<p>Is it possible to send 2 LORs out of 3? Three of D’s teachers volunteer for the job. D does not want to submit more than the requirements.</p>
<p>On the common app, for each school you choose which recommenders you want to use.</p>
<p>Mathmomvt, thank you.</p>
<p>Another LOR question – S has 2 from 2 teachers. Plus I think GC writes one. So if a school only requires 1 from a teacher; allows up to 3; then also allows (but does not require) an additional letter from clergy, parent, employer etc., is that a subtle hint that they’d like to see one?</p>
<p>DS is applying at MIT and there are some questions we’re usure about. He marked white, then it asks Europe, Middle East or other. If he’s just plain American, does he select other? And then asks for him to talk about his culture. Again, nothing special. Just a plain white boy with many generations living in America. What on earth should he put?</p>
<p>My son is at the “I know everything don’t tell me anything” phase. He is my youngest and I helped get my older two into Tulane and Vanderbilt. Plus I work with high school students. I don’t take it personally, but it’s still annoying.</p>
<p>beadymom- that is still a culture. The geographic region where you live is going to have aspects of culture- so does whether he’s in a rural area, urban area or suburb type area. One of my D’s essays was about how restricted she felt her cultural experiences and her (from the heart) desire to experience other cultures. </p>
<p>S tweeted today “People are getting accepted to colleges and I haven’t written my essay yet” He then started asking me a bunch of questions while he was working on the common app and at least one supplement. He called his sister to ask her what he should write his essay about.</p>
<p>I think the question about Europe, Middle East, etc. is about where his ancestors are from. Unless he’s Native American, his ancestors must be from somewhere else, right?</p>
<p>I agree with what BarnardMom says about culture.</p>
<p>And BarnardMom – I <em>wish</em> my kid was getting concerned about not having his essay done yet…</p>
<p>Thank you both! I’m going through the FAQ thread now and saw that the culture essay was optional. I’ll recommend that he come up with something! :)</p>
<p>I believe that it’s also (required by law to be) optional to fill in your race.</p>
<p>Classof2015, D is also thinking of sending one LOR from an outside source to cover all bases.</p>
<p>One of D teacher has had a great reputation of writing amazing LORs, usually a dozen a year and by invitation only. This year, she passed out generic LORs to the kids due to personal problems. She has been crying non stop in class. I feel so bad for her and the kids.</p>
<p>Good luck to all taking the SAT’s or Subject Tests this morning!</p>
<p>Hope all the SAT takers did well this morning! DD14 is done and home and so happy she won’t be taking them again. And I made her the favorite chocolate cake she loves and usually makes. We’re just hoping there’s an increase in the CR and Math scores as her writing was fine. And hopefully the ACT scores on Monday will be better too!</p>
<p>S took the SATs this am …he thinks he did well …he is hoping for a perfect math score - that would be nice! S and my nephew both thought this test was harder than the May test. anyone else feel that way?</p>
<p>I bought my son a book on writing successful college admission essays, since he has a ton of supplemental essays to complete, plus a few scholarship essays. He is apply ED1 to Claremont, and then RD to Occidental, Rice, Duke, Tulane and probably UT (our local school). He is top 8% so no more auto admission to UT, since they have now gone to top 7% for auto admission as of 2014 entering freshmen. He is taking 4 AP classes, is a starting Varsity football player and works on the weekend. And of course he still wants a social life. I told him he has to read the book this weekend, at the very least. He is driving me crazy! This is after returning from a weekend visit to LA, where he fell in love with Claremont and Occidental both (and surfing), but really became sold on Claremont as his #1. A month ago he didn’t even want to make this visit and complained to his dad that I was “making him” look at Claremont. After helping the older 2 get into good colleges with substantial scholarships, and working with college bound HS students for the past 3 years, as well as writing about careers and education for about 12 years, you think he might trust me to actually know what I’m talking about. But like every other 17 year old alive, he thinks he is smarter than his parents. Driving me CRAZY!!! 
I remember this phase with his older brother in 2006-2007and that was tough, but I was kind of clueless then about how it really all worked, and his brother had A grades and a 35 ACT. I’m sure it will all work out OK, but I really wish he would just finish the damn essays and stop causing me anxiety!</p>
<p>Hope today’s test takers came out feeling good about their efforts!<br>
Moonmaid- your kiddo is lucky to have you in his corner… hang in there!</p>
<p>I have a question:
I am helping my S fill out his student data sheet for LORs and I am not sure when to categorize something as an AWARD vs. an ACTIVITY. He has applied to competitive summer leadership “experiences”- Seminar, Camp type programs on college campuses. He had to write essays, turn in SAT scores and transcripts, and submit LORs to these programs and was accepted, all costs covered. While this is an activity, it was a competitive process and all expenses were paid for his attendance, so he was awarded these experiences. What category should they go under? Thanks very much!</p>
<p>Moonmaid, I just try to tell myself… someday, he will thank me.
Good job in successfully MAKING your ds visit Claremont and Occidental.
My ds is also interested in Rice, Duke and maybe Tulane.</p>
<p>Minnymom, my ds has done the competitive fully funded summer activities also. Depending on the number of slots for award and activities, DS has been put the summer ones where there are slots left. However, on Comm App, he ran out of room for both award and activities so he put them under ‘additional information’.</p>
<p>I also bought my son a book on writing college application essays, and shockingly he read it cover to cover and said he had an idea about what to write his essay about. No draft yet, but an idea is a start, and he seems at least motivated to get rolling on it.</p>
<p>Moonmaid: it will all work out. Your a great mom and you have a great kid. It will all work out.</p>
<p>Our DS took 3 SAT2s this morning. He felt pretty good about them. We will see in a few weeks, but either way - he is done with those.</p>