<p>S and H toured McGill, U. Chicago and Northwestern this week. NW was the best tour of the 3. UC is son’s new dream school.</p>
<p>Interesting! My son’s visit to UC on July 5 was terrible - no interiors on the tour, big emphasis on science research over anything else (S15 is not interested in science). What impressed your son?</p>
<p>After two months of sitting next to DS while he learns to drive I no longer clutch the armrest or silently pray. I think he is getting the hang of it. I thought depth perception was better in males but his is as bad as mine. That’s why he prefers my small car to dh’s Honda pilot and I get to teach him to drive. We didn’t pay for a class.</p>
<p>I have a firm belief that if I pull on the handle of the car, I can actually steer it back onto the road. It’s the same principle that will make a bowling ball change direction if you lean hard enough.</p>
<p>I’m wondering if any other states besides Virginia have the deal where a kid can go to the community college for 2 years and then automatically get into whatever public school they want provided they maintain their grades. I mentioned this to someone and she said to be careful because not every department in every school accepts kids this way. This has been our extreme fall back in case she gets no merit anywhere or if she flatlines her SAT scores. It has the added benefit of giving her 2 years at home, saving on room and board. It has the disadvantage of depriving her of the full college experience, which may not be worth the expense. I just wonder if anyone has done this and what the experience was like.</p>
<p>twogirls – while our HS kids get their class lists the morning of the first day of school, the counselors are all on standby with computers hooked into the registration database to make instant class changes on a space-available basis. For kids who need changes where space isn’t available, it can take a week or more to sort out (e.g., arrange swaps) or sometimes the kids are SOL. </p>
<p>keepmecruisin – we took my D2 along for most of her three-year-older sister’s college visits. D2 has always been a mature well-behaved kid, so it wasn’t a problem. However, she was too young and her recollections are too vague to be definitive for her own college search. Those visits have been useful for informing her preferences (e.g., disliking West Lafayette sprawl, so we won’t be considering Purdue for her; liking the leafyness of Northwestern). However I feel strongly that she deserves her own visits focusing on her own areas of interest. Thus we will try to re-visit NU and some other schools that she first saw as a middle-schooler. We will also visit plenty more schools that may suit D2 but weren’t under consideration for D1. </p>
<p>Laclos – if your D isn’t likely to reach NM levels then there is very little reason for her to push for an early SAT. She’s likely to get a better score later, after more schooling and maturation. If her schedule allows it, I’d have her take sometime in this spring. There will still be plenty of time for over-the-summer studying and retaking next fall if she’s not happy with her first scores.</p>
<p>Laclos – The California Community Colleges support their students in writing TAG contracts that guarantee transfer to UCs, CSUs, and private schools if certain conditions are met. However, only not all UCs and CSUs participate, and many majors and programs (ones that are considered “impacted”) make no guarantee of transfer. </p>
<p>An example of one such CCC TAG program is [url=<a href=“http://www.foothill.edu/transfer/taa.php]here[/url”>http://www.foothill.edu/transfer/taa.php]here[/url</a>]. </p>
<p>A student who is serious about transferring should choose their community college carefully. There are huge variations among the CCCs in their success at launching kids into 4-year programs. Some place >>1000 each year, and others merely a handful. California publishes data on all transfers from CCCs to the UCs and CSUs [url=<a href=“http://www.cpec.ca.gov/OnLineData/TransferPathway.asp]here[/url”>http://www.cpec.ca.gov/OnLineData/TransferPathway.asp]here[/url</a>]. (Hooray for transparency in government!)</p>
<p>Have been following along, but every time I try to grab a few minutes for posting, something explodes. 2013 has been one of <em>those</em> years. </p>
<p>Anyway, a special shout-out to Sally and OH Mom for recent PSAT/SAT-related posts in this thread. Sally, my DS’s school gave us info similar to what you posted previously. Students scoring 168+ on the PSAT in 10th get tutoring from the school, though it’s very limited in scope. Anything helps, IMO. DS is participating in school tutoring, has a private tutor (I’m in the wrong line of work!), and is self-studying somewhat. In our area, there are test prep companies that will administer SAT/ACT via the community rec center for a small fee. The catch is that the student must also listen to a sales pitch for the test prep center, but that’s fine. DS took an SAT this morning, which was the best option before school starts next week. From then on, his schedule will be packed. I told him that he’s doing a great job in preparing for the PSAT and - whatever the outcome - he will know he tried his best. </p>
<p>DS is also signed up for the Oct 5 SAT, because he will probably never be more prepared than he is by that point, but I believe we can cancel scores immediately if he feels the test went the wrong way. However, I need to confirm this. Then, after the Oct 5 SAT & mid-Oct PSAT, he will turn to ACT prep. Betting ACT will be better suited for him, anyway. (He may take the SAT again later in 11th, too.)</p>
<p>Our greatest challenge here is college funding. We will not qualify for financial aid, but will have limited resources to cover college for DS + 3 younger siblings (even accounting for Summer jobs & college work-study). So DS is focusing on doing his best in school and I’m focusing on continued research into schools that will offer good merit aid for his stats, whatever those wind up being. DS does not want to travel far from home, so hopefully he will find a good fit among available options in the Midwest.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who continues to post stories & useful info here. I do appreciate it, as I’m sure others do, as well.</p>
<p>I ran into an acquaintance whose daughter will be attending the CC program ( in our county) that Laclos was talking about. She told me that her daughter is guaranteed admissions anywhere she wants to go if she successfully completes the program. Not sure about the exact schools - Lac mentioned public schools and this acquaintance said it was any school. Another girl I know in our community went this route for 2 years and then transferred to UNC- CH. It sounds like a great program.</p>
<p>I thought y’all might like to hear about D2’s college visit to UCSB yesterday.</p>
<p>We skipped the general info session. (Several reasons: we’d sat through it three years ago with D1; it’s not that different from other UCs’ we’ve sat through more recently with D2; UCs are really good about posting admissions info online.) We also skipped the official tour, because we’d done that with D1 and D2 didn’t want to repeat. Instead, we stopped by the visitors center and picked up a self-guided tour map. </p>
<p>Our first stop was at the Student Center where they have a walk-through of a model dorm room (a triple, with one pair of beds bunked and a third bed lofted over two of the desks). The front-desk greeter told us where we could walk by and also see a dorm bathroom (not in use during summer session) and common room. Everything looked sleek and functional, although I imagine it could get pretty crowded with three roommates. I don’t know whether it’s possible to un-bunk or un-loft, if the kids want to do that. My D impressed by the big windows which made the room look nice and bright.</p>
<p>Second stop was the [College</a> of Creative Studies](<a href=“http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/]College”>http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/). We walked in and were greeted by a nice lady who diffused D’s initial shyness. Turns out the nice lady is one of their UG advisors, and she spent a solid hour telling us all about CCS:
- perks and requirements for CCS students
- what majors are available in CCS, and how reqs compare with similar non-CCS
- how it works if a kid wants to do research in a non-CCS field or with a non-CCS prof
- similarities and differences of CCS and college/departmental honors
- how CCS admissions works
She wrapped up by walking us through the extensive CCS application, which the student must complete in addition to the regular UC app and requires extra LORs and essays. We discussed in detail what sorts of things CCS is looking for (basically, initiative in doing independent work and demonstration of “Work in Evidence of Talent”). We discussed at length what sorts of “evidence” they might want from a kid who might be interested in CompSci but doesn’t have formal opportunities to take CS courses (no APCS at our HS, and community college courses are problematic with her dance schedule). Also whether CCS could work for a kid who isn’t really sure whether she wants to study CompSci or Physics, or maybe some combination of the two. I think my D came away with some food for thought whether CCS is appropriate for her, and what she needs to do if she wants to make a successful application.</p>
<p>Next stop was meeting for lunch with a former roommate of my DH who is now a prof in UCSB Engineering. Nice guy, and he was able to answer lots of very-specific questions, e.g., about student life. He laughed when we asked him about UCSBs #2 party school ranking, and then replied in all seriousness that all schools have kids who party and kids who don’t and there are plenty of both at UCSB.</p>
<p>At his suggestion, after lunch we stopped by the UCSB Marine Biology REEF lab touch tanks ([video](<a href=“UCSB Marine Science Institute Touch Tanks - YouTube”>UCSB Marine Science Institute Touch Tanks - YouTube)</a>). Great fun!</p>
<p>Then back to work… We stopped by the Comp Sci department and met with a staff person who laid out the CS program options (BA, BS, dual majors, minors, 5-year MS) in gory detail. He patiently answered many questions e.g., about it being an impacted major and class availability, how AP credits get figured in. We asked him about CCS-CS versus regular CS (in the College of Engineering), and got a different perspective on what the CCS advisor had told us. Lots for my D to think about.</p>
<p>Last stop of the day was the Physics department, which is part of the UCSB college of Letters and Sciences. We talked with an undergraduate advisor there, but I have to say that she was the least successful interview of the day. She just didn’t seem enthusiastic about talking to my D, and more-or-less just told us that all their info is online. Maybe we’d just caught her at a tough time, late on a Friday afternoon. So we got out of there fast, and tried to walk around and see if we could find a prof to talk with instead. We’ve had good luck doing that in the past, at other colleges, but didn’t see anyone who looked promising. (We did see bunches of overworked-looking grad students hunched over computers and lab equipment, but they didn’t look like they wanted to be disturbed!) Maybe everyone else was at the beach?</p>
<p>Overall impression is a gorgeous campus with some challenges (especially class availability in impacted majors) but also lots of different opportunities for different types of students.</p>
<p>twogirls - I looked up the NC articulation agreement and they say it’s into public schools as well: <a href=“http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/programs/comprehensive_a_a.htm[/url]”>http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/programs/comprehensive_a_a.htm</a> NC state schools are so good, that it would be a good deal. I would love it if we could consider NC State and UNC in our search but out of state tuition is far too high. I’m glad that VA has as many great public schools as it does though. William and Mary, Mary Washington and George Mason are all public. I wish Richmond was. That’s my daughter’s dream school, but she would need really great merit money to go there. It’s possible, but I don’t want her to get her hopes up.</p>
<p>@ Apollo6, Yes the UC tour was just as you described but son still loves it. I’m just happy he’s looking at US schools. Last week his dream school was in the UK. Now if I can just get him to look at schools near home in the Northeast I would be a happy mom.</p>
<p>mihcal1,</p>
<p>Thanks for the review of UCSB. That was one school originally on my 2012er’s list because of CCS. It seems like an amazing program. In the end, he didn’t apply to any UCs but I have heard great things about it.</p>
<p>Also, thanks for the link to the transfers from Ca. CCs. How do I interpret the data, though? For example, I found our local CC. For the year 2009/10, 28 students transferred to UCB, 205 to USCD, 14 to UCLA, and 470 to SDSU, but I’m not sure what that means since I don’t know how many students applied to transfer to those schools.</p>
<p>I do see that, compared to another local CC, it’s got way more transfer success or at least higher numbers to the more selective UCs, but that could be because of geographical location.</p>
<p>sbjdorlo – You make a good point that the website I linked only enumerates transfers, not success rate, because it doesn’t talk about how many students attempt transfer. CCCs vary widely in size and intake population. They also get varying numbers of people who are in AA-terminal programs or career skills/retraining programs and aren’t aiming toward a 4-year degree. Also, folks can say they want to transfer without being able or willing to do what it takes to build a successful application. Remember that CCCs have to take everyone who walks in the door – they don’t get to screen for serious students.</p>
<p>However, the data table is a useful reminder that different CCCs specialize in different goals. Some are really good at remediating inadequate primary education or teaching English as a Second Language. Others excel in training workers needed for the local economy. Still others are known as pipelines to a local university (Santa Monica City College advertises “first in transfers to UCLA!”) So if a young person has a specific goal in mind, he would do well to choose his CCC accordingly.</p>
<p>I took a peek at the 2013 and 2014 boards. I hereby declare that starting next August I will begin to drink heavily for 15 months ;).</p>
<p>I read those boards a lot to get a sense of acceptances and possible merit aid. CC is my latest addiction - I can’t believe how much time I spend on here. Meanwhile my daughter is now in the kitchen taking an official Collegeboard PSAT. I am curious to see how she does before doing any intense studying and tutoring. So far she has been studying vocabulary on her own throughout the summer.</p>
<p>@twogirls, is your D. doing an official PSAT of the past? where did you get the test? We’re looking for things for D. to practice on.</p>
<p>Laclos, In Florida had a deal a little like that, but if a student finished CC they were guaranteed to get into A 4 yr university, not necessarily the one they choose, just one of the publics. In the last couple years though, Florida has declared all of the CC’s to now be 4 year state colleges.</p>
<p>I love the visuals of you steering by pulling on a handle and leaning after throwing the bowling ball. I do the same things …and hit the ‘brakes’ on the passenger side when my DH is driving. ;-)</p>
<p>D decided she wasn’t fan of driving, so that is kind of on hold for now. We are, however car shopping. We have an old Odyssey and a stick shift VW so neither is best for a 1st car. I have researched and researched. It seems the perfect car just doesn’t exist (safe, affordable, easy to drive, not too big, not too small, not too many complaints…). It’s a little like college shopping, trying to find the one that is just right. Keep coming back to the Accord, but not settled on it just yet.</p>
<p>Anyone else’s kid working away on summer homework? School starts Tuesday here and D and her friends are spending their last couple days of summer break doing lots of homework. There was definitely some procrastination, but some is just not anticipating how long it would take to read and annotate and journal and type a report up on a 900+ page book that you don’t love. </p>
<p>Wish they could just relax a little longer.</p>
<p>Maxwell my older daughter took the test in 2010 and the school sent home the official test and score key. I found the raw score conversion for the 2010 test on CC. I heard that you can go on Collegeboard and take an official PSAT on line. I also heard that Princeton Review’s PSATs are easier than the real thing, but I have the new book and my daughter took a test and the scores are similar, so maybe it’s worth buying it as well.</p>
<p>@shoboemom - my daughter has been working on AP Biology and US History all summer. I don’t know how much she’s been doing because every time I ask her what she has done all day, she repeats the same thing: “Biology”. I don’t believe she could possibly have so much that it took her all summer. Or else, she’s doomed come Fall when she has to accelerate. I think they had to do 3 chapters and take notes and answer a bunch of questions. She is taking Dual Enrollment English instead of AP so she didn’t have any summer reading for that. She really hates English class. It’s the only class she has a B in.</p>
<p>@twogirls, thanks for the information. My D took last year’s PSAT and got it back. It’s nice that they can get it back.</p>