<p>mamagx3:</p>
<p>We’ll be attending the same “Exploring College Options” presentations on Sunday, here in LA. A parent of a senior I know said they are usually pretty information and yes, the presenters do stick around (some even suggest going a tad early, to see if you can grab them while they are setting up.) Since we had the chance to do the on campus tour of Stanford, it will be interesting to see how the road show rep’s comments match up.</p>
<p>While I’d like to drop UChicago, my parents have worked out a system where of my 8 privates, they get to pick 2, I get to pick 2, and we compromise on the other 4. I’m moderately certain that the two they’re going to pick will be UChicago and Yale, and I really like at least one of my public choices (W&M), so I won’t be too upset if they push me to apply to Chicago.</p>
<p>Aesthetically, it’s a tough decision to make. They were both small (I think Mac’s was smaller, but because it’s integrated with St. Paul that makes the campus seem bigger), Carleton’s felt more self-sufficient, if you know what I mean, whereas Mac’s dorms and a couple of other buildings were actually across the street (read: cars, traffic) from the campus center, quad, and academic buildings. They both seemed clean and nice. I admit I appreciated the skyways Macalester had between several of the dorms, which seem like they’d really come in handy in the winters. Also, I much preferred the dining hall/campus center at Macalester, which seemed more naturally-lit and more friendly and open, whereas Carleton’s was more insular and a bit darker, with fewer windows.</p>
<p>And I’m glad to be of help!</p>
<p>FindAPlace: </p>
<p>That’s good to know. We will have to compare notes after attending the sessions. I originally told my D that the West Coast was out because of the distance, but we’ll see what Stanford has to say. If she becomes really interested in Stanford, we may figure out a way to visit. She really doesn’t want to stay in state, even with Duke, UNC and NC State just around the corner.</p>
<p>About Chicago…if you thought you would not like it, I can definitely recommend dropping it from your list. It will be a tough 4 years there if you don’t absolutely love “full contact academics”</p>
<p>D got a “Colleges that Change Lives” flyer in the mail today. She is willing to check out a few on the list and go to the local presentation.</p>
<p>Queen’s Mom:</p>
<p>What schools are included in the “Colleges that Change lives” presentation? I wonder if they will be in NC at any time. Let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>teenagecliche, your report above just goes to reinforce what many of us have found - that seeing a college on paper or on the web and seeing it in person are two completely different things. With my older S, schools he expected to love fell off his list after a visit, and a school he had little interest in ended up being his top choice (he’s a soph there now and loves it).</p>
<p>We’re heading out in the morning to take our D to see 5 schools in 4 days, and D is not thrilled about it. Her BF’s plan is to apply to 6 schools that offer his major (Physical Therapy PhD in 6 years), see who accepts him, then go to visit them and decide. D would sort of like to do the something similar - apply to a ton of schools, see where she gets in, then go visit. I’m not against applying to one or two schools that we don’t visit first, but I’m a big believer in actually setting foot on campus before putting in the time & money to apply there. Perhaps this trip will open her eyes…</p>
<p>D and I attended the Exploring College Options last year when she was a Sophomore (she was already interested in colleges at that time) The overviews were good and you could contrast the different schools in some fashion. She picked up info from many of the schools and got on their mailing lists. Did not ask any questions at the end.</p>
<p>We’ve attended three of these multi-college fairs. The ones with 4-5 colleges are not bad, we thought “8 of the best” was a bit long. But we had to travel longer to that one and D wasn’t feeling well either. The first two, this one and another with a similar name with similar selective colleges were fairly close and not in as large a metro area, and therefore less crowded.</p>
<p>I’d recommend them if looking to get a first overview of a school</p>
<p>mamagx3 - my D got the Colleges That Change Lives postcard today too. The tour in May includes stops in DC, NYC, Boston, Rochester, and Cleveland. You can try their website, CTCL. org and click on CTCL Events to see if they’ll be in your area. D’s also received the invitation to “Exploring College Options,” and I’d like her to attend, but I’m not sure she’ll be able to make it with so much going on during the next month or so.</p>
<p>Welcome, Journey, and thanks for your visit reports.</p>
<p>teenage_cliche - thanks for sharing your thoughts about your visits as well. I would try to explain to your parents that you don’t think U of Chicago is a good fit for you. I know I wouldn’t want my D to go to a school where she didn’t feel comfortable. Maybe they can come up with another option - one which will make you happier?</p>
<p>NY has the state Regents in most academic subjects - many are required to graduate, but I’m not sure of the specifics (English, Global History, American History, Math (not sure up to what level), and Sciences (also not sure which ones are required).</p>
<p>we interrupt this program to relay the prediction from my daughter that she is going to fail the APUSH exam :eek:</p>
<p>jackief - oh, I hope your D is exaggerating! Good luck! My D is taking it too, but so far hasn’t made any predictions. It’s actually her strongest class this year, so I wish my D could help yours out a little.</p>
<p>My D has often informed me that she was about to fail whatever test she happened to be taking next. So far, I think she’s batting 0.</p>
<p>I think some kids say fail when they are teetering between a C and a B. That seems to be my D’s definition.</p>
<p>Nerd day for D’s spirit week. What does it mean that we had NO trouble finding fashion pieces to make a great ensemble?</p>
<p>I was talking to my friend today about APUSH. I’m still surprised by how popular an AP it is among CCers. Apparently it has a reputation for being relatively easy? The (course) reputation at my school is exactly the opposite. Of <250 juniors, ~15 are in APUSH and even the original class (before half dropped) only filled one section. APUSH and AP Bio compete for the distinction of “highest level of ridiculous work/tests.” The Bio kids had 17 essays to write over spring break and almost everyone ends up using the “memorize letter-choice sequences” approach to studying (since the teacher takes many tests straight out of a study guide). It seems like overkill.</p>
<p>Hi, all. Dh is spending another night in the hospital. Long story, but all is well. Thanks for your good thoughts.</p>
<p>Welcome, new posters!</p>
<p>Ds and I went to the CTCL roadshow last year and really enjoyed it. I think it’s a particularly good intro to colleges for a kid who’s just getting interested (or isn’t at all interested) in the process. I liked the way the organizers (nicely) told parents to back off and let the kids ask the questions. They dismissed the kids into the ballroom and told all the parents to stay put for a while, which we gladly did. I knew lots of people there and had a great time.</p>
<p>YDS - glad to hear your DH is doing well, even if he needed another night in the hospital. Hope he’ll come home to you soon.</p>
<p>Keil - I don’t thing APUSH has the rep for being an “easy” AP at D’s school, but it’s considered easier than AP Euro (makes sense - shorter span of history, one country compared to many). Both classes require a ton of work though. I think it’s a common AP to take just because most states require American History to graduate, so many kids will take APUSH since they have to take US History anyway.</p>
<p>In D’s case she is doing ok in the class but doesn’t have confidence in the teacher and the fact that she has “forgotten” all the stuff learned earlier in the year. I think she will do fine, maybe not a 5, but ok. She has a lot of work coming to a head now and she is stressed. Physics project due tuesday, comp essay this week, etc. I offered to cancel our road trip this weekend and she said no. She can bring spark notes cheat sheet things she bought a while ago in the car. I need to look up the ranges for scores for APUSH, I know they are quite lenient for some APs.</p>
<p>For distribution between AP and reg in our school, they had been running just one section (~15 kids) of AP until last year, when they expanded it to more who wanted to take it. Now they have 2 sections which is about ah 50/50 split.</p>
<p>Previous passing rate (3 or higher, I wish they would report 4 or higher since that’s what it takes for credit at most schools our kids attend, I know big publics sometimes give credit for 3) was 95% last year and 89% the year before. But that was as different teacher but new one is using many of the old materials.</p>
<p>YDS - Still have you and your H in my thoughts</p>
<p>Good morning, everyone. I feel totally out of it and can barely keep up with the posts. </p>
<p>YDS, hope your DH continues to improve and comes home soon. </p>
<p>Son’s got Stats on May 5 and World on May 14. I offered to get him study guides but he told me not to bother. I couldn’t tell if he meant he’s sufficiently prepared or if the classes are so far behind nothing will help. I could have probed, but he wasn’t in the right mindset for my “college nagging.” Regardless, I think I’ll get the guides.</p>
<p>A 3 is perfectly respectable and is considered passing so I guess that’s why they report it that way. (D got a 3 on Gov. and I was extremely pleased. She was not doing well in that class during the year at all). I am hoping for at least a 4 on World this year since she is pulling a high A.</p>
<p>Hi, I am happy to have found this thread, as I have been feeling pretty alone in the college hunt, having the most laid back child in the world, who happens to take after her very chill father. As the family worrier and planner, I am trying to figure out this whole college thing, especially in terms of trying to engage my daughter, while ditching the growing resentment I am feeling towards hubby for his “whatever” responses. </p>
<p>Thanks for being here.</p>
<p>Welcome, psychmom!</p>
<p>My S has 4 APs coming up, starting May 6 (2 each week so that’s not so bad.) The teachers seem to prepare them very well so he’s not worried and neither am I. In fact, the Calc. teacher made them pony up $15 for the study/practice guide, which seems sort of superfluous to us both.</p>
<p>Can’t get my son interested in SAT IIs, however. Maybe he’ll only apply to schools that don’t require them…</p>