@fencingmom I’m thrilled for your D’s chance for an internship to see if she feels good in the field. I love driving my D around. It gives us plenty of time to ‘chat’ about anything and everything and she seems so much more open when she doesn’t realize that she’s being open. I have to be careful about college talk and grade discussions. I was bringing it up too much so we’ve tabled those discussions to one day a week. We both come to the conversation prepared and ready to go. Its working out really well for us, and I’m allowed to create a list of things we need to discuss during the week if something important comes up that can’t wait (has happened 3 times so far).
I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend.
D20’s senior schedule is in flux. Originally, she had signed up for AP Physics 2, because it was the same teacher she had for 1. Then, that teacher announced he’d be leaving the school (his wife got a job out of state), so D switched to Physics C. Well, now the school decided there wasn’t enough interest in AP Physics 2, so they’ve cut that, and will be splitting C into 2 classes: Mechanics (full year) and E&M (spring only). D is ok with it, and plans to take both parts of C.
She had planned to take AP Bio also, which would now mean 3 AP science classes, well 4 with AP Psychology. I think there was also a scheduling conflict with AP Bio, so she decide to drop bio and add AP Spanish. She just found out she got Silver in the Nat’l Spanish Exam, first time she’s placed, so she’s feeling more confident about Spanish.
AND, now her favorite English teacher from Sophomore year is leaving. She had specifically chosen her senior English elective because he was teaching it. So now, she’s rethinking her English elective.
@momzilla2D That sounds really stressful to be looking to change basically the whole senior schedule. It sounds like she is up for challenges, so hopefully she feel confident rolling with this one and figures out another senior year schedule option set that she is excited about.
Our senior schedule got messed up too. AP Physics was dropped due to lack of interest so they stuck him in Honors Chemistry instead and because of that he can’t take Astronomy…the only elective he’s ever really been able to choose outside of taking Band every year, and he was pretty excited about it, so he’s a little bummed. I love our school, but there are some definite drawbacks. One being that because it is so small there aren’t a lot of options. There are only 5 AP classes offered total and he hasn’t taken any of them yet. He was going to have 2 Senior year, but now only one I guess. Oh well…
Those of you who have been down this road before (or even newbies like me): Do you prefer the Common App or the Coalition App? I know that some schools accept both and was wondering about the pros and cons of each.
@AlwaysLearn I am interested as well. Back for D17 I heard of a lot of issues with the Coalition App, so personally I would not touch it yet. But, I’m sure it’s lots better by now, and I would love not giving more money to the CB. I would do whichever is accepted at more schools, if a school list is known. We are sticking with the Common App.
All of S20’s schools are on Coalition App, but they are not all on Common App (minus Bama which is on neither). Coalition adds lots of popular schools each year, so they must be doing something right. S will do Coalition and not Common.
@AlwaysLearn D19 applied to 2 schools this last year that required the Coalition app. I did not look at it myself, so this is second hand. IIRC, her first gripe was that it required you to complete each section before continuing to the next. So, if she hit a part she wanted to think about or needed to gather some info, she was stuck and couldn’t move forward. The bigger issue was that one school (UMaryland) used Coalition as their portal. When they did not receive the school transcript, it was not clear to my D. It must be there, but it was confusing to her and she missed it. We only realized it when decisions were released and she did not get a decision. Could totally have been her fault, but if I had a choice, I’d choose the Common app.
I was at a talk where they told students that art portfolios could not be submitted via the Coalition Application. It doesn’t apply to us so I didn’t check it out but it might apply to some of you.
@lkg4answers I have heard that both Coalition and Common can now be used, and both integrate with Slideroom for submitting supplemental material, like art or music files. I looked at one of the schools that D17 applied to, and they mention Coalition now.
One of the schools on S20’s list doesn’t do common app, only coalition. UIUC. I think the rest all do common app, but only some do coalition. Looks like S20 will have to do both.
DS will have to do both. Lucky for him, the few schools (on his list ) exclusive to Coalition don’t require the main essay so he can just enter the stats and questions for those. He will write the main Common App essay and can use that application for the other colleges that require the main essay.
@NYC2018nyc What is your son’s proposed major? Has he visited UIUC? I’m in IL and I’m always interested in kids who apply from OOS. It’s usually CS or Engineering, I guess.
@bigmacbeth He wants to do a business major. He loves big state schools, which is why UIUC is on the list. We visited, and it’s so beautiful we all really liked it. The only flaw for S20 is the football and basketball are not as big as at some of the other big state schools. It’s too bad because we’re in NY and our state schools are good, but none of them have that big sports school spirit.
@NYC2018nyc I don’t know anything about the business school at UIUC, but I assume he’s also considering Ross at UofMich? Much more consistency in sports, and a great college town in addition to an excellent business school. Much less rural, but easier access to flights, or even a long drive, back home. Ross may be a little more difficult to get into, but they seem to like NY kids (part of it being, like UIUC, they like full pay students).
Being from Illinois I never thought of the school being beautiful. As for the sports both basketball and football teams are terrible. When I lived down in Central Illinois 25+ years ago there was an abundance of spirit but losing teams don’t draw fans. 2.5 years ago I was down for a football game and it was sold out against NC. Of course they lost.
But, I’m sure it’s lots better by now, and I would love not giving more money to the CB. I would do whichever is accepted at more schools, if a school list is known. We are sticking with the Common App.