Things You Wish You Knew When he/she was in 10th Grade

[Anonymous]

I have a 10th grader. She just starting to think about college as being less abstract and trying to figure out where she'd like to go/what she'd like to do.

I would LOVE to hear all of your advice on what you wish you knew when your kid was at the end of 10th grade.

tips on classes, grades, good resources, what to consider, what not to consider, how important leadership roles are, or activities, etc., etc. Any advice at all!

Thanks!!!

[Anonymous]

ACT or SAT testing schedules. Most students take the test 2X. If your plan is to be done testing in the spring of their junior year, then the first test should be in the fall of their junior year so they have time to prepare. The testing schedule is available thru college board website and note that tests are not given over the summer. Also, some highly selective schools additionally require subject tests.

[Anonymous]

just how sandbagged asians are in the process - why don't public school counselors actually talk about this?

[Anonymous]

You can do everything right and a top college will still reject you without much regard. Absolutely aim high, but try not to fall in love with one school. It matters less where you go and more how well you do no matter where you go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can do everything right and a top college will still reject you without much regard. Absolutely aim high, but try not to fall in love with one school. It matters less where you go and more how well you do no matter where you go.

+1

Ban the term "dream school" from usage. It just sets you up for failure and disappointment. There are no dream schools, only dreams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:just how sandbagged asians are in the process - why don't public school counselors actually talk about this?

What does "sandbagged" mean?

[Anonymous]

a friend said that some of the subject tests are worth taking before junior year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:just how sandbagged asians are in the process - why don't public school counselors actually talk about this?

What does this mean?

[Anonymous]

You need to figure out what your college budget is and then let your kid know. If $ is no object, great. But if you are limited to public schools, and private schools that will meet your demonstrated need and/or offer merit $, you need to let her know that. This will shape the list of schools you consider.

Other than that, nothing is more important that taking a rigorous course of study in Grade 11 and doing very well. She can always add an extra-curricular or 2, but the truth is that if she isn't already highly engaged in something and on track for a meaningful leadership position, then the extra-curricular probably won't matter much.

Also, figuring out a testing schedule is a great idea. Only reason to take Subject Test in Grade 10 is if she is in an AP class this year, and can use final AP exam prep as Subject Test prep.

[Anonymous]

Extracurriculars might not be what you think...

http://time.com/3767996/how-mit-rates-applicants/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to figure out what your college budget is and then let your kid know. If $ is no object, great. But if you are limited to public schools, and private schools that will meet your demonstrated need and/or offer merit $, you need to let her know that. This will shape the list of schools you consider.

Other than that, nothing is more important that taking a rigorous course of study in Grade 11 and doing very well. She can always add an extra-curricular or 2, but the truth is that if she isn't already highly engaged in something and on track for a meaningful leadership position, then the extra-curricular probably won't matter much.

Also, figuring out a testing schedule is a great idea. Only reason to take Subject Test in Grade 10 is if she is in an AP class this year, and can use final AP exam prep as Subject Test prep.

Thank you for this! (I'm not the OP but have a 10th grader.)

Can someone explain how to choose which subject tests to take? Should they be in areas in which the child might major? OR areas in which she/he happens to test well, regardless of whether she is interested in pursuing that subject area ever again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ACT or SAT testing schedules. Most students take the test 2X. If your plan is to be done testing in the spring of their junior year, then the first test should be in the fall of their junior year so they have time to prepare. The testing schedule is available thru college board website and note that tests are not given over the summer. Also, some highly selective schools additionally require subject tests.

Thanks for this advice! I'm the OP and I'm still trying to understand when people take SAT/ACT, how often, if/how/when to prepare, etc.

So are you suggesting to take both SAT & ACT twice? Fall and Spring of junior year? Good to know about no testing in the summer. My DD is smart, but is NOT great with these sorts of tests because she takes FOREVER and overthinks things way too much. She has taken the PSAT twice through school (she got 1100 in 10th) and usually doesn't finish - generally math. I wonder if she would benefit from some sort of prep class and, if so, when she should take it. I'm thinking summer (she'll be thrilled). Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Never settle for B-pluses.

Obsess over one or two volunteering extra curriculars over a few years. I'm partial to old folks home. Those seniors light up when kids come around. It's so touching to see.

Read books & nyt or wapo daily.

[Anonymous]

Yes to 10:05.

In addition, I wish that we had understood the college counseling process a bit better (DC is in a private school). The first meeting seems to be all about setting expectations, but in DC's case they were set too low and not really all that helpful. Once DCs scores and junior grades came in the counselor was much more helpful and she really had good suggestions for DC. Look at naviance and understand where kids go from your high school and how your kid fits into the rubric. The strangest thing to me is that DC is interested in liberal arts schools, and it would seem that on paper Haverford, Colgate, Washington and Lee, Colby, Vassar etc. would all be reasonable choices as they are similarly ranked. However, some of those schools were matches, some were reaches, and some were "your kid is never going to get in there." Sorting that out took some time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to figure out what your college budget is and then let your kid know. If $ is no object, great. But if you are limited to public schools, and private schools that will meet your demonstrated need and/or offer merit $, you need to let her know that. This will shape the list of schools you consider.

Other than that, nothing is more important that taking a rigorous course of study in Grade 11 and doing very well. She can always add an extra-curricular or 2, but the truth is that if she isn't already highly engaged in something and on track for a meaningful leadership position, then the extra-curricular probably won't matter much.

Also, figuring out a testing schedule is a great idea. Only reason to take Subject Test in Grade 10 is if she is in an AP class this year, and can use final AP exam prep as Subject Test prep.

Thank you for this! (I'm not the OP but have a 10th grader.)

Can someone explain how to choose which subject tests to take? Should they be in areas in which the child might major? OR areas in which she/he happens to test well, regardless of whether she is interested in pursuing that subject area ever again?

Just take the Subject Test in whichever subjects your child is likely to score best. That being said, the curves on the Math and Science Subject tests are insane. 800s only get you 88th percentile on Math 2. Also, language percentiles are destroyed by native speakers who take the Subject Test.

To me, it's a natural that if your kid is taking AP US History (for example) and doing well, have them take the SAT II in US History right after taking the AP US History Exam. English is another good one, if your kid scores well on the SAT I Verbal/Critical Reading.