Having a hs senior

[mjkacmom]

Here the school tells you the professional photographer to go to for the senior portraits--guys tux top and girls drape. The deadline for appointments is December to make the yearbook. Parents don't have to buy the pictures, but I want those shots of my kids--so I buy. It took 's all of 15 minutes last year and they took about 8 poses. I chose just one to buy for a few 8x10s and wallets to go in the invitations..

After he got his cap and gown I took him to a friend's studio and she took cap and gown pictures and a few casual in her studio. Being a guy, he wasn't excited about the outdoors, change 3 times and move to several different locations. I did good to get 45 minutes of poses. Friend gave me a disc of pictures I could have printed anywhere. All for $50.

Same here, tux for guys, drapes for girls, 6 proofs, no sitting fee, 5 X 7 is $65. I like the uniform look (and the fact that my kids just drive down, and are in and out in 10 minutes. Dd19 and ds17's turned out fantastic.

 

[MomofKatie]

Must depend on the kid...when I was a senior all my parents did was give me their credit card to pay college application fees, drive me to college tours I scheduled and filled out their part of the fafsa. I did everything else myself...picked my colleges to apply for, scheduled my senior photos, etc.

Even if my daughter is as independent as me, I'm sure I'll be much more hands on than my parents were though!

Parents seem to be more involved in the college application process each year. When I was a HS senior (seems like about a hundred years ago, lol), my mom and dad didn't really get involved at all. The whole process was a lot easier, though- most kids took the SAT one time and didn't do any complicated prep for it. Scores weren't inflated- if you made over an 1100 (and there were only 2 parts), you had it made. Nowadays, that is considered a lowball score, even for state schools. Almost nobody applied to more than 2 or 3 schools, and the applications were less involved. Most kids didn't see the need to visit schools or interview (unless they were applying at an Ivy League or another extremely selective school).

Now, it has become a major undertaking- test prep, taking SAT/ACT tests multiple times to get that super score up, school visits/interviews, deciding on early decision vs early action, filling out all the financial aid forms, and essay anxiety are all very stressful for today's seniors. If parents didn't help with some tasks, it could be almost a full time job for the kids. And, those pesky senior year classes still need to be passed, not to mention the myriad extracurricular activities that need to be engaged in.

 

[kirstenb1]

We have a dd who's a senior. To answer the question on senior pix, here Lifetouch does the formal one that goes in the yearbook. However, dd is very photogenic, so I just purchased her casual pix from them too. She had a couple of ones with flannel shirts, a couple with a black dress and different scarves/necklaces. I do find all this overwhelming. Not so much the many things to remember, but just the overall realization that she's growing up. This is a kid who put us through the wringer in eighth and ninth grade. We have all come through it much closer, and I'll just really miss her.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was sad about out "last" Halloween and the fact we didn't make it to the pumpkin patch because everyone was too busy.

Oh yea, there is that. This yr I did not even BUY a pumpkin.

We are super busy as well and you know, you just have to let it slide.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Have you considered test optional colleges? DDs gpa is near perfect, but her test scores are no where near her ability. She has severe test anxiety. Quite a few of the schools on her list are test optional.

haven't found any yet

 

[luvmyfam444]

and I haven't mentioned the hunt for scholarships - my full time job (no not really, but it sure feels like it!) and no, there's nothing for her, but I'm still looking

 

[The Mystery Machine]

and I haven't mentioned the hunt for scholarships - my full time job (no not really, but it sure feels like it!) and no, there's nothing for her, but I'm still looking

You cannot get blood from a stone.

My oldest got zero scholarship money and my youngest got 3 scholarships.

It is tough out there. You have to have the right numbers to get money, at least in my experience.

My youngest worked her behind off to get the scores.

One of her scholarships is not 'free and clear' so to speak. She has to maintain a certain GPA in college AND next yr she has to volunteer 60hrs PER SEMESTER!

So far she is looking at straight A's her first semester. We are happy she is doing so well.

Her older sister did not graduate from school. We hope she finishes one day.

 

[punkin]

haven't found any yet

Try fairtest.org as a starting place. They list a lot of schools.

 

[Mkrop]

I would think you would be able to google test optional schools. I know my alma mater, St Joseph's University, in Philly, is now. And I know at least one of the other schools we toured were test optional, I just cant remember, they are all blending..lol

 

[Dawnlight]

Ugh, I hear you OP; I'm right there too (and I've got a junior, so need to deal with the same crap next year).

 

[castleview]

The trick is to not let them "have" you. Stay one step ahead so to speak. I'm a darling gram to our 2 sons children now, and we (Dh & I) were not having any of it when they were HS Seniors. Albeit, they were different times, and our sons were such good boys.

You had boys. End of story.

 

[luvmyfam444]

You cannot get blood from a stone.

My oldest got zero scholarship money and my youngest got 3 scholarships.

It is tough out there. You have to have the right numbers to get money, at least in my experience.

My youngest worked her behind off to get the scores.

One of her scholarships is not 'free and clear' so to speak. She has to maintain a certain GPA in college AND next yr she has to volunteer 60hrs PER SEMESTER!

So far she is looking at straight A's her first semester. We are happy she is doing so well.

Her older sister did not graduate from school. We hope she finishes one day.

Yes, but "they" claim there are tons of scholarships never claimed every year. Everything I've found is either minority, ACT or financial need based. We make decent $ so I'm sure those will be thrown out, though she'll still apply.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, but "they" claim there are tons of scholarships never claimed every year. Everything I've found is either minority, ACT or financial need based. We make decent $ so I'm sure those will be thrown out, though she'll still apply.

Yea well, I think "they" make money off of telling us that.

My dd did a couple off of "Fast Web" and got nothing.

She got her money via 2 college merit aid scholarships and 1 state scholarship called "Bright Flight" which is based on your ACT score.

It is getting late for applying for Merit Aid based scholarships here in MO. Deadlines are Dec. 1st.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Yea well, I think "they" make money off of telling us that.

My dd did a couple off of "Fast Web" and got nothing.

She got her money via 2 college merit aid scholarships and 1 state scholarship called "Bright Flight" which is based on your ACT score.

It is getting late for applying for Merit Aid based scholarships here in MO. Deadlines are Dec. 1st.

Yes, the same for her college choices too, but she won't get any merit based scholarships with a low ACT & average (3.2) gpa

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, the same for her college choices too, but she won't get any merit based scholarships with a low ACT & average (3.2) gpa

That stinks.

Does she want to go to college at the end of HS?

If she is not getting any scholarships, she can take a gap year and figure things out if she is in limbo on the direction she wants to go. That is something to consider.

Good Luck to you guys. Sending you some PD for luck!

 

[luvsJack]

Yes, the same for her college choices too, but she won't get any merit based scholarships with a low ACT & average (3.2) gpa

Have you looked at service type scholarships she may be interested in?

Many of them are small but anything helps. Both the cc dd will attend and her transfer school gives scholarships for choir (don't have to be a music major), taking part in theater productions(don't have to be a theater major), helping with orientation and/or recruitment, tutoring in learning labs, etc. At both schools they also stack where many merit based ones do not. Dd has a friend who is paying all but a small portion this way. He stays crazy busy but loves it and seems to be doing well.
Alumni scholarships are another avenue at many schools here too. Both through the high school and the colleges. Cc and university have a single app for these.

 

[littleblackegg]

Seriously people are asking why it is overwhelming...it is everything...the applications, even when they work on them, it is still stressful and that is hard to watch, juggling the classes so they can keep their first quarter grades up. The other day my kid was literally a walking zombie, he was burning the candles at both ends, working on last minute app stuff, then tackling major tests and projects for the end of the 1Q, on little sleep bc he went to a sleepover at his buddy's house after Homecoming.

And for me the parent it is all the lasts...this past week, we had Senior Day for XC, parents went out on the field with their kid, I wore sunglasses I was tearing up. He had his last homecoming dance, he has his last XC meet in a couple hours, tomorrow is our last Mother/Son Breakfast, we have done it all 4 years.

He got his portraits and it was like oh man...this is real, he is graduating. We had to submit a baby picture...taking that walk down memory lane pulled at my heartstrings.

I am so excited, nervous and cant wait for him to enjoy all the fun of this year. But for me it has been quite the rollercoaster of emotions for both the parents and the kiddo.

What exactly do you think college will be like? Graduate school? A new career? Stress. Business. Loss of sleep. Kids are very good at identifying their priorities. He'll get it done. It sounds like you are sad that he is leaving home. This is normal. Why do all the work in the nest unless you get to see the joy of watching them fly?

 

[Art 1]

Is so overwhelming!

Quite honestly, I never found it that difficult.

 

[Mkrop]

What exactly do you think college will be like? Graduate school? A new career? Stress. Business. Loss of sleep. Kids are very good at identifying their priorities. He'll get it done. It sounds like you are sad that he is leaving home. This is normal. Why do all the work in the nest unless you get to see the joy of watching them fly?

I know what college is like...I even helped my younger brothers apply to college and so much has changed and the stress on these kids is much greater than we went to school. My youngest brother is 32 and even in that timeframe things have changed a lot.

He has risen to the occasion brilliantly. But that doesnt mean as a mom it isnt hard to see him stressing about the process. The counselors talked to us several times about the stress level that these kids are going through and things to watch for. Unfortunately one young man around here jumped off a bridge, he went to a nearby school, many of DS18's classmates knew him. His note said he could not handle the stress of applying to college. This was a brilliant kid with a great future many said he knew him.

And yes I am sad and yes I know it is normal...doesnt make it less stressful. I will be proud to see him fly but it still sad to know that he wont be here day in and day out. All of these lasts pull on the heartstrings, at least for me. He is my first so I dont know what to expect.

Sorry if my emotions dont match your own, we are all not robots. I find this whole process to be quite emotional, stressful and bit of a rollercoaster. Proud moments but also moments of what is changing.

 

[mom2rtk]

I know what college is like...I even helped my younger brothers apply to college and so much has changed and the stress on these kids is much greater than we went to school. My youngest brother is 32 and even in that timeframe things have changed a lot.

He has risen to the occasion brilliantly. But that doesnt mean as a mom it isnt hard to see him stressing about the process. The counselors talked to us several times about the stress level that these kids are going through and things to watch for. Unfortunately one young man around here jumped off a bridge, he went to a nearby school, many of DS18's classmates knew him. His note said he could not handle the stress of applying to college. This was a brilliant kid with a great future many said he knew him.

And yes I am sad and yes I know it is normal...doesnt make it less stressful. I will be proud to see him fly but it still sad to know that he wont be here day in and day out. All of these lasts pull on the heartstrings, at least for me. He is my first so I dont know what to expect.

Sorry if my emotions dont match your own, we are all not robots. I find this whole process to be quite emotional, stressful and bit of a rollercoaster. Proud moments but also moments of what is changing.

I'm not sure why people assume that if a mom is sad about the bird leaving that she hasn't done everything possible to prepare her bird for the flight, and that she somehow doesn't want them to go?

It is indeed a very stressful time. But it does get easier. It's so awesome to watch them venture out and conquer new things.