@mommdc – Re: the Pokemon craze. I am still worried that we are going to be reading about some child struck by a car. Driving home last night at 10:45, on the Boston Post Rd, which is two lanes in each direction, running parallel to I-95 throughout SW CT. Saw three of four boys, wearing helmets and with reflectors on spokes of bicycle wheels, but riding slowly while looking down at phones. I assume they were trying to catch the Pokemon creatures. What caught my attention was the zipping back and forth across the road. The road was very quiet at this hour and this stretch of it is mostly residential with a few churches and a school, but still…
@STEM2017 – our HS guidance sounds a bit like your school’s except they do not meet 24 times during the year. I think they start meeting in 9th grade and have rolled out Naviance to 9th graders. (A change from when I had to request access to Naviance summer after 10th grade before embarking on college visits with older son.) Each GC has approximately 50 students in each grade level and remains with these students throughout the four years.
Unfortunately, she just left to take a new job in another town, so we will be starting from scratch. Concerned about this, but nothing I can do about it.
Sounds similar to my son’s school except they are two different people. He has the same GC (academic advisor) for junior and senior year. They meet 2x a week as a guidance class. Twice a year they meet privately with parents. He’s a nice guy and very smart but the guy is a bit odd. STEM kids love him and really connect with him, which is really all that matters, but the parents have a hard time communicating / relating to him. The college counselor meets with the students about once a month. There are required meetings and then it’s up to each student to make the most of their college search experience and schedule to come by for any questions/ assistance they need. Fortunately, the college counselor is the one writing my son’s LOR or I’d be a bit nervous. Sorry the whole team is gone for the summer. I’m guessing you’ve emailed and called already in case someone checks in over the summer? If they are gone, most return two weeks before school starts so you could get what you need during that time period. Good luck!
@BlueAFMom – Thanks for sharing & congrats on your DD taking the lead on apps now - cheering from the peanut gallery (my DS has written a draft CA essay but has much more to do on the college process - moving forward though). Could you share any info about your visits re tufts, BU & Dartmouth - would very much welcome your impressions and your DD’s thoughts about them We saw Tufts only so far but are thinking about BU. DS is into Elec. Eng. & comp. Sci. thanks!!!
We are distantly related to the first president of Tufts–Hosea Ballou.
Wonder if that could get D free tuition? 
@CT1417, yes I am concerned as well.
@CT1417 There’s already at least one kid hit by a car, not to mention the 2 men who walked off a cliff or the guy who drove into a tree. It’s disappointing how … people can be. I almost got in a wreck yesterday and I’m sure the other driver was playing.
@STEM2017, unfortunately, front loading is a thing. Having been thru this process twice before, trust me. The big problem is, the schools who do it, don’t like to readily admit it. You are right, you need to ask Financial Aid office, make sure the same level is guaranteed, and ask around…Sometimes, it is blatantly obvious if your study their common data set. They will show merit money to the freshman class, and the whole school. If you extrapolate out the freshman award, and divide the remaining by three grades, there can be a huge difference. I realize that dropouts will play a part, but you get the idea…I would not rely on CDS for full answer, and the school will tell you if you ask specifically. Miami answered the question honestly when prodded…hope that helps.
As for our HS, my son will be getting his 4th guidance counselor in four years. There is no way they will be able to write a good rec for a kid they will have never met. He hopes to have the principal or Vice principal write it. He has close relationships with them because of student govt, and thinks they will help him. We will see. The joys of underfunded public high schools…
@CA1543 I visited BU with my son twice. First visit was a formal info session/ tour. I was not expecting to like the school because it is a large urban school with no defined campus. My son ended up loving BU. It’s not for everyone because of the lack of a traditional college campus but I think for some kids, that may be what draws them to it.
The BU information session presentation was conducted by an AO and a junior. The student was articulate and compelling. As I listened to her speak, and the enthusiasm she expressed for her experience at BU, I thought to myself that I wanted that some excitement and experience for my son, where ever he attends school. BU was one of the few schools that let us see the dorm as part of the tour and the rooms seemed nice. They also have different housing options, as with many colleges these days.
We were there in early March, there was 6 ft of snow on the ground and the weather was very cold. There were a lot of happy students everywhere smiling and laughing. It was nice to see. It was really nice to see how friendly everyone seemed. It was really a great tour and my son left there announcing he would apply ED. I put the brakes on that idea because I don’t want him to apply ED anywhere. We went back to Boston in October to revisit some schools and tour Amherst and we did our own self tour of BU. I thought it might have been too perfect of a visit the first time and give my son another look at this urban school. The atmosphere on campus felt the same and my son still loves BU. Again, it’s not for everyone because it is in the middle of the city. The distinction between BU and NYU is in Boston, college kids make up a significant number of their population. NYU being in a larger city, it feels more like a school among office buildings in NYC.
I know nothing about their engineering program but thought I would share our tour experience. If you are interested in merit aid, BU offers $20K / yr for 4 years for NMF. You have to apply by Dec 1 even though the application deadline is Jan 1. They have a ED and ED2 program so various deadlines for applying and merit $ so you’d want to check it out.
@flatKansas Although you need to take out the dozen or so “fake” stories that came out that first weekend. Socially media was slammed with a pile of click-bait fake news that first weekend. The two men who walked off a cliff was reported in the LA times, and easily believe at least one kid was hit by a car. But some of the danger was more exaggerated.
front loadingI posted this article earlier in this thread, but I’ll link it here again.
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2015/06/16/10-colleges-where-upperclassmen-get-less-financial-help
Thanks @Mom2aphysicsgeek !
This is interesting for me because MY first choice for my son is SUNY Binghamton because we’re in state and it has decent engineering. BUT Binghamton is notoriously “back end loaded” for financial aid. I’m not sure if this is better or not but once Bing sees students get good grades and are active on campus, the scholarships role in. Freshman usually get very little merit aid.
@MotherOfDragons - So it sounds like I need to drive DS17 down to Valdosta State. I am wondering, do you know if students live on campus after freshman year?
You guys are making me so sad, and I’ve already been struggling all year with the reality that D will be leaving soon! She is an only child. She went to college and grad school with me and is my sidekick. People tell me our relationship reminds them of the Gilmore Girls mother and daughter, but I didn’t watch the show. I picked up some hobbies a couple years ago so that I’ll have a life after she’s gone. But it’s going to be really hard. And she’ll be gone on all long breaks studying abroad. Hopefully she ends up a direct flight away so that I can go visit her once a month or so. I know we’ll be in constant touch as when she’s at camp, etc., she calls and texts regularly. I think she’ll eventually settle nearby but needs to spread her wings for a while.
She definitely will get to travel with me for life.
sigh
In happier news, D enjoyed waterski camp last week. She’s asked for some 1/2 days during August. I’ll sign her up IF she is making adequate progress on her essays. She’s now behind 2 essays as she didn’t do any more this week like she was supposed to. Ugh! And now she has to get started on her AP homework. She left this morning for her summer program at Notre Dame. The syllabus looked amazing. I can’t wait to hear all about it. She’s been looking forward to this one most all year. And it’s very timely with all the recent terrorist attacks, police-involved shootings, and just all the hate in the world.
@STEM2017 I have several friends headed to Binghamton and one of them said if you have tea good grades and get named in the Scholars program, you get good sized merit scholarships plus other perks like special housing and priority registration.
@itsgettingreal17 … If you and your daughter are like you described, you MUST watch Gilmore Girls! Rory (the daughter) is studious and serious and probably a LOT like your daughter. D and I are a lot like the characters… Except I’m not a single mom and also there are no rich grandparents who will be footing the bill. Darn it!!
@readingclaygirl That’s good to hear. And I hope it’s true. But I’ve only heard that Binghamton is notoriously stingy with freshman.
Are you in NY or not? @STEM2017
@readingclaygirl We are NY. In state, Bing is first choice, Stony Brook second.