@curiositycat333 Senioritis: Yes!! My son is sort of looking forward to senior year, but is ready to move on and get a fresh start. I think he will thrive in a new environment.I think he’s looking forward to making new friends. I’m personally “over” dealing with HS stuff with him. I’m kind of sick of HS sports and all of the drama that goes along with it. The coaches are over the top demanding and have huge amounts of favoritism. It’s kind of gross. My son’s grade is very cliquey and has been for a long time. He hates that. He likes all sorts of people and doesn’t understand why so many other kids are mean spirited and stuck up.
Unfortunately I have son19 who is still going to be there. While he does do sports he is also interested in robotics and other ECs that break him out of mega jock mode, which is good.
Parental Senioritis: D quit her big EC going into junior year (long story, but huge shakedown in the music department with three instructors being either dismissed or quitting). She still does language competitions and she works, but neither of those require much parental involvement. I will help with the after prom bash but that looks to be about it.
@itsgettingreal17 bummer on NMSF. I like the plan you have in place. It’s going to work out fine for her, she’s obviously very smart with a bright future ahead wherever she chooses.
@itsgettingreal17 , hugs for you and your D. I am sure she will end up in a great place while she can thrive. She is such organized, determined and level-headed young lady!
Sorry @itsgettingreal17 I expect I’ll be posting something similar today or tomorrow.
D had a rough evening (she filled out the Common App minus essays) that ended in tears. So far she doesn’t have any school on her list that she “loves”; she feels like she should. She’s afraid that she’ll lose focus motivation slogging through required core/gen ed classes. I told her she’s welcome to apply to lottery schools…after she submits the applications to safety schools.
Wow, congrats to all the NMSF kids & parents here!
D17 has started pre-season workouts with her HS dance team. She’s one of only 3 seniors this year, and will be Captain, so that’s a nice thing - it’s only the second year that dance team is a varsity sport. They’re not very competitive with the huge HS’s with dozens of dancers to choose from but she still enjoys it a lot.
She also got her senior schedule and amazingly enough, actually got all the classes she requested! She ditched Spanish (she finished Spanish IV Honors last year) in favor of doubling up on math (AP Calc BC & AP Stats) and was happy to realize only her DE English and AP Macroeconomics classes are really going to require much writing this year - everything else is equations (she’s also taking AP Physics 1) or drawing (AP Studio Art).
Still not much activity on her part on the application front, but now I’ve realized I can’t really say much because I haven’t written up my parent “brag sheet” yet. X_X Ugh. Our GCs have over 100 kids each, and I know they rely on these parent write ups pretty heavily because they don’t actually know the kids all that well. I’d better get cracking on my assignment before I get on her case to do her stuff again, haha.
We are in the same boat as @itsgettingreal17 ie missing by 1 point in CA. DS was little disappointed but he didn’t prepare for PSAT nor any of the colleges in out list gives any merit for NMSF. Could have been a line item in honors/awards section in Common App.
We probably need couple of weeks to submit more applications. Hoping that he will finish couple of essays during long weekend.
Sorry to all the kids who didn’t make it NMSF. Hopefully they all have good options w/o NMS scholarships.
@WhereIsMyKindle Your dd’s concern is my dd’s as well. It was one of the reasons we had OU’s HTC program on her list. https://www.ohio.edu/honors/future-students/programs/hallmarks.cfm Zero core requirements. They design their own UG degree. And they have zero pre reqs required to take the classes they want. They can take grad level classes when they want to. She had decided if she attended there that she would not major in Russian, but just take classes with the Russian professor and take a Russian proficiency exam at graduation. HTC students are also awarded large scholarships.
I also am sorry about those who didn’t make NMSF but I’m amazed at the descriptions of all they have done so far in life, and I know that this disappointment will be short-lived. ETA: I don’t mean to make light of the potential merit available to NMFs, as I know that is a huge consideration for many of us.
For us, NMSF means finally starting on applications and deciding on any last-minute visits, and frankly, I can’t wait until the decision is made.
@curiositycat333 I have senioritis for sure! S is our youngest, so we’re staring right at that empty nest but I will be so glad to be done with the constant emails, volunteer requests, etc. I spent 2+ hours in the rec soccer concession stand last week and was not at all sad to have fulfilled my last volunteer shift for that group! It’s been great, but it’s also been 13 years (or 15 if you count older D) …
Taking D17 on a tour of USC next Friday, so I’ll give my review of the sketchiness afterwards. I would include D’s thoughts as well, but she has been sheltered in the burbs so long that her sketchiness meter is somewhat askew. The parts of our city that she finds sketchy are really not bad at all. Still waiting for confirmation from GC, but based on most data out there, I still think she should be safely in for NMSF.
Thanks @TimEnchanter – appreciate a USC report - when we were there last summer they announced a Target and some other stores/dorms (I think) would be built. On one end of campus the area did seem sketchy and it was better on the other end (though not fabulous). We know a couple of students there - they have felt safe but very small sample size.
USC is still on my D’s list. They are part of Tuition Exchange and supposedly it stacks with the NMF award. If she gets in with enough aid then we’ll fly out if needed.
D is having a mini crisis over her lack of leadership positions. Since she has mainly focused on swim and work (swim instructor/lifeguard) her only leadership is Girl Scouts (freshman class rep that year and competitive nautical team captain for her troop for 2 years) I keep telling her not filling in every line in the leadership sections is ok, and her big commitment to swim both as a swimmer and an instructor, plus she is now planning to start taking the classes to move in to competitive coaching, will stand out, but she doesn’t believe me.
@VickiSoCal D doesn’t have traditional leadership either. We’re assuming that won’t hurt her, as she’s not going for those big “leadership” scholarships anyway.
@VickiSoCal I worry about our dd’s ECs. I included in my counselor letter that she was seriously ill in 10th and the beginning of 11th. My concern is that her application moves beyond computer generated numbers and is physically in readers’ hands.
@WhereIsMyKindle I don’t know the right words to say to calm your D. I think she will be just fine without a favorite & maybe a bit more emotionally balanced when it’s acceptance/rejection time.
My D12 wasn’t in love with any particular school at this time of the fall either. But the anticipation of waiting for acceptances it because a lot more clear to her which schools she cared about more.
So are joining the others whose children missed NMSF by 1 point. NY turns out to have 219 as a cut off and DS has a 218 - math was much stronger than English for him. Time to move on to other things. Congrats again to all others who made it.
My D16 is currently a freshman at a school she was not in love with during application season. It was merely on her “acceptable, if I have to” list. So far, a couple weeks in, she is happy. Worst thing? Missing her friends and dog.
D13 was hell bent on going to our state flagship. After her first year, she said she’s definitely happy she’s there, but admits she would probably find a way to be happy at just about any big school.
People generally don’t shout these sentiments from the rooftops. There’s a lot to be said for blooming where you’re planted. If you talk to other adults, you’ll definitely hear stories about how their parents said you’re going here, or here, pick one. Lots and lots of choices don’t necessary make people happier.
I used to tell D16 that choosing a college is similar to choosing one country to take a big vacation to. Do you splurge on Italy? Thailand? Chile? Scotland? India? How do you pick “best”? Each one offers a different adventure and there are not guarantees ahead of time. Eventually, you just have to pick one and jump and make the best of it.
Good luck to you, and to all the people getting NMSF notifications, yay or nay.
@WhereIsMyKindle Where I get confused is when they talk about outstanding academic achievements and leadership qualities. Dd is not applying for any scholarships based on pure leadership or volunteer roles. But, she is applying for ones based on academic achievements and leadership qualities. Her leadership essay is actually quite outstanding, but it is absolutely not your typical approach to what defines you as a leader. The question is will it even be read. The good thing is that she has back up plans and she know not to count on anything!
I expect I’ll be posting something similar today or tomorrow.