<p>Weenie -- LOL</p>
<p>theothermuse - It would be a shame to go all the way across the country to visit Smith and not take the time to also check out Middlebury, to see how you like the setting. Try to fit that in. Some driving, but worth it. You could do it by adding one total day to your trip, I think.</p>
<p>I'm sorry parents of Class of 2011 but LOL, LOL, LOL! I love these boys, how can I not, I have one of my own!</p>
<p>Peggy, you are forgetting the biggest reason your S does not want a techie engineering school, it's called girls! My S, being so polite, comments that he'd like a more diverse school (means girls).</p>
<p>Oh Weenie, that was so funny!</p>
<p>Kids are suppose to research schools. Who knew! Mine thought that if he procrastinated long enough Mom would do it and of course he was right. The good news is that he's happy with that and pretty easy to please.</p>
<p>A friend of mine complained the other day that she couldn't get her S interested in visiting schools. I told her that you just tell them that they have to visit, suggest the schools and when and they'll go. As long as they don't have to plan, they are fine. Reminds me of my H and vacation. He'll go, just don't expect him to do anything but pack the car and drive (once in a while!).</p>
<p>Screen name: binx (mom)</p>
<p>Is your Junior male or female: Female</p>
<p>Home state: Georgia, will return there for senior year. Years 9-11 in German school.</p>
<p>Preferred geographic location for college: Would prefer not GA. Likes northeast.</p>
<p>Any specific things looking for in a college: Size, etc, yet to be determined. Things that matter at this point: Good English department; Variety of foreign languages offered; Ability to play violin at school as non-major. School that values "unique" applicants.</p>
<p>Child's possible academic interests: Probably English major, with foreign language minor, or double major. At the moment.</p>
<p>Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: William & Mary, Furman, Mercer, St. Olaf, Grinnell, Middlebury. Maybe Indiana, or Ohio State, or Williams. Still looking.</p>
<p>Schools we've visited: None, except for visits with brothers. (She saw Penn, Indiana, Curtis, Duke.)</p>
<p>Senior Year Courseload (tentative): Huge question. We're not even sure she'll be a senior next year; maybe repeating junior year, if school system doesn't accept enough German credits. (Then I'll be copying and pasting this into the Class of 2012 thread!) If she IS a senior next year, she'll take AP Lit, an AP math - either calc or stat, three social studies courses - since those taken in Germany don't count, and will have one open period for whatever else they decide she needs. Health? Science? Orchestra?</p>
<p>Study Plans for SAT/ACT: PSAT was fine. No trophies, but solidly above average. SATI is this Saturday. She has been taking a few practice sections of math and reading this week. If she scores on the tests as well as she scores on the practice, she'll be okay.</p>
<p>EC's of Note: Lived and attended school in Germany for 3 years of high school. Has travelled a lot. Has played violin since age 6. She is (now) fluent in German. Takes Spanish in school, and Chinese after school. Won a Bavaria-wide art contest last year. Different school clubs are offered each year, based on grade-level. She chooses ones that have to do with performing arts (drama, puppet theater, chorus, orchestra) or art. She helps every December with the Live Nativity at the Christmas Market. Plays on the town softball team (poorly -- like most of her German teammates.) </p>
<p>Summer Plans: Has school through July 28th here, and starts school in GA on August 14. Will move and register during the two weeks in between. Hopefully visit some schools in the fall, if she is indeed a senior.</p>
<p>I"m glad I'm not the only one here whose son is not into researching schools. Mine will consider almost anything I suggest. Whereas his sister was the opposite. With her if Mom liked it she found something wrong with it even if she liked it.
In the car a few months ago-mom to son "have you thought about where you might want to go to college? son's answer "anywhere that will take me."</p>
<p>mom60:
LOL. I love boys.</p>
<p>an observation w/ my S on the college search apathy thing.....he is as ambivalent on the subject as most others it seems, but I have seen a little spark of interest because he has, at my urging I might say, had email conversations with a few coaches....this has seemed to instill a fleeting interest at assessing a few schools. The sports thing does have its downside in making the whole college selection game a bit more complex, but at least it appears to have caused this small silver lining. The only other thing that seems to motivate S on college searching is per group pressure....I've seen that when his group of friends happens, for whatever reason, to talk about a specific school, he checks it out...its happened now twice, hope it happens some more.</p>
<p>I was amazed that my son actually read the Fiske guide I bought him. But if this doesn't sum up my brilliant but dumb son -- he looked up the various Ivy League schools we were planning on visiting in the Spring then told us we could scratch Cornell off the list. Why, I asked. Well, first off, it's in Iowa. Second, it's not really for me, Mom. Yes, he looked up Cornell College of Iowa not Cornell Univ. of NY. He cracks me up. As I said in my letter to his counselor, he needs a college with the most rigorous academic program available, but one personal enough that someone can show him where the cafeteria is.</p>
<p>Screen name: my-3-sons</p>
<p>Is your Junior male or female: Male#3</p>
<p>Home state: NH</p>
<p>Preferred geographic location for college: Anywhere except extreme south. Not rural.</p>
<p>Any specific things looking for in a college: Mid-size, sports programs, school spirit.</p>
<p>Child's possible academic interests: Changes daily.</p>
<p>Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: Just started forming a list. U Denver, Coastal Carolina, Ohio University, Bowling Green, Northeastern, Niagara.</p>
<p>Schools we've visited: None, except for visits with brothers. U Miami, Norwich, Northeastern. Planning trip for spring break. Where-who knows!</p>
<p>Senior Year Courseload (tentative):We meet with counselor next week. Probably Calc, Latin, Physics, Adv Chem, Eng, ? </p>
<p>Prep Plans for SAT/ACT: A few tutoring sessions with HS teacher that does prep.</p>
<p>EC's of Note: Ice Hockey, Bowling, intramural sports, Habitat for Humanity</p>
<p>Summer Plans: Hopefully making money!!!</p>
<p>I thought the third one would be easier-no way! LOL</p>
<p>lderochi-My oldest attended Norwich. He is taking a semester off now, but planning on going back next year. Is your S interested in the Corps of Cadets? Any questions, let me know.</p>
<p>BurnThis:
Very funny. Thanks for the laugh.</p>
<p>NJres (merely indicates I am a resident of NJ, not a medical resident)</p>
<p>Jr is a male</p>
<p>Home state: New Jersey</p>
<p>Preferred geographic location for college: within a 4 hr drive, so besides NJ, Mass, RI are possible, NY, PA, VA, MD, and possibly NC. (ok, 4+ hrs) </p>
<p>Prefers non-urban campus. Wide open otherwise, will consider a few large universities and small LACs.</p>
<p>No clear academic interest. Tests better in math but is good at other things too.</p>
<p>Nothing solid on HIS list: Names that have come up include Rutgers, Dickinson, Wisconsin (too far). More research needed! Selecting schools to visit right now. </p>
<p>Schools visited: Susquehanna University, Bucknell, Penn, Michigan (no formal tour), and about 15 small schools during his older brother's search. </p>
<p>Senior Year Courseload : not sure</p>
<p>Study Plans for SAT/ACT: SAT will be taken in May. Math SAT tutor declined to help him and a friend, so he will self study for math and they will share a tutor for the reading/writing part. Just bought the new "Real SAT" book and printed off the thread on the "Xiggi" method. </p>
<p>EC's of Note: Cross country, spring track, tutoring.</p>
<p>Summer Plans: Counsellor at a cub scout day camp.</p>
<p>NJers:
Have him look at Denison Univ in Ohio. 2300 students, LAC, lovely campus, great merit scholarship money, strong academics.</p>
<p>I would love to play in college but I know I'm not division I material but hopefully club and/or intermurals. I'm actually quite familiar with Stanford's program though since I live about an hour and a half away. I was going to sign up for their once-a-week summer lacrosse program but it was too expensive ($700 I think).</p>
<p>Name: macnyc (mom)</p>
<p>Kid: Female</p>
<p>Home: New York City</p>
<p>Geographic location: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic</p>
<p>Academic Interest: Biology, Environmental Science, Japanese language</p>
<p>Looking for in a college: doesn't really know, but tending to medium to large; Boston good. I think she would like proximity to a city or at least a busy campus (like Dartmouth)</p>
<p>Schools on her list: none yet. On MY list for her: William and Mary (but not within her geographic range), U of Mich (ditto), SUNY Bing (financial safety, ahhhh!), SUNY Environmental (ditto), Vassar (great for sciences), Boston U, St. Mary's of Maryland (thanks, Carolyn!), Dartmouth (super super reach), Middlebury (might be too isolated), Barnard </p>
<p>Schools she has visited: Boston University (liked), Bowdoin (too small), Tufts (didn't find "welcoming," "too many elephants"), Columbia (thumbs down: admissions director said he doesn't like Harry Potter), Princeton (what's not to like?)</p>
<p>Senior Load: Not sure yet.</p>
<p>Study for the ACT/SAT: Taking Princeton Review prep class for SAT. PSAT good, same method of prep.</p>
<p>EC's of Note: Not too many. This is weak link. She spends her time online at Harry Potter sites, playing online games, blogging, etc. I'm trying to get her to do Key Club cleanups, etc.</p>
<p>Summer Plans: A dream summer would include an internship, drivers' ed, part-time job at Barnes and Noble or other local business (none has been set up yet).</p>
<p>
Columbia (thumbs down: admissions director said he doesn't like Harry Potter)
That sounds like something I'd say, actually. One of the (many) things that made me fall in love with Swarthmore was the "SNAPE IS INNOCENT" sign posted in the hallway of the science building. ;)</p>
<p>Screen name: sly_vt</p>
<p>Is your Junior male or female: Female</p>
<p>Home state: Vermont</p>
<p>Preferred geographic location for college: Northeast.</p>
<p>Any specific things looking for in a college (large, small, urban, etc.): Medium size, in a city (it cannot look anything like Vermont!), but a separate/enclosed campus. Creative, politically aware student body. </p>
<p>Child's possible academic interests: ?? She says art history and journalism.</p>
<p>Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: Of ones we visited: Brown, Barnard, Tufts, Brandeis.</p>
<p>Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there): Took the tour: GWU, Georgetown, Vassar, Tufts, Brandeis, Harvard, Trinity, Wesleyan, Brown. Drive bys: American, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, BC, Penn. We are currently in planning mode for trips in Feb., March and April.</p>
<p>Senior Year Courseload (tentative): AP English, Physics and Latin for sure. Either AP Calc or Statistics. At least four of these five: Sociology, Economics, Modern US History, Psychology, History Seminar.</p>
<p>Study Plans for SAT/ACT: She sees a tutor, and the results so far are good (on practice tests weve seen a 190 point increase so far. Shes basically learning all the grammar the schools never taught her, and unlearning the new new math).</p>
<p>EC's of Note: School newspaper, Earth Group, dance, debate.</p>
<p>Summer Plans: Teaching a self-designed course at a program for G/T students (2nd year in a row); volunteering for the Democratic gubernatorial campaign; working either for a local catering firm or the local newspaper.</p>
<p>Wow! +190 so far. Good job -- is she shooting for the April 1 SAT?</p>
<p>OK, now I'm embarassed, because I realized I did the math wrong. She's taken two practice tests with the tutor, four months apart, and her score rose 210 points (on all 3 tests). She still has work to do, because we're hoping for another 130 or so. Yes, she'll take the SAT in April.</p>
<p>Can I add something to my kid's EC's? Cast list went up this morning. He is play "Gaston" in the high school musical "Beauty and the Beast". Not bad for a computer nerd/jock!</p>
<p>It seems as if most people's SAT scores are higher than their PSAT scores... but I got a 232 on the PSAT (78CR/74M/80W) and only a 2160 on the SAT (800CR/650M/710W). The fact that I don't qualify for NMS because I'm not a US citizen makes it all twice as irritating. :(</p>
<p>Then SAT II's in Literature and French are tomorrow... I haven't prepared at all, but these two shouldn't be too bad.</p>