Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. Shortly I will be dropping off my 2018 grad at her first year of college, so it’s time to move on to my 2020 grad.
DS struggled his first two years before being diagnosed with ADHD. He didn’t want to go on medication but something about just knowing the diagnosis seemed to push him to putting in top effort, and he ended this year with Honors. He is very excited about the classes he’s chosen for Junior year (Physics and Engineering in particular) so we are hopeful he will continue to do well and get his GPA up! I believe it’s hovering around 3.0 right now. His first shot at PSATs weren’t great, so he’s been spending time on Khan every day this summer. He’s looking at majoring in engineering (mech or chem) or Industrial design and wants a smallish college in the northeast. His list right now (subject to change) is Alfred, Clarkson, Gannon, Manhattan, University of New Haven, Philadelphia U, Stevens Institute, Wentworth Institute, Western New England and WPI. We have visited Clarkson & Gannon so far, and he liked both.
@stencils one of my daughter’s friends is attending Dalhousie this fall. She’s a dual citizen. It’s the first time I’ve seen it mentioned on CC!
@taverngirl, welcome! It sounds like your S20 is self-motivated, engaged, and looking forward to college - great outcome for a kid who had some early struggles!
My S20 was also diagnosed with ADHD. He took a different path with medication, but it is good to hear that the diagnosis itself seems to have spurred your son on.
@taverngirl Welcome! I’m guessing your D18 is going to UofRochester? It’s a great school! (I live fairly close to it). Of the schools on your list S20 list, my D17 also applied to Stevens and loved it! Have you visited yet? Stevens’ dining hall has an amazing Manhattan skyline view. Not a reason to choose a college, but it was really impressive.
Have you considered Lafayette for S20? It has both ChemE and MechE in a smaller liberal arts setting. It’s a beautiful school too.
@stencils yes, my daughter is attending URoch. It was one of her top 2 and a surprise admit, so we are very excited!
Have not visited Stevens yet. I think that will end up being a reach school for my son, as would Laf. My daughter was waitlisted at Laf and had much better stats. Loved the school though.
Where did your D17 end up going? Was she an engineering major? What were her other top choices?
@taverngirl My D17 ended up at Temple and is an EE major. She applied to 9 schools total and was accepted to all (including a couple of surprises, like Cornell). In the end, her top 3 she was choosing between were Case Western, Stevens, and Temple. She visited Laf but didn’t apply, as she decided she wanted something bigger or more urban.
I believe “demonstrated interest” is important to Stevens. Stevens offers the option of both an on-campus info day (usually a Saturday in the fall) and an option to do an admission interview. I’d suggest doing both.
D20 is wrapping up her summer pretty soon. Her community college class ends next week, and then after that, we’ll go to the Midwest for 8 days to visit my brother. We will tour Iowa State, U of Iowa, and U of Kansas on day trips during our stay, since they’re all are within a couple hours of my brother’s house. Luckily my brother likes road trips and is actually looking forward to driving us around. The day after we get home, D starts band/leadership camp and school begins right after that. This summer has gone by fast!
S20 is trying to show his independence; he wants to go camping in a remote spot 2 hrs away with buddies before school starts. I say NO. would you let your kiddos? I dont think i’m being unreasonable . . .
Some movement here from reluctant DS 20. He actually expressed a preference for smaller schools. I’m not sure it will stick, but a bit of progress. At least he’s starting to think about it.
Athletically, he’s had a good club lax season this summer. He played in a tournament against a D3 incoming class and did well enough that the d3 coach contacted him after the tournament. Apparently, that’s allowed. Higher level coaches can’t contact 2020s till Sep. 1. Wednesday night he got a call to play up with the 2019s for his club at the club national championships and has done pretty well there too. Sadly, his club didn’t advance to the final so no ESPN for him. Still, he’s havening fun and took his first trip on a plane alone.
I did not allow my DD16 to go camping with his classmates and grads of 2015 just before they left for college. It sounded like a bad idea to me and my DS actually encouraged me to say no when I asked for info before saying no. I think he knew it was a bad idea but needed me as his excuse not to go.
I would say no to the camping trip with no adults too, but I can’t imagine anything my D would want to do less than that, so it will never be a problem for us LOL.
Have to laugh about the camping - definitely a thing where we live. And a definite no from us. We are well aware of the shenanigans that occur at times.
@bgbg4us I’m all for independence, but it would be a no from us too.
DS just changed his schedule for Jr year. No more AP Music. I’m okay w that. Swapping it for Calc3 & DiffEq. Also moved AP Stat to Sr Year. He’ll end up w only 6 APs if all goes as planned, but quite frankly that’s the right number for him since it’s only in coursework that interests him.
As soon as he finishes his summer college classes in a few weeks, it’s test prep then SAT and ACT then school and youth orchestra start up again. Summer seemed to fly by. We’re getting in visits to Pitt (thanks to the thread here), UNC CH, and Duke. I’ll report back how they go.
D20 starting SAT test prep tomorrow. She did not do well on PSAT for math, so if she doesnt get her score up, it’ll be community college as only option. Plan is focus academically on SAT this summer first for baseline. Then learn stuff . Then take another SAT prep (or targeted SAT learning) starting January to take the March SAT, target again and take the June SAT. Then see were she is at. She really wants the college experience, especially after touring all these neat colleges with her brother this summer. I explained that she must step up her game and work hard if that’s what she wants.
We will be looking at colleges that do not look at scores, however, D20 needs this learning experience to show her first that she can do it (math goal is at least 600) and to teach her that people who succeed actually work hard for what they get, even if it might be easier for them to grasp the subject than for her. Academics is hard for her, but really there is a huge amount of admitted laziness. I hope she embraces it. I will definitely be there to help her and cheer her on!
@cakeisgreat I hear you about the math! Not my D’s favorite subject either. But she won’t start SAT prep until the spring when her school offers a class for all juniors. I’m also hoping that between the PSAT in 10th grade and the spring SAT in 11th grade she will have learned enough additional math to increase her score substantially. That’s the dream, at least.
rooting for your D @dancingmom518! Your route was our original route and what we did with the older 3 kiddos, but she has diagnosed social anxiety and “borderline” ADHD inattentive, and so she asked to start early because she feels it will be overwhelming with trying to do well in school. This is progress for her on a social level to own her path, thank God…finally! I’m jumping on it ha ha! What a journey of ups and downs, tears and finally seeing some triumphs. It’s amazing how hard life is when your fixated on what people think of you all the time!
