<p>Missypie, I think we are approaching the school list in nearly identical fashion, and like you, I have no problem sharing my D’s list (neither does she). If you’re not from the Midwest (and maybe even if you are), you won’t have heard of some of the schools, but they are all selective or very selective small LACs, all but one Princeton Best 370, each offering one or more things my D really values. And ALL offering significant merit (and modest-to-nice musical scholarships)for someone with her stats.</p>
<p>Like you, we’re looking for the best financial package at a school that fits her and will set her up strongly for grad school. I believe that encompasses all 6 on her list. </p>
<p>Geography is also important to her…no more than 4 hrs from home and MUST HAVE cold, snowy winters. (I know…we’re both weird that way…)</p>
<p>As recently as a month ago, I tended to worry about how she would make the final decision…whether it would be right, etc. But for some reason I feel increasingly comfortable that in 6 months she’ll “know.”</p>
<p>There’s not much sharing of stats at our school, mostly out of a sense of respect for people’s privacy rather than a strategic unwillingness to share. I remember in high school, my close friends and I were always asking each other, “Whadja get?” My D tells me at her school, that’s just not common. Ok. Different time, different place.</p>
<p>I’ve even shared my older son’s stats with some of my friends (who have younger kids)…as in with a __ SAT and a __ GPA, this school offered him $___. Again, I’ve only done this with people of whom I am fond, who were seriously doubting their ability to send their child to college. I haven’t asked their child’s stats in return. Again, a public service project. In a more general context, I’ve shared (w/o stats) which schools were generous vs. not so generous.</p>
<p>Well marching band competition season over, ds and dd got home at 11:45pm from that, sadly we are not state champs like the last 2 yrs so it was a rough start to the week. 3 apps to go, might just ditch one app because we didn’t visit, it was added to the list late because it fit statistically but not sure it merits effort. It’s alot like the others on the list, just a different big state school. Ds has to write the “why engineering, what great engineering idea do you have and why us” essay which is really tough. Why indeed I say! Guess you can’t write it on “cuz the tour guide was so psyched about engineering and I’m pretty good in math and science and Mom wants me to get a job!”
Why must 17yo’s have a clue when I am much older and still confused about what I want to be when I grow up?</p>
<p>I was 24 when I applied to law school. If I had been required to write a “why the law?” essay, it would have been, “I don’t like being a school teacher and the pay is not good so I figure law couldn’t be any worse and it would pay better.”</p>
<p>Any advice on non-institutional scholarship interviews?</p>
<p>My D was nominated for one by her GC and apparently made it to the second round, where the committee interviews you (tomorrow morning). All I know is that it’s based on academic achievement, leadership, service, and academic/career goals/plans.</p>
<p>It’s not huge ($2500), but as my dad likes to say, “Twenty-five hundred here, twenty-five hundred there, pretty soon you’re talking real money!” :)</p>
<p>The part of the interview my D is worried about is career goals and plans. She is quite undecided right now. Wants to pursue advanced degrees…wants to keep vocal performance in her life (though probably not as primary career, maybe teach, maybe write…aahhhh…she’s all over the map with thoughts, and is afraid she’ll come across as somebody whose goals are loosey-goosey and un-thought-out.</p>
<p>Do you have any thoughts about how she can express her diversity of talents and interests, and openness to a discovery journey in college as a strength, rather than appearing to be a weakness?</p>
<p>That (or a variation) would be every lawyer’s answer! My son had his first interview (MIT) yesterday and phew, he thinks it went well. But feel like we are getting behind on essays and apps… so many more to do. And hate hate hate those “why College X” essays. I guess they need to test the kid’s bs ability… And they don’t want the real answer “you have good academics and are in a location I would like to be” which is the true answer for vast majority of the applicants. Or better yet “just in case I don’t get into any place better”. Sorry for venting…</p>
<p>DS also finds those ‘Why X University?’ and ‘Why this major?’ essays to be the hardest. He made great progress though this weekend. Didn’t submit anything, but finished 3-4 ‘Why X?’ essays. Overall, his applications are in a good state. </p>
<p>I submitted CSS Profile last week. So overall I consider the last week to be very productive.</p>
<p>Oh, and S had an alumni interview as well. Says it went ok.</p>
<p>MOSB: I think it’s fine for your daughter to say that she’s undecided at this time and plans to explore her many interests in college. My older daughter used this answer on a local scholarship ap, and she was successful.</p>
<p>Thanks, momjr, I’ll tell her that. I think she’s just wishing she could say, “I’m pursuing a medical degree and plan to specialize in pediatric neurosurgery of children between 8 and 10 years old with freckles!”</p>
<p>So when I log on to S’s CA account, it lists his App, Supp, and payment completed for the EA school he applied to last week. But for School Forms, it says “Not Started.” Our school is part of Naviance, and it says to assign your School forms to this institution you must Log in to Naviance Family Connection. However, on Naviance, it shows the process has started: he has assigned two teachers for recommendations, and one of the recommendation has been completed, and the other is “in progress”. Office paperwork is listed as “pending.” I am bothered by the inconsistency. Does the CA account not update until all school forms have been submitted on Naviance? Anyone have experience with the interaction between Naviance and the CA?</p>
<p>I want S to follow up with GC to make sure this is normal, (and to make sure all is on track for the Nov. 1 EA deadline). When I suggest this to him, he rolls his eyes. He’s stressed about finals (although really only one class), and wants to assume the GC is on top of things. She is pretty good, I think (she was oldest son’s couselor too), but I’m a worrier…</p>
<p>It is a tough prompt. Sadly, it was one my son was prepared for and honestly has an honest answer to. One of his target schools had used this prompt for a few years and changed this year to a prompt that even the current e’school students are doing a facepalm saying they are so glad it wasn’t theirs. To be honest since they had used it for several years he’s probably better off with a new prompt. How many ‘unique and original’ answers are there to that? He’s waiting until last to write it. It his top choice, reach, and only one that truly uses holistic admissions so it does count. Oh well, he actually pointed out…every other e’school applicant has to do it so they’re in the same boat.</p>
<p>He’s tweaking one now of ‘Five Reasons Why’. He’s got good ‘reasons’, but with a 250 word limit it’s hard not to sound like a list, which is not very creative. His AP Comp teacher loved it (seriously?) so he did a few corrections and proclaimed it DONE! Whoopie! I really try not to do anything with his essays, but finally said ‘I think you could have another stab at this…some of the wording is kind of clunky and I really think you can do better.’ I suggested he have his AP Lit teacher from last year look it. She’s doing one of his LORs and is really responsive. He is not happy, as it is DONE he proclaimed once again, but he’s taking it to her for review. I know he’s thinking ‘They are stat based admissions so why am I messing with this.’ He still has SAT2s looming in Nov like many of your kids. It’s so daunting!!</p>
<p>We clipped his wings on an academic EC and the amount of time he spends there until his apps are done. This is VERY hard for him as he’s been very involved and always spends many extra hours. We told him he is a Sr, we have never pulled him out for college visits, college football games (which is common around here), etc. He’s always one there putting in extra time. He’s a Sr. and until his testing and apps are done, he goes to scheduled meetings, that’s it. The goal is to be done ‘Before we smell the turkey.’ :)</p>
<p>I do not know HOW in the world many of your students are getting through this process with many, many applications. We tell our kids not to compare, however I can’t help but feeling relieved that it just ended up he’s not applying to many schools!!</p>
<p>UT, that’s excellent! Here’s another one or two:</p>
<p>Why law?</p>
<p>Because I have been arguing with my parents since I was quite young and have developed quite a knack for it.</p>
<p>Why teaching?</p>
<p>Because I’ve been sitting in these desks for the past twelve years, saying to myself, “Someday when I’m in charge, we’re gonna do things differently!”</p>
<p>You would think that after reading nine zillion “Why <field>?” or “Why <college>?” essays–all of which try to be profound and heartfelt–that the readers would like a break.</college></field></p>
<p>By the way, after bragging last Monday about a progress filled weekend, this past one was a bust. All weekend I pushed for work on applications, and S only came to me at 8:30 Sunday evening and wanted my help. I said no-it is too late. I am not going to get all wrapped up in that stuff now. Unfortunately it was our last EC-light weekend for a long time and his dream uber-reach opportunity wants over 2000 words of essays by 15 November.</p>
<p>Keylimepie-- My daughter has submitted three apps so far, and none of them has downloaded the supplement, although they’ve downloaded the CA and recs. Maybe that’s normal? Or a glitch in the CA system makes it look as though they haven’t been downloaded? Surely the supplement is part of the complete application.</p>
