<p>Wow . . . I think MIT had some subliminal messages in their powerpoint because S13 came home today with a plan. In an hour and a half presentation, MIT was able to undo the six weeks of kool-aid drinking that he did at that other school this summer. He better not get too attached to either one; however, I did buy my megamillions ticket!</p>
<p>^^Congrats to your S, YDS!</p>
<p>Congrats YDS!</p>
<p>D is worrying about the short essay re ECs. She thinks that she has nothing to say because she has limited ECs. (One academic club, one more socio-political club, & sports) She’s been a serious 2 sport athlete and has juggled both year round, and she’s almost always spending 20+ hours per week on a sport. Is it ok to talk about sports?</p>
<p>In other news, DS leaves tonight to go back to school. Guess who is still packing? ;)</p>
<p>anniezz-yes it’s ok to take about sports. They are EC’s too.</p>
<p>S’13 got the official NMSF notice today. Of course, other schools told there students long ago. Hard to know why they waited, but at least he can move on and add to the apps he is working on.</p>
<p>Congrats to your S YDS.
I called NMSC today to check on my son’s standing with the National Achievement Scholarship and was told they couldn’t tell me anything untill the public release date of 9/25. I guess I’ll hold off applications until we know for sure that he got some type of recognition.</p>
<p>So last night at the back to school night, they did mini workshops on fin aid/scholarships and determining reach/match/safety. I nearly bit my tongue off trying not to interject. They gave very basic info and it seems many families weren’t even aware of that stuff. They are making a wikispace on the application process and we are all free to contribute. Found out the school does not put test scores on their transcripts. Booooo!!! Their reasoning was that they want the students to own who sees which scores.</p>
<p>dadotwo, my D finally heard from her school today also. Thanks to CC, I had already told her the essay prompts (she didn’t do anything with them though!)</p>
<p>Our school stopped putting test scores on transcripts when score choice became available. I don’t think they want to deal with special requests either. Oh, and D’s guidance counselor is resigning effective next month! I shot her an e-mail asking about continuity for college apps.</p>
<p>Email 15 today about "We’re #1"in small schools that have an “A” in their name… USNWR rankings came out…</p>
<p>all this score choice is making me crazy. A couple of questions: AP Scores–if D got a 3 would you share that? I don’t see why she’d avoid even if she has the choice b/c the transcript shows she took the AP test. Without it they are left to guess if she’s hiding a 2 or a 1. Also, my Ds SAT and ACT scores are pretty equivalent and come out roughly the same in her colleges’ median ranges–should we then just provide both?</p>
<p>saachi: without knowing what are your D’s strengths, some other schools that have some of those qualities (size, smart diverse kids, city options, not sports rah rah) are Case Western, Northeastern, Emory.</p>
<p>Erlanger: The AP scores are all on our transcripts. My DD13a has a 2 in AP Chem (all 5s and one 4 in everything else) and her only B in high school, nay EVER, in that class. I’m actually glad that score is on there. It sort of (I think) explains that one B. Horrible teacher… What are ya gonna do? Nothing wrong with a 3. It’s passing and equivalent to a B minus for college.</p>
<p>Hey 'rents!</p>
<p>I had my senior interview with my guidance counselor today, in which I proceeded to explain to her the differences between ED, EA, and so on. I was mentally face palming. </p>
<p>She introduced me to Naviance and told me that since I was so far ahead in the game than the rest of my classmates to look it over tonight and tomorrow night and then come in Friday and tell them (the guidance counselors) what I’ve learned. She told me that I’m going to be helping them teach Naviance to my classmates next week. GREAT. I guess that I’m now an unofficial guidance counselor at my school.</p>
<p>She then continued to confuse me about LORs. Okay. So. Excluding my guidance counselor I have three people writing me LORs: my principal, my English teacher, and my pre calc teacher. Only one college specifies that I’m restricted to two LORs. For the rest of my schools they all say at least two (or at least one, but that’s basically the same thing). My guidance counselor is now telling me that I’m only allowed to upload two LORs to the Common App and Naviance. Is this true? Can I really not send in all three LORs that I have even though only one school has a limit? I want to send in all three of them because they’re all good, not excessively long, and they all explain different qualities of mine. I’M SO CONFUSED.</p>
<p>Congrats to all the kids with newly confirmed awards!! </p>
<p>And about that Disney cruise next year … We are all going to need a vacation after this. Sounds like a great idea. </p>
<p>Still awaiting AP Scholar confirmation from the College Board, but D was finally called down with three of her classmates to sign & confirm for NHS! Yeah! I’m curious to see what they’re going to tell us at Senior Parent night next week. I’m sure it’ll be more about Grad Bash & prom than anything truly time-sensitive like college apps. LOL! </p>
<p>Happy Wednesday everyone!!</p>
<p>swizzle13-are you sure they want that many LOR’s? I’ve seen the counselor report and ONE teacher LOR and that is it. I would double check on that to make sure. Not sure how many you can actually upload though as none of the schools our kids applied to want more than one LOR or a LOR and the counselor’s report.</p>
<p>Regarding LORs. How do you know how good they are and how long they are? Aren’t the students forbidden to see them? My S had to check a waiver on naviance to waive his right to get copies.</p>
<p>Hahaha congrats swizzle, it’s not everyday a student becomes a GC!</p>
<p>surfcity, that waiver means that you can’t demand to see them. Teachers can still show them to you, if they want to. At my school at least, that isn’t uncommon. :)</p>
<p>SteveMA, every school to which my kid is applying requires two LOR from academic teachers and one from the guidance counselor.</p>
<p>Im not sure how many you can invite/upload, but each school S13 is applying to requires 1-2 teacher LORS, but allows 1-4. He invited 4. We dont have Naviance though, so maybe that changes things. Ive read that you only included more than required if they can show something different that isnt already in the others; S13s teachers dont show the LORs to him, so he has no idea if they are different. Hes choosing the max amount they will allow.</p>
<p>Swizzle you should negotiate a salary :)</p>
<p>Well we have called a temporary college truce. S has to play practice most days this week and he has to work Saturday. I think his stress level is at a very high level. I have agreed to not ask him about college stuff until Sunday.</p>
<p>Wonder if any of our HS’s have valid reasons for holding back the info that we need? I’m trying to understand. Really I am. </p>
<p>D says that the admin lady at her school who handles the transcripts called the top 10 ranked Seniors to her office and chewed them out for knowing their rank because they aren’t supposed to know it. Then she called the GC and chewed her out for giving them their rankings. DH is furious and trying to look up phone numbers for the school board members, LOL, and D is trying to calm him down. We need the rank for apps!!!</p>
<p>Question. To those with Naviance
If your school has it…
Are the apps sent through it ?
Or just LOR? SAT AP and or ACT…
The GC isn’t answering my emails and we are concerned that all the info on Navience can be viewed by prospective schools
Such as SAT scores when we only want to send ACT
Any ideas ??
Thanks :)</p>