<p>Anybody here has a senior boy who won’t write the essay and insist to wait until he has a better idea about the topic? IT’S MID OF OCTOBER and HE HAS ED !</p>
<p>arling - mean mommy (me) reared her ugly head at our house this week and demanded (yes, demanded) that son sit down with me for a brain storming session and at least decide on his essay topic. It was not an enjoyable half hour. Then today a miracle occurred. He came home, drafted an essay and asked me to look at it. I was still a little ticked by the way he talked to me the other day and it must have shown in my face because he said “thanks mom, it wasn’t so hard for me to write because after you helped me figure out a topic and I thought about it for a couple of days the rest was easy”</p>
<p>Arling, I’m generally pretty easy-going, but “won’t” wouldn’t sit too well with me at this point. I think I’d be inclined to explain a few things I “won’t” be doing unless that essay gets written pdq.</p>
<p>Now, if he has especially tough time challenges right now, (like EmmyBet’s D with tech week) and an aggressive plan of attack for the following week, that would be different. But I’m afraid I’d be in no mood to hear “won’t write until the spirit moves me” on October 6…for ED. Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>We never had trouble with the online systems that showed what they had received, but we did have to call a couple of schools. </p>
<p>This time around is so easy. ShawD finished the application to one of two first choice schools, which is rolling admission. She met on Monday with the admissions counselor for her second first choice school, who specifically visited ShawD’s school to meet with ShawD. She told ShawD that her ACT score was fine and she didn’t need to retake it for them. That application does have an essay, but it is only a “What are you going to contribute to the Fabulous University community?”</p>
<p>There’s a third rolling admissions school. It’s not clear ShawD will apply to others. Both of her top choices have the character that all students and alumni we talk to love their schools. With luck, she’ll have to decide between bigger, more programs, more Jews, small city versus smaller, fewer programs, few Jews, truly the middle of no place but great environment, more nurturing, etc.</p>
<p>Incidentally, ShawD told me that 60% of her senior class is applying ED. I’m sure that this is higher than previous years and the cause is not that this year’s class suddenly became more certain of where they wanted to go than previous classes but rather a response to the craziness and stress of the college lottery game.</p>
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<p>sounds a bit familiar–in that kiddo hasn’t liked the re-drafting, re-working of the essays…they needed trimming to fit the # of words limits…and once trimmed and after kiddo changed a few words, (we brainstormed better choices because reading it we all understood the point kiddo was aiming to make–the word choice wasn’t quite exacting…the essays are much better and kiddo is feeling much better, much more confident about them.</p>
<p>Did a brain storming session back in August–looking at common app and supp for 1st choice school…Once the topics were chosen–it seemed to go smoother. For any parents of reluctant writers–perhaps try a brainstorming session … to jump start those creative juices.</p>
<p>Yesterday I looked through the essay requirements for the rest of the pack. Except for one essay on two of the apps, the other apps should come together rather quickly. Kiddo will need to adjust an essay or two to fit each school…yet those other apps could probably be all done within 4 hours total (4-5 apps). One app is not the CA–and I looked at it online–Kiddo has it done…ready to submit…</p>
<p>Kiddo has some fun social things on the agenda this weekend–the first time in easily 6-8 weeks…and I suggested kiddo not work on the rest of the apps…in reality only 2 are EA, the rest are RD so kiddo has earned a break. </p>
<p>Dear kiddo is sooo tired, I think between all of the APs and the stress of apps…I may suggest a B shot and try to get more iron rich foods into the diet …
We will have an idea about #1 choice within about 10 days…so kiddo really doesn’t want to work on apps if #1 comesa through. OTOH I am trying to not worry about the time constraints when in 10 days its mid Oct and the EA deadline is looming.</p>
<p>Has anyone thought about what we will do with our “free time” when the apps process is over, ha ha~</p>
<p>My S1 did all rolling admissions and I loved the entire process. Now it is S2’s turn and to appease me he did one rolling admission, but his top choices are all “regular” Now I have to be one of those parents who hangs in limbo until some cold winter day when all the decisions seem to come out at once. I much preferred plan A.</p>
<p>Ordinaryd1’s schools are all rolling admissions, too. Sometimes I feel guilty coming here because I don’t have near the stress most of the rest of you do.</p>
<p>OK so can I scream for a minute? Thanks!</p>
<p>SAT Saturday, and every night this week S is at the HS practicing for the Senior Show-getting home around 10 after leaving around 5.</p>
<p>I tried to get him to take the SAT II’s anyway since his SAT scores are fine-but he was adamant about trying to get the Math & CR up to 1500 (from 1400) so he could have a really good chance at some of his reach schools and for scholarships. Of course, this strategy leaves him with only the November SAT II’s to gauge how he will do on those-one chance really. Well he finally came to his senses and asked to change to the SAT II’s - poor boy he missed the date for change by about a week. I hope he learns his lesson! His practice tests on the SAT are coming in at where his last test did so he kind of realizes he won’t hit his goal.</p>
<p>I have to remember you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink!</p>
<p>He’s having a lot of fun with the show and I do believe that is time well spent-I just wish it was NEXT week instead of this.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me vent-I feel better now!</p>
<p>Pepper03 and others: I understand your aggravation. I don’t understand why the Collegeboard doesn’t offer an SAT in September, so seniors could prep over the summer and take the test before the craziness of senior year ramps up. My daughter exceeded her goal on her June ACT and decided to stop there. Pushy parent that I am, I thought she should try one more time in the fall to see if she could do better, but it looks like she was right on this one. She is making good progress on her applications and should have 2 rolling ones ready to send as soon as her English teacher returns her essay. Most of her friends are taking the SAT on saturday, but few have had time to study. Pepper, your son already has a strong score, and it may go up anyway. It’s a shame about the SAT II’s, but most kids only take them once, so he should be fine.</p>
<p>For those of you whose kids are not applying to any rolling or EA schools, I recommend trying to have them add one. Getting an early acceptance really reduces the stress of senior year. It can be a long winter waiting until March or April for the first acceptance. A lot of the rolling schools have easy applications, and he or she can probably use an essay they’ve already written.</p>
<p>Yes momjr I have also wondered why they didn’t offer the SAT in September-it would have made so much sense!</p>
<p>A couple of colleges he is applying to do have rolling admissions and next week he plans on getting those applications done. The essay he did for NMSF will be fine unless the college wants something else written about-and he is a strong writer so that should be easy for him.</p>
<p>Once he gets a couple under his belt we will all feel better!</p>
<p>fogfog: like your kid, mine is exhausted and he hasn’t even touched the apps themselves in the last 2 weeks. his school work load has become ridiculous – not sure why the teachers are loading it on this way during prime app season. in addition to school work and sports, he’s dealt w/the administrative stuff re: apps.: multiple emails to GC, teachers, his outside recommendation. and just knowing that he has app deadlines can become easily overwhelming.
my gosh. i. can’t. WAIT for Nov 1, Nov 15, Dec 15 (w/ fingers crossed our last date of importance), and possibly April 1. Yet i don’t want this last year living w/ him at home to shoot by in a glance. the college topic is often our dinner conversation b/c it’s the only time we have one-on-one time w/ him. we use it to organize the to-do lists, brainstorm essays, etc. i feel badly for our freshman b/c the focus is so one-sided. keep thinking i need to make a more concerted effort to refocus but until mid-nov it will be difficult.</p>
<p>Pepper03–My D is taking SAT IIs this Saturday and doesn’t have time to take them again. It might relieve your stress a bit to remember that most colleges require only two SAT IIs and many allow score choice, so your child might be able to send just the best two once he takes them in November. </p>
<p>The other advantage of taking them in November is that, if he is currently taking classes in the tests he’s taking, he’ll naturally have that much more time to learn the material.
I almost wish my D had decided to take the SAT IIs in November so she’d do better in Chemistry, as that would give her one more month in AP Chemistry.</p>
<p>She has spent hours this week planning for the upcoming Homecoming Dance Saturday night. Your son is not alone; I can sympathize!</p>
<p>for those of you whose schools use naviance edocs for teachers to submit LORs for the CA:
do the recs show up immediately on the CA site (“school forms”) once the teachers have submitted them? right now it looks as if none of my son’s recs are done although he’s gently reminded his teachers of the deadlines. particularly for his 2 rollings schools, i wish we knew what was going on.</p>
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<p>I don’t know of any college that requires more than two SAT IIs now.</p>
<p>Georgetown “strongly recommends” 3. They seem to be OK with EA students having less than the three.</p>
<p>D is having her senior review today with her GC. One of her teachers has submitted his rec (he showed it to her and it is absolutely glowing!), another one has started but not finished, and the third one hasn’t even started on it yet. D hasn’t done anything with her apps in the past couple of weeks, ironically ever since she decided on an ED school! She still has to write the essay for its supplement, and she’s promised to get all of her other apps done by mid-December, in case she needs to submit them if she is denied or deferred from her ED choice. She’s also submitting an EA app in mid-November, which is already finished, but for some reason she’s sort of dragging her feet on pushing the submit button. And she wants to wait until after Dec. 15 for the rolling admission school app. I’m starting to feel a little anxious and trying not to nag. But I think she thinks I’m nagging. OK, I’ll quit nagging. Pass the cookies. ;)</p>
<p>Good catch, ST. Based on the wordings on their website, Georgetown practically requires three subject tests from their RD applicants. Any other schools like this?</p>
<p>Has anyone seen this!!!
[Yale</a> University Student Safety Kit - eBay (item 190418669697 end time Oct-12-10 14:35:37 PDT)](<a href=“http://cgi.ebay.com/Yale-University-Student-Safety-Kit-/190418669697?pt=US_NCAA_Fan_Shop&hash=item2c55d65081]Yale”>http://cgi.ebay.com/Yale-University-Student-Safety-Kit-/190418669697?pt=US_NCAA_Fan_Shop&hash=item2c55d65081)</p>
<p>omg, I am guessing this is “marketing” and available for every campus?</p>
<p>RenaMom
Sounds like our house, our freshman is sooo tired of the conversation about recruiting, college apps etc etc…
We too dont want the year to fly without enjoying it–and also don’t want our freshman to miss out on parental attention…</p>
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Oregonianmom, not sure what your situation is with regard to financial aid, but is your D aware that rolling admission schools award both acceptances AND their finaid on a rolling basis? So when the class is full, and when the finaid $ is gone…they’re done. With some schools that can happen surprisingly early. I believe with rolling admissions, your best bet is to be in one of the earlier waves of applicants.</p>