<p>missie - I do hope the “dream” school comes through for your D. I’m glad to hear the acceptance won’t be a problem. It sounds like she knows what she wants and will do what she needs to do. I know having a lot of debt is an issue, but I bet she can find a way. I say this being married to a guy who put himself through a private university and then med school - it can be done, if that’s what you want. But I know there are worries, and I won’t say it was easy.</p>
<p>I’m frankly shocked that my D has been willing to have these comparatively inexpensive publics as safeties, and actually is excited about them. A boy she really respects at her HS (one of the top students) is also planning to do the UMinn “Golden Gopher” application that she received yesterday, and I think she feels in very good company. Her heart is definitely more set on going east, but somehow, somehow she has managed to be good with this other plan. </p>
<p>She’s such a nonconformist that sometimes I wonder if going to a local public to her would become the ultimate in being “different”: only the “typical” different people go to out of state schools no one here ever goes to! But Minn for us is a bit outside the box; there is tuition reciprocity, so it’s basically in the same package as the WI schools, but hardly anyone from our HS goes there - I think only one or two in the past 3-4 years, strangely enough, with dozens going to the WI campuses.</p>
<p>I will be very glad when - and it’s pretty certain - we get that “yes” from Minn. Whether she wants an acceptance in hand or not, I do!</p>
<p>One good thing about doing the whole darned Common App for just one school - your essay is just for “them.” I think D’s probable essay topic would be more interesting to a reader in a distant out of state school (her crush school) than to someone local.</p>
<p>I think I know what you’re talking about missy. Interestingly, my D1 couldn’t bring herself to talk about her 4 years in competitive marching band (she was a snare on the drumline), even to the out of state schools. I think she found it too hard to describe, or maybe she was worried about being identified with that activity too much. These days it’s kind of a secret surprise she springs on people after they’ve known her a while. They’re usually impressed, of course, as I am by your D’s dedication and strength. </p>
<p>I think my D2 is going to need a whole bouquet of essays - one about theater for schools that only ask for one essay; ones not about theater for schools that ask for an additional one about theater; and everything in between. Luckily she likes to write and has other things in her life. She spent 3 years in marching band, too (on sax) and has her own take on that, but I doubt she’ll write about it, either. Again I think it would impress people, as you say especially in parts of the country where it’s a less common activity.</p>
<p>LOL, I’m thinking now of how an esasy about being a rodeo barrel racer [not my D’s EC] would play in New England vs. at Texas Tech (exotic vs. ho hum.)</p>
<p>missypie - congratulations to your D. Should feel good with an acceptance in hand(even if she is not really interested in this school).</p>
<p>D is our oldest. S is five years younger - so I think I am going to be around on this board for a while :)</p>
<p>D has several priority applications coming in (both over email and snail mail). She’s definitely going to use one (a school she wanted to apply to) - not sure about the others. Anyone else adding to their list if a simple, free priority app shows up?</p>
<p>yup. They seem to be from schools that will give him a “yes” so why not if there is no additional work? There are some he definitely is not intersted in an he will disgard them.</p>
<p>Kathiep & EmmyBet I’m in your boat too. D is a senior in college, S is a senior in HS. I wish I had a couple more kids in the pipeline; I’m going to miss all this.</p>
<p>Im going to de-lurk and join you all have been intimidated by how far along most of your students seem to be. S doesnt have a list and has done no college visits except those he tagged along on when his sister did accepted students visits four years ago. He had a rough first two years in high school and then took off in junior year. His cumulative GPA is horrendous our school keeps telling us that there is grade deflation, A grades are rare and that the colleges know this. Im not convinced. Ive been thinking that if S doesnt get motivated to do some college research (the clock is ticking loudly!), hell be facing a gap year but again, something seems to have finally clicked and hes starting to get his act together. Now, I de-lurked because Ive been enjoying vicariously all the camaraderie here and I decided theres no point in being a coward but I do have an actual question. Ss English teacher has done that college essay assignment thing but theyre going to be peer-reviewed before the teacher actually sees them, ie the students will read each others essays and comment. I cant help thinking thats not going to be all that productive, but maybe Im overreacting. Also seems to be me there may be privacy issues? What do you think anybody else facing similar situation?</p>
<p>I think the peer review is a really bad idea. I think it has the potential to have a chilling effect on what the students write about and reveal.</p>
<p>Congrats Missypie!! D2 just finished application for safety yesterday!! She seems happy that it is done. Now just having to send it off.
D1 is a sophomore in college and D2 is our last:( It makes me sad to think that this is her last year!! She is super excited about Sr year. I know the year will go by fast. Taking D1 to college was hard and I had many tears leading up to drop off but did pretty well after we were home. Wondering how it will be with D2??</p>
<p>Welcome Samuck. Like you, I’ve been intimidated by how far along some of the kids discussed in this thread are, but it seems like a really helpful group.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about the essay peer review. My older daughter actually found that her friends comments on her essays were very helpful. </p>
<p>Like many of you, my youngest child graduates from HS this year. The “last first day of school” hit me pretty hard. I’m happy that she seems to be enjoying her high school traditions instead of already having one foot out the door.</p>
<p>SAMUCK–I kinda of agree that the peer review thing could have a chilling effect –
AND frankly I wonder IF kids might steal ideas/etc from other peoples ideas/essays.
Maybe the whole point is to open it up and have the kids bounce ideas off eachother etc…?</p>
<p>SNAP APPS
As for the snap-apps…our student has been getting them since June–and few have been someplace kiddo would attend–though somewhere in the reaches of my mind–I think Kiddo got one–that would have been good to add to the list-however I think kiddo deleted it before we realize it would be a good match academically AND had kiddos sport as a club so the EC could continue…
sigh</p>
<p>A few of the snap apps are really nice schools–it’s just that they aren’t in kiddo’s major so no matter how nice–its the wrong fit. One email came -talking about how kiddo got choosen because of AP scores. Another clearly came from college board stuff…
If the one I am thinkin of -that was accidently deleted–shows up again–I think we will have kiddo apply…as long as it doesn’t mess up the EA/ED/SCEA rules etc. If this were kiddo2–we’d be doing the happy dance because I think several of these might be nice matches come '14…time will tell</p>
<p>LURKERS: please join us–we are supportive parents and this is a great place to share our woes and not let OUR nerves worry out Srs…What happens in CC Parents thread STAYS in CC Parents thread. Ha Ha </p>
<p>S received one priority/gratis ap. Then I went on their forum today and one of the new students was discussing how they got bumped into off-campus housing unbeknownst to them and their are bed bugs and they are not dealing with it. So, I’m not as excited as I was about it. Although unfortunately I fear that is going to be a more common problem in the years ahead.
Particularly since S will probably be going 1000miles+ away, I’d like to have his living situation totally firmed up, rather than leaving it to whim and housing shortages, but I know you can’t always prevent it. I think starting college is stressful enough without having to deal with housing issues.</p>
<p>Some of the priority apps don’t really seem to be anything special. One was just an invitation to apply via the common app and you had to still pay the fees. So, why call it priority?</p>
<p>Some of the others have simplified apps, no essays and no fees. Those are the ones that are tempting…</p>
<p>ldinct - bed bugs/housing issues? Gosh - I don’t want to go there yet…</p>
<p>ESSAY PEER REVIEW:
I don’t know. S showed his essay to couple of his friends. But they are kids he trusts and whose opinion he respects. I wouldn’t want him to show it to a random kid in his English class. There is nothing too personal in his essay, but I see no point in doing that.</p>
<p>I"d be livid to move kiddo into a dorm with bedbugs!</p>
<p>Random thought: Anyone want to diet with a goal for graduation…
…I have decided its a worthy thing to not grimace when I see our kiddos grad pictures years from now and the 'rents in said pictures are looking too middle-aged. I am fine with my age–it’s the waistline that could use a tweaking! Ha ha…10 months and counting…</p>
<p>I tried for the 09 graduation and was an abject failure. But maybe if we start before things get too emotional we’ll have a higher success rate.</p>
<p>^
Am starting tom…I have some mini goals along the way–including the Christmas holidays, mid-winter, spring break etc etc. </p>
<p>Just have this slide show on my laptop and cringe at some pics–and thought omg–come graduation I do not want to be thinking -what a happy day–look how fat “the mom” looks in that pic!</p>
<p>Have a friend who’s son is getting married (he’s almost 30) so she’s working towards looking decent for the wedding pics</p>
<p>:cool:</p>
<p>Does anyone know if bed bugs are a health dept reportable item? How do I research if there are bed bugs at these schools/dorms? I guess I can just google each school’s name and bed bugs…</p>
<p>Dd has been surprised that she got priority applications, especially since some were from schools that are match schools for her according to her current tests scores. She filled out one that didn’t need any essay, recommendations or counselor form (so no work for me except printing out the transcript, signing it and sealing it) and of course, no fee. Since it was a school that is also no cost to us and they promised a quick reply, she applied and received her first acceptance today.</p>
<p>She hasn’t visited the school and the stats for the students are lower than hers so I don’t think it will be her choice but nonetheless, it is very nice to have an acceptance already.</p>
<p>We finished doing the homeschool supplement today so she can apply to all schools now that require that as soon as she finishes her essay. She is has an essay due on who is dead in The Dead for her English class for Wednesday and that takes priority along with her criminology homework for her cc class. Tomorrow is the (hopefully) last ACT.</p>
</p>