Parents of the HS Class of 2015

Parents of HS Class of 20xx
16761

<p>@OHMomof2‌ thanks for the detailed reports about your visits! I am so glad they weren’t lost in the glitch. </p>

<p>To answer your question about whether all schools say they “focus on undergrads”, my experience is absolutely. Even at Hopkins in the midst of the spiel about being the first research university, and being #1 in grant funding, they immediately threw in “and since we have only 5000 undergrads, they are really the focus”. Our visit there was great, but that line made me chuckle!</p>

16762

<p>@OHMomof2‌ thank you for your college visit reports! We are leaving soon for a college tour ourselves. We will visit 6 schools over a two week period, with sightseeing and visits with family and friends thrown into the mix. Look for reports on MIT, Olin, WPI, Lafayette, Case Western, and Carnegie Mellon in a few weeks. D is interested in engineering and these schools are mostly reaches but hopefully some are a few matches for her. D has interviews set up at the last four, so any pointers on interviewing is much appreciated…I think maybe this was discussed just recently but is now part of our “lost days” on the thread? Should D bring a resume/transcript/scores (unofficial) to these interviews? Let me know of any must-sees near these schools!</p>

16763

<p>@OHMomof2‌ - What was your impression of Wesleyan? DS received a request from their coach for him to email his transcript, school profile, and ACT scores so they could get an “early read” on him. We didn’t have them on the radar screen. </p>

16764

<p>Next week we’re taking care of the local visits from S’15’s list. It’s MN private college week. Concordia, St. Paul, St. Olaf, Macalester, Hamline, Gustavus, Bethel and UST will all be visited.</p>

16765

<p>@Giterdone, we’re doing the same, but revisiting St. Olaf (S graduated 2013 from St. O), Macalester & Hamline. </p>

16766

<p>@giterdone‌ I would like to hear your impressions of the MN schools.</p>

16767

<p>I would too. So far my D has seen U of M and UST, but she is balking at the idea of being in an even colder place than where we live now. I am also interested in St. Ben’s–St. John’s was my son’s super-duper safety and I thought it looked like a great school. Maybe too rural for D, in addition to cold.</p>

16768

<p>@mom2twotallgirls could you please tell me how your daughter was able to set up the interviews. Did she just call the college rep and ask if he/she could meet? </p>

16769

<p>@Joe2015 I believe there were instructions on each school’s website. I asked D to sign up for the tour/info session, and on the page where you do that (usually in a section under “prospective students” called “visiting campus”) there were details on setting up an interview as well, if they are offered. Some of the schools she had to call, and it was recommended to do so at least two weeks in advance. </p>

16770

<p>@Sally305, if you can get your D onto the St. Olaf campus, I know she will be in love. It is in a small town with easy access to the Twin Cities, which is only 35 miles up the highway with daily shuttles (private company) that run often to the airport, Mall of America, Downtown Minneapolis, and various stops in St. Paul. You can buy one-way, round trip, 10 ride passes, or monthly passes. The one way and round trip tickets used to be around $12-$20 when son was attending St. O. The school also provides a shuttle to the movies for $5 round trip, and other destinations. </p>

<p>The St. Olaf campus is absolutely gorgeous–think Scandinavian design meets Hogwarts. O’Main (it was the 1st building on campus & housed the original college) is a top a hill perfect for sledding. The layout of the campus means that all classes are within a few minutes of walking from each other. Town-to-Gown relationships are strong. And if you ever bought or eaten Malt-O-Meal cereal, the factory is in the same town of Northfield, MN. Every time I would go pick up my son (since he could not have a car on campus), it would smell like chocolate or vanilla cake–yum. My son never complained about food because it is so good with tons of options even for vegetarians and vegans. S was provided Kosher meals during Jewish Holidays & Shabbat services through JSO in conjunction with St. O, which paid for the meals.</p>

<p>Classes–Son had no problem registering for classes outside of time of day, but with each year he was able to get prefered times professors. All of his professors offered office hours and would work with S if he needed to meet outside those time frames. The core is not such that a student could not delve into other interests or double major or add a concentration (minor). If St. Olaf was in Minneapolis, in St. Paul, in Chicago, or on the east coast, I think it would have lower acceptance rates than Macalester or Carleton. </p>

<p>Vibe/Student body–St. Olaf was son’s financial & academic safety. We were concerned that about how being Jewish would affect his experience on a Lutheran, Christian Campus. He was welcomed as he is, and was never pressured or dealt with missionizing from staff or students. He was quite involved with Hillel, and even participated in a couple of inter-faith initiatives or programs that were involved in specific community service programs dear to him. He loved the challenge of staying firm in who he is as a person, as a cultural and practicing Jew. He did have a problem with his 1st roommate freshman year, but after a roommate switch for 2nd semester, never had roommate issues again. In fact, the 1st roommate left the school after 1 semester, and S’s new roommate is now one of his best friends that he considers his brother. </p>

<p>Study Abroad-- Everyone practically studies abroad during junior year. If a student qualifies for financial aid, the funds can go towards one of St. O’s many abroad programs. I am still mad at my S for taking out a Direct loan to help fund a friend stay in a more expensive living arrangement with S & a few others. </p>

<p>Dorms–eh, typical dorm rooms, but as freshmen, S & his 2nd roommate lofted both beds with one bed having a futon underneath (provided by the school). Each had separate closets with ample room and shelving for storage. I cannot remember if each had a small dresser & large dresser, or just 2 small dressers and a shared large dresser during freshman year. Sophomore year, they had bunked beds so they could have a living space with sofa, chairs and gaming system area–one end of the room was their study area. The room was pretty big with a wall of doored closets–lots of large windows. Junior year, they ended back at the same dorm as freshman year due to study abroad, and senior year they ended up back at their sophomore dorm. Housing is guaranteed for all 4 years, as staying on campus is required unless you are married or have a child. I think some exceptions are made for commuters that live close to campus. </p>

16771

<p>@Wrestlersmom‌ we didn’t see Wesleyan, only Conn. Thought about it but decided Amherst would be the reachy LAC this trip.</p>

16772

<p>BHM - your post reminded me of my favorite tour guide question (I only ask one and otherwise hang back). It is “how do you register for classes? What if you are shut out?”</p>

<p>They always seem a little surprised when I ask but that is one thing very few web sites seem to include and IMO, it’s important. Amherst, for example, has a guarantee that if you are unable to get into a class (if full and you ask the prof to let you in and they say its really truly too full), you will get into it the following semester. </p>

16773

<p>@Joe2015, you asked about scheduling college interviews and I was going to reply to your post - but then our Parents thread stalled and I couldn’t post for a day or so.</p>

<p>In DS’s case, he has received a few mailings from schools that will be visiting our area, but the schools apparently must not visit his HS during the year (though a good number of colleges do visit his HS). The college mail volume is pretty overwhelming at this point, but I happened to see the postcard and showed it to DS. He may have also gotten an email about the visit…but his email is overflowing, too! (I’m sure we’re all in the same boat.) So I suggested to DS that he schedule an interview with this school, since it interests him, and he emailed the rep listed on the mailer. It was a very basic email, simply indicating that he’d received the postcard and would like to schedule an interview. He’s waiting to hear back.</p>

<p>I agree w/ @mom2twotallgirls that each college web site should have instructions for setting up an interview, if the school offers interviews. Frankly, DS is not jumping up and down w/excitement at the prospect of going on an interview, but it really can’t hurt (at least I hope it can’t…) and there’s something to be gained from that experience.</p>

<p>Hopefully that helps answer your question.</p>

16774

<p>Check to see if any of your child’s potential schools offer meet & greet sessions at the home of an alumna/alumnus in your area. At each that BHG and I attended, an Adcom was present to give a presentation. The meet & greets are generally small, and offer the opportunity to meet with alumna/alumnus in addition to the Adcom for your region/state. Some schools also will connect you with an alumna/alumnus just to ask questions and hear the person’s experience at the school. We’ve done this, too–less intimidating than going cold turkey to an interview. We’ve now are in the process of scheduling official interviews with Adcoms when they are in our area. Some interviews are scheduled for next fall, but before EA due dates.</p>

16775

<p>Joe2015 D has at least one school on her list that requires an interview. They emailed her a few weeks ago ( we visited in February) requesting that she either interview in person or set up a skype interview. I also responded earlier but am not sure whether you saw my response. </p>

16776

<p>My D has done two interviews, set up at the same time as scheduling tour. These on campus interviews have been with current students working in the admissions office. </p>

<p>For those schools that offer both on-campus (usu. w/ a student) or off-campus (usu. w/ an alumnus) interviews. does anyone have any insight if one is a better option than the other? Are they weighted differently in admission decisions? What do you think would be the pros and cons of each?</p>

16777

<p>I was always under the impression that an on campus, or in your area with an adcom, or skype interview with a representative from the adcom office ( like a student) was best, followed by an alumna/alumnus interview if it was for more than information gathering by the prospective student. </p>

<p>Your child probably should pose the question to each school’s adcom office if the different types of interviews are weighed the same or differently. </p>

16778

<p>I am extremely envious of you all. D15’s last day of school is 6/26. Groan.</p>

16779

<p>Our district goes until 6/26. D happened to finish yesterday. </p>

16780

<p>Holy cow! Still in session for another week? Did you have weather closures to make up or was this the planned schedule for the year? Do you at least not go back until after Labor Day? What state are you guys in @tranquil218 and @twogirls ?</p>