Class of 2011 Official Thread

Parent Cafe
81

<p>Screen name: mum07</p>

<p>Is your Junior male or female: Female</p>

<p>Home state: Florida</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: Far away from Florida – preferably somewhere with snow </p>

<p>Any specific things looking for in a college (large, small, urban, etc.): small to medium size school in a rural or suburban area</p>

<p>Child's possible academic interests: Environmental science, geosciences/geology, earth sciences, chemistry, environmental engineering </p>

<p>Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: Amherst, Bowdoin, Brown, Colby, Colgate, Dartmouth, Duke, Hamilton, Haverford, Hobart and William Smith, Middlebury, Skidmore, Tufts, Vassar, Wesleyan, Williams, Bates, Swarthmore, University of Chicago, Bucknell, Johns Hopkins, Lehigh, McGill, Northwestern, Pomona, University of Florida, Rice (List is changing due to recent interest in engineering)</p>

<p>Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there):
She’s visited a number of schools through summer programs. As a family, we visited Dartmouth and Middlebury during a spring break ski trip to Killington last year – she loved both. Planning a summer trip to visit a number of schools.</p>

<p>Senior Year Courseload (tentative): AP English Lit, AP Biology (or AP Physics – undecided), AP Calculus BC, AP Environmental Science, AP Human Geography (still needs one social science elective), Spanish IV H</p>

<p>Study Plans for SAT/ACT: PSAT went well. Will take SATs in April and perhaps the ACT this spring as well. Will take SAT Subject Tests – Chemistry, Math IIc, and Literature by June. Trying to get her to study…</p>

<p>EC's of Note: Photography, crew, environmental </p>

<p>Summer Plans: College visits, Oxbridge program, crew camp and a short Introduction to Engineering program if we can fit it in. Any ideas for an Intro to Engineering program that runs in June or August?</p>

82

<p>Screen name: avoidingwork</p>

<p>Is your Junior male or female: Male</p>

<p>Home state: California</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: California. </p>

<p>Any specific things looking for in a college (large, small, urban, etc.):Would like to have a school or local football team to root for, but this is not a deal breaker. Will have a better idea after college visits this month.</p>

<p>Child's possible academic interests: He's a math/science guy at this point. </p>

<p>Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: In no particular order : University of Washington, University of Oregon, UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UCSC, UCD</p>

<p>Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there): None yet. Southern California road trip is planned for this month, when we will visit UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, and UCI. </p>

<p>Senior Year Courseload (tentative): Definite: Econ/Civics (required), Honors Physics, AP Calculus. Under negotiation/consideration: AP Bio, AP English.</p>

<p>Study Plans for SAT/ACT: Took practice ACT and SAT; have determined will only take ACT. Scheduling some one-on-one tutoring. </p>

<p>EC's of Note: Football and Lacrosse</p>

<p>Summer Plans: work at a family camp in the sierras.</p>

83

<p>Screen name: momofthreeboys</p>

<p>Is your Junior male or female: Male</p>

<p>Home state: Michigan</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: California, Colorado, Michigan </p>

<p>Any specific things looking for in a college (large, small, urban, etc.):Needs to be within a couple hours of skiing.</p>

<p>Child's possible academic interests: New Media/Communications/Documentary Studies/Journalism</p>

<p>Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: In no particular order : UCSB, San Diego State, Colorado State, Colorado College, U of Colorado, College of Santa Fe, Michigan State, Northern Michigan</p>

<p>Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there):<br>
UCSB, SCSD, San Diego State, UC Irvine. We go to Colorado skiing every year so we'll hit the Colorado Colleges he hasn't seen this spring.</p>

<p>Senior Year Courseload: I just signed off on it and I can't remember :-( Bad mom. Latin 4, AP English. I remember it looked like a tough load and I worried about it.</p>

<p>Study Plans for SAT/ACT: He won't study for the ACT, he took it in 7th grade and 8th grade and took the PLAN in 9th grade. SAT, he'll do the on-line test but that's it.</p>

<p>EC's of Note: 3 years varisty swim team, varsity tennis team, school newspaper. Skis all the time (we don't have a ski team unfortunatley)</p>

<p>Summer Plans: 2nd year working 20+ hours bussing tables at the local Brew Pub.</p>

84

<p>Screen name: spinner</p>

<p>Is your Junior male or female: female</p>

<p>Location: PA</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: East Coast to upper Mid-West</p>

<p>Any specific things looking for in a college (large, small, urban, etc.): Probably small but considering up to medium size.</p>

<p>Child's possible academic interests: She says "Math and English" but who knows?</p>

<p>Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: Davidson, Guilford, Middlebury, Williams, Wellesley, Smith, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore, U. of Chicago.</p>

<p>Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there): Georgetown, Barnard. </p>

<p>Senior Year Courseload (tentative): Don't know but she will have 4 APs under her belt by the end of Junior year. She'll probably take several APs but I hope she does something relaxed, too. I think there is too much pressure on kids now, but I admit, she generally thrives on it and asks for more.</p>

<p>Study Plans for SAT/ACT: Commended on PSAT. She is taking a study course for SAT and mostly self studying for ACT. </p>

<p>EC's of Note: Diversity training for younger kids. Class government. Field Hockey Goalie. Singing.</p>

<p>Summer Plans: Looking for programs where she can study/work in a lab. Field Hockey camp. Hopefully nothing expensive! </p>

<p>Problem: She needs more good safety schools!</p>

85

<p>Much relief and happiness this morning when my D looked up her SAT results! I think getting a better than expected score on her Junior PSAT really helped her confidence and gave her the incentive to study over Christmas break (or it could have been the constant rain that put a damper on most outdoor activities). She's overjoyed at no needing to make any more vocab flash cards! </p>

<p>Good luck to all the CC Juniors!</p>

86

<p>Congrats entomom. I know my S is looking forward to the day that I won't be bugging him about SAT prep. Unfortunately, due to a conflict he's probably going to delay the SAT from April 1 to the May testing instead. Upside, he gets to do something he wants to do on April 1. Downside, it's another month of being nagged by me.</p>

87

<p>I actually forgot that SAT scores were going to be released today until I signed on to CC and everyone was talking about it. The results: Literature-750, French-800!!!! :)</p>

88

<p>Congrats tyg, wonderful scores! Yes, I was amazed to see 6 pages of Jan SAT scores on CC by 8am west coast time. </p>

<p>Thanks lderochi, it was a very welcome surprise. Actually, getting her to study for the SAT was a piece of cake compared to writing essays for summer programs. She's determined to get away for at least part of the summer, but mom insists on saving the $$ for college, so she's only applying to 'free' programs. All of them require one to several essays, often about her least favorite subject, herself.</p>

<p>Sounds like your son has a good balance between enjoyment and duty. I keep trying to tell my daughter that delayed gratification is not always as great as it's cracked up to be. She is definitely not a "Be Here Now" type of person.</p>

<p>Anyway, it's nice for her to get a bit of a respite from the Junior year grind.</p>

89

<p>Screen name: anxiousmom</p>

<p>Is your Junior male or female: male</p>

<p>Location: TX</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: Texas or ?</p>

<p>Any specific things looking for in a college (large, small, urban, etc.): Mom wants small, son currently want BIG w/football!</p>

<p>Child's possible academic interests: cut and dried subjects like math, physics, chemistry or engineering ???? Does not like to write papers!</p>

<p>Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: UT Austin, Trinity U (San Antonio), Rice (reach), TCNJ, Texas Tech, he really hasn't even wanted to think about it yet! Needs to be financially affordable.</p>

<p>Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there): Poor guy - got dragged to many colleges with college sophomore sister.. Carleton, Oberlin, Macalester, College of Wooster, Trinity U, UT-Austin, Rice... plus he heard about all the other colleges she visited..</p>

<p>Senior Year Courseload (tentative): AP cal BC, AP Physics, AP euro hist, AP Engl, AP econ/gov, basic computer requirement, speech, Spanish?</p>

<p>Study Plans for SAT/ACT: Commended on PSAT. (Fingers crossed, hoping NMF cutoff will go down two points from last year - not likely!) Hasn't taken SAT yet, but will April 1st. </p>

<p>EC's: Poker, videogame, Spanish club (who-hoo. That took a lot of convincing on my part!) recreational Tennis. typical laidback boy...</p>

<p>Summer Plans: help coach low-income kids tennis lessons. </p>

<p>Problem: He wants college education with no loans - we want affordable. He'll need merit aid from colleges that go strictly by the numbers, (not by EC's, drive and passion), or instate public school. Has solid class rank (6/470) in strong public school, and we anticipate solid SAT I scores based on PSAT 215 score.</p>

90

<p>Hey AnxiousMom, welcome to the thread. Your son sounds like a very solid candidate for good merit aid and some good schools. TCNJ looks like the "odd man out" in that list, but is certainly a good school.</p>

91

<p>TCNJ was just one I discovered due to its "free-rideness" if you score over 1500 on the SATs (not including writing) and have a good top rank. I don't actually think that I could ever send DS off so far away to such a cold place! But it sure is a generous offer - and if DS manages to score a 1500 on the M + cR sections, we'd certainly think about it!</p>

92

<p>When do parents of class of 2011 fill out FAFSA or Profile for EA/ED admissions? Do they start to fill this year sometime in summer say August or do we have to wait till next year January 2007. I am confused about it. Thanks for your help.</p>

93

<p>I would like to update you all on my Junior.</p>

<p>He played Gaston in the high school musical, and was awesome. I watched 5-1/2 of the six shows, and never got tired of watching him perform. (Did get a bit tired of hearing Belle, but that's beside the point.) I also discovered talking to some of the Moms that the middle school girls all think he's a "hottie". </p>

<p>He also got his first set of ACT scores. While the composite score was great -- a 29, he's going to retake it. And this time, I think he's going to study. It seems that he got a 30 and 32 in the reading and English sections, and a 26 and 28 in the math and science. And the Engineering Department of UMich is not thrilled with the 26 and 28!</p>

<p>His schedule for next year is still up in the air. He thought that since he had four CREDITS of English, he didn't need to take any next year. UMich thinks differently. So it looks like he is going to have to duel enroll in both Math and English, something he is not happy with at all. It also means that, due to the weird block schedule we have, he may only be able to take half as many high school classes as he wanted. Throw in the fact that he still needs half a year of PE, and you have a screwy schedule. (He had major back surgery his freshman year and couldn't finish the entire year of PE.) Best case scenario, his Senior schedule will be: Physics, whatever History is required, Chemistry 2 OR one elective (German 4, Advanced Honor's Choir or Arch 3, whatever fits in his schedule), 1/2 year of Web Design and 1/2 year of PE. Then Calc and English at the local university. As I said before, he is NOT happy with all of this. Neither is his Dad. Someone explain why a year of college English and a 1/2 year of PE is more important than Chemistry 2 and German 4!</p>

94

<p>Peggy, thanks so much for the update! Your comment about Belle gave me a laugh. This is on a far lower level, but my S's elementary and middle school actually had a very ambitious theatre department and they put on "Broadway Jr." musicals every year. There was one girl who had a beautiful singing voice -- and was the worst actress. Ever. Another girl was a very good actress -- and was nearly tone deaf. Every year they were the female leads. And every year I remember walking in to the performance thinking "why can't they just combine to play one character? You know, stop the show and bring out the stunt singer" Talk about getting tired of hearing someone(s)!</p>

<p>Good, solid ACT score out of the box. 29 is nothing to sneeze at, but I know he wants to bump up that Math and Schience. The ACT Science is just weird. If I recall, 28 would still be pretty high on the percentile charts. </p>

<p>Now THAT is an odd schedule. My sympathies, and I hope he doesn't get too discouraged at his first brush with bureaucracy -- where the rules and procedures are often more important than the end result.</p>

95

<p>Congrats to your son on his part as Gaston! I'm pretty much tone deaf, so I'm always amazed and happy to hear my kids carry a tune. Speaking of schedules and bureaucracy, my daughter's class got word today that they had better get their senior schedules right when they request them this spring, because the counselors aren't going to make ANY changes next fall! I thought they were there to support the students and try to help fulfill their academic needs, which sometimes change over the summer. Guess we'll have to wait until next year to see if they're serious. </p>

<p>Anyway, glad to hear your son is progressing over the junior year testing hurdles. Sometimes I wish my D had gone the ACT route rather than have to deal with all of the subject tests on top of the main SAT. Before I started paying much attention, we got some bad advice and she took two SAT II's at the end of freshman year. The result was that she took the Math 1c which was pretty much useless since she would eventually take the Math 2; and she took Chemistry after being in just Honors Chem with a very poor teacher and didn't do any additional studying, which resulted in a mediocre score. So, many tests later, she will take her final subject test this May, I hope!</p>

96

<p>Peggy,</p>

<p>I'm a student (yes, on the parents forum ;)) but felt that you could have been describing ME in your post. </p>

<p>Similar to your son, I'm aiming for engineering and got a 29 on the ACT, but math and science scores were lower than expected (somehow managed a 36 on Reading!) so I will be taking again in April. </p>

<p>I'm also enrolled in full-time dual enrollment for both junior and senior year and ran into many similar problems with the administration. Basically, I'm a hard core math and science type of girl, but will need to fulfill some pesky English and other high school graduation requirements instead of the science ones I'd been looking forward to. I posted a thread about a month or two back on the main parents forum about this issue and many parents had wonderful suggestions. What I am planning to do is get all of the requirements over with this summer. Although I'm not exactly pleased about spending my summer taking English and other classes, it will allow me to take the science and math ones that I really want to take next year. If your son has any time this summer,I 'd really suggest taking a few of those requirements over the summer. Maybe University of Michigan would count that as a "4th year"? </p>

<p>Anyway, just was a little surprised to see so many similarities!</p>

97

<p>Screen name: Kriket </p>

<p>My junior: female </p>

<p>Home state: Florida</p>

<p>Preferred location for college: anywhere but FL.</p>

<p>Schools on D's list of possible: Dartmouth, Swarthmore, ???</p>

<p>Schools we've visited (last week!) Penn, Swarthmore, CMU, Case Western, MIT, Tufts, Brown</p>

<p>Academic interests: neuroscience, engineering</p>

<p>Senior courseload: AP physics, AP english, possibly calc at local college.</p>

98

<p>You're last week sounds a little, um, busy. Hope you've recovered. None on these schools are on my son's radar screen, but I know they are very popular here on CC, so some quickie reviews would be much appreciated, I'm sure. </p>

<p>And welcome!</p>

99

<p>zmp(more letters) -- Do you also play soccer or sing? If so, you should consider U of Mich, and I'll introduce you. (Especially if your screen name ISN'T "foxy" or "chicky", and you don't giggle a lot . . .)</p>

<p>I talked to U of Mich Admissions Counselor today. They don't like the idea of a summer English class. They don't like the idea of an online class. They want him in the classroom. She kept saying it was because they wanted him to take the most difficult curriculum offered. I kept trying to explain that if he takes college English, he can't take the more advanced sciences. She didn’t listen. Still doesn't make sense to me, but then again, they didn't ask my opinion.</p>

<p>The good news in his college search is he has suddenly decided that he is going to go visit U of Mich. Probably this weekend. He’s going to spend the night with Daughter’s best (male) friend. I don’t want to know what’s going to happen. Then maybe over Spring Break, he can take an official tour and sit in on a class. This is his first step, and he is doing it on his own!</p>

100

<p>Thought I’d bump this up and see if any other parents of rising Seniors have found CC yet. And also give a quick update. The Junior year is finishing up for most of us (not until mid-June for us, though). My son’s summer plans – find a job and humor his Dad on a few campus visits (maybe). Academically, this year was somewhat difficult for the kid. His community involvement activity took up a lot of time, but frankly it can’t all be blamed on that. He struggled with general malaise. Still, he’s taking a pretty challenging course load this year re AP and Advanced classes and it’s not like the wheels fell off. </p>

<p>He took the SAT last weekend and actually felt pretty good about it – which is shocking, because he hates standardized tests and NEVER feels good about them. AP tests this week. </p>

<p>In terms of the whole college app thing, looks like the following:</p>

<p>Elon (possibly ED)
Delaware (state flagship, we’ll make him apply even if he doesn’t want to!)
Winthrop (he’s actually not real crazy about Winthrop, but a relative is an Assistant Professor and might be slighted if he doesn’t at least apply)
McDaniel is a maybe, but he’s somewhat resistant. </p>

<p>I’m continuing to push for a few more schools. I don’t like the safety school, Winthrop, being one he’s not that hot on. Roanoke, Lynchburg and Bridgewater are possibilities. Hopefully he can find a safety that he would be happy with.</p>