Anonymous
10/03/2025 18:30
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
OP, talk to your son about trade school. My nephew always hated school and liked being active (ADHD). Parents went to college and one has a masters. The expectation was college. He suggested trade school and they embraced it. He completed his training and apprenticeship while living at home and saving money. He is loving his job (HVAC) and just bought his first house! He is only 21 years old.
Anonymous
10/03/2025 18:14
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not reading 5 pages.
but a 17 on the ACT means just skip all the testing and move onto TO school. Free yourself!
A 17 does not mean TO. It means he doesn’t have basic math and reading comprehension skills. At all.
That’s not true at all. I have a DC who scored similarly at a top private. Just a kid with anxiety, ADHD and raeding issue. No teacher thinks he is not ready for college. Just a horrible test taker. Don’t be pressured by all the posters recommending trade school. Just go TO. That’s what we’re doing.
Ok, but also, listen to what you're saying: horrible test taker, anxiety, ADHD, reading issue
Why push him into 4 more years of that stress, frustration and anxiety, when he could be figuring out something he actually is gifted at right now? If he has a specific reason/passion for college, and he wants to fight for it--sure. But assuming college is a good idea just because everyone else does it? Because of parental/societal expectations? It's misery to keep working at something you are not good at, especially if you don't have a clear motivation and drive that propels you to keep going.
Not OP here but mother to a poor student who will want to (or thinks he will want to) go to college when all his buddies do. I don’t think most parents would disagree with you on this but it’s another matter to say “sorry son. You’re not the academic type and we won’t pay for college.” So, while as parents, we will share alternative ideas such as work or military…. I just don’t see throwing in the towel before we even give him a chance to flunk out so to speak
. Hopefully, he will be open to alternatives or gap year at least but at 15 and sophomore year- he just gets offended when we bring up other ideas to consider.
Anonymous
10/03/2025 18:12
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Iowa State (89% acceptance rate)
Arizona State (90% acceptance rate)
Cal State - Sonoma (92-94% acceptance rate)
UC Merced (91-92% acceptance rate)
Virginia Commonwealth University (93% acceptance rate)
All solid choices
Iowa State doesn't usually accept people with an ACT score lower than 21
It has an 89% acceptance rate, I don't think they are going to care. And the kid doesn't need to report it.
Anonymous
10/03/2025 18:01
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
I’m anticipating being in a similar boat to OP. I think we will just go Test Optional. I’m not so sure rn that my son could be successful at any competitive level school where testing comes into play - even if he were to magically call get in! I’m thinkning we save our time and energy to keep his grades up and enjoy life.
Anonymous
10/03/2025 17:41
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:He obtained an 17 on a practice test beforehand, the same score!
Last year he managed a 3.0 gpa, this year he did not start off well but is being tutored- junior year. DS has an IEP (ADHD), so he had extra time for the exam, he just doesn’t test well.
Where do I go from here? Take another ACT course?
Did either parent have a similar academic experience?
You might need a major worldview adjustment to understand the experience and prospects of a 3.0 / 17. Likely to be finding some area of interest that isn't based on book learning, like Forestry or IT operations or construction trades or early childhood education.
Have you done RIASEC or any of those giant surveys that try to match your personality, aptitudes, interests to the big list of 1000 careers?
Anonymous
10/03/2025 16:44
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not reading 5 pages.
but a 17 on the ACT means just skip all the testing and move onto TO school. Free yourself!
A 17 does not mean TO. It means he doesn’t have basic math and reading comprehension skills. At all.
That’s not true at all. I have a DC who scored similarly at a top private. Just a kid with anxiety, ADHD and raeding issue. No teacher thinks he is not ready for college. Just a horrible test taker. Don’t be pressured by all the posters recommending trade school. Just go TO. That’s what we’re doing.
Ok, but also, listen to what you're saying: horrible test taker, anxiety, ADHD, reading issue
Why push him into 4 more years of that stress, frustration and anxiety, when he could be figuring out something he actually is gifted at right now? If he has a specific reason/passion for college, and he wants to fight for it--sure. But assuming college is a good idea just because everyone else does it? Because of parental/societal expectations? It's misery to keep working at something you are not good at, especially if you don't have a clear motivation and drive that propels you to keep going.
Anonymous
10/03/2025 16:26
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not reading 5 pages.
but a 17 on the ACT means just skip all the testing and move onto TO school. Free yourself!
A 17 does not mean TO. It means he doesn’t have basic math and reading comprehension skills. At all.
That’s not true at all. I have a DC who scored similarly at a top private. Just a kid with anxiety, ADHD and raeding issue. No teacher thinks he is not ready for college. Just a horrible test taker. Don’t be pressured by all the posters recommending trade school. Just go TO. That’s what we’re doing.
17 on the ACT means not ready for college level course. My child had to take the ACT as part of an advanced math program application- as a 6th grader. You had to get an 18 in math to qualify for Algebra I the following year
Anonymous
10/03/2025 16:06
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:Perfect candidate for an apprenticeship and becoming an Electrician or Plumber or something else he has an interest in. He will probably be much happier finding something that he excels at, that pays well, that he can build skills in. Why spend 4 more years suffering with academics that don't come naturally and risk demoralizing him? Part of the reason young men are turning to the right is because they think the left is force-fitting them into environments and lifestyle choices that feel suffocating. Now if he is passionate about a career that requires college, then yes, let that be a motivator to find a good fit college. If not, free him up from the college expectation so he can find something else. He can always go back to it later.
Really great advice. Listen to the kid. And if DC wants college, then starting with a community college seems wise. As others have said, a 17 on the ACT combined with below average grades points to lack of readiness. Many kids mature later.
Anonymous
10/03/2025 15:43
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:Iowa State (89% acceptance rate)
Arizona State (90% acceptance rate)
Cal State - Sonoma (92-94% acceptance rate)
UC Merced (91-92% acceptance rate)
Virginia Commonwealth University (93% acceptance rate)
All solid choices
Iowa State doesn't usually accept people with an ACT score lower than 21
Anonymous
10/03/2025 15:39
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not reading 5 pages.
but a 17 on the ACT means just skip all the testing and move onto TO school. Free yourself!
A 17 does not mean TO. It means he doesn’t have basic math and reading comprehension skills. At all.
That’s not true at all. I have a DC who scored similarly at a top private. Just a kid with anxiety, ADHD and raeding issue. No teacher thinks he is not ready for college. Just a horrible test taker. Don’t be pressured by all the posters recommending trade school. Just go TO. That’s what we’re doing.
Anonymous
10/03/2025 15:32
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
If your kid has struggled through 12 years of school in addition to having ADHD (which doesn't usually lend itself to a quiet/still classroom environment), it will be a revelation to make money doing something he actually "gets" and believes he can become excellent at.
Anonymous
10/03/2025 15:18
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:Perfect candidate for an apprenticeship and becoming an Electrician or Plumber or something else he has an interest in. He will probably be much happier finding something that he excels at, that pays well, that he can build skills in. Why spend 4 more years suffering with academics that don't come naturally and risk demoralizing him? Part of the reason young men are turning to the right is because they think the left is force-fitting them into environments and lifestyle choices that feel suffocating. Now if he is passionate about a career that requires college, then yes, let that be a motivator to find a good fit college. If not, free him up from the college expectation so he can find something else. He can always go back to it later.
+1
Anonymous
10/03/2025 15:12
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
Anonymous wrote:I'm not reading 5 pages.
but a 17 on the ACT means just skip all the testing and move onto TO school. Free yourself!
A 17 does not mean TO. It means he doesn’t have basic math and reading comprehension skills. At all.
Anonymous
10/03/2025 14:21
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
I'm not reading 5 pages.
but a 17 on the ACT means just skip all the testing and move onto TO school. Free yourself!
but a 17 on the ACT means just skip all the testing and move onto TO school. Free yourself!
Anonymous
10/03/2025 14:11
Subject: Well DS got a 17 on his ACT & he took an ACT class beforehand? What now?!
He doesn’t belong in college OP. Trade school and an associates degree is all he needs for a decent life.