@MotherOfDragons Check the word count on the UMD main essay. It’s a few words shorter than the Common App limit.
@rtidwell and @SincererLove Thank you- S was trying to decide how to format his additional information and I think has decided on a short paragraph. It makes sense for what he’s trying to say.
Why I did FA early-
In order to get a provisional financial aid decision with an admissions decision [-O< some SCEA schools need FAFSA/CSS early as well. Pins have been replaced by FSA IDs which you don’t have to wait for.
Common App question (wondering if this is happening to anyone else).
S17 has all sections complete except for the essay (activities needs editing but it is all in there) and the "additional info. All except “family” and “writing” give him a green check. We can’t find a thing missing in “family” and each section within it has the green check but in the main listing, it’s greyed out (as is the writing).
I’m just hoping for no weird hang ups at submission. Any idea why it might be showing like that?
thanks!
@eandesmom – I just looked at my son’s incomplete app. Under Education, he does not have a green check b/c he has not finished filling in the Honors section. When you look at the Family section, is the green checkmark missing from one of the four Family drop down sections?
@CT1417 no, all the drop downs have green checks, that’s the odd part. We’ve gone back through each section several times (we have 5 as there is a step parent) and all have a green check.
@eandesmom That is so odd. I just checked S17’s app and can’t figure out why the green check mark wouldn’t be there. Try looking at the preview and see if everything shows up under family.
@carachel2 and @Mom2aphysicsgeek Congratulations to both of your D17s! I love hearing the good news!
I am way behind in reading this thread, and not likely to catch up as I’m in the middle of 21 straight days of work, much of it away from computers. I did want to update on my D2’s status, though.
She was scheduled to take SAT subject tests yesterday, but bailed after we had a two-hour talk at midnight on Friday during which she decided not to apply to the two schools that required/requested them. The recent diagnosis of her autoimmune disease has made her appreciate even more the benefits of lowering her stress level while at school, which is less likely at tippy-top engineering programs. Also, she decided only to go with schools where she’ll get a lot of auto merit. She’s made it a personal goal to graduate as close to debt-free as possible, both because she’s naturally frugal and because she knows she’ll having ongoing medical expenses to deal with.
She may have a stray “what if” thought in the future, but I think she’s made a sensible decision. So, only four schools left on the list. Two acceptances, and two apps to go!
@longwood - As @rtidwell mentioned, there was a whole discussion about the “additional information” section a few pages back, with a great explanation of a very effective use provided a guest appearance by @intparent .
My personal take is that it should only be used to explain unusual circumstances that affected classwork, grades, etc. and/or to describe exceptional accomplishments or awards that cannot fit in the regular sections for extracurriculars and honors/awards. It should not repeat information given elsewhere, nor is it a place for a resumé. In most cases, its use is neither warranted nor appropriate.
@NerdMom88 …sounds like she is making some wise decisions. We don’t have an autoimmune disease tipping the decision but D is just ready to work hard and enjoy college sans rat race. She is considering schools where she feels she can work and learn and be successful but also have time to do other stuff and not be crazy stressed out trying to keep up. I think for her it is a good decision.
We sprung for some paid essay help today and progress was made. Worth every penny I think, because I was getting nowhere.
@paveyourpath it is odd. Previewed (and PDF’d) and it’s all there.
I may try a different browser tomorrow or later in the week. Very close to submit on 2-3 apps and will hate it if this holds it up. Goal is next weekend for at least 2 of them. Grr.
Congrats to those families who made progress on the FAFSA, CSS, and/or applications this weekend!
DS returned from his 3-day field trip late Saturday. They had a good trip and he really enjoyed the Exploratorium, Computer History Museum (got to sit in a Google self-driving car), and the SF MOMA. He said he was one of the few kids actually interested in modern art. My Calder-etc-fannishness has rubbed off on him.
He had a lot of homework to catch up on today along with an EC for a few hours, so I didn’t bother suggesting work on applications today.
Homecoming isn’t until November for us. Doesn’t it have something to do with the end of the football season? I don’t know these things, as my high school didn’t have either football or dances. It’s not related to my Puritan upbringing, but he’s never been to a dance or a football game at his school. Maybe he’ll surprise me and go to prom. Reportedly, there was a dance in the planetarium and a special girl at his summer program this year.
No homecoming for S17. This is the only year he’s been slightly interested, and we are going to be out of town for a family thing. (And a college tour.) It seems that everything is going on next Sat night. We have nothing big planned for weeks and it turns out we had 3 big events happen at exactly the same time. S will stay to perform for the homecoming game but fly out the next day. Same thing happened to him last spring for prom, it was his sister college graduation. It’s a good thing he doesn’t really care about dances.
@Ynotgo If we have the time D12 & I will to to SF MOMA on Friday. I haven’t seen it since it’s remodel & I don’t think D has ever been there.
SF MOMA is amazing. We went this summer while visiting our oldest who lives near the Computer History Museum.
@NerdMom88 You’ve got a level-headed d 
I should be heading to the gym now but I poured a second cup of coffee. Oops lol
My D’s HS had Homecoming last weekend (the 24th) and I think it coincided with the beginning of football season (I did not go to a HS that had football, myself, so am woefully ignorant of these traditions lol.) D performed during halftime with her dance team and did wind up going to the dance with some friends. She didn’t go to any dances prior to Jr Prom last year, but has decided to hit them all senior year for posterity.
She’s got off from school for Rosh Hashanah, but as we are not Jewish (well, DH is half, but we do not practice any religion) I am going to make her focus on some CA stuff today!
D completely skipped her Homecoming. It is a day of things she just doesn’t really get and understand–the huge, gawdy mums being the main part neither of us gets at all. Does everyone here know about Texas and the $500-800 mums?
@eandsmom ** Family section of Common App: ** If you (PARENT) say that you attended college, you must list all the colleges that you attended. I wrote that I attended 3 colleges, but only listed 2 and this was hanging me up. Also, if you say you received 2 or more degrees from any of those colleges, you must list them ALL. This could be the problem.
Homecoming – D2 has attended every year with a group of friends. This is the first year she’s going with a date (who is really just a friend.)
She’d rather not be going at all, though. Every year, homecoming falls on the same date as a major marching band competition. Their director always compromises by saying that they’ll go for the prelims, but forfeit if they get into finals. This year, the band is competing so well they’d have a chance at winning if they stayed, and D2 is pissed that they won’t. (BTW, her date is also in marching band, and feels the same way!)