Another Scholarship Question

[TinkOhio]

I'm hoping that some of the parents who frequent this board might offer some advice about a possible opportunity that our DD has been presented with. She has been offered a scholarship to attend an AYF leadership camp this summer through our local rotary club. It takes place this summer for a week. Sounds like a no-brainer, but there are several other factors that may play into her final decision.

Our DD is a fairly well rounded sophomore in high school. She has been the freshman and sophomore class president, will wind up being a 4 year varsity tennis starter, (1st singles), volunteers at the local hospital, works during the summer as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and tennis instructor, has been on the honor roll throughout high school. She also participates in track, the German club, and a science club. She did very well on the PSAT and has been invited to visit many schools. DD desperately wants to attend a school in the southeast. We live in Ohio, and we understand that out-of-state tuition will be very costly. We've been trying from the start to guide her towards making decisions that will lead to achieving her goals.

The problem with accepting the scholarship is that she can only get away from her summer jobs for one week. She is working to save enough money to attend a trip to Germany next spring break with the German club. The opportunity for DD to visit those southern schools is limited, as she will only have the one week this summer and the Christmas break to take the time required to visit those schools before her senior year. She will be in Germany over her next spring break. Should she take the one week to visit schools, or should she attend the AYF leadership camp? Does she need the camp, or will her other leadership rolls be enough? She is running for student council again, and anticipates being an officer of some kind for her junior and senior years, too. Would one be more beneficial over the other? Does the AYF camp look that good to college admissions officers? Is her time better spent using that one week to build relationships with her dream schools while she has the chance?

Please share your opinions so that we can help her make a more educated decision!

 

[allison443]

She is a sophomore now? So why can't she go to the leadership program this summer, and visit the colleges during her one week break next summer, after junior year? Seems like most college visits start in junior year.

Just an aside, with my three kids, we preferred to visit colleges during the school year. We got a better idea of what the school will be like when the student is attending, got to see more students, sit in on a class sometimes, etc.

I understand your dd's visits will be a distance away. Can she take time off from school in spring of junior year and maybe make a long weekend visit? How about over Presidents weekend junior year? Our high school excuses I think three days for college visits.

I'm not familiar with the leadership summer program, but if your dd is interested I would definitely encourage her to go. If you must look at everything in terms of college applications, then this would be something that could go under "leadership" as well as under "honors/awards" since she won the scholarship.

 

[allison443]

Just also wanted to address what you said about building relationships with her dream schools. Since you refer to out of state tuition, the schools must be state schools rather than small private colleges.

If they are large state schools, in my experience (from all three of my kids applying to large out of state schools), the process is very much stats-driven rather than relationship-driven. The large state schools get so many applications! University of Florida got over 26,000 applications a couple of years ago. Alabama got over 22,000.

Good luck to your dd! The process is exciting but can be stressful too!

 

[teller80]

Does she need the camp, or will her other leadership rolls be enough?

You make it sound like a checkbox requirement (class president, check; sport, check; volunteer hours, check). If she WANTS to go, let her go. If you're looking at it as something to put on her resume, please let someone else's kid get the scholarship.

 

[Marionnette]

Most students visit colleges during the latter part of their junior year, the summer following that year and then in the fall of their senior year if they are still exploring their options.

 

[danygirl]

Our kids get 5 excused days for college visits. Maybe you can do some long weekend trips.

 

[MrsPete]

First, I'd caution against encouraging her towards a dream school that's also a financial stretch . . . instead, push her to visit multiple schools, at least two of which are "comfortable" financially. The "I've gotta go here, or I'll die" thing just isn't realistic. LOTS of schools can provide her with an excellent college experience and career preparation, and they're available in multiple locations at a variety of prices.

As for visits, I was prepared to say that a summer job should not limit a student . . . but then I saw that she's saving money for an international trip, so that's a tough call. I'd say have her work during the summer, especially since she's doing something "better" than just flipping burgers. Her job is one that will look good on scholarship applications. Instead, plan to visit schools during her shorter breaks (Thanksgiving, fall break + 1 extra day, whatever works). Do squeeze those visits in during her junior year. You want her to begin her senior year with a firm idea of the 3-5 schools that best suit her (because applications tend to come out September 1st). Then she can re-visit her favorites during her senior year.

Finally, be sure you're not pushing too hard to do-do-do. High school should be fun. Searching for a college should be fun. I'm sensing a "too serious" vibe here.

 

[jen19806]

If push comes to shove- she could visit after accepted before deciding where to go. I did that when applying to grad school. Applied to 2 programs within 2 hours & one that was halfway across the country that I loved on paper. Got accepted to all 3, compared the scholarship offers & visited the far away school then.

 

[Sleepy425]

I understand wanting to qualify for scholarships and such, but it seems like far too much pressure is being placed on college right now. She is only a sophomore. Let her enjoy herself. ENCOURAGE it. There shouldn't be so much stress involved.
Take her out of school in the second half of her junior year to go check out colleges. I had fun with my parents doing this (we even hit up Disney). And please don't use classes as an excuse not to - if she is a good student and is using the time to look at colleges her teachers should be more than fine with it.

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for all of the great input. I really appreciate it!

I do understand how people can say that she sounds overly serious. She is actually pretty silly by nature. I was shocked when she came home and informed me that she was class president! She had also always talked about wanting to teach tennis, as her father is a teaching pro, but she actually turned down more lucrative tennis hours to lifeguard and teach swimming because it is "more fun." She loves hanging out with her friends at the pool. She hangs out with them a lot! She is also very independent. When she sees something she wants, she works hard to get it. That is why she is saving for the Germany trip. We can help her out with school, but we can't afford to send her abroad.

Thanks for the encouragement to take her out of school to visit campuses. It is just difficult because the area where she wants to go is an 18-20 hour drive. We will definitely have to bring her down over long weekends.

We have been advised by her counselor and a local college rep to start visits now. Her advisor called back and said that she recommends the Germany trip. I was just very concerned about missing out on an important opportunity. She was even more concerned about it than I was. Came to me in tears asking what she should do, and I didn't know what to tell her.

Again, thanks so much for the advice. She is attending a huge college fair tomorrow and several of her dream schools will be represented. She has about 12 dream schools.