Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[mamacatnv]

Ours starts tomorrow- my daughter (14) took AP Bio and AP World last year- this year she continues with AP World (its a 2 year course), AP Chem, AP Statistics and AP Art History. She is in her 4th year of Spanish and its her least favorite subject.

We toured a few colleges this summer- Dartmouth, Columbia and NYU and next summer when we take our road trip we will look at any others she is interested in. Right now she is still sitting in her room trying to finish her summer homework that she put off until the last minute, for the past 2 weeks its all she has been working on!!
She is actually looking forward to getting back to school and excited about taking Chem. She is not so excited about the homework though LOL.

oh ya, social activities amongst her social group were curtailed the last week or two before school started as everyone was scrambling around getting their summer assignments done

DD is also excited about Chem

 

[drinkme]

I don't know how I missed this thread last year!

My dd15 started school 2 1/2 weeks ago. She's already stressed out with her grades. She seems like everyone else's kids on this thread: a high achiever.

DH took her out driving last night. I haven't drove with her yet. I'm building up the courage...lol.

She's in so many different clubs and activities (no sports). I told her she had to drop some of them. She joined Mathletes...lol. My dd struggles in math, but she gets extra credit points in her math class for joining. I'm not sure how that's going to work out! She's also doing the play AND the musical. Big parts in both, PLUS she's the musical lead's understudy. I told her to tell the teacher she's not going to be the understudy. That's just too much to learn in just a few weeks.

Anyway, dd classes this year are: Honors Geom, AP Euro History, PE/Drivers Ed, French 3, Honors Chem, Honors English, Honors Choir. I think that's it. She's trying to figure out how she is going to get in Calculus Senior year. She said she's going to take 3 math classes next year. I'm sure that's not a good idea!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Teenagers driving is such a double edged sword, I feel for you. DS who is now 25 could not wait to drive, he had it planned out, had all the hours etc needed by the time he was license age eligible. DD completely different story. She has no desire to drive, I think it scares her and while she is now 16 she still has made no moves towards even getting a permit.

She is an "older" sophomore having turned 16 over the summer. We wonder as more and more of her friends start driving if that will prompt her interest. We are not pushing the subject, letting her do her own thing on her own timeline but I find it really interesting to see the complete difference between her and her brother.

We just got DD17 driving this summer and DS just turned 15 in July so this isn't even a blip on our radar yet. You can't get your actual license before 16 and 6 months at the very earliest in MD, and you can't get a parking permit at the school until you are a senior. He probably won't even take driver's ed until next winter.

oh ya, social activities amongst her social group were curtailed the last week or two before school started as everyone was scrambling around getting their summer assignments done

DD is also excited about Chem

DS texted me at work the Thursday before school started asking me to print out all his assignments- he hadn't even looked at them yet! He spent the better part of the next 4 days working on homework after that.

 

[robinb]

My DD started school today. I hope that Sophomore year is better for her than Freshman year. High school hit her like a ton of bricks and she was not prepared for finals her first semester. Second semester finals went better but her grades were still not great. I didn't expect her to be a straight-A student but I didn't expect 'C's either! Ugh. Sophomore year will be easier for her. She dropped Orchestra this year, dropped down to an easier math track (Algebra 2/Trig instead of Pre-Calc) and dropped down from honors History to regular history. Her 9th grade Honors US History teacher was interesting and engaging but no matter how hard my DD studied and asked for help the tests were wicked hard and her grades sucked. It was literally like a college level course in 9th grade. That teacher chewed her up and spit her out. And to what end? My DD now hates history thank you very much. *sigh*

She just turned 15, so driving is still a year off. We tell he that she needs to learn on the Saab 9-3 which is a stick shift . Here in WI we parents have to pay for lessons and she can get a permit when she's 15 1/2. There will be snow on the ground so I'm torn between tossing her into the elements right away or waiting until spring.

My DD is still in swimming. My DD is recovering from a torn ACL from goofing off in track on 4/1. She had surgery in mid May and was just released to swim the free and backstroke in competition. She is doing both HS and Club swimming. Her HS team ... well ... it sucks. There are 2 pretty good girls on the team (one of which is my DD) and 2-4 others that are OK and the rest of the 34 girls are there for fun. The team will be crushed by at least half of the conference (the team we swam against last week, their JV team would be able to beat most of our varsity team) and the other 3 teams are up in the air. We have a chance against them if our coach puts girls in the right events. It's a good thing swimming is more of an individual sport. Sometimes I wish that she was swimming for one of the better teams, but there is something to be said for a team that accepts all comers instead of having try-outs. One friend of my DD's started swimming this year and just learned how to start properly and how to flipturn the week before her first race. How brave and cool is that? No Club competition until HS is over per HS rules but she is expected to show up for practice at least once per week.

My DD's classes this year are: Honors English, Chemistry (no honors offered, but this is the hardest of the two classes offered), World History, Algebra 2/Trig, French 3, Theater 2 (1st semester), Intro to Film & Video Production (1st semester), Health (2nd semester), and Lifeguard Training/Pro CPR (2nd semester, acts as a PE class).

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

When should we be checking out colleges? How early is too early?

 

[bjscheel]

When should we be checking out colleges? How early is too early?

Good question. I think I didn't really look until junior year. DD already has two thoughts, either start at the local CC and transfer to the smallest of our state universities, or do all four years at that university, for graphic design. We'll have to see if she can get enough of the right classes at the CC. One benefit to going there, besides the nearness and the lower cost, is the better chance than she could get on the track team.

When do they take the ACT and SAT?

Sophomore year is going well- doing archery club this year which is a new startup. Just 3-4 kids. Gearing up for track season with some weight lifting and running. Classes seem a bit harder this semester for some reason.

 

[mamacatnv]

I don't think its ever too early to be looking at options. My DD has been inundated with flyers, letters and pamphlets from colleges all over. She is exploring various universities as to what they offer, where they are located and what the internet chatter has to say about them. DD has been very interested in a Canadian Ivy league school (I have no clue why) she has looked at their degree programs, %of acceptance, min requirements, costs, loan options and housing. What she learned was that a school with $15K in tuition (she thought really reasonable) can turn into a $40K a year school when housing, dining, travel and books are added in. Reality bites She continues looking at a variety of schools.

My older son only had 3 colleges on his radar, one was in our town, one was a weekend trip and the third was visited virtually. We did the weekend visit during the fall of his Sr. year. My DS did more research on graduate schools than he did colleges when he was still in high school. He was pretty sure he wanted to be a physical therapist and the PT schools were what his goal was, undergrad ended up being at the local university and graduate school, well he is attending his #1 choice that he found while still in high school. It all worked out for him.

Sophomore year is flying by. Busy with drivers training, she earned a letter jacket in the Athletic Training program and just picked her classes for next year. She is entering into the IB Diploma program and is excited about it. She is also looking for a part time job, babysitting is great but can't support her lifestyle

The SAT tests are offered 7 times per year. Kids will often take it in the spring of their Junior year and then again in the fall of their Sr year. My DS took it once, he had a score acceptable to the university of choice and in his words was not going to continue to torture himself. He also took the ACT once, he did far better on the ACT than the SAT but either way he had acceptable scores. I believe the time frame is similar for the ACT

DD has taken the PSAT the past two years, her high school provides it to the Pre AP/IB students

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

Good question. I think I didn't really look until junior year. DD already has two thoughts, either start at the local CC and transfer to the smallest of our state universities, or do all four years at that university, for graphic design. We'll have to see if she can get enough of the right classes at the CC. One benefit to going there, besides the nearness and the lower cost, is the better chance than she could get on the track team.

When do they take the ACT and SAT? My child has taken the ACT already. My plan is to have her take it as many times as she can.

Sophomore year is going well- doing archery club this year which is a new startup. Just 3-4 kids. Gearing up for track season with some weight lifting and running. Classes seem a bit harder this semester for some reason.

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

I don't think its ever too early to be looking at options. My DD has been inundated with flyers, letters and pamphlets from colleges all over. She is exploring various universities as to what they offer, where they are located and what the internet chatter has to say about them. DD has been very interested in a Canadian Ivy league school (I have no clue why) she has looked at their degree programs, %of acceptance, min requirements, costs, loan options and housing. What she learned was that a school with $15K in tuition (she thought really reasonable) can turn into a $40K a year school when housing, dining, travel and books are added in. Reality bites She continues looking at a variety of schools.

My older son only had 3 colleges on his radar, one was in our town, one was a weekend trip and the third was visited virtually. We did the weekend visit during the fall of his Sr. year. My DS did more research on graduate schools than he did colleges when he was still in high school. He was pretty sure he wanted to be a physical therapist and the PT schools were what his goal was, undergrad ended up being at the local university and graduate school, well he is attending his #1 choice that he found while still in high school. It all worked out for him.

Sophomore year is flying by. Busy with drivers training, she earned a letter jacket in the Athletic Training program and just picked her classes for next year. She is entering into the IB Diploma program and is excited about it. She is also looking for a part time job, babysitting is great but can't support her lifestyle

The SAT tests are offered 7 times per year. Kids will often take it in the spring of their Junior year and then again in the fall of their Sr year. My DS took it once, he had a score acceptable to the university of choice and in his words was not going to continue to torture himself. He also took the ACT once, he did far better on the ACT than the SAT but either way he had acceptable scores. I believe the time frame is similar for the ACT

DD has taken the PSAT the past two years, her high school provides it to the Pre AP/IB students

What is the IB Diploma program?

 

[aprilgail]

When should we be checking out colleges? How early is too early?

We started looking last summer at colleges, she has a list of about 6 she is interested in going to- last summer we visited NYU and Columbia. She is also interested in Northeasten, FSU, Baruch and Hunter. We are driving cross country this summer so I told her to do her research now to see if there is anyplace she wants to stop to check out along the way. She really wants to live in NYC so she is leaning towards those.
In our school every kids takes the PSAT's in 9th, 10th and 11th as part of some grant they got which fell in perfectly with my daughters school year. She took SAT2's last year and took them again beginning of this year and will be taking them again in June. This year is flying by! They order their class rings next month $$$$.

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

We started looking last summer at colleges, she has a list of about 6 she is interested in going to- last summer we visited NYU and Columbia. She is also interested in Northeasten, FSU, Baruch and Hunter. We are driving cross country this summer so I told her to do her research now to see if there is anyplace she wants to stop to check out along the way. She really wants to live in NYC so she is leaning towards those.
In our school every kids takes the PSAT's in 9th, 10th and 11th as part of some grant they got which fell in perfectly with my daughters school year. She took SAT2's last year and took them again beginning of this year and will be taking them again in June. This year is flying by! They order their class rings next month $$$$.

Do most schools offer tours during the summer (is it really beneficial to do the official tour)? Or did you just go on your own to look around?

 

[aprilgail]

Do most schools offer tours during the summer (is it really beneficial to do the official tour)? Or did you just go on your own to look around?

We did the official tour- its one was about 3 hours long between the talk and also the walking tour part. Columbia had a financial aid guy there you could talk to too. We looked at Dartmouth over the summer too but she doesn't want to go there (we were in the neighborhood so took a tour), its to much of a small town atmosphere, that is why she wants NYC.

 

[aprilgail]

.

Sophomore year is flying by. Busy with drivers training, she earned a letter jacket in the Athletic Training program and just picked her classes for next year. She is entering into the IB Diploma program and is excited about it. She is also looking for a part time job, babysitting is great but can't support her lifestyle

They offer drivers ed to sophomores? Most sophomores are not even eligible to get a permit to drive while in their Sophomore year for the start of the school year unless they got left back. 1/3 of the kids won't be eligible for a permit at the sart of their Jr. Year either, Drivers ed for them is a senior year thing. My daughter is picking her classes next week when they go back from break- our school doesn't offer some of the classes she wants so she is starting to take those online, like AP psychology.

 

[mamacatnv]

What is the IB Diploma program?

Its the International Baccalaureate program. Similar in scope to AP but standardized curriculum and testing with an international standard. The program also dictates creative, active and service hours as well as an large essay as part of the program requirements. Its an aggressive academic program with high math, science and language requirements. DD wanted the program and has been in the pre/prep IB program the past two years.

They offer drivers ed to sophomores? Most sophomores are not even eligible to get a permit to drive while in their Sophomore year for the start of the school year unless they got left back. 1/3 of the kids won't be eligible for a permit at the sart of their Jr. Year either, Drivers ed for them is a senior year thing. My daughter is picking her classes next week when they go back from break- our school doesn't offer some of the classes she wants so she is starting to take those online, like AP psychology.

DD was 16 before she started her sophomore year. Here in Texas she has been eligible for a permit for a year and a half, she just had no interest. Now, she is showing interest and is taking the online class work required before she can get the behind the wheel permit. As far as I know, the school does not offer drivers ed in any form, we have to get the programs from the state and then get the kids enrolled in either a parent taught program or a parent paid driving school. It seems rather complicated compared to when we lived in NV where you went and got the kid a permit, did the behind the wheel hours, they took the test and got a license.

TX requires an Economics class for graduation, with the IB schedule there is no room so the IB kids have to take economics either during summer school, through the local CC or online.

 

[Ceila]

They offer drivers ed to sophomores? Most sophomores are not even eligible to get a permit to drive while in their Sophomore year for the start of the school year unless they got left back. 1/3 of the kids won't be eligible for a permit at the sart of their Jr. Year either, Drivers ed for them is a senior year thing. My daughter is picking her classes next week when they go back from break- our school doesn't offer some of the classes she wants so she is starting to take those online, like AP psychology.

What state do you live in? We're in NJ, where you have to be 16 to get a learner's permit and 17 to get your license. Our district teaches driver's ed as the sophomore health class. It makes sense, as most sophomores will turn 16 during the school year and be eligible for their permit.

Edited: Ok, I just saw on your profile that you're in NY. In NY, you can get your permit at age 16. So, unless your state has an unusual age requirement for school enrollment, many kids will become eligible for a learner's permit in their sophomore year.

 

[aprilgail]

What state do you live in? We're in NJ, where you have to be 16 to get a learner's permit and 17 to get your license. Our district teaches driver's ed as the sophomore health class. It makes sense, as most sophomores will turn 16 during the school year and be eligible for their permit.

NY- but he kids born in June, July, August, Sept, Oct and Nov. won't be 16 during the Sophomore school year so only half of them would be able to get a permit as a sophomore. teaching drivers ed to sophomores here would not make sense as Drivers Ed involves time spent outside the classroom actually driving a car which half the kids wouldn't be able to do. Maybe drivers ed means other things in places but here it involves actually driving a car during the class.

 

[Ceila]

NY- but he kids born in June, July, August, Sept, Oct and Nov. won't be 16 during the Sophomore school year so only half of them would be able to get a permit as a sophomore. teaching drivers ed to sophomores here would not make sense as Drivers Ed involves time spent outside the classroom actually driving a car which half the kids wouldn't be able to do. Maybe drivers ed means other things in places but here it involves actually driving a car during the class.

Here, at least in our district, there is no driving component in the class offered in school. They do have a driving simulator, but actual driving with an instructor is something you take outside of school.

Keep in mind, too, that a lot of parents of late birthday kids hold them, so that would increase the number of sophomores who are eligible for permits.

 

[mamacatnv]

What state do you live in? We're in NJ, where you have to be 16 to get a learner's permit and 17 to get your license. Our district teaches driver's ed as the sophomore health class. It makes sense, as most sophomores will turn 16 during the school year and be eligible for their permit.

Edited: Ok, I just saw on your profile that you're in NY. In NY, you can get your permit at age 16. So, unless your state has an unusual age requirement for school enrollment, many kids will become eligible for a learner's permit in their sophomore year.

I'm in Texas not NY. Kids can permit at 15, license at 16. DD was not interested in a permit when she was first eligible.

 

[Ceila]

I'm in Texas not NY. Kids can permit at 15, license at 16. DD was not interested in a permit when she was first eligible.

My son was the opposite - he got his permit the very first day he was eligible because he couldn't wait to start driving.

 

[mamacatnv]

My son was the opposite - he got his permit the very first day he was eligible because he couldn't wait to start driving.

Same here, DS could not wait to drive, he had a permit immediately upon eligibility. DD was not interested, her interest is still not urgent and driving was not something I felt that needed to be pushed at this point in her life.