Can you sign up on the Common App right now for next year? It’s not clear to me if any information you add will be deleted on August 1st (that seems to be the date that the 2017-2018 season really begins).
@droppedit Post #2901 of this thread , @1518mom said:
Related: It would be great to be able to search individual threads like this one.
Isn’t there a search function on the top right, next to the page numbers?
On my phone the “search discussion” box is just above the “reply” box.
@mommdc @ShrimpBurrito good to know - staring me right in the face and did not notice it!
Has anyone found a great spreadsheet online for tracking the application process?? Know it’s probably not hard to build one but guessing its all been done before. Sort of thinking basic info like tracking inputs by school - app open date, app deadline, common app/own app, status items like ACT/SAT scores sent, transcripts sent, portal acct info, tuition/r&b costs, merit awards, etc. etc. etc.
Just got my Nephew 18’s PSAT score, SI of 154. My sister is trying to get him to buy into test prep. But so far, no luck. The kids don’t prep at this school and no NMFs at his school in many years.
They need merit and he is a bright kid…hope she can make some head way.
Have you gotten anything yet? We have not (in Cincinnati.)
@BingeWatcher to encourage him to prep now parents must be upfront and honest now and tell him how much they will be paying toward his college education. Have him research COA at at least 3 colleges he might be interested in. Ask him how he plans to come up with the difference, remind him there are strict limits on what he can borrow even if he is ok with taking on debt. Then show him all the amazing scholarships for NMF be sure to let him know that even if doesn’t make NMF that’s ok his efforts won’t be in vain because any prep he does for NM is also prep for SAT. He’s killing two birds with one stone! There’s also great merit to be had for high SAT scores, show him UTD’s AES scholarships. Also remind him the the PSAT for National Merit is a one shot deal.
Test prep is not “optional” in our house, I don’t really get that. If any of my kids pulled that I’d ask them to start work on an “exit plan” for after high school graduation, might include staying at home and working and going to CC. But I’d make it clear that there was only X amount for college and if you want to go away to school he must work for merit which means prepping.
@3scoutmom, I totally agree about test prep not optional. My sister is having a talk with him right now. She says she will keep working on him. I text her everything you said in your post. Thank you.
Test prep wasn’t optional in our house either, for exactly the reasons listed above. S hated it, but he did it.
He is slowly coming to understand the value of it, financially and opportunities-wise. He probably won’t truly understand the value of it until he faces the same sitch with his own kids, and that’s fine. I have to say that I didn’t truly understand the enormity of my parents’ gift of a debt-free undergraduate education until now, either.
I mean, I did, but I didn’t, you know? There’s something about looking at it from the parent end of things that adds depth and layers and nuances that I don’t think an 18 year old - or even a 28 year old - can fully comprehend.
FAFSA: Before you fill out the FAFSA, your child first needs to set up an FSAID as do the parents. You each have your OWN FSAID and you can set them up here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid
The actual FAFSA application for the 2018 fall enrollment wont actually be open until October 2017 so not a lot of point in worrying about this over the summer.
Common App: You cannot use Common App yet - it will reopen in August for the 2018 plan year, but you can view the essay questions now. Also, you are able to create a “dummy” parent account to get an idea what it looks like and you may be able to do that now:
https://apply.commonapp.org/Login
As someone mentioned, find out how each college you are interested in takes applications. Most either take:
- Common App
- Coalition App
- Their own app
Some take one or more of these. So find out which ones!
Tracking: I do have a spreadsheet i can share if someone tells me how to share it!!
@Fishnlines29 thx for the info - interested in spreadsheet and will PM you!!!
Wow, there is a search discussion! Thanks, @mommdc! Learn something new every day!
@Fishnlines29 Yes a spreadsheet how can I get one -lol ??
@Fishnlines29 Our high school has kids start the common app before August. Some but not all info carries over. There was a discussion here about it not long ago telling us what sections transferred. Maybe the personal info?
I believe test prep is more common and more valuable in certain areas of the country. Most kids in our school district stick close to home, very few leave the state, and it is almost unheard of to venture out of the northeast. The PSAT is just considered a practice exam, it is rare to have a NMSF and even when we do it is only valued as a resume item. Also, mostly all of the schools that offer large merit based on test scores are not in the northeast, so the SAT/ACT aren’t considered a huge deal either. SUNY merit is almost nonexistent, and the regional privates that draw mostly the remainder of our graduates basically give “merit” to everyone they admit.
DD’16 requested a sit down today to discuss college essay topics. I think her English class is going to work on them in after their AP test this week.
@labegg, my D’s APEng class is doing the same. That’s definitely new, as it didn’t happen with my older D (same teacher) but I think it’s a great use of that time.
D told me she had already written an essay (!) and that I was in it. 0_0
I’m afraid to read it.
@planner03, we are in Texas and nephew does not want to venture too terribly far from North Texas.