<p>johnman, how very kind of you !!! The way I am figuring this, I should run out of steam the day he leaves for college. Whew!!! Thank you!!!!!</p>
<p>Momreads, thank you!! He is receiving an award for Science and Math that will be given at our high school awards ceremony from U of Rochester. Isn't it cold and snowy??? And very far from Ohio!!!!! I am so glad to have found this forum as I just know I am going to need serious help when he leaves!!!!! Everyone is so nice and so knowledgeable, and so willing to share info. Hopefully we will be able to contribute something and not just take info!! When in this process do they get serious about offers? I understand that we must fill out the FAFSA asap in January and submit. How important is the "name" and "reputation" of the school? I feel that he would get into MIT but is it THAT much better of an education than say, Purdue?</p>
<p>SpacedOutSax - my office is a couple of miles from the U of R campus, and the sun is actually shining today! (the first year I was here there was a big snowstorm on Mother's Day though). Congrats to your son on the award!</p>
<p>D1 is also Class of '09. She's a good student interested in International Studies and arabic language. She's interested in GW, American and Fordham. I can't believe how quickly my D went from very fuzzy to extremely decisive about what she wants to study and where she wants to be!</p>
<p>I'll encourage her to do early decision next year to mimize the insanity!</p>
<p>Good luck to them all!</p>
<p>momreads: much of what you are asking can only be answered by you and your S over the course of the next 7 or so months. So much depends on your families needs. Congratulations on your son's achievements and Good Luck! Also never worry about asking a question because by doing so you are giving others who also have the same question the chance to read the responses and learn</p>
<p>Thank you, Rachacha. Are you familiar with this award? It is supposed to be for Math and Science? How is crime on U of R??</p>
<p>Spacedoutsax: I'm familiar with it, as my husband is a U. of Rochester graduate. It is usually through Bausch and Lomb and worth $7,500 a year for four years. It can only be used at the U of Rochester. </p>
<p>Should your son decide to attend the U. of Rochester, he can add additional scholarships from the school or outside to his nest. My husband, a few years ago, had the chance to participate in the nomination process for some kids in Maryland. </p>
<p>Just to let you know, the U. of Rochester is one of the schools our son is considering. He loves the open curriculum. It is in a decent neighborhood. The kids have transportation down to Eastman for music -- in fact, your student ID lets you ride four or five city bus routes for free. And the underground tunnels to class keep you warm and dry when it snows, and can it snow there! But my husband says the Lilac Festival makes the spring.</p>
<p>To those of you who have made college visits, particularly with kids who are less than enthusiastic, any tips? I took him to visit one OOS school that I thought would be a great fit for him, and he was resistant from the start. He simply says "back east" although he's never BEEN back east. We'll make a trip there this summer, but next month are visiting Chicago which I hope he likes. Would relish any feedback as we plow through this process.</p>
<p>Sax - I would not be too concerned about crime, some bad things go on, mostly on the opposite side of the river, but it has improved over the years, and I see both campus security and Rochester city patrol cars in the area frequently.</p>
<p>The Bausch & Lomb award is a big deal, great to have a merit award in your son's back pocket already! That one and the Clarkson one are the most coveted in my D's HS. Momreads is right in that you can have other merit awards added on to that one...</p>
<p>On another note - The Lilac festival starts on Friday - with the abnormally warm weather here a couple of weeks ago, the lilacs are peaking right on time for once!! Truly worth the trip if anyone is close....</p>
<p>We have done two overnight trips. Twin E is up for anything Twin K is the sort who doesn't want any decisions made for her. The first visit took us to Southern California so we took a day and went to Disneyland. Having that to look forward to helped me get my girls up for the trip in general so even when I threw in a school they hadn't considered seriously they were game. Another thing was to let them choose everything else about the trip. Where we ate, what we watched in the hotel room etc. </p>
<p>I was worried that our Oregon trip would be anticlimactic by comparison because there was no Disneyland but they enjoyed it too. There was a restaurant they really wanted to go to so we did. There was Powell's books to look forward to and I gave them veto power over the campus visits. If they felt they would not apply to that school after participating in a couple of activities then I would make our excuses and we could leave. That only happened at one of the schools.</p>
<p>I included them on the planning as well twin K did not think she wanted any planned campus activities. twin E did. I respected that but when the campuses sent twinE her visit schedule twinK decided that she would participate after all.</p>
<p>I don't know how much of a budget you are on but I joined a hotel chain's club. We have stayed in their hotels whenever possible and have built up points which will come in handy down the line. Also we always stay in places that serve breakfast and have microwaves and fridges in the rooms. Our most recent trip was via car and we packed an ice chest w/ snacks and even frozen dinners. We were gone 5 nights but only ate out 3 times. Colleges provided lunch, hotels provided breakfast. That meant that we could order whatever we wanted at the restaurants we did go to. </p>
<p>Last summer I imposed a college tour on them at a school where they had just finished soccer camp that morning. It was hot, Harry Potter 7 had just come out and they wanted to go home and read. Neither was happy and have crossed that school off of their lists. I think the info session went in one ear and out the other because all they could think about was "I can't believe my mom is forcing me to do this." </p>
<p>There is a whole thread on college visits from last summer. I'll see if I can find it and post the link.</p>
<p>here is the visit thread <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/367934-college-visits.html?highlight=visit%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/367934-college-visits.html?highlight=visit</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the input. It's nice to know I'm not the only one dragging a recalcitrant teen around. I like your idea of having him select what we'll do in the city/town/hotel. I told him he needed to see some midwest schools (he has stepsisters there) and then we'd look at some eastern schools. I'm trying my best not to be too over-the-top with him, and have probably created a monster by doing the research for him instead of expecting him to do it. But then, he'd be at community college....</p>
<p>Appreciate the link, it's helpful. I particularly like one suggestion to have parent and student attend info session, and let student go off on the tour solo while the parent explores. In my case, I think he could "own" his impression better without me.</p>
<p>For a humorous spin on everything, read "Accept My Kid, Please". One chapter is about trying to tour colleges with a son who would rather be anywhere than on a college visit.</p>
<p>Hi. I am new (my first week or so). I'd like to find out how to decide what colleges are the 'safeties, reaches, matches, etc. We've looked at lots of schools and found likes/dislikes on many. How does it work out to get into the catigories, etc.</p>
<p>My oldest son is in the 2009 grad boat too! He is thinking engineering like civil or construction. His top requirement is to go were it is warm and a beach close by would be the cherry on top. Oviously were we live has no beach, and really, he wants to just get out of dodge. He would rather go somewere and not know a soul. That means paying out-of-state tution. :(
He has good grades, lots of cs, and decent SATs. He just re-took them on May3, so we are hoping for better scores!
We have visited the University of Idaho (sneek peak). He thought is was nice, but it doesn't fit his requirements. You might say what about the University of WA? it's only 9miles from the U of I. Simply this, it's nothing but a party school in between a bunch of wheat fields! Everyone that he has ever talked to about this school is either a boozer or has just hated this school because there is nothing to do but drink and get into trouble! Any of his older friends that have went there after the first semester have transfered out...
We have looked seriously at the Cal Poly's, the Cal States. He really likes both Cal State Long Beach and Cal State San Diego. The prince is not too outradious, but they seem to be impacted, and I'm not sure how many out-of-state students they would admit, and if he could ever get into the classes he wants anyway.
Someone else told us to start looking at the bigger,more prestigous universities, that he could get more aid there. Any ideas, please let me know. I'm still trying to figure out these boards and since this is my first kid of 4 to go off to college, I've got to learn this game well and quick!
I look forward to your answers!</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip on the book, Firefly - I've ordered it and look forward to the chapter you referred to in particular.</p>
<p>Familyoutdoors, I recruit at colleges for construction engineers so would be happy to give you feedback on some of the schools. CalPoly SLO has a top-notch reputation, Pomona definitely below that, and CSULB definitely on the bottom of that list, and SDSU has a very new program (they're in the catalog this year for the first time) but an enthusiastic director. You might check out Chico which has a fine program, and Sacramento State which has shown a big improvement recently. One other school I recommend but is definitely not at the beach is Colorado State. They have the largest CM program in the country and 100% placement of grads. For an engineering orientation to CM, Oregon State is one of the best in the west. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.</p>
<p>Thank you for the info. What schools do you recruit from? What should he (we) be looking for in a program? I really want him to think more than just location, location,location.
How about scholarships? Any of school have more for first years than the rest? Our ECF from fafsa4caster puts us at $0, so lots to make up for in between.
Thanks,
Kristina</p>
<p>I don't have an idea how the schools award FA, so can't help you there. If CM is where he wants to go, the schools should be ACCE accredited (Associates Schools of Construction Education). It's a great industry, good starting salaries, solid people in the business. It may be too far, but U of Fl is another good program in a warm climate. ASU is another. Does your S want to stay on the west coast? You might check out ASC67.org. It's a website for an organization that sponsors a huge construction competition each year. The winners from this February's event will be posted, and it's nearly impossible for weak program to field multiple winners.</p>
<p>familyoutdoors, have you looked at Harvey Mudd? Great engineering program, great location.</p>
<p>DD is also a member of the HS class of '09. </p>
<p>She currently wants to major in Spanish so a good overseas study program is crucial to her. She knows she does not want to attend a school with less than 5000 or so students. According to her it would feel too much like HS (nearly 1900 students there). Two months ago, urban schools were off the radar. This month she thinks it might be cool to go to college in a city. I think really she could be happy anywhere or maybe she's just hoping we make some big city visits this summer :)</p>
<p>Her GPA is pretty good. We don't know SAT scores yet (anxiously waiting for 5/22). What a fun year ahead!</p>
<p>D2 will be a senior next year, too. (where did the time go?)</p>
<p>She's got a wide range of interests and possibilities, and really would rather avoid the whole college search thing. (this is the one who was overjoyed with the prom dress that H and I bought for her...without her there....because she HATES to go shopping to decide anything.)</p>
<p>I'd say the chances are probably 60% that she'll follow Astrogirl to Univ of Maryland in College Park. Astrogirl is campaigning heavily....she LOVES it, and even though the two of them are so different, UMD would offer everything D2 wants....various possible study areas, and being in/very near a BIG city. (She wants to go to a school where she can take a train and be in an urban environment)...Boston, NYC, Chicago, DC. We're partial to public U's for many reasons, and although she'll apply to UNC, she'll probably join her sister and flee the South. The two of them have missed each other intensely this first year of D1's college experience, so even if she doesn't end up in College Park, I think she'll be somewhere where they can visit each other more easily.</p>
<p>I've thought about changing my screenname to EnvironmentalSciencesOceanographySpanishDanceGermanmom, but I think CC has a restriction on screenname length. (Besides, people think my screenname describes me, and not D1....)!!</p>