<p>My son and I will miss each other terribly. Since he has Asperger's, he tends to monologue-esp. in the evening after the meds wear off. I'm about the only one patient enough to (almost) always listen. He has spoken of the fact that he really hopes he can find a wife who is willing to listen to him. For those of us who have kids with special needs (and for everyone else, too!) it is hard to think that they will probably never be in as nurturing an environment again.</p>
<p>Well, considering D2 just registered for her first "official" SAT (June 6), I guess the ball has started rolling. (she took them as 7th/8th grader for CTY). There was a "college fair" in town last Sunday....we did a "power fair" and zoomed up and down the aisles, picking up any books, etc. from schools she may be interested, but so far all that stuff is still in her bag!</p>
<p>I am much less hyper about this time around, but it's a whole diff game this time. D2 won't be playing the uber-competitive game, so that eliminates many of the high stress applications, interviews, scholarships, etc. She's not completely sure what she wants to study -- as opposed to her older sister who (still) hasn't wavered from the plans she made in 8th grade-- (D2 has got 3 or 4 specific ideas, though). She really hates the hassle of making decisions, and I'd say it's 75% likely that she'll join her sister at UMD. (her sister is campaigning heavily for it, and this year, they've missed each other A LOT). That would make it easy for us, but I don't want to give her any idea that I'm not willing to put the time and effort in that we did the first time around. I hope to make it a relatively stress-free process for her....it's just not worth getting so upset about it.</p>
<p>I came to CC last summer in a panic about Jr. year and I have to say that we are as ready as we can be at this point thanks only to the great advice on CC.</p>
<p>Both DDs are continuing to do well in school. Thanks to you all they took the SAT in Jan and got a baseline (and I might add sobering) score. I can not imagine what would have happened if we had waited until next fall to find out that they didn't do well. Now we have an action plan and a plan B in case they don't come up as far as the girls want them too.</p>
<p>They each have preliminary lists with a couple of reaches and a whole bunch of match/safeties depending on those SAT retakes. </p>
<p>After we do our taxes we'll have a clue about EFC</p>
<p>We have used collegeboard.com 's my organizer which I wouldn't have known about without CC so yeah...I'd say we are as ready for the stress and anxiety of sr. year as anyone can be but only because of this site and the great people who are so willing to help the rest of us out!</p>
<p>Ok...remember earlier I thought things were on track??? Just found out we need to reschedule May SAT and June won't work either. grrrrr...looks like ACT scores will have to do until next year. So much for my planning....:(</p>
<p>I'm about as ready as we can be. I know a heck of a lot more than most of my "peer" parents thanks to finding CC last fall. There are times I feel like we're just not far enough along yet though. DD won't take her first SAT until May with SAT Subject tests in June because of her winter sport. Less than ideal, but without that sport she would be a less competive applicant so..... That little bit of info is holding us back from "really" making a list. We have some idea of how she will probably do based on PSAT's and practice tests, but we'll see. She has a few schools picked out: a good solid financial and academic (we think) safety picked out in our state school, and a couple of others (probably safety/match schools) she finds intriguing. </p>
<p>She does seem to change her mind though about what she wants. Just yesterday, after previously saying "no" to NYU, she said she might like to go there because they send her the most mail. </p>
<p>I've been trying to research "curmudegeon" type info on schools when time permits. It's a bit difficult as not all colleges are upfront about who qualifies for merit aid and how much it is. </p>
<p>We've tentatively planned a visit trip to Chicago to see 3 or 4 schools there and a trip to St. Louis to visit a couple of schools in that area. </p>
<p>It's going to be one wild year. I only hope the seasoned parents at CC stick around for us!</p>
<p>rrah here are some links for you from the USNWR site re the financial end of things...I assume that's what you meant by Curmudgeon type info:</p>
<p>least indebtednes: USNews.com:</a> America's Best Colleges 2008: Debt Load, class of 2005</p>
<p>most students receiving merit aid: USNews.com:</a> America's Best Colleges 2008: Most students receiving merit aid</p>
<p>I think we're ready. The good news (and bad news) is that S2 does not have the grades for anything selective. He plays football, rec league basketball, has worked every summer, Guiding Eyes puppy raiser etc. so not a total loss in terms of nonacademic stuff to put on the application. But he is taking the least selective course load he can find and doesn't know the meaning of studying or homework.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech and JMU will each be a slight reach in term of GPA, but his SAT is fine. I also expect the SAT will come up with a second sitting as he is taking a Kaplan class (which I know people on cc hate, but the money is not a problem for us and it provides good discipline; S1 brought his score up 250 points with the class and S2 is not objecting to the class at all). He will not consider any other in-state schools. </p>
<p>He will also apply to U. of Colorado at Boulder and Penn State, which are also slight reaches, but we wouldn't need any aid so that may help. The good news is that he has the University of West Virginia as his safety and he absolutely would love to go there. In fact, that would be his number one choice if we weren't trying to steer him to look a little higher because of its academic reputation. (Every child from our school who went to WVU last year had an SAT below 1000!) But if that is the only school that accepts him he won't be disappointed. He wants a big school, with big football; has nixed all privates. He doesn't like warm weather so has nixed Arizona and Florida schools. JMU doesn't fit his football interests, but he is making an exception because it is inexpensive (we are making him pay 10%) and all of his friends will apply there.</p>
<p>My daughter also graduates in 09 and I guess we are as ready as we can get. She really just needs to come up with another safety. She takes the ACT next Saturday. </p>
<p>I think I am the one that needs to work on getting ready. I am a single mom and it has just been me and her since she was born.</p>
<p>Not even close</p>
<p>Getting there. Son is taking the ACT a week from Saturday, is signed up for SAT2s in May. Summer college road trip is currently being planned. He's got a list of colleges. OK, I've got a list of colleges and sometimes he remembers the names of the colleges. He's got one favorite and, cross your fingers, we may be over and done this fall (rolling admissions). His primary criteria is that the college be in a cold climate - he's spent too many August band practices baking in the sun.</p>
<p>I went through all this 3 years ago with D (this is my 5th! admission season on CC), but of course son wants totally different colleges than D.</p>
<p>'09 S has made it a bit easier because he has refused to put forth much effort in hs so he's not a candidate for very selective schools. Great standardized scores to date -- PSAT strong with likely NMSF designation in the fall and ACT & SAT coming up -- we've told him he didn't invest time or effort so we're not going to invest the cash in a selective private school (or top tier state school like Mich). He can apply wherever he wishes but without significant merit aid, it's a no go. Good news is that he's fine with that and happy to attend a large university in a nearby state (no good options in-state except for hometown flagship and we've ruled that out on principle) if it has a good film and music programs. Bad news is that he just decided he wanted to do a double major so now we have to do the audition thing! Lived through that with D so at least I have some experience with that. CC was a Godsend when I started seeking information about undergraduate music programs. </p>
<p>I'm eternally grateful to CC -- Best of luck to everyone on the '09 train...</p>
<p>firefly lol "I've got a list of colleges and sometimes he remembers the names of the colleges."</p>
<p>We're taking a college road trip next week and I only hope that neiter DD makes the mistake of referring to Willamette as Willamonte as they have been doing since D1 mispronounced it last fall :)</p>
<p>We also go to see our first school this weekend. We went through this 7 years ago and it was harder because there were no forums to talk to (that I knew of) and yet easier because DD was "that kind of kid" who wanted LAC/East Coast. Still we paid our dues with waitlists at NW, Brown, and deferred at Harvard. Ended up at BC and transferred in the middle of her freshman year to Middlebury which was a PERFECT fit. Never mind that I had picked Middlebury out as the right place for her in her Junior HS year. So-at least my DS knows the story and is willing to listen to my advice! Problem is--I really don't have much of a list for him yet. He will take SAT's in May and again in June (I know some think this is pointless but for him it will be like cramming for a test) and also spring ACT. He will not take SAT2 and so that rules out certain schools.
He doesn't like traveling that much. 3.8 GPA. Business or just maybe Engineering. Love some Merit. Interviews great. OK, just, on EC. Sigh. Glad to have found CC. This actually seem harder than 7 years ago, maybe because I know more about it this time around.</p>
<p>We're getting ready with S1, class of '09, although he's slacking off just enough this year to make things borderline for him to get into the top UCs or Cal Poly. He's also got borderline SAT scores (pretty good, but not great) which will contribute to his difficulties. He won't be in town to take the June ACT so will take it this fall instead and see how that goes.</p>
<p>I'm hoping he'll find some time this summer to write the UC and common application essays. This will make his fall a bit easier when he's got a huge EC commitment.</p>
<p>S2 is class of '10, so we get to do it all over again next year :)</p>
<p>Hi everyone -- sign me up for the '09 club! As others have already said, at least I feel as if I know what the heck is going on this time around! D was a little more proactive 3 years ago, but S is pretty clear on what he wants to study. With D we looked at 20 schools, and she applied to 15. Some of those 15 were pretty big stretches. In our collective 20/20 hindsight, we clearly could have skipped the time, effort, and $$ spent completing/sending them -- I mean a rejection is still a rejection, and it's not fun seeing your child go through that. So, we'll be wiser in many respects w/ S.</p>
<p>I do feel as if S is on an upward track, academically -- and I hope schools can see that and take it into account. Growing up, I outperformed my 2 older brothers (twins) in HS, but they definitely "caught up"/slightly passed me in college. Any others see this w/ their sons?</p>
<p>However much I'm not looking forward to the roller coaster ride that next year will be, I'm sad, too, since the house will be empty. On the other hand, I'm thinking of all the fun things H & I can do ...</p>