Moms with HS Seniors

[budmonster]

Well the big/final year has finally arrived for my DS16, he will be a senior this August . I have so many mixed emotions; I'm sad to see my baby grow up but all so proud of the young man that he is becoming.

The problem I have is that he’s my oldest, my first to go into 12th grade and I'm not sure of how this whole senior thing works. I don't know the time frame for when to do stuff like senior pics, ring, announcements, college applications and so one. Plus to make it worse he has a horrible school counselor. I wish there was a book called Seniors for Dummies. Anyone else have a DS/DD going into 12th Grade that has any advice?

 

[golfgal]

Our school was pretty good about keeping us up to date on all the "senior" stuff we had to do. I would get an appointment for pictures soon as they are due for the yearbook early in the year.

 

[HM]

I keep up with the school website to make sure I know what's coming up.

Our seniors are doing thier photos on July 26 and 27, and are supposed to get a postcard with their appt time in the mail.

There is a Senior Page that gives a timeline of things we should be thinking about doing for college admissions. They had a brag sheet the kids are supposed to fill out and return to their counselor and there are notes about when upcoming SATs are and things like that.

If you don't have a good website for your school, I'd suggest sending an email to the senior counselor and asking how to keep track of senior items.

Good Luck. This is my first to get to senior year too (he's also 16).

 

[mamacatnv]

First DS's Sr. year was a tough one for me, a whole year of "lasts" He is a college Jr., my how time flies!

Honestly, we didn't seek out our DS's counselor at all. We knew the colleges he was interested in, visited them, reviewed their application procedures etc. and just did it. We applied early due to housing issues and knew by Nov. of his Sr. year where he was going the following year.

We were given the dates for SAT's/ACT's and signed him up. (late Jr. year I believe is when he took them). He also took part in the athletic combine but his football coach kept us up to date on that.

FAFSA should be done Jan/Feb 2011

Sr. pictures for the yearbook were done in August, perhaps one of his friends parents might know. We were just sent a packet from the photographer.

At some point the yearbook advisor provided us with a timeline for the yearbook items, Sr. pages, baby pix, quotes etc

Yearbooks, announcments (we bought the ring his Sophomore year) etc. We received a notice from the various vendors of when they would be at the school and went forward from there.

Good luck, oh and hold onto your wallet, the Sr. year is quite spendy!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You need to call the school ASAP.

As pp said many have early due dates. Plus you have to order the cap, gown, etc early as well. Depends on your school. Pictures are usually done over the summer.

Find out how that stuff works at your school today.

For the academic portion the collegeboard site gives all the details to follow.

http://www.collegeboard.com/

Good Luck!

 

[JulielovesDisney]

The school usually keeps parents updated with deadlines, etc. That's what my high school did. THey usually sent home packets of information for the whole year, such as payments, deadlines, dates, etc. etc.

If you school doesn't do this (you can find out by other parents. Chances are, someone has had one of their children graduate already.) then I would contact the main office and get the info from them.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

I'm going to be a senior.
My school did a great job letting us know when pictures are. (I still don't know.)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm going to be a senior.
My school did a great job letting us know when pictures are. (I still don't know.)

Pick up a phone and call.

 

[Darcy03231]

Since I just had three seniors graduate, all of this is still pretty fresh in my memory!

Senior pictures were done in August at the beginning of the senior year.

Class ring order forms came home toward the end of Sept/first of October.

Year books were ordered the first week of December.

Check the college websites for their deadlines for applications. If he'd doing early admissions they are usually by either Nov. 1 or Dec. 1. Regular admissions are mostly either Feb. 1 or March 1. Some schools have what they call rolling admissions and take applications year round.

Make sure he takes that SATs and/or ACTs starting in the early fall in case he needs to take them more than once, unless he's already taken them and got acceptable scores.

FAFSA can be filled out as early as Jan 1st. You'll just need to update it when you file your taxes and have your exact numbers.

The prom was 6/8 and tickets became available about a month before. The girls all started shopping for their dresses in March/April. They booked the limo toward the beginning of May.

Cap & gown were purchased about 2 weeks before graduation.

Hope this helps!

 

[agnes!]

Yeah, we got a packet for DD's senior pics, but it's on a day this month when she has something else (that she can't miss) scheduled.

I think it's kind of stupid that the pics are taken so early in the year...and do i even have to use Lifetouch, The Official Photographer (a company, by the way, who seems to take extremely sucky pictures)? I had been kind of planning on using a professional photographer I know who does a great job.

agnes!

 

[Anne34]

Well the big/final year has finally arrived for my DS16, he will be a senior this August . I have so many mixed emotions; I'm sad to see my baby grow up but all so proud of the young man that he is becoming.

The problem I have is that he’s my oldest, my first to go into 12th grade and I'm not sure of how this whole senior thing works. I don't know the time frame for when to do stuff like senior pics, ring, announcements, college applications and so one. Plus to make it worse he has a horrible school counselor. I wish there was a book called Seniors for Dummies. Anyone else have a DS/DD going into 12th Grade that has any advice?

I have a DD16 who will be a senior this year too. She is also the oldest and we are going with the flow. They received packets in the mail with senior picture info -- she is going next Thursday. Drama this week trying to pick out 3 outfits to wear for the pictures. Don't think there will be much else before school starts (8/25).....my dd wants to start applying to colleges on Aug 1 when the online registration opens for the 2 she really likes.

Good luck -- enjoy the year!

 

[stsomewhere]

Yeah, we got a packet for DD's senior pics, but it's on a day this month when she has something else (that she can't miss) scheduled.

I think it's kind of stupid that the pics are taken so early in the year...and do i even have to use Lifetouch, The Official Photographer (a company, by the way, who seems to take extremely sucky pictures)? I had been kind of planning on using a professional photographer I know who does a great job.

agnes!

You will probably need to use the school photographer for the head shot for the year book and class composite as the background/size need to be consistent. But, can get the pictures to hand out somewhere else

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I also have a senior this year. I am so proud of him and I am both excited and sad about his last year of school and last year to live at home. I hope this will be a special time for all our kids. I cannot even think about this time next year getting him ready to move out. So for now I will just try to enjoy the year of "lasts".

 

[minkydog]

I know just how you feel. I'm already beginning to grieve--and she can't wait to graduate and go off to college. Ah, well, I was the same way...This is my 2nd senior; however, my oldest child took an alternative route to graduation so he didn't go through the traditional stuff(ordering cap & gown, announcements, etc.) So this is pretty new to me, too. We bought DD17s class ring from Walmart(!) when she turned 16. They have some really beautiful rings and she was able to get exactly what she wanted. She just had senior portraits done 2 weeks ago and we got them back this week. She's taken the ACT twice already, possibly will take it one last time. She knows which schools she wants to apply to and plans to get with that in late September.

The one thing we haven't done yet is visit campuses. We have made 3 appts and all three times something prevented it (including a rollover accident on the way to the college! ) So now I'm thinking we'll wait and see what kind of responses she gets and then we'll visit.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

Pick up a phone and call.

I believe the office opens up again sometime next week. I checked the website earlier, but I forget. And, I'm also a little lazy.

 

[barbmouse]

I'm glad I found this thread if only to know others are dealing with the same emotions as I am.

We received notification of picture appt in the mail. DD16 could not make her scheduled time and we are having to go to another school for the drape picture. We can use any photographer we want for senior candid pictures.

DD has taken SAT twice so far and will take it again in Oct. that is the first available time in the fall so if your ds hasn't taken it yet go to Collegeboards website for that info. You will need to register in Sept for that. Collegeboards is a great website with loads of information.

We haven't yet visited colleges but know where she wants to apply.

Anyone have any good advice on seeking scholarships?

I think it will be a rollercoaster year for us all!

 

[budmonster]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful and helpful responses. I guess come Monday I need to get my butt in gear and start making a list of things to do and thing that will need to be done (I'm a planner).

Good luck to all the other Mom's with Senior, I'm sure if your anything like me this year will be filled with a lot of tears. Lets keep in touch and share our experiences.

 

[agnes!]

Yeah, we got a packet for DD's senior pics, but it's on a day this month when she has something else (that she can't miss) scheduled.

I think it's kind of stupid that the pics are taken so early in the year...and do i even have to use Lifetouch, The Official Photographer (a company, by the way, who seems to take extremely sucky pictures)? I had been kind of planning on using a professional photographer I know who does a great job.

agnes!

You will probably need to use the school photographer for the head shot for the year book and class composite as the background/size need to be consistent. But, can get the pictures to hand out somewhere else

(Grumble)... What's kind of funny in an ironic way is that DD is not all that fond of HS...so I don't feel like using the sucky photographers that have a deal with the school. The *really* funny thing is that in the brochure they tout how the kids can have an "Outdoor Session"... But all the pictures in the brochure are NOT taken around a school that looks like any high school I've seen. One girl is standing in a field of daisies! Another kid is perched on a car parked on some lush grass! Another girl is peering out of some greenery, a boy is looking through some ferns, these kids are leaning against fieldstone walls and fine brick buildings and huge gorgeous antique windows...I'd like to know just WHOSE school looks like this? Are they freaking kidding me?!? And I don't feel like paying for any pics for the yearbook...and who cares about the class picture-composite. And the ring. And all the expensive senior functions. (grumble)

I'd just like to at least get some pics of her out of all this that are good.

agnes!

 

[Junebugwv]

We have a senior, too. This is our 4th one so I've been where you are. Let me prepare you for something...it will be the fastest year of your life. Can't explain it. One minute you are asking questions about senior activites and the next minute you are wiping away tears at graduation.

 

[Planogirl]

My son already has his ring and letter jacket. The pictures are supposed to be done in the next few weeks but there is a makeup date during the school term. He has taken the SAT and will take it again along with the ACT. Then there's FAFSA.

I don't know where the years went.