<p>I can't find any related thread at CC.
D is a senior at a BS in PA.</p>
<p>She's the only child and we don't have any experience about college application.
First, we thought her school will give her (and us) some guidance, but so far, they did NOTHING. The only thing is an e-mail during the summer said all senior should have a draft of essay ready before September. Then, nothing. D even can't get an appointment to meet her adviser, she has to waiting until the first Wednesday of Oct. I sent an e-mail asked questions about ED and RD, it's has been one week, no reply from them. Kind of helpless feeling......</p>
<p>How about other BS ? Will school give students (or parent) a schedule for all the college stuff?</p>
<p>I know that at some boarding schools the college counseling process formally begins during roughly the middle of their 11th grade year.</p>
<p>Something is horribly wrong with this picture. She should have been meeting with a counselor (at their request) well before this.</p>
<p>Question - are you sure its all the school? Is she responding to communication appropriately.</p>
<p>I just finished parent orientation at my D’s school and they are speaking to parents about starting the process early (i.e. 10th grade) in terms of prep and thinking about potential colleges. Most BS give seniors several weekends (or days) each year so they can go on college visits. They should be talking about common aps and tracking applications on Naviance, etc.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Did your D take the appropriate tests already (PSAT’s early, SAT’s and ACT’s)?</p></li>
<li><p>You should be filling out FAFSA now (even if you think you don’t qualify for aid). I recently talked with parents who needed help footing the bill at MIT because they didn’t apply for aid (didn’t think they qualified) and were stuck as full pay (many colleges are now free below $75,000 and sliding scale above that).</p></li>
<li><p>Be proactive. Start pulling catalogs from schools now. What does your daughter want in terms of size, type of degree, location, etc. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>First week in October is fine - it’s only a week or so away. But if the BS isn’t giving her what she needs, she needs to go get it on her own. If not, it will show up in terms of lack of proactivity on a college interview (or app). </p>
<p>Try looking at the college board sites for clues. There is also a lot of information on the college section of this discussion board. Many people going through what you are.</p>
<p>Next:</p>
<p>Select a few colleges. Start filling out the application on line. That will get the ball started. Look at the applications and start planning for how to answer the various essays. Begin thinking about which recommendations are needed and start scouting for recommendations that are not school related (volunteer work, extracurriculars, hobbies, etc.)</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>I would also suggest that you request a Naviance Family Connection account from the school. Hopefully, they’ll have subscriptions in place. This is a college admissions planning tool that allows a student to compare GPA, SAT & ACT scores, and other statistics, to actual historical data from students from your child’s school who have applied in the past. There are other cool features on the site as well. Many high schools, both public, private utilize this tool.</p>
<p>Wow. You’ve visited 20 schools? Totally get where you’re going. It’s like a giant maze. We completed the process with my oldest and even though we have multiple degrees between us, it was sometimes bewildering. (although we applied to only 8 I think).</p>
<p>20 schools seems overwhelming . I don’t think most students apply to that many. I suspect, that with the ratio of college counselors to students (even at BS) the process of getting to everyone quickly is not easily accomplished.</p>
<p>I think, from some of your questions, this may be nerves. For instance,</p>
<ol>
<li><p>What’s her dream school? Why? (based on her career goals, personality, desire for small, large or medium, etc.) Narrow down the list to only those she would love if accepted.</p></li>
<li><p>If she has completed her tests, send the ones with the highest scores to the colleges on her short list</p></li>
<li><p>Essays - individualized for each school. Unless she’s applying early action, she still has months before the final deadlines so don’t panic. She’ll have time to work methodically through the process and get feedback. Fill out as much online as possible to get the ball rolling.</p></li>
<li><p>Hard part - she’s got to manage this process herself. Colleges are now getting leary of students who need to much parent involvement. It’s okay to make mistakes. Fate has a way of working things out. So make sure you are “coaching” her out of sight.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Have you tried lurking the College section of the CC discussion board? Some of those threads are enlightening and you’ll find some kindred spirits/parents there.</p>
<p>If your daughter’s next appointment is October, it’s only a week or two away. She’s still fine. And really - unless it’s a school with restricted early action (meaning she is obligated to take the spot if accepted), she can relax a bit. BS usually don’t (normally) let their students fall through the cracks. Messes with their stats :-)</p>
<p>Hang in there. The counselors have a heavy load to carry this time of year.</p>
<p>Exie -
Thank you !!!
She will apply ED for her dream school but she’s so worry about her GPA which is quite low compare with others from Naviance. There is only one month away for ED, that’s why she’s kind of nervous.<br>
20 schools, yes, since she was a sophomore, we visited schools during our vacations or on the way to summer camps. But at that time, she has no idea about colleges…</p>
<p>Some schools insist on exclusive ED (i.e. you only apply to them and if accepted you take it.) MIT and several others don’t work that way so it takes the pressure off.</p>
<p>The colleges are pretty smart about looking at the “whole” student and the origin of the grades. The grade point averages may be skewed by percentage of students from public school versus boarding school. We used to joke that a C at Exeter was like an A+ everywhere else.</p>
<p>So the look at class rank, or rigor of the student’s curriculum, and other aspects of the application.</p>
<p>I remember biting my fingernails when my oldest was applying colleges. Then, when talking to a BS Adcom about my youngest was told "The right school will pick the right student, and vice versa).</p>
<p>Didn’t believe it then, but both girls ended up in the right place.</p>
<p>If she doesn’t get ED, there is still time for regular admissions. Even at MIT a pretty good percentage of ED applicants who are not admitted ED still make it through the regular admissions phase.</p>
<p>It won’t be the grades if they are decent (and test scores) - it will be more heavily dependent on the other tangibles in her application (essays, extracurricular, passion and “match/fit” to that school’s personality). Each year Adcom’s try to build a well rounded student population. So a lot of “intangibles” go into the decision.</p>
<p>Still, applying ED when the Adcoms aren’t exhausted from the soon to be onslaught of regular applications may be a plus.</p>
<p>Hang in there. :-)</p>