SAT or High School Soccer Game?

What would you do?

kind of sad that you even have to ask frankly, seek help

I'm not asking for help deciding. I know what my choice is......just seeing what everyone else thinks.

good my faith in humanity is renewed :lol

97keepersdad wrote:I'm not asking for help deciding.  I know what my choice is......just seeing what everyone else thinks.

the game?   

Poor scheduling...take it during district on March 8th instead.

As a college adviser I see this happen to students all the time.  The adults need to wake up and show that the students future is the ultimate goal. Every year I see students pass up scholarship opportunities (in some cases tens of thousands of dollars) because some coach or director said they had to be at some competition. Unless that activity is paying your way through school take the test.

OTB_99G wrote:As a college adviser I see this happen to students all the time.  The adults need to wake up and show that the students future is the ultimate goal. Every year I see students pass up scholarship opportunities (in some cases tens of thousands of dollars) because some coach or director said they had to be at some competition. Unless that activity is paying your way through school take the test.

    

There is no reason to have to choose. They offer the SAT throughout the year.
October, Nov.,December, January, March, beginning of June.

High School soccer usually only has two tournaments scheduled before district starts.  Soccer schedules are posted at the beginning of the year. Varsity players should be able to schedule around.

Is SAT incredibly important? of course it is, but managing your commitments is also an important life lesson.

Yes often students must choose because to get the required scores retest are often needed. Some students will test 3 or 4 time to gain the required score. This is not a lack of planning on the students part. I agree if a student wait until the last minute to test, but in many cases it is just part of the process.

I disagree. It is lack of planning if you are a HS soccer player having to take the test in January - Juniors should take the test in the Fall, can retake in March and/or May/June. Seniors can take the test again in October, Nov. or December.
I am sure there are kids struggling to get their scores where they need to be, but that is another topic. Learning to manage your commitments is part of what it takes to be successful in any phase of life.

scr460 wrote:I disagree.  It is lack of planning if you are a HS soccer player having to take the test in January - Juniors should take the test in the Fall, can retake in March and/or May/June.  Seniors can take the test again in October, Nov. or December.
I am sure there are kids struggling to get their scores where they need to be, but that is another topic.  Learning to manage your commitments is part of what it takes to be successful in any phase of life.

True in many cases. Students can plan around testing if they are paying attention to their particular situation, but there are some instances where it may be out of a student's control. I know of times when a student may need a slightly higher number in order to get the scholarship or achieve the next level of scholarship (and those may be time sensitive deadlines)...While planning can preclude a lot of that, there is still some of it that can't necessarily be planned for.

I think you just made my point.  All high school students should start researching the schools and admission requirements for the schools they are interested in by the end of their sophomore year. The PSAT and PLAN tests taken during your sophomore year are great indicators of where the students test scores are likely to be.  
Then take SAT and ACT tests in the Fall of their junior year having taken whatever appropriate test prep courses they might need to achieve the scores necessary to get admitted and the scholarship levels that are attainable.  By spring of the junior year they should know where they are at and what additional testing (or test prep) is needed.  
My kids have had HS teammates taking the SAT during HS tournaments.  Yes, it happens a lot. I always wonder what the high school football coach would do if a player told him they weren't going to be at a game to take the SAT test that could have been taken a month sooner or later with no conflict.  

scr460 wrote:I think you just made my point.  All high school students should start researching the schools and admission requirements for the schools they are interested in by the end of their sophomore year. The PSAT and PLAN tests taken during your sophomore year are great indicators of where the students test scores are likely to be.  
Then take SAT and ACT tests in the Fall of their junior year having taken whatever appropriate test prep courses they might need to achieve the scores necessary to get admitted and the scholarship levels that are attainable.  By spring of the junior year they should know where they are at and what additional testing (or test prep) is needed.  
My kids have had HS teammates taking the SAT during HS tournaments.  Yes, it happens a lot.   I always wonder what the high school football coach would do if a player told him they weren't going to be at a game to take the SAT test that could have been taken a month sooner or later with no conflict.  

It depends on if its the starting QB, or 3rd string punter.

So, like most questions this is 100% relative.

TripDDs wrote:So, like most questions this is 100% relative.

Exactly

There's only one game against Solar Purple East, and it will never be played again. You can always take the SAT another time.

A High School tournament game, miss it for the SAT. A district HS game, wouldn't do that personally but they don't happen on Saturday AM. A club game for the SAT, which will be happening if your club team is playing in the FC Dallas Showcase on 3/8, much more difficult decision. Could be if you are looking for college coaches to be scouting you, you don't take the SAT then. But if you do decide to take, then it will give others on the team the opportunity to play more. A Club league game, we would never miss for the SAT.

scr460 wrote:I think you just made my point.  All high school students should start researching the schools and admission requirements for the schools they are interested in by the end of their sophomore year. The PSAT and PLAN tests taken during your sophomore year are great indicators of where the students test scores are likely to be.  
Then take SAT and ACT tests in the Fall of their junior year having taken whatever appropriate test prep courses they might need to achieve the scores necessary to get admitted and the scholarship levels that are attainable.  By spring of the junior year they should know where they are at and what additional testing (or test prep) is needed.  
My kids have had HS teammates taking the SAT during HS tournaments.  Yes, it happens a lot.   I always wonder what the high school football coach would do if a player told him they weren't going to be at a game to take the SAT test that could have been taken a month sooner or later with no conflict.  

You are right on most of this, but taking SAT before algebra II is a mistake (and some kids are taking that jr year) and the year of AP English (jr year) is better prep for a lot of kids, so taking it before they have that experience can actually be detrimental in some cases. Agreed that there are multiple times to take it, and avoiding the January one for a soccer player is a BEST option. But bagging a senior taking it to gain $10,000 in scholarships (because the deadline is march 1) with a move from 1800 to 1850 especially if they have taken it a few times and keep making those small strides is something to be commended especially when many of the scholarships are academic/athletic makes sense.
I don't know your situation, but it is different for many, and taking the test in Jan might also be a better option than in March during playoffs??
Just sayin

dadof3 wrote:

scr460 wrote:I think you just made my point.  All high school students should start researching the schools and admission requirements for the schools they are interested in by the end of their sophomore year. The PSAT and PLAN tests taken during your sophomore year are great indicators of where the students test scores are likely to be.  
Then take SAT and ACT tests in the Fall of their junior year having taken whatever appropriate test prep courses they might need to achieve the scores necessary to get admitted and the scholarship levels that are attainable.  By spring of the junior year they should know where they are at and what additional testing (or test prep) is needed.  
My kids have had HS teammates taking the SAT during HS tournaments.  Yes, it happens a lot.   I always wonder what the high school football coach would do if a player told him they weren't going to be at a game to take the SAT test that could have been taken a month sooner or later with no conflict.  

You are right on most of this, but taking SAT before algebra II is a mistake (and some kids are taking that jr year) and the year of AP English (jr year) is better prep for a lot of kids, so taking it before they have that experience can actually be detrimental in some cases. Agreed that there are multiple times to take it, and avoiding the January one for a soccer player is a BEST option. But bagging a senior taking it to gain $10,000 in scholarships (because the deadline is march 1) with a move from 1800 to 1850 especially if they have taken it a few times and keep making those small strides is something to be commended especially when many of the scholarships are academic/athletic makes sense.
I don't know your situation, but it is different for many, and taking the test in Jan might also be a better option than in March during playoffs??
Just sayin

Can't let it go... it is all about planning...
HS soccer games are not on Saturdays in March and Playoffs are after spring break
My point is that you should have your student's plan for college figured out sooner rather than later. As I said, take the SAT in the Fall of Junior year for the first go at it. Doubt you would learn much in Algebra 2 or AP English between December test date and January test date that would really make a difference. Junior soccer players can take SAT in spring twice before one or two last shots in Fall of Senior year. Are there exceptions? of course.... Most Texas/southern schools want applications submitted prior to February, some cut off applications in November and December.
Don't know very many seniors still taking tests after first semester. If your child needed to do that, hope that they did well on the test. My experience is that the kids who get their testing done earlier have much more options as scholarships tend to dwindle as the spots get filled by the kids who have met the criteria and submitted early. Some schools have a standard amount of $$ for test scores. Get your test taking done early and you can enjoy the senior year.
Most people on this forum are pretty serious soccer families. If you have been a competitive soccer family for years, hopefully your kid is enjoying playing in High School. for most kids this is the end of the road -


All students should start the process early, and prepare for all the tests when it works best for their schedule. It isn't hard to avoid one test date in January.

scr460 wrote:

dadof3 wrote:

scr460 wrote:I think you just made my point.  All high school students should start researching the schools and admission requirements for the schools they are interested in by the end of their sophomore year. The PSAT and PLAN tests taken during your sophomore year are great indicators of where the students test scores are likely to be.  
Then take SAT and ACT tests in the Fall of their junior year having taken whatever appropriate test prep courses they might need to achieve the scores necessary to get admitted and the scholarship levels that are attainable.  By spring of the junior year they should know where they are at and what additional testing (or test prep) is needed.  
My kids have had HS teammates taking the SAT during HS tournaments.  Yes, it happens a lot.   I always wonder what the high school football coach would do if a player told him they weren't going to be at a game to take the SAT test that could have been taken a month sooner or later with no conflict.  

You are right on most of this, but taking SAT before algebra II is a mistake (and some kids are taking that jr year) and the year of AP English (jr year) is better prep for a lot of kids, so taking it before they have that experience can actually be detrimental in some cases. Agreed that there are multiple times to take it, and avoiding the January one for a soccer player is a BEST option. But bagging a senior taking it to gain $10,000 in scholarships (because the deadline is march 1) with a move from 1800 to 1850 especially if they have taken it a few times and keep making those small strides is something to be commended especially when many of the scholarships are academic/athletic makes sense.
I don't know your situation, but it is different for many, and taking the test in Jan might also be a better option than in March during playoffs??
Just sayin

Can't let it go... it is all about planning...
HS soccer games are not on Saturdays in March and Playoffs are after spring break
My point is that you should have your student's plan for college figured out sooner rather than later.  As I said, take the SAT in the Fall of Junior year for the first go at it.  Doubt you would learn much in Algebra 2 or AP English between December test date  and January test date that would really make a difference.  Junior soccer players can take SAT in spring twice before one or two last shots in Fall of Senior year.  Are there exceptions? of course.... Most Texas/southern schools want applications submitted prior to February, some cut off applications in November and December.
Don't know very many seniors still taking tests after first semester.  If your child needed to do that, hope that they did well on the test.  My experience is that the kids who get their testing done earlier have much more options as scholarships tend to dwindle as the spots get filled by the kids who have met the criteria and submitted early.  Some schools have a standard amount of $$ for test scores.  Get your test taking done early and you can enjoy the senior year.
Most people on this forum are pretty serious soccer families. If you have been a competitive soccer family for years, hopefully your kid is enjoying playing in High School. for most kids this is the end of the road -

All students should start the process early, and prepare for all the tests when it works best for their schedule.  It isn't hard to avoid one test date in January.  

Not letting it go a two way street? First, I agreed with you that planning is the best way and being able to avoid a January test is pretty easy to do IN MOST CASES. I also agree with your last statement that it is pretty easy overall to avoid the January test. However, I think you are missing the fact that for some kids, they can't avoid that test, and it seemed like you were upset with some teammates who may have taken the january test, so I was merely pointing out that there may be a legitimate reason that doesn't directly go to their lack of preparation. I have seen it numerous times...the Senior who needs that next shameless self promotion to get a scholarship. or to reach the next level of scholarship by moving the needle from 1800 to 1850. I have personally tutored kids over Christmas break, and sliding the test result in before the February deadline is EXACTLY my argument for that kid...Again, I agree with your overall point, that should be a small number...most kids should have everything lined up, but some just need that small shameless self promotion to finalize their academic side.
As for juniors, IMO, they shouldn't take it before December unless they are only needing a minimum score to show they are a candidate, or if there is a direct request from a college coach because the classes they are in WILL help them. SAT tests through Algebra II, so if the kid takes SAT in October without Algebra II, she can't actually compete on the math section until she has taken the course...Many kids will have taken Algebra II by that point, but the class is usually pretty split between sophomores and juniors. If she waits until she understands the math, she will be better in March, May or June. BTW-I wasn't saying that there would necessarily be a conflict with a game in March, but I deal with a ton of kids who don't test as well on an early Saturday morning the night after a game in which they arrive home at 12...not just the game, the atmosphere that keeps them from their best. I tell my juniours to take the test in March, May or June. Then to test again as necessary after that...They should have it done by November 1. After November 1, you may retake to get those last numbers...hopefully in December...sometimes in January.

And I am in agreement with the gist of your argument.

dadof3 wrote:

scr460 wrote:

dadof3 wrote:

scr460 wrote:I think you just made my point.  All high school students should start researching the schools and admission requirements for the schools they are interested in by the end of their sophomore year. The PSAT and PLAN tests taken during your sophomore year are great indicators of where the students test scores are likely to be.  
Then take SAT and ACT tests in the Fall of their junior year having taken whatever appropriate test prep courses they might need to achieve the scores necessary to get admitted and the scholarship levels that are attainable.  By spring of the junior year they should know where they are at and what additional testing (or test prep) is needed.  
My kids have had HS teammates taking the SAT during HS tournaments.  Yes, it happens a lot.   I always wonder what the high school football coach would do if a player told him they weren't going to be at a game to take the SAT test that could have been taken a month sooner or later with no conflict.  

You are right on most of this, but taking SAT before algebra II is a mistake (and some kids are taking that jr year) and the year of AP English (jr year) is better prep for a lot of kids, so taking it before they have that experience can actually be detrimental in some cases. Agreed that there are multiple times to take it, and avoiding the January one for a soccer player is a BEST option. But bagging a senior taking it to gain $10,000 in scholarships (because the deadline is march 1) with a move from 1800 to 1850 especially if they have taken it a few times and keep making those small strides is something to be commended especially when many of the scholarships are academic/athletic makes sense.
I don't know your situation, but it is different for many, and taking the test in Jan might also be a better option than in March during playoffs??
Just sayin

Can't let it go... it is all about planning...
HS soccer games are not on Saturdays in March and Playoffs are after spring break
My point is that you should have your student's plan for college figured out sooner rather than later.  As I said, take the SAT in the Fall of Junior year for the first go at it.  Doubt you would learn much in Algebra 2 or AP English between December test date  and January test date that would really make a difference.  Junior soccer players can take SAT in spring twice before one or two last shots in Fall of Senior year.  Are there exceptions? of course.... Most Texas/southern schools want applications submitted prior to February, some cut off applications in November and December.
Don't know very many seniors still taking tests after first semester.  If your child needed to do that, hope that they did well on the test.  My experience is that the kids who get their testing done earlier have much more options as scholarships tend to dwindle as the spots get filled by the kids who have met the criteria and submitted early.  Some schools have a standard amount of $$ for test scores.  Get your test taking done early and you can enjoy the senior year.
Most people on this forum are pretty serious soccer families. If you have been a competitive soccer family for years, hopefully your kid is enjoying playing in High School. for most kids this is the end of the road -

All students should start the process early, and prepare for all the tests when it works best for their schedule.  It isn't hard to avoid one test date in January.  

Not letting it go a two way street?  First, I agreed with you that planning is the best way and being able to avoid a January test is pretty easy to do IN MOST CASES.  I also agree with your last statement that it is pretty easy overall to avoid the January test.  However, I think you are missing the fact that for some kids, they can't avoid that test, and it seemed like you were upset with some teammates who may have taken the january test, so I was merely pointing out that there may be a legitimate reason that doesn't directly go to their lack of preparation.   I have seen it numerous times...the Senior who needs that next shameless self promotion to get a scholarship. or to reach the next level of scholarship by moving the needle from 1800 to 1850.  I have personally tutored kids over Christmas break, and sliding the test result in before the February deadline is EXACTLY my argument for that kid...Again, I agree with your overall point, that should be a small number...most kids should have everything lined up, but some just need that small shameless self promotion to finalize their academic side.
As for juniors, IMO, they shouldn't take it before December unless they are only needing a minimum score to show they are a candidate, or if there is a direct request from a college coach because the classes they are in WILL help them.  SAT tests through Algebra II, so if the kid takes SAT in October without Algebra II, she can't actually compete on the math section until she has taken the course...Many kids will have taken Algebra II by that point, but the class is usually pretty split between sophomores and juniors.  If she waits until she understands the math, she will be better in March, May or June.  BTW-I wasn't saying that there would necessarily be a conflict with a game in March, but I deal with a ton of kids who don't test as well on an early Saturday morning the night after a game in which they arrive home at 12...not just the game, the atmosphere that keeps them from their best.  I tell my juniours to take the test in March, May or June.  Then to test again as necessary after that...They should have it done by November 1.  After November 1, you may retake to get those last numbers...hopefully in December...sometimes in January.

And I am in agreement with the gist of your argument.

Regardless of the situation, if the kid needs to take the January test, she needs to take the test. The life lesson is that you take care of business before pleasure. If she doesn't don't take of her business, the consequences are that her team gets play that Saturday game without your kid. If she is a good teammate and loves her sport, it is a lesson she won't forget.

Actions and procrastination in life have consequences; its best for young people learn that before they leave home.