High School class of 2011

[armomof3lvsdisney]

Thank you agnes! We are visiting one more school on Labor Day and we will visit the one he just heard from again sometime this fall. It's great that your daughter know exactly what she want's to do. I'm so glad I have the boards to come and talk with people that are going through the same thing, this is going to be one emotional year.

 

[agnes!]

This is a great thread. I had thought the GPA/test-score awards were only for in-state students...I had no idea that they could poossibluy be awarded to out-of-staters.

And I'm with Christine...our state does not have the free-rides/presidential scholarships for high GPA/Test-score awards that other states do.

agnes!

 

[agnes!]

And, by the way, I absolutely HATE how hard it is to find the actual costs on many college/university websites. I've even had a hard time finding just the cost of tuition! (I mean, I understand all the books/fees/room&board maybe being a little hard to figure out, so many students have different living arrangements and all that, but TUITION?!? Sheesh.)

agnes!

 

[johnsontrio]

My DS got an email from his 1st choice college (that he has visited so far) that he had been accepted and awarded a presidential scholarship which is $15,000 a year and an invitation to come to scholars weekend in February to compete for a $20,000 a year scholarship. We pretty much knew that he would get this, but it's really excited to see it in writing and know for sure. He got the email a couple of days ago, but just checked it last night. It was a really neat email with special effects. It also said he would be getting something in the mail about it also. He was really excited, and he doesn't usually show emotion. I'm so happy for him. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Congrats to him! I am hoping for one of those as well for DD. I am thinking once it is on the table, the pressure will be off and she can start thinking of other schools that she might want to pursue.

 

[linnylu]

I also have a ds who is a senior this year. He hasn't done much in terms of college. He's all about being a senior. We live in Ohio and he is looking at pharmacy schools: university of Toledo, Ohio Northern, Cincinnati, Findlay, Butler, and Buffalo. He scored a 32 on his ACT so we are hoping for some merit aid. I think his unweighted gpa is a 3.8, his weighted one is a 4.3. I love college websites that give a chart telling you the money given for a certain gpa and test score. I think it will be hard for ds to wait until all aid packages come in to make a decision. I doubt we will qualify for any financial aid but I'll still file the FAFSA.
DS also plays the trombone and he might play in college if he is offered some scholarship money for that. The band director keeps telling the seniors money is out there but ds isn't sure if the schools he is looking at will offer any.

 

[johnsontrio]

I also have a ds who is a senior this year. He hasn't done much in terms of college. He's all about being a senior. We live in Ohio and he is looking at pharmacy schools: university of Toledo, Ohio Northern, Cincinnati, Findlay, Butler, and Buffalo. He scored a 32 on his ACT so we are hoping for some merit aid. I think his unweighted gpa is a 3.8, his weighted one is a 4.3. I love college websites that give a chart telling you the money given for a certain gpa and test score. I think it will be hard for ds to wait until all aid packages come in to make a decision. I doubt we will qualify for any financial aid but I'll still file the FAFSA.
DS also plays the trombone and he might play in college if he is offered some scholarship money for that. The band director keeps telling the seniors money is out there but ds isn't sure if the schools he is looking at will offer any.

Welcome to this thread! Wayne State University in Detroit has a Pharmacy program and they have a Presidential scholarship that he can apply for that pays the full tuition. My understanding is that you need a 29 or higher on the ACt to apply for it. I have also been told multiple times that you won't get merit money offers unless you file a FAFSA. I have talked to people that have gone to Butler for the tour and they say Butler is all about their pharmacy program, the crowned jewel so to speak. All the students I have met from there seem like nice young men.

 

[PixieFan]

Count me in, I have a DS17 that is a Sr too! He is not nearly as accomplished as your students seem to be. Mine is a very "social" guy. He would rather hang out with the other guys on his drumline. He does OK in school and would love to go into engineering, but NOW is a little late to try to get the GPA up! He does terrible on any type of standardized testing and did REALLY bad on the ACT. Counselor wants him to take the SAT. She says it is geared toward "creative types like band kids". Not sure about that but we will try it. His dream school was Univ of Texas until he saw the requirements and realized he was nowhere even close. He'd love to be on the drumline there. We are surprising him with a trip to a UT football game for his 18 bday in two weeks! I am like so many of you that I cant believe it is SR Year already. I have decided to enjoy all of the band "things" this year and try not to dwell on May 22 (Graduation Day). Up side, DS has picked WDW for his Grad trip w/family! ( I knew I was doing something right!HAHA)

 

[johnsontrio]

First day of Senior year. She wouldn't wait for the traditional pictures by the Spruce trees in the backyard, she only let me get 2 shots and she got in the car and took off. Probably didn't want to see me cry!

I'm trying to post the picture but I keep getting it wrong.. Can anyone spell it out for me

 

[geffric]

DS#2 wont fill out other apps nor will he do the essay.. so I guess that says it all.. but he does want to go to a Wisc football game..

armomof3lvsdisney congrats to your son..


linnylu - my friends son went to Bulter for pharmacy.. loved it..

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

Gah. I have really good news! I'm really proud of myself; I "passed" my junior year! My school does IB instead of AP, but we still have tests. The scoring system is a little different. It's 1-7 and 4 is passing. I got my history and spanish grades today, and, well, I passed! 5 in spanish and 6 in history.

It's extremely difficult to get a 7.

 

[armomof3lvsdisney]

Today was school pictures for my DD that is a soph. and my DS (who is my SR.) said to me "I won't ever have school pictures again." Oh how that boy likes to torment me. Any chance he gets to say this is the last time I have too ______, he takes it. The little stinker

 

[laurie31]

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.

Don't give up on Samford. Get a catalog and look in the back for a list of all the scholarships available. There are some really obscure ones, like X amount for a pharmacy student from a certain county, etc. Many of them go unclaimed every year because no one applies.

I would LOVE for my DDs to go there (my Mom and I both did) but WOW the price tag is shocking now! (and it was pretty shocking when I went too, but wow...) They do have a fantastic pharmacy program, and pharmacy is a great field, too.

Of course, Auburn's pharmacy program is also very good. However, my brother went to Auburn, and his education ended up costing more than mine at Samford, because of all the scholarships I got. Some based on grades, but others just based on what I was studying, where I was from, and stuff like that.

Good luck! My older DD is a freshman this year, and I know my time is coming all too soon! Exciting and scary all at once!

 

[johnsontrio]

Well here's whats new here... We haven't even gotten through Labor Day weekend and the closing of the private pool club where DD has to work 19 hours in 3 days this weekend and she has gotten herself hired at the indoor Rec Center in town. I swear, she's gonna end up just like DH, no shortage of work ever... He always said he never gave up a job or a woman if he didn't have at least one to replace them. It should be fine because she doesn't do well when there is nothing to do.

School is off and running as well. They are hitting it hard and she has had moderate amounts of homework nightly and has a big paper and project due soon. If any of you saw my thread about Bama, you know I am trying to find some schools in the South she can apply to. She will apply to MSU and has applied to Bowling Green but we were hoping to add some flagship Southern Universities as well. The frank replies about her chances of getting a bid during Rush has me rethinking Bama. I had no idea that rush was so intense in these SEC schools. I rushed in Texas when it wasn't such a huge deal and I am DD's only legacy. Any input about Southern schools would be appreciated. To sum it up these are the criteria we are looking for:

small class sizes
great school spirit and sports program
reasonably active Catholic campus ministry
swimming pool available at convenient times/great rec center
Greek system
solid undergraduate education

And just so you know I realize it is Sr. year... a friend and I are taking 3 girls to the Eminem concert this weekend. If it were any year but Sr. year, the answer would have probably been NO. If it's anything like the Kid Rock concert we just went to, it will take me 2 days to recover... I'm old.

 

[armomof3lvsdisney]

Well here's whats new here... We haven't even gotten through Labor Day weekend and the closing of the private pool club where DD has to work 19 hours in 3 days this weekend and she has gotten herself hired at the indoor Rec Center in town. I swear, she's gonna end up just like DH, no shortage of work ever... He always said he never gave up a job or a woman if he didn't have at least one to replace them. It should be fine because she doesn't do well when there is nothing to do.

School is off and running as well. They are hitting it hard and she has had moderate amounts of homework nightly and has a big paper and project due soon. If any of you saw my thread about Bama, you know I am trying to find some schools in the South she can apply to. She will apply to MSU and has applied to Bowling Green but we were hoping to add some flagship Southern Universities as well. The frank replies about her chances of getting a bid during Rush has me rethinking Bama. I had no idea that rush was so intense in these SEC schools. I rushed in Texas when it wasn't such a huge deal and I am DD's only legacy. Any input about Southern schools would be appreciated. To sum it up these are the criteria we are looking for:

small class sizes
great school spirit and sports program
reasonably active Catholic campus ministry
swimming pool available at convenient times/great rec center
Greek system
solid undergraduate education

And just so you know I realize it is Sr. year... a friend and I are taking 3 girls to the Eminem concert this weekend. If it were any year but Sr. year, the answer would have probably been NO. If it's anything like the Kid Rock concert we just went to, it will take me 2 days to recover... I'm old.

The University of Arkansas is a great SEC school, in a great college town. I don't know about the Catholic campus ministry, but I know it meets all of the other questions. And I would bet they do have the Catholic campus ministry. I'm just 10 miles from the campus.

 

[johnsontrio]

The University of Arkansas is a great SEC school, in a great college town. I don't know about the Catholic campus ministry, but I know it meets all of the other questions. And I would bet they do have the Catholic campus ministry. I'm just 10 miles from the campus.

The Catholic Parish across the street from UA, St. Francis of Assisi, has a huge Facebook group that is all collegiate and seems very active. They are going on retreats, doing Acts of Mercy and lots of social activities. The Catholic Ministry there was 5 star as far as I'm concerned. The sticking point is rush. A few gals were very candid with me that it is very hard for out of state girls to get a bid. Last year 4 girls from Michigan rushed and only one received a bid. Many of the houses have more legacies than spots open. Many of the girls have been visiting the houses informally all during high school. Additionally, they stressed that the girls must be thin and that the chances of pledging are exponentially decreased with every dress size above a size 6. DD is not obese, but she is not a tiny, thin girl either. She is an athlete and has very broad shoulders. I know she is very social and would do well in the interviews and might be attractive to the chapters for her academics. We haven't ruled out Bama but are open to other options.

I plan on having more conversations with DD to explore if this is a deal breaker to her. We are jam packed getting ready for the ACT on the 11th. I will be talking to her about all this after that is over.

 

[armomof3lvsdisney]

The Catholic Parish across the street from UA, St. Francis of Assisi, has a huge Facebook group that is all collegiate and seems very active. They are going on retreats, doing Acts of Mercy and lots of social activities. The Catholic Ministry there was 5 star as far as I'm concerned. The sticking point is rush. A few gals were very candid with me that it is very hard for out of state girls to get a bid. Last year 4 girls from Michigan rushed and only one received a bid. Many of the houses have more legacies than spots open. Many of the girls have been visiting the houses informally all during high school. Additionally, they stressed that the girls must be thin and that the chances of pledging are exponentially decreased with every dress size above a size 6. DD is not obese, but she is not a tiny, thin girl either. She is an athlete and has very broad shoulders. I know she is very social and would do well in the interviews and might be attractive to the chapters for her academics. We haven't ruled out Bama but are open to other options.

I plan on having more conversations with DD to explore if this is a deal breaker to her. We are jam packed getting ready for the ACT on the 11th. I will be talking to her about all this after that is over.

I know some people who are involved in rush here. What sorority is she interested in? I can ask around and see how it works here, it maybe different than Bama.

 

[johnsontrio]

I know some people who are involved in rush here. What sorority is she interested in? I can ask around and see how it works here, it maybe different than Bama.

Silly me! I know what your user name is all about and I still misread your post... You are talking about Arkansas not...Alabama... I would have to backtrack and see if Arkansas is giving merit money in order to recruit out of state students with good academics. We are only looking for schools that are relatively the same cost or less than Michigan State University and we are using that as our starting point. I'll check out their website in the morning, my new full-time job.

She is not interested in a particular sorority. The same sorority can have very different reputations depending on the Chapter/University. The gal that gave me some information already said that recruiting at the SEC schools was very competitive, so I'm guessing it would be similar at Arkansas.

 

[geffric]

Well I think the IU app is almost done.. he is having the essay looked at by is English teacher.. then on to u of ILL,

we are going to Wisc for a visit in October..but he got a postcard from Indiana for free football tickets and other prospect fun.. think that is tipping him to IU..

 

[johnsontrio]

Well I think the IU app is almost done.. he is having the essay looked at by is English teacher.. then on to u of ILL,

we are going to Wisc for a visit in October..but he got a postcard from Indiana for free football tickets and other prospect fun.. think that is tipping him to IU..

MY SIL's nephew signed to play football at IU after looking closely at several schools in Michigan. He liked the football program but also liked the school quite a bit. Can't hurt to go check it out.

We are still in a holding pattern until after Saturday. Then we will have a mad rush to get her applications in. There is a lot of good information on the thread Help! How did you/your child organize the college search? if some of you have missed it.

 

[geffric]

Help! How did you/your child organize the college search? if some of you have missed it.

well, he wanted a great football/basketball school with great greek life, parties and a good rep... plus had to be a big 10 school or a conference football program..

so it was easy.. ILL, Indiana, Ohio State..

North Carolina and Texas are also in the running but he has never been there.. wanted USC but when he found out is was in the middle of the city , it was out..

he dissed Iowa as the state is not big enough for both him and his brother.. Michigan was way too expensive.. He is thinking about Wisc.. but only cause a friend of his wants to go there..