Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[3smithboys]

We also have a list of 14 schools that we are trying to narrow down! We have visited several so far. There are a few that are far that if he does apply to them, we won't visit unless he is accepted and he is seriously considering them. We flew to FL in June and visited 4 schools... he loved 1, liked 1, and was able to cross 2 off of his list. So that was a successful trip! This process is so stressful.

 

[Poohforyou]

I guess I'm lucky, my daughter has a list of 4 schools she'd be very happy attending. We've visited all of them along with a few others that got nixed. None are a reach for her so that's good.

We're visiting her 1st choice again later this month.

She may add 1 or 2 more but that's it. She's thinking of throwing an Ivy into the mix just to see if she can get in.

My daughter is very specific in what she wants so that made whittling things down very easy.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Tuesday is the start of DS's senior year. He goes to a Catholic High School where a lot of the families have much more money than we do. I've been getting emails from one of the moms the last couple week about a senior trip to Punta Cana. No idea how much this would cost but it is. 5 star all inclusive. This is crazy to me. First, I don't like the idea a senior trip at all but then add in an expensive all inclusive. He's my only and senior trip never even crossed my mind. I'm I out of touch or is this way over the top?

Around here the seniors at both private and public schools do a Beach Week after graduation. They usually go to the Outer Banks, NC or Myrtle Beach, SC (3 to 5 hour drive). When DS19 went, one dad chaperoned the boys house and two moms chaperoned the girls house next door. DD is planning a co-ed house with her friend group. DH and one other dad are planning to chaperone. That's the only way she will be allowed to attend.

While in high school, DS had two travel abroad opportunities. His Catholic all boys military school was invited to participate in the 70th anniversary celebrations of D-Day in Normandy, France, his junior year, and his golf team went to play in Ireland his senior year spring break. We promised DD that if her school had a trip to Europe, she could go. Her AP European History teacher has put together a trip to Madrid, Paris and Rome for July 2017. We signed her up and have been paying $232 a month since the spring. It's not really a senior trip or a graduation trip though. That's just how the timing works out.

How many schools have you and your kids visited? We started visiting some in the spring and have seen more this summer, with a few more to go. I've recently talked to some parents who aren't taking their kids to see any schools until they know where they're accepted.

We're trying to see all of the schools on DD's list, hoping that seeing them and taking a tour will help her figure out what she likes and what she doesn't, and that will help her narrow down her list. But now I'm wondering if we should just wait and see where she gets in before visiting the rest. What are your thoughts?

I posted this earlier: We have a Nursing Open House scheduled at University of Virginia (her reach school) on October 8th. She has set up hospital volunteering this summer to make her UVA application stronger. She's also starting her SAT prep class next week. She needs to pull up her math scores if she wants a shot at UVA.

So far she's toured:
Radford - had nursing, but she didn't like the school at all, has no football team
Old Dominion University - has nursing and football team, but she didn't like the school
William and Mary - no nursing
Virginia Tech - no nursing (LOVED it though)
Christopher Newport - she liked the school, but it doesn't have nursing
James Madison University - hits everything on her list (nursing, football team, not a commuter school, likes it)

In addition to UVA we may look at Longwood and Mary Washington. Both have nursing but no football team so she probably won't like them.

 

[v.t.]

I know I am joining the group late, but I have enjoyed reading this thread. I seem to have the opposite problem of those who kids want to visit different schools. I have twin boys and they don't want to visit other campuses. They know which schools they want and are auto admits so they aren't interested in visiting any other school. On one hand I am glad they have a plan, but listening to others who have visited and explored I am wondering if I should force them to at least consider another university.

 

[wannabee]

Mine is the same. His choice is our state flagship which is auto admit. I'm glad its so easy.

 

[bjscheel]

We've visited one public university, have a visit scheduled in October to another, and probably will visit a private college in October as well. I'm really worried about the cost so we might revisit the community college route, though I hate to have her commute in the winter, and the cost of dorm living there almost negates the CC tuition savings.

 

[laughinplace199]

We looked at two schools today. We toured one and just walked around another one DD had seen a while back. She liked both of them, so narrowing down the List hasn't happened yet.. At least all of the schools she's interested in aren't too far away - most are a 2-3 hour drive, so visiting isn't too bad if we can fit a few into a weekend.

 

[AustinTink]

Anyone have a kid who has finished all their applications already? Mine has not. But I know some who are done completely.

 

[Poohforyou]

Anyone have a kid who has finished all their applications already? Mine has not. But I know some who are done completely.

My daughter has the common app done along with the essay. She met with a friend who works at a private school and helps students with their essays. She has to do the extra parts for each school.

 

[aprilgail]

Anyone have a kid who has finished all their applications already? Mine has not. But I know some who are done completely.

I WISH! Mine is still working on summer homework projects from school. She has done some o the common app- some of questbridge and working on some scholarship applications- our school has different organizations that give out scholarships and each require a different essay-there are about 150 different scholarships!!

 

[laughinplace199]

DD has looked at the common app to start thinking about her essay, but that's it. Her summer job just ended, so she should have some more free time now to get working on it. I'd love for her to be done soon to help make the fall a little less stressful.

 

[aprilgail]

DD has looked at the common app to start thinking about her essay, but that's it. Her summer job just ended, so she should have some more free time now to get working on it. I'd love for her to be done soon to help make the fall a little less stressful.

The first month of English in our school is the kids writing their essays and the English teacher helping them. She has about 3/4 done but it needs a lot of fine tuning!

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

DD's job ended last Thursday. On Aug 18th her school program has an all day seminar to work with the kids on the common app. She needs to get an essay rough draft ready between now and then.

 

[AustinTink]

I'm glad to know my kid is not the only one still working on it. He is waiting for a possible commendation to come through in September before he hits send on his applications. I think that's part of the procrastination on is part.

 

[AustinTink]

I WISH! Mine is still working on summer homework projects from school. She has done some o the common app- some of questbridge and working on some scholarship applications- our school has different organizations that give out scholarships and each require a different essay-there are about 150 different scholarships!!

Mine is working on homework right now. School starts tomorrow. SMH.

 

[jbcheerchick93]

Tuesday is the start of DS's senior year. He goes to a Catholic High School where a lot of the families have much more money than we do. I've been getting emails from one of the moms the last couple week about a senior trip to Punta Cana. No idea how much this would cost but it is. 5 star all inclusive. This is crazy to me. First, I don't like the idea a senior trip at all but then add in an expensive all inclusive. He's my only and senior trip never even crossed my mind. I'm I out of touch or is this way over the top?

In my area all of the public school seniors and private school seniors do a Senior Week but it's not endorsed by the school and there are no chaperones. It's a week at the beach, typically Ocean City, MD, and several students will go in on a house together with each parent signing the contracts too. Most houses are 6-8 people and I was in one that was 12. Some are co-ed and some are not. It happens the week after graduation and is a fun way to kick off the summer.

 

[v.t.]

Mine is the same. His choice is our state flagship which is auto admit. I'm glad its so easy.

I am glad we are not the only ones.

Anyone have a kid who has finished all their applications already? Mine has not. But I know some who are done completely.

Mind are about 2/3 finished with the essays. A retired counselor is going to help them on Thursday so hopefully they will finish today. School starts Monday and I would like everything completed this weekend.

I WISH! Mine is still working on summer homework projects from school. She has done some o the common app- some of questbridge and working on some scholarship applications- our school has different organizations that give out scholarships and each require a different essay-there are about 150 different scholarships!!

Our school's summer projects are due towards the end of June, which I like so they have a few free weeks of summer. How lucky to have so many local scholarships, but Wow! that is a lot of essays to write.

 

[aprilgail]

I am glad we are not the only ones.


Mind are about 2/3 finished with the essays. A retired counselor is going to help them on Thursday so hopefully they will finish today. School starts Monday and I would like everything completed this weekend.



Our school's summer projects are due towards the end of June, which I like so they have a few free weeks of summer. How lucky to have so many local scholarships, but Wow! that is a lot of essays to write.

We only get out the end of June but she did have one AP project due the end of July- the rest are due in Sept.

Our Alumni Foundation gives out about 75 of those scholarships- many are in memory of past alumni and teachers and some of the "classes of (whatever years) give out scholarships. Last year the class of 1984 gave out 6 of them. They are all small- between 500-1000 but they add up if you win a few! My friend gives out one every year in memory of her late husband who was an alumni. The teachers association gave out 6- $1000.00 scholarships and the town gives out a 10,000 mayors scholarship. The pta gives out 35- $500.00 ones (I only counted that as 1 since they all can only win one of those). My daughter was asked to take pics at scholarship night this year so I went and sat through it- it runs over 4 hours by the time they hand them all out- and most go to kids in the top 10%- one kid must have gotten at least 10- I kept hearing his name over and over!

 

[punkin]

Niece is sitting in her too. Doing AP lit summer work. She did finish her common App essay, so I figure we're ahead of the game.

 

[robinb]

My DD has started practicing for her HS swim team even though school does not start until September. We just came back from a 5-day cruise out of Miami and we flew back via Fort Lauderdale. She arranged to meet with the head swim coach at Nova Southeastern University before our flight back. She did an AWESOME job in the interview. She answered all his questions and had a lot of questions of her own. It went really well and he said that her existing backstroke times would put her top-16 in the Conference meet which means that she would be able to score them points before she even trains at the college level. We'll see if he reaches back out to her. One of the advantages of NSU is that they have what's called a "duel admission" program in Physical Therapy (as well as other programs) which guarantees the student a spot in the graduate level Physical Therapy program if they meet certain requirements as an undergraduate. It's a 7-year program but it's all in one school.