<p>Congrats Phillyart! Way to go!</p>
<p>LINYMOM - that was a good article - particularly #5 regarding the midrange of scores - I may have to forward that to a few people!</p>
<p>LINYMOM, that was a good article & I did forward it to friends! If you scroll to end, many other interesting articles for the college bound, as well…thanks!</p>
<p>D & I attended our 1st college info session last night hosted by Elon U. Pulled D out of swim practice early to go - wet hair, slightly wet attitude. Was well-attended (over 100 seniors, juniors, parents), several speakers - a student, 2 alumni, a dad (of a present student), asst dean of admissions & a history professor, comprehensive (couldn’t think of any ?'s to ask!), and quick (1 hr). The Elon Counselor from our area wasn’t able to be there 
Once over, had to scurry, as D had massive amt of homework to do, so no time to talk to reps. Glad we did it - getting our feet wet.</p>
<p>Glad you had a good first impression. That’s quite a crew that presented. I never went to one of the road shows in Jersey. I am sure that Kaitlyn the Jersey rep will be at the National college show that is at Raritan Center in April. That is a great show to attend. Of course there are many of us here that can answer questions on Elon and other schools. You are smart to look early and sound well on the way to be organized for your D.</p>
<p>LuvMom - if Kaitlyn is your regional rep from Elon - not a bad idea to have your D email her - just to say hello - that she enjoyed the info session - looking forward to visiting Elon in the spring, etc. Elon is small enough to care about demonstrated interest and having a good relationship with the regional rep really seems to help.</p>
<p>rkvlmom, We are so on the same page…was thinking earlier about having D send Kaitlyn an email! They did emphasize last night that Elon takes into account “demonstrated interest” (attending an Elon info session, campus visit, personal contact, etc.), that they like to hear from “interested students personally” (not parents), and that the regional rep (Kaitlyn) has a definite say in the process. So, great idea!</p>
<p>samtalya, They mentioned that Kaitlyn will be around come Spring, so maybe the Raritan gig is what they were referring to. They showed a nice new video (created & produced solely by students, alumni & faculty) clearly emphasizing student diversity.</p>
<p>As always, thanks for your positive responses.</p>
<p>Elon seems to have gotten REALLY “hot” around here (central Ohio). Several kids from my S’ class applied ED (and apparently ED is easier to get in than regular ) and are attending next year.</p>
<p>It’s hot here (NJ), too, which I don’t mind saying makes me a tad nervous. I was surprised at the amount of people who attended last night’s session - 1 student & parent hailed from Boston!</p>
<p>But, that’s why D has feelers out in OH, PA, MA, NY & SC. Can’t put all her eggs in 1 basket.</p>
<p>^^^ Somewhat previously hidden gems including Elon, Pitt and East Carolina have become hot in our area - Northern Virginia</p>
<p>my d just received a phone call from jmu telling her she was admitted EA! did not expect to receive a personal call from a large public school. that’s a nice gesture!</p>
<p>Wow! Congratulations! Is JMU towards the top of your D’s list?</p>
<p>i think it would be high on the list if not for the 5 hour distance from home…we liked it very much after visiting…right now i don’t think she wants to consider going that far from home…but she definitely seemed psyched with the acceptance!</p>
<p>pamom, JMU has a bus that they charter for breaks that stops in Philly if that’s any help. My oldest son graduated from Roanoke, and I remember being envious of that. He drove back and forth from Roanoke, which is two hours further South. I would love to have had a child within five hours!</p>
<p>Congarts Pamom! My D has some friends at JMU, and they love it. I see how the five hour drive without easy transportation options is an issue. Most of the kids from our area take cars after junior year. We’re about 3 hours away.</p>
<p>My daughter went to college 17 hours away without a car and we never took her back and forth until her senior year when she needed stuff for an apartment and then to move her home. She found friends that drove and chipped in gas, or she flew. Thank goodness for Southwest. My older son drove (see above) and my youngest has been doing the trip via train,bus and car. </p>
<p>I think part of the college experience is figuring out transportation. Probably easier with an organized child, but I wouldn’t just throw out a great school because you think you have to be the one carting the student back and forth. My youngest son kind of likes taking the train with the free wifi and hanging out with the other college students on board.</p>
<p>ACK!!! We noticed some of DD’s friends saying they got calls from JMU. She was bummed UNTIL I checked the caller ID - call from JMU came in at 8:45 pm and we all missed it!!! Good sign I guess?</p>
<p>pamom: Congrats on the acceptance for padaughter! So exciting to get a call! momofa12: Sorry you missed your call!</p>
<p>We are now in crunch time for junior year. Midterms in a couple of weeks, then an SAT II followed by SAT (second sitting) and ACT (second sitting). With DS’ sport starting in early March (right after the SAT), it’s going to be crazy. Fortunately, drivers ed is almost over (next week - yay). Need to fit in a few more college visits too. We’ll be back at University of Miami in February, so that should pump him up for the testing he’s got to do this spring.</p>
<p>I’m trying not to stress him out… but I did come home the other day with more ACT practice books (rvm: he almost finished the red book you recommended pages and pages ago).</p>
<p>In the meantime, DD is having a great time on her study abroad trip to Italy. Today they are in Pisa! She was disappointed to have had classes all day the past two days in Sienna -told me she’d rather be “exploring” (translation = shopping, I know my DD). Anyway, I’m thrilled she has this opportunity and, while she really needs to get some work experience next winter break (2013), I hope I can afford for her to go on another study abroad in January 2014. When else can you do this? Since the study abroad opportunities during winter break were one of the reasons she loved Delaware, I’m glad she was proactive about getting on a trip, even though she didn’t go with any friends. She’s met new people and everything seems great.</p>
<p>Since we are a year away from college acceptances, I love going on this journey with all of you in the Class of 2012. Can’t wait to see what the next couple of months brings…</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>Congrats to all! We visited JMU and it will definitely be on our app list in the Fall.It seemed like a very happy place .</p>
<p>LINY-Our driver ed ends tomorrow (HAPPY DANCE!!!) and we will be visiting Miami in Feb also. And like you, a mix of SAT, ACT, SAT2s and other evidence of just how nutty this process is and how nutty I am to participate in it!</p>
<p>Also trying to wade through the info on study abroad for D1. Does anyone have any insight about the advisability of a Jewish kid studying/living with a host family in a Muslim country?</p>
<p>Pamom: Congratulations! How wonderful it must feel to be wanted. Relief, excitement, joy!
Momofa12: We’re pulling for you! Gotta love modern technology that enables you to see missed calls…it’s just a matter of time.</p>
<p>LINYMOM: In the throes of the same with my D-exams, SAT & ACT, driver’s test next week (& bday), college visit planning - I feel your pain. May I ask, what’s “the Red Book” for ACT prep? </p>
<p>I’m with Kathiep on the transportation thing. Learning to use public transportation in various forms (bus, train, plane) teaches them self-reliance & it comes in handy for their many study abroad ops (from my laptop to G_d’s ears!). </p>
<p>Meanwhile, my youngest (8th grader) just texted me to bring his (forgotten) homework to school…sigh…I did so much better with Child#1 in this responsibility/organization/time management area. Yeah, I know, don’t bring it & teach him a lesson!</p>
<p>congrats pamom and seems like momof12 on the jmu acceptances. a friend has a daughter there this year and she loves it. very spirited school.</p>
<p>sienna!! oh what a place. liny you will just have to go back with D one day!</p>