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gstharr

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Posts posted by gstharr

    Explain paying for college

    in The College Board

    Posted

    Don't overlook National Merit.  I just now joining in because OP kids seem past the 11th grade.  But, now that conversation has broadened, I bring it up.  There are many schools that give free rides, some with stipends, for NMSF and NMF.  But, to have a fairly reasonable shot of reaching NMSF takes some planning starting around 7th grade.  A kid  that has completed Precalc (rather than Alg 2)  by end of 10th grade will have more than enough math to do well.  The verbal portion is very teachable.  Just take a couple of practice tests in 8th grade and  start  training any weakness.  Then 9th and 10th grade start taking practice SAT tests--the NM test and SAT are very similar.  the SAT is a little more challenging, but not that much more.   Plus you kill two birds with one stone, by prepping with SAT materials. The reason a lot of really smart kids don't make NMSF is because most high schools treat it like a practice SAT exam.  No prep or practice, just get a baseline for the  real SAT.   In my state, a high achievement state, NMSF are kids most likely to get 1500 on the SAT.  In some very high achievement areas like MD or D.C., the winners are kids likely to 1530+ on the SAT, However, there are many low achievement states, where a projected 1380 might make it.  

    The actual amount of money National Merit awards is one time $2500.  But, there are a lot of schools that will offer full rides for NMSF or NMF, regardless of financial circumstances.  If I remember correctly, there were even a few schools that we looked at that did not even require a financial aid app.  It didn't help my kid because most of the very generous National Merit scholarships schools are in the south or mid-west.   My kid only applied Northeast, and one on the west coast. 

    Any opinions on Harvey Mudd? Any other West Coast small stem-focused college?

    in The College Board

    Posted

    Harvey Mudd is one of a handful of colleges collectible known as the Claremont Colleges. All volleges are considered excellent.  Pomona college is the star of this cluster. About as difficult to get  into as  a  mid ivy.  The town of Claremint has a college buzz with so many  colleges in it.   But be warned,, summers are brutally hot and smoggy. Down the road there is cal poly pomona. . A very good stem  school, with easier acceptance rhan SLO.

    • Like 1

    college prep science sequence with physics first

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Start with a list of schools your kids are interested in attending. Then, look up each school's admitted student profile. When I googled U Migh admitted student profile, this came up: https://obp.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/pubdata/factsfigures/firstyearsprofile_umaa.pdf.  There will be all sorts of information popping, such as admission strategy, school life. 9th  grade is a great time to start researching.  11th grade is too late if you end up seeking extremely selective schools.

    college prep science sequence with physics first

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    10 hours ago, silver said:

     

    My kids are all college track, but not aiming for highly-rejective schools. The highest they'll probably aim is a school near us with SAT scores of 1310-1490 for the middle 50% (to try to give some idea of selectivity we're looking at). Do they need to have honors science if they are not interested in STEM? (Only one of the three is interested in STEM, and I'm using honors and DE science material for that one.)

    You need to better define your target colleges.   While 1300+ admit most applicants, 1400+ schools are highly selective--examples include UCLA, UMigh, Wellesley,  Uflorida,, and  NYU.  1490 is very low entry for the extremely selective colleges.   The rigor of math  and science needed differs for each range.

    The Class of 2024 College Application Thread

    in The College Board

    Posted

    My one and only started freshman classes this week.  But, we encountered an issue that was a complete surprise to us.  It seems his college, and nearly half of all colleges, will reduce the financial aid offer by the amount of any outside scholarship award.   We went all summer thinking that his outside scholarship would easily  cover  the expected family contribution, as well as provide him some generous pocket money.   But the school's policy is that the family contribution cannot be reduced.  Our work around, with the college's consent, was for us to take out students loans for the family contributions, and student spending allowance.  The outside scholarship will then repay our loans.  I don't recall ever reading anything out this on the forum.  Heads up to you.  https://hechingerreport.org/august-surprise-that-college-scholarship-you-earned-might-not-count/

    • Sad 3

    Dorm renter insurance, worth getting?

    in The College Board

    Posted

    1 hour ago, mlktwins said:

    I've come back to say my DH did all the research for this and we are going with Gallagher. It is super inexpensive for what you are getting. We are doing it for both boys.

    Thanks for posting.  My kid will be taking a tour quality set of golf clubs, and a pretty nice bike. We cannot afford to quickly replace the golf gear. The price from Gallagher's  is very reasonable and will cover the clubs and bike. Thanks again.

    • Like 2

    Best SAT math crash course type book? Or other non-Khan resource?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    If he understands the math (alg 1 &2, and geometry)  and just needs practice questions, check out  Dr. Raymond Chung's SAT Math ( I believe 5th ed. is latest, but 3rd or 4th will do, and are cheaper), PWN the SAT Math Guide, and as many of the kaplan, princeton practice test you can get your hands (2020, 2021, 2022 are fine and cheaper).  Alternate daily taking timed calc/no calc sections.  Dad should score the exams and have your son fully rework any wrong responses--not simply, I see what I did wrong.   Repetition is the key, because there is a pattern to the test questions.   

    • Thanks 1

    College Class of 2027 - Rising Sophomores - Check in Here

    in The College Board

    Posted

    Orientation starts August 21st. We are planning logistics of his cross county move.  Determined that we can avoid oversized baggage fees ($175) by packing golf clubs separately from bag, will count as two regular checked bags.  Went through all options for a bike on campus.  Found a bike shipper that will do it for $80.  Still cheaper than buying local, plus he will have a really good bike, and I clear a little garage space.  Bought a excellent used down puffer jacket on ebay.  We still have four checked bags, and 3 carry-ons to to coordinate. We two heavy duty boxes that we can use for fans, heater, printer, and school supplies.

    • Like 3
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