<p>S1 is a rising senior and S2 is a rising junior. This year has gone by VERY fast. I was just commenting to DW that it seems like yesterday that S1 made a decision on what HS he would attend (had a choice of many good Catholic schools in the area). That process was stressful! This will be easy, I think . . . as S1 already knows what colleges he wants to apply to and he has the grades and SATs to get in, at least on paper. We've been trying to get him to put a few more options on his list of schools he will apply to, even met with his counselor, but to no avail. S2 will be more interesting, I think, so I'll be around!</p>
<p>yes, that is what I tell my kids too. Dosen't matter where they go. Who they are is most important.</p>
<p>We're up to bat next year as well. As this year has gone on, he has had more interest in college hunting. His SAT's weren't great but his ACT was stellar. He may take the ACT again in the fall but I'm leaving it up to him. The scores were good enough for his grades, in my opinion. His older S knew what she wanted and was college hunting all through HS. He's shown some interest- we visited schools in the spring and not until we got to schools he didn't like did he realize what he liked. He's gone most of the summer on various trips and working at camp so fall will be stressful figuring out where to apply and possibly visiting schools.
I just can't believe he's up to bat- I just did this (she's a freshman) I'll be here for the long haul- I've got one finishing 7th and one finishing 5th.</p>
<p>Just going to add some thoughts to chew on. Mostly for myself! But it occurred to me that there are several successful people I know where I know what they do, but I have no idea what they majored in at college. This is supposed to reassure us that, to a certain extent, it doesn't matter what they major in (in case any one else besides me is worried about that), so as to ease the pressure a little. </p>
<p>For example, one relative was an architecture school dropout who switched to something else, graduated and was a restaurant manager, now runs a successful insurance business. Another started out selling insurance, now owns several successful pet stores (no idea what his major was).</p>
<p>sorry, one more story. A dad told me his S was finishing junior year at state u, with no major yet! Dad went in to the advisor with S and said "Look at his transcript and tell me what he can major in and graduate next May." The counselor said History, if he takes certain courses. They made out a schedule and the kid graduated in history. Now he is a successful wine distributor. His dad sells coffee, so I guess he came from the entrpreneurial school to begin with.</p>
<p>Conversely, I will never forget when our branch bank was w/o a manager for almost a year. They had the head teller run the branch, and she did a better job than anyone else ever had, but there was no way she was going to be promoted to manager cause......no college degree. She said she could have a degree in ballet for all the bank cared, it was company policy that all managers must have a college degree. I felt so sorry for her, cause at her age and with her family responsibilities, college, even night school, was not in the cards for her.</p>
<p>Another mom at our hs with a performing arts D (friend of S) said her H's company has a similar promotion policy. Her D can major in voice, for ex, start out in a trainee spot in the company and move up. So the lesson is - get in a decent college, major in something, work hard, and as Dr. Seuss said, "oh, the places you'll go!"</p>
<p>Hey, I'll join in. My D is a rising senior as well - good (but not stellar) grades and a tough junior year coming to a close. Her ACT score was very good (again, for her!) and she's taking the SAT in June; we'll see how that goes before she decides whether to retake either test. </p>
<p>She's like so many of the kids in this thread! She loves music (indie/ electronica/ punk-pop) but does not play an instrument herself; all her friends are in garage bands (she'd love your son, mercymom.) She's an opinionated, quirky, headstrong girl - think obscure band tee-shirts and Converse sneakers; she has the attitude but not the piercings or tattoos (that I know of). She has a different set of ECs (Girl Scout Gold Award plus staff member/ promo director of her school's radio station) and seems to spend most of her weekends at local concerts.</p>
<p>Her dream is to work for a small music label in a large city, so her college plan is to abandon our "boring suburb" for a large city, probably Chicago or Boston, with good internship possibilities. We've visited DePaul, Loyola, and Northeastern so far, and she loves them all! I'm looking forward to her senior year but I also dread it. Now that we've moved past the middle-school histrionics I'm realizing how much I'm going to miss her when she's gone.</p>
<p>My one and only is a rising senior--interesting kid who's not afraid to be different, excellent SAT scores, NM commended student--and a GPA that doesn't quite reflect the above. Thankfully, he has had a very positive high school experience. I predict that he won't look back on it as a miserable time, as I do! He will find a college he likes that offers what he wants--though his reach schools will definitely be a reach. Our college visits have been fun and informative. But you can bet that I'm still anxious about the next year. The best thing I can do for him is stay calm, focused, and helpful, so here's my personal current list of things to do to stay sane:</p>
<ol>
<li>Keep our conversation about finances active. We have laid out very clearly what will be possible, but I'm not sure he's absorbing it. This to me is the most important message at the moment because it affects where he applies and what he sets his sights on.</li>
<li>Don't nag any more about grades. We're in the last quarter of junior year, he's doing his work, and there's very little that nagging will do now (because it hasn't helped in the past!). We have heard college presentations; he knows what the GPA ranges are at schools he's interested in. Reality has set in. Fretting that it didn't set in last year is pointless.</li>
<li>Guide and assist, but don't take charge. He must be involved. We have agreed that I'll be his "project manager" and keep track of the details, but the principal work is up to him.</li>
<li>Be very careful who I talk to. Where we live, prestige matters--a whole, whole lot. When you're looking at state schools (or, let's be frank, non-Ivy, non-Williams-type schools), assumptions are made about your abilities, or there's a question about why you are aiming so low. Already some of the college talk is unpleasant for me. I'm planning to keep this process fairly private, and I'm advising S to do the same. No one needs to know his SAT scores, class rank, etc. (But I will be sure to get back to them in 20 years when he wins his Pulitzer--or like some of the great examples in another thread, has a thriving business that's totally unrelated to his college major!)</li>
<li>Support his passion and enthusiasm. He has lots of it, and it needs to shine through in his college essays. Senior year at his school is tough--an internship and a senior project in addition to college applications and classes at local universities. </li>
<li>Begin to let go. This is the hardest part! I have always heard that HS seniors test your patience. People on another thread made good recommendations about taking every opportunity to help him make his own decisions.</li>
</ol>
<p>Now I'm starting to get misty-eyed, so it's time to stop. :)</p>
<p>nice post geezer mom
I have a class of 08 as well
she is taking a year off after high school- although her school is encouraging her to get her apps in anyway.
I expect she will apply to schools in the washington undergrad exchange which are relatively inexpensive and have rolling admissions.
She would love to attend a more expensive private school & perhaps after she takes a year off she will be able to with good need based aid, as her sister was able to do.
I try not to compare them though-this one has very strong interests of her own- I just have to come to terms with her attending school probably so far away ( Hawaii)
what a prob huh? ;)</p>
<p>fyi - i just reread my post and my history major edit got put in the middle of the origl post. how'd that happen? so if it reads funny, well, i really can write!</p>
<p>geezermom - don't let the uber competitiveness get to you. if by pulitzer, you think he's going to write for a living, well our friend's S, a NMF, went to U Alabama in Tuscaloosa on a free ride. He was the editor of his hs newspaper and thought they had a good journalism school down there. I'm pretty sure he became the editor of the the Bama paper, and he did a semester internship in DC for Reuters. Now he's a reporter for a paper in Louisville. If you've got your heart set on newpaper journalism, it's better to graduate w/o ivy leaque debt imo.</p>
<p>emeraldkity4 - at our state u they belong to some kind of college exchange where you can go for a semester or a year (maybe even 3 semesters??) to another school in the US, and i know kids who've gone to U Hawaii doing this. i think you only pay the tuition of your home school, or at least in state for the exchange school, so that is good option if you either can't or don't want to go to Hawaii the whole 4 years.</p>
<p>good luck everybody! tommorrow night is senior ring ceremony! we're off to the races!</p>
<p>scout59-
Gold Award is HUGE!!! That is incredible, way to go to her.</p>
<p>I have a sibling in the music business and Georgia State in Atlanta has a great program in Commercial Music. Hot-lanta is about as hip and trendy as it gets for metropolitan cities yet has a great deal of suburban "calmer" areas surrounding it. That might be something for her to check out...
GSU is the program I am familiar with but there must be others, try a google search on Commercial Music Degree and see what comes up.</p>
<p>Also a parent of a rising senior (DS1). SATs, APs are stellar. Some big national recognition in his intended areas. ECs are narrow, but very deep. No organized sports, drama, or music. GPA puts him in the bottom of top 10% (but it's REALLY close) -- fairly good, esp. considering the difficulty of his program, but he a) has never been obsessed with grades, and b) his Bs reflect disorganization (forgetting to turn in completed homework vs. not understanding content). Think absent-mided professor. Virtually all his courses are Honors, AP, or post-AP, so he has strength of schedule as a selling point. School sends a good number to top prestige schools, but he is not into that game and is specifically avoiding the obvious suspects.</p>
<p>He has a wonderful list -- eight schools, a range of selectivity, widely ranging in size and geographic diversity, most offering a shot at some merit money. The common thread is the strength of his intended major(s), which are on the techie side, but he also wants a strong liberal arts bent. He's looking for intellectual and quirky, with a good vibe for him. He's visited all but one of them, talked to friends who attend, talked to profs and advisors, and sat in on classes, and says he'd be happy at any one, which to me is a sane way to approach this process.</p>
<p>We have been having a really good time -- we are all on pretty much the same page and have had many fun discussions. He had to write a resume and some essays for summer programs, which helped him collect his thoughts and get focused.</p>
<p>Believersmom - thanks for the kudos; that GA isn't done quite yet, but she's plugging away. Her project includes organizing a concert to "benefit" some preschool/ homeless shelter music programs. I like the idea of Atlanta universities since I have family in the area, and at one time DD had UGA on her list (Athens isn't exactly a big city but it does have that reputation for being a cool music town.) Me, I'd like her to stay a little closer to home (the Midwest), but Boston isn't exactly close, either.</p>
<p>Geezer, I like your post (and your screen name.) I'm trying really hard at the "no nagging" rule, too, but it's hard sometimes. My D is an only as well, and I keep reminding myself that I don't want her lasting memories of her home life to be filled with MY obsession over HER grades!</p>
<p>My daughter is a Jr. She is very indecisive about where she wants to go. One minutes, yes to all girls schools, then no. One moment rural, then next, city. Small, then maybe not...and so on and so on. We really can't afford to visit a lot of schools which is too bad because that would help a lot in the decision making process. I find the whole process overwhelming because of the fierce competition and the number of choices, uncertainty of it all.</p>
<p>My D is finishing senior year, so I feel all of your pain. It was a very hard year, but we all feel as if we have grown so much. Here are my 2 cents for next year's applicants:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Have a wide range so that you can feel confident about some schools, and can dream about others. Don't squelch the dreams. The worst they can say is no, and maybe they will say yes.</p></li>
<li><p>Be able to imagine yourself living and studying at any and all of the schools you apply to. Each of them must be a good fit and you must be happy at any one of them. You never know.</p></li>
<li><p>Don't let money be the determining factor. Financial aid is available and schools' FA offices are usually there to help. </p></li>
<li><p>Follow your dreams. Even if you don't know what they are.</p></li>
<li><p>There is no need to discuss any of the schools you are thinking of with anyone except your teachers, immediate family, and college office people at your HS. This is very stressful and you are entitled to be private about it.</p></li>
<li><p>Know that you will survive this. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and you will find a great school to go to, and you will be a productive and successful member of society.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck to all the new seniors and their parents. You are not alone!</p>
<p>My son is also a rising senior. GPA and class rank are low for a variety of reasons that he is finally starting to work through. SAT scores, while not in the typical CC range, are well above national and state averages. </p>
<p>He got an assignment in one of his classes that seems to have been a real eye-opener for him. He had to research typical costs in our area for homes and apartments, utility bills, food, auto insurance, taxes and so forth, then draw up a monthly budget. Next he had to calculate the number of hours per week he would have to work at minimum wage to make ends meet. All of a sudden, his interest in the whole college process has greatly increased, homework is getting done much more regularly and his grades have started to come up.</p>
<p>I will probably hang around CC for a while yet. I have been pretty active on the music major area even though my daughter is now in her second year of college. Son is more interested in a business major right now, but who knows how many times his mind will change in the next several years?</p>
<p>I'm still here. I have a rising hs senior interested in Journalism. I came to CC three years ago during the college selection process for my oldest, a rising senior at Bucknell, currently residing in a hammock in Brazil. :) I also have a rising junior at Carleton who heads off to Croatia this fall. My D also would like a school with a strong study abroad program. I still have a rising hs soph. so I will be around for a while.</p>
<p>One more week of class and I'll have a rising senior (D) as well. I've been hanging around here since my S was applying to schools--and he's graduating from college next week!</p>
<p>The no-nagging rule is really tough for me, too--D isn't the most organized kid in the world and I, too, am stressing about HER grades. Maybe we should start an NA chapter (Naggers Anonymous).</p>
<p>geezermom:
[quote]
2. Don't nag any more about grades. We're in the last quarter of junior year, he's doing his work, and there's very little that nagging will do now (because it hasn't helped in the past!). We have heard college presentations; he knows what the GPA ranges are at schools he's interested in. Reality has set in. Fretting that it didn't set in last year is pointless.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Amen to that!</p>
<p>Another member of the one rising senior in hs and one rising senior in college combo. club here. My son pretty much has his list of schools selected. It includes five reaches and two safeties; he eliminated the match schools he'd originally considered when he realized he'd prefer to attend either of the safeties over any of the matches. He truly is not at all prestige driven, but his list is nevertheless reach-heavy because these seven schools constitute the majority of those which excel in the area of interest he wants to pursue in college (and which fall within the geographic boundaries he's drawn around the distance from home he's willing to consider).</p>
<p>He's a kid who's always marched to the beat of his own drummer, which has been inspiring and wonderful most of the time (and quite frustrating and maddening other times). As a result, he has grades that should put him in the ballpark of contention at all his schools but aren't quite as strong as they would have been had he been willing to conform just a wee bit more to his teachers' requirements. He has awards and activities that make clear his lifelong devotion to pursuing his interests, and tends to do well on standardized tests (he'll almost certainly be a NM Semifinalist/Finalist). He's definitely not a cookie-cutter type of student, but we think his credentials will at least buy him a lottery ticket for admission to the schools on his list.</p>
<p>I was pretty calm going through this process the first time with my daughter, and I expect the same will hold true with my son. He has the attitude that he will adapt no matter where he ends up as long as he can let loose in pursuing his academic passions, which he knows will be true at any of the schools he's considering. As long as I know he has that perspective, I'm confident everything will turn out fine.</p>
<p>
[quote]
As a result, he has grades that should put him in the ballpark of contention at all his schools but aren't quite as strong as they would have been had he been willing to conform just a wee bit more to his teachers' requirements.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>As in, turn in homework even though he thinks it's a ridiculous assignment or already knows the material? Sounds familiar! (And then there was the 10th-grade, having-a-girlfriend grades dip--his, not hers.) Oh, well--no nagging, no nagging. My son literally turned white as a sheet when he heard GPA ranges cited during a college information session. I didn't say a word. Gotta love him.</p>
<p>I also have a rising senior. He's being somewhat blase about this whole college process. He wants to go somewhere far away and major in journalism. He has very good grades, very good test scores... he's always been an excellent student. But he's a wee bit lazy and so far not wanting to put much effort into this process. We're going on our first college visit in 2 weeks; then we are visiting 6 more colleges during the summer. Hopefully that will light a fire under him and he'll be more excited. <em>I</em> am really excited for him. I want him to be excited too.</p>