happy about it, doing all online learning right now as is her 16yo brother (in his Jr year of HS) and her 19 yo brother (in his first semester at UMBC). She is definitely struggling more with online courses than usual, my normal straight-A student is about to possible get her first B in her entire HS career...and I think it just might kill her. She has done some applications to college, has been accepted to a few already (VA Wesleyan and WVU I believe), and is still working on others...for the most part I stay out of it as she is fine doing it all. We just got her senior pictures back this week that were taken earlier in the month...so now it's getting real! Of course, I already have one HS graduate still living at home...and I think this might be the same. My daughter is definitely missing the social aspect of high school, though she still gets together with one of her HS classmates. She goes to a very small public charter school so it's not like they had sports or a lot of other stuff happening...but still sad for her.

@Eureka I saw where you are in Charles County...my hometown, lived there most of my life! I'm now an AA County transplant having been here for about 19 years now.

Such a strange time for these kids, and just wondering if the class of 2022 (my next and last hs graduate) will be much different.

 

[nikkistevej]

Longtime lurker here, first time posting. I have a DD who is class of 2021 and NOT at all happy about it, doing all online learning right now as is her 16yo brother (in his Jr year of HS) and her 19 yo brother (in his first semester at UMBC). She is definitely struggling more with online courses than usual, my normal straight-A student is about to possible get her first B in her entire HS career...and I think it just might kill her. She has done some applications to college, has been accepted to a few already (VA Wesleyan and WVU I believe), and is still working on others...for the most part I stay out of it as she is fine doing it all. We just got her senior pictures back this week that were taken earlier in the month...so now it's getting real! Of course, I already have one HS graduate still living at home...and I think this might be the same. My daughter is definitely missing the social aspect of high school, though she still gets together with one of her HS classmates. She goes to a very small public charter school so it's not like they had sports or a lot of other stuff happening...but still sad for her.

@Eureka I saw where you are in Charles County...my hometown, lived there most of my life! I'm now an AA County transplant having been here for about 19 years now.

Such a strange time for these kids, and just wondering if the class of 2022 (my next and last hs graduate) will be much different.

Hi from another Marylander!!!! I'm in Catonsville. I certainly hope things get back to normal soon as well. My DD does too!! I live about 10 min from UMBC.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

SAT and ACT scores are in and he did well. Not quite as high on ACT as I expected but not bad. Showed us some honors program essays today and wasn’t happy with our feedback, said he didn’t want to change them and wants to submit everything this weekend. I hope he changes his mind, he usually has been very enthusiastic about getting this all done and well. Maybe it was an off day. I know he’s just “done” with it all, but I wish he’d hang in there just a bit more to end on a high note without regrets that he didn’t give it his all. Maybe he will.

If you don't mind me asking, how long ago did he take the ACT? I'm still waiting on DS', which is especially frustrating because it is free application week in our state. He doesn't have any of the alternatives and the local college won't take the application without something. I'm biting my nails hoping they will come in.

 

[Eureka]

If you don't mind me asking, how long ago did he take the ACT? I'm still waiting on DS', which is especially frustrating because it is free application week in our state. He doesn't have any of the alternatives and the local college won't take the application without something. I'm biting my nails hoping they will come in.

He took the ACT on 10/10 and got his score yesterday. Because of the timing, we had his ACT and SAT scores sent automatically to the colleges. So I am glad they came out good!

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

He took the ACT on 10/10 and got his score yesterday. Because of the timing, we had his ACT and SAT scores sent automatically to the colleges. So I am glad they came out good!

Thank you!

now I'm really aggravated, he took his on 9/22.

 

[mjkacmom]

If you don't mind me asking, how long ago did he take the ACT? I'm still waiting on DS', which is especially frustrating because it is free application week in our state. He doesn't have any of the alternatives and the local college won't take the application without something. I'm biting my nails hoping they will come in.

My son got locked out of his account, couldn’t reach anyone on the phone or email. I messaged them on Facebook and got a reply in minutes, try reaching out to them.

 

[AlohaNow]

Welcome @kittylady1972 ! And hello from a former AA county resident. Yeesh, so many Marylanders on here! I'm so sorry that your DD is not having a good time of it. The rumor going around here is that our current two-day a week schedule will go online full-time after 'testing week' which is next week. (In-school SAT, PSAT, etc) Neither of my high schoolers would be happy with that, but we have no control obviously. Today is free senior portrait day at school so at least he's getting that in before a potential shut down. He says his four AP classes are a joke, and I can't imagine how much worse it will get if they go fully online. They realize how lucky they are to have started at least partially in person!

 

[Music City Mama]

Thank you!

now I'm really aggravated, he took his on 9/22.

I think I saw something about September testing results were delayed for some reason. Also, did he take his at school during the school day? I'm pretty sure that's the day our seniors took theirs at school and no one has gotten their scores back yet. In fact, on a senior parent Zoom meeting last night, someone asked about that and our principal said because they were taken during a non-official testing date at school, they just have to wait for them to be mailed to their homes -- or something along those lines -- wasn't really paying too much attention since it didn't apply to us. She seemed to think it normally takes this long each year when taken during the school day.

We've been in-person full time since early September (after 3 weeks of online learning), but in the past three weeks, our school (not the whole district, just certain schools including ours) has been put back on remote learning two different times. Ugh. The amount of quarantines that have to happen as a result of a handful of cases affects so many students.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

I think I saw something about September testing results were delayed for some reason. Also, did he take his at school during the school day? I'm pretty sure that's the day our seniors took theirs at school and no one has gotten their scores back yet. In fact, on a senior parent Zoom meeting last night, someone asked about that and our principal said because they were taken during a non-official testing date at school, they just have to wait for them to be mailed to their homes -- or something along those lines -- wasn't really paying too much attention since it didn't apply to us. She seemed to think it normally takes this long each year when taken during the school day.

We've been in-person full time since early September (after 3 weeks of online learning), but in the past three weeks, our school (not the whole district, just certain schools including ours) has been put back on remote learning two different times. Ugh. The amount of quarantines that have to happen as a result of a handful of cases affects so many students.

During the school day, it was a makeup for the official date missed in the spring due to the shutdown. He checked with the website last night, they aren't available yet. I guess we will just keep on waiting. I'm just aggravated about missing the free application opportunity that ends tonight.

 

[Music City Mama]

During the school day, it was a makeup for the official date missed in the spring due to the shutdown. He checked with the website last night, they aren't available yet. I guess we will just keep on waiting. I'm just aggravated about missing the free application opportunity that ends tonight.

Yes, that would be frustrating. I also feel bad for those who may want to take it again, but are waiting to see their scores before they make that decision -- meanwhile, there are registration deadlines.

 

[Eureka]

College apps are in! Now we wait.

 

[AlohaNow]

DS finally took the SAT for the first time yesterday. Last year’s in-school date was snowed out, and they missed being snowed out this week by one day! Monday was a snow day, which only concerned K-5, as they are the only ones attending 5 days a week in our district. He said to me the night before that the test date will probably be the only time during this school year that the entire senior class will be together in the building. They were assigned classrooms by cohort to keep them separate, but the parking lot afterwards was a different story of course. He saw people he hadn’t seen since March! It was a little celebration and I’m so glad the class got the chance to see each other. He felt the math section was harder than on the ACT. I’ll be curious to see his score, but it probably won’t get sent to any school because he’s happy with his ACT score. It’s just extraneous at this point!

I hope everyone gets in the testing that they want and that the application process is going well!