@payn4ward my thoughts and prayers out to his family. I hope your community heals, so young so sad.
I think I remember something about the number of times my D15 was allowed to tweak the common app essay, though. She might have only been able to edit the essay once after the initial submit. I could be remembering wrong on this, however.
@longwood That used to be a restriction, but they changes it last year or this year.
@Ynotgo Thank you! Glad that they changed it! (Also glad to know that I wasn’t just imagining this. Feel like I am more forgetful every day.)
@kt1969 thank you, that is so helpful! I’ll definitely do that (common app parent’s version)
D18’s boyfriend decided to sign up for the PSAT! His mom emailed me that he’d decided to do it. I’m privately thrilled, but I"m not going to bring it up with D18 unless she does-she’s not mad at me about it anymore so I’m not going to say anything to change it!
@carachel2 wrote
I agree 100%! this one is really important-if your cardiologist doesn’t do this with you, I’d find another cardiologist. I had to see one last year and I thought it was the weirdest thing that he was literally doing squats with me with a stethoscope pressed to my chest! Turns out it’s an excellent way to catch things that you wouldn’t catch just sitting there. I’m fine (a doc in the box misdiagnosed me with rheumatic fever), but it was a good learning experience.
D17 is at an officer’s retreat this weekend so no progress on the apps. She needs to study for the SAT 2’s that are coming up fast. D18’s been doing the Magoosh website semi-faithfully for the PSAT’s. Her junior year so far has been really, really good!
I’m now working on the RD list, but I’m not going to show it to her until she’s done with her EA list. The GT question remains unanswered for now.
Common App essay essentially done (maybe a little tweaking) But there are so many supplemental questions and short essays for some of the schools DS is interested in. I am helping with research and suggesting things - but looks like school breaks will be taken up a lot with college apps.
I everyone finished with college visits? We have CMU, RPI & WPI to go. Think DS not applying to UMich - great for his majors of EE & CS but fear too big for him.
Did we say NMSF is a National or State award?
ANY application fee waivers anybody wants to share? D got the Rice waiver (which is fitting as she usually doesn’t eat the rice due to carbs). Any bit helps in this costly and lengthy process!
No, not done with tours-three more to go. Oh, the GC said “we don’t need the paperwork notarized, you have the wrong form.” I shot back with “you mean the form that’s on your counseling page?” My god, GC, how incompetent can you be? (don’t answer that, I don’t want to know).
Goodness @MotherOfDragons
:))
Our GC says use CA to fullest extent possible (avoid short form apps colleges such as RPI and others are putting out) and all LoRs go through CA not Naviance. Our school website was recently revamped - but the counselling/guidance dept page is currently unpopulated – no contact info, no forms or timelines etc. - kind of unbelievable. So lots of calls & emails with GC about process and getting things ready. At least this week there is a night for parents to meet with GCs about everything.
Willamette sent D a waiver if she applied non-binding ea.
Totally unclear as to whether it is first all ea, because she has demonstrated interest or because she’s a legacy.
@SincererLove - Suddenly DS is getting application fees waivers with pre-populated application link. Hofstra, Rutfers, Creighton sent in last few days. Schools he has added on common app are also sending more information.
Most of the schools dd had on her list in the CA that she in turn has removed have sent her fee waivers. 
Another RD app finished and submitted last nite…only to gain access to the merit scholarship application showing 3 additional essays totaling 1000 more words…OUCH >:) with deadline of 11/15!!
Also finding MIT application increasingly problematic. The essays were already quite substantial, but now S17 trying to submit portfolio and is finding this a real pain in the butt…they have unique restrictions and additional requirements for submission that are making this way more difficult than even the LACs portfolio submission. Amazed that MIT really cares so much about this aspect. Geesh, CalTech doesn’t even accept supplemental arts portfolios at all!!!
@vandyeyes Be very careful about selecting RD when applying for scholarships. You need to make sure your student has selected EA if it is an option. Most scholarships are connected to EA applications.
@Mom2aphysicsgeek thanks for the heads up. Yes, they are all different. This particular school you are either ED or RD…either way with the merit $ tied to an early deadline of mid-November.
Now that I’m thinking about the list, it seems for us at least, 4 of 5 schools where we’re chasing merit all have access via an RD app (but just early deadlines)
@payn4ward How sad. That must be heartbreaking for his family & friends.
@carachel2 I should check with DS’s doctor about the EKG. Our H.S. requires an extensive physical for it’s athletes, just despite counting marking band as PE doesn’t require a physical for it. Yet they are out in the hot sun marching & playing getting quite the workout. Don’t know why color guard & marching band is exempt from this requirement.
@Curiosisity … Marching band not requiring a sports physical is one of my big soapbox topics!! It’s ridiculous! When I was a JR in high school we had a senior marching band student collapse and die on the practice field and the autopsy showed HCM.
Marching band is absolutely a sport.
In an ideal world where everything was free I would love every kid to have a screening echocardiogram for HCM.
Our school requires a physical for marching band and it is considered a sport.
Just in case you child is applying to Georgia Tech and didn’t know this…
“Georgia Tech has decided for the first time in almost a decade to use all four sections of the ACT (English/Math/Reading/Science).”