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JoanHomeEd

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Posts posted by JoanHomeEd

    Counselor letter for highly capable mathy student...

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    :confused1:  Well, if you are specific enough when identifying the quoted individual, there is a way to easily validate the comment.  Now I don't think that an adcom would go to the trouble of verifying the quote, but I do think that a third party testimony is more credible than a mother making the exact same statement.  Obviously, my thinking on this seems to be in the minority, and that is fine. :)

    No, you are not in the minority. Although I didn't quote the instructor directly, I did say something like "the instructor informed me that...." 

    Of course, the admission people can don't believe me, but it's like if someone didn't say much but put a link there from some experts, even if you don't click on that link, you would think twice about doubting that person's words.

    Anyway, when I did that I wasn't thinking about anyone who might be skeptical of what I said, but it was just my style of referencing some third party in the context of what I was talking about. To me, it's just my style. :)  

    • Like 2

    Counselor letter for highly capable mathy student...

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by JoanHomeEd

    I firmly believe these things are personality traits where nurture can do very little.

    My children's distinctly different personalities (one high strung, ambitious perfectionist and one relaxed, but stubborn, minimalist) were glaringly apparent before they were even one year old.

    Parenting may have helped to mitigate either extreme somewhat, but did not change who they are at the core.

    Maybe nurture can do more than "very little"...

     http://www.medicaldaily.com/nature-vs-nurture-debate-50-year-twin-study-proves-it-takes-two-determine-human-334686

     

    ETA: hopefully this exchange is not going to derail this thread :)

    • Like 2

    Counselor letter for highly capable mathy student...

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    So Quark, if I can borrow your thread for a moment, how would you write a letter about a student who doesn't actually like to do long hours of study?  How do you say that 6 hours is about tops for him, and then he wants to read, and play badminton, and cook, and watch movies, and talk.  DS gets far because he has amazing focus, but the hours, not so much. Basically, he wants a life. How do you sell that?!?!

     

    I would just sell/talk more about the amazing focus!
     
    Urschel came to my mind when you mentioned focus....
    f I’m thinking about math on the football field, this is going to get me killed. So that’s just survival instinct. And when I’m doing math, it’s all encompassing and I’m 100 percent in it, and there’s really nothing else to think about when I’m doing math.
    • Like 3

    Counselor letter for highly capable mathy student...

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    In terms of painting a broad picture of your child, write (a shorter version of) what you said in post #24. He's laid back, that's fine. That's actually probably great. There are a lot of high-strung, crazy, pushed and pressured kids trying to get into the schools on his list. 

    Yes, in fact, being laid back/chilled is also a characteristic of my kiddo who had to go through some pretty tough times during competition seasons (I used the word "easygoing" in my CL).
    Maybe it is just a personality trait but I think being home-brewed might have a lot to do with it :)
    • Like 1

    Counselor letter for highly capable mathy student...

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by JoanHomeEd

    you stated that she should remind the reader that nearly all successful people have failed before they have succeeded. That sounds like a formula to me.

     

    If the student has a relevant situation which demonstrates overcoming a failure which ultimately led to success then of course they should include it. But to include a failure just to include it is unnecessary and may not represent the student at all.

     

    Like I said, I can't think of a failure that my dd has faced.

    There is nothing that quark should or should not do. Who's asking her to fabricate anything  :confused1:  It is a brainstorming session for quark, if you can't think/she can't think of an incident for your own/her child, then don't!

    Counselor letter for highly capable mathy student...

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by JoanHomeEd

    I disagree. There are a lot of ways to show perseverance which are not necessarily related to overcoming a failure. I can't think of a failure my senior has experienced that has shaped who she is. It would be a fabrication. That does not mean she has not demonstrated the ability to overcome great obstacles. Her achievements are her own. They don't have to follow any other "formula" or path.

     

    A failure doesn't have to shape anyone, it can be a revelation of how the kid respond.

    The rest of what you wrote is Greek to me.... :)

     

    To quark, this is supposed to be a brainstorming session... ideas are ideas, take whatever and use it or none at all, it's all good :)

    • Like 1

    How to explain that math grades were provided verbally?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by JoanHomeEd

    Wow, quark, on second thought... I would submit everything unless it is on their website. But I am super risk-averse   :lol:

     

    ETA: And maybe take a screen shot as well?  :laugh:

     

    ETA2: jk aside, what is on their website? Maybe you should clarify with the adcom personnel if they are conflicting. You don't want to submit everything in case this particular personnel is the one handling your paperwork (Afterall, she told you not to submit and you submit, she would be like ???). But if someone else think differently and handle your app....

    • Like 1

    How to explain that math grades were provided verbally?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Just another experience that is opposite to AngieW's experience: All the schools my kids have applied to wanted course descriptions and book lists.

     

    This is mysterious... yours and mine both applied and were accepted to MIT (different years), I don't remember MIT ever "wanted course descriptions and book lists."

     

    If they WANTED, I would have submitted! 

     

    LOL!!! Am I having amnesia or something???

    How to explain that math grades were provided verbally?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by JoanHomeEd

    In our case, we engaged a high school English teacher to grade the literature essays.

    So in the school profile I said something like,

    "Whenever possible, self-study courses were validated externally. For instance, literature analysis essays were sent to essay evaluators to determine the course grades."

     

    For self-studied math classes, I put down,

    "Certain math classes were evaluated based on problems completed and performance in that year's math competition." 

     

    Now, English as a whole was supported by the ACT & SAT scores and the AP English Lit score.

    Math abilities were also "proven" by the grades from an online high school gifted provider, the ACT & SAT scores, the AP Calc score, the summer classes, the university math classes, and ultimately the math competition results. 

     

    IMHO, it is certainly a good idea to highlight the ability to write proofs.

    There are a number of ways to do it.

     

    For us, we put it in the counselor letter. You can describe it like this,

    "When the student was taking the high school proof-based geometry, the instructor informed me that he had only given A+’s to two students in his ten years of teaching. Additionally, the student has a deep sense of aesthetics. More than once, the student has exclaimed about beautiful mathematical proofs, including some that the student discovered on his own."

     

    The instructor writing your son's LOR might mention it.

    In DC's case, one of the recommendations came from a college Math prof. I do not know what he wrote, but it probably contains something related to what they did in the class.

     

    Also, if there is a specific project or math contest/talent search where proofs were written, you can either mention it, site the results (blog it and give the URL), or submit it as a supplement.

     

    Incidentally, I really like (actually, I think it saved my life as the homeschool mom wearing the counselor hat) 

    what one homeschool mom summed up about the difference between the school profile and the counselor letter. 

     

    The school profile is about the homeschool whereas the counselor letter is about the student.

     

    I did not submit the course descriptions.

     

    HTH

     

    ETA: Besides ECs, Chem, etc... DC also mentioned about Math in the essays. I only submitted 1 "consolidated" high school transcript. No outside providers' transcripts. The college transcripts were only sent after acceptance and to determine college credits earned. Also, after acceptance, in order to determine placement, certain profs also want to see the course descriptions for the college classes taken to decide whether to grant the credits or not.

    • Like 1

    college

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by JoanHomeEd

    I didn't read all the posts but I suggest you short circuit this whole thing since he already has a huge bonus in his hand. 

    IMO, he doesn't need to wait around for the Gold medal, he's good to go already! 

    If he's keen on math competitions, there's still Putnam.

     

    Just consider the admissions to a few specific colleges. E.g. take MIT

     

    Preparing for MIT


    They want to see:

    1. 3 yrs total of Sc. - 1 Phy, 1 Chem, 1 Bio.. so just take the 12th grade exams for Physics, Chem, and Bio altogether in 1 yr. 

    2. Math thru Calc - he's way beyond already, so just need Calc if he hasn't done that, which can be done in a couple of months via 


    3. 2 yrs of foreign lang - Chinese since 10yo, IMO, he's done!

    4. 4 yrs of English - 3 yrs of self-studies including Russian Lit, etc, etc... so just take the 12th grade exam in English.

    5. 2 yrs of history and/or Social sc - QED!

     

    On the transcript, everything by subject. Anything that's not examed out or no outside grade, put self-study and give a grade. 

    You want a sample, PM me or anyone.

     

    For EC, with IMO, he's done!

     

    On SAT/ACT (is going to be OK for him)


    NOTE: MIT will not require either the ACT or SAT optional writing section 

    Take the 2 subject SATs - Math 2 of course is going to be OK for him, Just take 1 more SAT Sc. 

     

    2 LORs, any problem? 

     

    Talk to Admissions.

     

    ETA: For counselor recommendation letter & school profile (I didn't send the course descriptions), if I can do it, anyone can :)

     

    • Like 2

    AP Exam Scores (earliest July 5)

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by JoanHomeEd

    DS made a 5 on Calc AB. Yay! 

     

    Does anyone know how long it takes for the AP scores to reach the respective universities? My son put his school's CB code on the AP exam, so the score should be sent automatically by the CB, right? He is anxious to try to switch from the Calc 1 he registered for at orientation to Calc 2. 

     

    After you log in to view the scores, you can click on "Your past score orders" at the top between "Help" and "Download score report". It should show you the institution name and send date under the first tab "My Scores Sent to Colleges".  

     

    ETA: The send date on DC's scores is "6/24/2016". I guess you can also check your college's website. DC's college website said the scores will show in mid-Aug.

    • Like 2

    AP Exam Scores (earliest July 5)

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Much thanks to Susan Richman's class at PA Homeschoolers, DC got a 5 for APUSH. This is the 10th and last AP exam. It has been good, all 5s. AP Cal BC and both Physics Cs will count toward 2 credits. AP Bio, Chem, and CS will not. AP Lit, US Gov, Euro and US History will earn some sort of elective credits but will not satisfy the humanities requirement. Regardless, I'm glad those exams were taken and thankful they were done well.

    • Like 11
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