<p>mamom - is the common app live ? H and I had an argument about this yesterday - I thought there was a pdf that let you see what the changes were going to be with the common app, but the app was going ‘live’ only on August 1st. Am I mistaken??</p>
<p>Arisamp- A preview is now available
<a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/news.aspx#40[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/news.aspx#40</a>
It goes live in Aug.</p>
<p>Someone here filled me on this a week or so ago. I posted that S’s HS GC said it wouldn’t be available til Aug. Well being unavailable is OK if you can see the preview and start working on essays. I think the GC is doing a lot of kids a disservice by making them think they can’t do anything til Aug.</p>
<p>Here is the preview we were provided of the common app:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/CommonApp2011.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/CommonApp2011.pdf</a></p>
<p>cross-posted with mamom…</p>
<p>Was perusing the site for college counselors</p>
<p>[Junior</a> Year Calendar](<a href=“http://www.nacacnet.org/StudentResources/CollegePrep/Pages/JuniorYear.aspx]Junior”>http://www.nacacnet.org/StudentResources/CollegePrep/Pages/JuniorYear.aspx)</p>
<p>Here is what should have been done this past yr…in case you are playing “catch up” ha ha</p>
<p>And where the map leads this yr…
<a href=“http://www.nacacnet.org/StudentResources/CollegePrep/Pages/SeniorYear.aspx[/url]”>http://www.nacacnet.org/StudentResources/CollegePrep/Pages/SeniorYear.aspx</a></p>
<p>I have heard some GCs prefer the kids to wait and write the essays in the fall–when they have more “maturity” and also some other summer experiences etc to add to the essays…</p>
<p>Gee whiz…that list fogfog linked has been more helpful to me than 4 years of our HS GC’s office. All us parents got junior year was a quick meeting in January to pass out the PSAT results and a little pep talk reminding us to start thinking about college options.</p>
<p>^^^couldn’t agree more. Although S’s school has had lots of information sessions, I have learned so much more from CC than I could ever hope to learn from the GC. Financial safety? Love thy safety? Knowing your EFC before you start applying? when to take SAT2’s? etc, etc, etc.</p>
<p>fogfog, thanks for the link. Wow, except for half the list devoted to SATs and ACTs that ShawD did not take this year, we’ve done much of the rest, although we used books and the web more than written requests for information.</p>
<p>Also, you linked to an article about the President of Tufts in his concern about student binge drinking. He is quite an extraordinary leader and that article captures a bit of it.</p>
<p>My D1 is at Tufts, in fact is there right now doing a summer internship. She’s not surprised at all about his stand on the drinking issue, and she’s been thrilled to have him as president. </p>
<p>D2 was done with Junior year as of 12:15 today! She got one of her final grades from today before she left school; she knows all but one grade. What a great feeling!</p>
<p>I haven’t posted in a while, but I try to check in periodically and I’m always appreciative of the insights I find here. I can completely relate to the stress so many of our children have been going through this year. Junior year is truly a crusher. My son, who is usually as steady as can be, was totally stressed by the end of it. Thankfully, he is done with exams and has his last day of school tomorrow, with some great summer activities to look forward to. But still worrying about how he did on his final exams and papers, which he will get back tomorrow. He decided to no-show on the SAT subject test he was registered for last Saturday - it would have been the straw that broke the camel’s back - but now has to decide whether to reschedule for the fall or just go with the two he’s already taken.</p>
<p>Some of you may have seen the story in the most recent issue of New York Magazine about the boy at one of the prominent NYC private schools who jumped from an 11th story window to his death last year (his junior year). I didn’t know him, but know several people who did (as does my son). It’s a pretty stark reminder of what stress can do to a teenager. Really a heartbreaking story. Here’s a link. I think it’s worth reading but, as I said, it is heartbreaking, so proceed with caution. [Teddy</a> Graubard: Suicide at Dalton – New York Magazine](<a href=“Teddy Graubard: Suicide at Dalton -- New York Magazine - Nymag”>Teddy Graubard: Suicide at Dalton -- New York Magazine - Nymag)</p>
<p>Sometimes I’ve been incredibly frustrated with my D2 because she “won’t” be pushed (even when people aren’t even pushing her!). She was way more stressed out in 9th and 10th grade trying to figure out who she was and deflecting all kinds of judgments, real or imagined.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, junior year she was much calmer. She’d gotten a hold of herself better, and we had found a comfortable pattern with her (essentially a hands-off with gentle conversation). She took a hard route and did pretty well, but didn’t seem to overstress. We were so glad to see her both happy and more focused that we found it very easy to be supportive, and even easier to shrug off the gaps and mistakes.</p>
<p>Yet a lot of this is merely that she just doesn’t have the personality, the physical wherewithal, or really any interest in that kind of competitive situation … and this will guide her college search, too. She’s got some high sights, but I know she’ll make her decision based on how nice and easy-going the students are perceived to be. Actually, my D1 who is at a top but not extremely famous school made her decision the same way. She wanted to be at a rigorous and prestigious program, but she’s been pleased at how many very smart and accomplished people she knows who are also very down to earth and friendly.</p>
<p>S made the high honor roll this semester for the first time! Better late than never. I’m very happy for him, but with his great SATs if he had the gpa he had this semester he could have gone almost anywhere(except for HYPSM). And he has chosen a very rigorous Sr year -3 APs, 1 Honors, 1 Ind Study for next year- plus 1 or two other classes. It’s going to be an interesting application session indeed.</p>
<p>This morning I picked up my D (who is going to be a freshman) from cheer camp. The camp did a tribute to the “Seniors” who, of course, have yet to actually be seniors…but since you start going to HS cheer camp after 8th grade, this is the new senior’s last cheer camp. That has got to be the very first farewell to the class of 2011!</p>
<p>^^^ My D did her last spring football camp in May. So she has had the first of her “lasts”</p>
<p>Glad you liked the links–stumbled on them–looking for college fair stuff.</p>
<p>One thing I noticed was how late they recommended an athlete contact college coaches–frankly the lists timing is way too late if the student hopes to be recruited. If its for intramurals, its really not an issue for apps.</p>
<p>I am wondering when/how to find out the AdComs travel routes and when they will be in our area (certain schools)</p>
<p>Any ideas? One of the schools still; lists last summer/falls schedule while another has the coming year already updated.</p>
<p>Question: Where do significant enrichment programs (summer) fit into the common app IF its not done at a college?</p>
<p>Also where does summer work/job fit?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I would like to know that as well. S has couple distance learning classes that he did on his own. We are planning to attach his resume and of cause there is the Short Answer and Additional Information sections that can be used, but his ECs are already all over the place, I want his application to be more focused.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I would put it to the Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience section. It doesn’t say anywhere to list only ECs and work held during the school year.</p>
<p>Started a new thread regarding the trip with my D to SoCal for Thomas Aquinas and Cal Lutheran if any folks here are interested</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/942526-mini-trip-socal.html#post1065039344[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/942526-mini-trip-socal.html#post1065039344</a></p>
<p>Hi, popping in for a visit from the 2010 thread! Just saw the comment about some GC’s preferring the kids to wait on the essays until fall. That’s fine, unless you have a kid who plays a fall sport. College apps are time-consuming and can be confusing (Common App has quirks, non-Common App schools also have quirks), add that to the usual homework, plus practices & games and maybe visiting some colleges and everyone’s stressed out 24/7. I suggest if your kid plays a fall sport or does a time-consuming fall activity (hello, marching band) that you at least have them outline an essay over the summer. They can toss it and start over, but just getting some sort of idea down on paper and then taking time to think about it can help to get the ball rolling. The whole application and essay thing can feel overwhelming to kids, if it’s broken into smaller steps it becomes more manageable.</p>
<p>Good luck everyone! And remember to try to ENJOY this summer and upcoming year. It will be all be over before you know it. Really. (Remember that at 10:30pm the night before the college application deadline when the server is crashing…) Treasure this last year with your student at home.</p>
<p>As far as the applications go, I really could not care less what some Guidance Counselor thinks. I want my son to get them done ASAP. I’m thinking that will be a good August project. :)</p>
<p>I don’t see any possible negative consequences of starting essays early. One can always revise.</p>