We have decided to put down housing deposits/app fees (not enrollment deposits) at 3 schools for a total of $200 that will not be refundable. 1 of those schools also has a housing deposit that ranges from $400-650 depending on dorm, but it is refundable if cancelled by May 1. It hurts to shell out $1000 dollars but given that DS probably won’t make a decision until March or April and housing is not guaranteed/first come first served at these 3 schools we feel it is worth it. It will also get that $1000 out of our savings before we submit FAFSA numbers. We will not put a housing deposit down at Bama because it also requires an enrollment deposit and a loss of $225 nonrefundable! I like the way that Clemson does housing. Priority is based on the date of your application for admission so we should be at the front of the line. Housing registration doesn’t even open until mid-spring.
@suzy100 Sure, I get the apply before the deadline plan but S18 is not on board. He is DRAGGING to the finish line (and this is really just the first lap of a very long race!)
My D got an email response to her question to the counselor asking why Naviance has a red “no transcript requested” for every school. The answer is that they don’t do the transcript the Naviance way, but instead they submit the counselor letter, teacher LORs, school report, and transcript all together in one submission ON THE DUE DATE.
Argh! On the due date? So we have no way of knowing whether it actually gets done until that date or after. My solace on this is that we I have never heard of any problems with kids not getting stuff turned in by the school. So I guess they turn it in on the due date and it’s fine. I hope.
@Booajo, I do not understand why a warning about this from a random person on a random website is not motivating him. Jeez.
I should add that we are inching closer here. D is this close to submitting her supplemental essays to one school due Nov. 1. Progress! We have progress!
“they submit the counselor letter, teacher LORs, school report, and transcript all together in one submission ON THE DUE DATE.”
@daffodilpetunia , I would flip out with that protocol! It leaves zero room for human or tech error and there is way too much on the line! :((
I’m helping D18 with some of the data entry on these non-Common App schools. Looks like a lot have applied to Pitt. Do any of you know how lengthy the application is? That one will be tackled this week once UMD (Coalition App) is finished. Then CSS Profile and FAFSA. Are we done yet? (
My D applied to Pitt in 2014, and the online application wasn’t too longI think. Now you can either do SRAR or send a transcript. And there are three short answer essay questions.
I believe Pitt also uses the coalition app, but I think that’s pretty new.
D has her 11/1 application pretty much ready to go, but she is stressed to the extreme tonight about two tests coming up early in the week, so she’s going to do the final read-through and fixes after getting through all that. But it’s essentially done, and will get sent in by the 27th at the latest.
@Kayak24 The Pitt app is very manageable. My D did Self Reported transcript along with the three short answer questions. She applied in mid Aug and heard mid Sept. Apparently they will start releasing merit aid packages in early November, weekly. It’s a very simple process as far as college apps go; compared to some of the others that she applied to.
@ShrimpBurrito - thanks for the support; I’m rooting for all our kids! They’ve worked so hard, I wish they would all get their top choice. But in reality, I know when decisions come in there will be happy moments and some disappointments but in the end I do believe things have a way of working themselves out. I believe my D would be happy at most if not all of the schools on her list. She’s considered them carefully and while quite diverse, they all offer aspects that she’d benefit from. There’s a lot to weigh especially when the finances are all on the table. So while she has her “fave” I will take a deep breath and know she’s on the right track and will just try to enjoy these last few months with her before she launches, wherever it may be.
She did it. Hit submit on not one, not two but three EA applications. Little bit of drama at the end dragging out the one ‘why …’ supplemental essay. 3 down, about 11 to go. But she is officially in the race. Woohoo
S came through like a champ! McDermott app submitted Saturday morning, well ahead of the Sunday evening deadline for his DS bribe. The new Nintendo DS XL and games will be delivered today. His video turned out fine, and the rest of his application is a good reflection of S. He can rest assured that if he isn’t chosen to move on in the competition it’s not because of a poorly done application. He knows he worked hard and did his best, and that he will have lots of wonderful opportunities at UTD even without McDermott. So now all that’s left is the wait.
Sounds great @traveler98. Love that the bribe worked!
That must feel great @traveler98 - another thing to check-off & one less thing to stress about!!!
D just texted me and said she hit submit for her last common app college. I just looked at her Common Application Dashboard & I see nothing but GREEN CHECKMARKS !!!
Pitt applicants: Is it possible that this school does not want to know about one club, sport or EC?? Or am I browsing this wrong? They only want your coursework and self-reported grades and standardized tests?
For for basic application that is true, if you want to submit information related to EC, you can use the 3 supplemental questions to round out the student’s picture.
No app submissions here yet, but last night D said her plan is to submit her REA this Wednesday. I’m crossing my fingers. She’s still fine tuning that last supplemental essay.
We’re both stressing. The tests and homework are relentless.
@kayak24 I could be wrong, but if I recall my daughter discussing the app they did not ask for all the other details and would prefer that the student uses their short essay answers to highlight anything they feel the college needs to know about the student. There are no LOR either, which is surprising. I think for certain programs or invitation to Chancellor scholarships there will be more information that needs to be sent by request but as far as I recall for the initial application it’s very basic…self reported grades, standardized tests and short answer essay(s). They do not require that students answer the essays either, but they strongly encourage answering at least one for merit consideration.
Happy dance here at the RoonilWazlib99 house!
S18 submitted three more apps over the weekend. He has submitted 9 (7 early and two regular) so far. Two more are done and just waiting on November 1st because they can’t be submitted before that (UC apps). The last one is MIT regular decision and all the essays are done and he will work on the rest of the app to hopefully get it submitted next weekend. Now he needs to complete the FAFSA just for those schools that require it for merit aid as we know we aren’t getting any need-based.
And then we wait. And wait. I’m hopeful his one rolling admissions school gets back to him soon. The app has been in and confirmed complete for almost three weeks.i know they’re busy, but we just want to hear!