High School Class of 2011/College Class of 2015 - Page 3

septembermom · 05-03-2008, 04:21 PM

cgarrett,
I also don't think we will be visting as many with daughter as I think she will stay in New England region, but who knows. Son was more interested in attending a school in the Mid-Atlantic, so we visited as many as possible and then he narrrowed the field after our visits.
As many others have said, I want her to enjoy her couple years without starting to stress over college already. We learned some lessons with son, but things have a way of working out for the best. The thing we learned after the experience was to expect the unexpected and don't think for one minute, you have any control over the college admission process. It is quite a ride, so make it as stressfree as possible.

owlice · 06-20-2008, 08:04 PM

Time for updates! Okay, all you parents of now-rising sophomores, freshman year is now over! Kids all happy? Courses next year planned? And your kids' summer plans are.... what? Tell! Tell!

madbean · 06-20-2008, 08:29 PM

Oh owlice! You caught me secretly thinking about what to do for S2 just as we are feeling so relieved to have S1 all set for college. Can you read minds?

I will report in that S2 is very happy school is out for summer, fairly sick of S1's monopoly on family attention as S1's senior year meant so much college talk around the house and it hasn't eased up as we plan for S1 leaving home, signing up for classes, etc, and as both boys have new(ish) girlfriends, that's getting most of the attention in their lives. All is good.

I will mention that we were not very focused for S1, and didn't do any test prep for the PSATs--and now I wonder if there is reason to get my 10th grader to begin looking at books. Is anyone doing this or am I just a little too cautious this second time around?

Any advice here?

rodney · 06-20-2008, 08:34 PM

just when I thought I'd have a 12 month breather, you start this thread.....D2 while much more motivated to discuss her future than D1 was, is not at the competitive college level at this point (nor do we think she will be)...we will need alot of CC help when we begin our search....

madbean · 06-20-2008, 09:19 PM

Hi rodney! So we're gonna go through this whole trip together again. Since our first kids were caught in this hellish peak year with the most kids ever, do you suppose we'll get some relief for our seconds? Can someone give us some hope? lol

mamom · 06-20-2008, 10:14 PM

Calreader,
Montessori school? Both my kids attended/are attending a montessori through 5th grade. I think the school has learned that the kids need to be used to doing homework and grade when they transition and child #2 has many more tests and homework.

Joan

mamom · 06-20-2008, 10:26 PM

My S is a rising sophmore. Went to very expensive coed middle school and now attends a very large boys Jesuit school. Smart kid, does well, but could do better. Loves History, but does really well in math and science. Language is his worse subject. Always figured him for a history major going to law school. He is now refining that and talking about becoming an elected rep.

Plays sports, big kid, 6'2". Will attend many sports camps this summer and spend 3 weeks (between sports camps) being a CIT. Is a boy scout on his way to Eagle.

mamabear1234 · 06-20-2008, 11:27 PM

My S is happy freshman year is over, now he can sleep until noon. Grades weren't too bad, had one blown final resulting in a lower grade than expected. Job applications (at my insistence) did not yield a job; a lot of places don't want to hire 15 year olds, but he has 3 weeks of activities scattered through the summer. Hoping he will be thinking about Eagle projects also, trying to learn the German he should have learned in class, and reading the required books for next year.

septembermom · 06-21-2008, 08:33 AM

My daughter also hoped for a job, but as mamabear said-few places will hire 15 year olds when there are plenty of 16 year olds looking. We have noticed decrease in jobs for younger crowd. Many college age kids are taking them and glad to have them.
Freshman year went well for daughter. She will attend a few sports camps and has summer reading book that I'd better pick up ASAP. Last year, she wanted until 2 weeks before school to start it.

2blue · 06-21-2008, 09:39 AM

I just placed a hold at the library for my son's summer reading book. He is enjoying spending lots of time with his friends. There is a big group of them so something always seems to be going on. Later on this summer he will be doing some volunteer work, but right now he's just having lots of fun being a kid.

owlice · 06-21-2008, 11:50 AM

madbean:

Quote:

Can you read minds?

I knew you'd ask that!

mamabear,

Ah, yes, the sleeping-till-noon thing! My S is doing that, too.

No job apps here, as S is 14 and can't get a work permit until 15. (Guess what he's getting for his 15th birthday? heh heh heh!!) He's going off to camp for six weeks next Sunday, three weeks one place, three weeks another. We'll pick him up on a Friday from his first camp, come home, do all laundry necessary (probably in a laundromat to make that go faster), pack him up, and ship out on Saturday to deliver him bright and early to the second camp the following day, which is about a 6.5 drive from home.

In the two weeks he's been out of school already, he's perfected: 1.) the sleeping-till-noon thing; 2.) the studiously ignoring his need to gather student service hours thing; 3.) the forgetting about the summer reading list thing; 4.) the disregarding applying for one scholarship thing, and; 5.) the avoiding cleaning his room thing.

And it's not for nothing that one of the tee-shirts he wanted for camp has printed on it "Keep Out of Direct Sunlight."

He's already quite skilled at the staying on the computer for many hours at a time thing, yet seeks to refine his already stellar technique at this activity.

But I dragged him to the pool yesterday anyway!

madbean · 06-21-2008, 09:57 PM

Well very similar story here with my s. Sleeping 'til noon-check. Big plans with friends every single day-check. Avoiding cleaning room, community service--check, check.

But, he does have a paying job all lined up to work at his high school's bookstore sorting the new books for each student for the coming year, which starts mid-July. Lots of kids apply and I'm grateful he sounded enthusiastic enough about lugging book boxes that they hired him.

Also, in August we will begin driving (!!) as he gets his learner's permit. I recall all the joy that activity brought the family when it was S1's turn behind the wheel (deep sarcasm noted) and cannot wait to see what fresh hell is awaiting.

Owlice, I think we need some refreshments to get us through the next three years!!

owlice · 06-21-2008, 10:34 PM

madbean, always happy to cater, I am! Right now, I've got espresso chocolate chunk brownies and ice cream to offer up; interested?

Teaching a kid to drive (OMG, I have NOT thought at ALL about THAT!!!!!!!) might just make my hair go white! So far, however, S has shown no interest whatsoever in driving. Yay! for that!

I had my first car accident at 4 or 5; started early, I did. Stepped on the clutch, put the car in gear, and, scared that the car and I would roll all the way to the creek at the end of the street and then into it, turned the steering wheel so the car smacked into a neighbor's car instead.

I do not envy you your August!

Good for your S for having a summer job lined up! Maybe he'll be too busy with that to want to learn to drive?

Nah, probably not.

:: checks the bourbon supply ::

bcnmom · 07-03-2008, 05:59 AM

Joining in as another mother of a rising sophomore. Still can't believe I have a high-schooler (he's my oldest)! We are in Barcelona, and he goes to a very small international school, only 25 in his whole class. Which presents its challenges and advantages. I'm definitely going to be scouring this site for college tips, since very few kids from his school even attend university in the States, and the college guidances counselors, being on the international circuit, come and go every couple of years. The one we have now is decent, but who knows how long she'll be here?

Definitely identify with the sleeping till noon and attached to the computer when awake! DS is volunteering at the school's camp for two weeks, then off to Dublin to study international relations (his only passion) at CTY Ireland for 3 weeks, then to Hungary for 10 days to fence. I'm thinking maybe his computer could be "misplaced" while he's gone? ha ha

I can provide some chocolate chip cookies, which I'm baking now using imported brown sugar and chips brought by my mom when she came to visit last month!

owlice · 07-03-2008, 07:40 AM

Mmmmm, chocolate chip cookies! For breakfast, even, given the time difference. Life is good! Thanks, bcnmom!

Yay! for CTY Ireland! I have tried to get my S interested in going to Ireland for CTY, but for him, that means no double-sessioning (yeah, I'm making up verbs.

), so he's not interested, alas!

I'd say volunteering for two weeks, CTY for three weeks, and Hungary for 10 days is a pretty good expenditure of time on non-computer things, and wow, great travel opportunities, too!

:: envies travel opportunities ::

S self-studied (after a fashion) for the AP Psych test. I thought about waiting for his score to come in the mail, but .... nah, didn't happen; I called on Monday. HE can wait for the score to come in the mail -- he doesn't seem to care one whit about it! I'm hoping that mail gets here before his first CTY session is over, so it is here the one night he'll spend here between sessions. And you can bet I'm baking a cake to celebrate!