God bless the teachers, caregivers, librarians, social workers, therapists, artists… Worth their weight in gold. Keeping an eye on “income-based student loan repayment” programs!
Okay everyone, I am a newbie who has been stalking CC for a year now (all of you have been very helpful!) and I have decided to jump in on a couple of threads. S16 is deep in the middle of his applications as we speak and (I know he is not but) many of you make me panic that he is way behind! He is very low maintenance and self motivated (I haven’t seen or aided on a school assignment since 5th grade) so I am sure that everything will be completed on time (despite his being away for the next 5 weekends for ECs). DW and I do check on his progress through Net Classroom and stay very involved (where he permits) at his school and with ECs. His plan is to have everything submitted by 10/1 (except for SAT subject tests) so that he is first in line for Merit at several of his safety schools. BTW is our state flagship (Maryland) the only one not on the CA? Anyway is anyone else dealing with a high achiever who has no idea what s/he would like to major in? S16 seems to excel at and enjoy everything he tries. When asked where he sees himself in five years his answer is “I don’t know, but in ten years I see myself in charge of some company somewhere.”. His current thought is to double major in Macroeconomics and Math. He loves that Macro is a mashup of Math and Social Science. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
PS As I’ve said elsewhere, I apologize for the parenthetical thoughts. I know they are annoying but they help me express my ideas more accurately. While English is my parent tongue it was my second language and I still have some affectations because of that fact.
@texaspg, these were admissions folk from Recognisable Northeastern Schools ™ who were together at an event primarily for guidance counselors (never mind how I ended up there). The comment surprised me,actually-- but consensus was that there seem to be trends in popular target majors, and pharmacy and chem eng are the overwhelming choices at the moment.
Whether the kids targeting those majors are all competent to do so is another story entirely, I expect. Given that D was considering pharmacy last year and barely passed AP chem, I’m guessing not all of them.
@Booajo I think that a lot of the 16s are painfully aware of recent financial events, and (especially the kids who have been affected) are grasping to ensure that they don’t have to experience it as adults. Doing everything “right” is no guarantee of that of course, but since there are still adults who are working that out, I’m not surprised there are kids who think that way. (Including S in this one.)
@petrichor11 I know, I just am wishing it didn’t have to be so. We certainly have been affected as well, and my kids are being affected right now because I won’t let them apply to colleges over our budget (which means any place that is high-ranked and doesn’t offer merit aid–so most of the big names are out). However, I truly do not care what their major is. I guess I remain unconvinced that “major” actually determines much at all by the time a person is 40 years old. As a career-changer myself, I want my kids to have PASSION about what they do. I believe this will make them happier than money alone. (I am not opposed to money though!)
@petrichor11 - I believe pharmacy is more chemistry based while chem engineering is a lot more math, chemistry, biology and some physics based. Attached is a schedule for UT and many of the preliminary courses expect prerequisites.
http://www.engr.utexas.edu/attachments/CHE2014-2016_SAC.pdf
Not sure if anyone has a child interested in nursing. I met a bunch of nursing students recently while I was hanging out in a medical school building and many looked rather young. I got to talking to one of them who said they did 2-2.5 years at a regular college taking required classes and spend 16 months at the nursing school to complete. It seems to be dominated by women though (this particular class of 130 or so had only 10-15 men).
Welcome @TalksToTrees
All the Texas public schools us ‘Apply Texas’ not the CA.
@texaspg I feel like we’re having two different conversations, but thanks for the info nonetheless.
@Booajo I agree, with both parts. S is looking at schools with huge endowments because, frankly, he’ll qualify for need-based. That eliminates a lot of schools he’d ordinarily look at-- including schools which often claim to meet most need but with substantial loans. And because D isn’t a good candidate for the top tier schools, she’s pretty much limited to state unis, or massive debt. Which is kind of frustrating because she’d be better off at a smaller school, I think.
Oh well. It will work out, one way or another, yeah?
Welcome, @TalksToTrees .
Most of the public universities in the Midwest are not on the common app btw, and have their own apps.
Welcome @TalksToTrees !
Anyone else started on the “getting the house ready for company” list? I have to spread these things out and cannot leave them for the spring so trying to get something done each month. I can tell that we have neglected a few things while we have been so busy with EC spectating the last several years. It also gives me something to check off the list that does not involve DS as directly! A good use for nervous energy, I guess.
Possibly. 
I don’t actually much care for what the guidance counselors or admissions personnel have to say except if it means that my kid is interested in some hard to get into school and the school is indicating that if you apply to so and so major, you have a better chance at being admitted.
One thing I have always heard is that admissions people get way too many psychology major applicants. Our school had this game they did for students with 10 profiles of students during admissions and they keep rearranging the rankings based on attributes after starting out based on GPA/rank. The psychology applicant got sent to end…
@texaspg Ouch. My daughter is wanting to major in Psychology as her end game she wants to attend medical school to become a psychiatrist.
@dyiu13 not just income based, but loan forgiveness for non profit jobs. Ten years of work and the rest of the loan is dismissed.
@sophomore1 It may be a disadvantage. She can always major in psychology after she gets to college but not declare it during application process. I tried to see if I can some real info and this is what I found.
http://www.cogdop.org/page_attachments/0000/0200/FLA_White_Paper_for_cogop_posting.pdf
@Cheeringsection I was just thinking the same thing. I’m actually starting to freak out a bit. We aren’t close to the in-laws. I think they have visited us once in 8 years and they are coming for graduation, my mom and my sister will also be coming, all from out of state. I have no idea where I’m going to put them all or what I’m going to them with them while they are here. I think they all be here a week. The last time the two sides of the family were together was slightly after D16 was born! On the bright side I’m not nursing so I drink this time around;-)
For the house, I need to finish cleaning out the homeschool room, I’m in the process of turning it into a studio. There is a hole in the living room wall caused by the dog running and jumping onto the couch and slamming the corner into the wall. It’s not that big but I have been ignoring it because after it’s patched I’ll have to repaint the entire wall. The yard and gardens need attention too but it’s still to hot to think about it.
Hmm, maybe I’ll rent a local condo just in case.
Finally I can report that at least something got completed. DD turned in her NMSF application. Now I have to watch her school officials to do their work.
Thanks 3scoutsmom! S16 will be scouting for the next five weekends in a row (it sounds like you may have experience with this). I am glad it’s not just Maryland that has to be different.
@Booajo I like the way you think! Giving everyone their own space is a great idea. We will not have anyone staying as long as @3scoutsmom but if I did, I think a local condo would be a great idea. It also reduces the need to entertain everyone 24/7.
Welcome @TalksToTrees My son will be wrapped up with scouting in the next several weeks as well. Installation of his Eagle project tomorrow with continued work over the next few weeks.