I am really liking that app idea from the main thread. Amazing really how different they are. New one today. Prettiest so far, I will definitely given them major UI points. It has a “To Do List”. And if there are no to do’s…your file is complete. It doesn’t actually say what they have or don’t have…just that it’s complete. That’s good, I know but… I like seeing little checks showing specific things actually arrived.
@jmek15 that’s it exactly…still working on apps while all these acceptances are coming in. It’s going to be a long 4 weeks!.
Honestly I think my big stress, as I am frankly surprised by my own reactions right now, is based on having to schedule this Feb touring trip. It is silly not to take advantage of the opportunity but the idea of booking a trip to see 5 schools…none of which he may get into or are affordable (even though logically I am sure he will get into some of them, and they all have the potential to be affordable or wouldn’t be on the list) is stressful. Right now I’ve arranged it so basically he will miss a week of school. If he really does get into all 5, it’s a LOT of driving. Doable but a lot. But say he gets into only 1, or 2? Do I eat that ticket and fly him home earlier or…or…or…
UGH.
Of course he actually has to APPLY to all 5 for this even to play out. LOL! We are only at 2 for 5 on the touring schools.
I know Colorado Boulder has released some but I am pretty sure it’s only in-state kids that have heard already. I have no idea on the rest but I believe there are others on this thread applying to URI and Amherst, not sure about the rest.
@lucky978, welcome! Did your Ds apply EA or RD? My D applied to UNH EA and to UMass Amherst RD–I believe UNH says that we should hear back by Feb 1, UMass is notorious for being late with decisions–I’m not expecting until mid-April there.
@eandesmom, I know you were hoping to leverage the fact that your S (and you) were already going to be in the geographic region, but maybe it’s worth considering waiting until you have decisions and then visiting the schools where he has acceptances in the spring (the weather will be better–and with all that driving you need to do if you end up visiting all 5, I worry about road conditions in February). He may have a better idea then of the schools he’s truly interested in by then, as well, which might help reduce the length of the trip. Is the cost differential between going in February and going in April truly significant? Can you remind me again which schools you’re talking about for this trip? I feel like you did such a good job upfront of identifying academic matches/safeties that were financially feasible that his risk of rejection at the majority of his schools is actually pretty low–I know that’s not much comfort until you start getting decisions in, though. From what you’ve shared about your S here, he seems like such a strong candidate–for schools doing the truly holistic evaluation, I think he’s a real standout.
Portals: I would sign up for that app in a heartbeat! I really like the idea of the Common App adding application status/decision functionality–I have no idea of what it would take for that to be possible, though. The UNH portal is terrible. I feel like I should have NSA clearance to get to the information (definitely need to keep the letter they sent handy to be able to navigate the site).
Another update: I visited Ithaca College and Hofstra University this weekend. I really fell in love with Ithaca but I think its a reach for me so Hofstra was nice but I couldn’t picture myself there, I liked both schools but I liked opposite characteristics of them. Also got a letter from University of Oregon regarding being put on “Holistic application review” It seems basically like I am being deferred/ wait listed and they are not going to have my decision by the deadline I was told. They said there was no time frame at this point but the latest I would hear back from them is around April. I’m grateful I wasn’t just flat out denied but it really does suck cause it was my top school. Its also going to be hard to make a decision and tour the campus if I do get accepted since its on the other side of the country.
Another portal vent: D’s portal for Siena is showing “complete” (checkmarks) for the following items: Application, ACT/SAT Scores, Counselor Recommendation, High School Transcript, but there’s a blank box next to Visit Campus (with a link to schedule your visit). Seriously? According to the CDS, applicant interest is considered (but not important or very important). We have gotten emails that say that visiting campus increases chances of admission, but I can’t imagine that, even for a school that really does value demonstrated interest, they would list a campus visit on the checklist for application completion. It’s not high on the list, but I’m still annoyed.
Maybe I should hook up with whomever it was on the 2017 page who wants to build it the master portal, portal. Sounds like a great idea. It needs a parent login, so for those who have kids like mine we can still get in.
@curiositycat333 it was me. I actually worked on a project like this one time, but it was related to banking and managing a business’s money. Basically an online portal for a biz to have access to financial statements, balances, payroll, etc. in one portal. It was pretty cool. Kind of ahead of it’s time. I had to work out the logistics of getting info from a bunch of different sources. I think a lot of it would transfer over to a college app portal. Obviously there would be privacy concerns, but you have those now anyways.
Also Forgot to add- My Dad also really liked Ithaca and even talked about how to finance it. I do have a meeting with my regions Ithaca counselor at my high school on thursday, I’ve already spoken to him before too but if anyone has any suggestions on how to make a good impression/ increase my chances of getting in please let me know!!
@klinksa it’s a fair amount of change that would be saved. For a couple of reasons. One, it is a less expensive time of year to travel. Two, I have a work trip that takes me out there and S has a drama trip. So both our flights are covered. There are options (train, flights) that can avoid some of the driving depending on how things pan out acceptance wise and saving the RT tickets for both of us makes that a bit more palatable. I would say we will save $600-1000 by going in Feb maybe more. But yeah, a bit concerned about roads…we are looking at the last week of Feb.
The other major factors are that his spring break is LATE April. As in 2nd to last week. I do not want to drag this all out until then and that would be the only other time he “could” tour. Except he really can’t. The Spring Musical is during that time and while they will give them the start of that week off for tech (usually) it won’t be the whole week. We’ve had issues 2 years in a row with spring break trips overlapping the musical and I don’t want to deal with the drama again. Either from S or the drama teacher. LOL!
I guess the worst case is I have to buy him a new/replacement return ticket if he doesn’t get in to any of them or we know by Feb they for sure aren’t affordable. We will hear from all schools by 2/1 unless he ends up deferred. And if he is deferred we know they won’t be affordable.
The schools are UVM, Ithaca, Allegheny, Ursinus, Goucher.
I’d be super annoyed at seeing “campus visit” on a checklist!
@rolani88 I am sorry about U of O but glad at least it’s not an outright denial. Sorry you didn’t like Hofstra better. Do you have a safety you like? As for Ithaca, I know they value interest so it’s good that you have toured and are going to meet with the regional rep. I’d really work on their supplements. They have 2, both with a max of 200 words. One is optional but I would absolutely not consider it optional and include it in your app. Do you plan to apply RD or EA?
It really is something how different the portals are in terms of being well-designed and informative or quite the opposite. Also, some schools are nice enough to have an automated email sent out right away to let you know they received the app and give portal info. Others wait weeks, leaving you to wonder when to email them about what the heck is going on.
@lucky978, my oldest D heard early from CU-Boulder and D17 heard early from Co State, but we’re in-state. I do find it annoying that for some schools the deadline for decisions is pretty close to when you’ll hear (they send them all out around the same time) and for others the admissions seem to be unofficially “rolling.” I’m trying my best not to keep uselessly checking portals until mid-December approaches.
@eandesmom, I get your travel stress. I’m glad we did a big spring break trip last spring along with two other trips. Visits will be an issue in our house depending on how many possibilities D has. S18 might be doing his senior hs year in Germany which means he’ll be needing spring visits too.
@rolani88, glad you had some nice visits. I guess most students could build their perfect school like a Frankenstein monster of parts from here and there! I’d still say don’t worry about UofO. I think it’s more a matter of being patient (tough for all of us – students and parents).
@snoozn we did a spring break trip as well and I am glad we did it as it was super useful even if none of the schools stayed on the list. It really was critical in terms of shaping it. But…I hope to have S19’s early trips, whatever they are, be better. If his band goes to CA for their trip next year, we will likely piggyback that into college visits as he has a few down there (as of now, who knows by then though).
What program would your S be doing to be in Germany for a year? My nephew did a year in Italy. I have definite mixed feelings about it.
Ok, I’m annoyed. The University of Portland invited D to apply priority status with no fee, early admission decision etc. D applied. Now she gets a letter saying due to high volume etc they want a 7th semester transcript and will inform her of a decision by April 1. What?!? It appears they made a promise and felt free to break it
@brindlegreyhound that’s too bad. Seems a bit misleading. I guess their “free” app marketing ploy worked too well and they got swamped with applicants?
@eandesmom, He is looking at the [url = <a href=“http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/%5DCongress-Bundestag%5B/url”>http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/]Congress-Bundestag[/url] program. He would get a diploma from both his local hs and the German hs. If he gets in it will be so hard for H and I to say good-bye to both kids at the same time. But he has been wanting to go long-term ever since starting German class and is the kind of kid that would do well in that sort of program. His teacher thinks it’s a great program and that he’s a really strong candidate. What are your positive and negative thoughts about your nephew’s experience?
@brindlegreyhound, well that stinks. I guess they know the ball is in their court and your D can’t fight it. Even if they need this semester’s grades, seems like they could get a decision out well before April.
Snoozn, with regard to your earlier post, I can tell you with certainty that the University of Alabama requires the payment of an enrollment deposit before you can access the housing application and pay the housing deposit. The enrollment deposit is non-refundable. First hand experience …
Lakeviking,
I know this response is super late. I finally logged into the computer rather than stalking on my Kindle where I read but don’t reply. FWIW I would submit all scores and let the school super score. I don’t think they look as in depth as you are. Just get the composite number as high as possible.
This thread really gives me hope. I have twin hs seniors this year, one fits the GPA for this forum and one is higher. So hard to focus individually with two such different kids at the same time.
My older son is at Appalachian State University and his experience there has exceeded our expectations. If you have any questions I could answer please message. We are in state, and I suspect you are not from the extensive list you have. Every time I read ASU on this site I have to remember they usually mean Arizona State not Appalachian.
@brindlegreyhound I would be super duper annoyed by that, especially the blaming it on high volume as that doesn’t sound on the up and up if they want a 7th semester transcript. I guess the silver lining is that it was free to apply? Doesn’t help though if it’s high on her list. I will keep my fingers crossed that it’s a lot earlier than that. GRRR.
@snoozn, that program sounds fabulous! My nephew was a rotary exchange student. You don’t really get to pick where and it may be a location where you do not know the language at all, which was the case for my nephew. In his case, I think the rotary, or his school or his italian school or all of the above did a terrible job communicating what would transfer back for graduation here versus not and it was questionable whether he would graduate on time. The language issue did result in a grade dip. He also came back a smoker but that’s an entirely different issue and also kid dependent. He loved it but from my end it seemed like a very expensive playdate to be honest lol.
I have family in Germany and the german school system (2 nephews and a niece). I have very mixed feelings about their system, it is not serving my nephew well. It is entirely possible he will be here for 11th and 12th as the system will basically kick him out after 10th. That could become a whole nother family drama as I suspect my SIL and Brother may want him to live with us…and my H is not on board with that idea. We will see. There are other options and of course given recent developments it may not be as easy for him to move here, live with one of us and go to HS/ in state college (which they freaked out about the fact they’d have to pay for) as it was before 11/8. Sigh. He is my brothers step son so not an easy case now.
I hate the idea of a huge chunk of change going out so early to protect the safety but I totally get it. I am grateful that S’s financial safety (which better be an admissions one or I’ll freak out lol) does housing priority on app date, not enrollment date. I love that!
@multiplemom welcome (even if it’s only a temp de-lurk!). That would be hard balancing twins at different stats. Hard on you and I am sure, them.
Hofstra was nice but I couldn’t picture myself there, I liked both schools but I liked opposite characteristics of them. Also got a letter from University of Oregon regarding being put on “Holistic application review” It seems basically like I am being deferred/ wait listed and they are not going to have my decision by the deadline I was told. They said there was no time frame at this point but the latest I would hear back from them is around April. I’m grateful I wasn’t just flat out denied but it really does suck cause it was my top school. Its also going to be hard to make a decision and tour the campus if I do get accepted since its on the other side of the country.