<p>intouch1520 and psychmom- Thanks for the rainbow graphics and the warm welcomes! Maybe you will see me over on the 2010 board sometime soon! I will need all the help I can get figuring out how to get my D1’s stuff across the country to her dorm! I think my 2012 S will end up a lot closer to home (but what do I know at this point, right?).</p>
<p>so S has sgreed to visit some campuses this summer. He is already tired of my talking about it, and doesn’t seem to believe me when I tell him that he doesn’t have to have his entire career mapped out at 15. This year we are going to look at Indiana schools so he can get a feel for the difference between a small LAC and a large public. Should we meet with an admissions officer or faculty at this point, or just do the tour of the campus and hit the bookstores for swag? One college that is on the top of our list (Wabash) offered to introduce him to professors and coaches this summer as well as have an informal session, but I would hate to blow it by sending him in unprepared if it starts to feel like an interview.</p>
<p>We are also going to visit a few college campuses this summer since we are going to be in NYC and Philly for family obligations. My son, at his current 16 year old boy stage of life, is not ready for the interview scene. I doubt very highly that he will ask any questions on the tours as well. We live the life of the Zits comic strip. That said, he is a strong student with high aspirations for himself and I am hoping that this first exposure to the coming realities will encourage him to give some real thought to college fit. I really am hoping and praying that at the end of the college admissions adventure, he ends up in a really good place “for him”.</p>
<p>Seiclan… I took my reluctant S to a few college visits this past month. We were up in Seattle/ Portland area to visit grandparents, so I thought since we were up in the PNW we should take a look at a few colleges to get his feet wet. We looked at 3 colleges… were supposed to see 5 but bad weather got in the way. He was expecting it to be boring… and no he didn’t ask anything at the info sessions, although I did. He was surprised to have really liked the visits and he did get some valuable insight into some of the things he liked and didn’t like. I actually thought it was a good idea to get some of the visits done this year because I think traveling all over the country in one year would be tough. One of things he knows is that he wants a college close to the mountains for outdoor stuff. So that is going to be PNW, Colorado, Maine, and upstate NY. He also wants to look at Sewanee in TN.Anyway, the point I’m making is boys may be reluctant at first, and he did get a little bored at the info sessions, but liked the tours, they will appreciate it once you do it. It starts to open their eyes to the excitement of what’s to come.</p>
<p>Ok, my break is over and I’m back!</p>
<p>D12 and I went to a college fair and she told some of the school reps that she was torn between a major in math or poli sci. (Thankfully, she’s got time to think about it :)) This was her 4th college fair (she tagged along with her older brother a few times) and I stayed in the background while she asked the questions. Of course, the only question she didn’t ask was the COA question. That was my job. </p>
<p>Then, on the way home, she said her senior friends told her that she definitely needed to take the SAT this year. (Just a few weeks ago, she told me she didn’t want to!) I love that she’s talking to her older friends about college. They’re going to great schools next year and I promised D we would try to visit them on college tours.</p>
<p>seiclan, D and I are planning to be in New York/Philly area, too this summer. Which schools do you think you’ll be seeing?</p>
<p>It was a lot of work trying to find a right fit for my 2010er, and I know this sounds bad, but I am just not up to looking at schools this summer for S2012. Also, I found the summer tours helpful only in giving a general impression of the layout of the school…I think it’s important to (re)visit when the students are in session.</p>
<p>With D2010, I did start the summer after sophomore year in order to give her a feel for large vs. small, city vs. rural, etc. We went to schools that were fairly close by. She started off wanting a big city, high name recognition school, but ended up seeing herself at a small, LAC-type college. It was an interesting transformation, and we had a lot of great bonding along the way…I am just not ready to do it again!!!</p>
<p>I’ve had a year’s break with a D2009, but have decided to focus on getting S2013 through AP’s, drivers ed and high school requirements this year, before switching gears next fall to start thinking forward. </p>
<p>Perhaps we might make it on a tour or two if we are in a convenient location, but I’m hoping we can help him focus in on what size and type of school by next spring.</p>
<p>just want to bump this for the newcomers</p>
<p>psychmom- I agree with you word for word! We must have parallel lives or parallel children! This summer I am going to focus on enjoying D1 and getting her launched on her her adventure before I can even think about S2012!</p>
<p>Nice to see you on the 2010 thread, boiledegg! 
I’m also waiting before starting the college process with my 2012 daughter. Too much to think about with the 2010 one right now. I need a nice, long rest. I don’t see that coming until Sept. :(</p>
<p>Thanks and no kidding! I think September will be more peaceful than the summer for most all of us with a 2010er on the launchpad! There is plenty of time for 2012!</p>
<p>How did the May 1 SAT and SAT2s go - everyone’s DDs and DSs survive?</p>
<p>My son is taking the June SAT 2. We will let you know how that goes.</p>
<p>I was a little concerned that D2012 was so busy playing at the beach during her RYE exchange year in S. America to study for the AP art history exam she’s taking at an American school next week but it turns out that she can get to level 8 on Free Rice’s art history ID (1 level higher than I can) so I guess I don’t need to worry.
- Freerice.com is very fun. I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>Very cool website, Apollo, I sent it to my kids.</p>
<p>My son took his first ever AP exam this afternoon (in Statistics). He was told to arrive at 11:00 AM for the 12 noon test and he didn’t get out until after 4:30 pm !!!</p>
<p>Apparently the AP Spanish test in the am ran long. That is a long day for a kid who now has to study and do homework for his 6 other subjects tonight. He is really tired but has a big AP world test on the last two chapters in the morning so he has to stay awake and study. The AP World exam is next Thursday am. </p>
<p>I am counting down the days until June 9 (last day of school) when he can relax with his sisters who are home now from college. D1 graduated from UF (Gators) last weekend btw!!!</p>
<p>Took D to Kent State today for the 40th anniversary observance. Some things are more educational than a day in school ;)</p>
<p>I lived in Gainsville as a kid, my Dad went to Uof F. that was when streaking was popular. great school and nice town. My D2 is a 2012, we may visit some local schools this summer, but Ihave had a year off, D1 just finished her freshman year in college.</p>
<p>I have a question about language requirements. I know they vary between schools, but since my S has no clue where he wants to go yet, I was hoping for some opinions/advice.
My S has taken language through Spanish 3, but being a math/science person, would like to take AP math/science classes instead of Spanish 4. Will this limit him in terms of schools?</p>
<p>momof2inma- Take a look at some of the websites of schools you think your son might be interested in for their language requirements (including reach schools). It seems to me most schools only require 3 years. My D1 went through all the years of foreign language offered up through her senior year, but my 2012 son has decided to stop after year 3 of his language (so after this year). His call.</p>