@2muchquan Thanks for the correction! 8/1. We have a number of apps on our list that have 7/1 opening. I should have consulted my spreadsheet. Our plan is to plot all the essays we know in groups and get started. Common App essays are already known and now we have a number of others.
Funny thing is, I think some of the supplements have been updated in the CA, even though it says the responses will be removed during the rollover. If you compare Essay Organizer info with CA, I think I’ve seen the updates in CA…unless those just have the same essay as last year? Anyway, tread cautiously in CA for now, methinks.
The “High School Class of 2017” is on page 674, but moving slowly. So, we will pass them in a couple weeks if we continue at this pace.
I’m running out of anything substantive to add to the conversation. But, I’m a good cheerleader: Go team!
DS’ summer program sent a link to the blog they are using. I found a photo of him! 
Actually, we have video chatted 3 times, so it’s not like I didn’t have “proof of life.” He says the food is great and this is the most homework he has ever had in his life. But, at least they can discuss homework problems with each other. They did get to point the telescope at the asteroid they have chosen, but it was a bit too cloudy. Hoping for some clear skies in Boulder next week!
On Saturday they will go to the Boulder shopping district to get things they want or forgot. DS hasn’t run across anything he forgot, though he says collared shirts are uncomfortable. They will go to the fireworks on campus on July 4. He says they are “confined to quarters” on Sunday because there is a concert, and the adults are afraid they will get alcohol. I googled, and 3 surviving members of the Grateful Dead 8-X are playing at the stadium. I suppose I can understand the substance concerns.
The blog has links to the lecture slides, all the homework sets, and procedures. More than I want to know. But, it’s there if I get curious.
His roommate is fasting for Ramadan (ends July 5), but he has a system worked out to get dinner and breakfast packed to go for eating while it is dark. I hear Ramadan is easier in winter than in summer (shorter days). (I did wear a hijab when visiting Egypt and Libya, and it was quite stylish. I also wore a dress to visit the Vatican. When in Rome…)
Re: jobs
My 2 kids ref soccer games fall and spring season. They can ref a couple of games on a weekend and earn $50.00, that’s decent.
In the winter, they are busy with school/clubs/sports. In the summer they’ve played on travel sports teams and we vacation too, so holding down a job is more difficult.
@itsgettingreal17 - You are suffering from “Little Emperor Syndrome” just like us =))
Well KState raised their application fee effective today, so I assume that means applications are open. 
We won’t be sending any reports until CA opens (why are they waiting till Aug 1 - some kids go back to school in mid-August) & we are comfortable with subject test scores - too bad DS has to take Physics in Oct but hopefully ok for EA schools. (Can colleges see anything on the CA before you officially hit submit to them?? hope not). Not sure how long official ACT & SAT score reports - from earlier tests – will take to reach various schools though.
@Ynotgo – your son’s program sounds enriching & fun! I could not learn much from all the online materials. I think Sundays at the college campus programs are often pretty quiet - my DS has been to 4-5 and it has often been so - but hopefully they won’t feel so confined.
@2muchquan – I am speechless that you are speechless – or even slowing down.
What are you all doing to celebrate America’s 240th birthday?? Traditional BBQ & fireworks display here. Unfortunately we are not even allowed to buy sparklers though.
Tornado watch & thunderstorm warning posted here - egads.
The same as we’ve done for the past several years: We’ll be stunned and amazed that people actually set off fireworks in a place where it doesn’t get dark enough to see them until August, or the end of July at the earliest. (The sun does set here, but doesn’t go far enough below the horizon this time of year to even switch the light sensors on the streetlights.)
Jeepers, I remember when it was the 200th birthday. Both kids will be out of town, so we will be empty-nesters. I’d like to still go to the fireworks, but I’m guessing DH won’t because it aggravates his tinnitus. We only have the municipal fireworks, because of the fire risk and the drought.
@CA1543 Tornadoes in New York? Isn’t that a little odd? (Not that I know much about tornadoes outside of Wizard of Oz.)
@Ynotgo – the NYC metro area has been under a tornado watch all day. I agree that I wondered when I saw the alerts earlier.
I was just chased in from my walk by thunder, which I hope brings long overdue soaking rain, since the threat has cancelled fireworks and all other outdoor evening plans.
I also remember all the 200th celebrations, and how fashions were influenced at the time by Colonial wear. And I think the Big Ships were in NY harbor in '86.
Brief Intro
I am the mom of a DD '17 and DS '22. DD was one and done with a 36 ACT, 800 Math Level 2, 780 Spanish with Listening, and waiting for the score on the Lit. subj test. She had a great Junior year and got her unweighted GPA up to a 4.01 and weighted to a 4.241. We don’t talk about this IRL. She will take 9 AP/college level classes including Multivariable Calculus. She loves languages and took both AP Spanish and AP French. I love reading about all your kids taking Russian, Arabic, German… We are Hispanic and will be full pay.
My DD hasn’t decided where to apply early. She has started the CA and met with a consultant twice to brainstorm essay ideas and get advise on what activities to focus on. She told me today that they are done but I would like them to meet again to discuss some of the supplemental essays. I sat in on the first session and was very impressed.
2 applications done today. Ole Miss and UA. DS not thrilled that you have to write an essay 500-700 words for the “automatic” merit scholarships at Ole Miss. Still he is working on it now. I told him I want all college applications,scholarship/honor applications that can be done before school to be submitted before school starts on August 8th. I do not want to drag this out. [-O<
@MichiganGeorgia I’m glad I’m not the only one wanting to get this all done asap. Band camp starts in 3 weeks then I basically wont see S til the end of October. Hoping to get him to knock out Bama and KSU tonight.
DS started on CA app essay last week and didn’t make much progress :(( he gets less than one hr per day to work on the essay that too after long day which include 2+ hrs commuting and essay writing is not his strong skill.
Alabama and Mississippi Apps submitted!
Honors and scholarship busywork next.
@Ynotgo and @CT1417 200th birthday?! Ya’ll make me feel like a youngster. I was not even a thought then…well maybe. :))
@MichiganGeorgia We are working on Ole Miss over here too.
Ok, dd and I really need a reality check. [color=red]Portland State[/color=red] We live just about as far away from Portland as you can get. They are a RNP school. Their college data set is really low.
But…
Dd would be able to jump right into the core of the Russian Flagship courses b/c she will enter at the required level and all of these classes are taught in Russian. (ideal!)
And she has to live on a commuter campus and not able to return home except for a couple of times a yr. (Visiting is a huge expense. If we should eliminate right away, I really don’t want to pay to visit.) But, she really thinks she wants it back on the list b/c it really matches her long term goals.