Mine graduates did around 27 each. Our umbrella school discouraged higher than 28. Even though top graduates of local schools had more, it did not seem to impact college acceptances or scholarships. ( We did not apply to Ivies, but had acceptances and scholarships at schools like Bucknell and Hamilton and excellent scholarships at other schools.) ETA: oldest had 6 APs; second had 3 APs and 2DEs; third had 3-APs and 2 DEs

Updated first post

Yep. I think I’m a county over from you. That’s a dangerous drop because it would be easy to send your child to school with the wrong clothing. I texted dh when I noticed bc he’s not great at noticing weather drops.

I’m finding this frustrating as my older kids all had similar scores so I felt like I had a good system. Now I am starting from scratch. The SAT changed in time for my older one so it’s the similar feeling if not enough information. This child also is not as strong in math, so the ACT may not be a great fit. She is my dc who most needs strong test prep. At least she’s just in ninth grade so hopefully more info will come out. Let’s keep posting what we find.

Oy, that is different from the article I found. It’s all helpful, though. I still think high scorers aren’t likely to miss more than 7 on the first part. Iirc my older kids, who scored in the 700’s, had to miss fewer than maybe 5 on the longer tests to get that score. I don’t like the idea of weighted questions—however, that isn’t that different from before when each sitting in the SAT had a different curve. Those questions had different weights between tests.

Coming back because I was looking for where I got the info about 650 and couldn’t find it. However, I did find this:https://www.edisonos.com/blog/the-digital-sat-scoring-algorithm-a-comprehensive-guide It says you can only get a high in the mid-500’s if you get the easier second half, but that you get the harder section if you miss 10 or fewer (out of about 22.) So I don’t think many high scorers would be in danger of getting the easy section. ETA:edited to clear up weird auto corrects. When I was posting, dd was anxious to leave for soccer.

That would only be for the high scorers. You can still get a 650.

It is adaptive by taking the entire first half into account. If you get the easier second half, the highest you can get it a 650, which is still pretty good. Both sections are adaptive.

I think one of the homeschool options in Maryland is an umbrella school, which is a "magical agency that cranks out transcripts and diplomas." I think colleges in the states with umbrella schools tend to write from that perspective. You "could" register with something like HomeLife Academy in Tennessee and get the transcripts, diplomas from there. I did that for various reasons when we were in NY.

But yes, it would be harder not to have a car with a family.

You can take a taxi and family members

Usually 1/10 of a mile

I make a rough plan on December and we use that amount to set a budget—setting aside a twelfth of the total each month.

The city I was referring to in the other thread was DC. I walked, took the bus, Subway and taxi. I rented a car to visit my Grandparents in Charlottesville—but could take Trailways and did occasionally. I did have the option of borrowing my parents car but almost never did—maybe twice in ten years? I guess I did catch rides with friends to do things like hike or go to an event in the suburbs. But I could have rented a car. For regular life—work, hanging out, church, dating, I did not need one. Dh did have a car but I don’t remember using it to date. We mostly met places.

I agree. I lived in a major city and had no car when I dated dh and got married. I easily got around via Subway, bus and taxi. It seems that New Orleans should have plenty to do that’s reachable without a car.

Mr. d? Teaching textbooks?

Your poor sister! My SIL and I truly get along great and have known each other since we were teens. The low point in our relationship was when she told me I was being a princess because I wanted a LESS fancy wedding then my mom wanted. The drama was so not worth it.

I was deep into wedding planning before I realized that I should have done what you did. I wanted friends and family to witness my wedding—and I did love that part—but I’m not a big party—lots of attention kind of girl ( woman).The planning nearly did me in. My parents gave me 10,000 as a budget in the late 90’s. It’s interesting to me that that’s the amount people are still using.

Ah ok Well I don’t agree with that unless the adult intention is to stop all feedback.

But, here’s the thing—I’m not 100% convinced that protecting them from feedback is helpful either. Both my ds’s had friends who were socially awkward. My family places a high value on being nice. Eventually my ds’s started avoiding these boys. Neither of mine had ever told their former friends what they found annoying. It was more a relationship where my sons had to watch what they said, but the other kids could do and say whatever. In the end there was no way I could make my sons hang out with these boys. Parallel to that, my college roommate worked with her ASD children on stopping behavior that annoys other people. Her children are much more socially successful. I think it just takes longer for socially awkward/ASD folks to learn some things, but shielding them because “they can’t learn” isn’t super helpful.

I think there is a difference between full out bullying and giving social feedback. I think this is where the argument loses some of us. My kids have learned important social skills about annoying behavior from other kids. They wouldn’t listen to me, but peer feedback works. Socially awkward people have a right to exist, but other people can speak up against annoying behavior. It doesn’t really do any child any good to continue to act in annoying ways. Other kids will stop wanting to be with them. Now constant putting down, threatening, making fun, physically threatening, ostracizing—that is a different kettle of fish. I actually think calling someone cringe is mean in a way calling someone annoying is not. I would address it with my dd. That’s because I value kindness. I actually think the call from the school had more to do with her meltdown to the teachers. I would address that, too. Everyone needs to learn to handle feedback well.

These conversations stress me out. We are still in the midst of college. I can’t imagine saving for weddings. I can’t imagine navigating the whole do grooms families pay, too, vs brides family pays all maze. Dh is very cautious with money, having grown up with nothing. My oldest dd said something about us paying for a wedding and I had to be honest that we probably wouldn’t have a lot to give and she should plan on paying some. We’ve got two dd’s and two ds’s. Oy Maybe I’ll be working by then and we will only have one child in school…

I wonder if the difference could also be related to having less say all around in what you want to do. I know several immigrant families where the girls are told they are going into engineering and that is nurtured with extra curricular. But there is no choice involved. I can easily see that happening in the countries mentioned above. I also know one American born family where when the dd said she wanted to go into the arts, the mother said no you love chemistry and are good at it. You are going into chemistry. And so she has. She also now, as a college senior, claims to love chemistry. So do we over ride our daughter’s desires? That doesn’t seem right to me.

Update: the socks are gone. I texted a pic of her coat. She laughed and said the her father—dad, mom’s sending me pictures of things I need to clean up. She was laughing. So, I have a new trick up my sleeve. Thanks!

I'm on my last. You will make it. My sense of humor increased with each child. I had one where I wanted to ask --did you just read the parenting teens book I have upstairs because that line is straight out of there? I decided not to bc I didn't think laughing at him was the right approach. I complained about my dd up top, but she is really great alot of the time. I found the teen years really great except when they weren't and then they were really hard. lots of hills and valleys. I can't believe I'm almost done. (Oldest is 23)