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This is a re-post of a question I asked on the College Search and Admissions page. I will try to be briefer this time, but if you have questions, you may want to look at the original post, which has lots (!) of detail.

My D is in 10th grade, in her second of three years in a German Gymnasium. She will return to the US as a senior (assuming enough credits transfer.)

Prior to moving here, D was in the gifted program. She will not be eligible when we return. I don't know what level classes they will put her in, or what they will make her do over or make up. She is taking an on-line English class every year, and will also take US history and govt. I don't know if she will be able to take SAT or PSAT here. Would "guesstimate" her scores to be in the 1200-1300 range (given the fact that she is learning in German now.)

ECs are not real common here -- especially "volunteer" work. We have found some, though, through some missionary friends. D also plays violin (very well), and softball (beginner). She attends language tutoring 2 hours per day.

Given: "unknown" SAT, "unknown" high school level of courses - perhaps 2 APs?, limited ECs, Tremendous cross-cultural experiences

Need: college / university suggestions

She does not know what she wants to do, but it will probably be something liberal arts related. We are looking for strong academics, multiple / flexible majors, flexible admissions as to background and test scores. When we return home, she will need to begin immediately with the college application process. I'd like to get some ideas ahead of time. Thank-you in advance.

By Marite (Marite) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 10:37 am: Edit

Will your D take the Abitur? If so, it will be considered sufficient by top colleges here, same as the IB, Baccalaureat or British A-levels. Go to Stanford, or HYP websites for more information on how they treat the Abitur. Less cosmopolitan institutions may not have specific policies in place but should be willing to accept it. In that case, I do not believe that SAT scores would be necessary.

If she is interested in the liberal arts, she has plenty of choice. You should talk to her about her preferences as to size (small, medium, large); location (NE, West Coast, and so forth; but also urban/rural/suburban); coed or single sex; fraternities/sororities or not, etc...

By Binx (Binx) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 11:53 am: Edit

No, no arbitur. She will only be here 3 years. Would need two more for arbitur (they go to grade 13.) Also, has been excused from Latin (hard to learn a foreign language in a foreign language) so she wouldn't have enough credits anyway. But she should graduate from an American High School, and get her diploma there.

She feels a bit -- I don't know how to say this -- challenged? competitive? inspired? -- by her brothers, who are at Penn and Juilliard. She adores them, and wants to be like them, and gain their approval. She knows her situation doesn't really line her up for a real prestigious school, but is still likely to turn her nose up at many community colleges or even some state schools.

As mom, I would prefer her on the east coast, but she doesn't care. She would like to go "away" to school, which means not in Georgia. She would also prefer a conservative school, but I know that both boys have gravitated toward conservative friends, despite being at rather liberal schools (politically and socially).

Also, she would prefer a "campus" environment rather than one whose buildings are interspersed throughout the city. I would have preferred rural for all my kids, and have lost out twice, so at this point, am resigned to look at anything. I think she would have a fit if I suggested an all-girls school.

By Marite (Marite) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:11 pm: Edit

Some suggestions and comments:

Your D could prepare for the SAT by getting the 10RealSATs and taking a SAT test in her junior year. She should also look up the tips provided by Xiggi on CC (search on the SAT/ACT board). She could then either take the SAT again in the spring of her junior year or in the fall of her senior year. Be aware that she will also need to provide SATII scores to many of the colleges (NE colleges like them). You should look at new policies regarding the SATIIs since your D will be taking the new SAT and the traditional SATII-Writing will be eliminated. If her German is good enough, she could take a SATII-German test.

Regarding courses: While some high schools have gifted programs, most do not. These are replaced by Honors and APs. Coming out of a German school, your D should be able to handle at least 2 APs, and very possibly AP-Calculus and one AP-science. She won't have to worry about a foreign language requirement.

College selection: There are many to choose from on the East Coast. Some time ago, there was a thread on conservative colleges you could search for. I believe Davidson, Washington & Lee, Wake Forest have been mentioned by some posters as being somewhat conservative. Your D could also be quite comfortable at colleges such as Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Middlebury. They are not "conservative" but the dominant culture is not as liberal as Wesleyan, for example.

Hope this helps.

By Demingy (Demingy) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:13 pm: Edit

"She knows her situation doesn't really line her up for a real prestigious school, but is still likely to turn her nose up at many community colleges or even some state schools."

Binx- I just wanted to add my two cents on this statement of yours. First of all, I disagree that she would automatically not qualify for a "real prestigious school". In fact, I think that her experience overseas will give her quite a hook and I'm sure that even with the changes of switching to the American system, if she's doing very well in the German Gymnasium she will probably do very well in the American high school so the impact on her grades should be fairly minimal. But maybe I'm being naive.

The other thing I had to point out was that even if she doesn't end up being a candidate for a "real prestigious school", that doesn't mean that she has to look at community college or state universities. There are MANY schools that fall between the two.

This isn't necessarily aimed at you, but I find it amusing that so many people here seem to think that 1. it is either HYPSM (or LAC equivalent) or state U/community college and 2. if you don't have incredible stats (straight As, 1500+ SAT, a bunch of ECs, published research, etc) you are "doomed" to a college community college or second rate state school. I'd like to point out that there are many great schools that have students with B averages (and who got some Cs *gasp*), minimal ECs, and 1100+ SATs.

Sorry, as I said that previous paragraph wasn't necessarily aimed at you, but it is something that I think people need to remember. I know it is difficult when looking at the CC stats.

By Cangel (Cangel) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:26 pm: Edit

Ah, Binx, you're in Georgia (or were). Another plug for Davidson, as well as Vanderbilt and Duke. Depending on what her grades/SATs turn out to be she might qualify for a quite "prestigious" college - in fact, I would think that her experience abroad would be a hook that would get her in a more selective school.
You need to counselher to look beyond the Ivy League and Juilliard, and expand her definiton of good schools - this is not just because her stats might turn out lower than her brothers', but because her experiences abroad make her a special young lady - she should find the best fit for her. Ask her about nurturing environment vs student independence, "find your own way". Will she spend her senior year in the states in order to re-culturalize?

By Amethyst213 (Amethyst213) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:38 pm: Edit

I know that many liberal arts schools that my daughter looked at last year said SAT's were optional. (She is at Dickinson and that is true there). I agree with Cangel that her situation could make her a unique applicant, something that lots of LAC's look for. There are many really good colleges out there, not all are considered "prestigious", but that doesn't mean they aren't worth looking into.

By Bookiemom (Bookiemom) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 01:00 pm: Edit

Binx: you might look at William and Mary for your D. I know of some kids who went there whose parents were in foreign service or missionaries overseas. I think the size, location, and reputation might match what you are looking for.

By Binx (Binx) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 01:21 pm: Edit

Thanks, all. I really do appreciate all the comments, and school suggestions. Especially because I can tell your responses are thoughtful.

Clarification: It is exactly those schools in between "Ivy" and community college that I'm hoping some of you might have experience with, and thereby could point us toward good schools that we might not have thought of. (Almost all of the ones mentioned so far fit that!) Because my boys were in such completely different situations, we looked at schools with them that are probably not a good fit with D, so I feel like we're starting from scratch.

She has no interest in going to Penn or Juilliard (At least this week.... ); just feels pressure to "live up to" the standard set by her brothers. We are careful to make sure she understands the boys are there because they fit there, and our desire for her is to find a school that fits her, whether or not it has Wow Power.

I find it interesting that some of you think being here in Germany could be a "hook." To me, her situation seems so complicated, I'm afraid schools might be inclined to pass over her application as too much trouble. She definitely is living outside the box, so to speak.

The nice thing about Internet is that I can collect all your suggestions and examine websites from here.

By Binx (Binx) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 01:29 pm: Edit

Cangel, I just realized I didn't answer your question. She'll be in the states senior year because it is the only way she can graduate. Tax laws won't let us stay beyond 4 years, so there is no way she could get an arbitur (which would take at least 5). So we must come home after 3 to get her the US diploma.

By Marite (Marite) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 02:00 pm: Edit

Binx:

Colleges do like a diversity of experience, so your D's German education is definitely a hook. What you should do is to collect the curricula of the courses your D is and will be taking. For example, what does her science courses cover? her math courses? and so forth. This will allow her American high school counselor to place her into appropriate classes and will also be helpful in the college application process.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 02:47 pm: Edit

Furman Univeristy might be a school of interest to her - on the conservative side but top notch academics. It's in South Carolina, beautiful campus. I think they'd be very interested in your daughter's overseas experience. Of course, it's hard to say what her chances there would be without test scores, etc. and Furman is getting more selective each year but you might have her glance at their web site --- www.furman.edu.

By Cangel (Cangel) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 03:17 pm: Edit

Binx, the reason I asked if she would be returning, feeds into the idea of Top 25 school vs LAC. Some (not all) larger schools have more of the sink or swim atmosphere, while LACs are more nurturing. I was thinking cushioning the culture shock of coming back to the states - but a year will give her good time to reset.
Order a copy of Fiske's Guide to Getting into the Right College
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1570719063/qid=1097089824/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-3803851-1700038?v=glance&s=books
That's a URL to amazon, I don't know if it will work. Without test scores, no one can say which list of colleges from this book will be applicable, but it has a lot of good information about differences in schools and how to pick - it is a good starting point - one of the only college guides my daughter actually read.
Then you can use the internet to research these schools. If LACs seem to be of interest - THe Colleges that Change Lives - it's a book, a website and and organization - it's another great place to get ideas.

By Cheers (Cheers) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 03:49 pm: Edit

First, you're too late this year, but you can atrrange for her German school to give her the PSAT through the PSAT arm of the Collegeboard organization. Best to do it through email and fax. Get the PSAT email off the Collegeboard website, then coordinate registration with the school's deputy head.

(The test is next Saturday--maybe??--they could arrange to air express it over if your school sends in a faxed request. Then she could take it sophomore and junior year. If they can't arrange it that quickly, she can prepare to take it next year).

I arranged this for my older S for junior year and my younger S will take the PSAT next week as a sophomore and the year after as a US junior.

Even though it is a slight hassle getting it organanized (Collegeboard demanded a letter from the Ministry of Education stating that my S's very famous school was up to snuff--which pretty much confirmed their suspicions about rude Americans. Cringe).

Anyway, the experience of preparing for the PSAT and taking it in a formal setting was invaluable, well worth any indignities. I recommend it. Plus, if she takes it next year and she is a US citizen, she is eligible for National Merit awards/recognition.

Secondly, I'm not sure when you are planning to get back to the US, but your next task is to select a few schools based on size, location and interests. I use the Princeton Review 351 Best Colleges and have lent it out continuously. Pretty easy to order off of Amazon. It gives a good thumbnail sketch of the student body. I've never met a student who didn't think the sketches were spot on--but CC parents find them too negative. In any case, they really help a kid who is switching cultures.

As for the German hook, I don't think it adds up to much in the top tier. If you look at the SAT stats, you see that the curve for overseas SATs is very high. The caliber of students living overseas is extraordinary. Plus, the foreign students applying to those top schools are extraordinary.

Below the tippy top tier, however, the hook might come in handy.

That's two cents from Oceania!

By Demingy (Demingy) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 04:23 pm: Edit

"As for the German hook, I don't think it adds up to much in the top tier. If you look at the SAT stats, you see that the curve for overseas SATs is very high. The caliber of students living overseas is extraordinary. Plus, the foreign students applying to those top schools are extraordinary.

Below the tippy top tier, however, the hook might come in handy."

I'd agree, but it sounds like she will be applying as a US citizen in which case she shouldn't be competing with the international students but with the US students.

I was really just trying to point out that her schooling in Germany isn't going to hurt her chances with some excellent schools and will probably help.

By Dmd77 (Dmd77) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 04:25 pm: Edit

I've known more than a few students coming from abroad for a senior year here. Most have been bored witless, because they've already had the material. Your daughter could consider applying for college early, you could stay for a 12th grade year in Germany and let her go to college in the States after that, you could let her stay on in Germany at a boarding school... Bringing her home for her senior year is not your only choice. The high school diploma is overrated, IMHO.

There are LOTS of schools that would be thrilled to have someone with her diversity of experience.

A teacher at the school where I sub now (and used to teach) spent a year on exchange in Germany. The German system weeds out the non-college prospects at about age 12 (through national testing), so your D is in the top third or so of the German system if she's in a college prep program and headed for the arbitur.

By Cheers (Cheers) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 11:17 pm: Edit

I think I realized this by reading a National Merit table somewhere...but when a student, US citizen or otherwise, takes the SAT overseas, he/she ends up in the 'overseas' grouping. It's a much tougher group than, say, the Wyoming group.

Even though she is a US citizen, I'd say the hook applies below the tippy top. Expatriate kids add a special dimension to the college atmosphere and the schools seem to appreciate it. The tippy top gets so many overseas apps, US citizens and otherwise, they can still pick the top 10% of the crop.

Just my sense--and short experience.

By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 01:57 am: Edit

I understand your apprehension about the admisssions process for your daughter but the very fact that you are getting on it early will likely mean a good result. That said, arts-oriented schools are typically not very conservative. Add to that the German schooling and the issue of the Julliard and Penn siblings and you do have a situation that will need more thought and input than most.

I would definitely suggest focusing on small LACs and mid-sized unis, if for no other reason than your Ds application will get more individual attention. Schools like Rice, Davidson, Kenyon and Rhodes come to mind. Bryn Mawr, Vanderbilt and St. Olaf might also be worth investigating, and I like Carolyn's suggestion of Furman, too.

By Binx (Binx) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 03:00 am: Edit

Appreciate all the input. I spent yesterday copying and pasting info from various schools, which my D looked at when she came home from school. (Dreading my Internet bill next month.) She esepcially seemed to like William & Mary and Rice. We will visit in the states next summer for a few weeks, and will try to visit a few schools then. Will try to order some of the books mentioned, too.

Hard to predict if her scores will be competitive; has done better verbally in the past, but she is not using / reading / writing a lot of English these days. Am trying to get her to study the Latin word parts book. She is getting a LOT of math at school (she is listed as a math major, as they thought that would be easiest for her to deal with, with the language difficulties) but I can picture her being confounded by the terms (She came home one day trying to tell me about her day, in English since my German is limited, and couldn't remember the word "calculator"!)

I didn't even know there was a possibility that a non-US school could administer the PSAT or SAT. But I honestly don't think her school could handle them. We are having an extremely hard time just getting them to proctor the tests for her on-line course. The on-line school said they would send "simple" instructions to the school, then sent an email so full of jargon that my engineer husband had trouble reading it, let alone the Germans! Every time she is ready for another test, we start all over. The school doesn't have a big stake in any of this, and therefore isn't motivated to do much extra work on D's behalf.

However, I do think I will try to find out what it would take to have her take the tests at the DOD school not too far away. I have a year to figure it out. Unfortunately, the DOD schools have not been very cooperative so far. Counselor there is tenured and extremely lazy. And rude.

When we move home in August 06, she will have just a few days between finishing the school year here, and beginning the school year there. No break, no chance to visit schools... Just jump right into the application process. I do think she'll be able to write some great essays, though. At least in German.

By Cangel (Cangel) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 08:21 am: Edit

Binx, I have a relative who teaches in a DOD school in Germany (not a counselor, though, ), she hasn't been working long, but her children have been in the school for 2 years. I'll ask her if sho knows anything.

By Over30 (Over30) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 08:46 am: Edit

Another possibility is to contact one of the international schools in western Europe (maybe those in Germany or Switzerland) and see if they'll let her test with their students. I know many of these schools administer the PSAT and SAT.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 09:36 am: Edit

You really don't have to find a school on your own to administer the test in Germany - just go to the College Board web site (www.collegeboard.com), click on student, then "test centers and dates" and enter a date and "Germany." The test date I checked listed 14 different official test centers across Germany already set up for testing. Even if you have to travel an hour or two, that would probably be easier than hassling with getting a local school to administer it.

By Meredith (Meredith) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 06:32 pm: Edit

Don't have delusions. An American with 1300 board scores, 2 APs, a European living experience and meager extracurriculars is not getting into Rice, Davison or a comparable school unless she is disadvantaged. She has to focus on an extra-curricular which she can develop into a real story on her applications. Hopefully, she will make good use of her summers and vacations. Forget that Latin parts book; the SAT is changing to deemphasize vocabulary. Concentrate instead on the brand new 10 Real SATs, 10 Real SAT IIs (don't forget about them because she might want to take one this school year in science or history), look to see if the ACT is offered in Germany, and pick up a new PSAT 2005 workbook on Amazon or another site that ships overseas.

By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 07:13 pm: Edit

Meredith - Until the poster's daughter actually has some test scores and a GPA there is no point in eliminating schools from her list. If all the school offers is 2 APs, and she takes them, that still qualifies as a "most challenging schedule" and will be viewed positively by adcoms. No problem with minimal ECs either, if the student has a serious commitment to them. At this point in time, a list of schools with a range of selectivity makes the most sense.

Good input on the test prep though. Augmenting schoolwork with a novel and magazine reading program (in English) would also be a good idea.

By Binx (Binx) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 06:36 am: Edit

Still learning lots from you all -- thanks.

I also hate to limit her choices at this point, based on unknown scores. My sons both did well, and I would normally expect a similar result from her; but she will be handicapped, I think, by her language "confusion". I like the idea of books, and she loves to read. She has been reading German "early teen" novels to help with language, but also squeezes some English in now and then (Orson Scott Card is a fav.) She devours our magazines when they arrive. Fortunately Amazon.de has English books. She wants to read "Reading Lolita in Tehran" when I am done with it.

Rice's website gives me some (false?) hope:
"In our holistic review, we examine objective information such as transcripts and standardized test results, as well as a wide range of subjective factors including, but not limited to creativity, leadership, talents, community contributions, intellectual vitality, and life experiences....we also try to determine the relative challenges that he or she may have faced."

I will also definitely find ways to get her to sit for the PSAT and SAT next year. Certainly having those scores will help us narrow the field.

The US high school she will "probably" attend offers a lot of APs. I am just not sure how much she will qualify for, or how much would even be appropriate to saddle her with, based on the fact that she will also be going through a cultural readjustment at the time. One of her former teachers suggested that we skip high school altogether, and put her into a joint enrollment with the community college her senior year. Too many unknowns at this point, so I am trying to think through all options.

By Marite (Marite) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 08:11 am: Edit

Remember, too, that some excellent LACs do not ask for board scores: Mt Holyoke, Bates and Bowdoin are just a few. Check out Fairtest.org for more colleges.

By Cheers (Cheers) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 04:36 pm: Edit

Actually, you DO have to contact Collegeboard for the PSAT because the student MUST take it at their high school--or at least involve the high school in the procedure. The high school must be vetted by Collegeboard for the PSAt to be administered.

You can register online for any SAT or SAT II almost anywhere in the world--without the help of your high school--but NOT, repeat NOT for the PSAT.

If she wants to do it next year, best to start cajoling the German school and emailing Collegeboard in March or April....sounds like she will be the STates by then??

By Binx (Binx) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 04:24 am: Edit

No, she won't be in the states until August 06 -- her senior year. (We will be taking a trip to the US in August next summer, but just to visit, see doctors and dentists, buy peanut butter, that sort of thing...)

According to the PSAT website, "If you are a student outside the U.S., you will need an English-speaking educator at a nearby school to administer the PSAT/NMSQT, sign up for the test, pay the test fee, and receive the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin."

It doesn't specifically say that it has to be the school she is attending, so I hope that is the case. I have written an email to the PSAT folks to get some more details from them, including where to have scores sent. If the DOD schools won't help us, there are two IB schools in Munich (2 hours south of us) I could try asking. If PSAT has to be given at her current school, I think I'd be inclined to skip it completely and concentrate on SATs at other sites.

By Samuck (Samuck) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 01:57 pm: Edit

Cheers is absolutely right: taking the PSAT is an entirely different kettle of fish to the SAT for which you can register directly online. In the case of the PSAT, I'd suggest calling the DOD and IB schools near you and asking if they can help. Here in the UK some of the international schools 'overorder' the number of PSAT tests required for their own students. They then open a waitlist for students at other schools and once they can ensure that they have enough tests for their own students, they start accepting outside students from the wait list. Scores are sent to the school administering the test and the out-of-school students pick up their scores themselves or ask the school to post them to their home addres. It all depends on how co-operative the school is. Some of the schools - in a spirit of community service - very kindly take on the role of helping US students enrolled in local (ie. non US or international) schools. It is a bit nervewracking though. My American daughter - enrolled in an English school - won't know if the nearby international school has a PSAT test for her until sometime this coming week - and the test is administered on Saturday. Good luck!

By Cheers (Cheers) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 05:21 pm: Edit

Binx, I know it is a hassle. But I bet you hear back from the PSAT folks and they give you a form to be completed by the deputy head and faxed back to them.

It IS an amazing amount of handholding to get it all arranged, but then your daughter isn't wondering if she will get off some waitlist. Maybe you will be more energized in the spring?

Another tip, we always offer to pay for the tutor to administer the test--though they haven't taken us up on it yet!

By Usmominuk (Usmominuk) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 05:48 pm: Edit

Can anyone tell me how important test scores are if D's education is foreign (British)except for one extra gap year in an American high school? Shouldn't Binx's D try to get rec letters from the school in Germany praising her performance there to include later in the college apps?

By Binx (Binx) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 03:01 am: Edit

USmom -- I think that's a great idea, as her teachers in the US will only know her for a few weeks at the time we have to ask for recommendations. Her German tutor here is a man in his 70s who used to be an Assistant Headmaster at the school she now attends. He thinks she's "brilliant" (his word), treats her like a granddaughter, and would probably write an extremely good letter. (He was chosen to be her tutor because he was an English teacher, so his English is quite good. Keep in mind he's used to tutoring "struggling" students, so she is a nice change of pace for him.)

Her current headmaster also claims to have a great deal of respect for her; he was quite concerned initially that she would be emotionally overwhelmed, and has been pleasantly surprised at her adjustment. That might be a good second one. I can think of a few others, too. Plenty of time, but I probably wouldn't have thought of this till much later. Thanks.

Cheers - I also hadn't thought of offering to pay anybody to administer the tests. That is also worth considering.

Samuck -- tell your D good luck from us -- both for getting off the waiting list, and for taking the test.

I'll let you know what I hear from PSAT. That's great that this board has other expats. Maybe our discussion will help somebody else someday!

By Cheers (Cheers) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 03:19 am: Edit

USMom, if she is going to a competitive US university, the test scores are HUGE. That's why it's nice to get a couple of practice PSATs under their belts.

If I were you, I wouldn't waive the confidentiality on the recs. We tried--in the nicest way possbile--to explain the "American" recommendation, ie praising highlights and glossing over deficiencies. But we were unsuccessful. The rest of the world doesn't do 'soft sell', lol. My older S's rec was a one liner that read:

"Although he is in the top ten per cent intellectually, I don't expect him to do well on the Bursary exam."

A speculation! Crikey. It's a wonder my son got in anywhere. We will go right to the new headmaster (from the UK) for our younger son.

Anyway, getting a decent 'American-type' rec is harder than arranging the PSAT/SAT/SATII, if you ask me.

Binx--when we asked the school to arrange the PSAT we offered to pay the school tutor to administer the test. Softens the 'demanding' American stereotype, hopefully.

By Usmominuk (Usmominuk) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 05:24 am: Edit

I guess it depends on the person or school for the rec letter. My D waived her right to see and was given them back anyway to check before mailing (!) and they are full page or longer and fabulous. They tried to speak to the issues in the tick boxes on counselor forms to help us. I am hoping that this will mitigate her mediocre test scores taken at the age of a soph. Hopefully, she will score better on the SAT IIs in Nov. I was a bit misled during her year in the US - she got national merit commendation for her PSAT which she took as tho she were a junior, and it seemed like she was fine, but that was helped by her writing score. Then, altho she increased her score to the predicted max for verbal on the SAT, she stayed the same for math for a total of 1320 and she wants to do chemical engineering...ugh.
Binx - those people you mentioned sound like the type who wrote letters for my D and if you are acquiring them early, they won't expect to mail them directly to schools. I would suggest you get lots of copies - we ran out of the letter from her American teacher from a year and a half ago and it's not easy to get more.

By Cheers (Cheers) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 04:04 pm: Edit

US mom, there were some great tips on Cc about rasing SAT scores...look ofr archived threads by Jamimom (SAT coach) and Xiggi (for Math espeically) or put out the query yourself.

By Usmominuk (Usmominuk) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 05:08 pm: Edit

Cheers - thanks, now all we need is time to do it! D has a very heavy schedule and finding a day to take the SAT IIs hasn't been easy. I'm hoping she can revise somehow. Do you have an opinion about mediocre scores but a great class ranking in a selective school,great recs, good ECs and 5 As at A/S level (and 5 predicted A's at A level), all math and science? Will it help that she took the SAT I back in 2003 if she does well on the SAT IIs since she wants engineering?

By Cheers (Cheers) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 07:19 pm: Edit

I'm not the expert on these chances things. Really, I'd encourage you to post a query to get better advice.

Here's my gut/further queries:

Class rank is huge.

What was her Math score?

Waht schools is she hoping for?

My S took the SAT in Jan of junior year and no, I don't think he got credit fro taking it so early. And yes, I regret not making him take it again--even though he had all those SATIIs.

Is she a senior? She can take the SAT again in December and sometimes January....