3.0 to 3.3 (GPA) Parents Thread (2011 HS Graduation)

Parents Forum
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<p>Thank you for the wonderful story, kathie. You put it all so well. I’m trying now to add to your wisdom, with which I heartily agree.</p>

<p>My D1 was fortunate to “want” it straightaway as she entered HS. Her focus was on high achievement, and she methodically went after it. She was fortunate to have the maturity, both mentally and emotionally, early in her adolescence. </p>

<p>People asked us how we “did it,” and we answered that it really was all her, just as when they asked us how we got her to “be so good” and not to eat fries and soda: she just never liked them, that’s all.</p>

<p>My D2 has done wonderful things in HS and has matured beautifully. She also has brought up her grades this year, and I presume will continue at this level next year. But she was not ready to start HS with all of the energy focused in the same way as her sister. She had to decide how she defined “success;” she had to get over a few chips on her shoulder; she had to rein in some quirky tendencies that had marred her academic performance all her life; and she had to make some goals that mattered to her. Finally, she just had to mature enough that she stopped rebelling against very good advice, stop sabotaging her success, and stop falling back on the “see, I’m just not good at this” attitude.</p>

<p>Again, this was all her. Of course we always had the message of doing your best, and putting in effort even when it’s tough (and D2 has applied these values to many, many things, just not always to tests and grades). But there is something inside a person that has to come together, and different kids with different temperaments take a different amount of time.</p>

<p>Fortunately there are many colleges where they value the kids who have needed to take the journey all the way through HS, and whose records show their stumbles along the way. I’m sure your son will do fine in the long run. Keep on these threads to remember that there are wonderful opportunities for everyone.</p>

<p>My D2 always has said, “I’m a bad test-taker.” She still does, but I think she knows in her heart how far she’s come in mastering that skill. She refused to go to any kind of study center, and has been picky about getting any help or advice to work on this. For her, I do think it was a lack of self-confidence fed by immaturity; with maturity she has finally started absorbing the skills they DO teach in school (no matter how much she claimed they don’t), and with some new success she is much more confident overall. </p>

<p>I hope this is the case with your S, and that you’ll see changes as he matures. If you do feel he is trying as hard as he can, without blocks due to immaturity or other regular emotional reasons, would recommend doing some educational testing. It can identify any significant issues that prevent his success. We did this a few years ago, and it did help this D know what some of her pitfalls were, and work with them more effectively, but obviously most of the program for her really was just needing to get older and to “kick into gear.” </p>

<p>Best wishes to you both!</p>

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<p>The only suggestion we really made was to make a study plan for finals and factor in activities like soccer practice, rather than waiting to the last minute. With regard to SAT prep, once he made up his mind, he was pretty good about following through on practicing ( blue book and collegeboard SAT course, but didn’t complete either. CC really helped me cone up with a few carefully worded (BRIEF) recommendation on how to make a little effort pay off). He was alos willing to take it twice so far. This was in stark contrast to his sister three years older, who graduated with a 4.0 plus, got a 2000k on her SAT first time and wouldn’t practice or take it again, and STILL procrastinates, while finishing her sophomore year at a ten Uni.</p>

<p>He is really motvated to play soccer, but also has his eye on a particular state U a lot of his soccer buds go to.Unfortunately it remains a huge reach at this point.</p>

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<p>The only time limit for submitting scores is for the 4 free ones that come with the registration fee. Unfortunately, you have to commit to these before you get the test results. The deadline comes up real quick so check the date on the ACT site. My S doesn’t want to take this risk, so we will be shelling out the $9.00 for each score to be sent.</p>

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<p>Shrinkrap’s daughter got a 2 million on the SAT. :eek:</p>

<p>Kidding. ;)</p>

<p>I’m looking into DePaul. I created another thread because I figured that it might get more traffic than in here, but form what I’ve seen, it’s a good fit for this level of student.</p>

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<p>dkitty, if you provide some more details about what sort of school yo are seeking in the Northeast (size? urban or rural? any special features?) a number of people here can give you many suggestions</p>

<p>Holliesue and Emmybet, you might enjoy the column in today’s NY Times styles section on how the TV show Glee has inspired a HS kids to be very theater-oriented</p>

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<p>thanks yabeyabe2, will check it out.</p>

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<p>"Shrinkrap’s daughter got a 2 million on the SAT. "</p>

<p>Hee Hee! </p>

<p>PS I am using her Mac and can’t get the hang of the right click stuff…</p>

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<p>Thank you to everyone for the advise. I do love my kid on the couch and feel certain he will do fine in life long-term. He found a summer job all on this own this summer without pressure from us, as a bus boy at a retirement home no less. He’s funny and creative and very likeable. I just get so frustrated for him that he bombs on tests and has done so since he was old enough to start taking them. I wish it were a problem with an easy solution, but of course there rarely is such a thing. I’ll keep encouraging him and coming back here for glimmers of hope from you all. Thanks again.</p>

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<p>Tulare - Like KathieP, our son became more focused on improving grades and scores after he started visiting some desirable universities. (and not always doing formal tours - we went to a performance at one university and a sporting event at another. Then the idea of a good college seemed fun and not just drudgery.</p>

<p>Once he got some favorite schools in mind, he was willing to study to improve his test scores and grades.</p>

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<p>Who’s going where this summer? I’ve made arrangements to see Florida Institute of Technology in a couple of weeks and Rochester Institute of Technology the first week in August. Somehow, I also want to fit in Pitt, Champlain, UVM and St. Mike’s. I think we can do Pitt one weekend in July but might have to wait for the fall for the Vermont schools. I would like son to see them in full swing.</p>

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<p>Good luck with your trips, kathie! I’m sure they’ll be educational. </p>

<p>It is nice to see schools with students there. I urged my D to see a school last spring (10th grade) while in session (it was trimesters and went later in June) so her first real visit would be at an inhabited school. Last summer we took 2 tours at schools that had begun their orientation weeks, so at least first-years were there; we drove through a couple of other campuses that were still deserted, but she after being on a couple of tours she did get a lot out of just seeing what a certain campus looked like.</p>

<p>We did 2 tours at Thanksgiving, Mon and Tues while classes were still in session, and saw 7 schools over spring break (3 tours and 4 drive-bys). Phew! It’s starting to be easier. Luckily both she and I really enjoy the tours, but I think she’s starting to have seen enough. </p>

<p>The funny thing is we never get around to seeing the schools that are close-by! The Thanksgiving tours were while visiting my family in Mass (deliberately planned the college tours, too) and she very happily traded college visit days with seeing Broadway shows on our trip to New York.</p>

<p>If she drives east with me when I take her sister to Boston at the end of August we could stop again at some schools that have just started back up (public school here begins 9/1; wish it were after Labor Day!). But honestly I’d really rather take her when schools are in full swing at this point, so I think we’ll use some long weekends our school district sprinkles through the year. </p>

<p>I’m disappointed her choir hasn’t gotten it together the past 2 years to have a spring break trip, but now at least we’re free to decide what we want to do in March '11, and I think it will be valuable time for comparing options, or finally going on that first visit to a couple of schools - of course, depending on where she’s accepted (the only true safeties are local publics, so we might end up just taking a vacation, if you catch my drift …).</p>

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<p>About Clark…he was most impressed with the connection to the urban setting. He liked that Clark was part of the neighborhood, not isolated…go figure…this from a kid who wanted to apply only to schools in the “country”…kids! So now we wait to see how he fared on his Finals…he is not a great test taker…keeping my fingers crossed!</p>

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<p>Visits are SO important!!!</p>

<p>Best wishes to your son, Rakenjake. Clark is definitely the kind of school that isn’t going to shred his application because a few tests weren’t stellar. It sounds like he’s looking in the right places! </p>

<p>My D is having a wonderful morning eating junk out of a bag and reading for pleasure. She has some chores to do, but she’s definitely in “summer mode”!</p>

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<p>Rakenjake, I think your son and Clark are a very good fit and he should mention the “connection to the arrea” appeal in his essay, as they stress it.</p>

<p>Emmybet, my son is fully in Summer mode, too–but this is finals week! Thankfully, he is a senior. Make sure your daughter reads the NY Times piece yesterday on Glee and HS theater geeks no longer being geeks.</p>

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<p>Yes, we looked at it, thank you! I do think my D could beat that columnist in a theater trivia wrestling match, though! She has geek Master Points. Rent? Spring Awakening? Pshaw! Ask her who was the original Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun (and what Tony-winning musical he was featured in in 1969), or, even better, who used to orchestrate for Cole Porter…</p>

<p>Good luck TO and WITH your son! I hope he has a great summer.</p>

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<p>Just wanted to stop in and congratulate you guys on your new thread and your seniors!</p>

<p>It’s sad to see the old thread fade away, but I’ll always have the memories…sigh… :-)</p>

<p>I wish you all much luck this year, and I hope this new thread is as valuable for you and the old one was for me.</p>

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<p>Thank you, RTR! You are the Great Originator!</p>

<p>Seriously, starting a thread for 3.X students was brilliant, and a life-saver. We’re proud to continue, and hope you check in once in a while.</p>

<p>Best wishes to you and your family!</p>

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<p>Rakenjake,</p>

<p>Do you know any details about public transportation for getting from Clark into Boston, whether it’s relatively straightforward and any idea of cost? My S is intrigued by Clark, but would love fairly easy access to the city from time to time, and the only complaints I’ve heard about Clark have to do with where it is. BTW, we live in California. Thanks so much.</p>

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<p>1 option from Clark to Boston is MBTA commuter rail–about 80-90 minutes. There may also be buses–and I bet kids offer rides frequently from Clark and the other Worcester schools–WPI, Holy Cross</p>

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<p>For those of us thinking of visiting Pitt this summer…be sure to review the Ready Set Pitt program.</p>

<p>[University</a> of Pittsburgh: Undergraduate Admissions & Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/oncmppgm_seasonal.aspx#summer]University”>http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/oncmppgm_seasonal.aspx#summer)
May not be of interest to all.</p>

<p>In addition to this program, if student begins application while on campus this summer…and completes application within a certain time frame, they wave the application fee!</p>