<p>Our DD2 (the HS Junior) gstarted getting mail after her first PSAT as a Freshman (scored 195), then it intensified after taking it sophomore year (210), so far this year it’s slowed down except for an interesting offer to apply for a Notre Dame summer program which is “all expense paid”{ if you win a spot. There have been a few local get togethers for various schools. We actually attended the one for MIT which was neat except that they don’t offer any merit aid. Everyone who gets into MIT deserves merit aid according to the rep. It’s too bad because it sounded like a good fit for her personality and interests! They only offer help for needy students, so that school is out for us.</p>
<p>ds has been getting more mail from mathy/sciency schools. he’s taken psat, sat, and most recently act.</p>
<p>PRJ, received that Punch email. I forwarded it to my friends who refuse to look into cc for whatever reason. </p>
<p>D’s been receiving college mail for a while but sporadically. She met a prof from Harvey Mudd in the gallery of a golf tournament a couple of weeks ago. Something clicked in her head and she said, “My mom’s talked about your school.” and a conversation started. I love it when my words actually stick.</p>
<p>lilmom, That sounds great. Harvey-Mudd is such an excellent school. In the meeting with parents, our college counseling office showed the Harvey Mudd stats as an example. I believe their 50% SAT2 MathII was 800.</p>
<p>My daughter got an application for the Telluride TASP program in yesterdays mail. She looked into it and is very interested in applying. Does anyone else have any experience with this program??</p>
<p>Highbury, look on the Summer Program thread – it’s mentioned often over there.</p>
<p>Thanks Gwen!</p>
<p>Is there a socially accepted way to enter this long thread? I am not quite sure how to catch up in the middle of the conversation! I guess I will go back and read a slew of pages…</p>
<p>Having just read a few posts, I am most envious that you would even KNOW if your child received college related email. Son 2 tells me NOTHING and if directly asked would most likely shrug and say enidnknneuoe</p>
<p>Hi Silversas…and welcome! (though I entered fairly recently myself!) I’m not sure you have to read too far back…we’re all just fastening our seatbelts for the year and some ahead, and it will be very nice to have company!</p>
<p>Welcome to Silverseas and Gwen Fairfax (I hope I didn’t miss anyone).</p>
<p>D received over 150 emails after PSAT last year…I know because she forwarded them all to me. I casually asked her if she was reading them, she said they were overwhelming, could I weed through them…I had no idea what I was getting into. The snail mail stuff she looks at, the email only happens if I open it. She does forward it but she doesn’t open it.</p>
<p>S1 used me to filter everything about the college process.</p>
<p>We had a big box in the dining room into which we threw every marketing piece he got from every college, and we watched the pile grow over the year. (if we didn’t file it with the college folders of interest). the day he decided where he was going, we WEIGHED all the college “junk” mail together with the pr culled from the folders and threw it all out in one fell swoop. Very liberating!</p>
<p>We were throwing it away as it came, since it was just bulk mail type stuff. However, Husband decided to start saving it all to see how much she would get…ugh. I hate having piles developing around me. DD was not even reading any of it. Last night though, DH was showing it to his sister and DD started looking through it. She found the University of Chicago’s PR stuff very appealing. It was quirky and funny. They put a lot of effort into presenting a “different” image than most schools. Hi to the newer members than me and thanks for the warm welcome from the others!</p>
<p>Hi Everyone, and welcome to the newbies and delurkers! 
It’s pouring rain here and I thought I’d be out at the mall. But the warmth and coziness of home has won me over. </p>
<p>Any gift ideas for a 16 yr old girl? She really doesn’t want anything in particular except for an ihome for her ipod. The first thing that came to mind was an APUSH study guide but i know it wouldn’t be well received. :)</p>
<p>D is a good student with a great GPA. She has to work extremely hard for every good grade. Testing is a real challenge. My S, who graduated last year, was the exact opposite. I had to push and nag all throughout high school. He gets it now that he’s in college (and I love to hear him tell me so - ha!) D is not looking at top schools so I don’t feel the stress of testing as much but I find myself still pushing her to try harder. It’s a hard habit to change after years of S - the classic underachiever.</p>
<p>Iglooo, Harvey Mudd is a great school but I felt Occidental was more of a match for D. If she didn’t have sports in her plans, it would be on her list. She would like to major in poli sci and go to law school. Well, that’s what she said last summer. Last week, at a party, she told some friends she wasn’t sure because she’s also good in math. DH thinks she should major in econ. This will be a long year!!!</p>
<p>Welcome to all the new posters! It’s nice to have lots of voices out there is cyberspace that can relate. </p>
<p>Lilimom- An ihome alarm clock that can travel too was one of our gifts to our 15 yr DD. We also got her an Elizabeth Arden makeup kit and one of the perfume kits from Chanel. It has five little (and I mean little!) bottles of No. 5, No. 2 and three other scents. I figure she can try them and see what she likes. A nice purse, outside running gear for winter track and some Pjs and we were done!</p>
<p>Good ideas, geogirl. I know my D forgets to replace her makeup - this will be a great time to do it. Chanel - I was just thinking about that perfume this morning!! It was my mom’s favorite. A classic! Workout clothes is a good idea, too, since D will be working with a trainer after the holidays.</p>
<p>lilmom, resist the ap study guide gift idea! but buy it anyway so that it can sit on the kitchen counter to ripen over break. </p>
<p>Took 4 months for D to finally start looking at the AP Chem prep book! Her teacher quit recently and the sub is a bio teacher…so she is glad to have it. The school found a recent masters-level grad to start in January. D says he probably took his AP Chem test just 6 or 7 years ago - how reassuring</p>
<p>I always get D a bunch of clothes with the plan that we can return anything she doesn’t feel is right-- often we don’t take anything back, but when we do, it always makes a fun mother-daughter shopping day. Books – (The Help was a big favorite from her b-day) S. Sondheim’s bio and Gone with the Wind. I got some good ideas here-- tiny but great ipod speakers (wrapped and I don’t remember the brand). Earrings, too.</p>
<p>Speaking of presents, did you all get an email from College Board about a bundle of SAT prep books making a great holiday gift? I had to laugh. </p>
<p>This year I went all out and got a lot for my daughter. A cook book - she likes to bake, DVD, clothes. I am looking forward to seeing my D’s face on Xmas day.</p>
<p>Our D has too much stuff, such is the dilemma of being an only child. I suspect the Toy Story 3 KerPlunk I picked up on a whim will be the hit, while the gifts I spent more $$$ and time on will be “ok”. She’s good about telling me if she’s not going to wear something, I’d rather return it than watch it sit in her closet. Books are good, misc jewelry (clearance), the Bare Minerals eye makeup I picked up for $7. New mascara so she will throw the old one out. </p>
<p>AP and SAT prep books are NOT her idea of Christmas gifts. And like Pathways mentioned they have to sit and ripen a while before opening.</p>
<p>For DS (though it may be a hit for both genders) we bought movie vouchers, amusement park admissions, video game rentals, and I have an IOU for a concert. The next year is going to be so stressful, I figure he will enjoy the occasional breaks. My only rule will be that he can’t go out all night before his final ACT.</p>