argh. Just got a call from the mother of that friend of DS. She is panicking and apparently heard that I offered help that was not taken by her son. I did what I could over the phone. I particularly suggested some more recommendation letters. Outrageously, although this kid’s summer employer offered to write, he didn’t take the employer up on the offer (yet).
Eta: It was frustrating because my cell service combined with her accent made it much harder than it needed to be. I wish he had come in person!!
Super Congrats to all who have received good news that I may have missed and hang in there, hugs and special sweet indulgences to those receiving less than hoped for news or still waiting.
When I see a post telling that a student is denied the most of the top schools except some public schools with stellar stat and ECs, I suspect LOR at first. A student should not use any LOR if the recommender hesitates to write or a student think there is any chance the recommender does not writes a stellar LOR.
@fretfulmother Would a consult with the school social worker be appropriate for that student? It sounds to my albeit untrained ear that he’s got a functional reason behind his behavior that is psychological in nature. Maybe a fear of failure which is impairing his performance?
@sseamom I am still convinced that my parents couch had magical healing powers. So sad they got rid of it (in the 1980s, but I still remember). I will check with my own kids to see where they like to be when sick. Luckily, I feel like I have a pretty healthy bunch.
@fretfulmother@dyiu13 I am glad to hear that the parent reached out, but I can tell you from personal experience that there may not be much to be done if the teen is not on board with it. I would be thrilled if anybody at our school took extra steps to help out a promising but misguided student.
My S is checking daily to see if he’s heard from UMass Amherst – that’s interesting, didn’t realize he was that keen on it. While visiting my mother in Florida for Xmas we plan to visit what has become a serious contender, Eckerd (with their motto “Think Outside” we figure we’ll get a sense of the campus even if it is empty). S also got a good scholarship offer to UMBC so it could be nearly free (highly recommend it for anyone worried about being shut out – strong academics especially for STEM, but too close for the distance my S craves).
@CAMidwestMom I echo @ChicagoSportsFn’s recent post…Please Thank your S (and your entire family) for his service! We appreciate his (and all of your sacrifice)!
This is an anecdote of one of my previous colleague.
He was a technician in a lab at a midwest university. He had a wonderful GPA and great GRE scores and everything was set for PhD program. He contacted a department at Stanford and everything went well. He was informed that he’s almost accepted. Then after his LORs were sent, he did not get any response. Then he called the department and talked with admission officer regarding admission. What he heard was, never use the his boss recommendation in the future if he wanted to apply other places.
We should not assume a recommender will write a stella LOR because you know him or you work for him. I asked my daughter that when she asked a recommendation letter, tell the recommender whether the recommender can write a GOOD recommendation letter.
Thanks all-D is feeling fine this morning and in the kitchen making herself waffles. I’m getting ready to leave for work. She’s usually healthy, other than her asthma, which has lessened over the years, so it’s a rare thing for her to need to dive under my covers like that. Dad is off today and has some last minute errands so she’ll get some dad time, which doesn’t happen often on weekdays.
@Themommymommy Oh good! Glad to hear they send something. DD has been lamenting that TAMU seems so impersonal and maybe should cross of her list. Of course we are not doing that until she gets a financial package and maybe the box will be a nice surprise. Waiting for the mail truck has become an event at my house!
This question probably was asked before, but in light of our resent discussion here I decided to fill CSS profile even though I do not think she can get any need based aid this year. Do I have to list all schools in alphabetical order? So every school will be able to see other schools she is applying to? I know some people do it in batches and then delete something and start a new batch. Not sure how it works.
@catholicmom3 DS16 received his Furman acceptance and scholarship notification via the portal on Sunday . This was the only notification he didn’t receive by snail mail. Yesterday his formal letter arrived in a huge envelope that said" This changes everything " with a huge poster and a " Furman bound" flag. Expression on his face was priceless even though his acceptance was not a surprise. Your daughter will have her moment too when that envelope comes.
@fretfulmother I remember last year a poster here on CC was very very angry that he had almost perfect stats yet was denied everyplace but Berkeley. I immediately thought LoRs. Berkeley was the only school on his list that didn’t request them.
I don’t remember which state you are in. CA state schools don’t allow LoRs. (Except now Berkeley- interestingly). You may want to encourage him to apply to a few stats only schools.
@catholicmom3 it appears that that the scholarship/fa info comes out later than the acceptance letters based on info we got at a presentation when we visited. (If your DD is NMSF there is some good info on the guaranteed scholarships if you search “national scholar” on the TAMU website.) My D has been a little put off by the impersonal and sort of factory feel of the admissions process too. We have to keep reminding ourselves how nice everyone was when we actually visited and remember that the admissions people are dealing with a huge deluge of mail/scores/questions. The admissions people must be exhausted right about now I would think.
Thanks very much, guys! I totally agree re LoR. I doubt this boy will apply in CA, but his mom told me that he did get admitted to UMass Amherst, so at least he has a safety in hand. I’m relieved he applied there. (We’re in MA.) BTW at the start of this, I suggested a few state schools that focus on stats, as well as a few techie places that would drool over his stats in spite of any other weaknesses - I was not listened to, alas…
(apropos of nothing else) this morning I peeked into DS’s room and pronounced, “Dean Rapelye emailed me to let her know if you don’t make your bed adequately, because they sometimes do rescind.” Heh heh. Maybe I’m too mean!
@fretfulmother – When I anesthetize teenagers I always plant the post-hypnotic suggestion that they will wake up consumed with the desire to clean their room.
Merry Christmas Eve! I’ve been hit with a head cold, so venturing out later for Chinese food isn’t going to happen (we’re Jewish). We do have plans to celebrate Christmas with family tomorrow. I’m hoping that this cold makes a quick exit, otherwise it’ll be me and the tv, or a book, or my iPad. I presume you won’t be checking in to keep me company.
D has a date tonight. Her first. Egads! They’re going to a movie.