@bgbg4us , we have a similar situation at our high school. We are white. My older son, who just graduated last year, has friends of a range of ethnicities and socioeconomic levels, which is a big part of what we hoped for out of high school. The school does offer many AP classes and my older son (S18) did very well academically, as well as on the SAT. He had great college options.
There are other high schools in the local area that many of our neighbors’ kids transfer to, where there are far fewer free and reduced lunch kids and far fewer kids of color. For me, personally, I think we made the right decision to prepare our kids for being part of a diverse world and having increased awareness. Just my 2 cents.
Hi @sekere62 - our children sound so similar, down to the HP in 2nd grade! The teacher didn’t know what to do with him, so he hung out in the corner reading most days. DS20 is lopsided, too, and with three Cs, knows that NMSF is the best he can. That’s still pretty great though! There is a thread for C/O 2020 with GPA 3.0-3.4 that would probably be helpful for him. Especially with high test scores. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/class-20xx-community/2096221-parents-of-the-hs-class-of-2020-3-0-to-3-4-gpa.html#latest Good luck!!
@bgbg4us I understand your frustration and thanks for sharing. I would say that only you know if you’re motivated by racism but I don’t think so from what you’ve said. Seems by mentioning reduced/free lunch it may be more socio-economic unless that’s a euphemism for race. Also when you say it’s getting rough, you do need to consider whether that’s the atmosphere where your student will thrive. Our district has experienced the flight of the more affluent to neighboring districts and many look down on their poorer districts. Some outright question how I could send my kids here or there or express that they’re worried for them. We bought our home as newlyweds and school districts were not at the forefront of our minds. Even so there’s been some noticeable shifting of the population demographics. But we’ve grown to really like the area and make the best school choices we have whether private, charter, or magnet. We evaluate for each child at each change to a new school. We’ve also thought of re-locating but the kids have so many ties to the community it would be hard. As to how I feel that others leave, I’ve talked to some and it’s basically all about “better schools” based on rankings and I feel they’re making the best decision for their family based on whatever criteria and we will do the same.
The Rice Investment Grant to Include
Family income range
$65,000 and below: Full Tuition, Fees, Room and Board
$65,001 - $130,000: Full Tuition
$130,001 - $200,000: Half Tuition
Daughter visited (with 15 others) her first college rep. Apparently they give a little presentation and a little booklet to take with them. TBH I was expecting a little more than that. Its a school 5 hours away with an acceptance rate of 17%.She apparently liked it because she’s going to another one tomorrow with an acceptance of 13%. Its a big ten school 30 minutes from the house. It looks like more kids are going to that one although my daughters chances are slim some of the kids have absolutely zero chance of getting in. I’m not sure why the counselors allow kids who have no chance go to these.
I have been lurking here for a while but decided to jump back in.
My DS20 is prepping for his first SAT Oct. 6th. My older DD17 is a happy sophomore at University of Alabama studying Econ. and Finance and we are starting up again with #2. DS has been on a few college visits so far but is not sure of exactly what he is looking for in a school. He has the grades/ECs for top tier schools but says is interested in chasing the $. A lot will depend on his test scores for PSAT and SAT. His #1 dream is a service academy - West Point. My DH and I are trying to find an alternative that is so appealing that he does not go the WP/SA route. If he ultimate decides to persue that dream, we will of course support him but for now we are trying to find colleges that fit.
I do have to add that HS students visiting with recruiting reps during school gives them good practice with networking interactions and asking questions. My DD met some great regional reps who then followed up with her later. They became very helpful in setting up personalized tours of schools and giving her contacts in the departments to answer major specific question. Also my DD found that many of the schools gave her a voucher that waived the application fees along with their literature. These were helpful as she was applying to many schools. She went to some in her junior year and a few in the fall of senior year just to make sure that she wasn’t missing any “gems” on her apply list. She did ultimately find an additional school that made it into her her final 2 this way.
Another lurker jumping in. I have an S20 who will be taking SAT on 10/6. He is also hoping to be a recruited athlete, so I am hoping he can be done with testing relatively soon. I signed him up for the SAT with essay, but am thinking on canceling the essay since it’s not considered by so many schools now. However, we are in CA, and the UCs do require it. There is one UC who has been watching S, but I don’t think it is his top choice. I also have a D17, who is very happy at Fordham University.
At my kids’ private high school, the visits by the college reps are primarily for seniors. Junior can only go if the visit is during one of their free periods. The difference between these visits and some of the college fairs that some of you are referred to is that the admission officer who gives the presentation at the school is the person assigned to our region, meaning he or she will be the one reading your child’s application. Kind of helps to personalize things. No way is fall of senior year too late, and my D17 did all her applications EA, meaning submitted by 11/1.
@scorekeeper1 It really depends on the school, the apply Texas App (for all the Texas schools) opens in August, kids that apply earlier have better housing options and more chance of merit. Our GCs advise applying in early/mid September for these schools. At our school college rep visits are encouraged for Juniors and seniors that need more info to decide on acceptances. My DS20 will be taking the SAT on 10/6 as well.
Learned something new at DS’ school’s financial aid seminar, I guess experienced parents might already know but I am a newbie. For FAFSA, it is kind of important to fill it out as soon as it opens (for us it will be 10/1/2019), since the schools that “dish out” financial aid money might be based on first come first serve system.
Also, we might be one of the many donut hole families, where no financial aid money is expected, our GC still encourages us to fill the fafsa form, saying some private institutions have to have the fafsa information (even when it was denied) to be able to release their own funding for the student. Which I guess does not necessarily benefit us per se but is important for the school? I am not quite sure that I understood the explanation correctly. Can someone clarify whether it worths the trouble to fill out the fafsa/CSS if you know your child won’t qualify for financial aid money?
@makemesmart I went to a FA workshop at DD’s school, and we were told that everyone needs to fill out the FAFSA unless you are absolutely full pay and don’t want scholarship money, because there will be at least one school/scholarship/loan/etc that will require it. Our state requires it for the merit-based “lottery scholarships.” Also, apparently (at least this year), the FAFSA is allowing folks to create their FAFSA IDs before October 1 in an effort to streamline that process.
@scorekeeper1 The essay is at the end of the SAT. Why take a chance and take the test without the essay? If he changes his mind and wants to go to a UC or CSU, they will not look at a SAT score if the essay wasn’t included. If he wants the UCs to look at him (first choice or not), he will need to take the SAT w/ essay.
@mountainmomof3@tutumom2001 ok, that makes more sense to me. Thank you. @scorekeeper1
FWIW, the school we’d like to apply dropped its SAT essay requirements recently, after we registered for it. DS dropped the essay on the day of his testing by telling the proctor. There were a lot of kids dropping it on that day (8/25). CB even refunded the fee for the essay portion. So I guess he still has two more weeks to decide whether to take it or not. Good luck on the test!
@ikg4answers - did they change the format with the new SAT? The essay used to be first. S20 is signed up for SAT with essay in November (he didn’t want two Saturday mornings in a row in October with testing). He doesn’t have a list of schools really, but I’ve been looking at some possible choices and don’t think any of them need the essay.
His school has college visits open to Juniors and Seniors, but he hasn’t looked at the list of schools yet to see who is coming to visit and if he is free - might be a good thing to do this weekend as the kids just got Naviance, but parents don’t get it until January. He is not allowed to skip classes for visits.
@MA2012 it is my understanding that the SAT starts with Reading then Writing & Language then Math and then the essay.
The California public schools still require the essay. I’m not sure there are many other schools that do. The problem is that if you get a great score on a test w/o the essay and you apply to a California public school, you won’t be able to use that test.
I understand if you are a senior and somewhat have your mind made up but these kids still have another year before they apply so if you live in California why limit yourself because of a 50 minute essay?
Thanks for clarification on the SAT. We’re not in CA and he’s not looking there but I agree it’s hard to figure out optimal testing when they don’t have schools finalized yet.
I encourage all that have the opportunity to attend AO visits at their school and/or a college fair. DD20 has been doing so the last 2 weeks and has now realized how wide the range of options are (size, price, scholarships, etc) Hearing me say it is totally different than hearing it from AO’s and her peers. We have now added a campus walk through to our fall trip (we cannot squeeze in an actual tour this trip) based upon things she just learned this week. If she likes it, we will have to go back another time to see more but since it is only a half hour out of our way, it will be a great place to stop for a walk and some dinner.
re: post 2509# @makemesmart - about FAFSA /CSS requirements. from our experiences:
S15’s state flagship did NOT require FAFSA, gave out merit scholarships totally independent of the FAFSA. We’ve not filled one out for him really ever. (well, ok we did one time, but i flew through it, forgot to add parents income, it was all needing to be changed and verified and then i just said “forget it!”)
My D16’s private school did require FAFSA (not CSS). they gave out merit scholarships & need based aid and wanted to make sure they knew what a student would receive federally first. I think that’s a big part of it, for schools to see if there’s any federal/state grants coming to the kid before more money is given.
so we are “doughnut hole” people. We just do FAFSA for D16 for the subsidized loans available. S15 would not be offered any; his COA is less than his EFC.
DS20 got his real license today. He’s my baby, I’m officially hanging up my chauffeur hat. Tomorrow will be his first day driving himself to and from school, for those familiar with the Austin area, that means 290 to MoPac to 360!