@dadof4kids That’s a tough call but I think it is really mature of your daughter to be able to make this decision. I think a lot of kids do things out of obligation. If this frees up her time to do something else, I think it is a positive. In my opinion, it shows growth and her ability to risk giving up something. In college, she may switch majors and will need to let go of things.
My S21 had an interview with Tulane today that went horribly. The session was recorded and will become part of his file. The AO showed up 6 minutes late, didn’t apologize and immediately told my son to ask her questions. Fortunately he had some prepared but she didn’t ask him any questions about himself, his interests, etc… About 10 minutes into the interview her wifi went out. My son emailed her immediately and waited by the computer and phone. He received an email 20 minutes later “Sorry. It’s raining here. I got what I needed from the interview. Here are some links to learn more about our school.”
We were already on the fence about Tulane as we have heard very mixed messages about peoples’ experiences. The only good thing is that it gave him some clarity. Tulane is off the list.
Thanks for the input.
I think she would like to continue, but the reality is that she just doesn’t have enough time to do everything. She is probably 1-2 slots out of varsity. It isn’t helping that the one girl she likes isn’t going out this year. She gets along with most of the rest of them, but they are overall a bit more elitist than she is and she doesn’t really enjoy spending time with them. She is trying to enjoy her senior year and prioritizing things a bit differently than she has in the past. I don’t think she has made a final decision yet, but she asked me how bad it would look so that’s why I posted the question here.
@dadof4kids – I don’t think it’s a negative. My D18 did both cross country and track her freshmen and sophomore years but then just did cross country her last two years.
By junior year she had a lot of other ECs on her plate and two sports was too much of a time commitment. And she was just ‘over’ track meets. She was a very middlin’ athlete on both teams, so sports was not her ‘hook’ anyway, though she was pleasantly surprised to be chosen as a XC captain her senior year. She had very good admissions outcomes at some top schools.
So I agree that as students mature and figure out ‘their thing’ it’s not a big deal to drop some things that no longer float their boat and that, if continued, would cause more stress than joy.
@dadof4kids , I don’t think it’s a negative. It’s great she knows what she wants and is going for it. My daughter has been playing playing golf competitively since 5th grade (Local PGA chapter, TXGA, AJGA, etc, she played a few pro- Jr. ams also) and has been on the varsity team all three years. But during her junior year she decided that she will not play golf in college if she ends up in a D1 school due to the time commitment. Golf is a spring sport for us here, and she needs 1/2 year PE credit, so she will do that senior year spring sem.
That said, golf actually helped her during the 5 or 6 interviews that she had with various colleges. She always talks about how it taught her the “honor system” and how it helps her adapt to new situations, etc. Also, since it is a Fall sport for you, and sports may not happen this fall, that should not be counted against her.
@kanfly that’s awful. You should email the head of admissions at Tulane and tell him, not because your S will still apply but because he should know how poorly the AO treated your son.
S21 anxious about AP scores - such a strange year! We are in SC, but he will use an alternate VPN to get his scores today. Hope everyone else does okay!
Also, has William and Mary interview tomorrow, his first. Any tips from those who have been interviewing? S19’s interviews were all in person, very casual.
Good luck @SammoJ! @dadof4kids I’d quit golf, especially since she has another sport. Part of extracurriculars is finding out what you really enjoy… trimming golf shows that she decided to focus on soccer instead.
D21 has no interviews scheduled. I am feeling like a slacker! I looked and there are only three schools on her list where interviews are recommended (Smith, Mount Holyoke, Trinity U). I told her she needed to schedule those eventually. She’s looking at mostly big state Us so few offer interviews.
Her list hasn’t budged in size. There are two schools where we didn’t do virtual info sessions in June (weren’t offered) that are still floating in no mans land - BU and UMDCP. I think both are good fits for her and they’re some of the higher ranked schools on her list but I can’t get her motivated to sign up for sessions or research. Major is all over the place too, which is tough when she’s looking at big Us where you apply to a school not the U in general. She’s got Bio (Med school is a possibility), Econ or International Relations (with thoughts of law school), and Art/Animation. She doesn’t have enough for an art portfolio (and doesn’t really have a strong case for admission at this point) so that would have to be a minor or transfer. This is where a LAC might be a better fit since she could apply undecided, but she wants BIG for the most part. (Family in Western MA and she did like Smith and MoHo when we toured in case you’re shaking your head that they’re not BIG. 
)
D21 has had three in-person interviews (before COVID kicked in) and ten virtual interviews. She feels that, for the most part, the virtual ones felt more relaxed. Just make sure the background (behind your son’s head) is neutral and clean/organized. No posters of a half-dressed Nicki Minaj, that kind of thing (D21 has such a poster, but not where people can see it when she is on Zoom). Make sure your son has plenty of questions prepared, and make sure he is prepared to talk about his interests, his education, his favorite subjects, little relatable things, etc. I think it’s important to be respectful and professional, but not too stiff or formal. Make sure he is ready to sign in at least five minutes ahead of time, make sure your internet connection is strong, etc.
Regarding using an alternate VPN, or a site such as earlyscores…is there any risk to that? I am paranoid that if my teens or I use that, the College Board will retaliate by replacing their scores with 1’s or some such thing. :neutral:
I say this as a father of a four year varsity golfer so grain of salt etc! In our state, soccer is still very much an iffy proposition while the governor has given an official OK for golf and tennis. Being 1-2 slots away from varsity isn’t really that far off. Anything can happen! At least at our school JV isn’t nearly as much of a commitment as varsity. I would think of trying out as a possibility of adding a varsity sport to the resume.
Is anyone getting emails from colleges asking you to apply? Not your kid, but you. I keep getting emails from U of Chicago as though I am a prospective student. Furthermore, I am addressed as Janie in these emails. My name is not Janie (though of course it is fine if folks here call me that, since that is my chosen username for CC). I don’t use that name anywhere but here.
ETA: I guess I must have used this alias somewhere else at some point in time.? But how and why did U of Chicago get it.? I’m confused.
Don’t feel like a slacker. I’ve posted about my kid doing a ton of interviews, but that is because a) she visited a lot of colleges during 9th and 10th grade and had a list going into 11th grade, and b) she is homeschooled. Nearly all the colleges on her list require interviews for homeschooled applicants.
@flyawayx2 It’s tough to figure out, no? My D25 as a toddler was constantly experimenting to see reactions. Toss things on the floor–wait for reactions, how well can mud fly, etc. Her brother, so much in his own head, is only now noticing the world around him…
She could be an engineer, or scientist. But she also has a natural, iterative design process she uses with personal projects, from sewing, to dot journals, to Minecraft play. Also an obsession with This Old House, and hotel/theme park design. One evening she couldn’t look away from a Nova show about digging a new tunnel under London. But that was a while ago in her more interesting preteen years.
Right now she’s on her phone, listening to music, audio books, occasional projects, Minecraft while zooming with friends. At age 13, with teenage distractions, it’s all much harder to suss out. And she’s very good at doing school, so classroom interests don’t signify as much. She will tell you she likes some topics better, but it’s very teacher specific.
This post may be a bit off topic, sorry. But that’s why I look to the younger years.
@kanfly - Oh no! I feel so badly for your son. My daughter had a not awesome interview with Tulane too. Your son’s was worse though. You absolutely should email the admissions director. I wanted to after my daughter’s just to say - I think your AO’s need more training on how to conduct an interview, but she still is going to apply and I didn’t want her application to be put in some “problem parent” file. It’s not like the interview left her in tears; it was just a not so great interview.
Ordinarily, if it were an alumni interview I wouldn’t care that much, but these are the people being paid to represent the school and the school should care about the impression theses employees are making on kids - especially BEFORE they apply.
AP scores are out. boy they area all over the place. D thought the AP exam for chemistry was a beast and physics not nearly as hard.
Results:
AP chem 4,
AP Lang 4,
AP calc BC 5,
AP psych 5,
and wait for it…AP physics 1 she got a 2…What the heck???
I should probably let their admissions office know. I actually conduct alumni interviews for my alma mater so I’m very familiar with how things should go and this was just appalling! And yes, they are representing the school and should make a point to get to know the applicants and get them excited about the school.
On a different note, my S21 had a fantastic interview with Wake Forest a few weeks ago. The AO spent a long time getting to know him and the conversation was very natural and engaging. As a result, Wake went toward the top of the list!
@TVBingeWatcher2 great scores! Who knows how these were graded this year. I mean I know there were rubrics but I’m sure it still threw kids off. Odd results here too. APUSH 5 but AP Lang a 3?? D21’s essays were the model held up by her teacher every time they practiced that test. D knew the changes in the rubric. And, just like your D thought Physics was easy, D came out of AP Lang saying it was a piece of cake. She thought she wrote well and that she hit all of the pieces of the rubric with no problem.
The issue now is does she self report the 3. It would look weird to just report the APUSH score. I once heard to look at the colleges and see what scores they give credit for and, if they give credit for a 3, then report it. I think most of her schools don’t give any credit for AP Lang no matter the score so hm not sure what to do. I’ll double check that.
@homerdog , that totally stinks about the Lang score. Would love to see the notes from the scorers.
Well my checking was quick. The first two schools I checked on D’s list actually do give credit for Lang - 4s and 5s. My gut says she won’t report any of her AP scores. I think it’s better for colleges to not see any scores and assume she didn’t know she could self report them on the CA than to report one score and not the other. The rest of her APs are senior year so she will have seven total with at least one in each subject including French but I really don’t love that 3. Oh well.
Neutral.
Since she has another sport it probably won’t even be noticed.