High School class of 2011

[geffric]

Senors! Yeah we have Seniors!

But all that comes with the cost of college, which one, apply to collegesm, getting accepted, Senior Prom, etc..

So as we embark on the thrilling year.. lets chat..

My baby, yes my baby , is going to be a senior.. the football team and marching band have started, he is getting ready with friends to enter senior year..

Last week of work, lots of fun with friends, then down to businss of sorts..

He has visited several colleges ( we are Midwest) - THE Ohio state, Miami of Ohio, U of Indiana, Perdue, U of Ill, U of Florida and U of Iowa. Still not sure where he will apply but it looks like u of Indiana and Illinois.

He was all interested in USC - but we cant afford it ... he also likes U of Texas and U of North Carolina.. we havent visited but.. just yesterday he said maybe he will look at U of Wisc.. not sure the change but we will visit..

What about you and your senior???

 

[MIGrandma]

Well, I personally don't have a child who is a senior this year.

But I do have a granddaughter who is a senior this year.

She is excited to be a senior, and starting her college visits but she has pretty much decided where she wants to go.

She still has 3 weeks before school starts, schools in Michigan don't start until after Labor Day. She has two part-time summer jobs so is still busy with those.

Her Father (our son) is feeling pretty old.

 

[smartkim]

My DS is a senior this year. He wants to go into Pharmacy and the two best schools here in AL for Pharmacy are Auburn and Samford. Of course Samford is twice the price!! And, of course, that's where he wants to go. It just depends on student loans and possible scholarships (praying). We can't afford to just send him outright. The books and "other" associated expenses are going to get us as it is. I am interested to hear from others about college. Next month we order caps and gowns & invitations for May! WOW! It's really happening!!! Makes me sad but at the same time, very proud.

 

[geffric]

it is still a shocker for cost - U of Illinois for instate students is 32,000 and Indiana for out of state is 34,000...

hard to believe... $almost $150,000 for a four year degree...

 

[disykat]

My DS is also entering his senior year. We also start after labor day so right now he's still working his summer job, doing his AP summer reading, and starting college applications.

While the state schools that he is applying to don't have applications out yet, the common app for private schools is out so I'm on his case to get it out of the way before school starts. We've encouraged him to apply anywhere he's interested, but he knows not to get his heart set on anything until he sees the final numbers they offer.

He knows what he wants to study but is still really up in the air about where he wants to go.

 

[johnsontrio]

Yeah... I am so glad to see this thread....

I am feeling very conflicted about senior year. When I turned in her sports physical last week I realized that this was only the first of all the lasts to come. When I told DD about that experience, I get tears in my eyes... Oh dear! I can't imagine how the big events are going to go!

DD starts her senior year Aug 30th. We are already in the throws of swim season; double practices started yesterday. Our coach spent the summer training at the University of Texas and we have a 3 time state championship to defend. It is serious business. She also is doing an ACT prep several times a week in order to retest on September 11th. Her scores are good but we are hoping to improve in order to qualify for more merit money. That should keep some additional options open for her come decision time. On top of all that, she is still working her lifeguarding job. Whew!

We did 10-12 college visits Sophomore and Junior year because we knew that due to swimming, we don't have time for any visits this fall. She has a couple schools that would be OK but nothing she is crazy about. She has been upfront that she doesn't want any all-girls colleges or anywhere where she will have to endure an academic grind. Her main concern is a great social experience and somewhere where she can get a strong undergraduate education. Not knowing for certain whats she wants to do has been a problem because we have less direction. I have not felt like the usual parameters (i.e. public vs. private, urban vs. rural, enrollment size etc...) have been helpful in her decision making. I do know that she prefers a closed, geographically specific, campus and is interested in participating in a sorority. I think she will end up doing something in the medical field.

She has applied to Bowling Green and will be applying to Michigan State and University of Detroit-Mercy (in case she decides to stay home). I am hoping that she will have her interests piqued by some of the girls as they discuss where they are going. A third of her class will end up at UM and MSU. Then there are a lot of girls that go to the smaller Catholic Colleges and the other state schools. She has said that she would like to go out of state but really hasn't engaged in the process of trying to find that perfect school. I think it is all too overwhelming for her. She has declined to visit Kalamazoo, Hope and St. Mary's Notre Dame but keeps asking me if I have found any colleges for her. I'm not going to pick her college and then be the one to blame when it isn't something she loves.

I know everyone says Senior Year goes by in a flash... I am buckling my seatbelt for the ride. Thanks for starting this thread, I am looking forward to getting to know everyone else. With any luck, we can all join in on the I have a college freshman 2011 thread!

 

[johnsontrio]

My DS is a senior this year. He wants to go into Pharmacy and the two best schools here in AL for Pharmacy are Auburn and Samford. Of course Samford is twice the price!! And, of course, that's where he wants to go. It just depends on student loans and possible scholarships (praying). We can't afford to just send him outright. The books and "other" associated expenses are going to get us as it is. I am interested to hear from others about college. Next month we order caps and gowns & invitations for May! WOW! It's really happening!!! Makes me sad but at the same time, very proud.

Have you looked into some of the private colleges? I know people here are shocked to find out how much money some of the schools will give you for a 28-32 on the ACT and a good GPA. At some, the final cost is much less than the State schools around here. I know students that have gone to a small Jesuit University and been guaranteed a Master's in Architecture, an MBA and the third is accepted into the Dental school. All are paying between 5-10K per year, the remainder is paid in merit money and scholarships.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I have a senior this year too!! I am hoping that she will choose to go to the Jr. College close to our house for the first year or so, but I am afraid she is going to want to take off and go where her boyfriend is. I'm just not ready for all of this yet.

 

[geffric]

our school district had a college night and we stopped in at UM but they started off saying it was $45,000 per year and count on 5 years.. so i told DS that we were out of there.. no money for that one..

We did ACT twice in jr year.. DS ended up with a 31 so he was happy so he wont have to take them again..
he has the essays to write for his college apps.. Indiana app is done cept for the essay.. Ill send the essay topics for him to start but so far not done much.. although he has been busy working and doing his Eagle project, so I cant really complain..

 

[johnsontrio]

Well, I personally don't have a child who is a senior this year.

But I do have a granddaughter who is a senior this year.

She is excited to be a senior, and starting her college visits but she has pretty much decided where she wants to go.

She still has 3 weeks before school starts, schools in Michigan don't start until after Labor Day. She has two part-time summer jobs so is still busy with those.

Her Father (our son) is feeling pretty old.

Where is she thinking of going? Staying in the UP or coming downstate? We have good friends here that are sending their DD to Michigan Tech. Long way aways from here...

 

[geffric]

My older son is at a private school in IA, we visited several schools, he stayed over night, sat in on class.. had a great experience..

but ds#2 wants BIG schools, so he has a very different experience..

costwise.. they are the same..at least in ILL... of course the small school gave him lots of money..

check out colleges that change lives.. really wonderful view of schools and great schools.

 

[ckay87]

Oh my gosh, I can't believe we're here! We had some trials with this kid, early in high school. I couldn't picture myself making it to graduation! As things progressed, perhaps as hormones levelled out, as he found a program and path that engaged and interested him (IT Networking through our vo-tech), he's becomming a fine young man. And so begins the search for colleges. Can't believe it.

 

[dhcoffey]

My oldest DD starts her senior year after Labor Day. I'm so not ready for this. She's already decided which college she wants to go to, so ready on that front. She's so excited!

Heather

 

[johnsontrio]

our school district had a college night and we stopped in at UM but they started off saying it was $45,000 per year and count on 5 years.. so i told DS that we were out of there.. no money for that one..

We did ACT twice in jr year.. DS ended up with a 31 so he was happy so he wont have to take them again..
he has the essays to write for his college apps.. Indiana app is done cept for the essay.. Ill send the essay topics for him to start but so far not done much.. although he has been busy working and doing his Eagle project, so I cant really complain..

My niece was valedictorian at her high school which has been ranked somewhere in the top 5 for several years by USNWR, had a 790 on the math portion of the SAT and started college with 48 credits and has not received any support from UM. Likewise MSU doesn't give any money for merit. I keep hearing stories that make me think that they do give money to students that they want to enroll but I can't figure out what parameters they are using. Definitely not kids like mine.

This will be her second and final attempt at the ACT. She was sick the entire week that they were given in school and since the counselors didn't disclose that there was a makeup date , I sent her in sick to take it. She had solid scores in everything but the math, which happens to be one of her strenghths, so she is taking it again. Bowling Green is very generous with merit money (scaled to ACT and GPA) and also excuses half the out of state fee if you are from Michigan. That may also apply to other states, I'm not sure. BGSU is a lot like MSU but has much smaller enrollment, 18K, and has very small class size, around 20. They have been ranked well by USNWR for commitment to undergraduate teaching, development of learning communities and first-year experiences. That is her fall back if nothing else grabs her interest in the next couple months. I keep promoting MSU because, while I think the size of the university is a negative, at least her major is likely to be there when she figures out what it is. I guess I could just save the money by having her go to BGSU and let her transfer later...

MSU website states application and personal statement topics will be available by mid-August but they weren't there yesterday. It will be crazy trying to do essays during swim season with her academic load. Where is the emoticon for pulling your hair out?

 

[minkydog]

Yeah... I am so glad to see this thread....

I am feeling very conflicted about senior year. When I turned in her sports physical last week I realized that this was only the first of all the lasts to come. When I told DD about that experience, I get tears in my eyes... Oh dear! I can't imagine how the big events are going to go!



I know everyone says Senior Year goes by in a flash... I am buckling my seatbelt for the ride. Thanks for starting this thread, I am looking forward to getting to know everyone else. With any luck, we can all join in on the I have a college freshman 2011 thread!

I know just how you feel. I'm not ready! DD17 started her senior year last week. We've already gotten the senior portraits(and they're gorgeous!). SHe's working on getting her drivers license this month. Football has started and every Friday night just counts down a little closer to graduation. She's in her show choir at school and they have their big show in October--her LAST fall show. I think that's when it will really hit me.

DD has been on 3 college visits so far, has 1-2 to go. She's going to be in-state--there is no way we can afford out of state tuition She has applied to Valdosta State U. and found out yesterday that she has tentative acceptance, just waiting for her final transcript next May. She's not totally sold on VSU, mainly because it's 4hrs from home, but she likes their programs. There's one other school she thinks she likes better, Kennesaw STate U., which is about 4 miles from our house. I"m not sure she has the grades to get into KSU, but she can always apply. What's the worst they can say--your GPA isn't high enough, try a year at community college and apply again? That wouldn't be the end of the world.

I really want DD to go away to college, at least for a year. Even though I know my heart will break. I think it's an important year for youing people. It's not just about academics. It's about managing your time, attention & finances, making new friends, figuring out who you want to be in life and what vocation you like. Not that it can't be done at home, but I think we tend to see our kids as, well, kids instead of the young adults they are becoming.

 

[johnsontrio]

My older son is at a private school in IA, we visited several schools, he stayed over night, sat in on class.. had a great experience..

but ds#2 wants BIG schools, so he has a very different experience..

costwise.. they are the same..at least in ILL... of course the small school gave him lots of money..

check out colleges that change lives.. really wonderful view of schools and great schools.

I read that and pitched Earlham, Eckert and Kalamazoo but no nibbles. She probably wouldn't thrive at a great Liberal Arts school because she doesn't enjoy learning for learning sake, but needs a definite goal to motivate her. She doesn't want to go anywhere that has extensive general education requirements like UM.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe we're here! We had some trials with this kid, early in high school. I couldn't picture myself making it to graduation! As things progressed, perhaps as hormones levelled out, as he found a program and path that engaged and interested him (IT Networking through our vo-tech), he's becomming a fine young man. And so begins the search for colleges. Can't believe it.

That is great to hear. On the occasion when we have had little hiccoughs, I have been totally stressed out that we weren't going to make it unscathed through high school. I am becoming more confident in her ability to make good choices. I'm sure I will relax even more once she figures out what she wants to do.

 

[Jeafl]

Count me in! I have TWO seniors this year, a senior in college and a senior in high school. Since I have been through this before, I KNOW how quickly senior year goes. And if you think this year is going to go fast, wait until your kids start college! I don't know where the first 3 years went!

My son has already applied at Valparaiso, and is going to apply to Purdue, University of Iowa, Marquette and Carnegie-Mellon. His first choice is Carnegie-Mellon, but at $55,000 a year it won't be happening without some serious money from them.

He knows for sure that he wants to go into engineering. He will be taking his 4th engineering class this year as part of Project Lead the Way in high school, so he is already way ahead of the game. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that he gets some kind of scholarship.

Good luck to all the seniors!!

 

[johnsontrio]

I know just how you feel. I'm not ready! DD17 started her senior year last week. We've already gotten the senior portraits(and they're gorgeous!). SHe's working on getting her drivers license this month. Football has started and every Friday night just counts down a little closer to graduation. She's in her show choir at school and they have their big show in October--her LAST fall show. I think that's when it will really hit me.

DD has been on 3 college visits so far, has 1-2 to go. She's going to be in-state--there is no way we can afford out of state tuition She has applied to Valdosta State U. and found out yesterday that she has tentative acceptance, just waiting for her final transcript next May. She's not totally sold on VSU, mainly because it's 4hrs from home, but she likes their programs. There's one other school she thinks she likes better, Kennesaw STate U., which is about 4 miles from our house. I"m not sure she has the grades to get into KSU, but she can always apply. What's the worst they can say--your GPA isn't high enough, try a year at community college and apply again? That wouldn't be the end of the world.

I really want DD to go away to college, at least for a year. Even though I know my heart will break. I think it's an important year for youing people. It's not just about academics. It's about managing your time, attention & finances, making new friends, figuring out who you want to be in life and what vocation you like. Not that it can't be done at home, but I think we tend to see our kids as, well, kids instead of the young adults they are becoming.

Minky, I could bust out in tears every time I think about it. She is our only and while I am excited for her to go have the college experience, I guess I'm freaking out that she could decide not to come back here when she is finished. She tells me all the time she hates Michigan. I can't imagine life without her, and all the things to come.... you know, husband, kids, etc... I have spent the last 10 years not working, but doing all the volunteer things and getting her back and forth to practices and all the places she needed to be. While she is a handful, she and I are very close. This summer has been an eye opener as now I see exactly how much time I have on my hands, just because she is now driving herself. I am going to have to formulate a plan for myself for next year or I'll be in deep trouble.

 

[jme829]

Another senior mom here ! DD starts Sept 1. SHe has a pretty heavy load for first semester, 2 AP's, Physics, civics, PE and a course at the local college (journalism) plus volleyball practice everyday for the next 2 months (she's 3rd year Varsity)and then she should be able to mellow out 2nd semester and enjoy the rest of the year. She cuts her work schedule waaay back during volleyball season, working only on Sat/Sun (although they have tournaments 4 straight saturdays this year in Sept) so at least she doesn't have to deal much with that.

She is applying (in 2 weeks!) to University of Wisconsin-River Falls for either Journalism or English Education. The college is actually relatively inexpensive...currently its around $3800/semester . She is staying at home and commuting (its only 8 miles from us) so she won't have to pay room/board. Books are included in tuition (the "borrow" them like a library book for the semester) and she will already have at least 2 classes done before she gets there as she participates in the youth options program for dual credits.

This is her first and only choice regarding college. She isn't a "go away" from home kind of girl and this is a great college for her chosen majors and while its part of the UW system, its a much smaller campus than Madison, which for her is a plus as well.

She's planning on working during college to help contribute and we're probably looking at her taking at least one or two classes each summer to ease her load during the school year as well as helping keep the costs more manageable (while its a cheaper college, it still hurts! lol..(especially now that I have one getting braces in 2 weeks.).


Should be a fun and interesting year! She is glad to finally be at the "top" of the high school food chain..!

 

[minkydog]

Minky, I could bust out in tears every time I think about it. She is our only and while I am excited for her to go have the college experience, I guess I'm freaking out that she could decide not to come back here when she is finished. She tells me all the time she hates Michigan. I can't imagine life without her, and all the things to come.... you know, husband, kids, etc... I have spent the last 10 years not working, but doing all the volunteer things and getting her back and forth to practices and all the places she needed to be. While she is a handful, she and I are very close. This summer has been an eye opener as now I see exactly how much time I have on my hands, just because she is now driving herself. I am going to have to formulate a plan for myself for next year or I'll be in deep trouble.

I know just what you mean. DD17 is our middle child, our only girl and likely the only one who will go to college. DS24 had a non-traditional approach to schooling (he told his teachers "I don't do homework" ) so he never really had the opportunity to go away to college. All summer long DD has been hanging out wiht one friend or the other. Sometimes it feels like she wants to be anywhere but here. BUt I know she really is just growing up. Her friends are important to her, but so is her family.

DH & I have already formulated a plan for when she goes away. We're going to take our RV to wherever she's staying and park it for a few weeks/year. And I'm not kidding! I'm thinking about retireing in the next 1-2 years and wherever she goes, we'll go. Yeah, she's gonna love that...