@fretfulmother @RyanG1207 For kids who have only had child passports previously, they will apply for NEW passports. For 16 and 17 year olds (at least, not sure about older kids) that means that both parents have to show up with the kid at the passport acceptance facility. Everyone needs ID. You can’t just mail it in.
@bouders - Yes, thank you! And I think in any case both of us have to be there for the younger kids’ renewals. So it will be a bear to try to schedule that. Thank you so much for the heads-up!
Yes, I had to be there for my other kids, for D who was 16 I know she had to be there in person, I had to be there to help identify her since she just had a learning permit, no DL. I had to have a notarized form that my H who could not be there allowed me to get the passports.
I think we brought original birth certificates and old passports with us, the courthouse had a place to take photos right there for a nominal fee.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/apply.html
Good interactive guide
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/under-16.html#consent
see the part 4 parental consent, if one parent can’t be there.
I had to have the DS-3053 for my kids under 16, for D it was enough that I was present I believe.
Both parents do not have to be there for a 16 or 17 year old’s passport application:
Parental Consent
Children ages 16-17 with their own identification can apply for a passport by themselves. However, it is recommended that at least one parent appear in person with the child to identify him/her and to show parental awareness.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/16-and-17.html
Getting D16’s first passport at the USPS post office yesterday (she’s age 17 and has her own state ID), I needed to be there and to provide a copy of my ID. Dad did not have to be there or send any document. She had to relinqish her original birth certificate, to be sent in and then returned. We had to provide photocopies of her birth cert, as well as front and back of her state ID and my drivers license and we had to show the original ID cards, but got those back. We both had to raise our right hand and confirm the accuracy and truth of all documents/statements for the passport clerk. (Call to make sure the passport clerk will be there. Some offices require an appointment!) D16 paid in cash and was given a receipt. Waiting for 6 weeks from now for passport to arrive. Just FYI. Hubby’s and my passports are long expired, so those might require its own process. Don’t know yet.
@fretfulmother, @ChicagoSportsFn, I am going through my online history trying to find the article, but so far I haven’t, been able to find it. Keep in mind, they don’t define what a reach school is. We here on CC define reach as HYP and describe them as a reach simply because so many great kids with great stats apply and get rejected. Your kids have the stats to be successful at those schools. If it weren’t for the number of kids applying and was based strictly on stats it wouldn’t be a reach. However, what I picked up from the article, a reach may be a kid who gets into a lower tier UC even though they have stats that suggest he/she would be better off at a cc for two years.
On another note, we in education always say, “Students will rise to level of expectations.” I wouldn’t for a second think of not sending my kid to a reach.
As DD works on her last applications her essays become better and better. Now she has regrets that she cannot update her earlier applications with her latest essays.
@Ballerina016 I love that positive attitude! It’s great your D feels better and better about her product and that she’s learning as she goes.
@dyiu13 - if your passport was issued within the last 15 years, you can still renew it by mail:
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/renew.html
@fretfulmother As much as this essay’s marathon is overwhelming, I have to admit that responding to those philosophical prompts (not the why XYZ school) increased her level of maturity.
@fretfulmother, @ChicagoSportsFn @mysonsdad I think it really does depend on the kid and how they are motivated or de-motivated. My S14 did not go to a reach and he has thrived – he was better prepared than many classmates so he can help them and that makes him feel good. It is a good school that challenges him enough but not too much. My S16 works hardest when challenged, so I think he might be best at a reachy school.
How did you all post almost nothing all day and then slam down the posts in the evening?!? Can’t believe how behind I am.
Welcome, @EskiesAndBoys! Glad you’re hanging out with us, “in person.” 
Thanks for posting the link to the acceptance list, @RyanG1207, which is called the Class of 2020 Acceptance Thread. FWIW, I have this bookmarked, so I can keep track of everyone’s good news!
I’d like to go to @palm715’s for a barbecue, especially since it’s about 16 degrees here. I propose we have a virtual barbecue near Palm’s palms. And since it’s virtual, I will offer to bring 30 steaks and enough portobello mushrooms for all the vegetarians. Who plans to set up the bar?
Sorry for the bother, @LKnomad, hope it’s easy to sort; I think @Ballerina016’s strategy is very good, and I like @Mysonsdad’s and @AsleepAtTheWheel’s reasoning too. You can see this as a pain-in-the-behind good sign.
Hugs to you @palm715 for being a tad out-of-sync with your DD. But I’ll tell you that when I see you later today.
@carolinamom2boys, not more essays! Ugh. Seems like you and @happymochi are running the same race.
@fretfulmother, don’t worry about the article, because your DC will have Prince. RE: that article, I had a discussion this morning with D16 about whether she should do the premed requirements in college. I would like her to do a premed year post college, so I would like to see that article too.
Another FWIW, I do believe it’s useful for college kids to go to school with a current passport. S13 has had a couple of good opportunities come up, and the passport was not something we had to solve at the same time as the other details.
I always keep all our passports up-to-date. Always. Well, except that one time when I was flying to France and got to the airport to discover that mine had expired. 
Baby S13 (whose passport was current) and I joined everyone else two days late after using an expedited service agency!
@EastGrad I love it! LOL Also, I’m bringing brownies and lemonade to the BBQ.
In theory we keep all our passports up-to-date also! This batch expires in July, so I still have time!
Oops! Acceptance thread is actually called, “Class of 2020: List of Acceptances (H.S. Class of 2016)”! Just be sure to copy and add information two both posts, first “By Student” and second “By School.”
Happy New Year, everyone! <:-P :O) <:-P
Sounds like a plan @EastGrad – I’ll supply the margaritas. Since the Obamas are staying about 1½ miles from our house, I’ll invite them too. As a group we can share our feelings with the President about higher education and maybe harangue Malia until she spills on her college choice.
Thanks for the giggle and reminder to keep some perspective @EastGrad As the kids say, #firstworldproblems.
Oh, and since we live in the tropical equivalent of a shoebox, to accommodate us all we may need to take the BBQ to the beach park. Today’s low was 74 and the anticipated high is 81. Please dress accordingly. :-c
@Mysonsdad and @waitingtoexhale After looking at my son’s essay last night I am pretty sure that this was random. The second sentence of the essay said that he was doing a science fair project. The reveal that the project was omitted did not take place until halfway through the essay. So we got a lazy person who saw the words science fair and checked a box.
Also @waitingtoexhale This was not an overcome adversity essay where the writer would be seen as a whining high achiever. This originally came from the challenging a belief concept. The essay discussed the reaction of the participants who felt they were being forced to choose a binary gender, when this particular group of people had a high number of transgender or nonbinary gender individuals (5% out of 1000 people). We are pretty sure the project was censored because my son stated on the poster board that what he learned from his project that “many people didn’t identify as a boy or girl.”. The essay focused on how this project changed his views on science as well as the importance of giving people a voice. It was a fantastic essay. I was very proud.
Oh and my son sarcastically said that he wants to state on the verification form. “I am unable to verify my science fair participation because I did not participate in the science fair, see essay for details.” He wont say this, of course.