<p>My son will graduate from high school in June of 09. I joined CC at the beginning of this school year, so I've followed the compete search, application and admission/rejection process for all of these great kids that I don't know from the class of 08. I've learned so much, but it's a bit daunting to prepare for the emotional roller coaster that is ahead of us next year.</p>
<p>I sort of wish we were the sort of family where everyone in the family attended the same non-selective school. It would be an easier ride.</p>
<p>Other than Rice, my son isn't trying to get into any schools that are super-selective. His SAT scores are strong for where he wants to attend but it's been a bad year grade-wise and is getting worse by the day. If he doesn't watch it, he'll fall out of the top 20% of the class and I keep telling him that it will limit his options if that happens. (More likely, it will just limit merit aid.)</p>
<p>Are you other parents of juniors ready? With the incredibly low admission rate at the selective schools this year, I think those of us who have less than stellar students have an easier year ahead of us.</p>
<p>Three years always seemed like such a comfortable interval between kids, until now. I haven't finished recovering from the emotional side of the first time. Definitely not ready to do it all again. </p>
<p>On the plus side, I have 11 years to go before #3 is up at bat! :D</p>
<p>HS class of '11 for my S, but one thing I think I need to take away from this year is the importance of looking strategically at the list of colleges to which a student will apply. Sure, he might want to apply to some of the schools "all the other kids" from his school/with his stats are applying to, and that's fine, but he should also look at schools where he is offering what they need. A school with a student body that is 60% female, one that doesn't get 50 bazillion applicants from the mid-Atlantic, one that isn't over-blessed with kids who will do whatever it is that my kid does/will do in high school. </p>
<p>I think the crafting of the college list will be really important.</p>
<p>Good point, owlice....one of the many things I'm learning here every day. Last week we got some material from St. Edwards, which is on my son's list. I looked at their stats and for the first time realized that "60% female" was good for my son! (Admissions wise.)</p>
<p>Not at all ready. We did do four college visits over spring break, not that that clarified anything. We did enjoy the people watching game of telling stranger's back stories based on their appearance and demeanor. She's also decided to use shoes as a determining factor for fit. She's a laid-back flip-flops and jeans kind of girl. Too many girls in stilettos at one highly-regarded LAC, now off the list. </p>
<p>Still looking hard for safeties to love. She's a CTY kid and wants to be with fun, creative, nerdy but highly social kids.</p>
<p>sigh...I think we're as ready as we need to be at this point. D2 won't look at schools far from home so her stats will be in the upper range for most all schools around here that she is interested in. I know I need to step back and hope she finds a place that meets her needs. It's so hard to see her pass on schools that I really feel have so much to offer and challenge her. I remember the letting go process with D1. Isn't it nice to see our "kids" grow up and become responsible young adults!!??!!</p>
<p>I feel ready. My son is class of '08 and we had a rough road this year getting him into three good schools that would be good academic and social fit. My daughter is class of '09 - her search will be a little more challenging, I'm sure. Son started looking at colleges last year- daughter's been looking for the past three years. We've got five schools on the list- only one being an Ivy- just need to come up with two safeties to love. Any thoughts on good programs in molecular biology or biochemistry on the East Coast at less selective schools?</p>
<p>DS1 here. He's looked at schools, and I have been reading these boards for more than a year now. I am convinced more than ever that he must add a new category to his school list - the 'super safety' - and complete that application by October 1. </p>
<p>Best of luck to all as we walk this road in '09.</p>
<p>Yeah...we did the house arrest technique with D1 so all her apps would be done when HS soccer season started. She wasn't happy at the time since it shortened her summer but she was ever so happy for the rest of her senior year! ;) Will do the same with D2!</p>
<p>Moewb, one of the schools high on my son's list has rolling admissions....I want him to have that application ready to go as soon as school transcripts are availble next September. It would be great for him to have one admission under his belt. A couple more offer non-binding early action.</p>
<p>Would be interesting to start a thread to see how thought processes change on applying to specific schools. Meaning schools they are interested in now and compare to schools thay actually apply to.</p>
<p>Missypie - My fear has grown that my son's safety schools are not safe anymore - and I may have to force him (yes, really) to add to the list this summer. </p>
<p>SUNY Purchase, and Quinnipiac were going to be safety schools - but having read the boards on the later this year - well, that school even for very solid students is an open item. I almost feel as if it must be a wide net cast at the safety level.</p>
<p>You're so right....kids have posted about being rejected from some purportedly no-brainer safeties. </p>
<p>As for knowing more than lots of the parents of the class of '09...I tend to agree. I am very thankful that I knew to have my son take the SAT in December and March. He's got scores with which his is happy and now his is done with that part. (When he took the SAT in December, he was there with some acquaintances who were seniors taking it for the first time.)</p>
<p>Next on the agenda:
- not failing AP Bio (how I wish he hadn't been talked into taking that course!!!)
-finishing his Eagle Scout Project (he doesn't have a lot of leadership positions, so I see that as essential for his apps)
- preparing for 5 AP tests and 2 SATIIs</p>
<p>I admit it-I wish I could do it all for him. They say that on the back of every Eagle Scout are his mother's footprints...so true with all of this!</p>
<p>I am definitely NOT ready for this, but after seeing the "bloodbath" this week some strategies will need to be adjusted or outright changed for my '09er.</p>
<p>Trying to get D to apply to at least one SUNY will be like pulling teeth, but it will have to be done! Getting her to fall in love with or even accept an academic (and financial) safety will be a true challenge, especially after a couple of "you had me at hello" moments at other places!</p>
<p>D had a goal of doing well enough in the first sitting of ACT and SAT to end the testing there, but that looks pretty much impossible at this point, which means another SAT in the middle of the senior XC season, oh joy! But at least there are benefits of superscoring..</p>
<p>It was helpful watching some '08 teammates go through the recruitment process - unfortunately, since D was injured for half of her postseason last fall, her stack of letters is not as high, but some coaches have still shown early interest. More pressure to improve for senior season, but D knows now that not being a college athlete is a possibility, and could actually be OK with that....</p>
<p>One strategy change being considered based on this week too is to find at least two or three good match schools that offer EA, and get those applications DONE by the end of the summer/start of XC, so there will be at least a couple of acceptances in D's pocket early. One of her good '08 friends had 5 EA acceptances by the holidays and was sitting pretty watching everyone else sweat it out....</p>
<p>Finally, D is considering applying to her (at the moment) first choice RD, but very early, to apply for a student-athlete scholarship that she has little chance of getting, but at least her hat will be in the ring before the thousands of others will....doing an overnight early fall as well. Good to see that some schools offer that option early in the semester, especially to fall athletes.</p>
<p>GOOD LUCK to everyone - we will ride this wave of insanity together!</p>
<p>My son did say something last weekend that I really enjoyed hearing: "I want to go to a school that really wants me." Hopefully, that means he would be content at a safety that offers a lot of $$$.</p>
<p>I'm not ready for son to leave. With the first born I think there is all this stress about 'doing' everything and looking ahead. Even now I have to remind myself--he'll be gone soon. Appreciate the good times.</p>
<p>With the second child, I think there is a much greater awareness of the brevity of time and how each stage is here for mere moments, seemingly.</p>
<p>I wish I could apply that knowledge to the first, but it doesn't seem as easy to slow down & appreciate it all. </p>