<p>We visited three schools in CA in April two years ago. Caltech and Stanford weren’t issues at all, though you have to sign up for tours at Stanford and we were on the waiting list for a while because I didn’t sign up enough in advance. It was fine once we were there and in fact it turned out they didn’t count noses on the tour. At Caltech there were a mix of sophomores and juniors, at Stanford I think it was all juniors. At Berkeley there were a lot of accepted seniors. They ran a half dozen or so campus tours all at once there were so many of us, and they put the accepted students in separate tours from the prospective students. The tours ended in an information session that was more aimed at accepted students I thought, but everyone was certainly welcome.</p>
<p>FindAPlace - hopefully Stanford doesn’t really have 17 essays! Maybe most of them are short answers. If there really are 17 full-blown essays, then I’d say your SIL earned herself that pony…lol. Good luck!</p>
<p>Good morning all,
I attended the first junior class college meeting at my sons’ independent high school last evening. The class is divided into 3 sections and each college counselor is assigned to 1/3 of the class. The college counselor was present at the meeting, along with the Dean of Admissions of an Ivy League school and the Dean of Admissions of an excellent all women’s college. One of the things discussed was “the essay.” The two Deans could not have been more clear that they were looking to see “the voice” of a 17 year old in the essay, not a parent, teacher, or professional editor. They said it was abundantly clear to them when the 17 had not done the writing. Adults phrase things differently. They said if your kid is willing to show the essay to you, fine. If you see a misspelling or grammar mistake, fine. If you want to make a suggestion or two, fine. It’s up to your kid whether to take your advice. They were really clear about easily picking out the essays written/heavily edited by other-than-17-year olds. </p>
<p>Another thing they emphasized was for the kids to spend time thinking about what they write in the short answer paragraphs, too. They said that too many kids just spend the time on the essays and sort of “blow off” the short answers.</p>
<p>They said that the average time spent on reading an entire application by the “first reader” is 15 minutes. They are quite capable of looking at your school profile, your transcript, your essays and your extracurriculars within that time.</p>
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<p>There are always exceptions, especially among Ivy wannabees. We know a kid who got 2400/36 on his tests, speaks in beautiful paragraphs and never uses a contraction. I have no doubt his essays will reflect that skill in communicating. </p>
<p>But I agree, if an overly skillful essay is not backed up by test scores to match, that would pretty much give it away.</p>
<p>Stanford was on S1’s list, but he dropped it after getting great EA results from two of his top choices. But frankly, Stanford’s pickiness about the app and their unwillingness to accept supplemental materials were major turn-offs for him.</p>
<p>momof3sons - thanks for filling us in. I wish D’s school was able to get speakers from slightly more prestigious colleges/universities to speak at our college night. This year, our speaker was from one of the CUNYs. He wasn’t a bad speaker, but his main point was to make sure everything was sent in on time. I’m pretty sure he never even got around to discussing the essays! </p>
<p>Mommusic makes a good point though. Not all 17 year olds sound like they’re 17. I hope that if a student’s essay sounds adult-like, the admissions officer would take into account the student’s grades/scores. A student who scored an 800, or close to it, on the writing part of the SAT might be expected to have a more adult-sounding essay - especially if that student had the English grades to back up the score.</p>
<p>Our D’s school has just started having some college discussions/speakers for jr students and parents. I attended the “MAKING YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH COUNT” assembly on career day. It was an outside consultant from monster.com. He tried to be humorous to get their attention. Only humorous for the non-serious, immature types. He stated that EC’s were crucial, as his sister had all A’s and weak EC’s and didn’t get in to Berkley and went to Irvine. He had mostly B’s, but really strong EC’s and was admitted to Berkley. The only thing the students took away was that grades don’t matter! I am attending a meeting on the AP/IB testing tonight and they will also have a speaker on financial aid. I hope this speaker is more informative and useful</p>
<p>I worry a bit about the “voice” issue with regard to the essays. D2 is a professional writer and has an incredibly unique voice. Not at all like a 17-year-old, but like a professional writer who aspires to a career in Classics. I hope it will be ok because her application will be threaded through with references to her writing ability, and the teacher who she plans to ask for a rec did one for her last year for a summer program and went on for an entire page about D’s unique voice. But, ultimately, she is who she is and colleges will either want her or they won’t. For the schools that want a writing sample, she’s going to send in the draft of her extended essay. Which is about her passion and research skills, but it’s just a smidgey bit weird. Like her.</p>
<p>Zoosermom:</p>
<p>One would hope that, in the 10-15 minutes an Ad Com spends on an application package, a professionally strong voice of a writer would be compared to other available evidence (e.g. high SAT, mentions in LOR, related EC) to back it up. It’s sounding like your D is lining things up to have these. It’s when the other evidence doesn’t back up the writing that the wrinkled brows may occur. Your D sounds great, and the “smidgey bit weird” may just make her stand out from the pack.</p>
<p>I’ve been struggling with how my DS will explain his leadership skills, since he shows them less in the traditional sense (e.g. by titled role) and more by example, lots of examples (e.g. tutoring kids in math during the dark room “down time” in his photo class.) I just came across a quote from Gov. Granholm of Michigan that puts it nicely, “Sometimes leadership is planting tress under whose shade you’ll never sit.”</p>
<p>zm,
They did talk a lot about voice, and your D sounds like an incredibly interesting kid. They are picking up the kids “voice” not only from the essay, but from those short paragraph answers and everything else in the student’s application. Both Admissions Deans pleaded with the parents to step back from the process-be supportive but remember that it’s the kid who is headed off to college, not the parent.</p>
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<p>Great quote, FindAPlace!</p>
<p>I remember in HS I was rather timid & shy, more comfortable in front of a music stand than talking to people, and didn’t feel I was much of a “leader.” My mother pointed out that I was a quiet leader in being responsible and supportive.</p>
<p>I felt better about myself (even tho it was still true I wasn’t much of a traditional leader.)</p>
<p>And may I point out that most leaders would be lost without good people around to tend to the details of their grandiose plans!</p>
<p>Amen to that, Mommusic! </p>
<p>For years, I was also like that. Some people in the community took notice, and told me they wanted to see me run for the elected position of City Treasurer in my city of 40,000 (I’m a public finance professional.) After much soul searching, I did so … and won!</p>
<p>The most amusing part of the campaign was when my son (then in MS) told me this was neat, because a girl (smart as a whip) who caught his eye was interested in government and thus talked to him about it.</p>
<p>DD’s high school does something called “Project Graduation” the evening after graduation where they lock the kids into the high school overnight. At the last junior class parents meeting, they mentioned that it costs around $40,000 to pull it off. Every kid attending walks out with at least one prize and they do tons of raffles. Things like gas cards, Target cards, etc. I know some of the prizes are fairly expensive (this is a pretty affluent area; an iPod shuffle wouldn’t get anyone excited.) They also give out a “senior gift” every month to every kid; haven’t really seen what those are since I won’t have a senior until August.</p>
<p>PSAT scores and the 2009-10 class catalogs were handed out on Monday in English class. I’d already gotten the access code from the GC back before break, but it was good to have the scores in hand. DD is now struggling with what to take; I am struggling with not wanting her to overdo it next year. The list is: English IV AP, Economics Honors/U.S. Government AP; Statistics AP; Chamber Choir; Study Hall; and…a science (she’s waffling between Chem AP, Bio AP & Physics Honors) then leaving one spot. There’s not a lot of electives that are appealing to her that are “easy” because as she so sweetly says “I won’t enjoy being in a class with all the stupid kids who don’t care about being there.” Sigh. She’s thinking about Psychology AP but came home yesterday saying that the senior IB Class “History of the Americas” will be open to non-IB kids with approval. I asked her to talk to her GC, the gifted consultant and her current science teacher before she makes a decision. I really don’t want to deal with a stressed out kid in the fall who has to also complete college aps.</p>
<p>We’ll be on the road tomorrow night to take a look at University of Alabama, the first college tour that will mean something. And DD2 will be starting the registration process for HS freshman year in a few weeks too. So many things going on :)</p>
<p>RobD - “Project Graduation” sounds like fun. Our school’s “Senior Night” is quite similar, only it’s not held after graduation. Just out of curiosity, what sort of entertainment is provided, aside from the raffles? We’re looking to add some stuff to ours this year, and while I don’t have a senior, I’d pass on any interesting suggestions. </p>
<p>And yes, it’s getting close to the time when my D has to register for next year’s classes -scary thought. I already know most of the classes she’s planning to take, and I know it’s going to be another tough schedule. And I suspect most of us will be having stressful fall semesters next year - sad, but true.</p>
<p>I hope you enjoy your trip to U of Alabama tomorrow - let us know your thoughts. I hear they offer some great merit money, so I hope your D will be able to take advantage of it, if she likes the school.</p>
<p>Zoosermom - I wouldn’t worry about the essay in your D’s case. I think it will be obvious from reading through her app and recs that she is a writer. </p>
<p>FindAPlace - I know it’s hard for those quiet leaders to demonstrate their leadership skills. Hopefully, some of those short answer essays will give him the opportunity to do just that. Or maybe the teachers who are writing his recs are aware these qualities? And mommusic makes a good point about leaders needing good people to help them with their projects. And congrats to you, a few years late, on being brave enough to run for public election - and for winning, of course.</p>
<p>I’m astounded by the graduation events in your schools. We don’t do anything like that here.</p>
<p>I just received a dismaying email from my friend, who’s president this year (God help her!) of our local school board. Gov. Schwarzenneger’s proposed budget would mean a $4 million reduction in the budget for our school district, which serves about 5,000 children.</p>
<p>CA is already 46th (BEFORE this) in the nation in per pupil spending, at $7,000, when compared to the nationwide figure of $8,973 or NY at $12,218.</p>
<p>The school board has talked about a parcel tax before. I’d campaign hard for it, and use some of the soon to be savings from our house refinance to try and salvage our district.</p>
<p>I told my friend I hoped the HS GC’s are going to be ready to write about how the tracking of seniors applying to college’s next year has changed, as it’s likely some AP’s will be dropped (thank goodness my S is taking AP Physics this year!), along with some ECs, sports.</p>
<p>Wow, I need a good stiff drink except that I’m at work. I’m seeing red and I don’t mean deficit red, either!</p>
<p>FindAPlace, I have a feeling almost all school systems throughout the country are going to be tightening their belts.</p>
<p>FindAPlace - I agree with Queen’s Mom - this is something that’s going to happen throughout the country. I know NY’s governor was talking about cutting the money the state owes to the schools immediately, and I believe that’s for stuff that’s already been approved! So far, they’ve managed to hold back, but I suspect that even if the state releases the money that’s owed to the school for the rest of this school year, the budgets for next year will be feeling the pinch. Not quite what this means to our local schools, but I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.</p>
<p>zoosermom - sorry. I think that’s just how it is with the NYC schools.</p>
<p>Findaplace:</p>
<p>As a fellow californian I share your concern at the appalling state of the CA budget. Even more upsetting to me is the lack of action and continuing posturing on the part of the representatives in Sacramento. But I am drifting away from the intent of this board…</p>
<p>The loss of AP classes and the like is going to be bad - but the trend that really concerns me for future students is the increased class size at the K-8 levels. My kids will be done after next year - and have been lucky enough never to be in the larger classes. I think that has been really helpful for them and think the loss of that will really hurt the quality of education at the younger levels.</p>
<p>Like you, I’d reach a little deeper to keep the schools going - we have been lucky enough to pass bonds in the past to get the schools refurbished so that our plant is in really good shape - but we still need good teachers to fill those classrooms.</p>
<p>Scualum:</p>
<p>Since I have the requisite skill set (campaign finance filings), I told the school board presidents I’d answer the call to be the campaign treasurer if there is a parcel tax campaign. It’s that important for the upcoming students, the health of the economy in CA, and the health of our society in general.</p>