I would not advise AP Chem (Chemadvantage) as your first online course. It does kick your child's butt, like another poster said. My ds took it last year (10th) and managed to keep a borderline B+/A- all year long. He scored a 4 while he got 5's in 3 other classes. He had no previous Chem experience, but he's naturally mathy and it is quite math/formula heavy. I would not have my dd take it at all, but will think of her younger brother maybe in hs. But not as a first online class. My son took Bio with WTMA 9th grade first, and had already tackled 3 other APs in 9th grade before going for Chemadvantage in 10th. This worked well. It is a hard course - give her some other AP experience before tackling it.

I have a rising senior (say what???!?!?!? where did the time go!?) but if this helps anyone, here is our current 11th grade schedule: Math - AP Calc AB - Derek Owens - LOVES it Eng - AP Eng Lang - PAH (Walker) great class though he's not my Eng guy Sci - H Physics - Derek Owens - LOVES it Hist - AP Comparative Govt - PAH - great class Lang - Span 3 (HSA) elec - AP Stats (Edhesive) - learning a ton!

We're thinking AP Calc BC/AP Physics C/AP Eng Lit - if he takes them, should he prep for them as well as he's prepped for all the others these first 3 years? (He's only a Jr now - I'm just wondering outloud). I guess yes, if we think he'll get college credit. But not getting all 4s & 5s won't affect him after acceptance, I suppose?

Do you have to take the AP exam? Should you? We plan 3-4 APs 12th grade, same as this year - want to keep rigor appreciably the same. Do seniors take the AP exam at the end of the year? Should they?

What a fun thread! I've got 2 in hs this year (11th / 9th). Still thinking through next year. Both kids, polar opposites. 11th ds extremely mathy, almost perfect score on Math SATII - fave subj math/science. 9th dd not mathy, likes science, but more liberal arts student. DS: 9th - Bio - WTMA (prepped well for SAT II) 10th - AP Chem (PAH) - amazing course despite being asynchronous. Very rigorous, not for the non-mathy IMO - opted not to take SAT II as he didn't want to split his study time 11th - Hon Physics (DO) - very much enjoying this course. loves DO! physics is his fave - so thinking AP Physics for 12th grade. PAH? Not sure.... need to research this. DD: 9th - Bio - WTMA (changed instructors unexpectedly but liking it - doing well - hoping will prep for SAT II) - for future kids, thinking about FundaFunda Bio though 10th - Clover Creek Physics - most likely. (will it prep for Physics SATII? Not sure... trying to satisfy A-G req'mts along the way for UC schools...) 11th - Clover Chemistry - maybe? 12th - no idea

Who took both AP Eng Lang and AP Eng Lit? My ds is taking AP Eng Lang now with Walker (PAH). Doing well, learning a lot. We like the class a lot. Thinking to next year and need a good English class. Is it good to take both? (I know you don't usually get college credit for both, but it's more to show rigor for his schedule, etc). What is the difference b/w Lang and Lit, in a nutshell? Anyone?

we had 2 options for AP stats this year - Mr. Reini @ WAH and Edhesive AP Stats. We chose Edhesive as they honored the old pricing, as we are past students who had been planning to take AP Stats for some time. My son is learning a ton. Whether it will prepare him to get a 5 on the exam, no idea yet. But it's rigorous material (I see his tests/quizzes, I have to grade them based on their rubric and the concepts are over my head) and he's getting all A's. As for Reini, we also had him for Alg II and he's my son's all-time fave teacher. We opted for Edhesive though as it was a cheaper alternative. Reini was great about providing stats on his stats class (haha), like how many got 3,4,5's on exams... so write him and ask. I don't think you'll find anyone here that has taken it - at least I didn't.

YOU ARE FRIGGIN KIDDING ME! AGAIN!? He took the Dec SAT too and also was aiming to score 1560+ also. What a load of baloney. Guess Friday will be a bummer of a day too. SHEESH. BUT... at least we get to take it again! *sigh* ETA - My ds did decide he wanted to give the ACT a go in Feb. So he'll prep over holiday break for that... and apparently be retaking SAT in March if the curve is as suggested. Oy!

Come on, tell me that's not ridiculous to see. Humor me, LOL!! 😄

My ds son lost 50 points alone on Math for 1 wrong answer. And yes, quite honestly, I do think he would have performed the same. He got a 1400 last year, as a sophomore with no prep. He's been hard-core prepping for SAT (took Dec 1) since September. Taken all 8 practice tests timed, taken both PSAT practice tests, timed. There is no way he only got a 1420, 20 points higher than last year. His most recent practice tests (past released PSATs) scored him from 1490-1510. And I believe it, he's worked hard for it. So this is a bit crushing. Unfair really. He's the type who seldom gets 'perfect' - always gets a couple wrong. So I believe he would have scored the same on the other test - even though it was harder. Rootann- thanks for your words of encouragement. I'll get over it. Poor kid was so excited first thing, woke up to check his scores. He should be celebrating with some of the others' on the boards with an SI of 223 or 224 perhaps hoping that would be enough for NMSF. Ah well... he was eyeing U of Alabama for a full ride with NMSF - so that's a moot point now. :-)) It'll work on in the long run, I know. Just frustrating the day of. Again SATs out on Friday and he was shooting for perfect. I know he didn't get perfect, but here's hoping for a fab score!

I believe she said she was teaching at a local parochial school, if I recall. Not online at all. My ds is taking AP Calc with Derek Owens (after leaving Wilson Hill b/c no Mrs. Stublen) - and he says he is learning far more than ever with Wilson Hill. YMMV

Did any of your kids take the 10/24 alternate date?

i guess with 1 wrong in math & 3 in r/w, my son figured his score would be a 1500. so whatever. it will likely be that kind of day. i hope 220 is high enough in your state? we're in california, so he needed a 223 or 224, which at a 1500 score, he would have had. as it is, he's at 212 - so now to move on. wait for SAT scores coming out on friday!

So CB can go hang themselves. With the brutal 10/24 curve, my son missed ONE in math ---> 710 and 3 in reading/writing ----> 710, equals 1420 (4 questions wrong total) Last year he missed 13 total and got a 1400. RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!! ETA - last year missing 4 questions, he would have got a 1510. And would have been a National Merit Finalist. I could spit at them. (he figured it out - he would have had a 1500 on the normal date *fuming mad here*)

thank you alewife & TCB - you made my day. :) appreciate the bringing me back down to earth. i'll keep y'all posted.

My son is still hopeful... well maybe I got perfect. 😉 Sweet kid.

at least the SAT you can retake, if you hit a harsh curve... but PSAT is one and done. you hit a harsh curve and that's it. what a way to start my day.

oh this is unaccountably distressing. WE of course took the oct 24 alternate date, as that is when the local school here offered it - would have been happy and available to take it the normal date. and we were full-on in the running for NMSF. i am so completely bummed at these implications. like completely and utterly devastated. we're in CA - so needed to at an SI index of 223-224 already. so ridiculous. and so completely unfair. i am SO completely frustrated. then maybe don't offer 2 dates - to base NMSF as a comparison of all students nationwide on a SINGLE test. FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi!!!! How's school going?! Well... we're staying more or less on track. The pacing guide they provide finishes the class by end of February, so we've stretched it a wee bit here and there Finishing Unit 3 test now. So... what to say about it? He's learning a ton. There is 0 interaction with anybody. Discussion boards are not attended, no one is on them,like with AP-CS-A. But I've asked a question or 2 on the teacher forum and received answers. Multiple choice is self-grade, FRQs you grade (based on rubric) - fairly straightforward. Hard to say it's worth the new going rate of $500-600 or so (what is it exactly?) b/c for that rate, I expect some teacher feedback and grading. And there is none. So we'll see if future kiddos of ours will take it, really for that reason alone. But as a course, he's learning a ton - so we'll see how AP exams go by end of year. And yes we'll list it as an AP class.

I have a quick question for you if you're taking APHUG with PAH (Mrs. Gillespie). Please PM me. Thanks so much!!

Back in the day, my DH & I never visited schools we applied to... we got in where we got in, then visited and bam - we went to college. And had a great time, loved it! (Even though for me, it wasn't my first choice, last choice safety really). I'm of the mind, that you'll find your tribe, find your home wherever you land. So with that in mind.... College visits seem to be all the rage now. Like everyone visits all the possible colleges they want to apply to before applying... Can't you just wait to visit until after acceptance? Then if you're not accepted, you haven't wasted a visit (esp for OOS schools). And after acceptance, then the visits become all the more meaningful as you're really making a decision. Your thoughts?

Thank you ladies, that's all I needed to hear. We'll pass then. So say the Hive. ?

I'm asking here as you guys have BTDT. I know there have also been quite a few real mathy kids come before (thinking of you Kathy in Richmond) so reaching out here... What is the value of applying to the Mu Eta Sigma homeschool math honor society for college app purposes? http://www.mathhonorsociety.com My son is really mathy - it comes naturally to him. Currently taking AP Stats & AP Calc AB (11th) but probably could have easily doubled up AP Calc BC this year. Scored a solid 780 on Math II SAT Subj test. That said, he's not looking toward STEM majors. He loves math and the mathy sciences, but is planning on majoring Economics or Finance... Would it be worthwhile to apply for this honor society to highlight his mathy side that may/may not go unnoticed?

congratulations rootann! can't wait to hear more for this year's senior class!!

Another vote for Analytical Grammar. We use it after FLL from 6th-8th grade, and then grammar instruction ends. It's a 3-year program, but really only 1-semester a year - so 2 of the 'seasons' could be doubled up for a single year of grammar instruction. Our first is gearing up for his first SAT in Dec, but the practice tests so far show he's solid in grammar. ?