<p>Franklin and Marshall is a very popular school with international kids- not so clear why(compared with other similar sorts of schools), but it is. I know for our children, who are American but have grown up overseas, it has been important to ensure that there is a reasonable core of international or expat kids at the school. We also have looked at the %in-state students for the same reason.. Not only so that the Admissions department "gets" them, but also so that other kids "get" them. It can be hard to balance this with other needs, and it really depends on your child how important this is to them..</p>
<p>By the way, my friend whose child graduated last year from the local Lycee recently had her appendix out. We were talking at the hospital and she told me she is so grateful that this didn't happen a year ago. She felt like the paperwork aspect of getting her daughter's applications in (for the reasons above) was nearly a full time job...for her! She feels it never would have happened if she had been ill last year.</p>
<p>Sorry about appendicitis. Yes, this is going to be a doozy in terms of paperwork.</p>
<p>I"m thinking I should move back to the States (where is undecided) and let him do a senior year at an American High School rather than fight for a place for him when he won't be "understood" at the colleges that he would be happiest at. </p>
<p>He is not stellar like your friend's girl. He hates school and the teachers here, can't tolerate the injustice and the complete arbitrary power they have. And he plays ball, ball, ball. We live near some poor areas and that's where his club is because its the better one. Some of the kids there (mostly black) will never graduate high school. These kids are really into their bodies, no drugs, smoking, alcohol, etc. Sometimes at midnight he goes for a long run just to work off the stress. Practice 3 nights a week from 9 to 11 and weekend games. He also does martial arts the other two nights of the week....so I don't think we can hope that he will change into somebody he is not academically....or for many breaks from schools.. I see that now..oh well. </p>
<p>I'm pretty isolated from other English speakers where I live so it feels good to talk! Thanks</p>
<p>Unfortunately we can't afford to visit, but we have to hope they will see who she is from the paperwork and an alumni interview here in the UK if possible. Things I've learned on this forum have helped her target different schools and we remain hopeful. Things could be worse. On the "expatriot games" thread and the original it continued from, there were stories about horrible rec letters and D's are great. Her class ranking is high and somehow she has managed good ECs and leadership even though it's not the done thing here outside of the expat community and American or international schools. Thanks for the good wishes!</p>
<p>Seems like it might work if he just did a PG (post graduate) year at a US boarding school to get (re)acclimated, etc.. He might find the work surprisingly easy and he could do a lot of sports..would give him a chance to get his SAT training, etc, as well..</p>
<p>I can't thank you enough for providing me with that type of analysis.. I might have started to see things that way eventually.. but the learning curve is steep with the process when we have no outside helpe and you just saved me hours and hours! thanks</p>
<p>Problem with Drew is it is Divsion II basketball, he is probably only good enough to play Division III. But he sent an email anyway yesterday...</p>
<p>Yes, the incredible paperwork is almost sending me around the bend. It is good to know that I'm not alone in this. People here have the attitude that my D should do it all herself, but without support she wouldn't be able to have the great grades, good ECs, etc. This effort has taken incredible amounts of time and people with decent GCs and other parents to talk with should appreciate what they have! Being able to pick up the phone is also an advantage. I spent probably 10 hours in all trying to find out from the collegeboard why my D's score on one test had disappeared. In the end I printed a week's worth of emails, several a day, and paid an awful price to airmail them to the college board with a cover letter asking why my question had generated so much activity and paperwork and no one had answered my question at all or provided a solution to the problem. Amazingly, 6 weeks later, I was contacted and a knowedgeable person has helped us! But everything takes so much longer when your situation isn't the norm. I don't know what to tell you about moving back for a year as your S's situation will still not be the norm. Whatever you do, don't leave without ALL the records, copies of everything, and any recommendation letters you can get from anyone, teachers, coaches, anyone, because if you need them after a year back in the US, you'll be out of luck.</p>
<p>Basketball! It's a wonderful sport for meeting new people. My S adopted the trick of standing on the edge of courts with a nice b-ball in hand--until he was aksed to join in mostly North African games in East London.</p>
<p>I like the one in Pittsburgh, but I think they are all good. Many of the best players in the US go there--including Michael Jordon's boys (he went as a boy). The training you S will get will be invaluable to lifting his skills for college. There are lots of recruiting coaches observing those camps.</p>
<p>Then, if your S doesn't get the college of his choice, you might consider Maine Central Institute for a post-graduate-fifth year of high school. They have an AMAZING basektball program and they do very well placing their students in college basketball programs. </p>
<p>Last year, I arranged for a (6'-9") player from my S's bball team to go to Five star--and he loved it. Couldn't believe the difference it made in his game. I also arranged for a Div I tryout for him--though he was literally trampled by the athletic prowess of those players and clearly not ready for that level (my dad took him and had to leave because he was exhasuted just watching those guys run up and down the court). </p>
<p>Anyway, the kid decided to apply to MCI--and he's loving it there--though the program is demanding.</p>
<p>Another option....but I am sorry you aren't enjoying France. </p>
<p>If you have your choice, you might keep in mind that if you reside in Wash DC, you are entitled to send your children to ANY state university for in-state tuition....(learned that on CC:)).</p>
<p>Still worried about the suburban choice for your S though...especially coming from such a mixed environment, street ball etc...</p>
<p>your information is invaluable! Its been so long since I've had a sense of community....tears to my eyes!</p>
<p>You have somehow managed to answer two important questions that were swimming in my mind... basketball camp and an additional year at high school...before I even asked them!</p>
<p>Maybe you could change your user name to "mind reader"
many many thanks</p>
<p>My son's team is quite mixed too, so is our neighborhoood although it is suburban. I wonder how he will cope with white upper middle class?</p>