<p>Hehe I remember going to the U of MN back in the early 80’s and we had snow the first day of school in September! It’s crazy how competitive it’s become. My friends and I all assumed we’d go the the U and I didn’t even bother taking the SAT’s because you had automatic admittance if you were in the top 10%. Now I live in Texas and there’s automatic admittance if you’re in the top 8% unless…you want to go to UT Austin for business and you’re 3.25%, NMSF, 2310SAT and you’re still waiting to hear because you’re not the top 1%… :(</p>
<p>It 's amazing how much more competitive things have become. When I was in HS, the University of Maryland admissions people came to our school in March. They walked through each senior classroom checking transcripts and test scores, and anyone with with at least a “C” average and 1000 on their SATs was admitted on the spot. A lot of those people are disapointed now when their kids can’t get in. </p>
<p>I can’t believe you have snow in Minn. It’s been 65 and sunny here. I love snow, but this is too early.</p>
<p>momjr - I agree it has become so competive. Of course course, more kids going to college and applying to a larger number of colleges. I know Northeastern University in Boston used to be the safety for a lot of kids in my school, now it is much more competative and not the big safety we all thought. </p>
<p>S left for an out of state MUN conference last Thursday and will not return til late Monday night. He knew he still had an honors program app he had to complete on the trip. “oh, I will have lots of time Mom, don’t worry.” So the day before the app is due, I am now worried. …sigh Of course, he had to play Call of Glory/Duty??? or whatever new game he just got the night before he left on the trip. Why didn’t I overrule?</p>
<p>hi everybody, I’ve been so busy in the last several days I haven’t been able to post. Took a while to read through these pages but I had fun doing so. Congratulations to all additional acceptances and to those whose kids eked out another application. MOSB, I’m glad to hear that your mom is back home after the surgery complication. It’s never easy.</p>
<p>I owe a few PM replies, which I’ll try to get to this week. My work has picked up in the last few weeks and I’m trying to clean/straighten my house before Thanksgiving. Have to drive to RI this week to pick up my mom. I’m feeling overwhelmed, to say the least. I love the holidays but can’t stand the preparation. It’s sort of like going on vacation – I’m always stressed beforehand by fitting in the packing and getting everything done.</p>
<p>Here my son submitted CA app 5 together w/ its scholarship app, all due tomorrow. He had an interview yesterday for one of his EA schools, which is one of his top choices. The interviewer noticed on his activity sheet that he’s taken summer courses at peer institutions and she asked him why he would prefer her school to those! Very tricky question, as he’s applying to one of the others. There were some aspects of his response that didn’t thrill me. Doesn’t seem like a fair question. He felt like it was a backhand way of asking where else he’s applying. We shall see.</p>
<p>At this point, I’m pleased he’s gotten these apps done but I’m beginning to wonder how the heck he’s going to finish the rest when they’re due to his GC on Dec 1. The deadline seems daunting, particularly when most of the apps aren’t actually due until Jan 1, and some not until Jan 15. And although these are not my apps, for some reason I’m feeling really stressed by it, more than he seems to be. I really need to lose some weight but chocolate beckons me every day! FlMathMom, I desperately need to jump on your wagon.</p>
<p>UT, I forgot to mention I went onto iTunes to listen to Pink Martini and purchased “Hey Eugene.” Love it and all their retro euro songs, particularly the Italian ones I grew up with.</p>
<p>Oh, and one more thing I forgot to mention. My S heard back from Pitt on Friday re: merit $ and got a merit scholarship for half OOS tuition and an invitation to apply for the full tuition plus room&board scholarship. It’s a tough app – lots of essays which don’t overlap at all w/ any he’s already written and it’s due in two weeks, plus getting the recommendations all over again. Really, I’m not sure if he’s got enough time to do it justice. I think Pitt is a great school and has especially good depts in his interests but it’s his safety and we’re trying to assess whether his time is better spent doing more CA apps or taking time for this one. And the odds aren’t great: c. 450 apps for 10- 13 scholarships. On the other hand, this represents $92,000. No decision yet.</p>
<p>Renaissance - Congrats on the merit scholarship! We are waiting on a reply from Pitt about why he didn’t get into Honors College…seems either he didnt make the cut (1450/2140 + 4.26 gpa isn’t good enough?) or maybe they didn’t look at his Oct SAT. Can’t hold out much hope on merit I suppose, if they don’t even consider him for UHC! Kind of miffed me since this was a safety too but we’ll see what they decide.</p>
<p>Amanda- perhaps they only count SAT scores fron a single sitting (ie not superscored) and UW GPA? Your son’s achievements are impressive. I have seen schools make much different calculations for their H-College than general admissions. I would call. It may not change a thing but at least you’d feel better knowing how they calculated criteria.</p>
<p>Hurray - the first application was just submitted at our house. Only 10 left :-). Still, it’s a good feeling to see one go out the door.</p>
<p>Oh wise parents of the class of 2011, I have an urgent question to ask. Do you guys think that a college will freak out if my SAT scores are in a few days late? I JUST remembered to send in my scores and the college board is asking me if I want rush shipping or regular. It’s for a November 15 deadline (AKA TOMORROW!!!) but rush shipping costs NINETEEN DOLLARS MORE!!!such a rip off!so, what should I do?</p>
<p>shulie26,
Hardly a ‘wise cc member’ but I’ll offer an opinion.
Yes, Collegeboard is a racket. No doubt about it. Unfortunately they have the upper hand. I would cough up the $15 (skip a few lattes or pizza night) and rush the scores. Call admissions in the morning to sooth your nerves while they tell you that they will take the scores.
Your other choice is to wait to talk to admissions tomorrow and rush scores after they tell you they will take them. If they have an 11/15 deadline you may find a recording due to the influx of calls. We actually had great luck with email response time.
Let us know what you find out. It may prove to be valuable information to other cc members here.</p>
<p>Blueiguana - Yes, ds sent an email inquiry and they are putting his file through “reconsideration” and should have reply within 14 days they said - for admission they take best score by section but for honors college, I don’t know, there’s no criteria published… In any case, you are right, I feel better that he asked but at some point, you want to get recognition without asking for it. And if that puts you in line for merit money, we also might not see that and that would be one of the most important reasons he applied there.</p>
<p>happy mom dance…last supplement was submitted today!! Phew…all apps in and complete. NOw on to working on the scholarship stuff!! (for her, my job is the FAFSFA!)</p>
<p>as it turns out, the $29 was not a total, but an entire additional fee, making the price (in total) $39. Yeah… I think I’m going to risk it…</p>
<p>Is this “a school” or “THE school?” If is it a school, then just send them standard. If it is THE school, and you will forever regret not getting in, bite the bullet and pay the rush fee.</p>
<p>In all probability, it shouldn’t matter if you pay for rush; regular will be fine. But part of this process is about managing the stress/emotions/psyche.</p>
<p>amandak, according to the Pitt website, your son’s scores qualify for honors college. the threshold is 1400. they don’t list an actual GPA but state that the honors kids are in the top 10% of their class. One other thing: in order to be considered for honors, he should have submitted an essay (the app doesn’t include one but the instructions for honors college lists some essay topics and strongly advises that the students upload the essay for honors consideration). Did he submit an essay? My S used his CA long essay.</p>
<p>Shulie, if this is a school you care about (as opposed to one of a handful of safeties), I would pony up the extra $.</p>
<p>Holliesue, yay! Doing the happy mom dance with you. Got the last supplement of the last of 6 apps in today. We’re still coordinating auditions, but making progress on that, too. :)</p>
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<p>Well, you had me scrambling to go and check whether S submitted an essay or not with his Pitt app. He did. I am finding it very difficult to keep track of all the deadlines, and separate apps for honors and merit in addition to the regular apps. Still waiting to see S’s finished app for the honors program at JMU. He is flying home today and we will not pick him up til 10:45pm. My fingers are crossed he sends something to us before he boards the plane.</p>
<p>Dancing in Ohio! S2 hit the submit button on his first two applications!! Eight more to go plus scholarship apps, but I’m trying to focus on the fact that he took the first step. </p>
<p>Wish he had agreed to apply to one rolling app school, but no! He’ll hear from his EA school on 1/15 and then we’ll wait until April for the rest.</p>
<p>So, a good weekend in Ohio!</p>