<p>surfcity: That’s America!! At least that’s my impression of America. (I’m from different country.) If you are a pro sport player, you are treated like a national hero. Same in high school. Good sports players get all the coverage but math olympian or great musician do not get the same attention and treatment. That’s why some high school sport player develop the sense of entitlement??? </p>
<p>While I do admire their great skills, I still don’t understand why American pro sports players get that much respect, money, status, etc, etc.</p>
<p>Ahsmuoh’s DD: University of South Carolina
Amandakayak’s D: University of Pittsburgh
Amazhon’s D: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Apollo6’s DD: University of Mississippi
brownpartyo5 DS: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
busymomma’s DS: University of Wisconsin-Madison
carimama’s D: MIT
College4K’s DD: University of Arizona
confetti247’s S13: University of Notre Dame
coralbrook’s d: California Lutheran
critter’s S: Stanford
cyclonehome’s DD: Tulane University
dadotwoboys’ DS: Duke
daisychain’s D: Hampshire
David1126’s S: Harvey Mudd
Descartesz’s D: Haverford
Donivrian’s DS: UC B
Dragonflygarden’s D: Princeton University
EastGrad’s DS: Harvard
ericd1112’s DS: Miami University
esteemom’s DS: USC
fidoprincess’s DS: Columbia University
fineartsmajormom’s D: University of Pennsylvania
FlyMeToTheMoon’s D: University of Pittsburgh (Honors)
Fredricksdottir’s DD: University of Chicago
GreekMana’s: DSa Stanford; DSb Duke; DPc Trinity University
Geogirl1’s DD: University of Rochester
gunnerz’s S: University of Denver
Haystack’s S: Iowa State University
Idahomom’s S: University of Redlands
intparent’s D: Harvey Mudd
Itsallgood1’s DS: Bowdoin
jennieling’s S: Amherst
Kat2013’s DS: Catholic University of America
Kelbee’s Niece: Clark University
Kelowna’s DS: Duke
Kennedy2010’s DD: Washington University in St. Louis
laurendog’s Step-D: University of Pittsburgh
LCSMOM’s S: Cornell University
Learninginprog DD: Cornell
lisa6191’s S: University of Alabama
LizzieT’s DD: University of Maryland-College Park
Luckylu’s S: Columbia University
lvvcsf’s DD: Purdue University
mamabear1234’s D: Pomona College
MarthaW’s DD: Olin College of Engineering
Matmaven’s S: Lehigh University
megpmom’s DS: Westminster Choir College (Rider Univ)
Mom24boys DS: Northeastern University
Mom2kids2dogs’ DD: Northwestern University
Mommaof5’s DS: University of Chicago
Momofboston’s DD: Elon
MomofNEA’s DS: Cornell
MommyDearest13’s DS: Vanderbilt University
Momofzag’s D: Bucknell University
momtobgb’s DD: Emory University
Moonpie D2: Vanderbilt
MSNDIS’s D: George Washington University
MTnest’s DS: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
musicmerit’s D: Yale
MyLB’s DS: University of Montana
my3gr8boyz DS - Duke
MZBkiya’s D: Grinnell
nerdyDad’s D: MIT
our2girls’ DD: Belmont University
pkdof13’s D: Wellesley
pkdof13’s S: Wheaton (MA)
pouncecat2’s DD: University of California, Davis
privateschoolluv’s DS: Occidental College
psblstnr’s DD: Carleton College
Psychodad10’s DS : Washington University in St. Louis
sacchi’s D: Dickinson College
SomeOldGuy’s Devil Child: Duke
sophieandlola’s DS: University of Florida
ssacdfamily D: St. Olaf’s College
STAmum’s D: Sarah Lawrence
STEMFamily’s DD: Arizona State University
surfcity’s S: Bucknell U
Swizzle13: University of Connecticut
tougis’s D1: Northwestern
TVenee’s DD: Columbia University
Tx5athome’s DS: Cal
Viewer’s S: Harvard
Vitrac’s D: Tulane University (Honors)
wherenext DD: University of Southern California
wilma13 DS: Cal
Wintriest’s D: Mills College
W2BeHome’s DD: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Youdon’tsay’s ds: Georgetown
2kidzmom’s DS: University of Florida</p>
<p>School:
Amherst: jennieling’s S
Arizona State University: STEMFamily’s DD
Belmont University: our2girls’ DD
Bowdoin: itsallgood1’s DS
Bucknell University: Momofzag’s D, surfcity’s S
Cal: Tx5athome’s DS, Donivrian’s DS, wilma13 DS
California Lutheran: Coralbrook’s D
Catholic University of America: Kat2013’s S
Carleton College: psblstnr’s DD
Clark University: Kelbee’s Niece
Columbia University: TVenee’s DD, Luckylu’s S, fidoprincess’s DS
Cornell University: LCSMOM’s S, MomofNEA’s S, Learninginprog DD
Dickinson: sacchi’s D
Duke: dadotwoboys’ DS, Kelowna’s DS, GreekMana’s DSb, SomeOldGuy’s Devil Child, my3gr8boyz DS - so many that it wrapped to the next line!
Elon: momofboston’s DD
Emory: momtobgb’s DD
George Washington University: MSNDIS’s D
Georgetown: Youdon’tsay’s ds
Grinnell: MZBkiya’s D
Hampshire: daisychain’s D
Harvard: Eastgrad’s DS, Viewer’s S
Harvey Mudd: David1126’s S, intparent’s D
Haverford: Descartesz’s D
Iowa State University: Haystack’s S
Lehigh University: Matmaven’s S
Miami University: ericd1112’s S
Mills College: Wintriest’s D
MIT: nerdyDad’s D, carimama’s D
Northeastern: Mom24boys S
Northwestern: tougis’s D1, Mom2kids2dogs’ DD
Occidental College: privateschoolluv’s DS
Olin College of Engineering: MarthaW’s DD
Pomona College: mamabear1234’s D
Princeton University: Dragonflygarden’s D
Purdue University: lvvcsf’s DD
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT): W2BeHome’s DD
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: brownpartyo5’s DS
St. Olaf’s College: ssacdfamily D
Sarah Lawrence: STAmum’s D
Stanford: GreekMana’s DSa, critter’s S
Trinity University: GreekMana’s DPc
Tulane University: cyclonehome’s DD, Vitrac’s D
University of Alabama: lisa6191’s S
University of Arizona: College4K’s DD
University of California, Davis: pouncecat2’s DD
University of Chicago: Mommaof5’s DS, Fredricksdottir’s DD
University of Connecticut: Swizzle13
University of Denver: gunnerz’s S
University of Florida: sophieandlola’s DS, 2kidzmom’s DS
University of Maryland-College Park: LizzieT’s DD
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: MTnest’s DS
University of Mississippi: Apollo6’s DD
University of Montana: MyLB’s DS
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-Amazhon’s D
University of Notre Dame: confetti247’s DS
University of Pennsylvania: fineartsmajormom’s D
University of Pittsburgh: laurendog’s Step-D, FlyMeToTheMoon’s D, Amandakayak’s D
University of Redlands: Idahomom’s S
University of Rochester: Geogirl1’s DD
University of Southern California (USC): wherenext’s DD, esteemom’s DS
University of South Carolina (USC ): ahsmuoh’s DD
University of Wisconsin-Madison: busymomma’s DS
Vanderbilt University: MommyDearest13’s DS, Moonpie D2
Washington University in St. Louis: Kennedy2010’s DD, Psychodad10’s son
Wellesley College: pkdof13’s D
Westminster Choir College (Rider Univ): megpmom’s DS
Wheaton College (MA): pkdof13’s S
Yale: musicmerit’s D</p>
<p>All done with AP testing! D took AP Bio today and reported back that the test was changed this year so no one knew what to expect. Easy-peasy. Says that one could pass the test without even taking biology. hmm…</p>
<p>Hi everyone!!! Things have been crazy here … APs last week and this week. We don’t have to pay for them, but if you take the class, you take the test. No questions asked. She had signed up for Physics and to retake English (because we had originally thought she would end up at one of her safeties where they would really make a difference. Someone at school dropped the ball, so she didn’t end up on the list and didn’t end up taking those tests. </p>
<p>My daughter had 5 APs total this year, just like last year. 4 AP tests are complete (Calc BC, Comp Sci, Psych, and Environmental Sci) and one her last one EVER is tomorrow (French). So, may the odds be ever in their favor (or more appropriately, puissent les chances soit toujours en leur faveur!) even if they don’t count for crap, LOL!!!</p>
<p>Yearbooks were distributed this past week and prom is this weekend. But honestly, the senioritis is in full gear. 4 beach trips in the last week and late night movies. After she committed to M I T, she has really relaxed for the first time in 3 years. I can’t blame her as she has sacrificed nearly every weekend this school year for math competitions, studying, practicing with her band, and college/scholarships apps. She’s so ready to move on … She’s spending time researching what she wants to study, on facebook chatting with future classmates, going to the beach and hanging with friends who are home from college for the summer. And i’m happy about that … even if she has b’s for the first time in her life. </p>
<p>S is a recruited athlete and had a signing ceremony. I agree with your point that other students should get more coverage in the papers. As an explanation (and not a justification) of why papers devote so much space to singing ceremonies I offer the following ideas.</p>
<p>Good reasons:</p>
<p>On average only about 3% of high school athletes go on to become varsity athletes in college.</p>
<p>The student athlete spends time training at their sport and helps to improve the reputation of their high school and will continue to do so at the college they attend (the Ivy League was established as an athletic conference).</p>
<p>In college the student athlete can provide entertainment for the student body and alumni
and if the athletic department is run well then they may generate revenue streams which can and should be used for scholarships for non athletes.</p>
<p>Not so good reasons:</p>
<p>The signing ceremony can be used to generate drama (i.e. when an athlete comes out with three hats on the table and chooses one) which helps sell newspapers.</p>
<p>The decisions which the student athletes make on sighing day can generate topics for discussions for many about how good their team will be next year (as if adults need more excuses to talk about college football).</p>
<p>Personally I think coverage for athletic signings should be confined to the sports section. I also believe the papers should devote as much or more space announcing the academic accomplishments of high school seniors.</p>
<p>DD last AP is wednesday. She also took Bio today. She was not sure how easy-peasy it was, but she was not thrown by any of the questions. She was not, for some reason, prepared for the timing…but, she did finish…which surprised her</p>
<p>AP Gov today. This is DS only AP test this year which is really nice change from prior years:) Then he will have one final the last week of school. </p>
<p>DS got another local scholarship last night! Playing golf has provided him access to TWO local scholarships just for kids who golf! Sweet:) </p>
<p>Anyone else have Project Graduation (all night substance free party/lock in for seniors) in their area? Ours has been in place for 26 years and I have been volunteering for the past 3 years. It is so fun but this year, having a senior is making it more challenging to get all my duties done!! Exhausted!!:)</p>
<p>Good luck today for everyone with more AP testing.</p>
<p>There are no fun lock-downs at D’s HS. In fact it is a two hour evening event with everyone going their separate ways afterwards. S graduated from same school - and I recall feeling it a bit anti-climatic. Your way sounds like more fun (and exhausting). But that’s ok, I am still flying D home from her fellowship for graduation night - right back out the next morning…</p>
<p>Surfcity - I somewhat agree with you, (since you mentioned that it was the lower-tier signings that bug you, not the huge schools with huge programs) but honestly, I think newspapers give the readers what they want. If you are trying to sell papers (not easy in this digital age I gather) and you have a choice between running a local story about a baseball player going to the local school to continue his pitching career, or a local student going to Rice (for instance) to play the violin and study physics, they are inevitably going to move more papers with the baseball story. </p>
<p>Having lived in several small towns, people DO follow the local sports teams and are interested in them. In most of the smaller places I lived in, nobody there would even know what “Rice” was. (not kidding) So…when you look at circulation, the paper is much better served to run the ‘local interest’ story than a story about academic accomplishments, no matter how great. </p>
<p>On a personal note, if I read an article about how Michigan admitted one of the top ‘cello players’ or ‘math whizzes’ in the nation for the class of 2013 I am interested of course, but not freaked out. On the other hand, when it was announced that we signed the #1 running back in the country this year, I FREAKED OUT. Now maybe that’s because DH and I spend approximately 1 zillion dollars on football season tickets and I’d like to watch competitive games this season, but it also speaks to my interests. </p>
<p>And to speak to Hawaii mom’s comment, the men and women who play professional sports in this country are entertainers. They are paid for their entertainment value. Why does Brad Pitt make 20 Million a movie? Because he’ll move the box office and he will put butts in the seats. Why do professional athletes make so much? The answer is simple, the owners of the teams are making a fortune off of the fans of these games and they are passing SOME of the revenues on to the stars. Personally, with all of the follow-up stories coming out featuring traumatic brain injuries in both the NFL and NHL, I don’t know if you could pay me enough to deal with what some of these athletes are battling post-career. Some really horrible stories.</p>
<p>Senior lock-down: The school used to do something like that, but then went back to sending them to Grad Nite at Disneyland (we are about 20 min away). They graduate at 6pm, then have to be on the bus at 7:45 PM and arrive back about 4 AM.</p>
<p>Re: athletes. I get that money moves things. It’s just weird to be reading about this kid who is going to be a second string catcher for a small D3 school that accepts 90% of its applicants and his grades are so-so with a suspension thrown in. When I know of so many other kids who are doing great things with their situations. And I don’t just mean the val who is going to an Ivy, or the kid who scored a perfect SAT. If we publicize that first catcher kid and his type, why can’t we publicize the honor choir student, etc. Both familis will buy newspapers!</p>
<p>I actually have been talking to the editor of the local paper and he is interested in spotlighting a bunch of 2013 grads. (Benefit of living in a small town, it’s easy to reach people like the mayor, editor, etc) And our community relations person is setting up a marketing committee to help get the word out on how much improved our school district is. So things will hopefully start to even out.</p>
<p>Re: Grad Night. We have a big lock in after prom, which I think I prefer, rather than Grad Night. Don’t people have grandparents and family coming in for graduation who would like to maybe get a quick dinner with the graduate, rather than not seeing him/her after the ceremony?</p>
<p>DS13a and DS13b both have presentations today for a local science scholarship. Why do companies wait until so late to do this?!!! The kids are so done with high school by this point! They could both totally win this (there are two winners) but making heavy science presentations is not what they want to be doing right now! I’m crossing my fingers that all the other finalists are feeling the same way!</p>
<p>Whoever mentioned AP Physics C, it was brutal – both parts.</p>
<p>My school does a post-prom lock-in where early arrivals get prizes, people who win activities get prizes, everyone’s entered into raffles, there’s a hypnotist, free unlimited food and dessert, tons of coffee & energy drinks…basically lots of fun! The prizes at the end of the night are great too – laptops, flat-screen TVs, iPads, etc along with tons of smaller gift-certificate type prizes. Everything is donated by parents and administrators – fear of us kids getting into trouble is a powerful motivator ;)</p>
<p>We have Project Graduation here. Our graduation is actually at 9:30am so plenty of time to have family get togethers before the lock-in. I know ours gives away so many expensive door prizes that the kids want to go. They have enough for each graduate to get something from large gift cards to iPads and laptops. The downside is that the parents have to do a lot of fundraising/donations for it, but it’s well worth it to make sure the kids are safe and not out drinking and driving.</p>
<p>Ahsmuoh’s DD: University of South Carolina
Amandakayak’s D: University of Pittsburgh
Amazhon’s D: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Apollo6’s DD: University of Mississippi
brownpartyo5 DS: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
busymomma’s DS: University of Wisconsin-Madison
carimama’s D: MIT
College4K’s DD: University of Arizona
confetti247’s S13: University of Notre Dame
coralbrook’s d: California Lutheran
critter’s S: Stanford
cyclonehome’s DD: Tulane University
dadotwoboys’ DS: Duke
daisychain’s D: Hampshire
David1126’s S: Harvey Mudd
Descartesz’s D: Haverford
Donivrian’s DS: UC B
Dragonflygarden’s D: Princeton University
EastGrad’s DS: Harvard
ericd1112’s DS: Miami University
esteemom’s DS: USC
fidoprincess’s DS: Columbia University
fineartsmajormom’s D: University of Pennsylvania
FlyMeToTheMoon’s D: University of Pittsburgh (Honors)
Fredricksdottirs DD: University of Chicago
GreekMana’s: DSa Stanford; DSb Duke; DPc Trinity University
Geogirl1’s DD: University of Rochester
gunnerz’s S: University of Denver
Haystack’s S: Iowa State University
Idahomom’s S: University of Redlands
intparent’s D: Harvey Mudd
Itsallgood1’s DS: Bowdoin
jennieling’s S: Amherst
Kat2013’s DS: Catholic University of America
Kelbee’s Niece: Clark University
Kelowna’s DS: Duke
Kennedy2010’s DD: Washington University in St. Louis
laurendog’s Step-D: University of Pittsburgh
LCSMOM’s S: Cornell University
Learninginprog DD: Cornell
lisa6191’s S: University of Alabama
LizzieT’s DD: University of Maryland-College Park
Luckylu’s S: Columbia University
lvvcsfs DD: Purdue University
mamabear1234’s D: Pomona College
MarthaW’s DD: Olin College of Engineering
Matmaven’s S: Lehigh University
megpmom’s DS: Westminster Choir College (Rider Univ)
Mom24boys DS: Northeastern University
Mom2kids2dogs’ DD: Northwestern University
Mommaof5’s DS: University of Chicago
Momofboston’s DD: Elon
MomofNEA’s DS: Cornell
MommyDearest13’s DS: Vanderbilt University
Momofzag’s D: Bucknell University
momtobgb’s DD: Emory University
Moonpie D2: Vanderbilt
MSNDIS’s D: George Washington University
MTnest’s DS: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
musicmerit’s D: Yale
MyLB’s DS: University of Montana
my3gr8boyz DS - Duke
MZBkiya’s D: Grinnell
nerdyDad’s D: MIT
our2girls’ DD: Belmont University
pkdof13’s D: Wellesley
pkdof13’s S: Wheaton (MA)
pouncecat2’s DD: University of California, Davis
privateschoolluv’s DS: Occidental College
psblstnr’s DD: Carleton College
Psychodad10’s DS : Washington University in St. Louis
sacchi’s D: Dickinson College
SomeOldGuy’s Devil Child: Duke
sophieandlola’s DS: University of Florida
ssacdfamily D: St. Olaf’s College
STAmum’s D: Sarah Lawrence
STEMFamily’s DD: Arizona State University
surfcity’s S: Bucknell U
Swizzle13: University of Connecticut
tootiredtocare: University of Illinois/Urbana
tougis’s D1: Northwestern
TVenee’s DD: Columbia University
Tx5athome’s DS: Cal
Viewer’s S: Harvard
Vitrac’s D: Tulane University (Honors)
wherenext DD: University of Southern California
wilma13 DS: Cal
Wintriest’s D: Mills College
W2BeHome’s DD: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Youdon’tsay’s ds: Georgetown
2kidzmom’s DS: University of Florida</p>
<p>School:
Amherst: jennieling’s S
Arizona State University: STEMFamily’s DD
Belmont University: our2girls DD
Bowdoin: itsallgood1’s DS
Bucknell University: Momofzag’s D, surfcity’s S
Cal: Tx5athome’s DS, Donivrian’s DS, wilma13 DS
California Lutheran: Coralbrook’s D
Catholic University of America: Kat2013’s S
Carleton College: psblstnr’s DD
Clark University: Kelbee’s Niece
Columbia University: TVenee’s DD, Luckylu’s S, fidoprincess’s DS
Cornell University: LCSMOM’s S, MomofNEA’s S, Learninginprog DD
Dickinson: sacchi’s D
Duke: dadotwoboys’ DS, Kelowna’s DS, GreekMana’s DSb, SomeOldGuy’s Devil Child, my3gr8boyz DS - so many that it wrapped to the next line!
Elon: momofboston’s DD
Emory: momtobgb’s DD
George Washington University: MSNDIS’s D
Georgetown: Youdon’tsay’s ds
Grinnell: MZBkiya’s D
Hampshire: daisychain’s D
Harvard: Eastgrad’s DS, Viewer’s S
Harvey Mudd: David1126’s S, intparent’s D
Haverford: Descartesz’s D
Iowa State University: Haystack’s S
Lehigh University: Matmaven’s S
Miami University: ericd1112’s S
Mills College: Wintriest’s D
MIT: nerdyDad’s D, carimama’s D
Northeastern: Mom24boys S
Northwestern: tougis’s D1, Mom2kids2dogs’ DD
Occidental College: privateschoolluv’s DS
Olin College of Engineering: MarthaW’s DD
Pomona College: mamabear1234’s D
Princeton University: Dragonflygarden’s D
Purdue University: lvvcsfs DD
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT): W2BeHome’s DD
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: brownpartyo5’s DS
St. Olaf’s College: ssacdfamily D
Sarah Lawrence: STAmum’s D
Stanford: GreekMana’s DSa, critter’s S
Trinity University: GreekMana’s DPc
Tulane University: cyclonehome’s DD, Vitrac’s D
University of Alabama: lisa6191’s S
University of Arizona: College4K’s DD
University of California, Davis: pouncecat2’s DD
University of Chicago: Mommaof5’s DS, Fredricksdottirs DD
University of Connecticut: Swizzle13
University of Denver: gunnerz’s S
University of Florida: sophieandlola’s DS, 2kidzmom’s DS
University of Illinois/Urbana: tootiredtocare
University of Maryland-College Park: LizzieT’s DD
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: MTnest’s DS
University of Mississippi: Apollo6’s DD
University of Montana: MyLB’s DS
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-Amazhon’s D
University of Notre Dame: confetti247’s DS
University of Pennsylvania: fineartsmajormom’s D
University of Pittsburgh: laurendog’s Step-D, FlyMeToTheMoon’s D, Amandakayak’s D
University of Redlands: Idahomom’s S
University of Rochester: Geogirl1’s DD
University of Southern California (USC): wherenext’s DD, esteemom’s DS
University of South Carolina (USC ): ahsmuoh’s DD
University of Wisconsin-Madison: busymomma’s DS
Vanderbilt University: MommyDearest13’s DS, Moonpie D2
Washington University in St. Louis: Kennedy2010’s DD, Psychodad10’s son
Wellesley College: pkdof13’s D
Westminster Choir College (Rider Univ): megpmom’s DS
Wheaton College (MA): pkdof13’s S
Yale: musicmerit’s D</p>
<p>Our graduation is at 8 PM because we are in Florida and it is outside on the football field…so we have to give some time for the heat of the day to disperse! Project Graduation is right afterwards at about 10 PM. Because we have had it for 26 years, everyone knows and just plans dinners, etc for the next night. The prizes are awesome including flat screen tvs, laptops, ipads, etc. but getting those prizes donated is a LOT of work! It is all volunteer but we have tremendous community support. As I mentioned in my other post, I have been volunteering for 3 years and each event is so much fun! The kids love it!! Our Seniors are lucky because they get Grad Night Disney too, but it is about 3 weeks before graduation:)</p>
And i’m happy about that … even if she has b’s for the first time in her life. </p>