@snowfairy137 the school might be able to let that teacher to have continued access to your Naviance for a couple of months in order to get in his/her recommendation letter. If that’s not possible, I think the teacher could send the recommendation letter to the school and the GC can upload it into the system. You need to call your GC and find out for sure.
@glido Thank you! That’s a great way to look at it. Sometimes I feel like he is being lazy and is just “over” the college search, but I like your viewpoint about confidence better. Thanks for making this nervous mama feel better >:D<
Welcome @trish02!
Hello everyone, I see from my posting history that my last post on this thread was October 2015. I’ve avoided this thread since I’m a bit discouraged–I keep reminding myself that every kid is different but S18 is not really motivated compared to D15.
She had excellent SAT scores, 4.0 GPA, ECs with leadership, lots of volunteer hours, summer enrichment activities etc. She got into an excellent LAC with enough merit money to make it affordable for us. He’s just as bright as she is according to standardized testing that they did in grammar school but in comparison he has very good SAT scores (100 points lower than hers in the 1600 scale), 3.7 GPA, 4 years of sports and a couple of clubs for ECs (with no leadership) and a minimal amount of volunteer hours.
There were schools where D applied and got in with merit aid where S is not even going to apply since he could get in but is just not competitive for merit. One of them is Fordham where I think he would be happy, and he would have the advantage of NYC internships, but it’s just not on the table if he’s going to be full pay. It really hurts to have to take it off the list since I’m a Fordham grad myself.
Last year when I was unsuccessfully pushing him for more SAT review I told him that if he was OK going to one of our state schools (SUNY) then I would just ease off since his scores are already good enough for him to get in. However he said no, he still wants to try for a “name” school. He’s thinking of majoring in accounting and William and Mary is one of his top choices; I keep telling him that it will be a reach even though his SAT scores look like they’re in range.
When I saw the emails about the Common App being live my heart fell–it really feels like he doesn’t have enough to put in there. 
I know, first world problems, and he’s a wonderful kid, it is what it is.
@melvin123 thank you! I am for sure meeting with my gc asap when school starts in September. I’m going to have a giant list of questions lol.
@ChattaChia I had the same thoughts about those “why us” essays. The basic answer for most is: because you are a small, liberal arts-type college, that offers merit aid, bonus points if you are in southern California. But yeah, that’s not really gonna get us anywhere is it? :-" I suppose this is the moment when the dynamic shifts. Up until now, the colleges have been doing the wooing, sending pretty brochures, flattering emails, encouraging visits to see what they hope you will think is their wonderful school. Now, it’s our kids’ turn, to let the schools know that all that wooing worked! They have fallen in love! Your school is amazing and perfect for me! :x Come spring, it will reverse again, as the colleges once again compete for our kids’ affection. If only we could make the schools write a “why me?” essay…
welcome @trish02 and congrats on having a son who knows what he wants!
Thanks @melvin123 for the UK/Canada info, turns out it was just UK, and after talking to her more, I’m not convinced she’ll end up there anyway. But she had done her research and had a list of about 8-10 schools and so we looked through those to trim in down to the UCAS limit of 5, trying to keep them within range of where her scores are. She’s planning a retake on both ACT and SAT this fall to try to bring them up a bit and she is not looking at the reachier UK schools. I also helped her come up with a list of about 5 schools stateside that were in the safety-match range so she would have some options. She seemed pretty comfortable with the options.
Hugs and welcome back @crepes it sounds like your son is an awesome student. I think you did what you could in trying to encourage him, but at some point it’s in his hands. I’ve been there and it is hard to let those disappointments go, but it’s good for them and for us to let them move through this in their own way (for better or worse). Don’t worry, I talk a good game but the struggle is real! It’s hard to watch your kids struggle in any way, even with those pesky first world problems! 
How did everyone set up a “parent” account on the Common App? I’d love to do the same, but I don’t see that as an option - I just see student, recommender, or college . . . Thanks for the help! I’m trying to help my kiddo by gathering all the smaller essays together into one document so he can see which ones he can basically write the same essay for. Thought it would be nice to gather them while he is away and then one of his jobs is done when he gets home!
@RoonilWazlib99 When you go to “create my account” there is an option to register as a parent.
I must admit to being bit jealous of the one and done and auto admits. B+ average grades and mid range test scores make the application process less clear.
DD submitted to UT - Austin today, it was a Dad’s choice application (DD is very interested in UT but is also a realist) and frankly at 82/575 class rank (14%ish) she has a snowballs chance for UT, but you can’t tell my husband that. His theory is you never know unless you try. I said fine you wanna waste the $75 application fee and $12 ACT score report she will submit the application. She knocked that out today.
I am really impressed with her ability to recycle her essays. So far she has 3 main essays and 1 personal statement that she has been able to edit to fit most prompts. I think she is just tired of thinking about the whole application process and is getting it done so she can stop having to think about the future. I will be relieved when she gets the optional Texas C prompt done for A&M, She has a topic idea and a few idea sentences written but just can’t seem to bring herself to finish is up. I think she is more interested in A&M then she wants to let on and is feeling the pressure to get it “right”. I think if she doesn’t have it done by Sept 1 I will encourage her to just submit the application without the optional essay.
Thanks, bearcatfan! I didn’t dig deep enough. I just looked at the login information! Got it now!
DS “optional” essay C for A&M was definitely the weakest part of his application. He is my math/science kid and not a creative writer. But hey, it’s done!
This is probably a rookie question but can schools get access to your child’s ACT score if you never sent it? Asking because my D raised her score considerably between the 1st and 2nd tests (6 pt delta) and the new score puts her in the top 1%. After the first sitting, she received mail from good but not top colleges. Since her 2nd sitting, we have been getting mail from top tier schools. In addition she has recently received about a half-dozen fee waivers and some emails stating she is an honors college candidate. How would they know this or is it just a bait tactic? Coincidence or is there some access to scores I am not aware of? This may have been asked and answered somewhere before but I’m still learning to navigate
@CatBee Congratulations to your daughter! That’s wonderful! I did hear that schools only get access to ACT scores if you send them, but I could be wrong.
@CatBee - Yes, your student’s contact information can be sold by the ACT to colleges for recruiting. She can opt out if she wants to.
The colleges don’t get your specific test results, but they can ask the ACT to provide a list of all students in certain demographics, that have certain scores, interested in a particular major, etc. So not surprising that in the latest pull of names/info, your daughter got her information sent to more top tier schools as she now fits the criteria they set for the ACT.
Editing to add an example:
College A asks for all students that scored at least a 25 on the ACT
College B asks for all female students that scored between a 28-31.
College C asks for all Native American-identifying students that scored at least a 28.
College D asks for all students interested in engineering as a major that also scored at least a 27 on the Math subtest.
Etc.
The colleges can get your daughter’s name and contact info if she fits into any of their specifications.
Update on ASU NMF awards status:
I got an email this morning from my contact at Barrett.
“I spoke with the Director of Freshman Recruitment at ASU and he said that he hasn’t heard of any changes in the works for this year. If there were going to be changes, he would be one of the first to know because of his position. That being said, if I hear of any changes in the next month before we send out letters to all of the named National Merit Semi-Finalists, I will let you know!”
So, good news!! =D>
I’m in San Antonio now with D18 and S20. We are looking at potential schools in TX for both of them, with little overlap. So far we’ve done a drive-by of Austin College (a CTCL), walk throughs at Baylor and UT Austin (and ran into S’s friends from back home who were there for a summer camp?!), and the full tour experience at Southwestern U, another CTCL. We will also tour Trinity U and Rice. I loved Southwestern, but unfortunately I don’t get to go back to college! I may have discovered our retirement location, though. Georgetown, TX has stolen my heart! :x
D liked what she saw at UT and says she wants to apply. We will see about Trinity.
This Common App rollout frenzy is making me very nervous! I’m so eager for D to get started on the process. She’s not concerned; she knows she’ll get it done. :-SS
Does anybody know when the McDermott application will be available?
Common App fixed my technical issue, so I was able to send all the counselor stuff today. Waiting on S18 to write the Why Furman essay, and hit the submit buttons on Furman, College of Charleston, Franciscan and Bellarmine. His homeschool starts tomorrow and his online courses next week. Eek!
@LMHS73, have your student email the McDermott contact from their website. My S did, and got a quick reply that they hope to have the application available mid August and they sent him a link to sign up for emails. They will send out an email to that list when the application goes live. I can’t remember the exact date he was given but want to say it is August 18.
@ShrimpBurrito So there will be another wave of college mail once the NMSF announcement goes out? Things have died down a lot here in the mail department. The RPI Candidate’s Choice packet arrived today, but that’s it for postal mail this week.
Southwestern was on our radar at one point, and I hear they give good aid.
@RoonilWazlib99 Very interesting, thanks for the info. I’m wondering why this isn’t spelled out somewhere in the ACT info or maybe I just missed it.