Parents of the HS Class of 2012 - Original

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
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<p>Wow! Three new members today! Welcome all!</p>

<p>My DS is our only. We will qualify for need-based aid, though our life was very different a couple of years ago. DS has pretty good scores for CC, great (though inflated GPA). He wants small LAC to study chemistry (this week) and plans to study optometry. Loves theater, government and in rebellion from his Berkeley upbringing will not go to school with “hippies”. He has a favorite school (Wabash). I will also vent regularly about his crazy sense of humor. I act as college counselor for about 10 kids in our blue collar Indiana town with the hope that they can at least think beyond the local satellite schools of our flagships.</p>

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<p>It’s fun to read about everyone’s wonderful kids and fun to think about how freaked out they’d be if they were privy to this thread, hee hee.</p>

<p>S2012 is the second of our two; D2008 was a B student with “B” SATs who wanted a very particular major and to be within a few hours drive of home. So she applied to the 7 schools that met those criteria, had the EA apps in by 11/1, the rest by 12/1; boom and done. </p>

<p>S’12 could not be more different, so it’s as if I’m doing this for the first time. Stellar student who takes a big load (8 academic classes, honors track), natural test taker with one-and-done SATs, all with little effort required. Great, right? Well, sure, but the “little effort” part now seems to be putting the college search and application process into a summer stall (I’m counting on him feeding off of senior buzz come fall). I’m surprised I still have a tongue for how much I’m biting it. Right now, there’s a vague interest in the humanities and social sciences. His list is reach heavy, so we’re focussing on finding financial matches and safeties. Our instate flagship is pretty good though the state system as a whole is in financial distress. He started out thinking LAC but is having trouble dealing with their mostly remote locations so the list is leaning now more towards the 5,000-ish student universities. Hoping to keep him on the east coast, though he fell hard for U Chicago last week, and I have to say, he’d be a nice fit there, I think.</p>

<p>Babbling now! I appreciate being here; thank you all…</p>

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<p>Pghmomof2, DS’12 (and DS’18). DS has fabulous scores but so-so grades at a rigorous independent school - which makes it hard to determine how it will all shake out when we look at the GPA ranges for schools. His grades have improved a lot since 9th grade as he’s matured, but the cumulative GPA is not very impressive. He’s very into linguistics and wants to pursue a PhD, but is worried about the lack of jobs and is trying to figure out what the backup plan would be. He’s truly interested in almost every topic except sports (he’s the captain of the quiz bowl team, no surprise). Very quirky, disorganized, slightly “on the spectrum.” Still doesn’t have a sense of school size - he (and we) likes the community of small LACs but wants someplace that really “looks like a college.” We’ll definitely need some merit aid, so we’re including a number of state uni’s with good honors colleges that do merit for OOS, as well as some LACs that seem like they might be matches on the “quirky” scale. </p>

<p>Welcome to the ride, all new members!</p>

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<p>It’s a bad idea. You could get out of ED if you couldn’t afford it, but your idea of affordability maybe different than theirs.</p>

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<p>Annasdad, DD12, DS14 (and DD 91/95). DD12 goes to a public residential HS, the premier math and science HS in the state and one of the top in the US. At our home HS (rural, underfunded, generally crummy) as a freshman, she was #1 in a class of 31. She has really struggled to keep her head above water at her current school, but through determination, hard work, and a lot of personal attention from an incredibly dedicated staff has managed to do so. Like the DS of a previous poster, her GPA is very low (though with an upward trend), but her test scores are good, and her expectations about the college admissions process are realistic. I’ve done most of the spadework on developing a college list, but based on her criteria. She’s grateful for the help and amenable to suggestions. It’s been a lot of fun interacting with her for the first time on a real adult-to-adult basis. Her career goals are still unclear, but at 17, that’s OK, IMO. We’re looking at our state flagship, one other IS state school, one affordable OOS public, two mid-sized research universities (significant reaches), and a half dozen LACs. Her one non-negotiable demand is that the school offer at least a minor in Russian, which cuts down the possibilities very fast. </p>

<p>Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using CC App</p>

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<p>My DS12 is an only child. B student grades and test scores. He thinks he wants to major in something to do with conservation and is volunteering at a fish hatchery to see if that would be something he would like to pursue. He started with a list containing distant schools but was diagnosed with a chronic medical condition last fall that will limit him to within an 8 hour drive from home. Has one clear favorite school (academic and financial safety) and really doesn’t see the point in applying to many others so it looks like we will probably have an easier time than many.</p>

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<p>“My ds and I are wading into the application process this fall, but with a twist. He’s been homeschooled all along . . .I’ve designed a transcript, have a draft of the counselor’s letter written and we’ve got outside teachers on tap to write recommendations. We’re waiting to find out what else the admissions folk will want . . .”</p>

<p>Fiddlinmom - they will want some great essays and some SAT Subject Matter scores.</p>

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<p>SteveC. S is A student with A standardized tests and potential NMSF if Texas’ cutoff will stay at or very near where it’s been for the last several years. He wants to double major psychology and philosophy with the goal of a clinical psychology PhD program and possible faculty position. </p>

<p>Once upon a time, when asked where he wanted to go to college, he replied, “I don’t know; Dad hasn’t told me yet.” At that point, I was determined that the little smart aleck would take responsibility for this decision. From day one, I have tried to develop his critical thinking skills, so our method is for him to argue a suggestion and me to play devil’s advocate. He likes to argue and has gotten pretty good at it, so in contrast to everyone else’s stomach aches, I get occasional headaches.</p>

<p>He is presently leaning toward research universities with faculty doing high-caliber clinical research. Potential for merit aid is a plus. I think University of Minnesota moved to the top of the list after our visit last week. We both want to see Pitt sometime soon as well.</p>

<p>Welcome Sunshinestatemom, vlines, and fiddlinmom!</p>

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<p>It’s fun to read about everyone’s wonderful kids and fun to think about how freaked out they’d be if they were privy to this thread, hee hee.</p>

<p>I shudder to think what would happen if DS discovered what I say and do about him. I know that he checked out CC a few times (don’t know his user name) and told me the kids were way too intense for him.</p>

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<p>^That’s why i post here in the parent’s forum! Some of you have kids that are closer to me stat wise…it seems like all of the students in the high school section have 2400s, 4.0s, and have discovered the cure for cancer. Very intimidating!</p>

<p>I started thinking about my essays today! I have a couple of ideas so i think i’m just going to write an essay for each idea and then see which one allows my personality to shine through and is the most unique. I’m worried one of my topics may be a little…out there. I’ll have to see what other people think.</p>

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<p>bigapple3- I know this sounds crazy, but do a few essays. Get your blood flowing, as it were. There is something beautiful that comes out of just writing. My essay was about how how my feminism reared its head when the boys wanted me to beco9me their blood brother, so I decided to initiate “Blood and Fire friends” in order to maintain my female status. It may have been a little intense, but it was the 5th essay that I wrote after talking about studying in France, being crowned Pioneer Days Queen and converting to Paganism as a result of a confirmation project.
From that rambling, I am basically saying keep writing and inspiration will follow.
That goes for you CPU!
Too bad my own DS doesn’t take my advice.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice, MizzBee! Your essay sounds great. I’m sure the admission officers had never seen anything like that! Now i don’t feel worried about writing about graveyards…i swear, it’s not that weird. The topic is but the essay isn’t! </p>

<p>And i think with your son he just doesn’t want to listen to his parents. My parents will tell me things and i ignore their suggestions and think they’re crazy but if a teacher or my GC says the same thing, i take their advice. It drives my parents crazy but i’m working on listening to them…it’s just not easy for a 17 year old to admit that their parents know best! Most of us think we’re the smartest person on this earth.</p>

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<p>To continue with the introductions, I discovered CC a few years back when D (college class of 2013) was a HS senior. She attends a women’s college, so S (HS 12) will not be following her!</p>

<p>We learned so much with her search, and hopefully S will benefit. We are starting with the financial angle with schools that meet full need, preferably with no loans or capped loans. S attends a large public urban HS with a rather low graduation rate but the most APs offered in the area. He’s kind of a mixed bag but hopefully will be in the running somewhere. UW GPA around 3.8, W 4.2; probably class rank in top 5%, ACT 30. Has taken 4 AP classes so far (Physics, Biology, Language, and US History) but only took one test, US History; got a 5. I think he’s taking 4 more APs next year.</p>

<p>ECs: won regional award for musical theater, last year tried Forensics for the first time and qualified for 2 national tournaments. Very involved in theater and singing, including several leadership positions and extensive volunteering. Also on varsity tennis team all 3 years. Was one of 2 juniors on the scholar bowl team last year; they won 2nd place in the state. His areas of strength on the team include sports, current events, geography, music, and literature. </p>

<p>Would like to continue to sing in college as an activity, not a major - choir or acapella group, maybe. Interested in political science, history, international studies, etc.</p>

<p>He started out thinking of bigger schools with great sports to watch but during visits has been drawn to some of the smaller schools. Still coming up with a list, but has been impressed with University of Richmond, Davidson, and Brandeis. Also likes University of Virginia, where he is a legacy. Considering state school, where he is also a legacy, but really wants to broaden his horizons by going out of state, plus I think he’ll do better financially elsewhere.</p>

<p>Hoping the fact that he’s male will help with some of the LACs that have more female applicants/% of the student body.</p>

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<p>Welcome newcomers, more the merrier or misery loves company!
My 12D is the second time through. 10D is happily ensconced at a mid-size highly selective private in NE. 12D has a strong GPA at a highly selective NE prep with solid but not perfect test scores. She is an artsy kid interested in studying humanities.
We are currently in Nola heading to Tulane today. Yesterday at Rice, so here is a quick visit report:
DD loved the campus-spacious, manicured, modern, lots of blond brick. It was pretty empty, so no way to really get the student vibe. The academics are superb, and she likes that “regular” students can take classes and participate in ensembles at the music conservatory program.
The key differentiating factor at Rice is the residential college system where you alive with a small (300) group of students with a tenured faculty member and advisors to help organize activities. Other colleges do this, but at Rice it appears to be the center of all campus life including social events, intramurals, arts events, etc. DD found the sense of community this creates very appealing.
Rice will stay on her list, but she has two concerns that will keep it from rising to the top. One, housing is not guaranteed after year 1. Not being from anywhere near Texas the thought of having to find an apartment in a strange city is very intimidating. Most likely would not be an issue by the time she had to face it, but from her 17 year old vantage point is a significant worry. Two, although they have a drama major neither the tour guide nor the admissions office knew where the theatre was on campus. As a drama person this did not bode well for the importance of theatre performances to the community.</p>

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<p>OK MizzBee - you are officially on my list of cool people I’d like to meet some day.</p>

<p>1012 - the admissions office didn’t know where the theater was on campus? I would be surprised by that too. Rice was on our early list, but I think they take GPA really seriously and I just don’t think S has the grades for it, so it wasn’t worth getting over the idea of the hot weather and being so far away. It sounds like a great school though.</p>

<p>bigapple - my kids used to love to go hang out in cemeteries when they were little!</p>

<p>It’s great to read everyone’s blurbs!</p>

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<p>eeek…1st post after lurking forever! Started reading like crazy for dd2010. Last year went to school 7 hrs away 1st semester, 2nd sem community college, and in Sept will attend SUNY Purchase as Arts Mgmt major and will do her Musical Theater training on the side. Did not look at college for her til Sept of Senior yr! I was a basket case by the time she left for school. Will miss her again, but her grades were great 1st year, she grew up a lot, and hopefully it will continue to work out for her.</p>

<p>dd2012 Learned our lesson and did a bunch of visits junior year. She has a tiny list to apply to because she wants to major/minor in dance and wants to stay close. 1st choice Adelphi, then SUNY Oneonta, Suny Cortland.</p>

<p>dd2014 thinks wants Special Ed…I’m just praying for some kind of normal major!</p>

<p>Thanks to all posters who have shared such personal info, it’s really helped me deal with this craziness!</p>

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<p>OK - I just had to laugh at this mailing S just got from Butler University. I don’t think he’s expressed interest in it, so it must just be a generic marketing effort. The outside of the envelope says, “Your tickets are enclosed!!!” Inside, it has 3 shiny tickets that look official (real seat numbers, scantron stripes, date & time) - one to a Final Four basketball game, one to see the Blue Man Group, and one to see Madeleine Albright. These are real events that happened on the Butler campus…last year! (I just know this because I live in Indianapolis and saw Albright at this event - it was free to the public.) All of the dates on the tickets are from 2010. And then there’s another thing that looks like a ticket that says, “you could go out and get tickets for each of these events. Or you could get an all-access pass by attending Butler University.” </p>

<p>I don’t really knock the schools for all of their marketing efforts - I know they’re living in the real world and need to draw applications. But this was almost offensive. Kind of bait & switch. The envelop said “your tickets are enclosed!” C’mon Butler…be accurate with the materials you send out.</p>

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<p>welcome disneygals!</p>

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<p>Ditto. Welcome newcomers!! This is such a supportive thread and I was so impressed following the 2011 thread last year how everyone was there for each other. I am hoping to have the same here with our journey. DS2012 and DS2014, I have 3 older boys but they are much older and long out of college. The 2012 S goes to a top private prep in CA. NOt really sure of his GPA because he went away last Sping to a school in Vt and his GPA there is not averaged into his GPA at his home school. He is mostly a B+ student with a few A’s thrown in. Takes AP’s and honors and will have 5 AP’s this year. High test scores are tippy top and so far 3 AP’s ( 2 self-studied) with a 4 in USH and 5’s in Lit and Lang. </p>

<p>Wants a small LAC type school with small classes and near some sort of mountains, as he is a competitive rock climber and avid mountaineer. He is an Eagle Scout, first responder and rescue diver. He is also very into environmental issues and conservation. Wants to major in ES and go on to med school to become a rural ER doc. He is VERY unpretentious and laid-back. Loves to learn about EVERYTHING, but homework,not so much. I kind of compare him to the guy in “Into The Wild” if you saw that movie. Only he has been studying survival skills since he was 2 and he would have faired much better in the end. His motto is " All who wanders is not lost". </p>

<p>So far his list is pretty much set, but we are still going to visit Maine and Midd in October. He is toying with applying ED to Midd. He Fell head over heals in love with VT. and would love to go back there.</p>

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<p>Wow, so much to catch up on. Welcome all newcomers - this is a great group of people here with lots of different kids. I find it very supportive and people allow me to discuss and agonize over different aspects of the process. This helps me since my DS12 would rather I not be involved with his search and applications, other than to finance everything! </p>

<p>A small intro: DS12 is the oldest of three. We also have DD13 and DS17. Smart kid, although not NM smart. Independant. Very independant. Decent GPA, decent SATs. Strong writer with good writing and CR scores; math a bit weak, mainly due to his "do the minimum effort to get the ‘A’ " mantra. :frowning: Looking for a Marine Bio school that we can afford. His Ocean Science Bowl team was 4th in the country this year. DS12 is captain this coming year. Pres. of Model UN club where he earned a gavel his sophmore yr and an honorable mention Jr year in NYC. Lots of EC work in politics. Good kid, but not really internalizing that we won’t be paying 54K a year for his school. We have enough to pay for instate full ride, but not enough to pay private. We shall see where he ends up. U Miami is looking like a good academic fit if he qualifies for a scholarship. Reaches are Stanford, Brown and Cornell. Matches are U Miami, Boston U, UC San Diego (OOS), UC Santa Barbara (OOS). Safeties are SUNY Geneseo, UMBC (OOS), U Hawaii. His list is not final and where he goes will be based on affordablity. Should be an exciting year!</p>