<p>WhirledPeas - my oldest son is a senior at UF and have absolutely LOVED it there!! We are heading to Gainesville May 1st for his graduation (WOW, how fast that happened!). Hope your daughter likes it, it is a huge school, but if you find a niche, it can be a much smaller seeming place.</p>
<p>My youngest son and I are visiting A&M tomorrow, meeting with a counselor in the engineering school, then taking a tour. I hope he likes it! I’ll let y’all know how it goes.</p>
<p>I think the administrator who wanted to meet with us was projecting issues with her daughter onto our situation. Anyway, she is encountering other teachers who are more open to hear her point of view, so I think she is learning something from the process in general and even if she doesn’t succeed in getting what she wants, the process will be good.</p>
<p>Our typical student takes 5 or 6 courses in a 7 period schedule. They might not all be “core” classes as there are several enticing arts classes available also. The seventh class she attempted to take last year and succeeded in taking this year was chorus, not a hard core class. But since they gave this mouse a cookie, now she is going for the glass of milk…</p>
<p>Jackief - your D might very well be successful, and if it’s something she really wants, I hope she is. But you’re right, even if she isn’t. she’s learning something in trying. </p>
<p>Now, I have a question for you all - have any of you ever made spaghetti squash? I bought one for the first time yesterday, and it has cooking instructions on it, and it sounds easy enough - but I was just wondering how to serve it? It says you can add your favorite sauce or chill it for a salad - but I’m just not sure what to do with it…lol.</p>
<p>Mmmmmmmmmm…spaghetti squash. Roast as directed, shred, then toss with melted butter and sauteed garlic, salt & pepper. Sometimes add grated parmesan.</p>
<p>It’s good with spaghetti sauce. It’s good as a layer in casserole. It’s good plain.</p>
<p>I use spaghetti squash as an alternative to pasta - one favorite is: </p>
<p>saute 2 pressed cloves garlic and 2 finely chopped shallots in 2 T olive oil.</p>
<p>When shallots get limp - about 3 minutes, add in 1 cup white wine. </p>
<p>Simmer and reduce 50%. </p>
<p>Then add juice of 4 lemons and simmer for 3-4 minutes. </p>
<p>Toss with 1/2 cup finely chopped basil and 3 cups spaghetti squash strands (usually about 1/2 of a squash).</p>
<p>scualum:</p>
<p>That sounds delish!</p>
<p>My S handles all the routine transactions with his GC. When it’s non-routine, I step in. For example, the Asst Principal and the chair of the Math Dept have to approve the online class he’ll be taking next year in multivariable calculus. So I gathered all the relevant materials and sent a PDF to the GC, who will run the information past those two folks … and remind them, in case they have forgotten (my S knows the Asst Principal vaguely and the chair not at all) who my S is and what drives him to take the class.</p>
<p>scualum - thanks for that recipe. I agree with FindAPlace - that sounds delish! Kids probably won’t care for it as they don’t like when I cook with wine, but I’ll definitely try that another night. For now, I’m going to modify archiemom’s suggestion and use olive oil and garlic - that sounds just right. </p>
<p>Archiemom and mathmom - thanks for your suggestions as well. I really wasn’t quite sure what to do with it once I cooked it…lol. That’s tomorrow night’s dinner.</p>
<p>I actually ended up making a real pasta variation on this tonight - used linguini but everything else stayed the same. I then grilled some chicken and sliced it into narrow strips and tossed it with the pasta… </p>
<p>Thanks for triggering the thought :)</p>
<p>Assuming that this thread is for real:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/684440-mount-holyoke-white-student-orientation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/684440-mount-holyoke-white-student-orientation.html</a></p>
<p>I can cross one school off my DD list - or rather if she wants to go there she had better get a full ride. Very few schools are on my “banned” list - but this one is headed onto the list…</p>
<p>scualum - yikes about that student organization! That was completely unexpected. </p>
<p>Your dinner last night sounded yummy - so glad I was able to help. ;)</p>
<p>…What’s wrong with an opt-in “white student orientation”? People who want to learn about white privilege and institutional racism in the specific context of college should be given the option to do so.</p>
<p>S’s HS has done amazingly well this year given the general bloodbath. Although this is a high achieving school that does fairly well, this year was exceptional- 5 to Princeton, 3 to Harvard etc. It’s the economy, I’m sure- this is also a fairly wealthy school district. It gives my son hope about other schools he is interested in (not H or P). However, finances do matter, and he is somewhat averse to thinking about the local Ivy where I would get a large tuition break.</p>
<p>I don’t know the final numbers from our school, but there were more denials than acceptances on the big last day. Of course we all know that would be expected. I know of a handful of Ivy acceptances, plus we have quite a few to top LACs which is more where our kids seem to gravitate. Of course D took the denials as a slap in the face to the high school, of course clouded by her own frustrations there, to which I gave her (another) lesson on the incredible competitiveness at the top schools.</p>
<p>Mt. Holyoke was a sure thing for daughter, but it has now come off the list. Her TOK class this semester is all about white privilege and she’s had enough. Let me tell you, the daughter of an illiterate garbage man isn’t privileged. </p>
<p>Anyway, she’s taking the ACT tomorrow and I’m having a brain spasm. Can anyone tell me how long the test with writing and if she can take a snack? I’ve been looking on the site, but it’s so much less friendly that the College Board site that I can’t find the information</p>
<p>
In the context of a history lesson it’s completely appropriate and enormously important. In the context of an orientation, it singles out one group of students in a negative way and ties them to historic wrongs at a time when they should be included and welcomed just as much as any other student. It tells the white students that they have something to make up for and it separates the new class into opposing groups. Not a good thing.</p>
<p>To explain the sensational & misleading headline about Holyoke:
</p>
<p>I see nothing wrong with that. Compare it to PFLAG for parents & friends who want to better understand the trials of that particular community. </p>
<p>Not to derail this thread…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>zm, on S’s ticket it says: “Dismissal is about 12:15 for ACT (no Writing) or 1:00 pm for ACT plus Writing”.</p>
<p>zoosermom–I think my son was done with the ACT by 12:30 (after starting at 8.) I remember I was surprised when he called to be picked up.</p>
<p>And yes to the snack.</p>
<p>Thanks for the ACT tips!</p>
<p>Momnmusic, my objection to the Mt Holyoke pre-orientation is the timing, not the content. It’s a perfectly laudable program, but not until the students have gotten acquainted and gotten their feet under them. “Social justice” teachings can be quite hostile.</p>