<p>Good list, historymom! </p>
<p>It's similar to ours.</p>
<p>This morning, after my "we don't have enough schools; I don't know what's going on with comp sci!" panic attack, son & I went thru US New comp sci grad rankings, and he -- on his own--just made a list of possible schools (including super-reaches as well as a few that are known for good merit aid as well as those he's visited). He checked off schools he's going to research in more depth, on their websites.</p>
<p>Jolynne, sorry, I get tired of typing out "Washington," basically I'm lazy!</p>
<p>As for it being strong in her intended major...hard to say. She probably is going to major in English unless her chosen school has an actual Creative Writing major. Most schools handle it through the English department with a focus/emphasis/certificate/module or whatever in Creative writing. Then maybe in minor in either History or Classical/Ancient Civilizations. It's not like most schools don't offer those majors and how the heck do you decide if their departments are strong, anyway? I certainly have no idea. Besides, we can always fall back on the old "you'll get out of it what you put into it no matter where you go to school" bit.</p>
<p>My D's problem is this...she has summer homework for 3 classes, she's trying to finish her culminating project (a novel), she's swimming 5 days a week and is going to start working as a lifeguard any day now (having just finished lifeguarding class). She's so busy and talk about applications just adds to her stress. She is really looking forward to next summer as a relaxing time...I hope it turns out that way. This kid has had her nose to the grindstone since she was in 2nd grade (that's her, not us pushing) and she deserves a break.</p>
<p>Historymom, let us know how your Sunday talk goes. I really feel that time is valuable. </p>
<p>It sounds like lots of people are making good progress.</p>
<p>jaf1991--wow, your daughter does have a busy summer; good luck to her with fitting it all in! Re: evaluating an Eng dept...would any assessment of the grad schools (in Eng) have relevancy? Or, is that less of a factor than in the hard sciences?</p>
<p>PS Has she been to any writers' conferences or camps? Maybe the profs/individuals associated w/them might have some suggestions of excellent schools?</p>
<p>Jolynne, no, she's never been to one. She's never been able to fit it in around the swimming. She is one girl that knows how to keep herself busy. </p>
<p>I have no idea about grad schools. I just am absolutely clueless. Someone did suggest you might be able to tell a good history department by seeing who wrote articles on whatever, but I don't have enough time to devote to that kind of research and she certainly doesn't.</p>
<p>jaf1991--I was in the same boat when my son first expressed an interest in computer science. (Whaaa? I don't know the first thing about computers...I used to have 'tech support' on my speed dial at work...). </p>
<p>What I did--I posted questions on CC (e.g. "What factors go into selecting a comp sci school?") and searched for other comp sci discussions on this site. The information I've received has been incredibly helpful and I'm so grateful for the generous sharing of ideas by parents of comp sci students and many comp sci professionals themselves.</p>
<p>Maybe if you posted re: 'best schools for Eng majors' you'd get some info?</p>
<p>Just a thought!</p>
<p>Jolynne, to tell you the truth, I'm not that worried about it. She will make sure she gets a great education wherever she goes. If I posted that question here, you know what kind of answers we'd get. Probably not a lot of schools that are giving away tons of merit aid money (if any) for students of my D's achievements. Interestingly enough Pitt has the oldest creative writing program in the country (according to their own website, anyway). Who'd have thought?</p>
<p>Last night I had it out with D. She wanted to sleep over a friends house AGAIN and go to the beach today. I got upset and told her that she needs to crack down this month and work on the various college applications (or at LEAST start writing essays). I told her if she waits until AFTER school starts, she'll be going to the local community college next year.</p>
<p>Hope my rant worked.</p>
<p>Another thing, some of the OOS schools she wants to attend (based on her major) are slight reaches. I told her that she would have to apply to summer session for the best chance. She FREAKED at the thought of graduating next year, then the following week heading off to college, barely enough time to say goodbyes to HS friends and spend her last moments with them.</p>
<p>Oh well, it's going to be a "FUN" senior year! :rolls eyes:</p>
<p>Hello Group :)</p>
<p>I posted a couple of weeks ago about being worried that my S was not engaged in the whole college selection process. I was wisely counseled to relax and "DO NOT FEAR". We went on our first college visits last week and suddenly my S is interested. He has agreed to do three more visits this month (all during our family vacation - no other time since he's working FT until then).</p>
<p>I'm not worried about the applications and essays because he's one of those kids who pulls off amazing academic feats at 2:00 in the morning. My main concern was his desire to do the work (I'd long ago lost the power of instilling fear in him w.r.t. academics). I hoped desire, even passion, would be triggered by actually seeing campuses (campi?) and it has apparently.</p>
<p>Have faith. One of the admissions counselors told us "the work is already done", they just have to be able to see it. It helped.</p>
<p>Sue</p>
<p>Hi my son will graduate from a Jesuit H.S. in CT. He has a 3.5 GPA and got a 30 on the ACT. 4 years on football team, but not a star. He doesn't know exactely what he wants to major in. He knows more about what he DOESN'T want to major in, i.e. medicine.</p>
<p>He is looking at U. of Mich, U. of Maryland, Indiana U., Penn State, Lehigh.
I think he should look at Case Western and University of Ill. also.</p>
<p>Anybody with thoughts on these schools?</p>
<p>Our 30 min session looked a lot more like 15 min. Both girls were receptive though and I even got some questions so that was positive. I gave them each a list and one of the things on it was to write down 3 publics, three privates and 4 wildcards (either). I asked them to write down two while we were sitting there. 1 public and 1 private, anyway...though they were on opposite sides of the room and did not confer, they wrote down the same two schools. Of the dozen or so we have visited, they come up with the same two...funny.</p>
<p>I told them that they werent compelled to do anything. I also said that if they only did one thing it should be to come up up with a rough resume'. I think the resume' will help them see themselves better for what they really have done which may help with essay writing...who knows.</p>
<p>SueD I like the advice given by the admissions counselor. She is right. The biggest portion of the work is done, now it's just time to realize it and report it. Glad your S is becoming enthused! TwinK was down yesterday pm because she feels like she hasn't had much of a summer. (she still has a month!) I also think she is looking at this as her last carefree summer and there is alot of sadness associated with that as well. I know she isn't right about that, there will lots of carefree summers to come, but her thought is not about the new beginnings that upcoming summers may bring but about the end of her childhood summers...sigh...I get a little teary for her because I remember feeling the same way.</p>
<p>My D is definitely looking forward to next summer as carefree. This summer is anything but.</p>
<p>My girls are looking at Sr. year that way. It will still be tough but w/ fewer APs for both of them and no track next spring they are looking forward to quite a bit more down time.</p>
<p>Son had his long-time friends over, and I quizzed them about their college plans (they will allow this from me to a certain extent, and their parents like it when I do this - takes some of the burden off them). One is on the right track, the other has colleges selected (a few are pretty unrealistic, though), but still has to take SAT2s. If all goes as planned, one will be on the west coast, one on the east coast, and one somewhere in the middle.</p>
<p>It's nice to know I'm not alone with a kid that just can't seem to get started. She's registered with common app but many of her schools have daunting supplements. So many essays to write. I have a feeling it will all go down to the wire. I just don't want this to turn into a nag vs. eyeroll thing. We get along well, she's a great, fun kid, but she's just not into the process yet. When I bring up the topic she's polite but swift to change the conversation. Then there is summer homework to be done too. Sigh.</p>
<p>Haven't posted in awhile as part of my effort to give the control of son's college search back to him. So far, he's winnowed down MY list and says he's looked at the schools' websites, but that's about it. It has helped our relationship tremenously, as I'm not nagging 24/7. Our deal is that drafts of essays are due 10/1, all apps in by the end of October, but I'd prefer a couple of the schools with rolling admits be done early next month, but I'll wait for that fight!</p>
<p>I just read On Writing the College Application Essay: The Key to Acceptance and the College of your Choice by Harry Bauld, a book recommended by fellow CCers. I wanted to see if it was worth suggesting it to my D (or assigning it as homework during our Sunday college talk ;)). It is great - short, entertaining, and full of practical advice. </p>
<p>electronblue, your post made me think of it b/c he writes about choosing an essay topic which can be tweaked to fit the questions on many different supplements.</p>
<p>Interesting PRJ...we're doing the essay thing now (for rolling admiss) and I'm having severe second thoughts on what I suggested son consider writing about (he took advice...not a fan of big essays so went w/my suggestion).</p>
<p>He had a bad soph year, and I thought he should address that (I've read that's a good thing). He mentioned how since obtaining a career goal, he's had an academic turn-around, is now motivated etc. (it's very true, btw). Arg, now I'm thinking that's too 'historical' and he should have focused more on what's exciting now & in the future. </p>
<p>I'm almost afraid to read a book like the Bauld one, since it might give us both brain freeze (i.e., "is what I'm writing appropriate?"). </p>
<p>Glad some kids are making a bit of progress (I hear you all on the somewhat reluctant part). At least they are doing something here & there...I take anything, at this point, as progress---even if it's not 100% enthusiastic effort. </p>
<p>cpeltz--I have to be careful of that too...make sure son is in the driver's seat re: the process (or at least emphasize that he has absolute final say!).</p>
<p>25, after all is said and done my D will be attending UR for about the same price as she would have attended UNC-CH, which is good because she really didn't want to go to UNC ("everyone else is going there", she said.)</p>
<p>Of course, if you guys are loaded it would likely be a different story...</p>
<p>The Bauld book is actually my daughter's summer English homework. </p>
<p>When my D was in preschool, she used to tell intricate, detailed stories of when she lived in Africa. As far as I know, she never contradicted herself and the stories were full of facts about animals, places, etc. At home, she would act the stories out and get so involved with them that she would actually cry about the lions outside the house. Of course, we never lived in Africa...but she had her pre-school teacher believing that we had. D is trying to figure out how to turn this into an outstanding essay. She wants to be a writer and I think the topic would be interesting but most of the essay questions I've seen are on topics like, "How would YOU end world hunger and bring peace to the universe?" So I'm not sure she can make this work at all.</p>