High School Class 2013: Picking Colleges..Check in Here!

[Christine]

ugadog,

My son goes to a small school and, even with that, his GC doesn't *know* him at all. My son just finished filling out a questionnaire put out by guidance that asked about 15 questions. The students had to pick three of the questions and provide answers. These questions would help the counselor (who wouldn't know my son if he bumped into him) formulate a letter to go with the transcript package. A letter will be done on each student. This would be the area that the GC would address this. The couselor doesn't have to "know" your daughter to have her academic record in front of him/her when the letter is formulated.

That said, I understand that that there are some BAD teachers/counselors out there and if you feel that you cannot count on them to prepare this letter then so be it.

However, I think it would be excellent if someone in that school could send the letter on your DD's behalf. I know the person that is most intimate with her issues apparently doesn't write well. Do you think you could approach this person with the problem and ask if you could draft the letter for him that he could sign? I think this is going to be what the application committees are going to notice. I think they've all had enough of parents meddling (in their view) and students making excuses. While your daughter is not making excuses, without the support of the staff to vouch for her, it may very well be taken that way. The only way to really get around that would be if you could get her an interview.

 

[ugadog99]

The good thing is that with her major, the students HAVE to interview and go through a portfolio review. So, all the theatre people will have an opportunity to meet her and find out about her dedication and talent. I was just thinking outside the theatre school to the admission counselors.

The GC are overwhelmed. The school is large and no one has a chance to make any real connections. If you are one of those stand out academic kids, like my older DD, then everyone knows you. If you are in constant trouble or in dire danger of failing, everyone knows you. Just a plain old average kid, no one knows you. It's frustrating.

 

[Christine]

The good thing is that with her major, the students HAVE to interview and go through a portfolio review. So, all the theatre people will have an opportunity to meet her and find out about her dedication and talent. I was just thinking outside the theatre school to the admission counselors.

The GC are overwhelmed. The school is large and no one has a chance to make any real connections. If you are one of those stand out academic kids, like my older DD, then everyone knows you. If you are in constant trouble or in dire danger of failing, everyone knows you. Just a plain old average kid, no one knows you. It's frustrating.

I feel your pain. Both of my kids fall into the "middle ground" area. I guess I've been lucky in that both different schools my kids went to, the GC submitted something on every student that applied to college. They did this with every transcript they sent. We were always provided a form to jot down what we thought we'd like mentioned in those letters. The GC letters weren't the "true" recommendations letters that students sought out from favorite teachers or other people. But they were almost like introduction letters that quickly summarized the students strengths and any issues.

 

[ugadog99]

Hmmm...perhaps I could get the AP to draft a very short letter just saying that her test scores are not an indication of her in class grades. It makes me nervous, but I guess we could go with that. I just don't want his horrible writing skills to have an even more adverse effect than the test scores do.

 

[ugadog99]

I think this is the decision: we will ask the AP in charge of Spec. Ed. to write a letter for my D. We will send it to the 7 schools who have already received her first two rounds of ACT scores. My D will also draft her own letter echoing the AP's letter. I will probably have her attach a copy of her 504 with the letter. We will also make sure to let them know she is retaking ACT and taking SAT in December.

For the remaining 7 schools, they have not seen her test scores since we could only choose a certain number to send. We will not say anything to them until after the December round of testing. If her scores improve, even a little, it will be high enough to not say anything.

I will contact the AP today. He's a wonderful man, really, and I appreciate everything he has done for us.

 

[CrazyCakeLady]

I think this is the decision: we will ask the AP in charge of Spec. Ed. to write a letter for my D. We will send it to the 7 schools who have already received her first two rounds of ACT scores. My D will also draft her own letter echoing the AP's letter. I will probably have her attach a copy of her 504 with the letter. We will also make sure to let them know she is retaking ACT and taking SAT in December.

For the remaining 7 schools, they have not seen her test scores since we could only choose a certain number to send. We will not say anything to them until after the December round of testing. If her scores improve, even a little, it will be high enough to not say anything.

I will contact the AP today. He's a wonderful man, really, and I appreciate everything he has done for us.

Is she eligible for any testing accomodations? Are they even available for the SAT/ACT? My DD12 (only 7th grade, so we haven't reached the SAT/ACT hurdle yet) has an LD and she has received testing accomodations for any standardized test she has taken (CRCT and ITBS at this point). She does extremely well provided she has the extra time. Without extra time, I'm pretty sure her scores would be dismal. Is this a possibility for your DD?

 

[Christine]

Is she eligible for any testing accomodations? Are they even available for the SAT/ACT? My DD12 (only 7th grade, so we haven't reached the SAT/ACT hurdle yet) has an LD and she has received testing accomodations for any standardized test she has taken (CRCT and ITBS at this point). She does extremely well provided she has the extra time. Without extra time, I'm pretty sure her scores would be dismal. Is this a possibility for your DD?

There are accommodations it seems:
http://www.actstudent.org/regist/disab/policy.html

 

[ugadog99]

Yes, there are test accommodations. The materials for approval have been submitted. However, ACT/SAT can decide to accept or deny any or all of the accommodations. We just have to wait and see on that.

 

[Christine]

Yes, there are test accommodations. The materials for approval have been submitted. However, ACT/SAT can decide to accept or deny any or all of the accommodations. We just have to wait and see on that.

Oh, I just figured since she had taken in a couple of times that you had already tried for the accommodations. I was just mainly answering the other poster when they were wondering if there were accommodations.

 

[marcyinPA]

Who's taking SAT's this Saturday?

(My DS is- this is his second time around...)

 

[mom2travel]

Who's taking SAT's this Saturday?

(My DS is- this is his second time around...)

My DS is also.

Good luck to all of our kids!

 

[ugadog99]

Good Luck to all the kiddos taking SAT this weekend. My DD will take both the ACT and SAT in December. Hopefully, the accommodations will be approved and the scores will increase a bit.

 

[Christine]

My son is also taking the SAT for the second time this weekend. This will be his last time and then he will be submitting all of his apps in November.

 

[MerMom60_94]

DD is also retaking her SATs this weekend. We have visited three schools over the last two weekends. She loved the environment and curriculum at Quinnipiac but doesn't really want to go that far away from home if she doesn't have to. The other two schools are half the distance from us: Roger Williams University and Salve Regina. She absolutely loved Salve Regina. Of course, DH and I are wondering how we are supposed to afford this. We don't want her coming out of her undergrad degree with a mountain of debt. A couple of people who have been through this before, though, are telling us Salve Regina sometimes comes back with generous assistance so she is going to apply there and Quinnipiac anyway. We will check out a couple of state schools mid-month. One of them came to her school and she went to their presentation and wants to go check out the environment further. The good news is she is realistic financially and is on the same page as us. I am starting to research scholarship opportunities for her. How is everyone doing on that front?

 

[Christine]

I am starting to research scholarship opportunities for her. How is everyone doing on that front?

We aren't doing anything on that. My son should be but as only a bit-above-average student, I don't think there's much out there for him in merit aid.

We did get a letter last night from an admissions officer at one of the schools he is interested in (out of state). Based on his already submitted SAT/ACT scores (1st test) they've have targeted him as a high achieving student. They are coming to our area in two weeks to hold a meeting to discuss merit scholarships for these kids, so I think we will go to that to get an idea of how much they are going to come off of that out-of-state tuition.

This school is his #3 pick so I'm not sure how it will all work out.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

No SATs for us this weekend. DD felt it would be better to wait until cross coutnry ended to take them again. She's already taken them twice, though, and is only looking to boost her scores by 20-30 points.

MerMom60-94--My DD also got stuff for Salve Regina. It's not on her list, but she's looked at a number of Catholic colleges, so I think she popped on their radar. She showed me pictures of their gorgeous campus--she's tempted by that, but it's really not what she's looking for in a school generally. I think I mentioned up-thread that she wants to be a teacher, and her top 3 choices (right now) are Loyola, Boston U., and LaSalle. I know in the next few weeks, LaSalle is coming to the area and she'll interview, and she's also going to see BU School of Education (next weekend, maybe?).

 

[MerMom60_94]

No SATs for us this weekend. DD felt it would be better to wait until cross coutnry ended to take them again. She's already taken them twice, though, and is only looking to boost her scores by 20-30 points.

MerMom60-94--My DD also got stuff for Salve Regina. It's not on her list, but she's looked at a number of Catholic colleges, so I think she popped on their radar. She showed me pictures of their gorgeous campus--she's tempted by that, but it's really not what she's looking for in a school generally. I think I mentioned up-thread that she wants to be a teacher, and her top 3 choices (right now) are Loyola, Boston U., and LaSalle. I know in the next few weeks, LaSalle is coming to the area and she'll interview, and she's also going to see BU School of Education (next weekend, maybe?).

Did your daughter, by chance, look at Emmanuel? If so, what did she think? DD had been talking about Emmanuel and we are trying to figure out when to fit in a visit. DD works weekends and has been having to take time off from her job for college visits so we are trying to be as efficient as we can be. She also plays volleyball so her afternoons are taken up with games and practice. Otherwise, it would be easy enough for DH to pick her up from school and head in to some of the nearby schools. I have in my head that I would like to wrap up our visits by the end of the month but I may have to rethink that. Volleyball ends early November so maybe a couple of the Boston schools will wait until then.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Sorry, my DD didn't look at Emmanuel at all.

FTR, since we knew her fall was going to be really busy, we tried to at least hit the far away colleges over the summer. In addition to cross country, she takes several dance classes a week, babysits, and has honors and AP classes, so I didn't want to add additional pressure. She's pushing to do Early Acceptance, not me--I figure, she can always go regular, but she wants to get applications out of the way. I know a lot of parents want the decision earlier rather than later, but I figure, this is such a big deal, and I'm not going, so the last thing she needs is me pushing. Of course, this depends a great deal on the child's personality, too.

My thought on the visit is, at least now she'll have visited 4 campuses (5, if you count Keene State, which is 2 miles away and she dances there). So, she at least has a good idea of what's important to her in a campus. We will definitely visit any other strong contenders before she decides. Also, if she gets into Loyola, we might make a second trip down there to actually attend classes and see what it's like when the students are there. That's really her dream school.

P.S. Can you work in campus visits on some of the odd days off, like Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, school workshop days? I don't remember which ones MA gets, beyond Patriot's Day...

 

[Tinijocaro]

DS will take the SAT's for the second time this Saturday. Don't remember his scores but he didn't feel they were high enough. He did raise his ACT by two points bringing his score from a 32 to a 34. That will really help him get into the types of physics programs he is wanting to get into.

Looking forward to this whole process to be finished.

 

[ugadog99]

So, I emailed my daughter's assistant principal in charge of Special Ed/504, etc and explained our situation. Within 30 minutes he had called me and said he would do anything he could to help. Then, he said that he just didn't know about theatre schools at all. His suggestion was for me to draft the letter saying what I needed it to say and send it to him. He would then print, sign, and mail! I am only sending it to the 7 schools who have actually seen her test scores and holding on the others. Hopefully, we will get some accommodations for ACT and SAT and her December scores will improve a bit. I can then send the letter to the other seven schools, if needed. I'm working on that letter this iweekend. I think for Carnegie Mellon we will have to add him under the School Official link, right? Everything they accept is through Common App.