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

[disykat]

I just finished helping (prodding, nagging) my son finish two scholarship applications. He wrote the essays, but getting him to do the rest of the paperwork semi-independently was dicey! I had to nag him to get the transcripts, nag him to get the letters of rec, nag him to fill out the paper work... Aye yi yi! He's a worthy student, I swear he is!

I just went back and quoted myself saying the almost the same thing a couple of pages back! The process was definitely "mom-driven!"

 

[marcyinPA]

I just went back and quoted myself saying the almost the same thing a couple of pages back! The process was definitely "mom-driven!"

How did I miss that post?! I am so glad it's not just me!! (but I'm sorry you are going through it too!)

 

[JeannieNM]

Congratulations to everyone on thier admissions!

have not posted but have been following this thread closely. Our DD is a junior. It has been a difficult year. I became very ill and required out of state hospitalization and surgeries which took a toll on everyone. i am doing fine now but am easily exhausted and don't have the stamina I had a year ago. It will all come back but it will take time.

DD is so stressed out this week. She is taking the ACTs one test per day and missing classes (she is a learning difference and standarized testing is really hard for her). She is looking at some pretty competative colleges and trying to maintain a high GPA at a Prep school while balancing her ECs. Ths week on top of taking the ACTs she is directing a one act that opens on Thursday with 13 actors, rehearsing in 3 dance classes for recital, organizing more thespian stuff and writing two term papers (25 pages long). Not to mention regular homework and reading as well as making up the classes she misses for the daily ACTs. I don't know how other kids do it all but it is really hard and includes tears and exhaustion. Any sage words of advice welcome! Of and prom is Saturday night so there goes the weekend.

Again to all those headed off to college in the fall!!!!! Good Luck with FA and final decisions.

 

[ugadog99]

Jeannie, is your daughter heading down the theatre major track? If so, and you need any help, please let me know. I've spent the entire year in this process, and it is very different from what I did with my "normal" major older daughter.

 

[java]

While that may be true, did you see the news coverage of the Rutgers insanity that took place in New Brunswick over the weekend?

It's everywhere if that's what the kids choose to do. and other stuff that there are no little smilies for on this board (thankfully).

They'll find it no matter where they go if that's what they're looking for.

I missed the Rutgers stuff this weekend. And yes I agree if you want to find it you can at any school. However, there are certain schools you don't have to look very far to find it.

When I went to school many many years ago, University of Vermont was the party school. When we saw them at a college fair the first thing the guy said to me was "We're not top party school anymore, it's West Virginia now" (which i hear is a good school)

 

[Robinrs]

Anyone else having to NAG their kid to search and apply for scholarships? My DS has not applied for any, and when I bring it up, he rolls his eyes and huffs and puffs. He is barely getting any homework right now so he certainly has the time to write an essay. I finally lost my temper and told him that for all we have been going through with the FAFSA ordeal, he owes us this. What is with these kids(ok...MY kid), not taking initiative to help themselves and get stuff done?? If he can't write this, how the heck will he survive in college?? GRRR. Not very happy with my little angel right now.

I just went back and quoted myself saying the almost the same thing a couple of pages back! The process was definitely "mom-driven!"

That was my life LAST year. My son did want to go to college but was shall we about where to start and what to do. His friends had already applied and were accepted and he was still plodding along. I took the bull by the leash ... so to speak... and dragged him, literally, to an open house of a brand new college here in Atlanta. That did it! All of a sudden he was READY.

Why?

Cute girls
High Tech

Good food

It doesn't take much to wake up a teenaged boy....

 

[ugadog99]

We have a final decision here. My daughter will be attending Otterbein University pursuing a BFA in Design and Technology. I'm not sure how I'm going to make this work, but I have to find a way. I truly believe this is the right program for her, so I'm going to do whatever is necessary. If any of you need me for the next four years, you may visit in the Poor House.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Well, "college decision euphoria" has worn off here--I think it finally hit DD that she's going off to college, oh, crap, one her own in a big city. She's ready, don't misunderstand, but I think the reality of the vastly new experience coming her way has finally sunk in.

I have a question for the other parents here--are you planning on doing orientation with your kids? BU has a separate orientation thingie, run concurrently with the student one. I hear that you don't actually see your child at all during the three-day orientation. I'm really torn--we have 3 other kids, in order to go, DH would have to take time off of work. We're both fairly familiar with Boston (the city, not so much the university). DD17 is extremely independent, always has been, and we've only been peripherally involved in the whole college selection process. OTOH, I don't want her to feel like we're kicking her sorry butt out, or otherwise don't care. Thoughts?

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

We have a final decision here. My daughter will be attending Otterbein University pursuing a BFA in Design and Technology. I'm not sure how I'm going to make this work, but I have to find a way. I truly believe this is the right program for her, so I'm going to do whatever is necessary. If any of you need me for the next four years, you may visit in the Poor House.

Congrats on the decision...and by the way..I'll be in the room right next to you in that Poor House lolool

 

[mom2travel]

We have a final decision here. My daughter will be attending Otterbein University pursuing a BFA in Design and Technology. I'm not sure how I'm going to make this work, but I have to find a way. I truly believe this is the right program for her, so I'm going to do whatever is necessary. If any of you need me for the next four years, you may visit in the Poor House.

Congrats on a decision!

Well, "college decision euphoria" has worn off here--I think it finally hit DD that she's going off to college, oh, crap, one her own in a big city. She's ready, don't misunderstand, but I think the reality of the vastly new experience coming her way has finally sunk in.

I have a question for the other parents here--are you planning on doing orientation with your kids? BU has a separate orientation thingie, run concurrently with the student one. I hear that you don't actually see your child at all during the three-day orientation. I'm really torn--we have 3 other kids, in order to go, DH would have to take time off of work. We're both fairly familiar with Boston (the city, not so much the university). DD17 is extremely independent, always has been, and we've only been peripherally involved in the whole college selection process. OTOH, I don't want her to feel like we're kicking her sorry butt out, or otherwise don't care. Thoughts?

I am going to orientation with DS, but we scheduled his days for while DD will be away so no worries about her for us. Also, I have read that at his school 90% of the students bring a parent - same deal as you, though, where i wont see him the whole day. Do you know how it goes at BU? Maybe check and see on the BU section of the college confidential forums (I think that's where I saw for DS' school). Does your DD prefer either way? Or have anyone else from her HS she knows there?

 

[Christine]

I have a question for the other parents here--are you planning on doing orientation with your kids? BU has a separate orientation thingie, run concurrently with the student one. I hear that you don't actually see your child at all during the three-day orientation. I'm really torn--we have 3 other kids, in order to go, DH would have to take time off of work. We're both fairly familiar with Boston (the city, not so much the university). DD17 is extremely independent, always has been, and we've only been peripherally involved in the whole college selection process. OTOH, I don't want her to feel like we're kicking her sorry butt out, or otherwise don't care. Thoughts?

When my DD went to her orientation a few years ago, my husband took her and she went to orientation he went riding the bike trails around WVU! He was not interested in the "parent sessions" and neither was I. At that point, I knew what I knew and I didn't need to know more.

When my son goes, I'm sure I will be going there with him but I don't know if I'll attend the parent sessions--I may just explore the town. Most of the parents I know do at least accompany their kids to the orientation because they are such long drives away, but I remember when my husband went to the WVU orientation--most of the local kids just showed up on their own.

 

[Southernmiss]

Well, "college decision euphoria" has worn off here--I think it finally hit DD that she's going off to college, oh, crap, one her own in a big city. She's ready, don't misunderstand, but I think the reality of the vastly new experience coming her way has finally sunk in.

I have a question for the other parents here--are you planning on doing orientation with your kids? BU has a separate orientation thingie, run concurrently with the student one. I hear that you don't actually see your child at all during the three-day orientation. I'm really torn--we have 3 other kids, in order to go, DH would have to take time off of work. We're both fairly familiar with Boston (the city, not so much the university). DD17 is extremely independent, always has been, and we've only been peripherally involved in the whole college selection process. OTOH, I don't want her to feel like we're kicking her sorry butt out, or otherwise don't care. Thoughts?

Dh went with ds last year. They had very informative parent sessions at the same time as ds sessions. The school invited and encouraged the parents to attend the 3 days of orientation. Dh ds and I were all glad dh went.

 

[JeannieNM]

Jeannie, is your daughter heading down the theatre major track? If so, and you need any help, please let me know. I've spent the entire year in this process, and it is very different from what I did with my "normal" major older daughter.

DD is undecided between majoring in theatre or dance. She wants to minor in whichever one she does not major in or Double major with a minor in business. She is interested in a BA and not a BFA as she wants to have the time for a double major and to explore film. Though she really enjoys performing I think long term she wants to direct or produce for one or more genres. She is particularly interested in music videos. Right now her first choice is to be in LA. She is looking else where but really has her heart set on LA. She was admitted to a program at a major dance school (not academic) in NYC for this year but does not want to do her senior year online and give up the whole senior experience at her school even though this year was really rough. (The next week is going to be impossible, I am not sure how she will pull it off but I think sleep is not going to happen much).

I would appreciate all your advice and insight! Thank you for offereing. We can either post here or if you PM me I will give you my email address.

Thank you,
Jean

 

[disykat]

My son won't be able to attend orientation so I'm going to try to go to the parent one by myself! I figure I'll try to get as much information as possible for him. He hasn't officially decided yet, but next week we hope to sign him up and find out how/when he'll be able to register since they do that during orientation.

 

[tar heel]

One of us has always gone to parent orientation. Our youngest is going to our alma mater, so DH and I both went to orientation last summer. Kids and parents were separated pretty early the first day. We had lunch with him but barely saw him after that. We had a lot of fun and got to stay in the historic hotel near campus at a reasonable rate. We enjoyed the other parents and actually did the evening activity (planetarium show) and had breakfast the second day with a couple we clicked with. They put you in a parent group through lunch the first day. Our group was parents of kids planning to major in the arts or journalism. Our kid is a theatre major and both DH and I have journalism backgrounds - perfect fit.

This school, which I love, does not do a great job with admissions visits IMO. Orientation, however, was a homerun.

 

[ugadog99]

Jeannie, pm me your email. I will be glad to tell you what I know.

 

[krcit]

I will go with my daughter to orientation. It's 3 1/2 hours away and 2 days so we'd have to be there anyway. It's coming up so fast!! Scary and exciting

 

[JeannieNM]

Jeannie, pm me your email. I will be glad to tell you what I know.

Done! thank you

 

[Robinrs]

I have a question for the other parents here--are you planning on doing orientation with your kids? BU has a separate orientation thingie, run concurrently with the student one. I hear that you don't actually see your child at all during the three-day orientation. I'm really torn--we have 3 other kids, in order to go, DH would have to take time off of work. We're both fairly familiar with Boston (the city, not so much the university). DD17 is extremely independent, always has been, and we've only been peripherally involved in the whole college selection process. OTOH, I don't want her to feel like we're kicking her sorry butt out, or otherwise don't care. Thoughts?

The parent's orientation was separate and much shorter than the kid's and I am so glad I went because I remember a LOT of what was told to this day! They know what kids remember and what parents remember and set it up that way.

 

[disykat]

I wanted to add - the main reason we went to orientation with our older and I will go for my younger is to find out about the student health center and counseling services etc. I know my kids probably wouldn't pay attention, but I want to have info for them about how to access help.

My older son has been away two years and hasn't needed anything like that, but it's made me feel better knowing I have information.