My S15 got into a number of top schools with only 2 years of foreign language. None of these required more than 2 years but they all recommended 4 years. He did not take study hall with that extra time though he took some extra AP math and science classes which made a lot more sense for him. He has a LD in reading so foreign language was particularly challenging for him and he was never going to attain any level of competence.
@eandesmom Maybe look at Beloit or Lawrence (both in Wisconsin so northern enough). Both LACs where a student like your son stands a good chance of admission and possibly merit. Appleton has a bit more going on than Beloit. However, I don’t know if they have the academic programs your son seeks.
I went to a CTCL fair last year and got a lot out of it and some schools got on our family’s radar (OWU, Denison, St. Olaf) based on good informative conversations with reps. However, this input may be too late as it’s now the evening! Vacation is really interfering with my CC life. 
@Ynotgo Glad to hear that DS loved Boulder.
Boulder is so lovely that S17 has not yet been impressed by any other college campus. My boys spent a lot of time on CU campus doing Science Discovery summer camps for 4-12 year olds. S17 has had concerts at Macky 3 times a year.
It set a really high bar for college campuses.
DH was in Boulder for a summer school during graduate school and loved it. That is probably why we moved here and is still here. Also, the Chief Niwot’s curse ;))
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heather-mueller/boulder-chief-niwots-curs_b_481776.html
Oh, BTW CU-Boulder has Early Action.
@RightCoaster We just got back from vacation in Vancouver/Whistler and it was so beautiful. I can understand why @eandesmom DS wants to stay in that climate.
We have no plans to downsize but since DS is an only child we may eventually move if he settles in a different area someday. We just moved to a one story house last year and there is no way I’m moving again anytime soon.
GC emailed today about DS’s schedule. It looks like some of his classes aren’t working together. Ugh. Not looking forward to that conversation. Wisdom teeth out tomorrow. He is nervous.
@jedwards70 Good luck with the wisdom teeth!
DS got three shots Monday (HPV 2nd shot, MCV4 booster, and Trumenba) and he felt pretty rotten all day yesterday. He is better today but still sore.
@payn4ward What is Trumenba? Our pediatrician didn’t mention that one at his visit this week.
Downsizing? We are doing the opposite - renovating the hall bathroom and changing from tub to shower. We told DS14 when he went to college that his bedroom will always be his. He comes home from college almost every other month and been home last two summers for internships. We will tell DD17 the same thing that she will always have her bedroom here.
Since you are in a WUE state, have you considered CO schools? Ft. Lewis (least expensive), Mesa, and CSU are in small but hip towns and they all give small but helpful merit scholarships to kids with average to above-average stats.
@Ynotgo Boulder needs Geography? They doon’t teach it as a specific class at our school either. But it is sort-of rolled into our freshman Global Studies Course. Hopefully that counts. I’m just not going to worry about it. DS did decide (he is only just home from his summer ramblings) that Bolder is on his list. Really wish I could get him out there to visit, but there just isn’t time.
@endesmom You haven’t visited Oregon State yet? I love the town & S17 did as well. Not sure if fits your son’s criteria though. My son WANT rural & away from things. I honestly still think it’s one of the best fits for my S17.
I’m not fighting Cal State Humboldt for S17 as a safety. Not worth it, he knows I’m not excited about it. Just hoping that he will get in somewhere better. He WILL get into there unless he messed up the application since it’s a numbers game that he is on the right side of. He will already be doing the Cal State app so it’s not a huge deal. But it’s not really a good match for him in terms of major’s he’s interested, nor academically rigorous enough for him. And it’s remote it’s hard to get him there, we would probably have to just get him a car.
List are still evolving. I told S17 tonight that he can change exactly which UC’s he is applying to up until the day he hits submit on the application and that won’t be till November.
@2muchquan The Penn St. is in early September and D already had plans. We’re going to the Va. Tech game. (So I’m comparing the recently released pre-season rankings to D’s list, and 7 of her schools made the list. She is serious about her football. :)))
I love free! They invited D to visit after she submitted her app.
@HeavyLidded I’d looked at Ohio Wesleyan, as they’ve sent stuff and it looks good to me but…Ohio as a state has been vetoed. LOL!
@mamaedefamilia Beloit was on the list, hanging by a thread, simply based on location. Lawrence has been stalking S like crazy but their music program is too strong to be a contender, he wouldn’t get to play. It looks lovely though. Either way, the entire state has been vetoed. That said, we went and it was good that we did! 2 schools that were on the list are still on. One school he had taken off came back on (and moved WAY up for him) and a new surprise visitor made it on. Of course the one that moved way up may not be affordable and he does know that but he was super excited about the school and that was very rewarding to see.
@jedwards70 he wants the climate…but doesn’t want to stay 'here". LOL! He wants to be somewhere else, so he can come back. He also wants to experience a bit more diversity. But, by the same token admits he will be perfectly happy if WWU ends up being the one that works. He does love his safety but it was almost too comforting.
@nw2this we looked at Boulder and CSU over spring break. It was a bit shocking actually. Boulder was a battle to go see, do we or do we not, based on size. reputation etc. He didn’t want a big rah rah football school. It was on the way really so we figured, why not. He liked it. It’s not affordable (no WUE there obviously) and he didn’t love it so much that it’s a huge loss but it opened his eyes to the fact that maybe not all big schools are bad. CSU, which we expected him to love, fell totally flat. He didn’t like it at all, too big and sprawling and not strong in his areas. Loved Fort Collins though! Alternatively he liked the University of Wyoming, but hates Laramie. Sigh. At the moment he is pretty obsessed with the mid atlantic but heavens knows that can change. We’ve looked at all of the Montana options as well but nothing has sat quite right. I admit I know nothing about Ft. Lewis or Mesa but will take a peek. We are avoiding super conservative areas but we all love Colorado and have family in Denver.
Tonight’s net result
Updated list
Allegheny
Ursinus
Juniata
Temple
Rowan (discussed with him and conceptually we both like)
Ithaca
Alfred University (he needs to look at this one more closely)
Goucher
University of Vermont
Western Washington University (financial and academic safety)
Moved down, at the moment I am not sure he will apply.
University of Puget Sound. He loves the school. Just wants to live somewhere different so he can come back.
Oregon State. At the moment he is saying no but I would still like him to visit, We will see. It was a fight to get it on, it was solidly on and now…off.
Only one true financial safety. All have the chance of being affordable. Or not. Nothing super reachy. Or even reachy. Lots of matches that may verge on safeties, 3 actual safeties I think but need to check. Now I need to update the spreadsheet with the new info, deadlines, costs, etc…
TL;DR
CTCL fair worth going to. Helped quite a bit. Some reps far better than others. Allegedly we will get fly in invite from Allegheny for attending (and checking their box), we will see if that happens!
Just a note about the common app essay - the essay box does not count words exactly the same as Word does. D had to delete 4 words to fit though Word had her court at 650.
Also noticed the question on the school specific portions of the Common App that ask about financial aid specifically state “need-based financial aid.” That indicates that merit based aid, even if considered financial aid at the school, does not require the FAFSA. Still worth it to verify.
JOTD:
Q: Why should you never shower with a Pokemon?
A: He might Pikachu
Hey now. What you talking about, Willis? 
@Ynotgo – on our visit to CU Boulder I asked about their MAPS requirements and how they impact admissions…my D17 does not have 3 years of the same language. The AdCom’s response was that an applicant can have up to 3 deviations from their MAPS requirements before it effects admission decisions but the student would have to fulfill them at CU before graduation.
Downsizing: sort of…poor timing but I’m retiring from the military at the same time D17 starts college. Exciting but terrifying and we have no idea where we are going to live. Hopefully something under 2000 sq ft and 2 or less toilets to clean!
Downsizing- I am downsizing, it is just getting my husband on board. We plan to move south and buy our final home. It just depends on his job and the younger girls. We need to get rid of al least half of the crap in our house, but husband doesn’t see it that way! Reality will set in and I will win this battle. i look forward to simplifying our lives and stuff.
We’re already living there @BlueAFMom! Our downsizing is more focused on downsizing our cost-of-living.