<p>My older son was the first from his Math & Science Program to go to Rose-Hulman in many, many years. Since he started, at least a dozen others have applied and I think three now attend. Trendsetters!</p>
<p>So many great schools out there that most people have simply never heard of. I had read ‘Colleges that Change Lives’ and picked out several of those schools I thought my daughter would love. I didn’t even NOTICE Eckerd on my first few reads. It wasn’t until she’d learned of the school for its marine sciences programs that we realized it was another of those schools. I’m VERY sure that no other student from her school has ever attended before…but then 95% or more typically stay in state and Michigan is a long way from Florida…</p>
<p>Congrats to all of your students! My D is a Sophomore Art major @ Eckerd and is really thriving there despite our initial resistance to let her turn down 2 full tuition offers at schools ranked much higher for Ceramics. She plead her case and has taken full advantage of the small supportive programs they offer both in and out of the classroom. If you or your students have questions feel free to pm me. I’d also be happy to put them in contact with my daughter as well. She is a peer mentor to 22 current freshman so she has a good awareness of the opportunities offered. Her 2 complaints so far have been repetitive food choices and slow mail services, other than that she loves it there and has found the staff and student body to be welcoming encouraging of one another.</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted- Political Science
Stats:
SAT:1750
SAT IIs:
ACT:28 (didn’t send at the time because I didn’t have the results yet) sent day before I got my letter so I don’t think it was a factor
GPA:3.84 W
Rank: school doesn’t rank
Other stats:</p>
<p>Subjective:
Essays: okay, I felt it could have been better but they made a comment on my essay in my acceptance letter saying how good it was
Teacher Recs: great, one was incredible
Counselor Rec:I’m assuming it was okay
Hook (if any): I am President of my schools DECA program and have gone far within the competition, lots of community service hrs, class representative </p>
<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: OOS (Massachusetts)
School Type: small, highly ranked, public school
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Female</p>
<p>Other Factors:
I really want to go to Penn State waiting to see if I get in but I applied to eckerd to see financial aid I would get since my sister went there and got a lot I also got into UVM
I guess I’ll see what happens with financial aid</p>
<p>It’s official…we are now an Eckerd family! My daughter decided last night that there was no point it waiting any longer to accept, and so she pushed the button and paid the deposit. She’s been spending a lot of time lately chatting with potential new classmates she’s met on the Class of 2018 FB page and is looking forward to meeting some of them at the Explore Eckerd weekend in March. I’ve also noticed she’s been ‘pinning’ a lot of dorm room photos lately and doing some e-window shopping for ‘dorm essentials’. She’s ready to move on!</p>
<p>I’m very happy for her, knowing that she’s wanted to have this important decision behind her. All of the schools she applied to were EA or rolling admission so she’s had her acceptances in hand for quite a while now. She was just waiting on a couple of honors college/scholarship decisions, but ultimately decided they wouldn’t outweigh all of the great things she’s looking forward to at Eckerd, including a very nice merit scholarship.</p>
<p>But although I am happy for her and look forward to seeing her off on this next great adventure, I can’t help but feel a little panicky at the thought of not just having an empty nest next year, but having both my ‘chicks’ living in opposite corners of the country. We’ll be moving my son to Seattle in July for his new job, and now I guess we’ll be moving the other to St. Pete. I can tell we’ll be racking up the frequent flyer miles…or is there a motor home in my future??</p>
<p>Wish the rest of you the best of luck in the decision process!</p>
<p>Welcome aboard Dory! Our kiddos will be classmates!</p>
<p>We’re still debating whether to attend the accepted student days or not. You’re heading to the March one?</p>
<p>Maybe I should start pricing a trip.</p>
<p>Is your D going to try for any of the special dorms? (I still need to check with my guy to see what he should be doing with regards to housing!)</p>
<p>My three will be in GA, NY, & FL, so not quite as spread out as yours, but it should keep us traveling!</p>
<p>So Eckerd is a go for your son, too, Creekland? That’s great news! Yes, we’re going to the March event. She’s been talking to a few girls about rooming together but don’t think she plans on doing one of the living communities right now. Her rationale is that she’ll likely get to know the ‘environmental’ and ‘wellness’ people anyway so by living in a regular dorm she’ll broaden her circle! She doesn’t want the party dorm Kappa, and is leaning toward Iota for the suite-style rooms, but who knows what she’ll ultimately decide. Fun times ahead…!</p>
<p>Financially it’s still not a definite… and perhaps less now pending what Eckerd will do when they find out youngest was dismissed from NHS for not completing 10 hours of community service last semester. He tutors daily at school (math/science/French) and assists teaching Sunday School classes for middle schoolers each Sunday, but neither of those count as they are part of his “regularly” scheduled activities. </p>
<p>On his behalf, he’s really scheduled to the hilt. M,T, F, S he works the evening shift generally starting at 4 or 5pm (getting home from school at 3pm). W/Th he attends two different youth groups - one from church and one in town. He leaves for those at 5:15pm and 6pm respectively - generally picking up other kids along the way. In between he has chess practice/matches, leads an Improv club, is a member of FBLA, and occasionally gets around to doing homework. </p>
<p>So, that leaves Sat until about 3pm or Sunday after 1pm. The few hours he does have are fit in there, but most Saturdays I let him sleep in to catch up on sleep. (M/T/F he often works until closing meaning he’s home around midnight - then has to get up at 5:30am for school.) Sunday is the one day he has to get together with friends or enjoy sitting here on the computer or something. </p>
<p>If I’d have been here (many nights away for medical reasons) I could have coached him into taking fewer hours at work for a day or two and get the community service hours in, but at 18, I’m sure that never occurred to him. He also never told me about it… but again, if I’d have been at school (again, off for a bit), the grapevine would have warned me in time to do something about it. </p>
<p>So… I’m not as mad at him as I was yesterday afternoon, but I’m bummed overall - and, of course, I know that won’t help him get any other local scholarships toward school… The plan that WAS working out so well could very likely fall apart at the end - a big frustration. We’ll see what comes of it all. And, of course, I need to be leaving again for the next 4 nights… NOT something I’m looking forward to considering the pull of “mom” duties.</p>
<p>So… maybe he’ll see you there. If so, I’d definitely love to meet up! (The medical stuff isn’t contagious.)</p>
<p>Sounds like you both have very full plates… I wouldn’t stress about it too much at this point. They may very well make any remaining decisions strictly based on the data they have now and it may not be an issue. Everyone serves in their own way, and sounds like your son is doing what he can… Hope your health improves very soon… No one needs that added stress!</p>
<p>I can definitely say life isn’t boring… It also could be worse. It’s always helpful to keep things in perspective, but I’ll admit to liking things the way they were rather than the way they are right now. (I wanted to put the medical stuff off until after we transitioned into empty nesting - finishing the mom stuff first - but I got outvoted. I’m finding myself wishing I had stuck to my Plan A rather than being influenced by family/friends/co-workers…)</p>
<p>We’re going in March - sorry not to meet up with you! I’ve heard they do a very good job with the program and we’re really looking forward to it. Has your son been participating in any of the conversations with the Facebook group? My daughter tells me a bunch of them are making plans to meet up the night before the event in March - she’s ‘met’ a lot of people via that route already…</p>
<p>I don’t know that he’s on the Facebook group yet. Does he need an invite? I know he was told he’d get a “My Eckerd” account (or something like that) and it hasn’t happened yet.</p>
<p>OR, he could be on it and I have no idea as I haven’t been asking the right questions. Due to our conflicting schedules for a few weeks, I only see him about 10 minutes per day in the morning before he leaves for school - and Sunday afternoons.</p>
<p>However, tonight I see him for supper (had a chess match, so isn’t working). I’ll ask!</p>
<p>Thanks. I did get to ask him and he told me he’s on it. I suggested he start checking around to see if others will be there in April - AND - he thought it was a good idea! I’m thrilled to know I can still have a good idea at my age - thanks for the suggestion, Dory!</p>
<p>Hi everyone, my husband and I will be at all 3 Explore Eckerd programs representing the Eckerd Parent Council. This is the link to the programs. <a href=“http://www.eckerd.edu/admissions/eec/schedule.php”>http://www.eckerd.edu/admissions/eec/schedule.php</a> There will be a couple of parent council members there to meet with parents before and after the dinner on Sunday and answer any questions or concerns that you may have. </p>
<p>@nystocktrader - the link ECmotherx2 gave works for me, so should work. We set up our own flights/motel/car, etc. If you do end up there, send me a pm and we’ll see if we can meet up! I’m pretty sure my guy has us on the Sunday 12:30 boat trip on the bay.</p>
<p>@ECmotherx2 - we’ll definitely have to meet! I don’t know that I have concerns… aside from wondering about whether the finances will work for us, but considering the Eckerd Days we’re attending are in April, we should know by then.</p>
<p>Thanks Creekland,
Booked flights before I saw your post. We’ll be in town the same weekend and most likely attending Explore Eckerd College. We’re planning on the 12:30 Sunday boat as well.</p>
<p>@nystocktrader We should definitely see you then! When it gets closer I’ll send you a pm with who to look for. Right now I have no idea what we’ll be wearing so we could be “any” other couple with a son. Chances are good that my guy will wear a Hawaiian shirt - his favored choice of summer.</p>
She doesn’t want the party dorm Kappa, and is leaning toward Iota for the suite-style rooms, but who knows what she’ll ultimately decide. Fun times ahead…!</p>
It also could be worse. It’s always helpful to keep things in perspective, but I’ll admit to liking things the way they were rather than the way they are right now. (I wanted to put the medical stuff off until after we transitioned into empty nesting - finishing the mom stuff first - but I got outvoted. I’m finding myself wishing I had stuck to my Plan A rather than being influenced by family/friends/co-workers…)</p>