Parents of the HS Class of 2014 - Page 146

Agentninetynine · 11-12-2012, 01:29 PM

NewHaven: Many already parents look at me like I'm nuts -- they'd really freak if I told them to put together a resume. And I suppose for kids whose first choices are the big state university or flagship, there isn't as much to do. Oregon students have automatic entrance if their GPA & SAT/ACT scores meet the criteria. Kid writes an essay and they're in. But as you all know, it's a different story for those who want to attend private or OOS schools.

NewHavenCTmom · 11-12-2012, 01:41 PM

Many parents don't realize that here in CT, even the state schools are very competitive and many are being waitlisted OR being sent to the commuter branches and have to stay home. So they are not getting the full college experience that they wanted. They don't realize that the kids with the higher stats/SAT scores/EC's are getting the spots that they thought their kids would automatically get. Even Southern CT State University had a waitlist. Who would have ever thunk? UCONN may have automatic entrance but they will be commuting from home. Students here need to understand that they have to stand out from the crowd. They wait until senior year to think about this stuff and as we all know. Its too late!!

Agentninetynine · 11-12-2012, 01:47 PM

What is competitive here are the honors colleges at both OSU and University of Oregon. There are more hoops to jump through and acceptance rates hover around 50%.

Sometimes I'm just amazed at the perspective of friends and acquaintances. Comments have run the gamut of:
"She's an amazing kid, she'll get in anywhere."
"The money will always be there, she'll definitely get a scholarship."
To "If she wants to go into $200k debt it's her education and you shouldn't stand in her way." Um... she doesn't and we would.

mommusic · 11-12-2012, 02:13 PM

We didn't call it a resume but we definitely kept a list of activities, honors & awards from freshman year on! I had one kid who really forgot to put stuff on applications if he didn't have the list in front of him. Important stuff like NMSF...

ecouter11 · 11-12-2012, 02:27 PM

I think having a resume is just handy. If you start one in 9th grade and just keep adding to it when you win/do something, its really easy just to print it and give it to people when you're interviewing for anything.

Everything is crazy competitive now, fortunately or unfortunately. Also, I think having a resume makes the CA easier cuz they often ask you there and also in supplementary apps, what your ECs are, how many hours etc.

Agentninetynine · 11-12-2012, 03:00 PM

NewHaven: Had no idea the state schools in Connecticut were so competitive. Do you think this is because OOS has become too costly for some?

MomMusic: LOL! Probably THE most important stat and he forgets? I have a kid like that, too.

Ecouter: How far back do you go -- 9th grade? What format are you using? Excel or just standard "resume" style?

beadymom · 11-12-2012, 05:03 PM

I started a spreadsheet last Spring to track accomplishments/EC's before I forgot. I tried to go back through 9th grade, and try to add to it as new ones come up. Which reminds me, he was just inducted into NHS so I need to add that!

Momreads - I keep hearing wonderful things about Alabama, so I think it will be on our list of Spring Break visits - along with Georgia Tech & Vanderbilt. Mind you, the only way we could afford Vanderbilt is if he gets lots of scholarships, which I understand are somewhat hard to come by there. Our instate school has a good program and should get lots of $$$ scholarships there. I'm the type that likes to see all our options before ruling anything out!

ecouter11 · 11-12-2012, 07:34 PM

@Agentninetynine, I made my first real resume in freshman year after I was trying to get an internship in a lab. I didn't really know how to make one, but my friend who is now in an 8 year BS/MD program at URochester showed me how to make one and I've been using that template since.

I don't know what "standard" or :exel" resume styles are

, but I generally have a heading that lists my main accomplishments in Biomedical Science, a section dedicated to GPA + current courses + a section for specifically science/math courses taken or that I'm currently taking. Then, I list awards and then have a special section for science competitions. Finally, I basically write out all my volunteer/work experiences with Dates worked/location/main duties or focus and have a line about "providing references on request".

I think that works for almost anything; you can just change the headings for different jobs and put in different content.

I do leave a few things out, EC-wise or award-wise, especially if they're repetitive, i.e. involving similar duties/achievements. I think nowadays, even if you're just asking for a volunteer position at an organization people tend to ask for resumes, so I try to keep mine updated. If you want the word template, just PM me and I can send it to you.

ecouter11 · 11-12-2012, 07:36 PM

Have your kids started looking at summer programs yet? I think there are some fairly good local options available, so I'll probably just try my hand at a couple of the super selective programs that do take internationals and leave it at that.

Some of my family that never comes to visit might also visit next summer and I really want to spend some time with them as well, which will be rough if I'm away for most of the summer.

NewHavenCTmom · 11-12-2012, 08:42 PM

@ Agent,

Yes, its probably the cost of attendance. Which I'm not sure what the total price is for either school. DD was supposed to go and see UCONN again with an after school program that she is involved with but decided not to go. She saw it in soph year and hated it. She thought it would be a good idea to see it again, thought that seeing it from a "fresh eye" might sway her opinion.... but changed her mind this morning when I woke her up at 6:30am. LOL She is so busy with 3 AP's, the dual enrollment at Southern and her EC's, work that she realy needs to sleep when she can. We will go up to Harvard Medical School on Saturday for a workshop for those students who are interested in medical school. So that will be her on campus visit for the month.

@ Ecouter,

She has started applying already. Actually had a deadline on October 19th. She has some other app's that are sitting on her desk in her room that need to be started. She is hoping to snag a research opportunity @ Yale. She just needs to take the time and sit down to send out the emails. The summer programs for rising seniors are quite competitive so she has decided the cast a wide net.

ecouter11 · 11-12-2012, 09:11 PM

Whoa, October 19th is really early. Most of my apps are due by Feb/Jan. I'm a procrastinator on all fronts; half of my things end up being sent by express or last minute.

Good luck with the lab hunt; if she wants any cover letter ideas/resume templates and things, I have a bunch of documents I use for a club that I can send to you. Most professors, even hotshots at Yale, really like nurturing young minds and getting people into science, so I'm sure she'll have plenty of options.

Classof2015 · 11-12-2012, 09:59 PM

beadymom -- don't forget Tulane -- if you have a smart kid, they might throw some (or a lot) of merit $$$ at him.

S seems curiously unmotivated to "pour it on" for this all important junior year. The CC wisdom is "love the kid on the couch" but I wish he would aspire to at least an upholstered chair...

mathmomvt · 11-12-2012, 10:12 PM

Visited RPI wit DS'14 today. He liked it a lot. Couldn't articulate why, just "felt right". This is the first place he's visited (except for tag-alongs with DS'11). Could be a very nice fit for him.

beadymom · 11-12-2012, 10:41 PM

LOL @ classof2015 - "upholstered chair"

My son never leaves his bedroom chair/computer once he steps foot in the house!

I have thought of Tulane. Let's see, if we hit Vanderbilt, GA Tech, & Alabama on the way to the beach over spring break (well not really on the way, more like around the world!), then we can hit Tulane on the way home! haha We may get 5 hours at the beach with that schedule!

happyORmom · 11-13-2012, 01:47 AM

@Agentninetynine: We live in a small town in Oregon and that's exactly what I hear and that's what I was thinking too (ignorance is not always bliss though). Luckily a friend of mine told me about CC and am glad that I started reading the posts on CC. If we had known about CC sooner, it definitely would have helped us better prepared.

I love ParentSparkle folder and Agentnenetynine resume ideas, will work with DD to create one during the thanksgiving week. Thank you for the suggestions.

We are thinking of waiting until she gets the test scores for DD Dec SAT and April ACT before going on college tours starting spring break time. I also hear a few parents say they like to visit after getting the admission and decide based on the visit and scholarships. Is there a better strategy or depends on what the kid prefers?