My son graduated with a physics degree with grad school plans (knew EXACTLY what kind) and then got offered a job at his alma mater - in creating dialogue among various groups on campus. He works very closely with the chaplain. DS is an atheist. So that's where knowing "exactly" what you want to do can lead you!

That travel expense and inconvenience are also a consideration. But, then again, for my Obie kid, I drove 8 hours one day. Stayed in hotel. Drove another 8 the next. Gas, hotel and food costs add up to a cheap airplane ticket. I would also love to visit Lawrence and Beloit. She might have to get accepted first. DD returned from St John's summer academy. She liked it a lot, but is worried that she would be too intimidated by the bright students and workload if she attended. Susquehanna also seems to be up for serious consideration (where ds21 currently attends and where she recently attended a writing camp). She is interested in their writing program. Tiramisu - Susquehanna is not a liberal, hipster school; your dd might find a fit; they are good with merit and have an honors program. If you are sticking to PA and need a lot of merit, I assume you have considered Allegheny, Juniata, Elizabethtown, Ursinus and Muhlenberg (a bit stingier with merit). We had no luck with Dickinson merit in the past. The other PA schools - Gettysburg, Lafayette, Bucknell likely won't come through for you either if you need a lot. Your daughter would probably do great with Wooster and Denison, though.

This might be a good supplement... https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/understanding-cultural-and-human-geography

DD14 (rising 9th grader) will be doing WTMA's Biology this year, which is year ahead of our local district. So, yes, you are fine holding off, depending upon his future goals in science. If dd weren't doing biology, I would likely have signed her up for Derek Owen's physical science.

Yowza! Congrats to your dd! :hurray:

I hope this isn't out of place, but... I am waiting for an answer to an appeal from DS21's school. I just didn't understand the numbers. I strategically crafted my questions to ask her over the phone so she could hear herself answer them. At one point, she said, "Hmmm...that doesn't make sense. Let me review all of it for you." I received an email this morning, saying she was using my 2016 tax returns (which are 1/3 of 2015) as the basis for the review. Fingers crossed. ETA: Math error! I said 1/3 less than when it's 1/3 of...

My oldest did that and it was the perfect thing to do for him, especially since he wanted an LAC. DS18, however, needed/wanted a school with math classes and research of a certain kind and level. Most schools just didn't have the offerings he wanted. LACs were not an option for him. My financial situation had drastically changed, so I was able to have a different approach with him. ETA: Just read the other responses to this question. Getting into college is playing a game. Know the rules. Be realistic about the cards you have to play. And you can come out a winner.

DS was definitely attached to MIT - all of the kids who attended SPARC (a math camp at Berkeley he attended last year and will this year) have gotten into MIT or Harvard. He got into neither. I think the weirdest bit was getting waitlisted and then rejected at Penn, where he had taken classes with stellar results for two years - including a graduate level math class. He did graduate early as a junior. That may have been an obstacle. Last night, I brought five 12-14 year old girls back from the barn after camp. They were sharing horrific, highly suggestive public instagram photos of a 15 year old girl they know from the barn. It makes me shudder every time I think about it. I don't know who she is or I would tell the parents. It is dangerous to say the least and the girls said the pics have been up for two weeks. Anyway... In response, the 12 year old said that she has dreamed of Yale since she was a little girl and she will let nothing jeopardize that dream. She won't attend middle school parties or post anything online, for fear of losing her goal. Apparently, an uncle attended Yale and it is what she has always wanted. Her comments reminded me of this thread.

Lonely kids break my heart. I've had one. What I did last summer was tell her to pick three new things that she wanted to try. Summer was the perfect time to go to camps, take lessons etc in something new. She thought about it earnestly and picked three things. The first thing we tried was horseback riding. She took a lesson and never tried the other two things! She is at the barn five days a week, riding and working. Twice this week, she had a bunch of friends over for dinner and hanging out. They made plans for tomorrow night. I cannot express how joyful that makes me. Try it out. Three new things. Hugs Mom and congrats on the charter school!

Without a doubt. I have six kids with six very different personalities. A few have traveled the world under the age of 18, without an adult. One is slowly, but surely on her way (the next up for college). We have made purposeful steps to help her with the confidence, because we worry about her. My goal is to do all I can to make them feel as capable as possible by the time they leave. :)

Yowza! I helped Lori D!! :hurray:

What this prepared independence also gives them is a sense of confidence. Helicopter parenting does not help! I hear so many stories of kids leaving during that first semester, depressed, anxious, not being able to cope with the basics.

When ds was choosing between CMU and Columbia, dd13 said pick the Ivy! She had no idea what it meant, other than it was for smart kids. He did pick Columbia (mainly due to finances). DD was disappointed and said, "Awwww. I wanted him to pick the Ivy." Funny girl. She has no idea. 8 - I always appreciate your cautionary tales. Truly! DS had practically perfect SAT scores and APs and a pretty impressive EC, filled with amazing experiences. He was rejected (although waitlisted first at MIT and Penn) by all ivies he applied to, except for one.

You are fabulous. Congrats!

My rising ninth grader's Great Courses (Plus) faves: Dorsey Armstrong's Analysis and Critique, Great Utopian and Dystopia Works in Literature, Heroes and Legends, How to Read and Understand Shakespeare. Remember that you can pick and choose lectures! She also liked The Tolkien Professor and Michael Drout. How to Read Like a Professor was also throughly enjoyed. Best of luck, OP.

Love this thread! Thanks for the specific suggestions! Any recommended books or resources for a rising 9th grader to use, in preparation for taking SATs in 11th? I know solid math and quality reading is key, but is there anything that's good for once/twice a week practice?

I know I have shown my bachelor's degree in lieu of a high school diploma with no problem. I've done it in order to homeschool here in PA!

Tiffany, dd14 is on the waiting list for WTMA's Socratic Seminar Discussion for similar reasons. Looking forward to hearing other suggestions.

Woah! Who knew? Thanks for sharing!!

Many people like to use their videos as an engaging supplement. Unless things have changed, however, it is not considered a curriculum. I find that the videos are best used after exposure to the subject - as a fun, quick overview.

Agreed! I mean, they saw enough to accept the student. He had those outside scores. He was NOT part of any state homeschool association. PA now allows homeschoolers to have a state-issued diploma. This is signed by the parent and the evaluator. It's as official as a homeschooler can get. I also signed this student's transcript. In addition, his evaluation letter was more specific than my normal ones (and Mom submitted to New School, which isn't typical) - saying that he had a rigorous education and that he officially graduated. As far as I know, all was accepted. But I do wish someone would talk to that school about homeschooler requirements.

This issue has been discussed here in past years. I thought there were only several schools that actually require a diploma. I may be remembering incorrectly. None of the 25 or so schools my kids have applied to required a diploma. ETA: One of my clients this year (I am a PA homeschool evaluator) did need something that was more than most. This is from the New School in NY: Homeschool applicants must provide the equivalent of a high school transcript with course or subject titles, duration of study for each title, content of study for each title, and an assessment of performance or “grade.†Preferably, the courses completed at home are part of a curriculum developed and evaluated by a nationally recognized diploma-granting organization or agency. If not connected with such an organization, homeschool applicants must obtain and submit a GED as confirmation of completing a generally acceptable secondary school curriculum. If an official transcript from a state homeschool association or sponsoring public high school is not available, homeschool students must submit an equivalency or GED, TASC, or HiSET exam results. Individual homeschool transcripts with date of completion do not suffice as official proof of graduation.

Yes, do check with your high school. I am in PA and have had no problem sending kids to ps in two different districts. Both were very flexible with accepting the courses. However, only one allowed mom grades on the transcript. The other put pass or fail on the transcript. You also have to be very careful of graduation requirements and electives. They will require your student to take those; all of the electives your dd has taken so far may not count towards graduation credits. In addition, our state now requires state exams in a handful of subjects to graduate. Those must be taken. For example, Algebra, Bio and Lit exams are required. If dd took algebra 3 years ago and even took an AP Calc exam with a score of 5, she would still be required to take that state exam in order to graduate. Re: diplomas. I know that here in PA, homeschoolers can now be given an official state-issued diploma. It does not need to be a mom-issued diploma - which is usually not a problem anyway. ETA: Colleges won't care about going back and forth. If crafted carefully and if it seems genuine, it can become part of her story.

I really think she would thrive at an all women's school. She is drawn to them; she could use a safe place to grow. I have visited Wooster twice. It is lovely. Could you describe Beloit to me? Checking it out. Thanks! Knox. It is on the list. Mt Holyoke is test optional and that makes it a possibility. It will definitely be her reach school, but she must receive enough merit. We will make another visit next month (and make a pitstop at Wheaton in Norton, MA , if it sounds like a possibility). She can't get into Grinnell. :)

Thank you! Does it prepare well for the AP Exam?