High School class of 2011

[johnsontrio]

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???

DD has recently asked me about this one as a couple of girls are going there in the Fall. I have heard that it is a little snobby, girls really dressing up for classes, etc... What were your impressions? Do they give any money?

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...

DH and I have talked about getting a condo if she goes far away. Stalker parents... Unfortunately DH is not close to retirement.

 

[johnsontrio]

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..!

I would imagine there is a lot of comfort in having a plan. She sounds as if she is solidly on track. Good for her! DD needs to go away for at least a couple of years. She has had much attention from 2 very involved parents and needs to establish her independence. Her life has been vey blessed and she will learn an immense amount from a dose of the real world.

 

[The Princess]

I too have a DD entering her senior year on the 1st. While I am so happy for her and all the excitement that comes within this year I feel myself with a pit in my stomach, not because of the cost of college and wondering how we are going to pay for it or the craziness that comes with your senior year I am realizing that after this year she is gone....on her way to becoming an adult and starting her own life. We are very close and will remain close but she won't be in our home giving us that good night kiss every night!!!

She hasn't decided which college she will attend yet. I think once that decision is done half the pressure is off and she (we) can relax. She is the president of Student Council, swims everyday for 2 swim teams and works...did I say relax??? ummm...maybe not!!!

Lets all here on the dis have a wonderful, happy, and healthy year!!!

 

[disykat]

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?

I feel the same way. I know it's not MY problem, but I'm soooo stressed out about it. I don't want to deal with my son when he's stressed from the 5 AP classes he insists on taking and trying to fill out applications at the same time! I keep nagging away to complete the common app, with the idea that once he has one filled out it'll be much easier to to do the others.

 

[Abbie]

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.

My oldest went to McDaniel, which is in that book. Wonderful four years....actually she finished in 3 and a half, even better!

I too have a DD entering her senior year on the 1st. While I am so happy for her and all the excitement that comes within this year I feel myself with a pit in my stomach, not because of the cost of college and wondering how we are going to pay for it or the craziness that comes with your senior year I am realizing that after this year she is gone....on her way to becoming an adult and starting her own life. We are very close and will remain close but she won't be in our home giving us that good night kiss every night!!!

Aww, I know exactly how you feel. Oldest DD and I are very close and when she got married last year I didn't know how to deal with it! It was wonderful and sad at the same time but you know what? It's really ok, and it will be ok for you and everyone else who has to let a child go. It's just different, but it's ok.

I have a senior in college and my "baby"--all 6 feet of him--will be a senior in hs this year. It's again wonderful and sad! All these "lasts".....

 

[geffric]

Miami of Ohio - DS hated it.. all the buildings look alike, he just too 1 look and said it wasnt for him..

With oldest child, we went to Earlham, Roanoke, Knox, Beloit, Bradly and Cornell ( College) .. did love Earlham but he applied to Beloit and Cornell..

DS is the baby, so i have been through some of this but it is hard just the same.. oldest DS is home for 2 weeks at a time, but his life and love is in Iowa..DS#2 gf is graduating too. And as much as I like her, he started dating her during his freshman year so i would like to see him go to a different school then her..

As far as moving near the kids, well, I told DS that if he went to Indiana, I would move to Indy, if he went to Gainesville, I'd get a condo there... but champaign - well i'll stay here...

DS is so busy with work, school, activites, gf and his band that it is rare if I see him for a few minutes.. on the other hand, he is a good kid, so ...


we were going to take an empty nest cruise called our so deep in debt what is one more thing.. at the end of August next year, but the boys got wind of it and they demanded to go.. so all 4 of us are taking an alaskan cruise.. maybe the last time it is 4 of us.. so it will be very special..

 

[smartkim]

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.

Wow, 5-10K per year would be a dream! GPA is good, prob. 3.8 right now and we are working on bringing up the ACT score (not quite 28 yet but that is what we are working toward). We have checked around at a few public universities and the one he really aims for (Samford) is a private Christian college yet costs so much more than the others!

I'm not sure when we need to even start applying. It just seems too soon right now.

 

[MichelleVW]

Miami of Ohio - DS hated it.. all the buildings look alike, he just too 1 look and said it wasnt for him..

.

Wow..I love the campus at Miami of Ohio. I think it's just beautiful and had a lot of friends that went there and hung out there pretty much every weekend. Lots of fun memories and crazy parties!!

My DD17 starts her senior year next week. Tonight they had senior retreat at school with games/water slide/shaving cream and who knows what else. I just know she came home happy and wet with shaving cream in her ear.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

I'm going to be a HS Senior this year...mind if I lurk on this thread?

I checked out the University of New York at Stony Brook last Friday, out on Long Island. It was an hour to drive to New London from where we are in RI, an hour and a half on the ferry, and another hour to drive to the campus.

And I HATED it.

I even had to miss a day of my internship, so I lost money for nothing. (It was only $20, but still. I heard everyone had a really fun day, and I now regret dragging my mom out to Long Island.)

My top choice right now is Connecticut College. I have the grades (for the most part), but I'll need to pull off a killer essay, excellent recommendation letters, and pray for financial aid/scholorships. RIC (RI College) is my fallback, though.

If I get into Conn. Coll., I'll be majoring in Museum Studies, with a minor in Spanish. Applying early decision in November; eek!

Other than that, I'm looking forward to my Senior year (except the dreaded Senior Project). I have a great courseload, and I'll have a solid team of friends.

I also have my last year of dance at my studio coming up

 

[cruisnfamily]

Wow, I'd like to join this thread but my kid is nowhere near as together as all of yours.

Taken ACT and SAT 2x each and her scores are very average. GPA is good, between 3.5 and 3.8 weighted, probably about 3.5 unweighted.

Doesn't know what in the world she might want to study but knows she wants to go away to school. Mainly to get away from her overbearing parents I'm sure but I'm behind her decision to go. I think it will be a great experience. I told her just get a degree in anything at all. As long as she has a 4 year degree I'm happy.

Many of our state schools have become so competitive it's very tough to get in to most with such average SATs and ACTs, no AP classes, no clubs/sports, a few honors classes. DD is definitely on the bright side of average but nothing about her is going to "stand out" to the colleges. We have found one state university where we think she'll get in so that'll be where she applies and we'll keep our fingers crossed. Florida Gulfcoast anyone?

 

[sharbear]

I just checked this out and wanted to comment on Miami of Ohio. My S has quite a few friends who went to Miami. They are nice sweet girls who are very smart. They all loved Miami, people who go to Miami love it there. I am sure there are snobby Miami girls, my S talked about his friends gf who he called a snobby Miami sorority girl (by his friends who went to Miami lol!) His friends were in sororities, but they are still nice sweet girls who studied hard in school and did very well.

As far as dressing up for class, I don't see that it's a problem. Is it terrible not to want to look like you have just got out of bed. My D says that people dress up for class at her U also. What that means is that you brush your hair and wear leggings instead of sweatpants!

My D loved Miami and would have really thought of it except that we were not sure of her major. But Miami has a great reputation about its school and is very highly thought of. My D was offered a lot of money to go to Miami but I hear that is not the case usually. I do not hear that many people get much scholarship money.

 

[sharbear]

sorry double post!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I am the senior
CLASS OF 2011, WOOH!
I have visited UF, UWF
I still need to visit USF, FSU, and UCF. I have my heart set on UCF with USF as my backup. I love their hospitality program. I plan to eventually work at Disney so I predict the college program and internship in my future.

Oh, goodness..I am nervous! Haha.

 

[ckay87]

I just have to share...this keeps coming back to me. I remember DS's Kindergarten orientation like it was yesterday (don't we all?) But I recall the elementary school principal standing up and welcoming us by saying "Greetings, parents of the class of 2011!" and a large, collective GASP rose up from the crowd. That date seemed so impossible and far off at the time, but now....

....now I am crying......

 

[MichelleVW]

I just have to share...this keeps coming back to me. I remember DS's Kindergarten orientation like it was yesterday (don't we all?) But I recall the elementary school principal standing up and welcoming us by saying "Greetings, parents of the class of 2011!" and a large, collective GASP rose up from the crowd. That date seemed so impossible and far off at the time, but now....

....now I am crying......

I thought I would be great with an empty nest, but with DD19 starting her sophomore year at UT this fall and DD17 starting her senior year, I really don't think I am quite ready for this!!!

 

[johnsontrio]

Wow, I'd like to join this thread but my kid is nowhere near as together as all of yours.

Taken ACT and SAT 2x each and her scores are very average. GPA is good, between 3.5 and 3.8 weighted, probably about 3.5 unweighted.

Doesn't know what in the world she might want to study but knows she wants to go away to school. Mainly to get away from her overbearing parents I'm sure but I'm behind her decision to go. I think it will be a great experience. I told her just get a degree in anything at all. As long as she has a 4 year degree I'm happy.

Many of our state schools have become so competitive it's very tough to get in to most with such average SATs and ACTs, no AP classes, no clubs/sports, a few honors classes. DD is definitely on the bright side of average but nothing about her is going to "stand out" to the colleges. We have found one state university where we think she'll get in so that'll be where she applies and we'll keep our fingers crossed. Florida Gulfcoast anyone?

Welcome! Your DD sounds perfectly fine to me. Her wanting to go away but not knowing where to go is exactly like my DD. My DD also doesn't know what she wants to study. As far as her academics, she sounds fine. Not every strength they have is measurable in numbers. I know a couple of girls that are identical twins, have extreme dyslexia, and have not been super-achievers in a traditional academic sense. However, they are outstanding in their entrepreneurship skills and have been very successful in that manner. They will be an asset to whichever college they choose to attend. The difficulty may come from the expected class size of 2011 and 2012. It is, across the country, the largest group of incoming freshman in many years. That coupled with less student loan monies available may make college admission process more difficult.

I just checked this out and wanted to comment on Miami of Ohio. My S has quite a few friends who went to Miami. They are nice sweet girls who are very smart. They all loved Miami, people who go to Miami love it there. I am sure there are snobby Miami girls, my S talked about his friends gf who he called a snobby Miami sorority girl (by his friends who went to Miami lol!) His friends were in sororities, but they are still nice sweet girls who studied hard in school and did very well.

As far as dressing up for class, I don't see that it's a problem. Is it terrible not to want to look like you have just got out of bed. My D says that people dress up for class at her U also. What that means is that you brush your hair and wear leggings instead of sweatpants!

My D loved Miami and would have really thought of it except that we were not sure of her major. But Miami has a great reputation about its school and is very highly thought of. My D was offered a lot of money to go to Miami but I hear that is not the case usually. I do not hear that many people get much scholarship money.

My DD was inquiring about it as she doesn't want to go somewhere where that is the expectation. I don't think leggings and Uggs is classified as dressing up. I'm talking heels, dress pants, makeup ,jewelry, etc... My DD attends a Catholic girls prep school and swims before and after school. She is in uniform with wet hair, no makeup etc... and likes it! She would not want to attend a school where people are judgmental based on what you wear to class. She is not one to go anywhere in her pajamas , but she is more of an athlete and would likely wear jeans, leggings, boots and hoodies, etc.. On our visit to Vanderbilt she commented that the girls were all dolled up in their sundresses and she didn't see one girl in Pink sweats or athletic wear. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Why did your DD turn down Miami after being offered a generous scholarship? Because she didn't know what she wanted to study? Where did she end up going?

 

[johnsontrio]

I am the senior
CLASS OF 2011, WOOH!
I have visited UF, UWF
I still need to visit USF, FSU, and UCF. I have my heart set on UCF with USF as my backup. I love their hospitality program. I plan to eventually work at Disney so I predict the college program and internship in my future.

Oh, goodness..I am nervous! Haha.

We considered Florida Southern for our DD since we have family in Lakeland and Auburndale. She wasn't interested in FSU but now she is asking me about University of Miami. Do you have the FL prepaid plan? If not, Michigan State University has the 2nd rated Hospitality Management program in the country. I have been talking to DD about hospitality management since she was in 8th grade and hope that if she doesn't end up in a medical career that she will reconsider it. It would be a great match for her management ability, foreign language skills and her love for travel. I am nervous that with our economy great jobs in hospitality might be hard to find. Also, hospitality usually doesn't have the best hours if you are a woman wanting to raise a family.

Keep us posted on your college search!

 

[geffric]

hi.. just a bump for all ..


DS#1 is leaving for college Monday.. DS#2 is at the show then band practice then gf comes home so he will spend the rest of the time with her before starting SR year..

now t push to write the college essay..but he seems resistant.. oh well

 

[ctinct]

We considered Florida Southern for our DD since we have family in Lakeland and Auburndale. She wasn't interested in FSU but now she is asking me about University of Miami. Do you have the FL prepaid plan? If not, Michigan State University has the 2nd rated Hospitality Management program in the country. I have been talking to DD about hospitality management since she was in 8th grade and hope that if she doesn't end up in a medical career that she will reconsider it. It would be a great match for her management ability, foreign language skills and her love for travel. I am nervous that with our economy great jobs in hospitality might be hard to find. Also, hospitality usually doesn't have the best hours if you are a woman wanting to raise a family.

Keep us posted on your college search!

Just an fyi....University of Miami is a private school, not a state school. My older daughter went there. We have relatives in Florida who thought their daughter would be able to go there with her Florida scholarship, and were very disappointed to find out otherwise.

I also have a senior this year. I have been following and occasionally posting the college in 2010 thread, just because I was interested, but now I'll post here too. In the last two weeks, my daughter and I visited 8 schools, for a total of "I think" 15. There is one more we may possibly visit if we have time. Her list is done...in order of her preference Gettysburg, Providence, UCONN, Ithaca, Marist, Alabama. She may apply to Amherst, also. The only one we have not visited is Bama, but I am making her apply as a financial safety, since she can get guarenteed free tuition on the basis of her ACT scores. It would be cheaper than even our state school with free tuition, and the free tuition scholarships at our flagship are competitive, not guaranteed. Our room and board is significantly higher than Bama's room and board.

And, sorry to get long here, but I would encourage parents to have their students to take both the ACT and SAT. Typically here in the NE, very few students take the ACT, but some students, including my daughter, find it much easier. She does not qualify for Bama's free tuition with her SAT scores (just missed it, I think), but her ACT scores were quite a bit better.

Good luck to everone in their search!

 

[johnsontrio]

Things are crazy around here as well! DD is swimming 11 practices a week and still working her hours at the pool club as a lifeguard. On top of that, she needs to devote about 10 hours a week to her ACT Prep class but that will be over and done on Sept. 11th. She still insists in trying to schedule a social life with all that and she is dragging. Still hoping she finds a couple schools at the last minute that she might be interested in! How about everyone else?