<p>ugh akmom, what a pain! Hope it all works out as painlessly as possible!</p>
<p>great news about the job for your DD though 
</p>
<p>Looking forward to the visit reports.</p>
<p>eyemamom - thank you – if your post had a title, it would be “the art of being happy”. Your D sounds like she’s doing great. It made me smile. :)</p>
<p>So - here are the remaining college visit reports from our tour…</p>
<p>After Yale, Drew and Princeton, we went on to see Ursinus, Villanova and Bryn Mawr…</p>
<p>Ursinus - DD was scheduled for an info session, tour and interview but they didn’t do them in that order! We had an official arrival time and got there about 10 minutes early. Instead of an info session, they brought DD right in for an interview! While she interviews well and is very comfortable with talking with others, whether adults or students, it was disconcerting as she didn’t really know enough to ask questions before hearing about the school! After her interview (about 15-20 minutes or so), they brought me in and the admissions counselor gave an “info session” which was the officer telling both of us about the school. It was a bit weird having a private info session. The officer was the one for NE and made it the point of saying she would be the one who would first read DD’s application when it came in. We then had a private tour with a tour guide they called up. Neither DD nor I were too sure about him at first as he was very laid back, but he was majoring in Chemistry (something DD had indicated she was interested in majoring in) and had been doing research since second semester freshman year. At the end we both decided that he was a great tour guide and had lots of insight into the school, programs, clubs, research, etc. Overall, the school was small but very nice, offers merit aid DD hopefully should qualify for, and will probably stay on DD’s list. There seems to be a lot of contact with professors and chances for research. The only issue is whether it would be worth it to her to go that far away to that school. So she’ll apply and then see what happens.</p>
<p>After Ursinus and lunch at Cheesecake Factory at the King of Prussia mall, we headed to Villanova. We were hoping to just drive around the school to get a look at it to see what it was like. We ended up turning up a street with a security guard who said we couldn’t drive around the campus! Never had that happen before! So we went and parked and headed over to admissions. We ended up catching the last 15 minutes of an info session and then taking a tour of the school. The tour guide was good but DD was not feeling a fit and I couldn’t see her going there. The school is very pretty but the guide was a bit too “perky/preppy” for DD! Overall the school was nice and has a lot to offer but not much in merit aid so it wasn’t really on the list in the first place. So we left and headed back to BIL’s house with pool and jacuzzi (and a nice Godiva chocolate cheesecake saved in the cooler from lunch)!</p>
<p>Hello parents! Quick question, what’s the best way to explain a liberal arts college to a mother? Half of the colleges on my list are LAC’s and my mom doesn’t believe they are good schools or “real” schools for that matter. Thank you!</p>
<p>wow, unbelievable. tell her it’s a 4 year school with either a BA or a BS. as I understand the differences, they don’t have the huge research options a university would have but if you’re not doing research, that does not matter. I don’t think they offer doctorates ether but again, not the end of the world for a BA. show her the high percentage of students who go on to grad, law, med, and dental school and the prestige levels of the graduate programs the kids get into. seem of the best schools in our country are LACs…</p>
<p>Last report - we saw Bryn Mawr last Friday. The school is absolutely beautiful - lots of turrets and it looks like a smaller version of Hogwarts The info session was one where the students all sat around a small table and the parents sat around the edge of the room behind them. There was an admissions rep and a rising senior who explained lots of things about the school and programs during the info session. It was pretty informative and the student was able and encouraged to elaborate on her various experiences to enhance what the admissions officer was talking about (internships, study abroad, the Haverford collaborative, etc). The tour guide was good also and the tour was pretty small - just three students and their families. Actually, one student was from California and her family wasn’t with her and the other was a student from Tokyo there with her parents. DD liked that the students at the info session were from all over the US and Tokyo - gave her a feel for the range of students for the school.</p>
<p>The school is small in the number of students but didn’t feel small in terms of buildings/campus. Absolutely stunning in some regards. We’ve seen Smith and Mt. Holyoke also, both of which are larger in terms of student body. But the close proximity and relationship with Haverford (which we drove around after visiting Bryn Mawr) and Swathmore give Bryn Mawr some different advantages. One major difference between Bryn Mawr and Mt. Holyoke/Smith is that the other two schools have more dining options, especially in the dorms. (DD likes idea of the milk and cookies Holyoke serves every night in the dorms and Princeton serves tea and cookies at night - see the trend here?!) And DD really liked the Bryn Mawr admissions counselor that interviewed her! I think Bryn Mawr will stay on her list but I think she’s looking for more info on it also. There’s a girl from our town who just finished her freshman year there and is going to be an admissions guide there next year whose contact info I was given today so DD can ask her any questions she may have.</p>
<p>Now I’m just hoping that seeing Princeton, Yale and some of the other schools will encourage DD to study and try to increase her ACT/SAT scores! She’s planned out her weekly summer schedule of what she needs to do for AP work but I suggested that she needs to add working on her brag sheet, essays and test studying needs to be added to that! But I also promised not to bug her this week. Her hometown friends finally finished their finals today and they’re all enjoying a pool party/camp out (girls only stay overnight) today and there is supposed to be a big family beach day on Friday. However, the weather doesn’t look too great and I may still have to be here dealing with fixing the A/C leak mess. But if it’s nice, I’m hoping to get to the beach so I can hang with the moms!</p>
<p>akmom, Bryn Mawr is a great school by all accounts. I hear u on maybe some motivation on increasing the score!!! Still have not found that in our case</p>
<p>Cheermom - I have years of experience navigating the public school system to get accommodations for a gifted student. Just like you we had to get a private neuropsych evaul before they would agree to a child-study which then took months. This was for our older son, now 22. You need to go up the ladder. I hated to do it, but on a couple of occasions I needed to go to the county coordinator and appeal to them. I was always able to find someone at that level willing to see things with fresh eyes and a clear perspective. Your county school website should have a directory pointing you to a contact. I’m sorry you’re hitting roadblocks.</p>
<p>Tinny, I’m not really an expert, but I would say that a LAC is a school that focuses on undergraduate education and generally gives more individual attention than a larger research university.</p>
<p>S3’s test scores for his ACT test came back and he raised it one point. He went up in all categories except his strongest, Math, where he went down 3 points. His composite scores needed to go up one more point for possible scholarships and I am disappointed. I shouldn’t be because it is a good score but I can’t help think that if he studied a little more (or a lot more) he would have done better. This son is following his two older brothers who were vals at their schools and had 35/36 on their ACTs so its hard not to compare. S3 is a wonderful student, good gpa, fun to be with and I am proud of him BUT… Has anyone else been in this boat and have advice to me to SNAP OUT OF IT and recognize that I am truly blessed???</p>
<p>^^^^Please ignore my message above. I had just found out his ACT score and was a little disappointed. Tomorrow it will be just a number and another day. With all the other problems that I could be dealing with (medical, drugs, etc.) this really is a small concern. I am truly blessed!</p>
<p>DD is finally taking some initiative with visits and “the list”. Today she submitted her 3 page interview appointment request and got her preferred interview date and time at Wake Forest. Earlier this week she followed up and called Vanderbilt to see if there was a chance of getting off the waitlist for one of the PreVU days in July. She got an email today confirming her attendance.</p>
<p>And then she blindsides me by asking about a school named Rollins in Florida. I asked why, and of course the answer was that a cousin of friend goes there and she really likes it and could we check it out in August when we will be in Florida? I have heard of it but have no real info. Oh! The reasons these kids “pick” schools! :eek: </p>
<p>Do any of our parents have any first hand info on this school other than what I found on their website?</p>
<p>crazy4disney - thanks for the suggestion. I passed on the name and will let him look into it. </p>
<p>kjcphmom - we’re in the same boat with my youngest after my other two were a bit higher stats wise. However, as eyemamom said, they are who they are and I’m convinced youngest will do well (esp due to personality and all of his teachers loving him). I just have to adjust to different scores and a different level of academic commitment. My guy does put a LOT into that which he likes. He just doesn’t care for SAT/ACT stuff. The schools he is looking at will be a great fit for him.</p>
<p>AvonHSDad - as much as my guy has been looking at FL schools, Rollins never crossed his list… sorry! If a friend goes there, it must be good. ;)</p>
<p>Kjcphmom, Parental score disappointment is normal, I think. Like so many here, d is not where I thought she could be, but won’t take the test again. Oh well. I guess as long as she likes the safety (academic and financial), we’re good.</p>
<p>Talked a little with the kid last night about expanding her search. She’s “in range” for more schools that she’s considering, and they may like her for some geographic and racial diversity. I mean, as far as ranked colleges go, the area west of the Mississippi and east of the California border is void of them. Maybe a kid from that region has a shot.</p>
<p>kjcphmom: I do know what it’s like to try to avoid comparing kids. It’s tough, really tough. Son '09 was the valedictorian, National Merit Scholar, National AP Scholar, huge scholarship to college, Phi Beta Kappa, etc. He was done with his testing in January of his junior year. Son '14 is an awesome kid. But, he goes to a different school, and truthfully, most of his teachers are tougher than the ones Son '09 had. He needs to work his butt off for every grade. He has seen an upswing on his test scores, but still needs one great session in October to get the numbers that he desires to go where he wants to go. We keep a positive outlook on everything, and we offer lots of options, as Son '14 may want to compete in athletics in college. That’s why there is a huge range of schools we look at.</p>
<p>akmom124: Son '14 got a very nice note from the track and field coach at Ursinsus, saying there is an information day just for those student-athletes scheduled. But, it is doubtful he can go because I’m back at school (gotta work the new teachers week), and he has practice for cross country. I know he is interested, so maybe he’ll send a note to the coach to see if he can come and visit another time.</p>
<p>eyemamom: Toured CNU earlier in the week. Son '14 thought it was “awesome.” </p>
<p>The campus is gorgeous. Very well laid out. The woodwork in the academic, as well as in the residence halls (we saw a freshman dorm), is beautiful. My son thought it was like visiting a five-star hotel. We got to see the natural science building, and the tiles in the lobby seem to have glitter in them – to which I remarked that I felt like I was in the middle of a Ke$ha song – “glitter on the floor.” The Freeman Center is the home of many athletic events, including indoor track, which pleased my son. Lots of construction going on, as there will be another new dorm opening in 2015. We also learned that there will be Greek houses on campus in Fall, 2015, which interests my son, too. His older brother was Greek, and he loved it. </p>
<p>Son '14 has not told me to book a return trip so he can speak with the track and field/cross country coaches and also interview for merit scholarships/leadership programs, but I think he will do. So, maybe we do have our in-state school…</p>
<p>Avonhsdad- a friend if mine had Rollins DVD Stetson in her list for her son who ended up getting in ED at Elon. I’m trying to remember what she said about it - I think there was no business major? They didn’t have something he wanted, and her older daughter thought the son would spend all his time at the beach. </p>
<p>Tinny - LACs share some common characteristics like small class size, good processor to student ratios, a focus on the undergraduate experience (vs being more focused on the graduate schools), and they often have a core curriculum so you would have to take a class in government, a science, a language, a math etc to fulfill requirements to graduate. The emphasis is on learning how to think (and write and analyze) which in theory helps you tackle many different types of problems at jobs. As opposed to schools which are more focused on engineering or pre- business. This is just my understanding.</p>
<p>Rollins and Stetson. I can’t type on the train…</p>
<p>MathMomVT–Thanks for the nudge regarding the SAT. I’ve “heard” from others that its much harder, if not impossible, to get extended SAT time, but I should get first-hand information, especially since everyone’s circumstances are different.</p>
<p>Eyemamon–I like your epiphany, thanks for sharing! I share your thoughts from time to time, and try to focus on “finding the right fit”…after all, what else matters?! Some days I’m more successful than others!</p>
<p>BlueIguana–Thanks for the support and the suggestion to reach out to the county. I’m mad at myself for not being more agressive. I naively believed that if I played by the rules, the school 504 team would respond accordingly. I’m such a dummy. I still don’t understand why they’d resist when I have medical documentation to support extended time. I guess its more paperwork for them? But on the other hand, when Cheergirl is accepted to a more “prestigious” school as a result of her extended ACT time, it will reflect well on the school…</p>
<p><sigh!></sigh!></p>
<p>We’ve been lucky that our HS has been extremely cooperative. They have given us whatever we asked with no hassles. I think if we asked for something that cost the school money it would have been harder. It’s hard to understand when a school won’t give something like extended time which really costs them next to nothing and it stinks that you have to fight for it. I assume you’re familiar with the wrightslaw site but if not check that out. Good luck!!</p>