Parents of the high school class of 09

<p>fireflyscout - good advice on letting them know she is unavailable to call herself. I called and was told that the report will go in D's file but, because Pitzer is test optional, they won't look at the scores unless she indicates on the supplement that she wants them to. </p>

<p>ChiSquare and Jolynne - I called College Board/AP Services to find out about selective score canceling options. Apparently the June 15 cancellation deadline applies only to the school the student requests at the time of testing. Going forward, you have the option of either permanently canceling the score or selectively withholding it, prior to sending a score report to any other colleges. (There is a $10 fee for this.)</p>

<p>So the option exists - it's just a question of which is better: submitting a low score or having the class on your transcript, but no evidence that you took the test...</p>

<p>ignatius, thanks for posting the link to the frequency distributions. Some of the schools on D's list, e.g. Hamilton, will use AP scores to fulfill the requirement of standardized testing in the admissions evaluation process.</p>

<p>PRJ-am I understanding correctly? If S took 2 AP tests and he did not one sent but did want the other sent -he could permanetly or selectively not send one, yet send the other? In his case the History class was not "AP" but he took the AP test and scored a 2.(my suggestion-darn) Is there any deadline for this? He has actually not sent his SAT's, AP's, or ACT anywhere at all. It was so unclear what his list might end up looking like that I chose to pay the extra to have them sent when the list is finalized. Whether the AP's are on his HS transcript I do not know at this point.</p>

<p>oregon101 - I think I've got this right, but PLEASE check with AP Services to verify. The wording on the website is somewhat ambiguous, but the guy on the phone was pretty emphatic that we could cancel a score anytime before sending a rpt to any other colleges.</p>

<p>And I know that "darn" feeling - I insisted my D take the test after she tried to tell me her teacher had a horrible track record of students getting scores of mostly 1 and 2 :(</p>

<p>oops- sorry. I just typed a long post and I got a message that I needed to register. Maybe I timed out or something.
Anyway, I am fairly new to this list and will be sending my first to college in '09. After reading this thread, I'm feeling like S is behind because he hasn't started writing his essays or filling out applications.
Right now, UCSC, UCSD and U of Miami are on S's list. Rice, Trinity, and Southwestern are on my list (I want him to be closer to home). S wants to have a variety of majors available, be on the ocean, and have a residential college program.<br>
I'm looking forward to making my way through all the information available on this list, and to celebrating next May when the decision is made!</p>

<p>Do not worry that your S is behind. He has a good list and at least two of those school are on the common ap. Kids are different. I have one who is chomping at the bit and one who digs in her heels at the mention that she start the process. If he is applying EA and/or has a time consuming fall EC then starting sooner rather than later may be a good idea but I would say that as long as he looks at the essay prompts on the common app and starts thinking about his personal statement for the UC apps he'll be fine.</p>

<p>BTW I am a UCSC alum and my DDs are very seriously considering applying there as well as to Trinity. My criteria for college selection when I applied as an undergrad was that it be near a beach so your boy and I have a similar focus ;)</p>

<p>Three cheers to celebrating next January when apps are done and next May when decisions are made! Until then we will be here for one another!</p>

<p>He may want to look at Cal State Monterey Bay as well. CSUMB</a> ~ Homepage It is across the highway from the ocean and if he is in range for Rice and Trinity it definately would be a safety for him. It is a relatively new CSU campus and is quite innovative in its programs. Plus w/ 60% of its students living on campus it is the most residential of any CA public.</p>

<p>Don't think your son is behind - my daughter didn't do her essays/applications until December (most during the holiday break). My son hasn't looked at an application yet. I do suggest, however, that you and your son get very familiar with deadlines, including those his high school requires for processing transcripts, recommendations, etc.</p>

<p>cpq -- welcome and please don't feel like your son is behind at all! The majority of rising seniors have not started their applications or essays yet. My oldest is currently a sophomore at Rice (and LOVES it), but as much prodding as I gave him the summer before his senior year, he didn't write his essays or fill out his applications until he absolutely had to. I definitely learned then that his style (procrastinator) and my style (planner) were world's apart and he needed the time pressure to motivate him. In the end he was very successful and got into 8 of the 11 schools he applied to (with 5 giving him significant merit aid). Each kid has their own style and sometimes you just have to let them do it their way -- its saves the peace. I'm trying to be a little more low key with my younger son who is a rising senior this year.</p>

<p>cpq: Definitely not behind. This board can be alarming until you settle in and get a sense of the range. My son (just finished his sophomore college year) would not give college planning a thought until the last possible moment--but wound up where he wanted to be and is very happy. Daughter (a rising senior) seems to be just the same. They both knew kids who were utterly obsessed beginning in 9th grade. For some genetic reason, I am sure, the parents who are fascinated with this often produce children who are indifferent and vice versa. I'm sure there is an evolutionary reason we do not fathom. But relaxing about it on our part, at this stage, is definitely good for all involved. Welcome to the roller coaster.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reassurance. S probably won't be applying EA, but he will be very busy the rest of the summer and in the fall, so I really wanted him to have knocked a few things out by now. To his credit, he has worked a lot this summer and at least he's read a couple of the books that I have thrown his way (50 Essays that Worked, etc.) Maybe his essay will start to take shape in his head soon. </p>

<p>I am a little intimidated by the UC application process for DS, as an OSS homeschooler. It looks like the easiest route is admission by examination. Luckily DS has done well on his SAT IIs. That really helps with the point system.</p>

<p>Historymom - were you a marine biology major? We will be visiting UCSD and UCSC in August (unfortunately before school starts). If we have time, we'll add Cal State Monterey Bay as well. I will check out the link.</p>

<p>Blackeyedsusan -- I think Rice is an awesome school, but S wants to get away from the area : ( I love their residential college system and the size of the school. It might be a reach for him (I'm still trying to figure out how to decide). His CR is in the top quarter, but his math is in the bottom quarter. He's retaking the SAT in Oct. and taking the ACT for the first time in Sept. He's working on improving his math test taking skills, so maybe he'll bring the math score up into the middle 50%. He does have great ECs and grades, so it may be doable. I guess we'll find out, if I can convince him to apply.</p>

<p>cpq, if your S is interested in marine biology, he might check out occidental - Research</a> Vessel Vantuna - Academic Programs , USD - USD:</a> Marine Science & Environmental Studies, and Humboldt state - Biology</a> • Humboldt State University and Oceanography</a> • Humboldt State University . Humboldt has their own research vessel that undergrads use. I don't know if Cal State Mry Bay does.</p>

<p>Thanks, I'll check those out. He is interested in marine biology, but he's also interested in computer science and film making. We have looked into Occidental (also Pomona, Loyola Marymount and Chapman) and may visit those schools on another trip. We are trying to find a small school, or a larger one with residential colleges, that is on the ocean and offers all three majors. There really aren't a lot of schools that meet this criteria-- and they are all located out of state. So, I am encouraging S to broaden his list and consider some schools that aren't on the ocean, particularly in-state schools. Who knows, when it comes right down to it, he may not want to go across the country for college (probably just wishful thinking on my part, though)</p>

<p>cpq -- If you're interested at looking at schools on the opposite coast you might want to check out Bowdoin. We visited recently and its a beautiful school in a lovely New England coastal town. The students seemed warm and friendly and there is no Greek life. While they don't have residential colleges, they do have social houses that every student is associated with. It looks like they offer marine biology, computer science and film studies. Marine</a> Ecologists Share Research at Bowdoin's Coastal Studies Cen, Campus News (Bowdoin)</p>

<p>Thanks. Did you ask what the winters are like at Bowdoin? He's used to Houston winters, so I'm not sure how he'd handle a New England winter. He'd love the coast, though, I know.</p>

<p>Yes, they're cold and snowy. I have the same concerns for my son. He's never been in cold weather for more than a day or so. Visiting New England in the summer doesn't quite give you the full picture! Our tour guide was from Houston, coincidentally, and she seems to have survived okay.</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>This is what I thought you were referring to. The situation is similiar where I live in Oregon. At least a third go to OSU, and easily 1/2 stay in state. I think 15-20% either go to jobs or the local community college.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Good luck at your top school. I hope you will find your niche!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>cpq1xtbu: Prepare yourself; when/if you go to CSUMB it is not a lovely campus. It has a certain central california duney coastal charm if you like it. I happen to. But it isn't anything like UCSC. It isn't ugly but aesthetically it pales to other schools we have visited. But it does have a tv/film deptarment and it is phenominal in the sciences. It has a bio major and an "Earth and Environmental Systems and Policy" major. Both are very broad based and can involve research/internships at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey</a> Bay Aquarium: Home Page It is just 10 min from Montery, an awesome and lovely small city, and 40 from Santa Cruz. You can check out my visit report on CSUMB here on college confidential if you like. The other thing is that though it is a state school it is still quite small. I believe there are fewer than 5000 students so you can still get an LAC type experience.</p>

<p>My major at UCSC started out in literature, then I went to a double in literature and art history but finally I ended up in Sociology. Believe it or not I still graduated in 4 years because my lit and art history classes counted as breadth requirements. One of my best friends was a Marine Bio major. She was from OOS also.</p>

<p>I love how we are all suddenly admissions officers trying to entice your S to our favorite schools ;)</p>

<p>ohhh^^^^^^^^^^^ your S's Score are like my twinE's. Here is what I think after talking to some of the cooler heads on CC. The mid 50% scores are sometimes from the same kids but often are not. What I mean is that your S's awesome CR score is in no way diminished by his somewhat lower math score. The kids whose scores make up the mid 50% range are statistically likey to also have a score above or below that range. Am I making sense? So, for example, if Rice* has a mid range of 650-700 on CR and and a math range of 630-680, we panicked parents tend to see only that one of our kid's scores is "out of range" In reality 66% of the kids who make up that mid 50% are also likely to have an "out of range" score. either on one end or the other so your highly verbal and literate son may be totally fine for Rice. </p>

<p>I have found that using the college board's "how do I stack up" feature gives the the best idea of who is accepted and with what scores. Best wishes and Best of Luck him: I do think tha CSUMB offer all three majors.</p>

<p>*Totally made up those ranges btw was to lazy to look at the real deal</p>

<p>That's a good point. It's easy to start thinking that the other applicants will have consistent scores across the board, but that probably isn't true. It would be easier if S wanted to attend an LAC. He is very geeky and into technology and computer science, which doesn't exactly go along with a lower math score.</p>

<p>Thanks PRJ</p>