<p>Ok 'rents, we have all got to get a grip! Yes, it makes me feel better that I am not the only one who doesn’t sleep at night, but really, let’s get real! The worst part is that it bothers me that it bothers me about this whole essay thing! I am making myself sick over it and it’s poppycock!</p>
<p>Thanks for the information about the CA.</p>
<p>Now, HUGS to everyone! We will get this, the kids will get through this, and a year from now we will all be moaning over our adjustment to them being gone and their adjustment (or not) to the colleges they are attending. </p>
<p>We can do this!! Baby steps.</p>
<p>Now raise your glasses! ::::clink!::::</p>
<p>Good morning!</p>
<p>I hope that some folks have the day off, and a chance to recoup, regroup and revive!</p>
<p>D has school today and I’m heading off to work. </p>
<p>GM and Vandy - so true!</p>
<p>I will say that I have not lost sleep but I do wish the application process was over. After this weekend, DD has successfully done 6 applications and has 3 more - one that has to be done in the next 2 weeks and then she may take a breather for a week or two! One more visit at the end of the month and we will also be done with visits. I actually look forward to Dec-March with less stress - and then April could be difficult making the decision! I am envious of those of you with kids with a #1 choice - mine can hardly list her top 4!</p>
<p>I don’t foresee things slowing all year here. S’13 will be busy writing essays and completing apps the next two months. Dec-Feb is his busy sports season. I’m guessing there will be scholarship apps/essays during that time as well. Then hopefully scholarship interviews/travel. </p>
<p>ahsmuoh - then she should be happy at any - that’s a good thing!</p>
<p>I’ve been meaning to ask . . . what exactly is a personal statement?</p>
<p>S’13 is beginning work on an app that asks for a personal statement, but then has 4-5 more short essays which cover a lot of ground. So what is he supposed to put in this statement???</p>
<p>S had to right a personal statement for an honors program app. I really have no idea what it is so I had him treat it like a statement of academic purpose, like you would write for a graduate program application.</p>
<p>I always thought of the personal statement as the “topic of your choice” option on the CA. I recently read somewhere that a good idea is to write a letter to your future roomate telling them about yourself. Something in that letter can be developed into an essay.</p>
<p>TV - glad to hear you have a good GC, you definitely deserve something to be easy!</p>
<p>I’m feeling a little guilty, I’m skipping out on a dinner at my husband’s bosses house to go to see DS’s Mr. Wonderful contest. It wasn’t mandatory for spouses, but I had originally said I would go. I am always anxious about not offending. DH is the only executive left that was hired more than 3 years ago at his hospital. DH is still going and I’m still sending a special dish to pass. But I would HATE to miss DS’s part of the competition.</p>
<p>Carla2012 - I’m sorry you are struggling with essays, isn’t it hard when you can see someone else influenced the essay and the writer loses their voice! DS “finished” his last essay before going to Homecoming dance on Saturday. Only thing is I did not like the last sentance, it didn’t sound like him at all and talked about his degree leading to a professional career. When I said something about it to DH, he asked if it was the sentence he suggested. No wonder I hate it and it doesn’t sound like DS - it is not his words or personality at all - it is the personality of a 43 year old!!! </p>
<p>OK any one else waiting for LORs to be able to send apps. I need to vent - DS asked 3 teachers in MAY and they all agreed. One wrote it over the summer and sent DS a copy. It is very nice, but DS had this teacher in 9th and 10th grades. I know it is recommended to use teachers from 11th grade, the other 2 teachers where 11th (and one he still has now). I reminded one 4 weeks ago, he resubmitted his requests to both of them last week, and one said they were going to do it this weekend. NOPE!!! So he wants to send 2 LORs to U of Mich. It only requires 1, I can’t decide if I push him to just send with what he has or if I try to wait more patiently.</p>
<p>mommaof5–sending 2 LOR when they only ask for 1 often is a negative. If they “suggest” they can send more, ok, but if it says send 1, don’t send 2.</p>
<p>True, it can be a negative. Sometimes they pick one at random, and only consider one. The one they pick might not be the one that you would have picked.</p>
<p>I think it’s funny how they require 1 and allow 2-4, but suggest you only send more if they say something different about you. Since you waive your right to see the LOR, you have no idea what anyone said, so there’s no way to know if they’re different!</p>
<p>Thanks that’s what I said, well actually I said “The thicker the file, the thicker the applicant.” DS didn’t find that amusing at all. :)</p>
<p>We need to get going on the pre-reads for DD’s choices. I told DD she needs to call and get going on this but I am wondering if it is ok if I just call. DD doesn’t really have all of our numbers. I am assuming that we need to fill out something like the CSS?? Not really sure. Would you call or have her make the first call? It would be to schools that she has already been accepted to.</p>
<p>mommaof5–
:D!!!</p>
<p>This is what the app says: Please provide a personal statement about yourself so that we may better get to know you. This is your opportunity to tell us anything you think we should know about you as we consider your application for an admission decision. There is no required topic, format or length. </p>
<p>S’13 has already done a prompt about telling a story to his future roomate. That is the one he adapted to be his common app essay. The entire thing is just one anecdote, but it does say alot about who he is and how he approaches life. That’s what he wants to use for the personal statement, because he still has so many more essays to write. The prompt is broad, but I guess I thought a “personal statement” is more what Haystack described. However, there are other short answer questions that address that type of thing.</p>
<p>I hope I didn’t start a round of insomnia! I slept like a log last night. The only problem Saturday night was the last-minute EA switch and not knowing how that affected the QB app and the domino effect from there. But once I got up at 4:30 and did the research, all was well!</p>
<p>Ds had his interview, wrote a thank-you note and did more work on his EA app, so I feel like this will get done. And dh worked on the CSS. But even for the EA school it isn’t due until February. Why is everyone working on it so soon? Is it for ED schools?</p>
<p>^I checked all the dates - none of S’13’s schools require the CSS until Feb 1</p>
<p>YDS, some schools require CSS by 11/1 for EA applicants - U Chicago is one, and I remember doing it for D1 years ago at BC also. I haven’t looked at that form yet</p>
<p>MommyDearest13: Consider asking LOR writers to please also give the student a copy of the LOR as a signed hardcopy (the old-fashioned way) - this can be useful in applying for scholarships that are not associated with the CA.</p>