An engineering school was interviewing at a local hotel. I found it amusing that all the boys I saw (including my own) were dressed in the same “uniform” - khakis and a button down shirt.
My daughter is an engineering student in the honors college at Northeastern if anyone has any questions. She’s had an amazing experience. She’s currently interviewing for her 3rd coop. She’s been able to do both a study abroad and a coop abroad (she’s a traveler). My son won’t even consider it because he doesn’t want to be in a city.
I’d also warn against judging a school too harshly by a tour, as we’ve all discovered. It’s so hard not to! But the impression you get from a tour guide or admissions representative may not really represent the school well. We found that we learned so much more at the accepted students days. We also found the engineering tours (when available) were much more helpful than the general tours for my D.
@krnBoston – I strongly second your point that one shouldn’t confuse the quality of the admissions presentation with the quality of the school. Of course one would like the school of one’s choice to have their act together when they have their best shot at presenting themselves, but their presentation may have little relationship to the quality of academics, student life, and ‘fit’.
Even more so for the tour. We have had some wonderful student tour guides and some over-the-top give-me-a-handgun-so-I-can-shoot-them tour guides. There is a thread somewhere on the parents forum regarding the funniest and stupidest things done/said by tour guides on college tours. All schools are represented on that thread.
@lvmjac1 – A good aspect of emailing like you suggested is that the return reassuring email is a document that can be produced if there’s an issue later. That said, based on S14’s experience (and the Class of 2014 thread) and as has been noted here, schools are very forgiving about ordered scores, transcripts, etc. that are late getting there, as long as the application was submitted in a timely fashion.
@4kids2graduate I’m guessing mid-October. She used the school’s online app instead of the common app and told me after the fact. The email said the acceptance packet would be mailed in about two weeks. I’m so sorry I can’t be more helpful…
@AsleepAtTheWheel I love that thread! There’s one on funniest reason your child didn’t like a school. We refer to it as “they hated the tour guide’s shoes” syndrome - in other words, you can’t always expect a 17 year old to be able to articulate what they didn’t like about a school. It’s so hard to ignore these impressions.
@palm715 Thanks…S16 probably submitted toward the end of Oct, so may be another couple weeks before he hears. They are not a CA school, so only option is to do their specific app.
@drmom123 Going back a day or two in posts (hard to keep up here) the tension in my house is also on the rise. DS seems to be losing steam and seems more stressed. He’s told me to “back off” more in the last 4 days than the last 4 years. I’m feeling the stress too.
I’m another mom of a tall, thin guy. We’ve found luck getting 30x34 (soon to be 35) jeans at Old Navy and on their website. I appreciate the advice re dress pants. I think we found DS’s most recent pair at Macy’s. This summer wevgot a few inexpensive Khaki pants at Boscov’s which is local to our area. Not the same quality as some of other stores but they worked out well for DS’s summer job. DS hates shopping of any kind (except maybe for chocolate).
I have been calling myself DS’s administrative assistant since last winter. There are so many moving pieces to the common app process. DS submitted an app via the common app on Thursday (app #6) and I went to check the portal to make sure they have his scores, etc once the app was in. Well, apparently we set up him up on the portal back in June when we scheduled a visit but darn if I can’t find the password. We have a file for each school and it is not there. I tried to go on a do a password reset, but there is none! Whoever heard of a college site without a password reset? So now I need to call the admissions office. All these little annoyances do add up. DS can’t do this kind of thing because he runs XC and winter and spring track - he is never home when admissions is open. I am getting worn down too. Lots of tension in our house
As for ordering test scores, we had DS’s school list fairly set by September so I ordered all of the scores then. He has one additional school he is considering that we have not requested transcripts for or scores so we could be in a rush if DS decides to apply. His one school that is not on the common app that had a Nov. 1 priority deadline shows on the portal that DS’s scores are not there and his application incomplete. I had called prior to Nov. 1 and they finally found the scores - they were there under his nickname. But the online portal is still showing they are not there and the app is incomplete. I’ve called twice more. They see the scores but can’t explain why the app is still showing incomplete. The last time I asked for some written assurance that his app will be reviewed as part of the priority group and of course, was told I need to email their tech support. I will do that in the next few days but to some extent this reinforces why I prefer small to mid sized schools over large ones. It is easier to get lost in the shuffle. Okay, thanks for that vent.
Right now DS has 6 apps in, an acceptance from his rolling admission school and 4 more to go. He has drafts done for the the essays on two of these but they need a little tweaking and I can’t seem to get his attention back to them. One has a Dec. 1 priority deadline for merit aid. Of the final two, one is a very good match for him so I really don’t want him to burn out before getting that essay done. The final school is a high reach but could be a good match if he got in. It is a long shot but you never know. Again it would be good if he could focus for that. With winter track starting today, I’m concerned about losing his attention completely.
So this weekend DD broke up with her BF of 3 1/2 yrs! She received 2 acceptance letters last week & it was like someone flipped a switch. Instead of staying with what she has always known & was safe, she has decided to find out more about herself, go to parties (never one for that), not lean on anyone, explore her options, & reconnect with her girl friends. I think we are all surprised! Poor boy. She still has 3 more applications she wants to send since she wanted to cast a wide net, but does not feel like completing the essays just yet. Personally I want it all to be submitted & cross that off the list!
Can I just say how much I hate the CSS Profile! DH is self employed & it is a nightmare… Wish someone else could complete it for us.
@kat2013. Self employed here too! I am extra irritated because I had to fill it out for EA with 2014 taxes and will have to redo it again for 2015 for all the RD schools. Of course I have to do all our bookkeeping for 2015 first.
finally, an actualy paper letter to my S telling him he got his application in…thus…I got to SEE it! wish that would happen with all the schools! I love these emoticoms!!
I got an auto generated snail mail from one of D’s EA school saying she’s in legacy pool. I don’t expect much from legacy. Still pretty low acceptance rate.
I’m bored and looking for entertainment. NYDad’s note about legacy made me think about likely letters. Anyone want to talk likely letters with me? Are they generally for URMs and athletes? I know almost nothing about them other than I know someone who got lots of them last year and the student was a URM. Lots of school specific threads are asking about them so I thought I’d ask here. You guys are a wealth of information and hey, its late and I’m stuck waiting for my little one to get done with play practice (its tech week).
While we are at it… other than Halloween candy, how are you bribing your DCs to write their essays? I’m bribing her with sparking grape juice, chocolate milk, and trips to Loft. She finally finished her list and I’m happy to say its much more well rounded than hubby thought it would be.
wish that would happen with all the schools! 
I love these emoticoms!!