<p>echo,
From what I've heard from my daughter and her friends, three SAT IIs is a lot in one day. Have her take her strongest two first, then bag the third one if she's worn out. Most schools are now only requiring two with the new SAT.</p>
<p>Thanks Susan and SBMom for mentioning Bard and Sarah Lawrence. Unfortunately, with the exception of Goucher, daughter is turned off by northeastern schools for some reason and won't even look at them. I thought Wheaton in Mass. would be a great option for her - but, as soon as she heard where it was, it was like "nope." I think it was an early visit to one northeastern school that she thought was too "preppy" for her. Now she mistakenly thinks all northeastern schools are preppy. That's OK, the midwest and PNW schools really do seem to fit her and are less expensive so it's all good. :)</p>
<p>Obesmom, another student with Earlham on the list! They certainly have an amazing peace studies program. Daughter is playing with applying ED as it is by far her number one favorite.</p>
<p>Introducing your kid to a college or area that's not on their radar is a lot like introducing a new food to a toddler. Sometimes repeated doses work, and sometimes they don't. </p>
<p>C-- I would serve up Bard a few more times if only because of the instant decision!! You never know, my kid thought she wanted to go to school in LA ONLY and wound up applying primarily in midwest & NE. Also she was adamantly against womens college-- till she saw Smith, met people there, and ate their delicious dorm food!</p>
<p>Thanks SBmom. I'll take another look at Bard for her. If I could get her there, I might also be able to get her to Skidmore for a visit, another school that I think she'd like but has made up her mind NOT to like, if that makes any sense.</p>
<p>It makes complete sense, in that we think the schools are great and our teenaged D's exist to repudiate everything we stand for! ;)</p>
<p>My daughter was accepted to Chapman, Denver and Eckerd and we are also in the midwest....she had extensive visits at each, and VERY different experiences with the campuses and the $$$$, so if I can answer any questions, let me know.</p>
<p>BTW, she is attending Eckerd with a very nice scholarship.</p>
<p>SBMom - just looked at Bard's website and I do think it would be a good match for daughter in many ways (when she hears Chinua Achebe, one of her favorite authors, is on the faculty, that should peak her interest). Thanks for the suggestion ---- going to have her look at the website when she gets home. You know, your comment made me think of something: I'm from the Northeast (NY). She hasn't said it but perhaps deep down she doesn't want to go anywhere near where I'm from and have "local contacts." :)</p>
<p>Freps, What was the deciding factor in your daughter's decision to go to Eckerd? What is she interested in majoring in?</p>
<p>
[Quote]
BTW, she is attending Eckerd with a very nice scholarship.
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</p>
<p>That school is about a half hour from our home (of course too close for my D). You would be hard pressed to find nicer surroundings. Congratulations!</p>
<p>Good morning, junior parents. Our S is now in college, so I won't be taking up any room on this board except for this post.</p>
<p>For Momofwldchild,
Echosensei,
movinmom,
mezzomom,
eagle79,
holycow,
momnipotent,
pyewacket,
nceph, and
cali
and any other parents to whom this may apply.</p>
<p>Based on what you've posted, I recommend you consider Brandeis (for those whose list doesn't already include it) and Rochester. Two very fine NE schools in or near urban areas, larger than LACs (undergrad poupulation 3-4000), with strong science, economics, political science, history and music departments, and with merit aid available to many accepted freshmen based to a great degree on GPAs and SATs. For math or physics in a non-engineering school, Rochester is particularly excellent (Rochester is the home city of Bausch & Lomb, which supports an optics program; also the home city of Kodak and Xerox). </p>
<p>These two schools were the top choices for our S, who is just finishing his freshman year at Brandeis and is thinking of majoring in economics. Be happy to discuss either of these schools with anyone; just PM me to save space on this thread for discussions among yourselves.</p>
<p>Bye.</p>
<p>Hi Cali, what did you think of Boston College vs. Tufts vs. Tulane? Boston College looks fun and has all those good sports teams to follow, but we're not Catholic, or even religious, which could be off-putting there. How were the dorms? I don't like that "other" campus thing there.<br>
Is Tufts fun at all? Everything I read about it always makes it seem so serious. How does Tulane's campus compare to Tufts and BC? Which campus among those three is the most attractive, or has the most green space?</p>
<p>calmom, yes, I went to bed right after I posted. Usually I don't go to bed that late, 2 am is a nice time for me. Unfortunatly it's not great with my high school schedule which is one big reason I'm looking forward to college. But yes, I love how psychology applies to my daily life. One way to develop an interest for a subject you may not like that I've found is to connect it with something I do like, in many cases being psychology which is a good way to remember things. </p>
<p>Your D definitely doesn't have to apply to college as a psych major. I think the Russian thing is a great hook, milk it for all it's worth. I actually remember that when I was a kid (oh about 3/4th grade) my friend was russian and I looked into learning the language because of that (the only thing I remember is da=yes and nyet=no). There's plenty of time to explore everything and you don't have to stay in the same major. I agree that psych is very popular, but that only about 25% of the people who do it go onto psychology graduate degrees so its not as competitive upfront as say, bio/chem med school. And if you subtract all the wannabe therapists from that lot, it reduces a great deal of the number going into it. </p>
<p>In case you misunderstand me, when I said research, I was talking at the undergraduate level, not the high school as the vast majority of psychology major don't do any before that. I'm trying to though, this summer and hopefully next year so I'm hoping that will be a plus and show I'm dedicated. Most other beginning psychology majors have other things that get them into a good college (ie high stats and good ECs not necessarily related much to psych). But it is true that being a psychology major is not really a hook unless you show real dedication to it but that applies to most other popular majors as well.</p>
<p>My D is kind of a lopsided kid -- 1400-ish SAT's, NM Commended, average grades and definitely deserving of her nickname "princess" (i.e. juicy couture and Max Azaria live with us...) who was also a kick-butt varsity soccer player until taken down with Chronic Fatigue syndrome in sophmore year....so her EC's weren't all that good, nor were her grades. Her apps were supplemented by writing samples that I think really helped her...so she got in everywhere she applied, but she wanted out of the Midwest, someplace with a decent social scene, engaged students but also social kids who weren't too bookish...she eliminated Puget Sound and Lewis and Clark due to "crunchiness" and "ruggedness" and Boulder because it was too big. She wants to study art AND business, with the idea of going into fashion something or other.... That left Chapman, Denver and Eckerd. She had a horrendous (an understatement) visit at Chapman, much to my regret, as her sister goes to Oxy and we were given a great financial package. She loved Denver. I didn't. Too many commuters, too much emphasis on facilities (when I asked the AD "why should my daughter attend here?" he responded only by describing the facilities) and she had a GREAT visit to Eckerd, where she felt the classes were as good as her college-prep private school and that the kids were a combination of engaged and fun. The beach was a plus, too.<br>
Her only worry was that she know one other student who had been accepted whom she thought was "dumb as a stone," and was concerned about the quality of academics. After being there and talking with people, she felt very very good about the faculty and the classes.
Final story -- Denver offered 15,000 in aid, 12,000 of it in grants. Eckerd offered a president's scholarship, a grant and another scholoarship for a total of 21,000 aid, plus work study eligibility and a stafford loan. I had to tell her we couldn't afford Denver, esp. with her sister at Oxy for one more year. She was a bit disappointed, as two of her good friends are going to Denver and she felt more comfortable knowing someone, but now is looking forward to life in the sun.</p>
<p>heidi
student: son
current location: south
college features: urban, urban and more urban.
interests: history, english, philosophy, business
preferred geographic location: out of our state
colleges interested in: Northwestern, Emory, WUSTL, Penn, NYU, Georgetown, George Washington, Tulane, USC, BC, BU, Tufts and maybe UN-CH [not urban, but lots to do and good sports and parties!]
visited: 0.<br>
There will be an official celebration when he finally fits a college visit into his busy schedule.
My vote for his college choice [though if you knew him you would be amused at the thought of my getting a vote]: Emory.
His current favorite: Northwestern, chosen after looking over the Fiske Guide while watching cable poker.</p>
<p>Glad to hear I am not alone in the AP insanity:D2 sufferes from test anxiety, tends to test poorly on standardized tests cause she freaks out. AP Eng today, Symphony rehearsal tonight/track meet tomorrow has to run the 3200 at 3:30P, play symphony concert at 6:30P, home to cram for AP Stats on Wed, folllowed by 4 track events Wed afternoon. Not running well because she's sleep deprived so that makes her mad. AP US hist on Fri will be a crash and burn, now she's really mad. This course has been a bear and just not her thing.She is focused on science and cares not about battles,dates,presidents or treaties. Prom on Sat. Academic,music demands stressed a 6 mon relationship, so no date for the prom will go with the girls.......sigh............
Anyway:
Screen Name: Crabbylady
Is your junior male or female: FEMALE
Home State: Alaska
Geographic Location: Very West or Very East- wants mountains, water access to a city- she thinks at the moment!
Any specific things looking for in a college:Small to medium sized/has liked the LAC's we visited/little or no Greek/wants to be able to play music-flute/piccolo/piano/wants to be able to run track,Xcountry, may or may not compete.
Academic Interests: Science/Physics/Astronomy-maybe
Schools on her list: List what list?? So far- U Puget Sound, U British Columbia, Lewis and Clark, Rochester, Haverford, Johns Hopkins, Boston College,Cornell
Schools we've visited (whether or not child is interested in going there): UOregon,Reed,Lewis&Clark, U Puget Sound,Western Wa, U Washington, U British Columbia ( The Great Northwest College Tour- Spring Break)
Will tour East in the early fall with husband.Would like her to see Colorado College (think their block system would suite her style) D2 may have to risk it and apply to some schools sight unseen.
OPEN TO ANY AND ALL SUGGESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!
D has signed up for 5 AP classes in the fall+Xcountry+Symphony taking us govt and Ak studies in summer school to buy herself late arrival and early dismissal even tho she lives in the physics lab
.GPA 4.8/no volunteer work/never held a job/spent last summer doing Science at Sea so has 4 undergrad credits from Cornell- this was the best summer of her life.
I worry about burn out. I worry about her disappointment. Do kids ever get off the treadmill? D sets such high standards for herself, then wigs out taking the standardized tests.The head game is too much.</p>
<p>crabbylady, sounds like our daughters are soul twins...except mine doesn't want anything to do with the west coast. She's decided she wants to be a Broadway singing, tap dancing physicist. Oh well.</p>
<p>Screen name: Justadog
Is your junior male or female: 2 males
Home state: CT
Preferred geographic location for college: They "don't care", I would prefer them not tooooo close to home (for their benefit, not mine), and apart from each other.</p>
<p>Any specific things looking for in a college (large, small, urban, etc.): Both are looking for smaller colleges, preferably suburban or rural environment. Unfortunately, that doesn't mesh well with...</p>
<p>Child's possible academic interests: engineering, or other math/science stuff for both</p>
<p>Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: I'd say they are both leaning towards someplace techie, but LACs not out of the question</p>
<p>Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there):
Georgia Tech, Emory, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Haverford, Swarthmore, UPenn, Tufts, MIT, Wesleyan. More to come this summer. Glad to offer my opinions based on visits if anyone cares.</p>
<p>echosensei - why not have your D take SAT IIs in June? I would imagine that taking the tests stand-by (having to arrive early, not being assured of being able to take them) must be awful. Anyway, good luck to her.</p>
<p>As you know we just mailed off the letters for AluD to go to Princeton. And I don't have another for a couple of years. However, that other one, now to be known as son&only, is a rising sophomore. So just reading about these kids, where they are from, what they like, and therefore what their pod of possible is schools is like - well this is really valuable to those of us who now go back to waiting in the wings.</p>
<p>Plus some of you are really funny. Humor will be helpful to you all....</p>
<p>Screen name: deb922
Is your junior male or female: Male
Home state: OH
Preferred geographic location for college: Midwest
Any specific things looking for in a college (large, small, urban, etc.): pretty open
Child's possible academic interests: Engineering
Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: Case, RPI, Rose-Hulman, Colorado School of Mines, Open to suggestions.
Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there):
Ohio State, Ohio U, Purdue, Cincinnati and Michigan Tech</p>
<p>I am very nervous posting on this thread. Does anyone feel nervous posting about their kids on a public forum. If this community was not very embracing and helpful, I wouldn't. But everytime I have asked a question, I have received great advise and support. Thanks.</p>
<p>Calmom,
I just wanted to suggest Miami of Ohio and College of Wooster for your D. I know that they fall outside of her criteria but they both have Russian. Miami is known for it's International Relations department and I have heard great things about Wooster. Miami is not in a city but Cincinnati is only 1/2 hour, 45 mins. away.</p>
<p>Freps, please keep us posted on your daughter once she starts school. Eckerd is on my sun-loving, active and overwhelmingly exhuberant daughter's radar. We'll be checking it out in the fall (if my daughter can drag me away from Walt Disney World -- I'm a mom who can't grow up) on a Florida trip.
Crabbylady, my children want to know why you have the screen name that they want to give me.</p>