What are your rising juniors and seniors doing this summer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part time job. Taking SAT IIs in June. SAT I prep for October retake. Assigned summer reading and essay for school. Assigned summer work for next year's AP courses. Starting college essays as soon as Common App is released. Not a summer I would look forward to.

Let's break this down:

1. "Part time job" -- way to earn spending money with kids his/her own age.
2. "Taking SAT IIs in June" -- done by the first weekend of June. Each test is an hour long. They are designed to measure work the kid has done in school. If the kid has prepped for an AP in the same subject area most don't re-study for the SAT II.
3. "SAT I prep for October retake" -- This is clearly being done by choice of the family. The Princeton Review course is 30 hours of classes for the course (so about 2 hours avg. a week)
4. "Assigned summer reading and essay for school" -- Yikes! Having to read a book! Everybody starts this in August, if then, when they are back for pre-season.
5. "Assigned summer work for next year's AP courses." -- Nobody starts this before mid to late August. Usually one book or assignment for each AP class. Many kids don't do it or half-ass it. (SHOCKING!!!!)
6. "Starting college essays as soon as Common App is released." Hah, that's what you think.

Wow, am I the only one who has sympathy for our stressed out kids?

1. DS's part time job is 30-40 hours a week, and he is saving about 80% of his earnings to help with college and so that he doesn't graduate from college penniless.
2. True enough, but mine will certainly spend time reviewing during what should be his first week of summer. It is so dumb that they have to take another exam in the same subject they already have shown competence in through the school course and the AP exam, but such is life today.
3. His choice not ours. And he already did the Princeton Review course last summer. It's actually six or seven hours a week in class for 5 weeks or so, another couple hours for commute time, and several more hours at home doing the assigned work. This year we will use a tutor to target his weakest area, and it will be up to him how much time to put in.
4. Well at our school they read three books of substantial length, often nonfiction (and I'm not talking about a casual read such as a Gladwell book). No way could they read them all in August.
5. Maybe my kid is a nerd, but he always does the assigned work over the summer. And he will definitely start on his essays because he works so hard during the school year, and has sports.

To me that adds up to a pretty full week without the long hours spent at the pool or hanging out with friends that I enjoyed at that age.

If you truly had sympathy you would remove your kid from the pressure cooker/meat grinder and let him hang out with friends and chill a little bit instead of filling up every minute with work and school. Instead, you humblebrag while signing him up for prep classes, tutors, exams and work. Its not "such as life", its the life you have chosen for him.

Yes, you are so right. Or, you have a kid like my step-son who got into a bad college with full loans, took 6 years to graduate (he was busy with friends), didn't get his first job till 23, (all while living with his girlfriend since 18 per the girlfriends parents as she could not live in a dorm) and now unmarried but a baby at 24 and going to graduate school on full loans with living expenses as girlfriend refuses to work (and now moving in with family so they don't have to pay rent).

Now THAT sounds like every 24-year old boy (yes, boy) I know - family members, neighbors, colleagues' kids. It's an epidemic among young men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior - 2 college classes at the community college, football camp, 3 days at Hugh O'Brien Leadership conference, 2 week family vacation, lots of football practice and golf/tennis/swim at country club in between times. He will also need to drive his sister to her golf and tennis lessons.

PP, just curious why the college courses at the community college? To advance in math or science? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior - 2 college classes at the community college, football camp, 3 days at Hugh O'Brien Leadership conference, 2 week family vacation, lots of football practice and golf/tennis/swim at country club in between times. He will also need to drive his sister to her golf and tennis lessons.

PP, just curious why the college courses at the community college? To advance in math or science? Thank you.

He took pysch 101, soc 101, Eng 101 and 102 during the school year, this summer he will take Stats and Western Civ. He's knocking out some of the gen ed stuff that will apply regardless of his major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior - 2 college classes at the community college, football camp, 3 days at Hugh O'Brien Leadership conference, 2 week family vacation, lots of football practice and golf/tennis/swim at country club in between times. He will also need to drive his sister to her golf and tennis lessons.

PP, just curious why the college courses at the community college? To advance in math or science? Thank you.

He took pysch 101, soc 101, Eng 101 and 102 during the school year, this summer he will take Stats and Western Civ. He's knocking out some of the gen ed stuff that will apply regardless of his major.

This is what a bunch of our neighbors are doing. Instead of AP's they just take the actual college class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior - 2 college classes at the community college, football camp, 3 days at Hugh O'Brien Leadership conference, 2 week family vacation, lots of football practice and golf/tennis/swim at country club in between times. He will also need to drive his sister to her golf and tennis lessons.

PP, just curious why the college courses at the community college? To advance in math or science? Thank you.

He took pysch 101, soc 101, Eng 101 and 102 during the school year, this summer he will take Stats and Western Civ. He's knocking out some of the gen ed stuff that will apply regardless of his major.

This is what a bunch of our neighbors are doing. Instead of AP's they just take the actual college class.

Your kid was taking college classes during the year? Why does he need to "knock out" college courses while he's a high school sophomore -- is he planning to do one of those 6 year BS/MD programs or something like that? Because honestly this sounds weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior - 2 college classes at the community college, football camp, 3 days at Hugh O'Brien Leadership conference, 2 week family vacation, lots of football practice and golf/tennis/swim at country club in between times. He will also need to drive his sister to her golf and tennis lessons.

PP, just curious why the college courses at the community college? To advance in math or science? Thank you.

He took pysch 101, soc 101, Eng 101 and 102 during the school year, this summer he will take Stats and Western Civ. He's knocking out some of the gen ed stuff that will apply regardless of his major.

This is what a bunch of our neighbors are doing. Instead of AP's they just take the actual college class.

Your kid was taking college classes during the year? Why does he need to "knock out" college courses while he's a high school sophomore -- is he planning to do one of those 6 year BS/MD programs or something like that? Because honestly this sounds weird.

It is an option at our school for kids who are working well above grade. We do not live in the DMV. In our state if your child meets certain criteria then he/she can take college classes at their local community college and the state pays the tuition. Our child is in private school and the state still pays the community college tuition and books. Most parents whose kids qualify take advantage of the because it saves a lot of tuition money later on. Your child can start as early as 9th grade if they meet the criteria. What's so weird about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior - 2 college classes at the community college, football camp, 3 days at Hugh O'Brien Leadership conference, 2 week family vacation, lots of football practice and golf/tennis/swim at country club in between times. He will also need to drive his sister to her golf and tennis lessons.

PP, just curious why the college courses at the community college? To advance in math or science? Thank you.

He took pysch 101, soc 101, Eng 101 and 102 during the school year, this summer he will take Stats and Western Civ. He's knocking out some of the gen ed stuff that will apply regardless of his major.

This is what a bunch of our neighbors are doing. Instead of AP's they just take the actual college class.

Your kid was taking college classes during the year? Why does he need to "knock out" college courses while he's a high school sophomore -- is he planning to do one of those 6 year BS/MD programs or something like that? Because honestly this sounds weird.

It is an option at our school for kids who are working well above grade. We do not live in the DMV. In our state if your child meets certain criteria then he/she can take college classes at their local community college and the state pays the tuition. Our child is in private school and the state still pays the community college tuition and books. Most parents whose kids qualify take advantage of the because it saves a lot of tuition money later on. Your child can start as early as 9th grade if they meet the criteria. What's so weird about that?

Okay, fly-over state. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior - 2 college classes at the community college, football camp, 3 days at Hugh O'Brien Leadership conference, 2 week family vacation, lots of football practice and golf/tennis/swim at country club in between times. He will also need to drive his sister to her golf and tennis lessons.

PP, just curious why the college courses at the community college? To advance in math or science? Thank you.

He took pysch 101, soc 101, Eng 101 and 102 during the school year, this summer he will take Stats and Western Civ. He's knocking out some of the gen ed stuff that will apply regardless of his major.

This is what a bunch of our neighbors are doing. Instead of AP's they just take the actual college class.

Your kid was taking college classes during the year? Why does he need to "knock out" college courses while he's a high school sophomore -- is he planning to do one of those 6 year BS/MD programs or something like that? Because honestly this sounds weird.

It is an option at our school for kids who are working well above grade. We do not live in the DMV. In our state if your child meets certain criteria then he/she can take college classes at their local community college and the state pays the tuition. Our child is in private school and the state still pays the community college tuition and books. Most parents whose kids qualify take advantage of the because it saves a lot of tuition money later on. Your child can start as early as 9th grade if they meet the criteria. What's so weird about that?

From your original post one could not tell that the courses were in lieu of high school classes -- it sounded like they were in addition to a full high school course load. Also, it wasn't clear you were from out of the area.

I can see the money-saving option. At least from the classes I've seen at the private school, I'd prefer they have their English classes with their regular teachers and classmates on the assumption (borne out, I think) that they are more demanding and engaging than an average community college course (I've got a lot of friends who teach in the humanities at community colleges -- they do have some very talented students on occasion -- but by and large the level is pretty low, they report.) I can imagine this might not be such an issue in a class like Psych or Sociology where it is lecture-style in college as well and there's not a great HS option you are missing out on.

Do all colleges accept the credits? Again, from a financial standpoint is sounds pretty great if it lets a kid graduate from college in 3 years, say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior - 2 college classes at the community college, football camp, 3 days at Hugh O'Brien Leadership conference, 2 week family vacation, lots of football practice and golf/tennis/swim at country club in between times. He will also need to drive his sister to her golf and tennis lessons.

PP, just curious why the college courses at the community college? To advance in math or science? Thank you.

He took pysch 101, soc 101, Eng 101 and 102 during the school year, this summer he will take Stats and Western Civ. He's knocking out some of the gen ed stuff that will apply regardless of his major.

This is what a bunch of our neighbors are doing. Instead of AP's they just take the actual college class.

Your kid was taking college classes during the year? Why does he need to "knock out" college courses while he's a high school sophomore -- is he planning to do one of those 6 year BS/MD programs or something like that? Because honestly this sounds weird.

It is an option at our school for kids who are working well above grade. We do not live in the DMV. In our state if your child meets certain criteria then he/she can take college classes at their local community college and the state pays the tuition. Our child is in private school and the state still pays the community college tuition and books. Most parents whose kids qualify take advantage of the because it saves a lot of tuition money later on. Your child can start as early as 9th grade if they meet the criteria. What's so weird about that?

From your original post one could not tell that the courses were in lieu of high school classes -- it sounded like they were in addition to a full high school course load. Also, it wasn't clear you were from out of the area.

I can see the money-saving option. At least from the classes I've seen at the private school, I'd prefer they have their English classes with their regular teachers and classmates on the assumption (borne out, I think) that they are more demanding and engaging than an average community college course (I've got a lot of friends who teach in the humanities at community colleges -- they do have some very talented students on occasion -- but by and large the level is pretty low, they report.) I can imagine this might not be such an issue in a class like Psych or Sociology where it is lecture-style in college as well and there's not a great HS option you are missing out on.

Do all colleges accept the credits? Again, from a financial standpoint is sounds pretty great if it lets a kid graduate from college in 3 years, say.

Yes, they have not had problems with schools not accepting the credits. Its a good deal and works well for some kids. Downside it parents have to provide transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior - 2 college classes at the community college, football camp, 3 days at Hugh O'Brien Leadership conference, 2 week family vacation, lots of football practice and golf/tennis/swim at country club in between times. He will also need to drive his sister to her golf and tennis lessons.

PP, just curious why the college courses at the community college? To advance in math or science? Thank you.

He took pysch 101, soc 101, Eng 101 and 102 during the school year, this summer he will take Stats and Western Civ. He's knocking out some of the gen ed stuff that will apply regardless of his major.

This is what a bunch of our neighbors are doing. Instead of AP's they just take the actual college class.

Your kid was taking college classes during the year? Why does he need to "knock out" college courses while he's a high school sophomore -- is he planning to do one of those 6 year BS/MD programs or something like that? Because honestly this sounds weird.

It is an option at our school for kids who are working well above grade. We do not live in the DMV. In our state if your child meets certain criteria then he/she can take college classes at their local community college and the state pays the tuition. Our child is in private school and the state still pays the community college tuition and books. Most parents whose kids qualify take advantage of the because it saves a lot of tuition money later on. Your child can start as early as 9th grade if they meet the criteria. What's so weird about that?

Okay, fly-over state. Got it.

Actually Northeast.
Sounds like you must be one of those flyover transplants who hides your insecurity by despising what you once were.

[Anonymous]

^^ Yeah, I'm a Californian and I took world civilization at our community college, as well as other courses, my junior and senior year of high school. Looked great on transcript. And it was fun!

[Anonymous]

rising junior:

going overseas for a month on a fellowship she competed for, starting her own charity, swim team, editing a research paper in hopes of publication. She is driven. I am not.

[Anonymous]

Rising Junior - Not a whole lot of daily scheduling, but some interesting ways to use up our frequent flyer mileage.

Paris to see friends right after school, San Francisco to see her play produced at a new playwright's festival in late June, Chicago in mid-July for abstract presentation at gynecological cancer symposium, then Chilmark in August working as a mate on fishing charters.

[Anonymous]

Still would like some advice on how OP got judicial internship. Also any suggestions for any type of internship in Aerospace Engineering?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rising Junior - Not a whole lot of daily scheduling, but some interesting ways to use up our frequent flyer mileage.

Paris to see friends right after school, San Francisco to see her play produced at a new playwright's festival in late June, Chicago in mid-July for abstract presentation at gynecological cancer symposium, then Chilmark in August working as a mate on fishing charters.

hahaha.