The main reason we visited in the summer was because of D’s EC obligations. How do they expect kids to fit in visits during the academic year and still maintain EC involvement? Not to mention the amount of homework for AP classes…
At least, D’s school allows them an excused absence for visiting a college campus. But D is afraid that will just put her behind in school work… We’ll see. She has 4-day weekend in November, as well as Columbus Day coming up.
We do plan on waiting until acceptances (yes, they will all be acceptances! must think positively 
) are in, then visiting again, in the spring, those we visited in the summer.
Daughter has been receiving numerous fee waivers the last couple of days. They are not on her list now, but maybe 1 or 2 wouldnt hurt? I am going to suggest this to her.
My sister just got accepted to the Culinary Institute of America!!!
So for more than three years, I have loved D’s hs. Lots of great teachers, a really wonderful principal, and a lot of opportunities for D. But now we have to count on the guidance department…
D is applying to all but one of her schools EA. The first deadline is 10/15.
The first hiccup - it is our understanding that D is likely a NM commended student. We’ve seen the numbers and her score is in commended student range. She’d like to list that on the application, but worries that maybe there’s some problem since the school hasn’t said anything to her. (School semi-finalists have been notified, there are semi-finalists and commended students at the school each year - it’s not a new thing for them.) So she asked her counselor about it. He told her that she can’t put it on an application until she’s notified by the school. But he says that since he’s not the counselor in charge of NM stuff, she’ll have to ask that counselor about it. That one’s been out of school for the last few days. She can email him about it, but she feels awkward about asking him (doesn’t want to be pushy) and would like to just be able to casually walk in and ask.
Then there’s the transcript issue. None have been sent. School is part of a pilot program in the city for a new method. Apparently they’ve now decided how they’re going to handle the process. Counselor tells her that they will start sending out transcripts that have been requested on 10/5. Crossing fingers that the school isn’t closed that day for a hurricane!
@readingclaygirl Congrats to your sister!!!
I agree with @Ballerina2016 regarding high matches and reaches. They are really blurry and don’t know what’s going to happen. Still thinking to replace one school with safer school. It is really tricky when you can apply only 8 private schools while state flagship school does not fit to my DD.
@MostlyDolores I totally understand what you are feeling right now. It is unnerving to be completely dependent on a new system and a new GC . Follow up in a few days if you don’t hear anything . I understand that your daughter wants to guide the process, but you may need to step in at different points in the process to make sure she has every opportunity available. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and send positive thoughts your way
MostlyDolores- I am popping over from the Class of 2015. My daughter also applied EA last year to a school with a 10/15 deadline. She was a likely commended student and wrote Commended Student- anticipated, on the Commonapp. Nobody questioned it.
Thanks @NYDad513
OMG @MostlyDolores, that is just so many ways of wrong for your D. She should know whether she is a NM commended student in time for her application to be submitted for 10/15. That is a situation where I would step in and respectfully but FIRMLY
request the information so that your D can add it to her application! This is important to your D and there are no mulligans in these situations.
@MostlyDolores Tell your daughter to send the email. It is likely easier on the counselor to get an email request and look the info up when he has the time then have a kid walk in unexpectedly and expect him to know the info off the top of his head.
@MostlyDolores call NMSC tomorrow and ask them…they have been confirming NMSF by phone for those folks who have not had cooperative schools. I would think they would confirm commended as well. All who have contacted them in the last few weeks say they are VERY nice and VERY helpful!!!
What is the last possible date you all would be comfortable sending in your common apps for the Nov 1 EA deadlines? My son’s is ready–all transcripts, rec letters, scores, essays, etc.–to go but we are waiting on the results of a number of events which we should know by end of October. I just don’t want him to cut it too close to deadline in case something goes wrong.
@collegemom2boys I would send transcripts, test scores as soon as available and just press the button around October 27.
With November 1 falling on a Sunday this year. I plan on sending everything no later than Oct 15. That gives me 2 weeks to ensure everything is in.
D and I discussed it this morning and we decided to take the advice of @4kids2graduate to call NMSC directly. It could not have been any easier! They were very nice and seemed happy to help. The rep said that certificates had been sent to the school a few weeks earlier and that D should not hesitate to update her college apps with the info.
I appreciate everyone’s comments. Thank you @carolinamom2boys @twogirls @Ivmjac1 and @Dragonflygarden I struggle with when to step in because I don’t want to take over the process. (Well, part of me wants to take over the process!) So I appreciate hearing another opinion for when it’s appropriate to step in and be the adult advocate.
So now we just have the transcripts to worry about. Fortunately, the hurricane track is shifting, so it seems more likely that there will be school on Monday. That’s the day that they will hopefully be sending out all of the transcripts that have been requested so far this year.
The advise from 4kids2graduate was excellent and I am glad it all worked out. We have no experience with NMSC as not many students from our high school qualify (even the ones in the top ten of graduating class). Super Congrats to your D. Awesome accomplishment and EVERY college she is applying to should absolutely know it!. In my D’s high school you cannot rely on guidance or administration to necessarily do things correctly for the kids. It may not be purposeful but nevertheless it may have dire consequences on the student’s situation. When that happens, I let my D (and my S in years prior) take step one. If they do not get results or if they get the impression that they are not being taken seriously, I step in with extreme respect but with firm resolve to push for a solution to the issue.
@carolinamom2boys I was reminded yesterday that there is one of those random days off school coming up. DS’s deadline is now that day as I will be home with him as well. Your 2 week estimate is about what we are shooting for as well.
Congrats @MostlyDolores ! I am glad it worked out.
S16 is off tonight for the second of two overnight college visits. He will undoubtedly apply ED to one of the two. Currently he favors one, and mom and dad favor the other. They’re both good schools, but there are significant geographic and quality of life differences (at least we think so). We’re just going have to let it play out this weekend and take it from there. Not my usual M.O. to be patient. We’ll see.
Not so humble bragging here. Son just received his latest ACT scores and he scored high enough to be eligible for the Presidential Scholarship at one of his top choices of schools. I’m so proud of him and he’s so happy that I’m not making him retake the SAT on Saturday. O:-)