Also, some students are obviously stronger with one than the other and some kids do about equal on them. If your dd isn't stronger on one than the other then it really comes down to preference. The science section seems to make it or break it for many on the ACT.

Have you tried the official books for both - the ones with real released exams, rather than the ones where other companies have tried to create mock exams. Maybe have her try a few of those and see which one she is doing better with? I would think you could narrow down her stronger exam using that and then focus on prepping for that one.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

I think others have said it well....they turn away perfect scorers all day long without a second thought. The amount of applications they receive make it a statistical disadvantage and then keep in mind, usually only the top kids are applying to these schools in the first place, right? It isn't quite as difficult as winning a large lottery jackpot, but for most kids isn't that far off either :mellow:

They use rank with most schools. I asked more questions about this once and got an ear full. Do you know that in some public schools a kid with over a 4.0 can still be 150th in a class of 300? They really can't just look at GPAs at all. In most schools they need to look at class rank more than GPA because so many schools inflate the GPAs or grade super easy. Most of the schools around here will let anyone take any AP and there is a huge grade inflation for it (and the classes are easy and no one even plans to take the exam). In smaller schools that don't rank and home schools they must lean on other factors more heavily (test scores, letters of rec, AP exam scores, sat subject tests, etc, etc). Basically, she said that GPA is only a factor in schools that rank because they know that a 4.0 at one school is no where near equal to a 4.0 at a different school.

This is what I was counseling dd to do, to express her great desire to be at their school but to mention that she wants to revisit 1 or 2 more schools just in case (and mention that the bottom line matters). I was hoping this was good advice. Dd is very honest and authentic. She did a mock interview with an admissions counselor for a school she didn't apply to (friend of a friend) and he told her to be just like that, that her authenticity was very appealing and that they get tired of interviewing perfectly polished people with perfectly polished answers all day long because they know they aren't even seeing what the real person is like. They walk away still having not a clue what they are getting.

I haven't read the other answers but they don't. I have friends who have sat down end of junior year and created a transcript, out of thin air. Their kids are no where near ready for college level work. I think this is why colleges are so picky about outside validity for homeschoolers. We can get upset that they want extra information sometimes, but people like this have caused the problems for homeschoolers. Many schools wanted subject tests, require test scores, like to see outside classes or AP exam scores, etc because it gives validity to the curriculum.

DD recently learned that she is in the running for a scholarship she really wants. I haven't talked about this one anywhere because it is a very selective, well known scholarship and I like to keep a semi masked internet existence. So the weekend will go like this...the four of them will have dinner with the professor at his house. The next day they will go to a luncheon, have personal interviews with three professors in the afternoon, and then go to a banquet that evening. The luncheon and the banquet involve finalists for a few other scholarships at this school, not just this one. They only give one of these scholarships in the end, with four kids to choose from. DD is super nervous about this one because it is the one she wants the most. Things I assume.... The real interview is not the half hour personal one on one interview but they are also "interviewing" her when she is casually at the professor's house and at the luncheon, etc. The entire weekend is an interview, dd should just assume this right? DD is a fairly quiet girl (not shy though). I have heard they sometimes ask about other schools that would be in competition for them. Is this ok? If so, how does DD answer this? She will have all of her decisions by the time this interview happens. Some parents say to tell them the 1-2 most competitive schools you have been admitted to, especially if an Ivy is involved because they love to sway kids away from Ivies. But, DD is worried that they want to hear that she is 100% going to take this and nothing else if she gets it. If she was to get this scholarship it would 99% seal the deal on this college for her. How should DD even answer that question if it comes up? Any thoughts or tips, particularly for dd to keep in mind during this small dinner at the professors house?

Basically, wherever they are - homeschool, private school, public school, or college...we will always be their best counselors. We can't 100% hand that over to someone else. You would think that we could do that in college, right? I was sick to my stomach over what your DS is going through. It is just wrong on all levels.

Amen to the certain type of kid. You can't make a kid "that" kind of student. DD is in the running for full scholarships at multiple schools right now. She is that kind of kid. DS, my next one in line on the college app journey, is not that kind of kid. DD is the intellectual, loves academics, creative kid with near perfect test scores, amazing leadership opportunities, etc. I can't make DS that way. He doesn't have the drive nor the desire and that is ok. He does have strengths and those strengths, if he plays to them, will be a great asset to his life. He will not be less in life because he isn't just like DD. There are great opportunities everywhere for all types of kids.

Oh.my.goodness. It is bacon? Seriously, how have I never noticed that it is bacon!?!?!?!?!

The waiting is hard, isn't it? DD will know all school decisions by April 1st but a few of her scholarship interviews aren't until after April 1st so even then she won't have all of the puzzle pieces. Most of dd's friends know where they are going and she still hasn't a clue and it is tough. :grouphug:

I was semi-friends a few years ago with a cult following clique of CC'ers and boy did they preach it. And boy did I become mud to them when I tried it and then didn't take to it :lol: They preached it so hard. I can't think of a single one who is still in it now, even though they have kids of the right age. Hmmmm.......

...take the edge off the nuts :lol: :laugh: :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I thought it was insane too. Actually, chill pills disguised as M&Ms would be appropriate for some people in my life :lol:

First of all....diagrams latin with the left hand greek with the right...truly funny :lol: You have hit the nail on the head with the polarizing extremes. There is never a happy medium. It seems like either mamas are stressing their kids out about everything or watching Sesame Street. There is occasionally a happy medium mama but the problem with us middle of the road people is that we are too relaxed for one mama and too pent up for the next. We just lose all the way around :laugh: Literally got caught in a group one time where one mama crucified us for doing AP's at home (what's the point, that sounds hard) and then another mama (like ten minutes later) was telling me that dd had no chance at competitive colleges because she had only had AP Calculus and she needed to have calculus beyond AP because *her* son was in Calc 3. See, lose lose.

Gratia, that's awesome news :hurray:

I like that. Hmmm...would it be rude, "sorry but that conversation topic was dead to me years ago, how's the puppy?" :lol:

nm I am whining about something that doesn't matter :lol:

Oh my, I love that phrase "evangelize" because they do that, right? I don't know a single CC mom who doesn't think it is something they absolutely must share because it is just *the* way to homeschool :glare: I won't rant, but I did try it for one year and it sure wasn't my cup of tea. I can see how it might be just the thing that some moms need and overall I wouldn't call it terrible, just not for me and definitely not something to "evangelize" about :lol:

I know. I guess once upon a time I was excited about this or that but then I eventually realized that nothing is "the one thing" or "the absolute best for..." There are many great things, especially right now and I can't feel passionate that I have some sort of answer because there are many paths to a great education. I think moms get a little disappointed when I say there are many good options, they want me to tell them exactly what to do, they want to feel like they are doing "the best thing out there"ummm...no, it doesn't exist :lol:

Yes, bless! Heard this many times. One person who used to ridicule me so much for homeschooling is now homeschooling :lol: We all say crazy stuff so I need to be gracious :rolleyes: I'm just finding it hard right now for some reason.

Yes, ok....this is me. This mom definitely came across as "you homeschool? yay, let me tell you how you can do that better (with her oldest kid being 2nd grade and all)!?!" I am NOT saying that I have it all figured out because I have homeschooled forever, I am saying that I have homeschooled long enough to know that I do NOT have it all figured out and there isn't one perfect way to do anything, but it shouldn't irk me when people DO think they have it all figured out, but it does....like nails on a chalkboard.

Yes, this!!!!! Thank you, I am not alone. Bless my soul, maybe I am not just turning into a b#$ch after all :lol: