Parents of the high school class of 09

<p>Ignatius, the U. of Rochester has about 4500 undergrads. It has an outstanding medical school right across from the campus. When we visited, we learned that each student is assigned a doctor, and he/she keeps that doctor for four years -- that impressed me because the doctor gets to know your child.</p>

<p>As for majors, the school is particularly strong in science, business and economics. My husband has degrees in economics and statistics, and he was able to earn them with ease because of the open curriculum. We saw a freshman dorm -- it was pretty nice. The food was pretty good, too. As for the cold, yes, it does get cold there, but there are tunnels that are heated that connect the buildings. </p>

<p>The Eastman School of Music is one of the finest in the country, and students can take lessons there -- even if they do not major in music. Rochester's bus transportation system is good, and the buses take students between the main campus and Eastman -- for free.</p>

<p>My husband pointed out that the neighborhood is relatively safe. One set of neighbors are no bother -- there is a cemetery on one side of the campus. You also have the river there as a natural buffer.</p>

<p>If your daughter is interested, contact the admissions office and ask for the DVD. It is only about 10 minutes long, but after watching it, it made me want to go to school there. Our son, too, who lists the U. of Rochester among his choices. If you are the child of a grad, you also receive a waiver on the application fee.</p>

<p>Dizzimom--Be sure to eat at the Pomona cafeteria. When we went on a Pomona visit years ago, it was part of the tour (we each got a ticket for lunch). It was so unlike the cafeterias of my generation--and the lunchroom looked like something from Harry Potter.</p>

<p>Dizzimom: Well, if he has any interest in biology, Oxy had an amazing collection of birds for study (drawers and drawers of them for comparison of species), back in the dark ages when I was an admission tour guide...and a large special collection of mysteries in the library.....but these are probably more interesting to parents than kids...Maybe learn about the marine science vessel...hopefully the weather will be not too hot and the air clear when you do LA. Enjoy</p>

<p>Really, the winters in Rochester are not that bad, just long compared to some other places, and when it is, you can get to just about anywhere on either U of R's or RIT's campus without even going outside (I say that now in the middle of the summer when my memory is short!). Both places are worth the visit, anyone concerned about weather should visit early November or so to get a feel for it - my D has taken courses at the U of R every summer, and is doing bio research there now, the facilities are state of the art. D is not interested in going as an undergrad, but med school will be another story, and the planned research building will be done by the time she graduates if she goes the research route.</p>

<p>ignatius, Thank you for the welcome. It's nice to hear I made your daughter grin. That's cool. She is fortunate to have such an inspiring teacher. If I hadn't had one like that in my junior year of HS, I may have also left the AP class on that first day. My son also had an inspiring Physics teacher this past year. The teacher got my son so engaged that he initiated outside projects "just to see" what would happen. No one was more surprised than I to hear he wanted to major in Physics! I had gotten so used to his automatic push-back on anything I suggested that to have him choosing my major was a complete shock. I see it as a total tribute to his teacher.</p>

<p>momreads, The U of Rochester looks very good and has been on <em>our</em> (uh-huh) list for some time. It looks like their Physics program is quite strong. Not too crazy about the location though.</p>

<p>mmaah, Thank you for the welcome and for the new links. I'll check them out today. You made me laugh with the >> Do Not Fear << LOL Most of the time I'm okay with it all, but every now and then, I get breathless with the enormity of the task ahead. At those times, I'll try to remember your post :)</p>

<p>historymom, Thanks for the welcome, and thank you for starting this wonderful thread. I can't imagine what this process would be like having to do it for TWO kids at the same time! I am in awe.</p>

<p>For those of you present or lurking who have "reluctant to event think about it" kids, one thing that could help is introducing the idea of a gap year. You have to really mean you would support it. And I think it is wise for the proposal to be first find a school you'd like (and that would allow a deferral) and get admitted. But I think many kids benefit from a year out of the academic gallop for lots of reasons and that for some this relieves the pressure created by the "college hunt/plan your life" demands and gives them room to actually do the developmental work. There are threads on CC and other forums about gap years that help you think about how to set your own requirements for what would work for your family. Just because we are ready to look for colleges or send them doesn't mean they feel ready to go and the idea of a year to get ready has lots of inspiring possibilities.</p>

<p>If I suggested a gap year to my D, she would look at me as if I'd suddenly grown a third eye!</p>

<p>She's reluctant only because she's so stinking busy with summer homework, sports, lifesaving (and when that's over, a job) and her culminating project. I think she just doesn't have the mental energy left over. I keep telling her it's only going to get worse after school starts.</p>

<p>Also, she really doesn't want to go anywhere except U Washington or "some place in California." She'll be accepted at the U, but won't get any scholarship money there. And I can find tons of scholarship money for her at other places.</p>

<p>Now technically, we can afford the U, but we're not so rich that we can just walk away from fat scholarships. And one thing I've noticed in my research is that the midwest and eastern schools are A LOT more generous with scholarships than schools in the west.</p>

<p>I have to get her past the seemingly impenetrable mental barrier of the Cascade Mountains.</p>

<p>To be honest I had never heard of a gap year until I found CC. My Ds go to very large school and know of no one who has done a gap year and they are almost 4 years apart. And I have been a volunteer at school for over 14 years and have never heard of anyone taking one. Thinking we must live in a little Utopia I asked my friend who is a counselor in Ohio and she said she is unaware of anyone in her school over the years. Do you think gap years are regional??? I have been asking around my network of friends, neighbors and others and can't find anyone who knows anyone that has taken a gap year!</p>

<p>Dizzimom: Oxy is wonderful as is LMU! I am going to try to encourage twinE to think about it a little more before she firmly decides to not apply to Oxy.</p>

<p>Sue: You are welcome. It was absolutely self-serving to start the thread. I wanted to connect w/ others in the same boat. All I can say about having two go through at once is, "Thank goodness for the common ap!"</p>

<p>jaf1991: They do come up with geographical limits don't they. Mine have the Rockies to the east and the Wash/OR border to the North. To the South, Texas but only one school, Trinity U, which they both picked because they were going through a Matrix thing. It's OK w/ us, though I do wish they would look nothwards at UPS, Whitman and Gonzaga but when all is said and done I will appreciate having them somewhat close.</p>

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If I suggested a gap year to my D, she would look at me as if I'd suddenly grown a third eye!

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<p>This makes me laugh because when my mother proposed I take a gap year (in 1967) I thought she was trying to ruin my life. I didn't take her up on it (wasn't brave enough really) but think it could have been a good idea because I really was a young freshman and would have grown in good ways. Gap years are very common in the UK (and maybe elsewhere in Europe). I think they can be a healthy timeout from the academic grind but only make sense if a kid really finds the idea interesting and is willing to do the work of making up something that makes sense and is affordable (eg working, service, some real growth experience). It should not be "time off" but rather "time on" doing something of developmental value. My son did want a gap year and used it well. His college offers deferral to any freshman for a year (many LACs will do this). He went off to his first year renewed, relaxed and responsible in ways that I liked a lot (eg: had already learned well how to do laundry, manage travel and living in different circumstances) For him and us it worked; but each kid and family is different</p>

<p>historymom: "uhhh hows that Trinity report coming?"</p>

<p>Done - yea me! :)</p>

<p>historymom: DS predicts Oxy may be his favorite but we shall see. Do you think I can make a 1:00 tour at LMU if I land at LAX a little before noon?</p>

<p>S's guidance counselor suggested Trinity to us. Can you share any info? Have you visited? I doubt we'd get there unless he is accepted. Problem is he will apply to major/minor in music at some schools but not at others. We really need to get that spreadsheet going w/ all the details so I don't lose my mind trying to keep it all straight! =)</p>

<p>Dzzimom: Will you be taking a cab from LAX to LMU? If so, yes, I believe you can make it. they are really only about 8 minutes away. It took us more like 12 but we were driving ourselves and ran into some traffic. Will you be staying over in LA? I did visit reports on LMU and Oxy if you want to check them out.</p>

<p>If you are renting a car I suggest Enterprise. That's who I used and the whole process was slick and painless and quick.</p>

<p>Ignatius...Thanks I am off to read it!</p>

<p>hi historymom, </p>

<p>Hopefully my college report (Trinity U) contained info that interested you, but if not ask away. My d suggested I just say: "It's awesome."</p>

<p>The summer is slipping away and D has done nothing to take advantage of the down time to start the application process. I don't want to nag, but I wish I could get her to do something, anything, to get this going. I gently suggested that she try to do something constructive every day, even if it was just a tiny step. </p>

<p>So yesterday when I went home, D was parked in front of the TV. I asked if she had done anything constructive that day, and she said that she had written down her list of schools. Six names, took maybe 30 seconds tops.</p>

<p>Maybe today she'll put the list on the refrigerator.</p>

<p>Ignatius - ditto the thanks for the Trinity report! We may just have to do a getaway weekend to SA since there is an AirTran fare special out there now!</p>

<p>Chi Square LOL...it's a start :)</p>

<p>mmaah, my D is totally ready for college. She is a fairly young senior (won't be 17 until 9/3), but she has always been mature for her age. The thing that makes this so frustrating is that she is NOT a procrastinator, which leads me to believe that it's just "one more thing" on her to-do list. I don't want to nag and add another stressor. So I finally suggested that we start off looking at colleges online together (from the list that I've compiled), which she agreed sounded a lot more fun - which she needs more of in her summer! I'm hoping that once I get her started, she will continue on her own.</p>

<p>My son, the last of 3 :) is at a PA HS and looking forward to his senior year. Seems to have "ducks in a row". The kind of kid that planned out his entire 4 years of HS before his freshman year began and has followed it through (don't know where he got those organizational skills :( ). Anyway, finding the college search a challenge as he seeks out the college that will allow him to study, explore, and research renewable energy and environmental type engineering and get an excellent education in the performing arts. We are gradually getting there with a list. I did, however find a great tool that I think is greatly helpful for students and parents alike. A "College Comparison Chart" and a "College Application Chart". I am sure that those computer savy people can just to a spreadsheet, but this is a fill in the blanks and very easy to work with. The website to order this is College</a> planning, college search, college application
Good luck to everyone on their journey! It truly is a journey! :)</p>

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Maybe today she'll put the list on the refrigerator.

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<p>LOL Chisquare! Trust me, you are in good company!</p>

<p>My D is away for the summer and I've been very gently nudging from afar - e.g. "Have you jotted down some thoughts for your essay?" The answer is always "no."</p>

<p>Just yesterday on the phone she made reference to participating in an EC which is a HUGE time committment and from which I thought we had agreed she would pull back this fall, to allow her more time for applications, college visits, and her other ECs. Oh yeah, and those pesky AP classes ;)</p>

<p>Apparently she doesn't remember that conversation....sigh.</p>