Is there a special way to do the early registration because the online form says it needs to be within 30 days of their 18th birthday and errors out. My son isn’t 17 and 3 months either though. I figure FAFSA will take care of it. They can’t say he can’t get aid for not being registered when the SAR says he asked them to register him.
Thanks! I opted for the yes to fafsa registering him. I’m so afraid of making a mistake, I feel like I’m questioning every step.
Oh, I don’t know. The site ( https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration ) says “Selective Service accepts early registrations as young as 17 years and 3 months” so I assumed the form would work at that age but to be honest mine just checked the box on the FAFSA too since that seemed easiest.
Editing to add, there’s some more information in the second FAQ here https://www.sss.gov/QA although it’s still not clear to me if there’s a different form to “preregister.”
@mtemmd that question tripped us up too. After googling some, S put NO for registered and YES to Fafsa to register.
Well S ranked his schools for questbridge match. He was unwilling to rank a binding school that he hasn’t visited, which I completely understand. I am not sure I agree with his #1 pick but its his choice.
I am a bit more anxious about it than I thought I would be.
Quick question: For those needing both the common app (650 words) as well as the coalition app, does the coalition app need to be no more than 550 words or can you use the same essay for both? Advice is appreciated!
@Octagon I’ve seen a few threads on this. What I recall is the Coalition essay length is only a ‘suggested’ length. So, since you don’t have to use all the words for the Common App essay, I would say shoot for a CA essay length of 600 words or less. That’s what my D20’s CA essay length will be, and she doesn’t have any Coalition schools.
As an aside, my D17 went way over the 650-word limit during initial drafts, and it was very hard to get it back to 650 or less. Brutally hard, and she could have written 3 essays in the amount of editing time she spent on that one.
@bigmacbeth Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated!
My S used the same essay for both Coalition and Common App. I think his final word count was 618 words. He was shooting for under 650.
@bigmacbeth My S is going through something similiar for his Common App Essay with it being too long. He told me he may just write a whole new essay because cutting it back isnt working.
DS’ writing has always been on the verbose side ? and I think the one good thing coming out of this CA essay torture, is for him to really see that. Wish he had learned it earlier tho.
I told my d20 to think carefully about essay topics before she started. Kids have to choose a topic than can be talked about in 650 words. Some stories just need more than that, so best to avoid them instead of editing out essential elements.
dress code for DS for college rep interview? dress pants with buttoned shirt ok? or is a full suit needed?
From reading information from college AOs, if the interview is with a college rep (regional adcom) the interview is more formal and important than than alumni interviews that take place in coffee shops, etc. so I would rather be over dressed, suit (no tie is ok) than just wearing slacks and button down. Would love to hear others comments and also for a DD.
Different kids, different issues.
It would be very, very, very, … very difficult for DS 20 to go over any of the essay word limits.
LOL
I was thinking the same thing. DS is checking the word count every couple sentences hoping to “finally” hit the 500 limit or whatever it is.
Writing…especially about himself…is difficult for him. Scholarship and honors college apps are next and I know he’s going to be unhappy with those.
For one of D18’s scholarship apps, she had to write a rec letter for herself, in third person. That was tough.
DD20 didn’t necessarily have a problem with the 650 word limit for the CA. it did take some editing, but she got there. It was the 150 word limit short essay answers that she found especially challenging! But, as was said above – different kids, different challenges! But the whole process is painful – I don’t remember having to write so much for my college apps. It’s a new and different beast these days.
brown2024 As for dress code. Absolutely no need to wear a suit. We took dd to a couple of interviews at colleges with admission officers this summer and the boys wore dress slacks or khakis and collared shirts. We even saw one kid dressed in shorts. I thought that was just too casual. The girls wore nice slacks and blouses, dresses or skirts and a blouse. You can’t go wrong with business casual.
@brown2024
Why not have your DC ask the College rep directly about the dress code.
I am more conservative and I would rather dress “up” than “down” in this situation, you can always take off the suit jacket after handshakes and introduction. Good luck with the interview.