<p>My input would be that I am going to advise my D to NOT take that extra science class (a second science) and instead do more face-to-face socializing. (and not being on Facebook constantly instead--but she is in boarding school, which I see is like already being at college)
But that is what she needs to do to get ready for college, as well as to maintain her GPA.</p>
<p>Senior year is the time to hold your kid responsible. If your student gets severe senioritis that threatens their college acceptances, let your student face the consequence of their behavior. Don't try to bail them out because a student who isn't motivated to study while under their parents' roof isn't likely to study when away at college.</p>
<p>If you have to stand over your student and do the bulk of the work of organizing their college applications, realize that your student is indicating that s/he lacks the maturity and independence for college. </p>
<p>Better to have your student take a productive gap year or two by living at home and working a fulltime job or doing fulltime volunteer work through something like Americorps than to have your student go to college and flunk out or otherwise get into trouble due to immaturity.</p>
<p>If you haven't yet allowed your student to take on responsibilities for major aspects of their life, it's time to allow your student to handle: conflicts with teachers; laundry; making medical appointments, getting themselves up in the morning; getting directions, etc. </p>
<p>Realize, too, that not all students --including very smart ones -- need to be college bound. If despite having the brains for college, a student hates school, that student probably would be better off pursuing a vocation or other means of becoming self supporting than going to college where the student isn't likely to take advantage of the academics.</p>
<p>Is this for rising high school seniors? Or for recent high school seniors/graduates?</p>
<p>Sorry--I envisioned rising HS seniors--but either one, actually. I'd love to hear your wisdom.</p>
<p>If you're going to do college visits, do them sooner rather than later. The time really does fly senior year.</p>
<p>Encourage D/S to apply in September to a safe rolling admission school (s)he would be happy to attend. It is comforting to have an acceptance in hand by November.</p>
<p>I thought this was for PARENTS of rising high school seniors, so I was going to suggest getting in a supply of sedation drugs and alcohol for use (by the parents) during the college applications phase of the school year, but if this thread is supposed to be advice for STUDENTS, never mind!</p>
<p>No, no, I've got one! Students, get working on those applications now!! :D</p>
<p>owlice, it's for parents of seniors. so go ahead and recommend those sedation drugs and alcohol -- as good an advice as i've heard. Just not at the same time, parents, please.</p>
<p>An earlier post by hawkette, quoted below, has some wonderful wisdom for students that parents should read carefully as well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
from Hawkette:</p>
<p>Don't let prestige lead you to the wrong college please</p>
<p>In reading various threads on CC, it is easy to see the harmful influence that "prestige" exerts on a student's college selection process. The result is that students will sometimes opt for the prestigious college over the better fit, even for institutions of similar quality and with comparable student profiles. And sometimes there is even a secondary effect where, after a student has matriculated to a "prestigious" institution, he/she remains even if he/she knows that another, less prestigious, college would be a better individual choice. </p>
<p>So take a get out jail free card as you're passing GO on your way to making your college selection. Choose a college because you like it, because you think you will learn a lot there (and I don't mean just in the classroom), that you will intellectually and emotionally and maybe physically develop and mature there, that you will make great friends there, that you will have an interesting variety of experiences there, etc. These experiences will differ from college to college and it is up to you to determine the best match for you. But please make that college choice for the right reasons, ie, for your needs and not for someone else's perceptions.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>--Don't focus on prestige or rankings.
--Start your HS resume and common application essays now.
--Find at least 2 safety schools that you would actually enjoy attending.
--Focus on your safeties and matches.
--Apply Early Action or to Rolling Admissions schools early. Having an acceptance or two before Christmas takes the stress off.
--Get into the habit of watching the news and reading a newspaper daily.
--Enjoy your senior year. </p>
<p>Parents:
--Step back and allow them to take responsibility for themselves. Don't try to live out your dreams through them. Be proud of your kid--not the name of the colleges they get into. Give them a hug when they're not expecting it. Laugh and bring humor into your home. Discuss current events. Let them enjoy their senior year without constantly being hounded about college.</p>
<p>OOOOh, Nysmile, that last sentence! I sent my D emails all last year about colleges and good threads from this website, and she rarely even read them.<br>
You are so right.</p>
<p>Give your senior options in May. My seniors changed alot between August and May. Schools that seemed BIG in August were too small in May. Apply to a range of schools in terms of size. If they think 2000 students is a good size, add a couple with 5000. They grow alot senior year.</p>
<p>If you haven't already done so, review your family financial situation and tell your student exactly where things stand in terms of what you can realistically contribute to college costs.</p>
<p>There is nothing more miserable than a student who gets into his or her dream school and then discovers, with no advance warning, that it's financially impossible to go there. </p>
<p>Although it may seem uncomfortable to discuss family finances with your child, it's necessary, and it should be done before the applications are sent in, rather than later.</p>
<p>Really this is more for parents of JUNIORS -- get that (<em>&%#^&(</em>&^&* SAT out of the way early. My d. had to take it again in Oct. of senior year, and was even thinking (before she got the Oct. score back and found it adequate) of doing it a third time in November. Really terrible extra pressure at a time when no one needed it.</p>
<p>Remember to breathe . . .</p>
<p>Stay open minded. Many wonderful schools and opportunities get overlooked because people make judgements based on outdated reputations, magazine rankings and other people's opinions. Research schools and decide what is best for YOU.</p>
<p>I also like kids to have more than one safety. Every kid should have a choice in April, not just a consolation prize.</p>
<p>Relax, keep it in perspective-this isn't life or death, and enjoy this exciting time. It really doesn't need to be overly stressful.</p>
<p>Best wishes to all the rising seniors!</p>
<p>Expect that from now through December, during the application process, your S or D may have one school or type of school in mind, but that by April, when acceptances begin to come in (we hope), that perspective may have completely changed. A lot of changes occur from December to April of that senior year. So stay :cool:</p>
<p>The college app/selection process begins to feel "life and death" when that is what is going on all around you.</p>
<p>Take a minute, step back, and think about the admirable people you know. How many of them have become admirable because they attended a "name" college or university?</p>
<p>You have the opportunity to be the calm in the storm of angst. While not belittling the anxiety your senior will be feeling, you can avoid adding to it with your own anxieties.</p>
<p>Ah, I wish my rising senior would develop just a BIT of anxiety about the process! In the last few days I've really started hounding him to start on the applications so he CAN enjoy senior year.</p>
<p>I will add that because of what I've learned in my 11 months on CC:</p>
<ol>
<li> Son has SAT scores with which we are all content; and </li>
<li> We assembled a list of 10 schools, have visited 8, cut two from the list, and now have a list of 8 schools to which he will apply. </li>
</ol>
<p>It took us 10 of the 11 months on CC to get the foregoing accomplished. The students and parents who will "wake up" in October and start thinking about college have about 3 months to get all of that done (plus start and finish apps). Thank you, CC!</p>
<p>Son also passed his Eagle Board of Review last week - yea! I know that lots of boys have "checked that off the list" by 14, but I'm proud of son for getting that done with 6 months to spare before his 18th birthday!</p>