help me make a first time list for my soon to be hs jr son?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm curious why you're doing so much work making a list for your S. As a mom who did similar things for both of my sons, I learned the hard way that a reason that neither son was doing that much work looking for colleges was that while both are very smart, neither was ready for college after senior year.</p>

<p>Older S cheerfully went off with virtually full merit aid to a college that I found for him that he liked. He just as cheerfully flunked out because the kid who had never partied before started partying in college.</p>

<p>After that, I learned my lesson. I did pore over college guides and take younger S to colleges, and helped him make a tentative list. However, when he didn't get his act together to apply, I didn't push him, and he got no applications in despite having some top colleges offer to fly him in.</p>

<p>After he didn't apply, S lined up an Americorps volunteer job for himself. Now, the young man who almost flunked a course senior year because he couldn't get up to get to school on time is getting up at 7 a.m. to go volunteer (for no pay at all) at the place where his Americorps volunteer position begins later this summer. </p>

<p>I haven't read your whole thread, so I could be off base in thinking that perhaps you're compiling the list for your S because he's like mine-- smart but not quite ready for college after his senior year. However, if any of this rings true (and since your S is only a rising junior, it may be too early to tell), I hope that you'll find hearing about my experience to be helpful. Best of luck!</p>

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<p>Northstarmom- As another NY mom, I see absolutely no harm in trying to figure out what schools are out there. We have such an incredible array of schools, it is almost impossible to get the necessary info you need to go through the admission process. I have always thought that I had a pretty good handle on the SUNY system- I went to Oswego- hubby at Albany kids at Cornell/ILR and Cortland. Most of my friends are SUNY alum and I have been to the SUNY website countless of times- and yet today was the first time I took notice of the NYS school at Alfred U. I started the "Hidden Gems" thread a few weeks ago because I became aware of the joint program with SUNY Cortland and Duke Environmental Science. Again- I was on the Cortland website dozens of times until I found out about this particular program as my d is not a science major. And that is just the SUNY programs- You got Hobart and Hartwick and Sienna and probably 100's of other schools in NYS and we haven't even mentioned CUNY- like the Aaron Copeland program at Queens College.<br>
I do not know if NYS is a unique place-but you really do need alot of info to guide yourself through the full array of opportunities for NY kids.
So I applaud Luli for trying to get as much info that is needed.<br>
PS I just hope her car gets good gas mileage.</p>

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<p>ok so i took a break from researching colleges for my s the last day or so.</p>

<p>Yes you may all be correct. Schools that ask for a 1300 Sat score and a 90+ gpa ARE out of his reach( for now)</p>

<p>For the time being i am looking closely at privates in Ny that admit students with a 1200 SAt and under and all the SUNY's.</p>

<p>That alone is daunting research.</p>

<p>If by next summer his gpa and SAt scores are higher than a 1200 we will adjust the list. But for now I am looking mainly at schools ranging 1000-1200 SAt and a 85-95 gpa.</p>

<p>Also looking at Military academies but again most ask for 1200+ and congressional reccomendation among many other stiff requirements. Trying to find out more about ROTC too. Seems many colleges offer this alongside curriculum in college and additional time required outside school schedule(summer etc) Still learning, would like to find out more.</p>

<p>I also looked at Law Enforcement Academies in a variety of fields. Very interesting, so many divisions. Most need at least as minimum 60 college credits and some need BA or BS. But the minimum age to be hired is 21. Although some academies will let you take the exam as early as 17 1/2 yrs old. This was real interesting topic to investigate.
But he would still need to attend college beforehand. So my search grows still broader.</p>

<p>SUNY schools.......so much info .</p>

<p>Looking at Buffalo, Albany, Binghamton, Geneseo, Stonybrook. They all fit bill for the academics. He may be reaching for them but i am impressed with thier offerings. Buff has interesting Forensic Science BA and crim justice among many other programs. Albany too. But they are large universities and not as rural but looks like good academics.</p>

<p>Fredonia, Cortland and Brockport also look good as far as programs( especially engineering 3+2 programs) as well as Buff and Bing and Albany and Geneseo.</p>

<p>New paltz? I know this area and I know he would like location.</p>

<p>ESF... Enviromental Science and Forestry ( located on Syracuse Univ campus?) looks interesting too.</p>

<p>John Jay college in Manhattan would be good for him but it is in NYC not rural upstate Ny....but if he wanted to live home and commute by train would work out good.</p>

<p>SOOOOO many choices.........we will see. I am praying for wisdom and guidance on how to gather what will help him decide. Still 2 yrs away.</p>

<p>Also Maritime college. Does not look as demanding to get into as Kings Pt or West Pt? Coast Guard Academy in New London Ct looks great....but very tough to enter.</p>

<p>Do any of you care to share what you know of these schools mentioned to help me? Some of you have alrewady. Thank you. It is difficult to decipher info by just looking at websites. Would love to visit some but obviously can not visit all. Which ones are you familiar with and what can you share about them?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>and thank you for setting me straight on shooting too high so soon on top LACs and schools over the 1200 mark. But that does not mean that I can not still wait and see if he improves to the point of being able to add them later on to the list...smile.</p>

<p>BTW I never discussed those schools with him...they were just schools I had on a list w/o showing him. He is not as involved with developing a list as me. Like I said he is still not that motivated. I just figured I'd be the one to gather preliminary info this next year and hope that his interest will kick in enough that he will use this preliminary list i made as a jump off point and then investigate on his own when he is ready. Of course if he is still not ready by next summer that will be a different story, but I am confident he will be motivated by then.</p>

<p>Thanks agin and ,let me know about SUNY, Military or Law Enforcement/criminal justice schools in NY as well as private colleges admitting average students.</p>

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<p>BTW Happy 4th of July!!!</p>

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<p>S is a Midshipman at KP and got an appointment to USNA as well. PM me if you want more info on the process. Also, the Service Academy Forum on CC is a great source of specific advice re: the process and life at the academies. Lot's of good folks with much knowledge</p>

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<p>Since he is not sure what he wants yet and the subject of military academies is so new to me i felt a bit intimidated to ask questions on the service CC forum.</p>

<p>But thanks for offering.</p>

<p>i'm still learning. Gathering info on ROTC, Service Academies, someone on the parents forum told me of Norwich University in VT that integrates civilian college kids w/ the cadet corps, sounds interesting too. Don't have any specific questions yet, but will ask when ready, thanks.</p>

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<p>As a rising high school senior, I've been here at CC since sophmore year. If your son seems "unmotivated" in the college process, I doubt he will have much success - for it is his time to really shine! Show off your achievements, make a brag sheet or two, and really show the schools how much passion you have for them! If he does so, I really think even Cornell might be plausible (myself, I thought Cornell was a COMPLETE reach - I have a 3.2/3.7 GPA, roughly a B/B+ but I have a fairly high SAT score). I've learned so much and also have gotten really excited about the process because I've been on CC all these years :) So I really do encourage him to join CC! He'll meet a lot of new people, learn a great deal about different schools and perhaps, may even motivate him a little bit more. </p>

<p>However, before I even read all your statistics, I saw that you wanted a rural area, upstate NY, and architecture - Cornell seems to fit that perfectly. Try looking at the architecture forum - they have a list of all the top architecture programs in the nation! A friend of mine got into the Cornell Arch program with the same GPA as your son (3.4ish?) but a higher SAT. If he didn't prep first time around, he should! I read off some topic on CC -- "I believe anyone can get 2200+ if they put in the effort"... 1100/1600 is not a bad score at all. Jumping 200 points should not be difficult if he really tries at it, esp if he didn't before :) Myself, I jumped from a 186 PSAT sophmore year to a 195 junior year to a 2200 SAT so... you can tell it my soph PSAT wasn't reflective of my actual score at all. (I did study a good amount in between)</p>

<p>Union College is an amazing school, I love it alot and it's also on my list. I just recently went for a tour, and learned that you get a great deal of scholarship money for being over the 75%tile of their avg SAT score, or something - so really push those up! U of R was mentioned, and Vassar will be a reach but it's also amazing. Syracuse, if you're curious, sounds good for your son but I've heard it as the "snow school", if you don't mind a little bit of a winter wonderland :) Really let HIM look for the schools. I know my personal college list, my parents did not contribute at all. I researched all the schools myself, I made up a tablesheet of dates and times tours/visits were offered, and dragged them up to visit with me. </p>

<p>Mmmm, in conclusion - I wish him the best of luck with his junior year! Junior year was the most difficult for me, simply because I think I overestimated what I could handle in terms of courseload (2 AP classes, and 3 honor classes in one semester here is considered extremely difficult, esp because I had physics) as well as taking SAT I/IIs/AP exams and the lot. I really didn't have time to study junior year, so make sure he gets started on the prepping - NOW. Send him to some Princeton Review prep course, I've heard they guarantee a 200 point increase... </p>

<p>And I've also dabbled in the fine arts, and am looking to submit a portfolio to schools in the fall. Really make this portion of the app "stand out", esp. if you are applying to architecture programs. Many architecture programs view the portfolio more heavily then standardized test scores/grades.</p>

<p>Phew, sorry for the long post - GOOD LUCK once again!</p>