<p>^^^collegeshopping, I’m sure I speak for all when I say: all our fingers are crossed the news is reassuring and some relief is coming soon.</p>
<p>So why bother calling you? When ds was at ER, first they did an ultrasound. Not just the technician but also the radiologist and a radiology intern were there, mumbling “oh did you see that?” and “wow, now look there.” While I gave them the time to finish looking around, I asked “So what did you see?” And you know what, they refuse to answer me. I just about decked that radiologist.</p>
<p>Why would they call you until they have something to say?!</p>
<p>I thought I posted here yesterday, but can’t find my post - wonder where it went? Or perhaps that’s my mind taking a walk ???</p>
<p>missypie - congratulations on being done! Must be a wonderful feeling. One we won’t experience till late April, I am guessing!</p>
<p>collegeshopping - hope you find out soon what’s wrong. </p>
<p>At our end, things have been moving, albeit slowly. Couple more apps submitted. One scholarship essay written. Hoping to submit a couple more this weekend - edging closer to “done”. Finally did get the recommendation from her second teacher uploaded yesterday - great to see that the schools she has applied to have already downloaded the rec this morning! On another note, she was nominated for the NHS scholarship - when we all congratulated her, she groaned - one more app, one more essay, two more recommendation letters to get 
Great though to see her get recognized for all the hard work she has put in so far for NHS!</p>
<p>Common App essay does not have a word limit, our private counselor advised us it should be “around 750 words” and that is the advice I had generally heard. My son’s is around 850 words. I do think the general advice is that it should be no longer than 1000 words. On CC the word counts seem to be reported as between 450-1000.</p>
<p>An overdue thank-you to FlMathMom, blueiguana, madbean, momjr and momofboston for their calming words about alumni interviews. And an overdue congrats to GKM’s kid about Bard, to missypie’s D on having deposits submitted (do we have a smiley connoting insane jealousy?), to WillDaSnail for having safeties in the bag. Go, go, go!!!</p>
<p>collegeshopping, I’d deck whoever called you. Maybe you can call and plead for the doctor to review and call ASAP? </p>
<p>Cheering on those who are dealing with setting up auditions, managing complex arts portfolios, or just riding herd on the paperwork. D1 is still fine-tuning essays that may or may not be needed come Dec 15. I asked her if her school talks to the kids about good etiquette with early admissions, since there will be far more students hearing bad news than good. It doesn’t sound like people are as considerate as they should be. :(</p>
<p>DMelan, there is no 500 word limit on the Common App essay. Agree with Aniger that “around 750 words” is what counselor’s in D’s school recommend. But, if your kid has written a powerful under-500 word essay, I definitely wouldn’t add words just for the sake of upping the word count.</p>
<p>At a college meet and greet with Princeton, UVA and another school who I can’t remember, the general tone from the Adcoms where a well written essay should be able to convey the point in 500-600 words. Less than that and there would not be enough detail, more than that, some readers would get bored and check out.</p>
<p>Hi student here.
I was just noticing how many of you throughout the course of this thread have wondered how kids without parental assistance manage the application process, and a couple of you have stated that you feel bad for them.</p>
<p>I am one of those kids. I have loving, intelligent, hard-working parents, but they are almost completely uninvolved with my college search/application process. They give me the credit card when I ask to pay an application fee, and I occasionally let them know how my apps are going. But otherwise- nothing. I am doing everything myself. They have not read my essays, they do not know my test scores, and when I asked my mom (just for fun) if she could name the 7 colleges that I am applying to (which I have told her before), she was only able to name three. I am the one who contacts colleges, sets up interviews, etc.</p>
<p>I just wanted to say to you guys- PLEASE do not feel bad for students like me. Although it is indeed a lot of work, for me (and for my friends who have similar parents) it is just another part of senior year. In fact, I personally feel that it’s good preparation for college itself- to have to juggle a lot of things at the same time. And when the admissions results come, I know that I will take pride in the fact that I have done it by myself.</p>
<p>With that said, different families do things differently. Your kids are INCREDIBLY lucky to have parents like yourselves!!! Make sure they know that.
But also know that theres no need to feel sorry for students who do it on their own :)</p>
<p>Cs- 500-600 is what was recommended to my d. Hers was just around 500, so far she has been accepted at 4 schools, so it must have been sufficient . I am of the opinion that except for the top schools that the essay is of little import- assuming grammar spelling is acceptable.</p>
<p>HI All
On the apps–i do think the picky things and the short take answers of 25 words for example, or short essays under 250 words etc etc ARE important to follow–
With the Common App giving kids the ability to be “lazy” and submit apps all over the place without much effort–those supplements help divide the groups.
And it does give the AdComs the ability to see different facets beyond scores and gpa…</p>
<p>Our student, the GC all we read said to keep the essays shorter, and succinct…</p>
<p>I have been surprised to read about kids who wouldn’t answer “why xyz university” and thought it “optional”!</p>
<p>and also surprised to hear some argue that 800 words wasn’t “too long” compared to the 500600 suggested word limit.</p>
<p>I would be really interested to know how those things divide at admissions…and how they impact being in the no,maybe, or yes pile for example…</p>
<p>On kids being different–ours are very different from eachother–and both are really bright and talented…one will do what it takes and one looks for every shortcut…(like hoping to not get caught NOT doing hw because “she doesn’t collect it” ) Grrrr</p>
<p>Has anyone started holiday shopping yet?</p>
<p>Gave my son his first Chanukah present last night - an electric menorah to use next year at school. Not as exciting as video games, but I think he’ll appreciate it next year.</p>
<p>Scores being sent today and LORs mailed tomorrow for Jan 1 deadline schools. After hearing all your horror stories, I think that is the way to go. Thanks. CB and ACT really should warn their customers (US) of the time delay!</p>
<p>^^ Happy Chanukah!</p>
<p>May your home be filled with Light and Blessing!</p>
<p>^^^True That! Happy Chanukah to everyone celebrating this wonderful holiday!</p>
<p>FlMathMom, what a great idea!</p>
<p>IMaGecko–congratulations! The responsibility you have shown throughout your college app process and your energy and focus are an excellent indication of how ready you are to run your own life. With traveling to visit (sometimes to audition at) schools, Financial Aid apps and merit aid and so on, this can be a lot of work for us parents to figure out, so I’m even more impressed that you have taken it on.</p>
<p>In my earlier post, I wasn’t feeling bad for kids without help. I was feeling compassion with how hard adding this extra work onto senior year might be. And I was just wondering if it was possible to do it all while keeping up difficult senior year work and activities! Glad you could check in and tell us how you’ve managed it. I think your parents are lucky to have raised such a cool and self-reliant kid.</p>
<p>Hey, a quick question - if kid is taking 2 subject tests, do they get released after the second test - free to go or do they have to sit there until everyone SAT and SATIIs are done?</p>
<p>^ I think each test is 50 minutes…and that they have one test booklet with all of the tests etc.
My student says they take the tests and then hand in the materials at each break if they aren’t staying…for a second or third test</p>
<p>So if your student is done after an hr–they can go…</p>
<p>yes, fogfog is right. after you finish your last SAT II test, you leave. at our school the kids who are taking the SAT IIs are not taking it in the same room as the SAT I kids so that there is no disruption to them by having kids pick up to leave.</p>
<p>One of S’s EA schools which he visited in May, but unable to schedule an interview with just asked him if he wanted a Skype interview. It is a safety school for him and he has already attend an honors school program there at their invitation in October so I am not sure if they feel they need additional time with him or if they are offering interviews to all applicants.</p>