Curious if kids’ lists are fully formed as of yet — or still half-baked? 
Since 7D2 is a recruitable athlete, her process started a little earlier than most…have narrowed things down and will meet with some coaches at a large national meet in a few weeks. Even in her process, though, it’s been interesting to see how some schools have dropped off and others risen — or how a late addition to the mix has become a very strong option.
Half-baked right now. They need weeding rather than additions. With need for FA, we have been advised that the kids should apply to 10-12 schools. A couple of the reachy-reachy colleges need to leave each child’s list, but of course there is the dilemma that the reachy-reachy are likely to be least expensive for us, so should I let them take the chance? The middle range is pretty easy to determine; they each have at least several schools that they like a lot and have a decent shot at. The “likelies” are a little harder to determine. S has a few large schools on his list where he is pretty certain to be admitted, but which won’t be affordable unless he gets very large merit scholarships. D is looking at LACs and smaller universities and it’s a little harder to find schools that meet her academically snobbish standards AND might be affordable AND aren’t unduly far away or difficult to reach. I honestly don’t think she will need the schools at the bottom of her list, but she had better have them just in case. And I’m feeling very pleased with myself right now because I just booked two nights in a hotel (trip to possible “likely” and possible “possible” ) for $0.52. That’s right, folks, just 52 cents buys you free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, and an indoor pool, along with complimentary queen beds and a private bath - with towels! (Credit card reward points, if you’re wondering.)
DS is working as a camp counselor this summer, and so leaves tomorrow and will be gone thru early August. He still needs to work on his college list; we have 3-4 mid-reach schools to visit, and we want to see them when classes are in session. So, we are planning to go in early Sept, if sports allow. The “safe” list is set, and maybe he can even get in a couple of those apps this summer - he’s been “invited” to apply early with the fee waived. I’m not sure how to evaluate the interest of those schools, so I’m taking them at face value. His test scores are well above their median, and he’s got a couple of good leadership activities to round out his mediocre GPA (84).
There sure isn’t much grade inflation going on at Mercersburg; let’s hope colleges realize that!
They do, @twinsmama. Your kids will do fine. Promise.
The GPA thing has me a bit concerned as well. I went to the graduation of a family member recently and about two thirds of the class had a GPA of 4.0 or higher. The valedictorian had 8.1! It freaks me out a bit how my son who also has a mid 80 average will be compared to kids from this type of school. He was a very strong ACT score which is about six point above the average for his current favorite school. Still, I wonder!
He, too plans to work on his college apps as well as study for a try to improve the already excellent ACT score. He is currently in Africa on a three week trip with his school. He can’t get back fast enough!!
Remember, your students will only be compared to other students from their particular BS, not against students from any other schools–apples-to-apples.
I see all of this travel! And, my own son has big plans for traveling in future summers. Do any of your kids work over this summer? (This is an honest question, not snarky at all.) My daughter, who went to the local public school, worked every summer starting w the summer after 10th grade. All of her friends did as well. However, they didn’t travel, research, etc over the summer. Is it atypical for BS kids to have a summer job?
@carpoolingma: I think it is very dependent on the family…I know of many families where the BS kids DO have jobs over the summer, but also many where the kids do not work. In that latter case, I think summer is seen as a time for the family to have together as much as possible.
In our case, 7D1 had summer research positions two of her HS summers. But didn’t have a traditional summer job (like working in a restaurant or as a lifeguard, etc.) per se. In 7D2’s case, the month of June is traditionally occupied with training for a large national sports competition the first week of July…so she’s never really been free until mid-July, which isn’t great for employers looking for summer help. This summer is a little different in that we were able to find her a restaurant job that is open to her starting in mid-July.
Our kids have generally done their school program/educational travel over Spring Breaks, not summers. As noted above, June is pretty much shot in our household. And because I tend to take that first week of July off for the competition, I generally don’t take any more vacation time until August, when we go on a family trip for as long as schedules/budgets allow.
My daughter has a part-time job. My son will get one if he is lucky. It’s hard to find summer jobs that they can get to independently, especially since they’re not around during the school year.
TempKids1, 2,and 3 all work as camp counselors and lifeguards. They have fun and make some money and I like the discipline, responsibility and leadership exposure that comes with it. I think most colleges look favorably on such experience but not necessarily any more than other worthwhile experiences. I think the key is to have some sort of worthwhile experience.
DS worked most summers, and based on the interest shown by college interviewers in that “activity”, he was in the minority. It was tough, though, because as a family, we lost a lot of vacation flexibility. Employers aren’t excited about employees who want several long weekends, fourth of july, etc. So we tried to fall in line.
It was good, though, for him to realize that he could spend as much picking up lunch at the deli on the way to work as he made in an hour. Important life lesson. …
DS is working as a camp counselor - he left today and will be gone through early Aug. He’s 17 and a rising senior who has absolutely no clue what he wants to do/be/study/“adult”. However, he will make good $ and will have few out of pocket expenses for the next 2 months as all the food and “entertainment” will be covered. lol
It’s “good” that students are only compared to others from their school, but it’s also bad in that it fosters competition with peers. I also worry about the grade inflation at public schools – in some cases the more As and the higher the GPA, the more scholarship $$ – and how this compares to kids at more rigorous schools which grade tougher. I know most go to excellent/good colleges, but, how does this affect merit scholarship opportunities?
@ChoatieMom @Momto4kids
My child who had some merit aid schools on the application list received merit aid while being somewhere in the middle of the class grade-wise. Its doable.
@carpoolingma my daughter goes to a BS and hasn’t worked (for pay) yet during her summers. Her first summer she did five weeks of community service in Japan. The last summer and this coming summer, she’s once again taking precollege summer intensive classes (she will start this summer on 7/10).
@SevenDad :-h our list is coming along but far from done. We have been visiting schools, keeping or crossing off of the list as we go. We will be visiting Boston the first week of July to visit three schools. The good thing is that she knows what she wants her major to be. We are looking at both art schools and universities with strong art colleges. That’s made it easier to make a list. She’s an artist and she’s working on her portfolio this summer on top of taking computer animation. I am hoping that we can get to more schools during August but we will see.
My kid, pretty much in the middle of his class, got quite a bit of merit at schools he would have been happy to attend. Enough at some thst DH got in on the “sales pitch” action!
Our school didn’t rank (which is the norm) and the kids really didn’t feel like they were competing with each other. There was talk early on about how one Ivy only ever took 2 kids from our school and how lousy, yada yada, and then somehow 4 were going there…
I was nothing short of a wreck as I was learning about the admissions landscape and feeling like we had absolutely set him up for disaster. With hindsight, the colleges clearly understood the school, it’s curriculum, and the rigor.
I might have a different feeling had he been looking at schools where there wasn’t much history, but there also didn’t seem to be a lot of those. The colleges seemed to get it. It is indeed a stressful process, but my takeaway was that our BS really helped the kids make good choices and convincing cases to the schools. My hunch is that they are all pretty good in this regard.
DS just started his first job Saturday. He is a lifeguard for the city at our public beach. I am hoping to get some good time to work on college list this summer with him. He is our 3rd (2 still in college). Just got done helping his sister chose which college to transfer to and finding an off campus apartment in a city & getting her moved out of her other university. So, feel like we are a bit behind with him. All testing done- thank goodness. Just need to firm up his list. He is headed to NYC to visit a BS friend this week for a concert and enjoying the new found freedom of having his drivers license. (he is taking the train to the city thank gosh!)
Regarding a BS kid being in the “middle of the class.” Since BS don’t rank, how do you actually know where you kid stands relative to peers? A genuine question.
@GoatMama, You know because they publish the grade distribution in the school profile they provide to colleges. And maybe your CC will give you some guidance. And you can see what % of the class is on the Dean’s list each term.
You can also get an idea - not much more than a sense - looking at Naviance although that is a much looser guide.
But there was no weighting of grades either…