<p>1012mom good luck to your D! I love Wesleyan’s indoor track (that’s the only part of the school I’ve seen lol I used to run.) but it’s an amazing LAC from what I hear.</p>
<p>I’m only doing one interview. I’m applying ED to one school and no EAs (although I am not restricted from doing so.) the Smith app is free so I’d like to save money where I can, I have back up schools IN THE HORRIBLE EVENT THAT I DO NOT GET ACCEPTED TO SMITH… but we won’t talk about that :)</p>
<p>one thing I can say is having multiple jobs has prepared me for interviews/phone calling, I am no longer nervous and I can relax!</p>
<p>D just called me from girls state and was crying. Says she has swollen glands on one side of her neck and sore throat on the same side. Says she feels like she is getting sick. I think part of it is homesickness. She has never been away from home longer than 3 days and that was cheer camp with all her friends. This is a lot different. I made a point of not calling or texting today because I am trying to not be clingy.</p>
<p>My first instinct as a mom is to run up to the university she is at and bring her home. She was very ill last summer to the point we ended up at a hematologist/oncologist and gastroenterologist. She has been in the sun way too much this summer too. I am thinking this might be the beginning of strep - the unilateral sore throat, swollen lymph nodes is suspicious for bacterial infection versus viral. That almost is a relief except if it is strep she will have to leave and I wanted so badly for her to have this experience. It just sucks that her poor little body has to go through this. Has to be so vulnerable. It just isn’t fair.</p>
<p>And I can tell in her voice she not only feels bad but she misses home. This is my girl that wants to travel the world. I don’t know what to do. I told her to please call me in the am and if it gets worse to please tell someone in charge. What are we going to do when she goes to college. I think she will need to be close to home with her medical needs. I am going to try and calm myself down, maybe cry a little and say a prayer. I guess I will know more tomorrow.</p>
<p>Oh, mspearl - so sorry to hear that your D is sick when she was having so much fun there. Maybe there’s a med clinic where she can get checked? If she has a bacterial infection and gets on antibiotics tomorrow, she might feel better quickly.</p>
<p>CPU - I wrote a whole page and lost it in the cyper space. Here is a short version. If you need FA, general rule of thumb is it is not a good idea to apply ED. It is best to do RD in order to see all of your FA options. </p>
<p>As far as interview…Have a list of questions to ask about the school/program. Know your ECs well because they will “grill” you on it. It is a way for them to know how serious you are about your ECs instead of just resume padding. D1 was a ballet dancer, someone asked her to compare different ballet trainings. Don’t be afraid to have a view about politics or religion, clearly state it, then stop debating it if the interviewer has a strong view. The best interview is when the interviewer walked away with a feeling that it was a good meeting, and often it is not when you have made (pushed) your point. If you don’t have an answer, say so, and ask the interviewer what he/she thinks. </p>
<p>Few obvious things - hand shake, eye contact, smile and nod.</p>
<p>Dress conservatively, no big jewelry, right now it is a good time to wear a nice sundress (shoulders covered) and a pair of flat shoes.</p>
<p>CPU - good luck on your interview. I have similar reservations about FA as Oldfort about the ED app. I suggest you submit all your applications for RD also soon to continue the process with them.</p>
<p>1012Mom - Good luck to your D on all the interviews.</p>
<p>Mspearl - Sorry to hear about your daughter. Hope she starts feeling better and stay in the camp.</p>
<p>Just got a chance to read the thread after a couple of days-- wow, you guys are popping with thoughtful answers, I feel so lucky to be among you! All of us and our…gulp…seniors. Mspearl I hope your D feels much better today, and CPU-- good luck at Smith! I’m betting you will seem as mature and intelligent as you do here.</p>
<p>CPU - nothing like practice. Perhaps you could set up an interview with a college near home in July before your Smith one. </p>
<p>My D was nervous about meeting college coaches this spring. So I suggested she start with a college that she wouldn’t likely apply to for the experience. (and the next one was low on her list). She gained confidence talking about herself and how to ask questions and was ready for the competitive schools. </p>
<p>We just scheduled her first admissions interview in July with a college she will apply to, but is not a top choice.</p>
<p>Heading out this morning to our visit to Duke. If anyone has any questions about the tour/campus etc. I will make sure to check in later today…Bringing S class of 16’ too, can’t get started too early!</p>
<p>CPU- good luck iwth the interview. I agree that I would not encourage S to apply ED, but I know that Smith is a great place, and you will make sure all the other applications will be ready to go just in case. </p>
<p>MsPearl-I hope that she feels better as well. I remember Hoosier Girls State, and her throat may just be sore from the screaming that is inevitable at places like that. If not, then I am sure there will be some medical help. </p>
<p>I will ask all of you about your experience with ED for a school that meets 100% need. Since we are still underwater in our mortgage and have used up our savings due to unemployment, I think it would be safe to say that wages are the only thing that will be considered at CSS profile schools. Would it be safe to apply ED to a reach school that meets 100% need (and limits loans)? DS does have a reach school on his list finally, and I know that chances greatly improve for admission at the school.</p>
<p>Hi! New here and feeling overwhelmed! We are Americans living in the UK. S is class of '12 at his UK school and has attended English schools since nursery. His school doesn’t rank or issue a GPA. Everything is based on national test results (GCSE, AS and A levels.) Is anyone else in this situation? His school had two go to the US this year (both Ivies) but is relatively inexperienced at the US application process.</p>
<p>Clemenza - welcome to the thread - we are the parents of Seniors in '11-'12 (or for you Form VI). A-level scores will be considered by U.S. schools. Be sure to have your sone practice for the SATs and take them in the fall. You can preview the Common Application preview on-line now - it will be available in July.</p>
<p>Even though you’re Americans, you may end up applying as an international student. I know my brother-in-law had to when the family lived abroad during high school.</p>
<p>I’d check with every school he’s interested in on how they handle it.</p>
<p>MsPearl- when you look at colleges, if she’s had past medical troubles, see how their health clinics work. If they aren’t 24/7, see what they have sick kids do.</p>
<p>As for ED, we all have diff opinions, but IME, if you choose a school with good aid policies, they don’t purposely mess around with you. You have to research their aid, sometimes have a talk. See if they really meet need without padding it with loans (except Staffords.) Don’t be one of the CC parents who complain about their “assumptions” being wrong. Yes, you take a chance on whether some other RD school would offer you more. </p>
<p>MizzBee- D2 applied ED to a “meets 100% need” and got everything we needed. Essentially matches D1’s RD aid package. The issue is: how does a college determine need? One could calculate it at X, while another says Y. This affects your “need” calculation. A nice conv with a FA rep (not just the phone gal) could help. They won’t commit or promise, but sometimes you can get good info. Again, you don’t want them to meet “need” with Parent Plus loans in the package. You want the PP left to your discretion- eg, to help cover EFC. </p>
<p>Interviews: for Smith, a big point will be showing you are genuinely interested in a girls’ school. And, that you know about the consortium. Interviewers like to write comments about how you seem to know their school well and can see yourself there- and why. And, that you can explain your interest in your potential major. These can be casual answers. Go in with an idea of some activities you’d like to pursue. They like it when you comfortably fill any voids in the conv. You can ask about some aspect of their experience there or memories. It’s meant to be comfortable. </p>
<p>Among the deadly comments: doesn’t seems to know us well; answers could fit any college in our tier. Or, couldn’t explain her interest in this major; talked a lot about another college.</p>
<p>Mspearl – I hope your D is feeling better this morning!</p>
<p>CPU – The best piece of advice I have for interviewing is to be interesting. Both H and I are alumni interviewers for our alma maters, and being boring is the kiss of death. It’s somewhat different when you interview at a school, but remember that alumni interviewers are volunteers, freely giving their time, and they’re there to answer questions as well, not just ask them. We used to interview at home (open floor plan, family around) to make it more comfortable, but have started getting push back in favor of public places, which are not ideal for middle-aged ears.</p>
<p>LookingForward – I guarantee that if you call Smith, Wellesley, Barnard, Mt. Holyoke, or Bryn Mawr a “girls school” you will demonstrate that you have not done your homework.</p>
<p>mathinokc - He doesn’t want to apply to any UK schools. He’s not sure about what he wants to do and the UK system does not accommodate that very well. He would have to apply to “read” a particular subject and it’s not always easy to change that once you’re at school. Just US schools for him!</p>
I think part of it is homesickness. She has never been away from home longer than 3 days and that was cheer camp with all her friends. This is a lot different. I made a point of not calling or texting today because I am trying to not be clingy.</p>