@NamePoster you have me very intrigued! Isn’t S18 NMF?? If so, I would absolutely cash in on the merit awards and the Tesla. You both deserve it and earned it. Be sure to send us a picture of you in your new car!
Now on the other hand, I am thinking you can sell your reservation for $10-15k and have no guilt - having options is a bear.
@my2caligirls yes, likely NMF anyway. It is very tempting to cash in! The biggest issue is if S18 gets in to a top 10 school. It’ll be hard to decide what to do in that case. There isn’t really a bad option either way really. High quality problems. Still have a few months to wait for the car (depending on options my delivery estimate is as early as December), but I will post something I’m sure 
Thanks @rwmannesq I think that’s a workable compromise. I don’t have much compulsion for a vanity plate anyway.
Got a “dumb” question for those out there who have been through this before. I have been following this UC Irvine thread where they rescinded a bunch of offers for various “reasons” and it got me thinking. When considering the “Application” deadline, I have always assumed that was solely for the Application, including the Essays. However, must the official transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc. also be provided to the schools by that date, or do you fulfill that part of the process only AFTER submitting the application? Where do I find out those additional deadlines? I’ve reviewed a couple schools’ websites and they are not clear at all. Obviously, they provide the SAT/ACT test taking and reporting deadlines, but not the additional materials? Anyone able to clear this up for me? It is for S18 who is my first to head out.
^ I’m curious, too.
@rwmannesq Depends, I believe. Schools can give a little leniency on bits that are outside the student’s direct control, but they don’t have to. There hasn’t been a separate deadline that I’ve seen, so it’s best to try to get those bits in on the same timeline if at all possible. I think I remember UChicago, for example, said they expected those pieces in within a week or so after the deadline, but UChicago is, as a rule, very accommodating. A big public is not as likely to have your back and probably won’t admit leniency publicly, but if there are humans involved, things get misplaced, etc. and so they can often bend rules if the train hasn’t left the station… and you happen to get one of those human beings on the other end of the line
We are back from DD’s college tour. Clemson came out on top, Auburn 2nd, College of Charleston,3rd, High Point 4th and as I posted earlier USCe came off the list. (Funny thing is I have now heard from 3 other trusted opinions that they didn’t like USCe either, wish they had told us that sooner, lol)
Clemson - was nice, although the tour was not particularly helpful as we did not go into any buildings really, only the lobby of the library and we cut through the “ology” building. Our tour guide was informative and presented well and did a good job of selling the campus. Buildings are nice, campus is hilly (but I am from flat TX so anything would seem hilly) DD liked it more than I did. Husband liked it best too. Perhaps a bit too cultish for my taste but, I can see the allure. I only give DD a 25% chance of acceptance so trying not to get her hopes up too much.
Auburn - was also nice on a smaller scale, wish there were more trees. Doing a lot of building and they really, really seemed to cater to the engineering students. The dorms were HORRIBLE. DD classified them as “mental institution-ish”. Auburn, the town, reminds me a lot of Athens, Ohio. In fact, the whole school seemed like the OU of Alabama, only with a better football team. DD said she liked it equal to LSU (which we visited last November). Fairly confident that she will be accepted at Auburn.
High Point - was surreal. It is absolutely the most beautifully manicured campus, ever. Amenities are exactly as everyone describes. Frankly, I do not see way it is vilified so much here on CC. It is exactly what every other small, similar caliber, LAC is academically, only it’s physical plant is eons ahead. There is nothing wrong with it and I am confident that you would come put of it with a perfectly decent education. There is a heavy emphasis on experiential learning, so if your kiddo is a hands on kinda learner it certainly would be good place to consider. Not exactly intellectual. Academically is it worth $45k a year? Probably not. Facilities wise, it is probably worth that and then some. There is definitely a “beauty” factor and if you don’t fit the mold, I would say it would not be the most welcoming of environments. Both, my husband and DD, kept asking “what’s the catch”? We all have some reservations about it, from all different perspectives. Overall, it certainly has a WOW factor and would be fine to attend. It is clear there is a Field of Dreams “if you build it they will come” mentality. They did an outstanding job making us feel welcome, not sure my family is prepared to drink the cool aid, just yet!
College of Charleston - if I were college shopping, I would have been done after this visit. I LOVED the campus, thought the school was the right size, the location ideal. Academic opportunities seem abundant, although I think you would have to track them down, but that shouldn’t be too difficult (unlike Clemson, where I think there are a lot more people to compete against). Dorms were fine, completely average, food options are a bit limited. DD was just meh about it, said it would be “fine”, not ideal, but fine. I think she is likely to be accepted here. It is probably the best academic fit for DD thus far.
@labegg, thanks for the college info!
@rwmannesq —the UC Irvine situation must be nervewracking for many. It is helpful to make sure you send paperwork required in on time - testing, recommendations, fees, transcript, deposit etc. – after you have acceptances in hand and make a decision, what else is required to be sent (usually for RD it is the final transcript and the enrollment deposit and possibly housing deposit but for ED/EA there may be more info required) should be on the college website & in correspondence they send. I think if anything is going from the high school or a testing service or any outside org, verify it has been received. Sometimes colleges have online checklists they populate with the info received but there is no harm in sending an email or making a call to admissions to confirm everything needed has been received. Of course prior to starting classes a tuition payment will likely be due.
Thanks, all, for the responses, though I might be even a little more confused than before. So if the application deadline is November 1st, we need to make sure the application and essays are filed (got that, check!) but also need to make sure the HS transcript and letters of recommendations are in as well? I’m hoping that the SAT/ACT scores aren’t actually due until the date the school indicates, which can be December. So that’s an exception? And I get that there will be additional deadlines following college decision notifications as to dorms, deposits, etc.
In my head, I’ve been under the illusion that we just need to get the application and essays in by the Nov. 1 date, then at that point request the HS transcript and letters of rec be sent by the school, arriving leisurely thereafter (in my imagination) but before the decision date. Of course the SAT/ACT scores just need to make it by the school’s designated last test date, and voila, it’s ready to go. Not so?
So then do I anticipate a delay by HS for the transcripts and request even before we send in the app, if necessary? Will they match up at the college? Etc, etc, etc.
Our GC’s told us to enjoy the summer and not worry as there’d be plenty of time once we get back (in mid August!!!) Just when you think you’re getting a handle on it. Not going to be sleeping well tonight…
Ohio State I think wants everything by Nov 1 for merit consideration, so scores and transcripts should probably be ordered by October.
@rwmannesq I trust our guidance office about as far as I can throw it, but that is a personal problem I have to deal with Yeah, the schools will match up test scores and transcripts and applications, etc. regardless of order received. If the school is using common app, for example, that will be the central clearing house for things like letters of recommendations and some of the guidance office provided info… so those pieces go together if using common app, but it won’t track all the bits. Schools generally will provide a portal for seeing what they have received, what the status of the application is, aid awards, etc.
I would definitely recommend getting familiar with common app or the college specific applications and info now and making a checklist/spreadsheet to track dates, todos, etc. It will make October less stressful if you have a plan going in.
@rwmannesq since you are referencing Nov 1 and UCI earlier, I assume you are thinking of the UC’s. Pretyy sure for them you just self report grades and once admitted you would send in a final transcript(s) by their July 1 deadline.
Really think each school and application is different - D18 applied to USCe and we just uploaded an unofficial transcript and sure the portal will direct us as to next steps post admission.
I like @NamePoster suggestion to track all these elements on an overall spreadsheet as I do think it varies from school to school, but they all eventually get submitted at some time. Sure each portal will be invaluable.
Thanks again for all the words of wisdom.
As expected, tossed and turned all night. Frustrated that the college websites don’t make it easier to find this information. Woke up around 4am with a thought to research last year’s information. Just got done doing that and just about every school that we’re looking at told their class of 2021 NOT to send in transcripts until they request them. Mostly, those deadlines became July 15, 2017. Ouch! Hurts my head as it goes against my obsessive need to be organized and manage time.
The good news? I’m the one stressing over this. I haven’t shared any of my worries with S18 and plan not to until I have everything straight in my head. I’m the one with the problem, after all. 8-}
S18 just finished up his CC summer course and will be starting tutoring for the SAT tomorrow. This will be his 3rd but last attempt. Might do a subject test later depending. He’ll also start the Common App tomorrow and hopefully start thinking about essays then as well. S20 tells me S18 is acting stressed, so I’m thinking slow warm-up and not all at once. He’s got at least 3 safeties among the schools he already likes and has visited so I plan to tell him to relax as everything else is gravy. Wish I could take that advice myself!
FWIW, Naviance has a tracking system for all your college applications, scholarships, recommendations, financial aid, deadlines, etc.
stomps foot I want Naviance!!!
Our school doesn’t use it. I think with Parchment you can check whether things have been sent, but not received.
Isn’t there a place on the Common App where you can get back in after you finish it and it says whether things have been sent or not? Or am I dreaming?
FYI, I am seriously loving Amazon textbook rentals.
S will be taking Soc 101 in the Fall. The textbook is $99 new at the school bookstore, or $74 used. No rentals.
Amazon’s rates are below.
Physical book, new: $88
Physical book, used: $68
E-book, purchased: $50
E-book, rented: $42
Physical book, used, rented: $18
Managing the rental is easy, too. S was registered for US Gov over the summer, but he pushed it back to fall. We had already rented the books and I forgot to return them for long enough that we decided to keep them for an extra semester. Click, click, 20 bucks, done.
We save the shipping material when they arrive, then when it’s time to return them, you print a label, re-seal the cardboard, and drop the package at UPS.
His EMR book was the same: $120 new, $89 used, $79 e-book, $30 physical rental.
I am kind of dreading things like Chem courses where the book is $300 and the access code sitch makes used or renting dicey, but at least we’ll have saved a ton of $$$ before we get there.
Dark horse college of the week over here is UT Austin. :-< It seems D was confident about her apply list for months, but now that it’s TIME, she’s having doubts and is searching for other options. I wonder if her peers and their chatter are influencing her? I don’t know how much to encourage expanding the list. We will visit a couple of schools in TX next week (they were originally for S20, but D is now eager to see them as well), so we’ll check out UT while we’re in the neighborhood. If she adds UT to the apply list, that makes it nine schools, at least, with only three on Common App. So much to worry about, so little time.
Good news is that as of this morning, D is DONE with summer swim season and those grueling two-a-days. Practices won’t start again for three weeks, so she’ll have some time to focus on college apps.
S18 is DONE with his Common App essay over here. He’s waiting on the Common App reset to do the Furman supplement. I’ll send his recommender info this week, and then the other applications. Then he has a break before FAFSA and CSS/Profile. Things are moving fast now.
More UNM tidbits.
Housing applications open in October for Fall of the following year. The exact date in October isn’t given, so I’ve set a reminder for Oct. 1.
Admission to the Honors College is automatic for a variety of high-achieving students. Said students still need to submit the application. The application is very simple, mostly dropdown boxes. No essays.
To wit: While the Honors College has no absolute admissions criteria, incoming freshmen with an ACT composite test score of 28 or higher or an SAT score of 1320 or higher (or 1900 or higher if taken prior to January 2016) AND a high school cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 will be automatically admitted following submission of an application. Additionally, freshmen who are National Merit Scholars and Finalists, National Hispanic Scholars, National Achievement Scholars, American Indian Scholars, and recipients of UNM’s Presidential and Regents’ Scholarships will be automatically admitted following submission of an application.
I’m envious of those who already have things completed or have made significant progress. I think D18 will procrastinate until the last minute, as usual, with her applications. Soon enough, we’ll get to the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure on this whole college application process. Where’s my bottle of JB DB???
I think that D18 getting into the G&T program way back in K is beginning to pay off a bit. We never saw any obvious benefit, just getting pulled out of class once or twice a week in ES and maybe getting into the accelerated math track in MS (which might not have been the best thing for her). Anyway, her Directed Study III class is restricted to those kids and one of the kids on D18’s STEM team couldn’t get in because she wasn’t in the public district’s G&T program (went to private ES and MS).
One last thing, I think D18 is more like me than DW. DW is a perfect multitasker. She can work on multiple things and kill each one of them. I, on the other hand, need to focus on one thing at a time and get completely absorbed in it. I think that was one reason I had such a hard time with college. I’m trying to come up with techniques to help D18 better juggle multiple things (maintain lists, etc.).