<p>mdmom1314 - congrats!! That’s wonderful!!</p>
<p>-what diversity program is your child attending? D is waiting to hear from Pomona and CalTech. Her boyfriend was accepted to the Harvey Mudd weekend. Exciting times. </p>
<p>Senior pics - We had to postpone them because of tropical storm Issac. <em>sigh</em>. Our school uses the drape/suit pics for the yearbook (no charge) but then you can take more photos. The pics are very expensive IMHO, but since I missed out on taking her quincea</p>
<p>Mommaof5 - congrats on the submission if the first college app!! Woo hoo!!</p>
<p>Lacrossemom - he’s visiting Hamilton.</p>
<p>@erlanger. We had that option on one of our apps and suggestions we got were to upload your resume or describe any research my D had done.</p>
<p>Mornin’ all! </p>
<p>Congrats Ree to the fly-in and Congrats MDMom on the inauguration representation! That is so cool! </p>
<p>Step-D pushes ‘send’ on three of her common app schools this week, so more nail-biting for us! ha ha </p>
<p>Called one of her Jesuit schools yesterday that has just been bombarding us with mail and email recently saying 'apply now! apply now! apply now!" They are offering an application fee waiver and other enticing things. Thing is - the Athletic Training program at this school is very competitive, and the advice we received from the admissions reps when we visited is for Step-D to really take her time, and write a very comprehensive essay, including all of her experience with Athletic Training. </p>
<p>So…I called her admissions rep yesterday and he said 'Oh, we send those emails to remind the more clueless applicants to apply in a timely manner. You guys sound wayyyy ahead of the game as far as thoughtful planning about this process." Yay - for the compliment - but I wish they would stop sending those ‘hurry up’ emails! They are freaking me out. LOL</p>
<p>LDog–that is really funny!!! She should apply to Wheeling Jesuit too. They have an athletic training program and probably isn’t as competitive. It’s a great, smaller school. The athletic department seems very close knit. The athletic director is super friendly and they have a brand new facility. I know you are done looking but she could apply and look later if she wants.</p>
<p>Productive day yesterday, DS submitted 3 apps for non-common app schools, wrote an essay he didn’t know he needed for one of them. DD got her essay written (re-written). They have meetings with the GC at the end of the week and then they will submit their common app apps on Sunday and then we are DONE with this part of the process!!!</p>
<p>Good morning 13’ers!</p>
<p>Reeinaz, terrific news! </p>
<p>L’Dog, all those “hurry up” emails are making me anxious too. :)</p>
<p>SteveMA, sounds like your kids are making great progress!</p>
<p>mommaof5, congrats to DS (and you!) I love the weekly deadline idea - it makes the amount of work seem more real, and more manageable. I’m going to try and do that with DD. I have a chart with all the deadlines, and another sheet with all the essays to do, but something with a work-plan would be a good idea.</p>
<p>SteveMA, you have me wondering if D should have some less-intensive colleges on her list. When I took her to school this morning she remarked that she is so happy with her schedule this year because she has one less “core subject” no foreign language, and she is making up required electives. A part of me thinks she’d be happier at a place where she could more easily manage a balanced life. Unfortunately, 2 of her top 3 choices are reaches.</p>
<p>Congradts All…</p>
<p>Steve…I’m Jealous :)</p>
<p>I second Annie’s thoughts…about less intensive schools…got me wondering too…finding the right… fit/vibe/challenge/environment/program/housing/meal plans/athletics/FA/academics…etc etc etc
Is driving me to Drink…
I think I’ll go to Walkers basement…till this is over…that is if she’ll have me :)</p>
<p>The way I look at it, you make your own ‘intensity’. Any school can be as intensive as you want. </p>
<p>My friends and I referred to Northwestern as the ‘Northwestern Country Club’. On a beach, rec center, lots to do in general. Sure, some people are uber intense there, mostly pre-med, IB, and save the world types. Many, especially us in poli sci, comm studies, etc found the atmosphere not intense a all, pretty laid back actually.</p>
<p>I had a conversation with DS trying to encourage him on his essay. I told him to just remember that it is his essay and should sound like his personality. He responded, “Great I need to write a serious, arrogant essay.” BA HA HA…I love a child who is self-aware!</p>
<p>I agree with wanting something different on DS list besides the 2 super reaches and 3 huge state universities. I want to encourage him to look at other schools, but I don’t even know which schools to encourage.</p>
<p>mommaof5…</p>
<p>Are all 5 research schools? If so, I don’t see a problem. Some kids have no interest in LAC or LAC type schools. Nothing wrong with that.</p>
<p>If the 2 reaches are LACs, then yeah, you might need to add another LAC.</p>
<p>Haystack…Mines a save the World Type…hence the concern :)</p>
<p>I think Annie and I are referring to the Far Reach schools for our D’s being the intensity issues…and putting the emphasis on the match/ safety ones where academically they could easily keep a 4.0 GPA which for Grad school acceptance is very important :)</p>
<p>Reeinaz - Yea!!!</p>
<p>MDMom - That is an experience he’ll be telling the grandkids about. So cool.</p>
<p>No movement on essays here, but he got 1 off-campus interview set up and 1 overnight visit set up. </p>
<p>I think he has 3 more schools to set-up off-campus interview.</p>
<p>So, at least there is some progress.</p>
<p>MDMom-Congrats on the trip to DC. That’s awesome.</p>
<p>DD and her NHS group will be serving dinner (as wait staff!) at a community fundraiser tonight. The fundraiser is close to our heart; it’s for a Route 66 icon located in our small town that my sister and brother-in-law have been working to preserve. The kids have a blast and get a special edition t-shirt. We know that teens will do anything for a free t-shirt, LOL!!!</p>
<p>In fact, D said that if the colleges would include chocolate or t-shirts in their mailings, she would probably be more interested. : )</p>
<p>Haystack ~ yep, reaches are LACs. :(</p>
<p>mommaof5:</p>
<p>I couldn’t get my kid to really seriously consider LACs. Because of finances, the only ones that we did investigate were safeties/matches. Ones that I really liked…</p>
<p>Centre College
Rhodes College
Trinity U (TX)
Bates College…my favorite, not a safety though</p>
<p>Hi 'rents!</p>
<p>I’m officially a Board of Education liaison! That means that I’m an official member of the Board of Education in my town, and I’ll be invited to state meetings and such. I’m really happy! My first meeting is this Monday! And, to top it all off, my best guy friend is the other liaison! My only question is, should I list this as an honor on the Common App or what? I don’t have any more room in the activities section to put anything, and I’m a little bit unsure about whether or not I want to attach an additional resume. Should I put it in the additional notes area or whatever it’s called?</p>
<p>So far school hasn’t been bad! My favorite classes are my electives, of course, but the other classes I’m taking aren’t too bad at all either! This is the first year of APES at my school, so we’re my teacher’s guinea pigs. It’s great because it isn’t as intensive as I know it should be, which is fine with me. I was expecting a lot more homework than what I’ve received thus far, but hey, again, not complaining! My teachers have emailed me all of their rec letters and want me to read them over and then I have those all set! My English teacher helped me edit my essay the other day, and I’m waiting for my last years English teacher to read it over one more time, and then I’m done with that! I’m planning on applying to all of my safety schools when my ACT scores come out at the end of this month! And, regarding the ACT, I haven’t had as much time to study for it as I would have liked. I’m going to try my hardest this Saturday, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that I may not do as well as I did before. The SAT, on the other hand, I’m going to really study for. I want to send an additional SAT score in to some of my colleges to either supplement or substitute my ACT score. Either way, I’m going to try hard, and whatever happens, happens. I’m content with everything now.</p>
<p>I have the opportunity to work on my state senators campaign, but I’m not sure if I can fit that in my schedule or not. It’s so difficult!</p>
<p>So, yeah, that’s where I’m currently at!</p>
<p>Haystack, I’m with you–you create your own intensity. Now, I have to say that creating that intensity at some schools might be a little bit harder, but still a possibility. One school on DD’s list is one of those schools and while she would be fine there, she does have better fits. In her case, if she goes pre-med, being the shining star is a good thing, thus the list of schools. DS subconsciously wants to be the big fish, thus his list. I think living where we do, no one really gets caught up in the prestige thing so that helps. Most of their friends are looking locally, and not that they aren’t great schools, they just don’t have the programs our kids are looking for. They would not do well in a pressure cooker type school and want to be able to take advantage of the Nerf Gun clubs and stuff–which I am thrilled with.</p>
<p>Just found out that the kids have a 12 year old in their AP Calc BC class. One of their friends made the comment “I’m no longer the shortest in the class”. She was pretty happy about that :D. I’m not sure I would want my 12 year old hanging out with high school seniors but that is one nice thing about our district is that do work with kids like this to get them into the classes they need.</p>
<p>Hello. I was wondering what you all are doing for the optional “anything else” essay on the common application. One college counselor said you should never leave anything blank, but is it really better to just fill it? thoughts anyone?</p>
<p>Our counselor told the kids to use that space to discuss any issues that might give them a better picture of you – ie. disabilities, disadvantages, explain circumstances surrounding poor grades, etc. Things that aren’t obvious from transcript, or that counselor wouldn’t mention in letter. In S2’s case, counselor is going to mention his Asperger’s and accomodations, so we don’t have to.</p>