<p>Reeinaz - curio show you like Ursinus. It’s just up the road from us, so therefore unacceptable for my kids But it’s a great school. </p>
<p>My S is probably not going to the prom and it really is bothering me. I think it’s too foreign an experience and he thinks it’s easier to just avoid it. He has many friends and many friends who are girls and they are all going. I don’t understand not wanting to participate in something like that with all your friends.</p>
<p>Our school has a big post prom party so that kids don’t get tempted to drink, etc. Maybe he’ll go to that.</p>
<p>Tennis is occupying all available time now, so no more college visits for the next month or so. Plus PSSA (state) testing is still going on, so the kids are just being hit from all sides.</p>
<p>surfcity, my S doesn’t want to go to the prom either. In fact, a girl asked him and he said he was so stunned he just stammered something incomprehensible (this from a boy whose main EC is debate) and said no. When his friends asked him what the h3ll was wrong with his head, he said he just ‘didn’t like’ that sort of thing. I think for some boys, it is too much, too fast–the dressing up, the pressure to act like a ‘date’ rather than a regular guy, the dancing in public (or pressure to do so). I think, at least for my S, he’s just not there yet emotionally! Don’t feel bad–there is no rush. Once they grow up in that sense, they don’t go back!</p>
<p>Congratulations on all the exciting Questbridges, summer programs, etc…!!! It appears that so far the odds are in our favor!!</p>
<p>Our prom is not until the first week in June, but at DS’s tennis match I heard some kids in the stands talking about it. DS has a 'kind of" girlfriend who goes to a neighbor school and Prom is the same day. So he has not decided what he will do. If I had to guess I would guess they will go to hers since he knows more of her friends. My boys always have someone find out whether or not the person they are going to ask will say yes, so it makes it a little easier. How awful it must be to ask someone and have them say no. </p>
<p>Tomorrow we are going on a tour of UCSD. I will let you know how it goes. </p>
<p>We finished league play in tennis. WE have next week off and then league finals the following week and “CIF” the week after that. DS is going into league finals as the #2 seed in doubles. They beat the #1 seed today, so it will be interesting. He still doesn’t care for his partner, but we have convinced him that, as an actor, he needs to act like he likes him and that has worked well. </p>
<p>Although he has 3 AP tests looming, he doesn’t show any signs of stress.</p>
<p>Our kids haven’t started worrying about the AP tests yet either. The junior year AP teachers have all been at this for a long time and have it down to a science :D. They have a review schedule set up so they will do a lot of review in class for a couple weeks before the test. They have been taking practice tests off and on since Christmas in class as well. These teachers have a really high percentage rate of kids getting 4 or 5 so I am sure that helps the kids calm their nerves. They have been holding evening study sessions for kids that want to do that too. They are once a week right now and will move to Mon-Thurs the two weeks before the test. I love our teachers!!</p>
<p>Vandy - When I saw the words ‘Hunger Games’ I must admit I was prepared NOT to like your ‘catch phrase.’ (Haven’t read the books or seen the movie.) However - when I saw “May the odds ever be in your favor” I thought that was perfect. There are some daunting days ahead of us (it would seem) and I think the phrase fits! </p>
<p>Maybe when I sign off on a post I’ll just say MTOEBIYF - huh - that’s kind of long. Ha. </p>
<p>I just thought of another option. Since 13 is considered ‘lucky’ or ‘unlucky’ by many, maybe we could be the "Lucky '13ers " (like the 49ers football team.) Let me try that out - “What’s up Luckies?” ha ha </p>
<p>I went to a party the other night and met a prospective Law student whom is choosing between Harvard, Columbia, U of Mich, Northwestern and UVA. She has been accepted everywhere she’s applied and is having a difficult time with her final decision. She was an absolutely fascinating human being and I enjoyed hearing about her decision making process! But - is it wrong that I wanted to ‘borrow’ her brain for one Saturday whilst Step-D takes the ACT? (hee) ; ) She had some interesting insights on her visit to Harvard Law’s Accepted students day. She said, sitting there, you really did look around and realize that many of these people would likely be leading the world one day. She’s not sure 100% if that’s for her or not (the intensity of the atmosphere) but she said it was strikingly different from all of the other schools she’s been to thus far. I found that so interesting. (but of course…I digress…) </p>
<p>Congrats to summer program people. We are feeling the ‘pocketbook pinch’ right now as all of Step-D’s summer endeavors are coming due. I had no idea that there were scholarships for these types of things!</p>
<p>Good morning all!
I think it’s great that your kids’ schools prep for the AP tests. My DS took a bunch of the tests, but he didn’t have any official AP classes so he did all the prepping on his own. (very small school on campus at the cc) I hope that DD’s school does all the practice tests next year.</p>
<p>reeinaz, the sun is shining! I hope it holds for your visit today to PhilU.</p>
<p>Good morning. Tx5athome, hope you have a nice day at UCSD. We visited in January and we got SOOOO lost, and then I realized I left my reading glasses in the hotel room, so I could not read the map (once we got one) or any of the material. </p>
<p>But the tour guide was “REAL”, if you know what I mean. I don’t think I have ever used this adjective to describe anyone, but he was “earnest”. And the views, WOW. And the opportunities, ENDLESS. </p>
<p>D is studying for something up in her room, another ACT (state testing) on Tuesday and SAT the first weekend in May.</p>
<p>Vandy, I also thought “may the odd be in your favor” was perfect. My daughter was accepted to a prestigious summer program and she sent me an email wondering why she was accepted because her ECs aren’t substantial and others with great ECs were rejected(her words, after I sent her the link to a post on CC).
Another lucky part is that I used my frequent flyer to book for her trip.
I can’t wait for summer so I can visit some colleges myself, I have never been to UCSD nor UCB.</p>
<p>laurendog - among the reasons S13 applied to the Clark Scholars program was because it included room, board and a stipend. We really couldn’t afford the price tag on many of the full pay programs and doubt we qualify for the scholarship (I figure we will be having this same discussion next year when we are looking at FA for colleges).</p>
<p>Given that there are only 12 kids accepted to the summer program and over 300 applying, we were having some of the same thoughts as DrGoogle, making the catch phrase the group is working with seem appropriate. Again, I think we will be in this same boat next year on some of the super-reach schools where so many of the applicants are pretty outstanding and getting in seems to have an element of luck. So, MTOEBIYF to all (or whatever the group decides).</p>
<p>Prom is tonight. Car is washed, tux is picked up, wife needs computer to look up breakfast recipes, S13 is shaven and flowers will be picked up soon. Looks like rain, so keep your fingers crossed.</p>
<p>Anniezz, I’m surprised it’s so nice out. It was pretty dreary right before it was time to get up. But S decided he didn’t want to visit Phila U. Well, he had already decided that but spoke up about it this morning. He said he isn’t going to apply there and he doesn’t need to visit any more schools just to see what he likes and what he doesn’t like. So we went out for breakfast and had a talk about what he likes and what he doesn’t like :)</p>
<p>And how in the world did I forget he’s taking the SAT in 2 weeks???</p>
<p>Prom tonight! Tux is ready and DS is out practicing his tennis serve. ACT scores come out in 9 days :0 Beautiful, sunny, warm day here in northern Utah! Great day for a prom.</p>
<p>I am trying to keep your good advice in mind. It’s just so hard when all the other moms/parents are talking about the prom and who is going with whom, and all his friends are going. They all give me blank looks when I say he doesn’t want to go, like he has something wrong with him. He’s always been a bit of an introvert and society is geared towards extroverts IMHO.</p>
<p>Reading about all these summer programs is eye opening. My S has only ever done a local tennis program for 6 weeks and then a family vacation. He would definitely look at me crazy if I suggested something even slightly academic. He is so burned out by the end of the school year, I am happy to see him have a more carefree summer.</p>
<p>Thanksfully our AP teachers do most of the test prep in the classroom. They have been done the material for a week or two and so spend classes reviewing and taking old tests. There is no way S would have much time for outside prep himself.</p>
<p>Do your states have senior project/community service requirements? S is trying to decide what to do. He isn’t into creating a whole new program so he is looking for a good volunteer opportunity to get his 15 hours in.</p>
<p>My son isn’t doing prom either. Well, didn’t do prom. His was last Friday. I know it’s not a big deal, but I still hope he goes to his senior prom. While, he might surprise me, I’m not betting on it. </p>
<p>Surfcity, the only reason my son does the academic programs during the summer is because he can attend for free or very low cost. The only thing better than free is one where he gets paid I just need for him to be in an activity with some type of structure. He’s had a lot of fun at all except one. And my son is not the type who seeks out enriching activities on his own.</p>
<p>Re: community service. S2 visits 2 assisted living homes in our neighborhood once a week and sings, plays piano, plays dominoes. He really doesn’t mind it because he says it’s like hanging out with his grandparents. His school doesn’t require community service - he just enjoys doing it. He has also started bringing his friends with him to perform. It’s really quite sweet. </p>
<p>Our prom is seniors only. S2 went last year as a date, but this year he has opera tickets on the same night, so he’s put out the message that he’s “not available.” He’s also taking his dear old mom to the opera tonight! One of his mentors is singing in La Traviata so we got comped tickets. Hurray!</p>
<p>This next week is state testing followed by a 4 day choir trip - so no “school” for S2. Things are really winding down towards the end here.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone with prom and testing!</p>
<p>community service- we do not have state requirements. However D is an IB student so there is a service component to the degree. D’s volunteer time has been spent in a low income neighborhood- running clothing drives, running food drives, and participating in neighborhood clean ups. It gives her some perspective on what I consider a blessed life. </p>
<p>S15 has been told to find a cause or I will find it for him. We have a large immigrant community so S is considering tutoring the new students. </p>
<p>I think it is important that the kids find something that speaks to them.</p>
<p>Good luck with prom and testing! Our prom is seniors only but not sure if S12 will go, he would hang out with friends rather than ask a girl but they may not be able to have it if the teachers don’t cooperate (they are still debating whether or not to withhold services from ECs and other activities outside the schedule). Also, the provincial championships for his varsity sport may be happening that weekend! He doesn’t seem upset.
Sacchi, I had seen that post, too. I thought that it was excellent advice for the admissions process.</p>
<p>D isn’t going to prom either; has no interest especially as a junior. Involves getting dressed up (not her thing) and dealing with what she is calling “prom-a.” I see no problem with kids not wanting to go to prom. I also see no problem if they do want to. </p>
<p>Hoping that all who go have a great time and those who choose not to enjoy their alternative plans :)</p>
But it’s a great school. </p>