<p>My son does not care if people want to be harsh in their judgment of his college choices. It is his life, he says. Why should I be like everyone else at school? And his choices have been very different, but he truly likes the schools and their offerings. Most have good merit money options. One or two are based on his dealings with cross country/track coaches. If someone does laugh about one of his choices, he points out that he hates debt, and he wants to go to a school that will help him limit that debt, while getting a solid education and having a good time. </p>
<p>When my older son applied to schools five years ago, he and his friends cheered each time someone got in. It was very cool, too. My son got waitlisted by two Ivies, and he thought that he had failed them, because they respected him so much. The opposite happened. One of his friends told me that no matter where my son would go, he would be a success. So he and others encouraged my son to take a National Merit offer which would give him full tuition and housing (along with other goodies) for four years. They were proud to say that he was the school’s first-ever National Merit Scholar. Today, he still remains in touch with those friends.</p>
<p>Dropped D off at ACT this am. First time taking this, and it will be “cold”. She tried a few of the science questions, got them correct and decided that was it. She took SAT last spring and will take again in October, and then done! She is only applying to public schools, so no one is requiring SAT II. Accounts are set up at various schools and slowly starting to fill in the applications. Happy for those who have already been accepted into one of their choices!</p>
<p>D thought she did very well on Math, Science, and English. She said the reading was a bit more difficult. She signed up for the writing portion as well and said it was somewhat challenging. Well I guess we’ll find out in a couple of weeks. She feels comfortable with the overall test and won’t be taking it again. Good luck to everyone who took it today.</p>
<p>I believe I have a plan for a couple more college visits. Since I visited Northwestern with my daughter and it’s a reasonable weekend trip, my ex-husband said he would take my son on that visit. My son is wary- “you know more about this stuff”- but is accepting it. This is one of the schools his dad approves of so it should be fine. He won’t be all negative like he was on the Oberlin tour. My son has election day in November off school so he’s going to take that Monday off too. They are allowed 3 absences for college visits. He’ll only use this one. </p>
<p>Plan- fly to Providence on Saturday, rent a car, stay in Providence Saturday night. Explore Providence and Brown a little, informally (I also visited there with my D) and drive to Ithaca on Sunday. Stay in Ithaca Sunday night. Tour Cornell on Monday and drive back to Providence at the end of the tours. Stay in Providence Monday night. Do Brown’s tour and info session Tuesday morning with a flight home Tuesday afternoon. </p>
<p>It seems like we’re wasting time leaving on Saturday but the flight savings was worth the extra hotel night and car rental day. </p>
<p>S found out yesterday that he made Homecoming Court, so that’s kind of fun!</p>
<p>I hope that we didn’t do the wrong thing by postponing many of the potential school visits until after acceptances. We visited mostly his reach schools, and after a while they turned into a blur. So, we decided (wisely or unwisely) to wait to see which schools are legitimately in the running, and then do the overnight/shadow a student thing. </p>
<p>DS is a physics/math kid (as of this moment), so there are a smaller number of suitable schools than would be the case if he were, for example, a history/literature kid. Most of them are unpredictable (such a nicer term than “reach”).</p>
<p>IxnayBob, no matter what you do, it’s easy to second-guess. Because of family emergencies and a shortened winter vacation due to Hurricane Sandy, we did our big college trip the first week of August and I am very concerned that my daughter didn’t get the a correct impression of most of the schools we visited because there were so few students on campus.</p>
<p>IxnayBob, that is exact what we decided to do - college visits after receiving acceptance letters. We were not able to visit any schools this summer since DS had two summer programs back to back. His sr. year is simply too busy. Luckily, we had visited several colleges in the past couple years if they happened to be in the same cities we were vacationing.</p>
<p>@oldmom: We were at Princeton this summer for something completely unrelated to college visiting (a girls’ ice hockey camp), and I remember wondering if some of the tours were getting a very distorted view of what they thought were Princeton students :-)</p>
<p>Pulling teeth with K2 to edit/craft this essay to really speak the message intended. I REFUSE to craft/write etc…and it has come down to K2 sitting on the sofa nearby working on the draft while I work on my LinkedIn profile.
If K2 heads to the bedroom–its all FB, texting and mps player</p>
<p>This silly essay has kept the rest of the apps from going out…grrr…</p>
<p>K2 needs to CALL a coach about and OV…the coah wanted K2 there next weekend (fri/Sat) and K2 asked about flying in Thursday afternoon so K2 could attend classes Fri etc. No response…so I did not purchase an airline ticket.
This generation is so text/email heavy that Calling a contact–whether it be a coach or future business associate seems to be a lost skill.,</p>
<p>Gosh when I was in 1st grade we had telephone etiquette training by our teacher…</p>
<p>In other news…I have just accepted a FT position…being close to “free birds”/empty nest-ers I am pleased as I have wanted to go back FT for awhile.
I and both excited and am also wondering what have I gotten myself into…
Its not only the first FT exec position in yrs, its a career shift. Lots to learn which I really enjoy. Not sure how I will feel with 4 flat screens across my desk!!!</p>
<p>Hope everyone is having a great weekend and that those who are testing feel good about it all.</p>
<p>fogfog–congrats on your new FT position! It sounds exciting! I just accepted a new PT position…to help pay for college. Was at the same PT position for 20+ years, so a little nervous!!!</p>
<p>Common App fixed my woes, and D14 submitted her first CA app! Sending the rest tomorrow.</p>
<p>Loved the discussion about talking to others about which colleges kids are applying to. This being my first experience, I did not even think others might want to keep their thoughts on the down-low. I hope I wasn’t being the annoying person scrounging at them for info! I am a very outgoing person, but I will definitely be sensitive now that I know some people want to keep general about it.</p>
<p>eyemamom - you can come over to my house after school and we’ll jump rope, ok? :)</p>
<p>fogfog – great news! I see some shopping in your future for a new work wardrobe.</p>
<p>I made it to a yoga class for the first time in months. I feel more calm – not infinitely more calm, but more calm. I think this will help with the stress swirling all around me.</p>
<p>Congratulations to FogFog on new job! I am observing that many of my contacts who are transitioning to the empty nest are taking on new jobs or master’s programs. Taking care of ourselves- a good thing.
After launching S11 into college and doing it again with DS14 I have learned how “loaded” those conversations about SAT scores and college applications can be. People can make stinging comments and really undermine your family’s confidence as you grapple with the process. I have learned to Chat in vague and upbeat terms then move on to a different subject. I also listen much more than speak, thus letting the other party divulge more specifics if so inclined. Even after acceptances are shared the opinions and “why’s” are flung your way. Other people are happy to judge your choices. Be ready for that.</p>
<p>Many congratulations on the new career and job fog!! I’m sure you’ll ease right into it. Many of my FT working friends say they honestly enjoy having a place/something that’s not about the kids or home or even their husbands. They can ‘turn off’ and be a professional (even if it’s volunteer work) while they’re there and find it very satisfying. I hope you find the same positive feelings they have. :)</p>
<p>I am happy to report that my S completed his first CA essay draft- assignment for AP English- he needs to do 4 in total…due tomorrow of course- He plans to write another one today and 2 tomorrow quickly in study hall. They are not being graded and I think it is over kill but maybe the teacher wants them to " stretch" a little. He is also prepping a little for the SAT. He took the ACT yesterday for the first time w/o prep. </p>
<p>Also, I just learned that during English ,his class is working on completing naviance/CA app with the GC. This was a nice surprise!</p>
<p>I am feeling pretty confident that S will get his ED app in on time…of course who knows how many rewrites his essay will need…oh and BTW - I am not allowed to read it!</p>
<p>I was afraid to ask, but my daughter told me I can read her essay when it’s done. I know what it’s about because she needed me for research, for stuff she didn’t remember the details. She said it’s almost ready, but of course she’s been saying that for a while!</p>
<p>My S is on a role- finished 2 essays and sent them to his teacher and is working on the 3rd- they will not be graded so the pressure is off…I am so glad he is finally " into it" …</p>
<p>I hope to read the final essay before it is sent off to colleges…</p>
He is applying to 5 to 7 schools and this is one of his favorites :)</p>
She took SAT last spring and will take again in October, and then done! She is only applying to public schools, so no one is requiring SAT II. Accounts are set up at various schools and slowly starting to fill in the applications. Happy for those who have already been accepted into one of their choices!</p>