Class of 2011 Official Thread

Parent Cafe
141

<p>Update time!</p>

<p>Male from CA (transplanted from NY in '97)</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: Northeast; wants snow, he misses that from his childhood.</p>

<p>Specific preferences: Prefers in or near city. (Hands-on environment for kinesthetic learners would be ideal. Mom is looking for structured yet supportive environment (ADHD).)</p>

<p>Academic interests: Digital graphic and art design, computer science, new media arts; interactive game design.</p>

<p>Schools on child's list of possibilities: RPI, Northeastern, Purdue, RIT, WPI, Drew, Fairleigh Dickinson, U Rochester, UC Santa Cruz (can't apply if GPA doesn't improve), Cal Poly SLO. Full Sail New Media Academy is his ultimate safety.</p>

<p>Schools visited: During brother's search he saw Berkeley, Columbia, MIT, Johns Hopkins. Visited UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, San Jose State, Stanford, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, Washington College (MD), CalPoly SLO, WPI, RPI, Stevens Institute, Drew. Hoping to put together a trip to West Lafayette, Rochester, and back to NJ this summer or early fall.</p>

<p>Senior year courseload: English 12 (History of Speculative Fiction, and Shakespeare Comedies), Advanced Topics in CS (post-APCS: Computer Architecture, and Object-Oriented Design), AP Calculus C, Electronics/Engineering (1 sem. each), Graphic Arts/Stone Carving (1 sem. each), Jazz Band. (This assumes he passes Spanish III and doesn't have to re-take it.)</p>

<p>SAT: 1990, SAT IIs: 620 Physics/750 Math IIC. NM Commended. Awaiting first two AP scores (he's confident of at least 4 on CompSci AB, and thinks 5 on Calc AB). He's still a brilliant underachiever with a too-low GPA (~2.8).</p>

<p>ECs: Water polo goalie (new Varsity team, "Most Improved Player" award); dancer (jazz, modern, ballet -- 7 years: MALE DANCER); drums; FIRST Robotics (also team logo/shirt designer); some community service work (~300 hrs.).</p>

<p>Summer plans: Work (VIDEO GAME STORE clerk = dream job); pottery studio fooling-around; 1 week family hiking trip in Austrian Alps; water polo camp at USCS, intensive water polo practice. Getting his band back together. Building up his art portfolio and drafting personal essays.</p>

142

<p>One more update:</p>

<p>Female from Oregon</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: Anywhere but Oregon.</p>

<p>Specific preferences: Prefers in or near a city, cold climate, mid to large size school</p>

<p>Academic interests: biology, languages, linguistics, architecture, cognitive science.</p>

<p>Schools on child's list of possibilities: UMichigan, UWisconsin, Emory, UCB, Rice, Brown, Princeton, Yale, WUSTL, Cornell, CMU, Amherst, Smith, NU</p>

<p>Schools visited: UCB, UWashington, UBritish Columbia, Pomona, Harvard, Brown, Brandies, NEU, Dartmouth, BU</p>

<p>Senior year courseload: AP English, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, Honors U.S. Govt, Psychology, French 2, multivariate & vector calc, Spanish 7.</p>

<p>SAT: 1600/2370, SAT IIs: 780 Biology, 730 Math IIC, 690 Chemistry, waiting for US History. NMSF. AP's: 5 Biology, waiting for CalcAB & US History.</p>

<p>ECs: medical & Spanish language related, percussion, mountaineering, baking</p>

<p>Summer plans: Month long summer program in math & science at Grinnell. A few days doing prep work for a catering business. Read. Family vacation to southern Oregon. Work on essays and common application.</p>

143

<p>Here's us:</p>

<p>Female from NYC</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: within about 4 hours of NYC (negotiable)</p>

<p>Specific preferences: Would generally prefer a small school, but wants boys available.</p>

<p>Academic interests: Biology, marine biology and teaching.</p>

<p>Schools on child's list of possibilities: Moravian, Castleton State, St. John's, U Mass Amherst, Rider, SUNY ESF, SUNY Oneonta, Albright, Rutgers</p>

<p>Schools visited: Moravian, Castleton, St. John's, ESF, Albright</p>

<p>Senior year courseload: Honors English, AP Economics, AP Bio, Forensics, French IV, Math 12 (algebra 2), Religion, Computers</p>

<p>SAT: 28 ACT, retaking SAT in Fall</p>

<p>ECs: NHS, Student Counsel recording secretary, Sunday School teacher, senior citizen volunteer, church youth group president, 4 years varsity track and field (cross country/javelin)</p>

<p>Summer plans: biochemistry research internship in genetics at local CC, work 20 hours per week at paid employment .</p>

144

<p>Go Mootie! Us old dogs from 2009 are with you!</p>

145

<p>Update!</p>

<p>Screen name: BurnThis</p>

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

<p>Home state: CA </p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: New England/East Coast/NorCal</p>

<p>Specific preferences: Challenging academics, Good feeder to top law schools, Not small town or Southern locale, Not NYC -- somewhere in between. Great teachers and good chance to interact with them. Brilliant students who love to debate politics</p>

<p>Academic interests: Classics -- Latin, Ancient Rome, History, Politics</p>

<p>Schools on child's list of possibilities: HYPS, Tufts, Berkeley, Penn, Dartmouth, Georgetown</p>

<p>Schools visited: HYP, Tufts, Penn, and Columbia. Got to sit in on classes in his planned major (classics) at HYP and loved them! Yale got a slight edge from the tour and small, seminar type class he got to participate in. Columbia is barely hanging on his list. Was unimpressed with the Harvard tour guide, but enjoyed the class he sat in on. </p>

<p>Senior year courseload: AP English, AP Physics, AP Wold History, Independent Study Latin, Advanced Seminar in Mathematics (it's the class for those who have finished AP Calc BC), AP US Gov't and Politics, AP Comparative Gov't and Politics. He's taking six APs in Junior year -- English, US Hist., Latin -- Poetry, Calc BC, Bio and Geography and took one as a Sophomore (Latin -- Vergil).</p>

<p>Study plans for SAT: Qualified (barely) for NMSF with a 218. Did better on the SAT -- 800 CR, 740 Math, 770 W (12 essay). SAT IIs -- 770 Latin, 760 Bio, 740 Math IIc (points for consistency?), and 730 in USHistory, which is disappointing since he's a history buff -- just not US History! Maybe will take World History SAT II. Got a 5 on his first AP (Latin - Vergil) last year, no scores yet for this year. </p>

<p>ECs: Junior Classical League -- he founded his school's chapter, has run the chapter for three years, was State Parliamentarian last year, is State President for 2006- 2007 (yay), captain of Certamen team, coach of his and the other teams, National Latin Honor Society, National Latin Exam Gold Medal (perfect paper this year), Top Academic Achievement at the Cali JCL Convention for High School Advanced level, third place in the Nation in Latin Lit and Latin Oratory, etc. Not a "well rounded" applicant -- instead, focused and passionate in this one area. Last year he made it to the state Debate finals his first year, but dropped debate to concentrate on JCL this year. As Prez will be leading the delegation to the Nationals, coordinating Spirit competitions, co-captain of Certamen team, holding meetings, corresponding with teacher/sponsors, etc. Hope that impresses someone!</p>

<p>Summer plans: Major change -- pretty much organization and preparation for National JCL convention. I'm a little disappointed he won't be doing anything else, but he wants his state to do well this year and it's going to take a lot of practice!</p>

<p>I can't believe it's almost here -- senior year!</p>

146

<p>Male from New Jersey</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: East or West... let's skip the middle.</p>

<p>Specific preferences: I would like a campus, and preferably not in the middle of nowhere.</p>

<p>Academic interests: Politics, International Business, Philosophy</p>

<p>Schools on my list of possibilities: Georgetown, Tufts, Brandeis, Vassar, Claremont McKenna, USC, Hamilton, Bucknell, Colorodo College, Lafayette and I gotta pick a safety.</p>

<p>Schools visited: Lehigh (Disliked) Lafayette (Liked) Clark (Hated) Brandeis (Loved) Tufts (Liked, although not as much as I thought I would) </p>

<p>Senior year courseload: Hon Humanities, AP Lit, SUPA Forensic Science, SUPA Psychology, AP US Gov and Pol, Hon Calc</p>

<p>SAT: 2350, SAT IIs: 680 USH/790 Math 1C. NM Commended. Awaiting first three AP scores (only confident about Language). I'm quite an underachiever, 3.0 GPA.</p>

<p>ECs: Senior Class Officer (Elected, equivalent to Class President) Tons of tutoring for mentally challenged students. Tutoring for SATs. A couple years of track, a year of debate, a few years of camp leadership training, New Jersey Boys State Delegate</p>

<p>Summer plans: Boys State, and taking classes at Georgetown.</p>

147

<p>I can't remember if I posted in this thread already (I had to make a new account because CC isn't letting me access my old one), but my preferences have changed quite a bit in the past few months, so I figure I might as well fill this out.</p>

<p>Screen name: cameliasinensis, formerly known as thisyearsgirl</p>

<p>Is your Junior male or female: I'm female.</p>

<p>Home state: DC</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: Away from home. Somewhere that isn't hot or humid.</p>

<p>Specific preferences: Aw, I don't know... small to medium, friendly atmosphere, smart kids, I thought I'd hate rural but loved it when I visited... I'm flexible. I liked what peindre? said, "Hopefully there'll be a fair share of dorky people so it won't just be another 4 years of everyone being cooler than me."</p>

<p>Academic interests: Anthropology, architecture, biology, chemistry, environmental studies, neuroscience... it varies.</p>

<p>Schools on child's list of possibilities: Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Carleton, University of Chicago, Colby, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Grinnell, Kenyon, Macalester, Middlebury, MIT, Pomona, Princeton, Stanford, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Williams</p>

<p>Schools visited: Amherst, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Clark, Dartmouth, Harvard, Middlebury, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Smith, Swarthmore, Vassar, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Williams, Yale</p>

<p>Senior year courseload: IB Chemistry HL, IB English A1 HL, IB French A1 HL, IB Biology SL, IB Mathematics SL, IB History SL, Journalism, Theory of Knowledge</p>

<p>Study plans for SAT: 232 PSAT but not NMF because I'm not a US citizen; I've taken the SAT I twice and have a 2270 composite (800CR/760M/710W); I have an 800 on the French subject test and a 750 on Literature. I've taken Math II, Chemistry, and Biology-M but doubt I did well on any of them... I'll be retaking in October, for sure.</p>

<p>ECs: Photography editor and News and Features editor of the school newspaper. Black and white photography. Horseback riding. Tutoring. Some webdesign. Random art and writing, but privately. Vegan cooking! Nothing too impressive.</p>

<p>Summer plans: Staying in DC for a month, working at a riding camp at my barn for three weeks and volunteering at Georgetown University Hospital in the evenings for four weeks. Visiting family in Sweden; possibly traveling to the UK for sightseeing and college visits (even though I really don't want to go there for college). Hopefully following through with plans to start a webdesign company.</p>

148

<p>Update & milestone....</p>

<p>D got results of her final SATII last week and her AP scores arrived today, standardized testing is officially FINISHED!!!!! As far as what matters for applications anyway! </p>

<p>Now on to essays.... For anyone interested, I just read some excellent tips on using the common app on Carolyn's blog. I particularly like the idea of customizing the common app to fit different schools and sending it in separately to each school, rather than just doing a one size fits all application.</p>

<p>Hope summer is going well for all your rising seniors! EM</p>

149

<p>I wrote this last time: I've taken Math II, Chemistry, and Biology-M but doubt I did well on any of them... I'll be retaking in October, for sure.</p>

<p>Well, what do you know, I got my scores back, and...
Math II: 700!!!! (I was expecting low 600's)
Biology-M: 680 (not bad considering how much of the test was on genetics, which my class isn't even covering until senior year)
Chemistry: 650 </p>

<p>I might retake the sciences because I know they weren't my best effort. I was tired of standardized testing after the SAT I the previous month and two subject tests the month before that, didn't study at all, didn't remember when they were until two nights before, and guessed my way through questions about topics I'd learned before but couldn't remember the details of because I hadn't reviewed. I know they're not bad scores, but I'm annoyed about my "testing burnout" and general half-assed approach. I'm really happy about math, though; that went beyond my wildest expectations.</p>

150

<p>You go teagirl. We are looking forward to the next chapter in your saga.</p>

151

<p>Thanks, Alumother. :)</p>

152

<p>Since everyone’s been updating:</p>

<p>Screen name: SpringfieldMom</p>

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

<p>Home state: PA</p>

<p>Preferred geographic location for college: MidAtlantic, New England, Ohio</p>

<p>Specific preferences: Still fighting the large vs. small; city vs. small town issue.</p>

<p>Academic interests: Journalism, Communications, Creative Writing (no change)</p>

<p>Schools on child's list of possibilities: ACCEPTED (!): Marietta College OTHERS: Miami of Ohio, Syracuse, Penn State, Pitt, U of Dayton, Gettysburg, Ohio Wesleyan, Allegheny, Millersville</p>

<p>Schools visited: in our area: Penn, Drexel, St. Joseph's U, Villanova, Swarthmore (all were nixed-too close to home/no chance after SAT scores!). Others visited: Millersville, Gettysburg, Susquehanna. Visiting this month: Miami-Ohio, U-Dayton, Ohio Wesleyan, Marietta, Allegheny. Visting August-Sept.; Syracuse, Penn State, Pitt.</p>

<p>Senior year courseload: AP English Literature, AP Psychology, Pre-Calculus, Theology 4 (catholic school), Physics, Vocal Music (she decided to drop AP Spanish because none of the schools require 4 years of a foreign language and she wants to be able to leave school early and work a few days a week).</p>

<p>SAT: Yikes-big difference between the PSAT and SAT, especially in the Math section. Took it three times, did a prep course before the 3rd try. CR: 630, Math: 560, Writing: 680 (12 essay-yay!)</p>

<p>ECs: NHS, Choir, Theatre (Principal Player), Swim Team, Student Newspaper (Managing Editor Jr. year, Editor-in-chief Sr. year), Track Team (2 years-quit this year to do aformentioned SAT prep course), tutoring. Quit the after school job, hoping to work for hubby’s co. after school this coming school year.</p>

<p>Summer plans: 2nd year as a full time lifeguard at local swim club. Working 40+ hours a week when she’s not running down to visit friends at the Shore! Still haven't seen much progress with the summer reading!</p>

1 Like
153

<p>Screen name: Mizo
Kid: Female [funny, friendly, focused & independent]
Home state: Ohio [however, I'm from NYC]</p>

<p>D is a multicultural African American Female
born in US: ¼, African American; ¼ Nigerian, ½ Zimbabwean</p>

<p>Geographical location of colleges: Northeast, Mid Atlantic, Midwest (only if she has to), Not South.</p>

<p>High School “Country Day” Prep School on Academic Scholarship (4th highest entrance exam score for her class)(Private school from Pre-k – 8th; from Middleclass immigrant dad and first generation American mom)</p>

<p>4.398 Weighted GPA (only 2 B+, remainder A- and above)
Top 10% if her school ranked
Unofficial Rank 8/80 </p>

<h1>Honor classes 10 by graduation (one senior year)</h1>

<p>AP classes 9 by graduation (2 self study, one each in grades 10 & 11; four APs senior year)</p>

<p>JV soccer co-captain
JV/V Academic Team Captain
School Magazine Music Editor & Editor at Large
VP & V County Teen Library Board
Volunteer work in Nicaragua
Many cool summer programs: Smith, U Cincy Med School, Kenyon Young Writers’
(Telluride Finalist - did not make the final cut). </p>

<p>Academic interests: Biology; Spanish; History; Creative Writing</p>

<p>SAT 1: 700 v; 680 m; 670 w (12 on essay)
SAT 2: 690 Biology; 700 Literature 710 US;
Biology 5
European History 5
US History 5 (self study)
Statistics 4
World History 3 (self study)</p>

<p>College List</p>

<p>Bryn Mawr
Dartmouth
Howard
Kenyon
Miami of Ohio
Mt. Holyoke
Wellesley (Legacy)
Yale</p>

154

<p>This thread has dropped to page four, have to move it up.</p>

<p>New update to post #145, son got his AP scores, 5's across the board in Bio, Calc BC, USH, Latin-Poetry, English Lang, and Human Geography. Plus last year's 5 in Latin-Lit gives him 7 5s. Yay advanced standing (and saving a year of tuition).</p>

155

<p>Congrats to your Son! Outstanding scores, that means that one more AP with a 4 or 5 makes him a National AP Scholar, right? </p>

<p>As a quick update, we're off to visit schools here in a week or so (first the annual week at the beach, then some schools on the way back home). I'm not crazy about visiting in the summer when the campus is empty, but there just isn't any other way. The trips will be more abbreviated than I had hoped. I was hoping to take a full week and not rush, but as it turns out, my son's EMT-B class starts on that Wednesday, so it's 3 schools in two days rather than 5 schools in 5 days. C'est la vie. The EMT class will also keep him busy every Saturday into mid-October, so this is probably the last round of school visits before applying, and some applications will be made sight unseen. </p>

<p>Anybody who has any questions they want answered about Elon, Lynchburg and Bridgewater feel free to PM me and I'll raise them during the campus trips.</p>

156

<p>My S and H are heading to Chicago Wed. morning to check out Northwestern and Notre Dame with a side trip to watch the Astros play the Cubs at Wrigley Field. I think that is what they are most excited about and I think my S is coming up with ways to plan all the college trips around historic ball fields. He will next say that he wants to visit Boston and New York. Oh well, they are having fun and I'm glad that it is just the two of them going. It's their guy bonding trip! I just hope they come back with some info on the colleges. :)</p>

157

<p>Another Update:</p>

<p>Screen name: Peggy</p>

<p>Kid: Boy (sweating eating machine)</p>

<p>Home State: Michigan</p>

<p>Geo Preference: Ann Arbor</p>

<p>Specific Preference: Univ. of Michigan (he wants an engineering school that is big and close to home.)</p>

<p>Academic Interests: Either Engineering or Chemistry</p>

<p>Other schools he might be interested in: Northwestern and Univ. of Ill</p>

<p>Schools visited: He did an overnight at U of Mich., and really enjoyed it. Sees no reason to visit the other schools. Although Daughter's college is 20 minutes away from Univ. of Ill, so we might be able to schedule a school visit when returning her to college.</p>

<p>Senior Course load: Chemistry 2, Physics, World Studies, Advanced Honor's Choir. Duel Enrollment in Calculus and English. He still needs 1 semester of PE, but Principal says 60 hours working out in the gym before school would substitute for the PE class. He has already taken AP Calc and AP English, which are two of the three AP classes out school offers. This is definitely the most rigorous course load he can take.</p>

<p>ACT: First time he had a composite 29 with high English scores and low Math/Science. Mean mother made him study. Just got new scores -- 31 composite with a 31 in Math, 32 in Reasoning and 33 in English! Also got a 4 on the AP English test. Our school offers NO prep classes for the ACT and doesn’t even offer the SAT at our school.</p>

<p>GPA/Class Ranking: Unweighted 3.95 (our school doesn't weight classes). Ranking 4 out of 225. As of right now, he will be one of the salutatorians.</p>

<p>ECs: Starting goalie on the varsity soccer team, will be President of Chi Alpha (before school bible study), Student Gov't Rep, Youth Rep for the governing body of the church, Advanced Honor's Choir, voice lessons, probably go out for baseball</p>

<p>Summer plans: as little as possible. Soccer in the morning. Social life at night. Work about 15 hours a week. One week at soccer camp in Wis. The rest of the time, he plays with the toddler day care kids or "cleans his room", which consists of standing in his room for long periods of time with the music playing. All clothes on the floor go into the laundry basket; all junk on the floor is pushed to the side. We also have a family Tetris tournament going on.</p>

158

<p>I just love "mean mothers". When my kids would tell me I was mean, I used to tell them I would send them to true "mean parents camp". I thought I was hysterical. I don't remember that they got the humor...</p>

<p>Sounds like your S knows what he wants and it's a great choice...</p>

159

<p>I just realized that I never posted onto this thread. So here goes:</p>

<p>Name: Chedva</p>

<p>Kid: Female</p>

<p>Home State: Massachusetts</p>

<p>Geographic location: Northeast (no farther south than VA). She loves her winters. </p>

<p>Academic Interest: Undecided - humanities/social sciences area; wants nothing to do with math or hard sciences</p>

<p>Looking for in a college: Small, personalized. Not rural. Must have dance team or dance program. (Dance club run by students is not acceptable.) Doesn't need to be dance major.</p>

<p>Schools on her list: Vassar (probably ED), Muhlenberg (2d choice), University of Richmond, Bucknell (OK, it's rural), Wesleyan, Rhodes (OK, it's not Northeast - we have a friend who's on faculty there), Barnard, U Rochester, Union, UMass Amherst (only because she feels she has to).</p>

<p>Schools she has visited: Vassar, Skidmore, Haverford, Goucher, Bucknell, U Richmond, Muhlenberg, Rhodes, Brandeis. Informal visits to Barnard - dad's a Columbia alum. Will try to visit Wesleyan. Did Cornell's Summer College - loved the summer program but it's too big for her tastes.</p>

<p>Senior Load: AP English, AP Euro, AP Psych, Honors French V, Honors Anatomy & Physiology, standard Calculus (all honors or AP classes through high school except for math).</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6 uw, 5.6 w (out of 6) - these are approximates; they don't tell us for real until the fall. School doesn't rank.</p>

<p>Study for the ACT/SAT: Not any more! SAT I: 760 CR, 720 M, 770 V; ACT 33 composite - 35 English, 29 Math, 33 Reading, 31 Science, 10 Writing. SAT II: 710 Math I, 600 Lit, 560 Chem (she refuses to consider retakes or any other exams). AP USH 5.</p>

<p>EC's of Note: Dance (ballet, jazz, tap) molto hours per week. Assistant dance teacher in jazz, maybe tap this year - haven't gotten the schedule yet. Dance club at school. (Did I mention she's a dancer?) NHS member this year; at her school, NHS does lots of community service projects. Teaches skiing to 3-7 year olds at a local very small ski area, if it's cold enough and there's snow.</p>

<p>Summer Plans: Assistant dance counselor at a theater day camp, hanging with friends, week-long dance intensive at her studio. Also took a wonderful Advanced Driver's Training course, and taking a speed-reading course.</p>

160

<p>Hi-I am a new member. Screen Name: APOL
D-HS Class of 2007-Public HS in Oakland,CA.
Interests: Musical Theatre
Schools: Yale, NYU/Tisch, Columbia
Anyone with experience with musical theatre auditions?</p>