Parents of the HS Class of 2013

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
16701

<p>congrats tootired on Illinois and Case</p>

<p>my3gr8 - lol on Gap store and congrats on racquetball. Tough about Duke. Do you know anyone who could provide feedback on how competitive the tryouts are? And does the intramural team “feed” the club team or is it completely unrelated? Maybe it’s not as bad as you fear. Also, there are almost certainly going to be others who don’t make it trying to improve for next year… so, why not work together?</p>

<p>Regarding APs - some are full year and some are 1 semester - that’s probably it. I started typing out S13s schedule but it felt too much like bragging :o. Don’t we all have awesome kids?</p>

<p>tx5athome - yes, I’d put it on the app. It’s unusual and tells something about him – the whole “get to know you” thing. And, I guess he did “got this” after all!</p>

<p>sacchi - we got a tree last weekend and it’s up, naked and dark, waiting for someone to drag the lights and ornaments out of the crawl space… S13 has been busy and D15 is at boarding school until Friday. I’ll probably get the lights on this week but may just wait until next weekend to decorate. I like having it in the house, naked or no. lol.</p>

<p>poohbear, how sweet!</p>

<p>psblstnr - congrats!</p>

<p>We are also waiting on UChicago.</p>

<p>Oh kelijake, fingers crossed until Monday! (How am I still typing? I know, it’s a modern miracle!)</p>

<p>Yay to you and your D drmom123!</p>

<p>Cantconcentrate - if you like and can afford the school you’ve been accepted to, then you are set and the rest is gravy. If you’re not sure, especially about money, then you should consider adding schools - if necessary a financial safety and definitely a match. Research good smaller schools with your major that have the feel of your dream schools… one day’s research can go a long way and some slightly-less-selective schools have later deadlines, and many will offer you aid if your scores are higher than their 75%.</p>

16702

<p>cantconcentrate - I totally agree with GreekMana, although perhaps UBC is that “target” level for you? </p>

<p>AP’s - wow… Gym for <4 years would be ideal! At our school, if a kid is absent, even if it is an excused absence, they need to make up gym. After school sports don’t count. My other son’s racquetball tournament would not count. Making a mix CD for the weight room, however, WOULD count. Attending a football game WOULD count, but watching the top racquetball players in the world would NOT count, as only viewing “school sanctioned sports” counts. Yanking an article on health or fitness out of a magazine WOULD count (been there, done that!), and making a single power point slide on a health topic WOULD count! (DS did his slide on the calories in his favorite BK meal - Whopper no cheese or onion - add bacon, and med. fries! knowing the calories has certainly not deterred him from eating them, though!) The policy is so ridiculous I don’t even know where to begin!</p>

<p>We have 8 “academic” periods, but since switching to block scheduling last year, one of those 8 periods is a required study hall, making it really 7 periods. Seniors can choose Early Dismissal for the study hall days, and if they have arranged their schedule to not need to take an elective senior year, they can choose Early Dismissal every day. If I had been on this thread over a year ago, you would’ve seen me trying to convince my son to not take early dismissal both days. He chose AP Art History and is very glad he did. He thought the extra AP would be good to show colleges a continued rigorous schedule. Wow. He actually thought ahead!</p>

<p>Anyone’s kids taking AP Physics C and planning on taking both AP tests, Mechanics AND Electricity and Magnetism? It seems like a bit much, especially with a physics teacher who barely teaches…</p>

16703

<p>Confetti - what is the purple icon u used? I like it! I’m always looking for more emoticons!</p>

<p>I guess I asked about the APs because a 7 AP schedule seems so impressive! I’ve seen it a lot on chance threads and wondered if kids were stretching the truth somehow… Now I see how it is possible (but I’m STILL thinking kids may stretch the truth - insert purple emoticon!)</p>

<p>Your naked tree is so funny! :D</p>

16704

<p>Hey…I tried to tap on your scale, confetti, and got a message to the effect that I must "spread the love’…what??? I didn’t recall clicking on your scale before…maybe the moderators think you have plenty of green dots??</p>

16705

<p>Seems like a lot of us are waiting for UChicago, my S included. Also, his ED school sent out their letters on Friday. It looks like Tuesday is going to be an intense day, hopefully in a good way! This waiting is hard!</p>

16706

<p>Kelijake - perhaps your love was accidentally misdirected to me before? Generally you have to give rep to 20 people before you can repeat.</p>

<p>my3gr8 - at the bottom of the page is a link to Smilies - I open it in a new tab and copy/paste them. No great knowledge here :rolleyes:.</p>

<p>The top kids at S’s school end up with 6 or 7 APs senior year because they waited on requirements: 2 semesters government, 1 business/econ, then another empty to fill, might as well be an AP… </p>

<p>Today was the last orchestra Christmas concert. Wednesday will be the last band Christmas concert. I don’t know if it’s better or worse to think of it that way… I don’t want to be sad, but on the other hand, it turned out that last Halloween (2011) was the last one because S13 didn’t trick-or-treat and D15 is away… and last year I didn’t know it was the last one so I missed it! So, maybe holding everything close to my heart this year isn’t all bad. I’ll certainly be spending more time in Walker’s basement.</p>

16707

<p>@cantconcentrate I was rejected from my first choice college, which is also a HMFR for just about everyone, too. I applied to Barnard and was rejected. Big woop. Look at it this way: Yale thinks something of you. They think you’re worth it, they just want to give other people a chance, too, but you’re on their list. They have you on their mind. You’re there. You’re close. You can do it. Just believe in yourself. </p>

<p>With regard to whether you should apply to more schools, like everyone else is saying, focus on your target schools. After my rejection, I did some digging and found my old lists from this past summer. I had taken three schools off my list because I didn’t think I’d enjoy my time there, but now, all of my cards are on the table. Two of those three schools are match or, as everyone’s been referring to them on here, target schools. One of them is a reach school, even though my stats line up, they just statistically let in less people, so I don’t feel comfortable calling it a match school.</p>

<p>I was fortunate enough to be one of those people who had three schools on her list that she absolutely loved, and they were all in different categories. Out of the twelve schools on my list, my first choice, the HMFR, Barnard, was, as stated, my first choice. Emerson, my second choice school, is a match for me. Quinnipiac, my third favorite, is a safety for me, which I’ve already been accepted to. I’m not quite sure how finances are going to work out, but I’m confident that I’m going to attend somewhere that I really love.</p>

<p>You need to find schools that you love. If you’re unsure about whether you’re going to be accepted or if you’re unsure about money, or if you’re just not sure, sit on it for another day or two. I know it’s hard, I have to get my butt moving with it, too. But, you have to do it. A deferral isn’t a rejection, and you should be very, very proud of yourself because Yale has recognized your hard work. But, remember, should you ultimately be rejected, you’re still a great person, and Yale just failed to recognize that.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

16708

<p>Great advice Swizzle. My DD was fine with deferral from Yale I thought until a moment ago. She just came into room asking if she needed to broaden her list of schools. She is going into finals this week and a few of her grades are borderline and is concerned.</p>

<p>The bad thing with SCEA is not being able to apply somewhere else outside of our state school. She refuses to apply there since her brother attends. All of her friends have been accepted somewhere and this will be a long four months.</p>

<p>She applied to 10 other schools with 2/3 safeties. She has 2/3 more that are reach schools. The other ones should be targets, but you never know. I kind of want her to apply to a rolling college just so she is admitted somewhere. I had a friend last year whose son was deferred from Princeton and then rejected from 6 other schools. He is going to our state school and the mom was very upset with the process. </p>

<p>Congratulations to everyone whose teens already have acceptances!</p>

16709

<p>Swizzle, do you know that we all think you are Great? I would have loved to have a friend like you in High School.</p>

16710

<p>Confetti: thank you :-)</p>

<p>CantConcentrate: ditto to what Swizzle13 said. You should be very proud of yourself. I don’t know how you kids do it, APs classes, ECs, college applications … My hat is off to all of you.</p>

<p>Swizzle13: You are so wonderful, smart, sweet and wise beyond your years. Dare I ask (for my son) if you have a bf yet? …j/k … :-))</p>

16711

<p>CantConcentrate - I know that you said private schools are out because of cost, I was just wondering if you tried their Net Price Calculators? We discovered that many of the privates ended up costing the same or less than our public schools. It was a real shock that one school with a price tag of around $60,000 said our cost would be $3,300 compared to our local public with a cost of $23,000 and our portion would be $13,000. It took about 15 minutes to do, but it helped us a lot with our DS’s college list. Good luck no matter what you decide you will do well!</p>

16712

<p>^ What mommaof5 said - My D is attending a private college in DC for about $2000 more than our state flagship. Some privates are very generous with merit and financial aid. Don’t cross private colleges off your list just because they look more pricey. You might be surprised in the end.</p>

<p>All of our college waiting is over for the moment. Should hear about his final two prescreens by mid January. So, I think we’ll just slow down and enjoy the holiday. S2 has a couple final exams today and then he’s “done” for the week. He has to show up to class, but I think they’re watching movies in most classes. Ah, public education!</p>

16713

<p>RobD - so your school is the same as our AP Econ and AP Govt are taken every other day. Does you D have to go to that class this week since it isn’t truly a midterm. S is going.</p>

<p>S has AP for all his classes except gym, theater and of course study hall - which they call directed studies. So that will be 5 for us. He waited until the last year to do his 1/2 year gym. Not sure what he is taking next term. Think it is literature in film, another with no AP option. But I think that is fine. He needs to enjoy his last term in HS</p>

16714

<p>I will 3rd the looking at private schools. Our D is attending her private school for about $15,000 less than what the state schools cost, DS will probably be doing the same depending on which school he picks. None of his private schools cost more than the 3 state schools on his list.</p>

16715

<p>My3- My D is taking Honors Physics online, but is self-studying for the physics tests. THey are going to be super hard, but her school doesn’t offer a real physics class anyway, so she’s taking it through virtual school. Crazy? Yes. Doable? I sure hope so, for her sake!! :)</p>

16716

<p>I have been off the boards for a very long time but I have very much enjoyed catching up with your news. Congrats for all the acceptances and deferrals (I see that as pretty darn good!)…and hugs to the disappointed…which makes me wonder, as someone else asked, what do you say to your S or D when they are disappointed (deferral) or devastated (rejected)? I th ink we are facing our big one today --EA from a reach (I forget the expletive laden acronym) and I am already thinking carefully about what to say/not say for each possibility. For example, I think it would be lousy to say “deferral means you are seen as student who could succeed there but they are hedging their bets to see if they get better candidates in the next round”…true but no need to say this outloud. Rejected–“it’s their loss” also true but not much comfort? Any ideas…right now I am thinking that the response to rejection is to stock up on reeses (her junk/comfort food of choice) and just hand over the candy with kleenex and say…“I’m sorry, but I think you are the greatest and I will NEVER watch their football team again”)… Please give me more ideas…I am so nervous for her today.</p>

16717

<p>If the answer is deferral, be prepared with a list of positive actions she can take to strengthen her application with her semester grades and renewed communication to her admissions rep. However, you might be surprised that there is a reaction of somewhat relief. </p>

<p>My daughter was deferred from her dream school. She has been wearing their sweatshirt for a whole year. I think her biggest problem was how embarrassing it was going to be with all of her colleagues that went to the special acceptance Summer Program this last summer. They have a private Facebook page that is active. She really didn’t take it hard, maybe she was somewhat relieved because it is a Financial Reach and she knew that her stats would not receive great merit/financial aid.</p>

<p>I love the “well, we are never going to watch their football games again” comment :)</p>

16718

<p>My S is very math oriented, so we always focus on numbers and odds. Even if every candidate is very qualified, the majority will be rejected. It’s not personal. With a talent based major like Musical Theatre (my D) or Voice (my S) there are so many variables that rejection is actually more likely than not. Seriously, my D could be the best mezzo-soprano that they have ever heard, but if they were looking for a cute, blond to fill their class, then she is out of luck. My S is faced with the fact that he has a very mature voice and looks like a 12 yr old. He will never be cast in an adult role until he is around 30 so we know that he’s a “long term prospect.” Some schools may not be looking for that. Oh well, move on the next one. After years in the entertainment business, my kids handle rejection pretty well. </p>

<p>But, what do you do if your kid does not take disappointment well? Throw a pity party, whine and cry some, and then wake up the next morning. Life doesn’t end with one rejection. And, I really think that our kids are more resilient than we give them credit for.</p>

16719

<p>DS got the letter from Fordham today and it was a yes! I have been seriously worried it would be a deferral because he has shown no interest. Now for tomorrow, the only EA left. The chances of him being accepted seem so statistically slim that I can’t really believe he will be.
fineartsmajor- I have been thinking about what he can do if deferred, also. Obviously send in midterm grades, which right now are all A’s with a rigorous schedule. Hopefully he will be a NMF and I thought that would be a good thing also. What about little awards, are they useless? For example DS received his football team’s “Sportsmanship of the Year” award. I haven’t been able to even think of anything to say for rejected, the only good thing is that his youngest 3 siblings are in a big Christmas play that night, so we will be busy and distracted, but probably not really. :(</p>

16720

<p>fineartsmajormom - I advocate one night of crying and ice cream (or, reeses… or, reeses ice cream). Tearjerker movie, mom or good friend to cry with, etc. Then it’s time to move on. It’s really quite a bit like breaking up with someone. How bad it is depends both on how invested you were and how well you’re able to trust that it will be for the best. Someone on this thread has a great story about how she was “redirected” from her ED choice of dreams, then went on to meet and marry her DH at college, so her twins owe their lives to a college rejection letter. I’ve got that one in my back pocket if I need it!</p>