<p>VBCMom - I really don’t know the answer to that but my guts is that the big schools keep things as standardized as possible, so I doubt they change much if at all. But, the best thing I think is to do the “any topic of your choice” essay. It might be harder than addressing a specific prompt, but that one can usually be reused over and over as oppossed to writing three different essays on three different prompts. The Common App essay topics for 2013 are already available. If any of her schools use that, she can just get started on those essays. The colleges release their supplement questions a bit later.</p>
<p>I agree it can’t hurt for your kid to have a “topic of your choice” main essay under his belt, which will always work for common app. For non-common app larger schools, my bet is they are already available somewhere. I think the schools that use the common app + supplemental essays don’t change the supplemental topics much either (although they are often much shorter in length, so could really wait on those).</p>
<p>We had our first “last” last night, parent meeting for band. It’s been about 10 years we have been going to these meetings with the various kids and it hit me last night, this will be our last one, WOW. The countdown to the empty nest is on. Our oldest got an accepted offer on a house he is looking at buying yesterday too. We are feeling very old today:D.</p>
<p>The essay topics always make me ill. Can they come up with a more lame prompt?</p>
<p>Provide your definition of diversity and explain how you will contribute to diversity at the University of Kentucky.</p>
<p>Well, for starters, I have all my teeth. I also hate horses, bourbon and dislike the color blue. I like cats fine, but a cat doesn’t seem like an animal that strikes terror in the hearts of sports opponents. What about a Tryanosaurus Rex? Now that’s a badass beast! In closing, I can add to the diversity of UK by questioning everything about the school and it’s traditions.</p>
<p>Walker, Bwaaaahahahha! How funny would that be, if that actually got sent! Love it!</p>
<p>
Hysterical!!!</p>
<p>I would definitely start with the sentence about having all my teeth! Attention grabber right there ;)</p>
<p>Last real day of junior year. I nagged this am about talking to the teacher he is thinking about getting the letters from, see how eager ( 
) they seem to be to write them, if they would like to have his resume now as opposed to the beginning of the school year.
There is also an IB extended essay camp at the school next week which he did not investigate whatsoever. I am no pushing attending but would like him to at least find out if is was helpful to graduation seniors or no. There is morning crew practice at the same time so obviously he will not be able to do both. Ahh…
Tomorrow is yearbook day and…he will be a senior.
I can’t believe that ours will be the “most senior” HS thread on Parent’s Forum. I remember the day RobD has started it!</p>
<p>Last night I told DS to check what the essay prompts were for his #1 pick. Finally he did and, much to his extreme happiness, neither his first or second choices have an essay! I told him that he’s lucky because he’s such a procrastinator that he’d never get it done.</p>
<p>Terinzak - look closely into it. Admission criteria at the U are changing. New will be available online Sept 4/12.</p>
<p>You all have been running a great thread for since 9th grade began for the Lucky '13s. I’m happy I found you all a while ago and for the support and input you provide and will provide during the next several months (my wife and S’13 thank you as well, but they don’t know it).</p>
<p>As for the list, I don’t think we have a firm one yet, but I think we will be in the 8-12 range. State schools are financial and academic (admissions) safeties. A couple of schools are what I think of as over-matches instead of safeties (relatively competetive admissions, but stats are well above 75% and merit aid seems plausible, but not automatic), most others are reaches financially (need merit, but merit is competitive) and for admission (stats are well within the top of the range or above, but acceptance rates are low). A few of the real lottery schools are still on the list (where financial aid is terrific, but rejection seems all but certain even with great stats, ECs, honors, etc.) - but somebody has to get in, right?</p>
<p>Finals week this week. S’13 seems pretty stress free. I think he maintains As in all classes for the semster unless he gets below a C on the final (at least that’s how I understand it). So, a good year given he was carrying a heavy academic load.</p>
<p>Here is a thread I started about a month ago concerning THE LIST.
Thought it might be helpful to some…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1333408-need-your-wisdom-picking-schools-very-smart-yet-undecided-junior.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1333408-need-your-wisdom-picking-schools-very-smart-yet-undecided-junior.html</a></p>
<p>Ds2 starts his internship today and is so excited. Last night, he saw lots of friends at a party and was so happy. He really needs social stimulation. :)</p>
<p>And, of course, he’s thrilled to have his big brother back home. 
</p>
<p>He’s dragging his feet, however, about finding a job. I think I’ll make him work on essays if he can’t find something more constructive to do!</p>
<p>Just off the phone with the U. They are changing to a holistic application for the Fall 2013. There will no longer be a minimum gpa or ACT score required to get in. There will only be an essay if you are applying to the Honors College. They will be looking at community service and extra curriculuars. The app should be, but no promises, be online, Sept. 4</p>
<p>U is a safety here, but it would be nice and stress free to apply based on numbers only and have this admission in early. This was S’s plan. Unfortunately it ain’t going to happen…</p>
<p>ahsmuoh: Miami has ChemE for undergraduate and I think a Master program no Doctorate. They show their new scholarship for stats that my D has to be anywhere from half to full tuition.</p>
<p>Kelowna: When I talked to the admissions counselor this morning, I gave him my son’s stats. I also told him some of his community service and ecs. He told me that my DS should be approved…I would have also liked to finish this app early but have to wait till Sept…Oh well, guess I’ll send the ACT scores and transcripts in August so they have everything when he applies.</p>
<p>I checked his #2 school and they are also admitting holistically. Based on what they show on their site, DS should also get in. But again he can’t apply there till September either.</p>
<p>Looks like some major changes this year. I personally was hoping for this as an early, fairly painless admission. Now the decisions will be released around Jan 7. (I am quoting our GC here.)
The school that S goes to has a record of admitting MANY full ride to honors college. In previous years they even used to give some students a laptop.</p>
<p>Kelowna: Our tour guide also said something about admission approvals in either Jan. or February…I would think that it would be in Jan due to financial aid problems. For example, the engineering advisor told me that there are several engineering scholarships that have a deadline in Feb…</p>
<p>VBC Mom: I don’t know about Carolina or Kentucky, but, if it helps, the University of California’s prompts have not changed significantly, if at all, since D1 applied 6 years ago. And one of the Common Ap Prompts is something like write about whatever you want, so it can’t hurt to write to those prompts.</p>
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</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Go to the school’s admissions website and sign up for information. The school will set up a file on the student and likely record all subsequent contacts. Be sure to use the same name on all contacts, i.e., no nicknames because the application and some official records (transcripts, test scores, etc.) will be in the student’s official name and you want to make it foolproof for the school to match up “interest” information with official application data. Pay attention to the e-mails they send and respond to any that request a response, even if it’s “regrets” to an event invitation; it shows you’re paying attention.</p></li>
<li><p>Keep an eye out for college fairs and information sessions the college may hold in your area. For example, Bowdoin, Carleton, Pomona, and Swarthmore just hosted a joint reception in our area, and many of those schools will be represented at the annual college fair held in our community in the fall. Go to those events, sign information cards (even if they duplicate what the student already submitted online, it shows interest), and if possible try to have a brief chat with the admissions representative for the school you’re interested in.</p></li>
<li><p>Request an alumni interview in your community if the school offers them. At most schools an interview is not required, but at Bowdoin, for example, “a personal interview is strongly encouraged” according to their website. Taking the initiative to request one fairly early on in the process shows interest–even if the school has no alumni interviewers in your area. Many schools have already started this process for HS Class of 2013/college Class of 2017 applicants. The interview will be a 2-way affair, structured both to allow the interviewer to get to know the applicant but also to allow the applicant to learn more about the school, so come armed with questions.</p></li>
<li><p>Find out which admissions officer is responsible for your area (there will definitely be one, and many schools are pretty transparent about who they are) and find an excuse to contact that person by e-mail with a relatively easy-to-answer question, but ideally not one so obvious that the admissions officer will think you’re a dunderhead. For example, you might announce yourself as a rising senior at Anytown High School who is quite interested in Colby and you’re wondering whether they’re planning any school visits, information sessions, or college fairs in your area this summer or fall. Sign it with full name and contact info. It will put the student on the admissions officer’s radar, especially if you’re in an area that doesn’t send large numbers of students to that school. </p></li>
<li><p>At the end of the day, nothing says “I love you” to a college quite as much as that ED application. In fact, this is one of the main reasons many small colleges have higher ED admit rates. Yes, it helps them with yield management and is enormously helpful in structuring the core of their class (which is why ED applications from candidates who are above the school’s medians in test scores and other key stats tend to be especially welcome), but they also really do want a core of the incoming class to be people for whom the school is truly their #1 choice.</p></li>
</ol>