Parent/Child timetable for high school

Parents Forum
41

<p>You wrote:
I think part of the problem may be the number of colleges being considered by the original poster’s son and perhaps more generally. It is just a lot of stress (and money) to apply to so many. It keeps going up every year. I don’t know how the college admissions departments handle it. </p>

<p>Actually, we are not considering that many. He never considered that many. I just put that number as people here seem to want a ton. He has always wanted Baylor and TCU. LeTourneau is a safety as it is 15 minutes away. I am going to make him apply to UT Dallas and Louisiana Tech. When I applied to college, I only applied to 2: Baylor and Southwestern.</p>

42

<p>Starting to think/talk about college in HS is too late. And it can be waaay to late.</p>

<p>For example, there is a decision to make before Jr High in my area as to whether or not to apply to the Discovery Program, which is a more in-depth class than the “regular” classes. Our kids all took this route and all did well in the toughest HS classes. We know parents that were worried about their kids working too hard in Jr High, and passed on the Discovery program - and now they wish they hadn’t.</p>

<p>Of course if we continue this to its obvious conclusion, we’ll all be exchanging “Best Way To Talk To The Fetus” Thread. Maybe even a “What’s The Best Music For The Pregnant Mom - Future HPY Applicant?” thread?</p>

<p>Good luck to all - and we liked Mozart AND Reading Novels To The Fetus. (2 kids are STEM so I can attest that the reading really helped…) :)</p>

43

<p>I love preplanning and jumping the gun, but I think you’re jumping the gun even a bit too much.
What worked well for us (with twins) was:

  • Summer before 11th grade: visited a college (when on vacation in the area) just to introduce them to the concept of college visits
  • Fall of 11th grade: took ACT (we are in an ACT state)
  • Starting winter / spring of 11th grade: Visited wide range of schools that were of reasonable target interest based on grades and ACT - small, large, different geographies, etc. Took advantage of four-day weekends and spring break.
  • Then, summer before 12th: Prepped applications and started working on essays. This enabled my kids to go ED to their favorite schools yet have their back-ups ready to go should the ED not work. I spent extra money sending scores to colleges that they wound up withdrawing apps for, but it was worth it to have the closure.
    Having said this - D narrowed in pretty easily on her choice, but S didn’t make his ED choice until September of his senior year, and it was a “wild card” choice.</p>