<p>Congrats, Beth!</p>
<p>I finally called CB to see about ds and NHRP. Sure enough, he hasn’t been verified by his HS. Grrrrrr.</p>
<p>Steve. I hope you’re C&Ping this stuff in official visit reports so more people can see your impressions!</p>
<p>Ok - we have finally finished with our visits - over the past four years between D11 and D13 we have visited between 25-30 schools…all Top 100 from the various rankings. I would say that most schools have good/great programs but each program is different…each school has a distinct personality. For us, it has all come down to “fit” - where does D13 feel the most comfortable and where does she think she will be the most successful. Almost every school offers an internship program, research, or coop. Almost all in this group have about 90 percent retention, 95+ jobs or grad school within 6 mo of graduation, study abroad, merit, honors, fellow, etc. </p>
<p>She has 8 schools on her list and I would say she has 2 top contender and 2 second choice but still good. The other four consist of her two reaches, big state U and one that she just isn’t sure of. She will apply EA to all. Her essay is just about done, testing is done, and LOR have been requested.</p>
<p>I agree with Stevema that it is important to look at the bulletin boards so that you can see what is available outside the structured academic and social programs. I also think that if you look at the kids you can tell quite a bit about the school as well as their stress level. Do people have smiles on their faces? Are they walking fast to classes? Do they talk to each other or are they all on their phones? Are they serious or goofing off? You can tell a lot about a school when you look beyond what is presented. D13 (like D11) is gravitating towards schools that have a somewhat serious academic vibe (not too much but overall) but also has an underground party atmosphere - work hard, play hard. Should be an interesting ride!</p>
<p>Good Morning! S3’s first day of school is today. Wow did summer go by fast!! I peeked on the school website and he got all of his classes. That was somewhat unexpected, since usually there is some sort of snafu or another. So officially it is Student Government (zero period), AP Calc, AP Physics, AP Gov, AP Eng Lit, AP Spanish, Journalism, and cross country. Next semester it will be AP Econ instead of AP Gov. Ever since ASB camp a couple of weeks ago he has gone completely girl crazy! There is no time for that!! Despite multiple attempts by his friends and I, he has decided definitely not to do production drama. I am sad because I will miss it, but on the other hand, it is very time consuming, so I understand his decision.</p>
<p>That didn’t take long. Counselor is on NHRP. :D</p>
<p>Carla & others: S13 still has not begun the common app. I did fill out the stuff on paper for H & my college degrees, etc. to make that part easier. S thought he should work on essays, first. He did start the app for state flagship which is probably #1 on his list, given rank for intended major & price…</p>
<p>S & 5 of his goofy friends spent quality time at our house from 2:00 - 9:30 p.m. playing D&D. Lots of laughing; no college application work. I guess there is always next weekend!</p>
<p>Hoping that NMSF meeting at school lights a fire. Not sure where I put the matches but I’m willing to pull them out at this point.</p>
<p>Congrats to those of you who not only have applied but have rec’d acceptances.</p>
<p>AP certificate finally came! </p>
<p>I had the great pleasure of listing every scholarship app, college app, common app and supplemental - including # of essays each requires, test scores, LORs and fees. Then, starting with Halloween (day before due dates), I gave DS a schedule of deadlines for the next 9 Wednesdays (counting tomorrow) in which he is to get each one completed and sent. Oh yeah, and he needs to add at least 2 more schools - ideally matches - since he has 3 safeties (only 1 financial safety which I’m not even sure if he likes the school!) and 2 super reaches. I did take those additional apps into consideration when I made his schedule, but not the time time it will take him for him to actually pick some schools.</p>
<p>Still waiting on an AP certificate. I was going to ask about that today.</p>
<p>I’m tired of posting endless threads in other forums. Anyone mind helping me out here?</p>
<p>I’m beyond lost in searching for schools. I know where I want to go, but I have absolutely no idea if my family can pay for it, and I don’t have any power over whether we can, or even when I find out. I have basically nothing for safeties… </p>
<p>Stats: 3.8 gpa, 1960 sat, 1410 without writing. Not too many ECs beyond a few music ones. I’m planning to go for percussion performance major, with a minor in some science degree. </p>
<p>My top pick is CU-Boulder. Visited there, loved the campus and music program. Really expensive though. I’ve been looking at LSU as a financial safety, but I don’t know how much I would fit in there. I’m not looking for a school with no partying, but I don’t want a major party school either. So beyond those two… Nothing. I live in Washington, but I really, really don’t want to go instate because of the late ending dates of all the schools. I have no idea where to look for schools that are an academic match, a financial safety, and that have a good music program. </p>
<p>Anyone have any suggestions, or resources I could use to look?</p>
<p>Ok, we’re flattered, but why is D receiving letters and glossies from Harvard?</p>
<p>OK, what looks like the AP award is in the mail. Letting ds open it up when he gets home.</p>
<p>Buranri–University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is always a great pick for music majors. If I remember correctly they have an outstanding percussion performance prof as does the University of Minnesota (along with pretty low out of state tuition). You would probably qualify for some merit aid at both schools. Luther in Decorah, IA would also be another great option for a music school. It’s private but again, merit aid is possible there.</p>
<p>Buranri, I know nothing about music, but when I google ‘percussion performance major’ the top hit is a bunch of old CC threads discussing schools. So maybe start there. To see if a school is an academic match, you need to search on their website for class profiles or the ‘common data set’ that tells what the scores are of the kids admitted. As far as what you can afford, that is really hard if you don’t have that information yourself. You should have a discussion with your parents about what they can pay, and try to find out what a price calculator says they should be able to pay (usually very different numbers!)</p>
<p>My first day of senior year is done! I spent the morning giving tours to freshmen and then I went around to all of my classes today! I didn’t realize it before because I had lost my schedule (even though I memorized what classes I have) but I have to walk from one end of the school to the other every. single. time. I switch classes. Now, this may not seem like a big deal to some, but my school is a quarter of a mile long and there’s two floors that are only attached two one another by one main level, meaning that there are stairs involved in my walking. It’s so annoying! Otherwise, I’m pretty happy with my schedule. It was weird though, in a couple of my elective classes and my APES class I took a look around the room and, not to sound vain or mean or anything, but I thought to myself that I am literally the smartest person in the room. I’m going to really have to learn about patience this year! I’m so used to having classes with all nerds who are in my grade!</p>
<p>I’m excited for this year, though. I think it’s going to be a good one!</p>
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<p>They want her to apply so they can reject her. Seriously. I’m not knocking your kid, I don’t know anything about her, maybe she’s Ivy material. I’m just saying Harvard always makes a big push this time of year to cast a wide net in pulling in apps, knowing full well that it will reject close to 95% of those who apply. Then it can continue to boast about its super-low admit rate, and make itself look even more desirable in the next round of admissions. Oh, and I’m sure the Harvard admissions office would say that by soliciting applications broadly, they do pull in a few applications from people they end up admitting who weren’t already planning to apply. </p>
<p>My D1 nearly fell for it two years ago. She had never even seriously considered applying to Harvard; she was really interested in smaller, more intimate schools, and Harvard held no appeal for her whatsoever. Then she got a deceptively worded letter from Harvard that gave the impression they had searched far and wide and determined that she was just exactly the kind of student they were looking for, and for a moment she thought, “Well, maybe I should apply to Harvard after all.” But she quickly came to her sense once we parsed the letter carefully and saw that it didn’t quite say what she had taken it to mean about her prospects for admission, and once we reminded her that the school didn’t really fit the criteria she had identified as being important to her in a college. So she didn’t apply. Could she have gotten in? Well, who know? Her stats were in the ballpark, but as with any unhooked applicant, it would have been a longshot. And she doesn’t regret for a moment not applying; she feels she chose the right college, and she’s thriving there.</p>
<p>Just got home from spending the weekend in Tejas for my parent’s 50th anniversary :)</p>
<p>DD13a got the AP Scholar with Distinction certificate today. She was happy :). All her apps are pretty much done and I’m waiting on her to let me know when to push the PAY button. Counselor is sending about six schools the info needed to have DD13b’s applied to schools this week. I will be happy to see “completed” in her online file!</p>
<p>Did a drive through visit at Texas State San Marcos over the weekend for DD13b. It was hard to tell much because the campus is torn up from one end to the other! So much construction going on including a new state-of-the-art performing arts complex. Looks like it should be complete this year. She is planning on doing the video prescreen for their program now. It’s a long way from home, but my parents are only an hour away so that would be cool. </p>
<p>Lots more work to be done but I feel like the girls are accomplishing something! DD13a still has a ton of essays to write for scholarships. She bangs them out (and they are really, really good) pretty quickly so I’m trying not to nag. </p>
<p>Last ACT this weekend! Keeping my fingers toes and anything else crossed for all our Lucky 13er’s to get great scores!</p>
<p>Oh my goodness! I just went and picked up my mail from my mailbox, and instead of it being in the mail box it was in a bag. When I went through the bag, I found that all the mail was mine! Today I received 54 pieces of mail from colleges. I’m not kidding, or exaggerating, or anything. Literally. 54 pieces. None of them are from a long time ago, all of them are from now! I’ve been receiving mailings regularly from colleges, so I know this isn’t back up or lost mail. Not to mention, it’s all current! This is just the weirdest thing ever! I did receive mail from the twelve schools on my list, but I mean, I also received mail from 40 other colleges! (Mount Holyoke sent me two mailings) It’s just so weird!</p>
<p>kelijake1987- you may be a lot cooler parents than we are 
threat of a gap year, presumbably at home with us, meant something to my kid!</p>
<p>We had a consult meeting with a paid college counselor today (sort of like a second opinion on some topics). The good news was that he thinks she has a great shot with the schools she is applying to. The bad news is that now she will really NEVER finish up those essays. ugh. I should have told him to tell her she was really borderline and needed great essays to get in. Now that would have been worth something.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I really can’t have the money talk right now. My parents are in the middle of a divorce, so I won’t know for a week or two until they figure their financial stuff out. While realistically there’s absolutely nothing I can do to figure it out, it’s still driving me crazy :p</p>
<p>First day of school is over!<br>
Swizzle, sorry about the hike between classes - D had that last year and she was always late. I hope they’re understanding about that. 54? Wow!
D got a bunch today but nowhere near that many!
We are also receiving all the ivy solicitations now. Harvard, Columbia and Yale. No way D would get in. She rolls her eyes and trashes it. Aside from the selectivity boost, I wonder if these schools make any money off all those app fees.</p>
<p>Sitting in saladworks with D, she is doing homework and I am filling out all the school forms. :D</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC</p>
<p>2nd app done and in! One more to go…let’s keep our fingerse crossed that DS gets the yes vote on 01/07 from his number 1 school :)</p>
<p>oh let’s not forget that DS forgot to put on the app that his new school doesn’t offer honor english classes which is why he doesn’t show honors english in 11/12 grade…also forgot to pur ski club and aviation club…Now he has to write a letter showing these things (and they wont take an email cuz he tried) and I get to fax it in the morning…oh those 17 yr old boys give me grey hair!~!</p>