<p>Way to go EmmyBet. We can feel your happiness.</p>
<p>Thanks for listening! This is the modern equivalent of shouting in the streets (and way more polite, and less annoying…).</p>
<p>Emmybet-so glad that the session went well. It seems like your D is really on top of things!</p>
<p>Well, we had a little “life lesson”; she almost threw in the towel when she gave them the wrong e-mail address … I could hear the “I’m not competent after all” thoughts starting. But she jumped back on. Tonight she’s home from rehearsal, working on homework, chatting on the phone, the usual teenager. We logged back onto the site, which is now working again, finished up with paying and the last couple of clicks, and it’s in. We just have to print a change of info form with the correct e-mail on it, and all will be well.</p>
<p>She said she was so looking forward to the “Welcome” message from them in her inbox that can’t come right away now, but she’s getting over it. One of 1,000,000 blips - and worse - that will happen in the next few months.</p>
<p>We have not even one sentence of an essay yet, folks. But she will be someone who has an early answer. She was so disappointed in her friends last year who didn’t get apps in right away to the rolling publics, and I knew she’d be on this one. She’ll grind out 2-3 more in the next week or so, I bet, once she has her basic essay done. The musical is the weekend of 10/8, so I will be kind in the meantime.</p>
<p>D’s common app is done except can’t file it because her high school doesn’t do rankings until mid October…frustrating because a couple of d’s schools are rolling admits and it would be lovely to have acceptances early on!
Emmybet-so hard for them to do anything other than rehearse and homework when they are in a show! D is auditioning this week (I think) for the fall play. I am sure she will get a role…just a matter of whether it is a small one or large one…but once rehearsals start there is sooooo little time for anything else! Good luck!!!</p>
<p>Oh, good luck to her! We’ve been on the audition treadmill all summer! Luckily our HS casts in the spring - the show is so early there’s no time otherwise, and they get a week of rehearsal in during August this way.</p>
<p>Grr about those rankings!!! I can’t believe they get away with that! It would never fly here, since the UW system starts looking at apps on 9/15 and loads of kids jump right on it (and are told to by the GCs).</p>
<p>I think Alfred sounds wonderful. I know someone who went way back, and loved it. And the name … it’s like a friendly old uncle or something, don’t you think?</p>
<p>Seems I can’t get rid of a double post … (sound of whistling) …</p>
<p>It really is unbelievable that they don’t rank until mid October!! Maybe that used to be okay years ago…but not in today’s application scene! Not certain what the rationale is behind that! When I sent the GC an email , she seemed shocked that D had her application all set to go. Said that she would be “ahead of the game” if she got it out by the beginning of NOvember! What???..the SUNY early action deadlines are November 15th!! OY! I am going to have to make certain D is on top of the guidance office getting their part done for her EA applications. One thing in our favor…I am on the school board, so if they screw up with her application they know I’ll go directly to the superintendent ;)</p>
<p>S didnt make as much progress as I hoped last weekend. We considered his common app essay and one supplemental essay done, but he decided to work on them some more. He rewrote the short answer as well. Didnt do anything for the NMF application, but he has an essay that he can use for it. </p>
<p>Re: bed bugs. Yakes! We are going to NYC in October, thanks for heads up. Question: What do you do if you find bed bug signs on a mattress in a hotel?</p>
<p>Hey, I consider it pretty diligent if he’s choosing to continue to work on the essays. Good for him! It sounds like you’re very close to finished, so congratulations.</p>
<p>Keep up with the helpful advice on bedbugs, folks, for those of us who are uninitiated. After hearing about the squirrels with plague, too, I’m wondering if we’re back in the Middle Ages.</p>
<p>Well dang, D just missed NMSF. Seems the cutoff score suddenly went up after the past 3 years.</p>
<p>Looking forward to some college visits the week after next. We’re going to Macalester, Carleton, Haverford and Swarthmore. Anybody been to those campuses?</p>
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<p>Aw, I’m so sorry! But if her SATs match her PSAT’s, they must be quite nice.</p>
<p>You are such a welcoming group of parents. It is really nice to have you all around! </p>
<p>D took ACT on Sat and feels good about it. Trying to improve on her previous “no-prep” score of 29. She did quite well on Reading/English 1st time (34/33) but much lower on Math/Science (25/25). Of course, there was not much “prep” this time either, so not expecting miracles. Since she doesn’t want to re-take ACT a 3rd time, if her score doesn’t go up, it will effectively eliminate her chances at some of her reach schools. Luckily,she has a “c’est la vie” attitude about that. </p>
<p>The reality of how hard it will be to squeeze in college apps now that school has started has become apparent. Tons of AP homework this weekend. Not much progress on apps or essays.</p>
<p>D was surprised that some of her friends did ZERO ACT prep…as in not even knowing that you are not penalized for guessing on the ACT. One friend (who is hoping to get into decent schools) left a lot blank. I can understand not paying money for a prep course, but how about at least doing a google search the night before?</p>
<p>I just received an email that says “Register now for the October ACT.” Do they know something I don’t know?</p>
<p>I love the fact that the deadlines for signing up for the next test are always before the day the results of the current test come out …NOT! Talked to D yesterday - she took the ACT the last time with absolutely no prep - she has a good score, but from reading some old college threads, it looks like she can significantly bump up potential merit aid if her ACT score goes up 1-2 points. She’s willing to try it again (wouldn’t commit to prepping though!). Guess she’ll sign up and I’ll cross my fingers or do anything that would magically push her score up those 1-2 points!!</p>
<p>She revised her essay over the weekend - it’s coming together pretty well. One question for more experienced folks - her essay is about an experience that ultimately led to her current choice of major. She says some of the supplemental questions from a few universities are the same - what made you decide on this major? Would it be ok for her to use the one essay as her main common app essay and as an answer for the supplemental question? Or should she write a different common app essay for those schools?</p>
<p>I also just received the October ACT email. I will be so glad when this is over and my email inbox and my kitchen counter once again become MINE! </p>
<p>S2 took the ACT on Saturday hoping for a one point increase. He thought this test was easier than the June test.</p>
<p>We’re in the same boat on the essay - I think they’ll need a “who are you” essay and a “why this major” essay often enough that she might as well get a general “who are you” essay ready. Sorry! I think my D will need a “why that EC” short essay and probably one or two others, from what we’re seeing. I don’t see her writing any fewer than 5 different ones, short and long, based on our previous experience.</p>
<p>D’s school “lost” the NMSF packet so letters haven’t been distributed yet. Expecting one for D, so hope the packet is found soon so she can get it done and submitted.</p>
<p>D also thought Sat ACT was easier than previous test. Hoping for a point or two (or three) increase. Having D on accelerated math track seemed like a good idea back in<br>
7th grade- but for ACT/SAT, it means remembering math concepts from 3-4 years ago. Luckily, Calc teacher had mini-math review on Friday, and D said it helped on a few Q’s on Sat test.</p>
<p>Oregonianmom: That’s a shame a NMSF. I always thought it was unfair that the cut-offs vary by state. I haven’t officially visited Swarthmore, but my sister lives in the town. The campus is beautiful and serene, with great commuter train access into Philly. Surprisingly, Philadelphia is a great college town, with lots of ethnic restaurants and good shopping.</p>
<p>I’m taking my daughter on an official tour of our state flagship UMCP tomorrow. She’s trying to decide whether to apply ED to a private school, and wants to see how appealing
Maryland is. She’s already stressed about her applications and she hasn’t really started! It’s going to be a long fall.</p>