<p>College visits scheduled for this week!
Miami university in Ohio
Earlham
THE Ohio state university</p>
<p>Will be spending night in Richmond then going to Columbus next day.</p>
<p>DD left for her program in South America today. Given the volcano in Chile they are worried about getting stranded en route. At least she is with a group - and teachers - so it will all be an adventure. But I did not need something else to worry about this week!</p>
<p>Before she left she scheduled college visits and interviews for July and August. We will take a few airplane trips to check out some far-flung possibilitities - as well as drive to some close to home. She knows summer is not the best time to visit - but the school year gets so busy it is hard to get away, and the extra stress of missing homework time makes any college look less appealing. She hopes to have most of the visits done this summer, make a final list, start on the essays and do some SAT prep for October. So sounds like a plan but we will see how it rolls out in reality.</p>
<p>I am just irate at the directions that education is going in Indiana. Our current four year graduation rate from public colleges and universities is only 31% yet our state is funding our universities at the same rate as ten years ago so the only way colleges can improve services is by charging ever higher tuition and fees. Now our governor has encouraged the legislature to pass a bill that will give high school students a whopping 6K to 8K scholarship to an Indiana school if they graduate high school in 3 years to save the state money. Of course kids who manage to meet graduation requirements aren’t going to have time for many APs and dual credit courses that will really save them money. And 6-8K is going to go far when IU and Purdue’s tuition in the 12-13 year is going to be over 10K. I can’t imagine that students graduating in 3 years are going to win much merit aid. Our state is pennywise and pound foolish and we are going to end up paying for it.</p>
<p>Apollo6: that sounds awful, and I really can’t refrain from politics here. When the united states is run by corporations and the supreme court rules that corporations essentially have the same rights as citizens, then we are in some serious trouble. There is a staggering problem of people voting against their own economic interest too. Let’s face it, we all know a certain party wants to privatize education in the same manner as Medicare and social security.</p>
<p>What is happening in Indiana will happen elsewhere. It is the responsibility of Americans to support education and prevent weakening it to a point where only those who can afford it, will have access to it.</p>
<p>Apollo6, I am so glad that you are angry as well. I want to scream about this as well, but I have been afraid of getting in trouble with others for getting too political. I am also lived when you take into account that the state has horrible six-year graduation rates. Why is it considered good business to pump kids into college quickly (and get them in debt with loans) then do nothing to let them drop out? Do you think it is a conspiracy to make it so that our students can’t leave the state, therefore reducing the brain drain?
Our state has too many mediocre high schools, they have crippled the teachers unions, and our Sec of State wants to make it easier to put business professionals in as teachers with emergency credentials because he sincerely believes that anyone can teach. I wouldn’t mind to see more charter schools, but I would rather they be created by community than corporations, and the majority of the private schools in our state are religious so I feel a little uncomfortable with vouchers going to church schools. </p>
<p>OK my rant is over. OTOH, Indiana really does have some great private schools and IU, Purdue and IUPUI are still great deals in education. Even lowly Indiana State University has some excellent programs.</p>
<p>Oh, did I forget to mention that our governor also wants the kids to graduate from college in three years? He is one of the philosophy that we are spending too much time on subjects in college that are not preparing us for real life. So, imagine if you can a kid graduating from high school in 3 years, then pushing (with a curriculum that reduces gen ed and distribution requirements) then is thrust out in the workforce even earlier. Where is the time to look at new possibilities? To try a class that leads you on a new path?</p>
<p>Maybe you Hoosiers can tell the Governor that if the kids have to graduate in three years, then you are going to amend the state constitution to make a governor’s term only three years! ;)</p>
<p>seiclan: My son is in same state of mind, but has already made the decision - He will opt out of AP Eng Lit senior year. He wants to get into Engineering, and so will compensate with AP Chem, & AP Physics C, AP Spanish 5, AP Stats, AP Micro/AP Gov’t. He was signed up for Multi-variable calc, but not enough other kids signed up for it. Good luck to your son with his decision.</p>
<p>mspearl - Good luck at OSU -And if your S/D has good arm strength and a low 40 time, I hear they have an opening for a QB… :)</p>
<p>Nugraddad: funny! 
no, she is 5’2 and 100 lbs. Lol. She does run pretty fast though… I told my husband maybe the scandals at osu would mean a decrease in applications. He just laughed at me.</p>
<p>Glido: I love that idea!</p>
<p>mspearl, so glad that you are looking at Earlham! Also wishing you luck at the other schools. I loved Miami of Ohio as well.</p>
<p>Mizzbee: I think it was your idea for us to check out Earlham so thank you. If it wasn’t you it was someone on here…so thank you very much!</p>
<p>MsPearl - I suspect it is just hope that OSU applicants will drop! It is a state school admitting 10,000 or more students (?) each year and even if 500 don’t apply, it wont make a dent. OTOH, they do need the good dancers!</p>
<p>I’ve got an essay question. My DD12 is a big sci-fi TV geek (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse). She is very passionate about these shows (we started her on them, so it’s all our fault 
) & often spends her free time writing fan fiction, drawing characters, creating graphic art based on the shows, or watching the eps.</p>
<p>DD could rock an answer to this question:</p>
<p>“Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.”</p>
<p>However, in your esteemed opinions, would adcoms find an answer academically non-serious or frivolous if DD chose a TV character? I want DD to write about what she loves and knows, but I don’t want her to submit something that has adcoms thinking she’s some kid who justs sits around watching TV and doing nothing else (far from the truth).</p>
<p>For those of you who know the shows, she’d likely choose Buffy or Kaylee.</p>
<p>It is absolutely fine to write about how an tv character influences an applicant, so long if it is passionate, creative, well written and focuses on the applicant. One of the most cited essays of this category was on Lisa Simpson.</p>
<p>Total agreement with glido-- an honest passion is the best route to a good essay.</p>
<p>JenPam - is your D interested in strong girl characters that improved her faith in girl power?</p>
<p>glido wrote:
This prompt can be a trap unless the writer keeps in mind the above through the entire process. The essay can’t be about Buffy. Buffy has to be a guide who assists the committee in getting to know your D. Done right, I like it. :)</p>
<p>Not to be frivolous and throw in a lighter topic, just that my kid was invited to a graduation party this weekend. I am not sure about gifts. Do kids bring a gift? There is so much going on right now. I didn’t give much thought about it until now.</p>
<p>DS is taking his last Final (final final) and will call any moment for a pick up from school and I am suddenly sad. He is now a senior and my youngest child. This is going to be a very emotional year.</p>
<p>As a parent I always take one but kids are different. My kid goes to birthday parties at restaurants where they all pay for themselves and don’t take any gifts but celebrate their friend’s birthday. I found it rather odd but it really seems to work out well. In cases where the kid shells out for dinner, they seem to take gifts.</p>