@2019MomHP thanks! Good idea. How many different small sessions did the kids go to? Just trying to get an idea of timeline before I start asking for accommodations.
@2019odyssey Just two, am and pm
“No accommodations allowed” to leave early. I wouldn’t care so much but attendance is a requirement to be a contender for the National Merit Scholarship!. I honestly think that that the odds of getting a Faculty Scholarship are so slim - I’m hearing they are expecting 1200 students vying for maybe 12 Faculty Scholarships?? No real evaluation of the candidates will be made with that many in attendance. An insider at Baylor told me that it really isn’t a scholarship weekend - it’s a marketing weekend. I’m dismayed as we even told them we would take my daughter’s name out of the Faculty Scholarship contest and forfeit the $2000 but they wouldn’t budge. A November attendee told me that they take attendance all afternoon on Saturday. I would think they’d be more interested in my NMS, 35 ACT, Valedictorian child who has another interview the same day at another school for a full ride where’s she’s got a 50/50 chance. They won’t even tell me how many NMS they plan to extend. Last year the NMS was automatic!! Just a little rant - any thoughts from anyone? We have even suggested that at least one parent could attend - if we wanted to be unethical we could send my other child and they’d never know the difference if it’s only about attendance. Rant over.
My DD and I are attending the I2E event next week, and we’re looking forward to visiting Baylor and Waco for the first time. We are quite a ways away from Texas (D.C.) and I’m actually hoping that it is mostly a marketing event (though I sympathize with your situation @2019odyssey). This is taking the place of a campus visit for us, and I assume (or at least hope) that the event will give us more information than we would get from a run-of-the-mill visit. And if my DD ends up going to Baylor, the automatic $2K would be a nice bonus. Has the schedule/agenda been sent or posted (or does anyone know when the Friday reception begins)?
I was told by Admissions that the agenda will be sent out next week. Here is an old one and my understanding from Nov. attendees is that it is pretty similar. https://www.baylor.edu/admissions/doc.php/300628.jpg Thanks for your sympathy @goblue99 !!!
@goblue99 @2019odyssey Regarding the schedule, after an auditorium opening (go early for coffee from Common Grounds, they have it set up outside the auditorium, but no drinks allowed inside) students go one way and parents another. They do an abbreviated campus tour and parent-specific sessions. They also have a room set up for financial aid and locally-sourced snacks. Be sure to meet your regional admissions counselor who can act as an advocate for your child. We were very encouraged by the Honors College session and it gave me comfort in my DD’s decision to attend Baylor (I was not personally sold on Baylor before this). In the afternoon you will meet back up with your child in the auditorium and after a very cool Q&A with current students can tour dorms, etc. It’s a fantastic weekend. We really had a great time and my DD was sold. If you have time, try Torchy’s Tacos!
@2019odyssey I’m very confused (for you) by your situation because it seems Baylor is making a concentrated effort to get high achieving students who want to attend. We have so far found Baylor to be very accommodating, so your anecdote is disappointing. They should be putting on their best front for your DD. I thought the NMS attendees (vying for the Regent’s Gold schollie) didn’t have to write the essay, but I may be confused. Did your DD list Baylor as her first choice with National Merit? Good luck and I hope BU finds a way to accommodate your DD.
The prompt for the Faculty Scholarship relates to the breakout session the students attend so I can see why you have to stay all day, though.
@teaforwendy yes, it is quite disheartening. DD called her admissions rep yesterday with an updated class rank and asked again to see if there were any options for her to continue to be considered for the NMS (we have told them we won’t contend for Faculty since she won’t attend the sessions). She was told NO with no apologies or even an expression that this was a difficult situation. We are taking it as a closed door for our daughter and trusting that God has something better for her! I would’ve thought they’d be eager to at least try to “recruit” her or encourage her that she has a good chance at their NMS scholarship?? Perhaps they aren’t eager for NMS??
Thanks @2019odyssey!
@teaforwendy Thanks for the info! We did just get the schedule. I’ve heard good things about Common Grounds, so looking forward to the Saturday morning coffee already! They have four different sessions (“Academic Groups”) listed from 12:15 - 3:15 for the students … do you know if they rotate among all four sessions, or do they have a single 3-hour session? It does not say on the schedule. I will be going to the Honors College session (there is one listed for the parents, but not for the students; but I hope my daughter has a chance to hear first hand about the Honors College experience. Baylor is probably 2nd on her list right now (Michigan is her first choice), but if she is impressed by the Honors College, that may sway her). And thanks for the Torchy’s Tacos recommendation! That is another thing I was going to ask about … we will be staying there Sat night after the I2E event and I was starting to scout places to eat that night. Torchy’s sounds like a winner!
It’s one academic session. It’s tailored to the students’ majors
I received the schedule email a few days ago and it says I’m in the Gold group. Is it random? Or is it because I’m attending the Honors College Session?
Well, my son did not receive a faculty scholarship. So Baylor is out. Good luck to y’all!