<p>Blueshoe, congratulations on your D’s win on Tuesday! They get so much confidence when they finally beat someone that they have lost to in the past! It’s nice when they see all the hard work pay off.</p>
<p>I think that it will be important for DD to investigate some of the smaller LAC’s that she has been interested in. The LAC that Blueshoe and D visited has an undergrad population less than 3 times the size of DD’s high school and some are even smaller. Because our local universities are public and much larger I’m not sure DD understands how small some of the LAC’s actually are. I guess she’ll have to decide whether she would find the size comforting and nurturing or instead stifling. Something that she’ll have to think about.</p>
<p>Zayda4, your D’s National Park Service job sounds like fun! Ages ago my brother worked at a historical site every summer while he was going to university.</p>
<p>drama/sports: The combination can be brutal. During S3’s musical between school, tennis and drama he was leaving the house at 7:30 AM and returning at 10:30 PM. Luckily he drives himself. They are now gearing up for their third show, which is an “original show” which I gather is kind of like SNL sketch comedy. The past few weeks have been twice a week 6-9pm, but this week is three times a week, and I am sure it will be at least three times a week until the show (opens May 18th). I remember the days where I had 3 non-driving kids and I was going to up to 8 games a week, dropping off, picking up, etc… To be honest, I kind of miss it.</p>
<p>tx5athome, the show that your S3 is doing sounds great. Do they also do improv at his school? (the SNL reference made me wonder) It seems to be very popular at my kid’s school and a group goes to other schools to perform. It sounds like his schedule will be pretty grueling, how long does the show run?
Unfortunately, D13 is still just 15 and although she is anxious to get her Learner’s permit she will have to have a parent in the car for a year even then so we will be involved with her extracurriculars until her graduation!</p>
<p>Longhaul, thank you for the suggestions. I have looked at Pitt and U of Delaware a little bit and liked them both. U of Delaware is about the same size as my S’s school and is in the same athletic conference. I like Pitt a lot (although she might get disowned by family members from a nearby state whose flagship is an historic BIG rival of Pitt’s). It is more the right size for her I think, but she does not want a city school. I know the school is in the Oakland neighborhood, but I don’t know how city that is. If we are in the area this summer visiting relatives, I would like to visit. In the meantime, I will look at both of these schools again. </p>
<p>fredricksdottir, thank you for your kind words.:)</p>
<p>TX5: Me too Since our kids travel about 40 mins each way for school, it was nice to have that undivided attention from them. After the first 10 mins, they figure they might as well tell me about their day. How practice was or how they did on a test. Now, it’s like pulling teeth to hear ANYTHING about their day.</p>
<p>uh-oh, i think i’ve crossed to the dark side, checking in at nights instead of waiting for the weekly email update…i’ve started logging on more here than on facebook </p>
<p>it was too ironic, though, that i read all these college fair posts half an hour after i registered for us to attend one in the UK! I had asked our school’s guidance counselor if they had any added value vs. what you find on line (which is TONS these days but as an American mom, I admit I’m starving for info on UK schools) and he warmly recommended it. So off I went to register since it’s the day before the University College London and Cambridge Open Days and a little after the Durham one - we’re thinking of a family road trip to the UK that week so it looked ideal…and what do I see? Limited attendance at the fair and over 7000 visitors attended the last UCL Open Day - my 14-year old son is going to kill me!</p>
<p>blueshoe, Pitt is in the city, but Oakland is a fairly safe neighborhood (there are a few incidents every year, but if you’re being reasonably cautious and not walking around at 2 am, you’re fine). It’s right next to CMU, so there are a TON of students around. Also right next to a large city park if green space is important. </p>
<p>Hi all! I’ve been lurking for several months now. You guys are a wealth of knowledge. Thank you! D13 is spending this entire year in Germany and while it will undoubtly be a pivotal time in her life, it brings its own stresses. We only visited two colleges last year and what with her July 23rd return date and August 1st, first day of senior year, there won’t be much time this summer. Husband and I talked it over and agreed to wait and visit the schools she is accepted at next spring. But now I’ve read in several places that if you don’t visit the school, they’ll think you’re not really interested. How do we get around this? I know it is a good idea to visit, but will a school reject her out of hand because she hasn’t visited?</p>
<p>I have heard from a friend whose D is attending PITT that the new cut-off for merit was 720 and above on Math and CR. I think once you hit those numbers you will get merit and it is fairly generous. More and more kids from our area attend Pitt because of this. I also hear it is a beautiful school. </p>
<p>Welcome Haycous. I think there are only certain schools that track interest. I would think you could get around them by reaching out to admissions reps directly. </p>
<p>Looking for some inspired ideas here for post prom for my D. Our school is not hosting a post prom party this year. It goes until midnight. She has been unlucky in finding mini golf open. I offered to have the kids here after for swimming/games/movies/snacks. D is only so-so with the idea since we are hosting the pre-prom party as well.</p>
<p>Hayucos
You can google the common data set for the schools she is interested in applying. Section C7 shows the importance for level of interest.</p>
<p>One easy way to show interest is for her to e-mail the admissions rep for your region. Also, if offered, request an interview in your area. Sometimes this is with alumni.</p>
<p>All of you are getting me so excited for our visit to Pitt and Duquesne this summer! Hooray! </p>
<p>Welcome Haycous. I would have your D email or call the Admissions Reps at the schools she’s most interested in, and make contact. Have her write up a list of questions that she has about the particular program(s) that she’s interested in. I have been calling schools to set up tours/ask questions and most of the people in the admissions office are thrilled to hear from us and they always ask for all of my Step-D’s info (address, school, area of interest, etc.)</p>
<p>Hayucos, you also can look online at the colleges she’s interested in and see if any are coming to town doing roadshows. And she should attend if a rep comes to her school. Lots of ways to show interest!</p>
<p>nellie, friend’s mom is doing post-prom breakfast.</p>
<p>Wow, ds has senioritis already. Because of state testing, the schooldays are incredibly easy. The seniors aren’t showing up, the sub for his class didn’t show up. He and friends went to a movie after school. At least he’s studying for APUSH right now. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>At this point, I am soooo looking forward to summer!! Prom Saturday; pictures for about 20 kids at our house and we are hosting a waffle and fried chicken after party. Derby is next weekend and guests coming for that! In between rehearsals for Hairspray, stupid proficiency tests for American history and English (I don’t understand why kids who are taking AP need a proficiency test in these subjects…waste of time), AP tests around the corner and my DH leaving for his international trip for his MBA. Shoot me now…</p>
<p>My DD13 was JoJo in Seussical last year and it was a great show! She is cast as Penny in Hairspray and I’m really looking forward to seeing how thy pull off this show with about four AA kids! Little Inez is Hispanic, lol.</p>
<p>At youdontsay senioritis kicked in for my D ( yeah her account, oh well lol) early. State testing is all June so she’ll be done June 6 but this week coming up she has half day Monday and tuesday, gets to leave early for prom Friday ( after 3rd period) AP tests the 8 & 11, half day on the 15th and break from Thursday to Tuesday. Last day of class is June 6 and she will go,back 3 days ( not sure which days yet) between the 6 and 21</p>
<p>Gasp. Absolutely no homework tonight! I don’t think senioritis is a reality yet here, but I have no right to complain if it kicks in as I may have had the worst case ever and it started in January of junior year!</p>
<p>Re: college visits & showing interest. When we visited one of the schools on our tour (can’t remember which one; maybe Lafayette?) the adcom said if a student lives within 3-4 hours they would expect you to come to campus for an interview, but farther than that they understand that it may be a hardship. Signing up for the mailing list, emailing the adcom, going to road shows/college fairs & chatting with the rep there are all good ways to fulfill that without actually going. Now if it’s in the next town and you don’t visit that’s a different story ;)</p>
<p>It sounds as if Seussical has been popular for school musicals!I’m really looking forward to seeing it next week.
Walker1194, it sounds like your DD13’s production of Hairspray will be a hoot. I know it would be difficult to pull off at my kid’s school, too! They are currently voting on next year’s musical - it will be interesting to see what they choose.</p>
<p>Hairspray is an all county musical and we just finished Beauty and the Beast! Www are hoping for Once Upon A Mattress or Millie next year. My D was Winnifred in OUAM when she was still in 8th grade. That part was Taylor maid for her and would love to see her do it again now that she’s older!</p>
<p>S2 also finished state testing today (“ridiculously easy”) and leaves tomorrow for 4 day choir trip to San Antonio. Mostly visiting SeaWorld and Six Flags but they are singing at one nursing home in order for it to qualify as “educational.” </p>
<p>School is out at the end of May so the next few weeks are full of choir performances, banquets, etc. He was nominated for a regional theatre award and they are having a “red carpet” awards ceremony at the Dallas Fair Park (our biggest theatre venue) and S2 gets to perform. Not sure he’ll win, but of course, it’s just nice to be nominated.</p>
Since our kids travel about 40 mins each way for school, it was nice to have that undivided attention from them. After the first 10 mins, they figure they might as well tell me about their day. How practice was or how they did on a test. Now, it’s like pulling teeth to hear ANYTHING about their day.</p>
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