Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[mamacatnv]

DS just got accepted to Texas A&M. It's one of his safety schools, but good to have in his back pocket. The school is not really a match for his personality, but it's still nice to have the acceptance.

Congrats! DD wouldn't apply to A&M, her safety is Texas State and I feel the same way about that as you do A&M. Its great that they have a school but its certainly not first choice.

I have a friend whose son is at Berkeley on an athletic scholarship, he is a track star. He also had excellent grades and test scores so while it was earned thru athletics not merit at least he is not completely out of his element. He actually turned down Stanford who also offered full ride due to his athletics. I completely understand the frustration, I was talking with DD's social group and we were discussing their dream schools. They know that even with great grades, test scores and excellent resumes, getting in is still a crap shoot as there are 1000's of kids with the same resumes all competing for limited spots.

 

[AustinTink]

Congrats! DD wouldn't apply to A&M, her safety is Texas State and I feel the same way about that as you do A&M. Its great that they have a school but its certainly not first choice.

I have a friend whose son is at Berkeley on an athletic scholarship, he is a track star. He also had excellent grades and test scores so while it was earned thru athletics not merit at least he is not completely out of his element. He actually turned down Stanford who also offered full ride due to his athletics. I completely understand the frustration, I was talking with DD's social group and we were discussing their dream schools. They know that even with great grades, test scores and excellent resumes, getting in is still a crap shoot as there are 1000's of kids with the same resumes all competing for limited spots.

With her stats, Texas State will probably offer her a full ride. DS applied there also and they came very close to full ride for him. He still doesn't want to go there though. There are really just a few schools that he is truly excited about. We'll see if they come through.

 

[mamacatnv]

With her stats, Texas State will probably offer her a full ride. DS applied there also and they came very close to full ride for him. He still doesn't want to go there though. There are really just a few schools that he is truly excited about. We'll see if they come through.

Therein lays a dilemma, a free ride is really hard to walk away from. Ugh.........

On another note, are any y'alls kids in the IB program? DD dropped from the diploma program but is still taking the courses. Since she is no longer diploma the tests are not mandatory, thank goodness, I just paid $274 for two (2) tests that her adviser believes will benefit her going forward - Math and Physics at $97 ea with a registration fee of $168 (school pays half the registration fee) Yikes if she had stayed full course we would be looking at almost a $1000 in test fee's

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Last night DD submitted the common app to her two safety schools (University of Tennessee and Old Dominion University). 4 down, 2 to go.

 

[v.t.]

DS just got accepted to Texas A&M. It's one of his safety schools, but good to have in his back pocket. The school is not really a match for his personality, but it's still nice to have the acceptance.

Glad he got his acceptance. A&M is definitely a different school, and it doesn't appeal to everyone, but you are right, it is nice to have an acceptance.

Therein lays a dilemma, a free ride is really hard to walk away from. Ugh.........

On another note, are any y'alls kids in the IB program? DD dropped from the diploma program but is still taking the courses. Since she is no longer diploma the tests are not mandatory, thank goodness, I just paid $274 for two (2) tests that her adviser believes will benefit her going forward - Math and Physics at $97 ea with a registration fee of $168 (school pays half the registration fee) Yikes if she had stayed full course we would be looking at almost a $1000 in test fee's

We tried to get our DSs to look at other schools that offer larger scholarships, no such luck.
While the boys are not in the IB program they have taken AP tests to earn credits (12 so far), took a summer course and are in Dual Credit this year. The AP test are $75 and the DC is running around $1000. Not cheap but less than what it would be next year.

 

[punkin]

OOPS!!!

Niece forgot to send SAT scores to 3 of her colleges. I just sent them out and I hope they get there in time for the EA deadlines. Oh Well!

 

[4forMe]

My DS is applying to 7 schools and has 4 applications completed. He was already accepted to his safety with a merit scholarship. His top choice school has a 12/1 deadline, and he is dragging his feet getting the application completed. I am hoping he has the remaining 3 applications done by Thanksgiving weekend.

Oh I hope so, I just finished the FAFSA and the EFC made me cry due to the dramatic change in income from 2015 to now.
Just curious, will they get offers from schools they have not applied to?
I'm trying to navigate the scholarships etc on the websites of the schools she is applying too

Based on our experience, yes, your DD will probably get offers for schools she hasn't applied to. Our DS has similar stats and the best offer we received was from University of Texas-Dallas. It was close to a full ride and included a stipend for a semester abroad. Unfortunately, they do not offer the major DS is interested in.

If you google "automatic full tuition scholarships", the first 3 responses offer pretty good lists of available scholarships.

Congrats to your DD on her ACT score!

 

[punkin]

A little rant re: Thank you notes for teacher recommendations. So Niece got two teachers to give recommendations for college. I told her to write nice thank you notes and gave $25 B&N gift cards. She came home from school yesterday almost in tears because one of the teachers got a huge (and apparently very expensive) fruit basket as a college recommendation thank you. Back when older DD was doing this (7 years ago-same school) a nice gift card was considered nice but not even necessary. Some kids baked cookies. Some bought mugs. A thank you note was really all anyone expected. At younger DD's school (last year), we were not allowed to bring gifts so she just wrote thank you notes. When did this change and I really don't like the trend. What are the not so well off kids supposed to do? Comments? Thoughts?

 

[robinb]

My DD applied to one of her safety schools last night. Her GPA and ACT are right on target for that school. We have not heard from MN or WI yet. One of her friends received an acceptance from MN but she applied earlier and has a 32 ACT.

State swim meet update: my DD swam her seed time but moved up from 4 spots. She was hoping for the school record . Oh well. She swims again this weekend at a big prelims/finals meet and then she won't swim a meet again for about a month. She needs the rest!

@punkin i have never heard of a thank you anything for recommendations. Whoops.

 

[bjscheel]

A little rant re: Thank you notes for teacher recommendations. So Niece got two teachers to give recommendations for college. I told her to write nice thank you notes and gave $25 B&N gift cards. She came home from school yesterday almost in tears because one of the teachers got a huge (and apparently very expensive) fruit basket as a college recommendation thank you. Back when older DD was doing this (7 years ago-same school) a nice gift card was considered nice but not even necessary. Some kids baked cookies. Some bought mugs. A thank you note was really all anyone expected. At younger DD's school (last year), we were not allowed to bring gifts so she just wrote thank you notes. When did this change and I really don't like the trend. What are the not so well off kids supposed to do? Comments? Thoughts?

Sounds like another example of people going over the top- I wouldn't try to keep up! I'm sure nothing like that is going on here- a thank you card at the most- I think teachers would feel odd about taking gifts.

The musical is over! DD18 is happy to have free time now to draw, but DD15 is really missing it- theater is her thing. It went off very well. Friday night had sound issues- piano too loud, mics alternately too loud or soft, but Saturday night they put a girl at the sound station and everything was much better. No lines missed on Saturday either. It was very fun to watch! They had reservations about doing Little Shop of Horrors at first, but it turned out to suit their cast very well and was funny.

Found out at the musical that a girl who graduated last year is transferring to DD's college next year so they might try to be in the same apartment. She would be an excellent roommate, very quiet and sweet.

 

[robinb]

@mamacatnv, thanks again for mentioning the Minnesota application tracker. One of my DD's friends (with an awesome ACT) has already been admitted and my DD wanted to know how her application was doing and she asked me to check. I called and got my DD's student ID number and logged onto it the application tracker and found out that they were missing her transcripts! I sent them via Parchment on 10/31 and someone the UMN lost them . I called the admissions office and they are now trying to track them down for us.

 

[mamacatnv]

A little rant re: Thank you notes for teacher recommendations. So Niece got two teachers to give recommendations for college. I told her to write nice thank you notes and gave $25 B&N gift cards. She came home from school yesterday almost in tears because one of the teachers got a huge (and apparently very expensive) fruit basket as a college recommendation thank you. Back when older DD was doing this (7 years ago-same school) a nice gift card was considered nice but not even necessary. Some kids baked cookies. Some bought mugs. A thank you note was really all anyone expected. At younger DD's school (last year), we were not allowed to bring gifts so she just wrote thank you notes. When did this change and I really don't like the trend. What are the not so well off kids supposed to do? Comments? Thoughts?

Sounds like an over the top type scenario - I think any teacher would appreciate the thank you note and not give the "size" of the gift a second thought. I like the idea of no gifts allowed, don't want to appear that a kid can buy a recommendation. My DS received a letter of recommendation from a college professr, I am convinced to this day that whatever she said helped him get into grad school. Son and I both sent her a nice note but certainly not a fruit basket LOL I also send his Graduate school announcement to her, I think educators are thrilled to see "their kids" do well.

@mamacatnv, thanks again for mentioning the Minnesota application tracker. One of my DD's friends (with an awesome ACT) has already been admitted and my DD wanted to know how her application was doing and she asked me to check. I called and got my DD's student ID number and logged onto it the application tracker and found out that they were missing her transcripts! I sent them via Parchment on 10/31 and someone the UWM lost them . I called the admissions office and they are now trying to track them down for us.

I'll remind DD to check her status although I think she checks it daily.

 

[mamacatnv]

On another note - DD is having all 4 wisdom teeth pulled Friday and I'm a wreck.
DS only had 1, the extraction was easy. DD has all 4 and has never had anesthesia

 

[robinb]

I'll remind DD to check her status although I think she checks it daily.

I think she'll be fine.

My DD's status clearly said that they could not review the application because her transcripts were missing. So she's weeks behind. PLUS, they had a "grace period" of 11/7 to get all the materials in to be under the priority deadline but did not email or contact us to let us know the transcripts were missing. I'll touch base with the admissions counselor to make sure that she will still be considered under that priority deadline since THEY lost her transcripts.

 

[Poohforyou]

A little rant re: Thank you notes for teacher recommendations. So Niece got two teachers to give recommendations for college. I told her to write nice thank you notes and gave $25 B&N gift cards. She came home from school yesterday almost in tears because one of the teachers got a huge (and apparently very expensive) fruit basket as a college recommendation thank you. Back when older DD was doing this (7 years ago-same school) a nice gift card was considered nice but not even necessary. Some kids baked cookies. Some bought mugs. A thank you note was really all anyone expected. At younger DD's school (last year), we were not allowed to bring gifts so she just wrote thank you notes. When did this change and I really don't like the trend. What are the not so well off kids supposed to do? Comments? Thoughts?

Everyone's perspective on a thank you is different. There isn't any point in trying to compare or compete. Dd is working on a thank you note for her teachers and I'll be getting them gift cards as well. Teachers aren't obligated to write letters so I think a thank you is very important.

 

[v.t.]

My boys have written thank you notes for the letters of recommendations. We did not do gifts, except for a retired counselor who spoke to them about what they wanted, goals, majors and helped edit essays. We did an Amazon gift card. I know you have to be careful what you gift a teacher, especially if they are still in the class.

 

[Poohforyou]

I think she'll be fine.

My DD's status clearly said that they could not review the application because her transcripts were missing. So she's weeks behind. PLUS, they had a "grace period" of 11/7 to get all the materials in to be under the priority deadline but did not email or contact us to let us know the transcripts were missing. I'll touch base with the admissions counselor to make sure that she will still be considered under that priority deadline since THEY lost her transcripts.

Just a suggestion that you can take or leave, but it would probably be better for your daughter to be the one checking with admissions rather than you. she could easily send an email since calling during the day is likely difficult.

 

[robinb]

Just a suggestion that you can take or leave, but it would probably be better for your daughter to be the one checking with admissions rather than you. she could easily send an email since calling during the day is likely difficult.

Well ... it's already done so no use crying over spilt milk.

 

[mamacatnv]

Just a suggestion that you can take or leave, but it would probably be better for your daughter to be the one checking with admissions rather than you. she could easily send an email since calling during the day is likely difficult.

While I generally tend to agree with this attitude, I found that as my DS navigated college, there are just some things that when coming from the parent get the attention they need. Colleges "say" that they want the kids to be independent BUT I found that colleges (adults) often discount what the kids are trying to say or sort out. Its almost like they dismiss them whereas when a parent is involved that is not as common of an occurrence. Its shameful really but what they "say" vs what they really do is completely different. I would have done the same thing here that RobinB did. Sometimes the circumstances are not a "teaching" moment, they are a hey, you dropped the ball and you need to fix it moment and a call from the Parent will go much further than an email from the student. Just my 2cents

 

[lucky978]

On another note - DD is having all 4 wisdom teeth pulled Friday and I'm a wreck.
DS only had 1, the extraction was easy. DD has all 4 and has never had anesthesia

Good luck to your daughter on Friday!