We are finally getting into the Common App. Is it OK to say Yes, you want to be considered for need-based aid at a private school, even though you don’t think it’s likely you will receive any? Any downside? TIA - I’ve been lurking since summer, and it so helpful to know we are in such good company along this journey!
@homerdog - with regard to weather delays, etc. and Hamilton. Definitely express your concerns to the admissions Rep. I believe one of my friends would fly back and forth, and I seem to recall campus security going to get her from the airport once in the middle of the night. Though, I think she flew in to Rome. Nevertheless, I’m sure they have protocols in place for making sure students make it to campus.
What’s that website again where you can view SAT scores early? It’s early in the AM EST here and no scores yet ugh!
August SAT scores just posted for S19 here in PA. After the panic over the massive drop from the PSAT to the June test, it seems that he was right on track. He went up 20 in EBRW and stayed exactly the same in math.
This is bringing back memories. I was a “high EBRW, mediocre math” SAT taker as well. You’re welcome, S19.
So, he’s done with testing. Will submit two rolling admissions apps this weekend. Then on to the Common App submissions.
@InfiniteWaves I hope he is at peace with the scores and happy to move on from that phase.
My d19’s scores haven’t yet been released.
@cakeisgreat I don’t think there is a trick for seeing them early. I think it’s just the AP scores with the trick.
@homerdog : Hamilton offers recess transportation to Syracuse and other regional locations: https://www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/transportation/recess-shuttle-schedules. In general, Hamilton seems to be on a direct line from Chicago by plane, train and car.
Yeah, the APs are the scores with the trick as they are released on different days depending on what state you live in. SATs are supposed to be all released on the same day.
DS finally got the email back from F&M telling him that they’ve received and processed his application. He got it just before he left for school so he will set up the portal this afternoon.
I reminded him that he needs to make sure he writes down his portal user name and password somewhere he can find it again. He told me that he’s making a paper list of all the websites and user names and passwords he needs for colleges. First I had heard of it!
I had to hold back on my helicopter tendencies. I wanted to tell him to email me his portal ID and password so that I could put it in my spreadsheet. But he is taking ownership of the process so I need to step back and let him do it.
Oh, but it’s hard. All that combined with the last first day of school, thinking he looks too young to be a senior in high school. I’m resisting all of those impulses to turn him back into my baby. Mostly.
Thanks for the national merit info, @homerdog & @momtogkc (SE FL here too). It does appear that D will be a semi-finalist, but our school is not usually on top of things, so I will be pleasantly surprised if they let her know before the official announcement date.
And in the ‘of course’ corner, D has been waiting until this very day to receive her last SAT subject test score. She was terribly disappointed by her June scores and although she is totally burned out, she took one more test and was really hoping to improve. We were going to spend all weekend finalizing apps and start sending, which D was ready to get going on. So for her score, it says something about it not being ready and that it SHOULD be released in the next week. Great. These subject tests will be the death of us >:)
No subject test scores available for S yet either. 
D got scores this morning. Up 40 points, so it was worth diverting some time this summer from essay writing to SAT prep.
Does anyone know when kids get notified about AP scholar awards? Shouldn’t that have happened yet?
@gallentjill We received those back in July. Both received a congratulatory email with their status and a link to the certificate. I just went on D’s CB webpage and there’s a tab to download the certificate right on the first line before her scores. Let me know if you can’t find it.
@midwest mom9 I can’t tag you for some reason, likely as there is a space in your user name.
It depends.
There are some that feel checking that box could hurt a student if the the school is a match with low admissions rates, a high match or a reach. The thinking is that the chances of admission are “higher” if the school knows it is a full pay student.
However, if a school advertises themselves as need blind, then it doesn’t matter.
We check the box though it is unlikely we will recieve anything. But sometimes, we do, and every little bit helps. Run the NPC’s for the schools, look at their Common Data Sets and you’ll have an idea if you “might” qualify for something, that can help when deciding to check the box or not.
@gallentjill what @ThinkOn said 
They are there if you log in and your student should have gotten an email.
Thanks @eandesmom - that seems like a good strategy - that it may depend on the school as to whether or not we check the box. I agree that we don’t want to miss out on even a little bit of aid!
Update-
D did just finally get her SAT 2 score, whew. Glad that’s over and we can move on to stressing about the next thing :)) So if you are still waiting, keep checking.
I got a call today from school and freaked out thinking something happened with DS or there’s something bad going on (last time it was a false-alarm firearms lockdown). Turned out they invited us to a NMSF surprise party on the 12th. Told me not to tell anything to the kid. Very nice, but couldn’t they have sent an email?
@homerdog Yay!!! Congratulations!