<p>When you say 1500-1900, does that mean that early 1900’s is off limits? There is a great book, Memoirs of a Geisha that takes place in late 1920’s…</p>
<p>If that does not work, try Edward Fenton’s Anne of a Thousand Days about Anne Boleyn - it’s a good one - based on the play and a quick read.</p>
<p>Not to change the subject, but I went on a tour of UConn yesterday and was really impressed. It was a beautiful campus and looks like it has a lot to offer academically. However, I did not have time to check out the Hillel, so I was wondering if any of you have any input on the Jewish population at UConn?</p>
<p>UCONN Hillel is very active. Lots of fun gatherings, Shabbat services and dinner every Friday night, and although there are not Saturday morning services, there is usually a brunch/lunch offered. Also want to add that there are reform, conservative, and possibly orthodox but I am not sure about the last one. Although we are conservative and our synagogue at home is also conservative, my daughter finds herself going to the reform service because she is more familiar with their prayer and song tunes. She has a daughter has a tight group of friends that all go to events together. Since it is always open, kids tend to hang out there to study or just relax, at almost any time of day or night. There is also a UCONN Chabad that is a short walk away that some students choose to visit, especially those that like the closeness and a homecooked meal. It is not my daughters thing but she does have a couple of friends that are more religious that do prefer to go to Chabad over Hillel.</p>
<p>Hello everyone! I haven’t posted in months, feeling a bit overwhelmed by test prep, application process (June '14 grad date for Cheergirl), and government implosion.</p>
<p>Congrats to everyone on successful fall launches! After an 8-month battle I finally got Cheergirl a documented Section 504 plan at school and extended time on September ACT! An amazing and unexpected victory! For anyone in similar circumstances, don’t give up! All my hard work was so well worth it!</p>
<p>Working hard to get all apps in by November 1–OY VEY! :)</p>
<p>Congrats Cheermom!! I know how much work that is!</p>
<p>Thanks Shulamit! How’s your son liking Goucher?</p>
<p>He is liking Goucher, thanks. We just went to family weekend. He’s making friends and they have a lot of social activities and clubs good for quiet/shy types. Classes are going well, I think, lots of homework.</p>
<p>Cheermom, that’s great news. I know that will make it less stressful for her.</p>
<p>Shulamit–SO glad for you that Goucher’s a good fit for your son!</p>
<p>Pennylane–Thanks for the good wishes! I can’t even express how much the stress level went down for Cheergirl–and for ME too (AKA the ACT police lol!). Her composite score went up SIX POINTS. And best of all is the fact that I showed my daughter how important it is not to give up when you believe in something.</p>
<p>I have a question about college essays. Cheergirl finished her CA essay awhile ago (650 words). Now working on 2 essays for UMD-College Park, 300 words each. One of the options is to write your own question and answer it. If she edits her CA essay down to 300 words and re-phrases the question, is that bad? Will the admissions person know that’s what she did and view that as lazy? Are we over-thinking this? Thanks!</p>
<p>Won’t UMD see the CA question essay? If so, that probably wouldn’t work. If not, why not recycle.</p>
<p>UMCP hasn’t joined the Common App. It is an incredible nuisance for in-staters in Maryland, and I suspect they get a lot of recycled material. You may want to rephrase the question slightly to make it look less like a pure repurposing exercise, but I’d guess tons of UMCP applicants will be doing exactly this.</p>
<p>SomeOldGuy–Exactly! “…tons of UMCP applicants will be doing exactly this.” SO appealing, and of course she’d re-phrase the question, but just wondering if she should take a stab at another one of the UMD-specific questions to stand out from the crowd. On the other hand, her first UMD essay is somewhat dry and cerebral, while her CA essay would strike a nice balance as it is somewhat fun and whimsical…dilemma!</p>
<p>Cheermom: Congrats on the ACT victory. I think a lot of students do use a version of their common app essay UMD, so it’s probably fine to change the question a bit and rework it. On the other hand, it might take just as long to write a new essay. I think those Maryland questions are pretty uninspiring. Some kids write an essay about why they want to attend Maryland and focus on specific programs or opportunities.</p>
<p>Shulamit: Glad to hear that things are going well for your son.</p>
<p>Wondering who’s gonna make the most money in a few years? The “Geekiest Colleges” according the “HerCampus” 2013 Rankings…and geeky is DEFINITELY NOT an insult! 
[These</a> Are The Geekiest Colleges According To HerCampus’ 2013 Ranking](<a href=“These Are The Geekiest Colleges According To HerCampus' 2013 Ranking | HuffPost College”>These Are The Geekiest Colleges According To HerCampus' 2013 Ranking | HuffPost College)</p>
<p>I think most admissions representatives have seen all the other applications, and you can assume a lot of students will be trying to adapt their CA essays to them. I think a reader can recognize when a 600+ word essay has been edited to 300 words. It might feel like cake without the frosting. </p>
<p>Perhaps something in the longer essay can be addressed under a new question or the UMD ones. I think that whatever she writes, they would want a well developed essay.</p>
<p>Pennylane - You hit the nail on the head! “Cake without the frosting…” She’s really struggling and only has it down to 420 words. But already bare bones and losing its descriptiveness. UGH. Back to the drawing board I think… :(</p>
<p>@Cheermom - Hi. That’s awesome about the ACT score difference. </p>
<p>For the UMD app, have your daughter try responding the short answer questions first. Then, she should go back to the essay. Tell her to think about what she wants the school to know about her that the short questions didn’t address. </p>
<p>I don’t know what the short questions are this year, but there was one that said “I am unstoppable when…” and one of the more memorable answers that I heard was “I am at a buffet.” So, if one of the short answers can provide that kind of “frosting” (like sense of humor) maybe that will help identify where she can cut out those extra 100+ words on the essay she has.</p>
<p>Great news on the extended time cheer mom! We are heading to Connecticut College for an open house on Monday and I’m really hoping my son loves it! A rep came to his high school he loved what she had to say and then she was conducting interviews the rest of the week so he signed up for one and they really clicked. This is the child who wants Colorado College and I really think I might end up in a straight jacket if he is in Colorado. Both schools are nicknamed CC so it’s very confusing when we talk about it. Connecticut College has everything he seems to want and although it’s not a safety it is a match academically. He also likes Union College in NY but I think Connecticut has some things that make it better for him like the Long Island sound and a sailing team, a beach, not quite as cold and not as sketchy of a town! We r going to spend part of Sunday there ( just the 2 of us) and hopefully he will enjoy the area a bit ( I know there is not much in New London but the beach and Mystic are close by. My plan Monday is to say nothing ( which is really hard for me) if I say I love it then it will all be over, if I don’t talk hopefully he will love it!</p>
<p>Maryversity,
The funny answer I heard to “I’m unstoppable when” was “I eat chocolate.”
And she Informed her mom that she’d consider suggestions for other answers, but she was NOT changing that one.</p>
<p>Maryversity–Interesting strategy, I’ll urge her to try again tomorrow. We’re on overload right now.</p>
<p>Momentscaught–Good luck at Connecticut College! Fingers crossed he’ll feel “at home” there! It’s hard to say nothing-I agree. Sometimes even when I manage to keep my mouth shut Cheergirl still knows how I feel by my body language haha!</p>
<p>We’re scheduled to tour Penn State tomorrow. The weather is iffy (Nor’Easter?) and its about a 3 1/2 hour drive, so I hope we’re successful! If so, I’ll report back with my impressions! Nighty night everyone! :)</p>