<p>RM - Is the CS course AP CS? Is he doing it virtual, on his own? My S and his friend plan to do it via FL Virtual School next semester as an independent study in school in the media room. My S has programming experience albeit a few years stale. He wants the class so he has it fresh before starting college. He planning to major in Engineering/CS.</p>
<p>By the way, Day 1 of new eating plan went well. I’m not hungry and I only ate about 1100 calories.</p>
<p>I wondered why Bluejr. seemed to have found his second wind and ready to tackle the CA today, digging in rather intently. I found out when his dad got home an incentive has been attached to completion…the new Call of Duty seal will not be broken until he hits send. He is not a gamer by any stretch, doesn’t touch the gameboy, wii, or another electronics, but CoD is quite the draw evidentially(?). I don’t know that I would have presented it that way, but DH seemed rather pleased with himself. Hey, whatever works! :)</p>
<p>Wow, FlMM, I’m impressed that you’re not hungry! If only I could say the same.</p>
<p>Re: comp sci – he’s taking it at school. It’s a full year course and his teacher, a Ph.D. in comp sci fuzzy logic, is tough but terrific. Son’s school doesn’t teach to the APs – the course is considered and titled Advanced and the kids can take the AP test if they choose but they would have to do some independent prep. At the same time, he’s taking Advanced Physics as well as four other tough classes and the audit. He gave up his frees for additional classes. I think he’s nuts. And I’m beginning to worry about the other apps – looking like Thanksgiving break is going to be all about essays.</p>
<p>Blue, my steaming expertise comes purely from speculation. That’s my story, and I’m sticking with it! The funny thing is D has said she doesn’t mind my opening the envelopes. But if I do, I’m going with the stealth options. Much more fun than just ripping it open. And I don’t want amandak being over on the dark side all by herself. She needs a partner in crime and I’m happy to serve. </p>
<p>FlMathMom, glad to hear Day 1 of the new you went well!</p>
<p>Way to go, BlueDad!!! Whatever works, at this point! And I so prefer carrot over stick, don’t you?</p>
<p>Good news today! Son got accepted to four more colleges, three with merit aid! All were match/safety but nice to have and son likes them all. It was funny trying to pry the big envelopes from the mailbox. They really could have ripped open! Fortunately I worked until 5 so he was actually home when I brought the mail in. I told him he might want to start getting the mail…</p>
<p>Hurray Hurray Hurray for so many of these Elevenses! And a special hurray for hollie’s D!!! I practically feel like it’s my kid, too - they’re triplets (with rodney’s) after all.</p>
<p>LeftofPisa - you are right. We are all unsung heroes here. And I had a particularly big swordfight today - had more than my share of red tape. Tried getting immunizations for a foreign exchange student … it’s a long story.</p>
<p>And had the anticipated red tape from our EA school. No, they won’t consider the app complete without the official ACT. So she moves into RD status. OK, we can live with that. But they do not apparently allow individual appointments for auditions this year. They will have ONE weekend, so far unscheduled, perhaps in March, to come to campus to audition. But don’t check the website … it’s not working very well right now. Not to mention that it still says you CAN have an individual appointment. And while they say video auditions are an option - they don’t really mean it. Grr.</p>
<p>They did say that RD admissions decisions will start right after the EA decisions, beginning Jan 1. OK, so I guess we’ll have to plan our audition trip pretty spur of the moment … too bad about that March play at our HS …</p>
<p>There’s a part of me that wants to run screaming from this school. But honestly I’m not going to hold bureaucratic chaos against an educational institution. Maybe it’s to be expected (especially at a public school)! Yet I find myself thinking very warmly about the one school in particular that has this incredible woman who runs the theatre dept … she’s “Mom” to everyone, including prospective students AND their parents, and she knows EVERYTHING about the school - admissions, APs, dorms, where to park, everything. But it’s too much to ask that everywhere will have that kind of god-like creature.</p>
<p>So, onward and awkward, as I heard a friend say lately. Isn’t it exciting that this gang is having so much NEWS all of a sudden! Kids are finishing their work, getting into the heart of their senior year, and starting to reap the benefits. We’ll have our share of heartbreak, too, and I’m getting ready for it. Plus the breakdowns - communicative, emotional, whatever - and the detours along the way. A year to remember, for sure!</p>
<p>kathiep - big hoots and hollers going out to your son!! Very exciting! :)</p>
<p>EmmyB - I’m so sorry for the red tape. I agree that it colors your opinion about the school. I understand deadlines, however the fact that they could move up several notches on your daughters list (hey they don’t know her list!) by including her in EA…it just seems counterproductive.</p>
<p>As you said, onward, and yes, awkward…love that!</p>
<p>Just to be clear - I didn’t mind it that the college was sticking to its rules about EA. It’s entitled to do that; in fact, it’s probably best that it does. I still am feeling dumb that I didn’t think about the time gap in ordering scores.</p>
<p>The red tape comes in where I called the theatre dept and the rep - and she’s the real person, not just a kid answering the phone - admits the website is unreliable, admits they don’t have their act together, didn’t seem to care that we have to travel 1000 miles at a lot of expense and trouble, and didn’t know enough about the regular admissions process to answer a very straight question: How do they schedule the RD decisions for theatre kids, who need to be accepted academically before they can arrange for winter auditions? Obviously they don’t wait until April! Her answer was “I don’t really know”!!! I mean, didn’t they do this last year?</p>
<p>Kathiep: YAY, YAY, YAY, YAY!</p>
<p>4 in one day, and 3 with merit??? That’s amazing! So happy for you and your son!</p>
<p>Wow - congrats to all of these early admissions. Haven’t been on the forum for a while - son got a shock a couple of weeks ago when he did not make the California ELC list even though is in the top1% in his school. Turns out his school admin (public school) screwed up when they made the list back in May. They failed to send his name even though we signed the authorization letter. It’s too late to appeal - though the school will send the UCs a letter. Only silver lining is that his counselor actually got to know him and should help with the counselor report to the privates. It kind of screws up his strategy because he was sort of banking on UC Berkeley (Physics major) with ELC as a wind on his back - the rest of his schools with the exception of Michigan and Chicago are all Ivys. My take is that Berkeley has now moved from a near safety to a potential reach for him because all the other ELC kids in his school jump ahead of him despite weaker credentials than him. He does have several other UCs - so that helps. We were unable to convince him to apply to any of the LACs. He really cannot see himself at a small school. Any recommendations on late additions of moderately large schools with good to outstanding physics programs ? I am hoping he adds at least one more match school.</p>
<p>From Olderwisermom
</p>
<p>ShawD is getting regular cards, brochures and emails from US schools that her adviser had her enter into Naviance as part of the prescribed process – they were originally the top 15 or 10 schools. Given that she later decided only to apply to Canadian schools and only visited one of the American schools, it seems clear that Naviance is selling the information to the schools.</p>
<p>dadmm85, has your son taken a look at the UCSB College of Creative Studies? Physics is one of the programs. A friend of mine is a prof in physical sciences at one of the UCs, and says repeatedly that Santa Barbara has an excellent and underrated physics program, especially for undergrads. Well worth a look, though CCS admission is no safety or match. </p>
<p>For a match or safety, perhaps University of Rochester?</p>
<p>katiep- Wow! Congrats to your S. Not only is he in, he has choices tjhis early in the game!</p>
<p>EB-too bad about your experience with that school. Leaves kind of a bad taste in your mouth I am sure!</p>
<p>kathiep: I think you have lived my dream day – 4 admissions, 3 with merit aid!! A huge horray!</p>
<p>EmmyBet: As I read about those of you who are trying to fit auditions into this whole applicaton process, I am in awe. I am having a hard enough time pushing (yes, pushing!!) S2 through the process with all of its ups and downs, twists and turns, without the added layer of auditions. The score reporting – an unfortunate blip, but the audition confusion seems huge to me.</p>
<p>kathiep-big congrats!!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the good wishes. The first acceptance is a huge relief. Last night my daughter was more relaxed than she’s been in months. Congratulations to all the others who got good news yesterday also!</p>
<p>Emmybet: I can see why you’re frustrated with that school. One of my daughter’s friends is applying for theater also, and I it really adds an additional layer of stress to the whole process.</p>
<p>Dadmm85: It’s a shame that the school’s screw up has put your son in this position. Did he apply to Michigan and Chicago EA? An early acceptance to one of them should take the pressure off. I agree that he could use one more match school, but I’m not familiar with phsyics programs.</p>
<p>dadmm85 - well that is a big blow for your S. What about CMU? My company has hired some very bright kids from there.</p>
<p>dadmm85–
Bummer on the paperwork; that kind of stuff really pushes my buttons.</p>
<p>Is Rice a match with his stats? The University of Utah should be a mega-safety because they are strictly formula based admissions and a large merit scholarship would be likely for a top 1% student. U of UT has good sciences and being located in SLC is not nearly the LDS bastion that people sometimes think.</p>