Parents of the HS Class of 2013

[Galaxyfigment]

Haystack, I would agree with you 100% if it weren't for the Vandy counselor. We asked about D's 33 for admission. She said that they expect applicants to keep trying if they don't get a 36. It is a "Senior" test and to take it as a Junior, get a decent score, and then not try to improve was frowned upon. She said they look for effort to improve

[RobD]

^^^galaxy: Vandys ACT mid 25-75% for admitted students this year was 33-35! Cray cray!

[CBGMass]

Vandy seems to be VERY interested in the US News rankings. Most schools we have visited have pretty much said that when looking at applications they initially make sure scores are in their range. And then it's all the other stuff that makes the difference. Wonder what percent of Vandy's under 33 are special admits?

[MommyDearest13]

Seriously, Galaxy? That’s crazy. S’13 reported his score from early Junior year. He is planning to take the ACT once again just to see if he can get a 36, but he’s not planning on reporting it to his school or anyone else – it’s just for him. I thought it would make him look like a perfectionist for trying to score one point higher.

CBG – does your S’s ED school not give ANYTHING for National Merit? My S’13 never took the SAT either, but I’d make him if it would be worth $1,000/ year.

Would anyone mind sharing the Alabama Scholarship questions?

[CBGMass]

MommyDearest13 - ED school does not give anything for NM. School number two reduces institutional grant aid and awards $2000 (one time I think) so in the long run it wouldn't make a difference. His state safety gives a lot for NM but he already qualifies for a full ride without it.

S and I have different #1 schools on our lists. I must say I have fallen in love with Reed. S likes it but will need to visit before he can love it. I'm trying really hard to not influence him too much. I did find him doing the virtual tour the other day.

[Youdon'tsay]

Galaxy, that makes me glad Vandy is no longer on ds's list. I think it's obnoxious for a school to tell kids to keep trying for "perfection."

[megpmom]

/hey everybody! Back from trip to the East coast to pick up S from summer program and spent the weekend in NYC. We visited several music conservatories and S's ranking of them changed once he saw facilities and location. His new requirements are air conditioning in dorms, walking distance to fast food and pizza, and wifi. He's still not crazy about shared bathrooms, but he thinks he can adjust.

We had a very interesting tour of Manhattan School of Music. Despite 2 phone calls from us, the admissions people had no record of us when we arrived and, since their tours are "by appointment only" they refused to give us a tour. When I insisted, they said we could tag along with the tour already scheduled, which was for a group of Chinese students with a translator. There was also a girl from Japan who was in the same boat as us (bad admissions dept). S loved the Chinese tour! He learned that the words "audition", "faculty" and "deadline" are the same in Chinese as English! The school is 40% Asian which S thinks is "cool."

[our2girls]

Galaxy – Wow – that is crazy talk, about trying to get a 36. I believe for the ACT 34-36 or 35-36 is considered the 99th %tile…with no 100% given. Such pressure! I did pass the info to my D, who has a friend with a 35 from junior year, so thanks for that info!

Lisa6191 – I would not have thought that only applying to one school that was a great choice for a student would be an issue…but I agree with some of the others about “what if” scenarios…what if something out of ordinary occurs, and there is no backup school? Is there at least one other school he might be happy with that wouldn’t take a lot of time to apply? Just my opinion; chances are there won’t be any issues at all

Longhaul – I concur with others about your S’s internship – he should list it! Shows he is active in important, “current event” activities, potentially even in a year when he is not yet able to vote. Our D won’t be old enough and boy is she mad about it!

Drmom – sounds like you were able to start the process by signing your D’s tests, and it also sounds like your D will probably enjoy a senior dance number – nice of the teacher to be able to include her!

Walker/RobD and others in similar boats – I know how you feel about your kids not wanting to go to the state U, or any other school in the state in which you reside…yet there are kids from OTHER states willing to come to OUR state. For whatever reason kids think their own state schools are too close, not good enough, too big, too many from my HS there (that’s probably the biggest reason I hear), etc. I didn’t want to go to my state flagship out of high school either but I went and transferred out of state 1-1/2 years later. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m willing to have our girls go out of state from the get go, because the college budget is four years for each of them…anything more is gonna have to be on their dime!

CBGMass – you’re a better person than me…I would strongly encourage my kids to take the SAT if they were potentially NMF, if only to provide them more options with scholarship possibilities. I’d tell my girls to at least try it once, but that would be enough. I respect you for letting your S decide.

Megpmom – Glad the tour worked out at Manhattan School of Music. I would have been very frustrated if they didn’t have a record of us calling for a tour. That’s interesting that audition, faculty and deadline are the same in Chinese as English…I imagine those words must have stood out during the translation.

[SteveMA]

Trying to map out tours, we still have 11 schools to tour, for sure, and possibly 5 or 6 more depending on what DD decides for her sport, YIKES. I sure hope we can get some Sunday tours or it's just not going to work. Some of those schools on the 'maybe tour' list we might have to hope for either fly in weekends for seniors/accepted students or just not visit. Good thing we have already done about 10 tours so far or we would never get them in. The kids didn't believe me when I told them this would happen. I suppose it would be easier if we just looked at schools near home but we are heading off to different parts of the country .

[our2girls]

SteveMA - OMGosh!!! 11 + 5 or 6 + 10 already completed?? I think you win!!
...unless someone has/will tour more??

[SteveMA]

our2girls--we have twins so it' isn't quite as impressive as it sounds . We started tours last summer and have squeezed them in when we could. DD is a recruited athlete so that is a lot of the more recent additions to the tours. Target for each of them is to apply to 10 schools--looking for a strong merit aid package so casting a wide net.

[VBCMom]

Good morning. We arrived home last night and I am wiped. It was a long trip (we originally left July 5 and dd practiced, then competed and then we did a college trip)

We saw Marshall University on Monday. We both liked the campus a lot and the newer rec center is great. DD's major department looked good as well. We met with folks from the honors college and that was nice as well. All in all, this would be a match for dd (lower match, but match) but she didn't care for the group that would be her EC activity. I'd be happy to go in to details if someone wants to PM me (because its more unique, its pretty identifiable). Unfortunately, I don't think she was over reacting, because I had the same vibe! We are debating whether to apply or not. Right now dd has in in state safety that may be a better match. My feel is anything she ranks below our in state safety becomes a school she doesn't apply to.

We liked their downtown. There is an area called Pullman Square with cute shops, food etc as well as true traditional downtown that I really liked.

I'm sorry because in a lot of ways this could be a good safety and I think for someone who needs an low cost OSS safety it could be a good match.

On Tuesday we went to Kentucky (UK). We had been there the week before on a tour and then Tuesday morning met with dd's major and the honors college. Really liked the department and how students "apply" in sophomore year. Its based on college grades and standardized test from HS (which would benefit dd). Really liked who we talked to in the honors college. DD meets the stats to apply, but of course, many apply. The new honors dorm will be next door to their amazing library, which had dd over the moon.

DD had met with the coach of her EC earlier in the week and really liked her. Then Monday night we met with a student on the team. She was so sweet and brought dd a little UK gift. We took her to dinner. She was great and totally sold both of us on the school (as if we weren't already) All I could think was that this a girl I'd like dd to be hanging around with. She was also OSS, which gave us a good perspective as well, although not as far away (about 6 hours away)

So, from a parents perspective......assuming there aren't major changes in UK merit aid, dd would automatically be offered 3K. There are three levels of competitive scholarships. Looking at the lowest of the three, it would be $4500. Not as much as some other schools. However, I came home to discover that dh has heard a little more about what he'll receive from his parents estate and its more than we expected (dh is one of 8, so we had low expectations!) We'd prefer to keep it for our retirement but it gives us some wiggle room.

Here's my dilemma. DD needs a 31 on the ACT to be considered for merit scholarships. She's at a 30. We have registered her for the ACT in September and are buying more practice tests. Should I register for end of October as well? We won't know her scores until after the deadline and even with paying a late fee, so few places offer the ACT she might not get a spot. We haven't shared with her our financial info and have indicated to her she really needs to out a lot of effort in the next 6 weeks to get a 31, to get more merit aid. She could theoretically also take it 12-8, but I think if she can't do well enough these next two times, it won't be better in December,since she'll also be preparing for finals. Any advice?

[Walker1194]

I need some benzos....

DD13b and I have been working away the last couple of days on figuring out what schools she wants to apply/audition for and what schools will be at Unifieds in Chicago. I am just a little freaked out by how wide a net we feel like we have to cast. I wish that some of these schools were more of a merit aid fit, but the price tags are so expensive. Right now we have ONE "safety". Aye yi yi.... I have also found her a tutor for the math section of the ACT. I think if she raises that section about four points and the English up three or four points she will be more attractive academically. I also finally talked to her GC this afternoon and booted AP Bio off the schedule for next year. I'm so glad. She has enough on her plate just with college apps and audition prep!

Oh, I also finally found out both of the girls official unweighted GPAs. 3.77 and 3.95. Not too shabby . Our school doesn't rank. DD13a is in the top 10% (per counselor). I have no idea where DD13b falls. I hope no schools ask that on their app!

[sacchi]

Vandys ACT mid 25-75% for admitted students this year was 33-35! Cray cray!

It sounds like that is for admitted students, rather than enrolled students. The numbers for admitted students are generally higher than for enrolled students, since the highest scoring students are likely to be admitted to (and choose to enroll at) higher ranked schools.

When the 25/75 scores are published in various college guides, they generally use the enrolled students numbers, not the admitted student numbers.

[SteveMA]

Walker1194--what region are they considering or is anywhere ok? Auditions for music or what? I'm sure you said before, my brain is fried . Keep in mind, bringing up an ACT that many points is very difficult. What is she at now? Are you talking financial safety/admissions safety or both? Several of the schools we are looking at superscore for merit aid-not admissions though. It's isn't always listed on the website but might be worth an email to see if the schools on your list do. That goes for VBCMom too!