<p>Thanks for the recent posts with good news with ACT scores. My son got 580-580 on his last SAT and my husband wants him to take them again - we all agree that just going over 600 would be reason enough to take it again but we’re hoping that he won’t have to if he gets a good score on the ACT. He’s going to go for a June test after AP’s and some finals are done. </p>
<p>EmmyBet - I think your daughter did GREAT! I’ll be tickled if son does as well.</p>
<p>This weekend we’re going south for my oldest son’s College graduation - woo hoo!</p>
<p>Congratulations on the graduation! About six months ago it hit me that we’ll have HS and college ceremonies both next spring, 1000 miles apart … but luckily D1’s college has scheduled it already and it’s not the awful timing that I’d feared. D2 might even be able to go. Don’t want to think about it until it’s closer, though. It will be crazy!</p>
<p>This is a wonderful place to remember everything that is valuable. My D is still very happy and knows very well that many kids would take her score in a moment. She also has another friend with a 4.0 who gets very nervous about tests and is afraid to check her score (my D might actually have done better than she did and feels sad if that’s so). Everyone’s human, even if sometimes their numbers make them seem superhuman.</p>
<p>Good luck to your S, kathie. I’m very curious if he ends up an “ACT” kind of guy.</p>
<p>Emmybet: I can definitely commiserate; my daughter goes to a school where they really don’t compare grades; when she went to school yesterday, she did speak with a couple of students who did quite better than her (but they are top kids)…more surprisingly, she knows a number of kids who didn’t prepare at all who did not do nearly as well…</p>
<p>But, when one thing good happens, there is always something to knock it out; my daughter is not going to her prom; the only friend that she thought she would attend with asked someone else…yesterday…she is really bummed out…and the girls she is friends with don’t want to go without “dates”…prama (prom drama)…</p>
<p>Rodney, I don’t know if my son is going to the prom either…he’s shy and very much into sports so hasn’t spent a lot of time on getting a date. His senior year has been somewhat of a let-down what with only getting into his 2 safety schools and holding out hope for the waitlists.</p>
<p>BTW, he gave us a very half-hearted go-ahead to send in a deposit to UVM today. He’s going but he’s not excited. His GPA was a 3.2 end of Junior year but will end up at 3.5…he was a late bloomer who didn’t do well his first 2 years then managed close to a 4.0 the last 2 years. </p>
<p>I’m really happy for everyone whose kids are happy about their choices. Great news everyone.</p>
<p>momtravels - have you read the “Win-Lose” situation thread (I think that’s what it’s called). All about a girl who also will go to UVM but isn’t thrilled. Lots of wonderful support from people who know the school.</p>
<p>We all say “Love thy safety” but we know it isn’t that easy in real life. Best wishes to your son!</p>
<p>Mom, did he join the UVM class of 2014 Facebook page? those pages are filled with dozens of kids posting how excited they are about their destinations and how great they will be (and many of them are very pretty). It seems every boy who posts where they are from and what sports they like gets a batch of responses from kids asking about mutual acquaintances or stating similar interests and looking for a rommate.</p>
<p>Of course, I have not been able to get my own son to join the page and he is too shy to get a prom date, too, so I post here in search of someone who might consider my advice.</p>
<p>momtravels - My older S is a freshman at UVM and couldn’t be happier! He has loved his first year! I hope your S has a similar experience. It really is a great place to go to school.</p>
<p>I guess it’s the “No Win” situation thread - although many parents are suggesting a change to “Win Win.” </p>
<p>Every kid has to go to school understanding that they may find they want to transfer. I don’t usually make blanket statements, but that is true. It was the first piece of college advice my family ever got (and from an admissions director at a very prominent university), and I’ve seen it come true time and again. They might not choose to transfer - many, many kids can figure out how to make something work, and many kids find they love the school as time goes on. But if they go to school knowing the idea is they’re trying something out, that they’re not locked in - even at a school they are certain they will LOVE - their state of mind will be healthier, freer. </p>
<p>I do hope people let us know how these kids we’ve grown to care so much about are doing in a few months!</p>
<p>Agree with Emmy Bet that it is important to let a kid who is struggling with their decision know that you support them if they decide they would like to transfer. I remember the look of relief and he visible dropping of the shoulders when I told my daughters that last year.</p>
<p>A pleasant surprise from last year was that several of my daughters’ schools sent letters saying something to the effect of “We know you chose somewhere else but want you to know we will leave the light on for you if you decide you want us next year: admissions and FA packages will remain intact.” Just having that out made my daughters both feel relaxed about their decisions.</p>
<p>Speaking of transfers and FA packages, does anybody know what’s the typical story on this? Say a kid decided to transfer to a school where he had not been admitted as a freshman, and got in, would the need-based FA picture normally be the same as for an entering freshman, or worse? (I think it’s safe to assume it wouldn’t be better!)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Excited about Clark. “Clarkie”, well, that will have to grow on me!</p>
<p>Merlin, when I called about an overnight experience, they told us that Clark does not offer them, so your son was lucky to have done that!<br>
There is a facebook page (of course) for new Clarkies. I had my son sign up and many kids are connecting already. My son hasn’t interacted with anyone yet, but after reading the many, many posts from friendly kids I’m going to encourage him to try to meet some kids now.
If anyone’s interested:
[Official</a> Clark University Class of 2014 Group | Facebook](<a href=“http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=361313405064]Official”>Facebook Public Group | Facebook)</p>
<p>yabeyabe, I can’t help you. My son rejected your advice, too. (“Too weird.”) So I’m left perusing the facebook pages, wishing I was going to back to college.</p>
<p>I think teenagers have always been like this. Many are very nice about BEING contacted or asked, but actually reaching out is hard. I was a very in-your-face kid, but I recall my mother dialing the phone at times and shoving it into my hands where I was forced to talk to someone. Sometimes it was very helpful (sometimes). </p>
<p>I do know of kids who have made incredibly quick switches from one school to another, from 1st semester into 2nd. The school they transferred to was one they were accepted to the first time, and I think it’s darn nice of those schools to be so welcoming (sure, it’s in their interest, but it’s a hassle for them, too). I don’t know about financial aid, though.</p>
<p>My son joined the Goucher class of '14 page but has only posted once to it as far as I can tell, just a “like” or a comment or something. I’m biting my tongue so hard it’s going to bleed, because if I tell him to participate more that will only remind him that I’m hanging around there, and guarantee that he avoids the place. But it’s driving me nuts because here on the one hand he has told me that he’s worried about going through the whole process of making friends all over again, and on the other he’s passing up a golden opportunity to get the process started. Sometimes he reminds me of what Bobby Kennedy said about Daniel Patrick Moynihan: “He knows all the problems, and he’s against all the solutions.”</p>
<p>We came home from my sons baseball game and there was a message waiting on the answering machine…from Providence College. They offered him admission off the waitlist and he is thrilled. He can’t get the smile off his face…sigh, H is not so thrilled (much more money), but I would flip burgers to make up the difference.</p>
<p>I can’t tell you how priceless it is to see him so happy!</p>
