@BeeDAre That sounds a lot like my son re: social life. I think he would rather get s feel for things and apply for Honors later. I forgot that was an option at many schools.
Yes, look into whether he can apply in second or third semester. That may make for a less stressful freshman yearā¦
In the last 24 hours Iāve been asked for college app help by two of my Sās friends who are both reaching very high. In one case Iām friends with his parents and they know Iām pretty deep into this stuff, in the other case I think my S must have suggested that his friend call me because heās preparing to apply to my alma mater, in my major! Iām pleased that the kids are being more open with each other about their rejections and deferrals ā in S14ās group of friends they just didnāt talk at all. I wish I could go back and advise them all to have an early safety in the pocket to help them cope with this season of stress.
That Tulane blog post is definitely a classic and I plan to share it. (http://tuadmissionjeff.blogspot.com/2015/12/its-going-to-be-okay.html)
Another friend was fortunate to be accepted to his ED school ā Iām sure his academics more than qualified him, but he also happened to be skilled in an unusual instrument they really needed for their orchestra. In this case, I think he knew that before he applied, but in most cases you have no idea what they are looking for and either you have it or you donāt. Hang in there everyone!
Itās too bad that no one from wither the boyās school or family insisted he apply to a safety, but @fretfulmother , I would offer some suggestions to the boy if heās willing to listen-once. If not, itās on him.
@CAMidwestMom , the honors colleges D is applying to have a range of GPA requirements, from 3.2 - 3.8. They all also have additional requirements, such as volunteering and/or seminar attendance, and one has āpointsā you must gather by attending certain guest speaker series, special workshops, volunteer ops, etc. The ones with more additional requirements seem to have lower GPA requirements.
And @BeeDAre , so glad to hear the happy news! What a great Christmas gift!
@fretfulmother I would recommend to your sonās friend that he apply to Pitt, which has rolling admissions, a 56% acceptance rate, and LORās optional. It gives good merit scholarships and has plenty of strong students.
I didnāt recommend that my kids apply for honors (in most cases they didnāt have the gpa anyway). It is more stressful to have additional requirements, though some kids would thrive with the extra community support. Mine tend to befriend the smart kids anyway, and I doubt the honors designation would help with jobs or grad school as much as just trying to excel in their chosen majors.
We have found through research and college visits that there is a wide range of honors colleges/programs. Some have many additional requirements and harder courseworkā¦but several have no difference in ārigorā course content, but rather have courses with fewer students, enrichment options, priority registration (one college on sonās list allows students to register a year in advance!), etc.
S has no interest in programs with a long list of additional requirements that would add to his workload, but is very interested in the programs that offer the small honors sections of regular classes (ie: freshman physics - 400 students vs. 20), enrichment, and priority registration.
@sseamom - thank you! @crowlady - believe me I did recommend Pitt; this was my own DSās first joyous acceptance. 
D16 and two friends just spent 10 minutes giving me a powerpoint presentation with a spread sheet of the financials on why we (their parents) ought to allow them to take a 48 hour road trip to Austin, tomorrow. canāt wait to see what they come up with for spring break! Their felt their most compelling argument was āWe are seniors and we only have 163 more days to bond.ā
@labegg Sounds perfectly reasonable and appropriate to me.
Maybe I am just salty because I was a āBā average student, but the priority registration for honors students always irritates me. I can swallow the extra nice dorms and the special honors lounges and specialized classes and events, even the additional academic advising. But the priority registration always sticks in my throat.
I agree @4kids2graduate . All Honors programs are different so itās important to evaluate each one individually. For my son, the smaller class sizes, difference in focus of how the classes are taught, the close knit social aspect which could make some of his larger school choices more intimate , priority registration and increased support and oversight by additional faculty made any additional work necessary worth it to him. There are also additional scholarship opportunities available to him in the Honors program. Itās purely a personal decision for each student and their family to make, but itās important to evaluate each program individually to make an informed decision . I also think that their is a misconception that these Honors students are completely isolated from their peers. Many programs offer Honors housing , but donāt require that the students live there. They may be in the same classes with peers but have an additional component to complete. Most do have a project which must be competed prior to graduation. All of these things should be looked at closely when making a decision .
I have to admit the priority registration rubs me the wrong way, too. The special housing, etc., I understand and thatās not hurting anyone elseā¦ If I were an upperclassmen, though, and couldnāt get into a class because an incoming sophomore in Honors took my place, Iād be miffed.
As weāve all seen on this thread over the past several days, things donāt always work out the way that they should or are fair. Certain majors get priority registration as well. I know I did as a therapy major.
I think the priority registration is a big draw. I know my D is considering some bigger schools that she wouldnāt consider without that perk. I am fine with itāafter all, the athletes get priority registration at many of these schools, why not the top students?
I am trying to convince S that a school that he applied to, but isnāt really interested in has an Honors program that he could qualify for, which includes extra scholarships. Every time I tell him about it he cuts me off because he doesnāt want to hear it.
On another note, Berkeley finally asked S for two letters of recommendation.
As a compulsive planner, Iām already asking D16 to find out the orientation day dates, Fall 2016 registration dates, academic calendars (semester start/end dates, add/drop dates, breaks/holidays, etc.), payment deadlines, move-in and -out dates, etc. for her top four schools (two residential and two commutable).
This also includes all the details needed about minimum GPA for her tuition grants and any Honors programs, along with program elements. Also: the four-year course sequence plans with any application requirments for her major, along with her planned grad school application requirements. Plus, will find out what the policies are for transfer credits from CLEP and summer school at other colleges. Oh, and the reqs for RA jobs and other student life/support jobs on campus, which she views as career-building.
Weāre thinking a good fall schedule might include a gym class as GPA protection as she settles into college. Summer 2017 could be used for a transferable math or language course taken at a local school, perhaps, as the double-time pacing might assist with mastering the material.
Some might call this info gathering nuts, but I maintain that itās a smart move.
Woo Hoo. 4 for 4 acceptances so far. Furman University with a substantial scholarship and the possibility of more scholarship info being released in January. Would still be a stretch financially , but very flattered that he was offered the scholarship. Gonna wait and see what the future holds. =D>
Thatās awesome news! Congrats!!
dyiu13 - right there with you on the planning! For us itās easier since weāve had it down to one school for a while;-) D16 is currently planning her next yearās Christmas Break. She has some churchās that sheās done seasonal gigs at and they just realized that she is going away to college and are concerned that she wonāt have much time over the holidays so they are booking her for next year now!
DD called the housing office at OU after she put her deposit down to ask how/when she could sign up for a bike locker and the housing department was surprised she even knew that they rented bike lockers but told her that sheād need to wait until August to apply for one.
Wonderful news, @carolinamom2boys !