Class of 2021 Parents

[Eureka]

Pretty much sound exactly like us!!! Same schedule and all. LOL

We are in the same state, I believe, but not the same county.

 

[yeahdisney]

FAFSA is oct 1. It works best to do on desk top or lap top.
I also find it works best to print the form out prior -using the year before, gathering the info needed and then plug in the answers when it is available to complete.
Then I have a FAFSA folder that I add the new year to.

 

[AlohaNow]

So this week is spirit week at school. Today is toga day for the seniors and tomorrow is ‘class colors’ by grade. I’m so glad that the seniors are getting to do something ‘normal’ at least this one time. And we’re kind of amazed that they are still doing in-person school two days a week! We did not think it would last this long.

He applied for early graduation and received his official approval letter. So now I’m looking at graduation announcements online which is pretty fun! He is working on the common app and writing essays. There is one day in October that you can apply to all of our state schools for free and he is aiming to hit submit on that day. He is most definitely my son, getting excited about saving us 50 bucks! He’ll apply to our flagship as a backup, still moving full steam ahead with his plan to move back to Argentina for university in early 2022. He thinks he’ll work at our new Amazon warehouse after he graduates. His plan is to make bank for all of 2021 before moving! He’s got a good head on those shoulders.

FAFSA opens today! My inner spreadsheet nerd is loving it. We’re off to the Keys for diving for fall break soon. Couple of days at WDW after. Can’t wait! How are things going for you guys? Exhausted yet from nagging your seniors about impending deadlines?

 

[nikkistevej]

We are in the same state, I believe, but not the same county.

Oh ok cool, we're in Baltimore county, suburbs of Baltimore, Catonsville area.

 

[nikkistevej]

Well, it's getting crazy around here. Daughter is done with common app, and application to the one college not on the common app. She completed her essays and all. Got her recommendations too. We are ready to submit. Wow Also, we almost finished the Fafsa last night, trying to stay ahead of the game here.

 

[QueenIsabella]

DD is finishing up the common app, she hopes to apply early action to State U--her first choice school. I know she asked her cello teacher for a recommendation. I mentioned the FAFSA to Dh, and he just groaned. (this is kid #3, we're no strangers to it). We're not expecting any need-based aid, but I'm hoping for maybe a work-study job for her.

 

[nikkistevej]

DD is finishing up the common app, she hopes to apply early action to State U--her first choice school. I know she asked her cello teacher for a recommendation. I mentioned the FAFSA to Dh, and he just groaned. (this is kid #3, we're no strangers to it). We're not expecting any need-based aid, but I'm hoping for maybe a work-study job for her.

Same here with not expecting any need based aid, but she definitely wants a work study as well.

 

[Eureka]

Oh ok cool, we're in Baltimore county, suburbs of Baltimore, Catonsville area.

I'm in Charles County. DS was able to take SAT on Saturday at a local high school and is scheduled for the ACT this coming weekend, but at a different testing center. Not sure if it will happen or not, but at least he has a score now. (Or will, anyway). One of the schools he's applying to, which we actually got to visit before everything shut down, is UMBC. We all liked it. He also likes UMD, where my older son goes, so we'll see what he decides (he's also applying to a few other non-state schools).

 

[AlohaNow]

He also likes UMD, where my older son goes

Fear the turtle.

 

[nikkistevej]

I'm in Charles County. DS was able to take SAT on Saturday at a local high school and is scheduled for the ACT this coming weekend, but at a different testing center. Not sure if it will happen or not, but at least he has a score now. (Or will, anyway). One of the schools he's applying to, which we actually got to visit before everything shut down, is UMBC. We all liked it. He also likes UMD, where my older son goes, so we'll see what he decides (he's also applying to a few other non-state schools).

We live 10 minutes from there, it's a great school and campus.

 

[nikkistevej]

Well, we submitted apps now. I guess all we can do is wait.

 

[mjkacmom]

Senior night for soccer happened for both, it’s usually the last home game of the season but it was the first. Both teams wine, ds score one of the two goals. Ds’s was very emotional because the goalie, a senior, dad’s passed away that morning, so lots of tears. I’m guessing their last SAT is Wednesday, the ACT was canceled yet again. Dd is just waiting on teacher recommendations to submit applications and has scheduled a bunch of virtual visits, ds finished his essay and started his applications, I might need to involve myself with his.

 

[Eureka]

Well, we submitted apps now. I guess all we can do is wait.

That’s huge, congrats! We are not quite there yet.

 

[Music City Mama]

Ds’s was very emotional because the goalie, a senior, dad’s passed away that morning, so lots of tears

Awww, sorry to hear that, that's so sad. I'm glad they got their senior night. Thank goodness we got ours too for football/band/cheer a couple of weeks ago.

Well, we're pretty much done. Not sure if anyone remembers, but DS took the ACT for the first time back in February and scored a 36. He's taking a full automatic merit scholarship out-of-state (about 3.5 hours away) at a well renowned school -- 4 years tuition, 1 year housing, stipends every year, study-abroad $, etc. He's been accepted into the school and into the Honors College. We were able to visit for a campus tour just to confirm this is what he wanted (it was a beautiful campus, btw) and we just need to officially enroll now and put down the housing deposit. He will apply for a couple of competitive scholarships as well, but FAFSA is done (which was just a formality for the auto-merit) and not much to stress about now -- we feel very fortunate.

Looking forward to hearing about the process with your kids and where they decide to attend.

 

[mjkacmom]

Awww, sorry to hear that, that's so sad. I'm glad they got their senior night. Thank goodness we got ours too for football/band/cheer a couple of weeks ago.

Well, we're pretty much done. Not sure if anyone remembers, but DS took the ACT for the first time back in February and scored a 36. He's taking a full automatic merit scholarship out-of-state (about 3.5 hours away) at a well renowned school -- 4 years tuition, 1 year housing, stipends every year, study-abroad $, etc. He's been accepted into the school and into the Honors College. We were able to visit for a campus tour just to confirm this is what he wanted (it was a beautiful campus, btw) and we just need to officially enroll now and put down the housing deposit. He will apply for a couple of competitive scholarships as well, but FAFSA is done (which was just a formality for the auto-merit) and not much to stress about now -- we feel very fortunate.

Looking forward to hearing about the process with your kids and where they decide to attend.

What college? I wish my kids could take the ACT, their siblings have done better on it than the SAT.

 

[Music City Mama]

What college? I wish my kids could take the ACT, their siblings have done better on it than the SAT.

Sent you a PM

 

[Eureka]

What college? I wish my kids could take the ACT, their siblings have done better on it than the SAT.

I had my kids take both. DS19 did well on both (no 36 though!) But did better on the SAT and didn’t take either again. DS17 just took both and said ACT was harder. He was supposed to take SAT in March and ACT in April and since it took this long to have open testing sites, we decided to have scores sent automatically to schools instead of waiting to see what they were. Which worries me a little, but he tests very well and normally would do at least as well, if not better than his brother. But, we can only do what we can do, right?

 

[momz]

Thanks to covid, I may have become a parent of 2021 graduate. I kind of hope not. He's got a lot of maturing to do. But, we withdrew our son from his high school and enrolled in a Montessori style online high school. It is worlds better than where he had been, his brick and mortar school did not prepare for teaching during covid. So, now, the online school accepted all of his credits. He already has 39 and needs only 40. But, they are not all the "right" credits. He just needs to complete English 11/12, US history, Economics and Government. Once all that is done, he can graduate.

But, I don't think he's ready to join the adult world.

Looking back on his experience at our local school district, I am very unhappy with the educational system. When he was in middle school, he was lumped into the "high ability" group. He was shoehorned into taking high school classes while in 7 and 8 grade. Why is that necessary? Heck, I'm also wondering why it is necessary to pressure kids to take college classes while still in high school. Be honest, how many college majors really require classes like world history, History, economics, psychology...you name the class. My kid wants to be a firefighter. Yes, he is very smart, but pressuring him to take these classes does not prepare him for life.

School is not what it was when I was a kid. It's highly competitive. Lots of pressure. I'm glad we made the decision to change schools and focus on the goal of getting it done. But I wish that his school experience could have been more appropriate and not forcing him to take classes he's not interested in and will not help him reach his goals.

edited to add: history classes are fine. I am questioning why the need to pressure kids into AP classes. They can take those classes in college if needed, but most of those AP classes are NOT beneficial for most majors, they just count as electives. I'm sure my kid would prefer some "fun" class for his electives as opposed to a super hard history class. lol. sign him up for bowling or something.

 

[mjkacmom]

Thanks to covid, I may have become a parent of 2021 graduate. I kind of hope not. He's got a lot of maturing to do. But, we withdrew our son from his high school and enrolled in a Montessori style online high school. It is worlds better than where he had been, his brick and mortar school did not prepare for teaching during covid. So, now, the online school accepted all of his credits. He already has 39 and needs only 40. But, they are not all the "right" credits. He just needs to complete English 11/12, US history, Economics and Government. Once all that is done, he can graduate.

But, I don't think he's ready to join the adult world.

Looking back on his experience at our local school district, I am very unhappy with the educational system. When he was in middle school, he was lumped into the "high ability" group. He was shoehorned into taking high school classes while in 7 and 8 grade. Why is that necessary? Heck, I'm also wondering why it is necessary to pressure kids to take college classes while still in high school. Be honest, how many college majors really require classes like world history, History, economics, psychology...you name the class. My kid wants to be a firefighter. Yes, he is very smart, but pressuring him to take these classes does not prepare him for life.

School is not what it was when I was a kid. It's highly competitive. Lots of pressure. I'm glad we made the decision to change schools and focus on the goal of getting it done. But I wish that his school experience could have been more appropriate and not forcing him to take classes he's not interested in and will not help him reach his goals.

edited to add: history classes are fine. I am questioning why the need to pressure kids into AP classes. They can take those classes in college if needed, but most of those AP classes are NOT beneficial for most majors, they just count as electives. I'm sure my kid would prefer some "fun" class for his electives as opposed to a super hard history class. lol. sign him up for bowling or something.

My kids all took AP classes plus some dual enrollment classes (ds will have had 5 AP’s, dd 8), Dd19 took 9 AP’s and some dual enrollment, she entered college with 30 credits, saving tens of thousands of dollars. My kids chose their classes, dd is taking AP macro and AP computer science because they interest her. They started senior year with 7 more credits than they need for graduation, but would be missing their 4th english and gym. Honestly I wish they weren’t seniors and had another year, colleges are a hot mess right now with most online. I envy those who’s kids are much younger.

 

[Eureka]

My kids all took AP classes plus some dual enrollment classes (ds will have had 5 AP’s, dd 8), Dd19 took 9 AP’s and some dual enrollment, she entered college with 30 credits, saving tens of thousands of dollars. My kids chose their classes, dd is taking AP macro and AP computer science because they interest her. They started senior year with 7 more credits than they need for graduation, but would be missing their 4th english and gym. Honestly I wish they weren’t seniors and had another year, colleges are a hot mess right now with most online. I envy those who’s kids are much younger.

Same here, DS19 got college credit for several of the APs he took in high school and depending on where he goes, DS17 will too. AP classes are the "track" for gifted students in their high school and they would be bored in anything lower. DS19 did not take AP US History but took AP World and AP Gov and said looking back, he probably should have taken AP instead of honors that year.

I'm the opposite, I am glad they got to experience sports, activities, etc. for so much of their schooling before this pandemic hit. Yes, I am not happy DS19's freshman year of college was interrupted and he's taking online classes now and that DS17 is sitting at home for school rather than having senior year homecoming week and sports, but they have the maturity to deal with it. Not to mention if I had to figure out how to work from home full time and supervise elementary or middle school, my sanity would have been long gone.