<p>congrats NorthMinn! Wonderful!</p>
<p>Thanks! Now I have to quit being grumpy with her today after we had words this weekend about getting ready for the Homecoming dance! I know she'll probably try to parlay this momentous occaision in to a more expensive dress, manicure or hair appointment!!! ;)</p>
<p>Congrats NorthMinn. You--and she--are so lucky to be DONE!!!</p>
<p>Ditto on the congratulations, NM. I am SO jealous. I would trade an argument over hair or nails any day, for the mountain of apps and essays sitting (and sitting and sitting....) in front of my D!</p>
<p>That is so great, NorthMinnesota! Congratulations to your daughter--an exciting future awaits! :-)</p>
<p>Congrats NorthMinnesota!! I am so so very jealous. A senior year of enjoyment.</p>
<p>Congrats NorthMinnesota!!!</p>
<p>I'll need to read this entire LOOOOOONG thread. But as a mom of a potential college student who can't seem to get motivated to apply, I am in a quandry. As a college grad I KNOW my son should go to school next year, yet he, for some reason, despite our own advice that he does not have to "know" his destiny, thinks that if he goes to college this next year it will somehow decide his life's course, and he is not ready to decide. When did the idea of college become this way? This is when a student should be able to spread his wings and really start to learn what it is he might want to do with his life, to FIND his "passion". When did they start thinking they have to know what it is they want from life BEFORE they go.</p>
<h1>theorymom--I worried about this too (for son). I thought--how can a 16/17 year old know what they want to do? Another dad gave me good advice--just go to a solid LAC or U w/a strong variety of majors. Then, the first year or two the student takes a variety of general requirements and that helps him find out what he likes/has an aptitude for. This simple advice was a big relief to me (I stopped feeling as if I should encourage son to 'find a direction'). Although, after taking a particular course in HS, son did find an interest on his own.</h1>
<p>Someone else told me that "undeclared" is the biggest major among entering freshman! </p>
<p>Maybe knowing this would help your son?</p>
<p>Welcome #theorymom :)</p>
<p>This thread helped put things in perspective for me w.r.t. my own willful S. Get yourself a nice big cup of coffee and settle in for a read. It will help.</p>
<p>One thing I'm STILL learning about my boy is that he can turn on a dime, both in opinion and mood. He was a lot like your S not that long ago and now he's passionate about his major and going to college next year. I can only attribute that to persistance and patience on my part as he's slowly accepting the process. My mother says it helps them to have a "steady hand on the tiller during these turbulent times".</p>
<p>So, welcome and enjoy. You're in good company.</p>
<p>For those of you who think you need a list now, FORGET IT! D thought she had her list last week, came home last night and now wants to take 2 off her list. After thinking about it a few days (after we did a tour of an in-state safety tour) she no longer wants to apply (the dorms were too scary). She now has the in-state flagship as her 'safety'.</p>
<p>We now have a whole new list of 10. Ugh, will we go through this for the next 6 months?!?!?</p>
<p>We thought we were done. D got her essay in to her 1st choice school by the end of July, as your housing priority number is linked to application's arrival. A couple of weeks ago she sent in the application to her safety because she doesn't want to tempt the fates. We thought we were done until she received a phone call over the weekend -- the second she's received from this school, actually -- and she informed them that she really wasn't interested in applying because it's not the best "fit" for her. Then came the meltdown ... "what if I don't get into my fisrt choice? ... I really don't want to go to my safety!" Now, as husband and I had been discussing this with her for weeks ... I refrained from doing the V-8 bang against her head and took a deep breath, responding 'oh so patiently as if this is the first time I'd ever considered such a possibility' all the while glaring at my husband not to escalate into a 'we've been telling you this for weeks diatribe.'</p>
<p>"So, dear, darling D of mine ... where might you also apply."
"I dunno..."
"Okay, if I were to ask you the question I've been asking you for the past year ... if you went with your gut, what do you think you'd like to major in?"
Fully expecting her typical, "something related to math and science," I was amazed that she quietly mumbled, "engineering."
I thought my husband was going to jump off his chair, as she's been telling us since she could speak that she didn't want to be an engineer like her father, even though she adores math, loves physics and chemistry, and is soooo her daddy's daughter. </p>
<p>So, after the meltdown ... we've added one more school to the list, and she's got 'til 10/1 to get the application in so she can be considered for a merit scholarship. </p>
<p>So, 10/1 ... that's the final. It's in sight .... :) </p>
<p>zebes, who's already dreading the "I've gotten in to all 3 schools and now I can't possibly decide which one," that I fear might be coming. Oh well, I know she'll have to decide by 5/1, even if she "eeney meeny miney moes." :)</p>
<p>Jerseyshore mom--That kind of sounds like my own post a couple of weeks ago. :) First it was up, and then down, and then up again. It's a roller coaster. I want to get off the roller coaster very soon which is why I'm pushing D to get it all done, but at the same time I'm REALLY, REALLY trying to let this be DD's process with an assist from me. </p>
<p>Some good news today--she took in the counselor form for her safety school--yeah!!! It's rolling admissions so now we just need to wait for the GC. One application really and truly completed. (At least the part we control.)</p>
<p>I SOOOO jealous. D is just getting the one ready for ED right now. Due 11/15. I don't expect it to get submitted until the first week in Nov. and then she has ALL the others to do. Argh!!!! It will be Christmas before I see the end.</p>
<p>D applied to St. Johns University yesterday. Don't get too excited, they waived the application fee and the essay ... but it's a start (but we haven't visited yet either)</p>
<p>She currently has 14 schools on her list. We still have to visit Rutgers, Rowan, Stockton, and Temple (all nearby day trips). We also haven't visted Penn, Purdue, and ECU (also on her list). The others we have visited.</p>
<p>New one on the list: University of Alabama ... anyone familiar? I like that they have a video tour online.</p>
<p>JerseyShoreMom--so funny, our kids are similar. Son has many schools on his list too (Rutgers among them). I went to Temple for grad school---it's a tough area of Philly, but many colleges are in rough areas. They have good security.</p>
<p>Son considered applying to U of Alabama too...if only because according to their gpa/test score matrix he'd get a (nearly) free ride. Then I looked into it and it seemed like a big party school and not super-academic (although people said you could 'find your niche.'). I thought son needed a more academic environment to 'push him' to reach potential. That's just him, though. If you search (under advanced search) the parent forums for U of AL you'll likely get some good info.</p>
<p>Some good news (finally!). Son submitted one of his essays (he's already used it many times) to his AP English teacher (he's having kids write their essays in class). Teacher said it was "probably the best essay he's read." Not sure if he meant this year, or ever...but still a good compliment.</p>
<p>Of course this essay was the one that sprang fully-formed from son w/out any input whatsoever from me! (except to say: "speak from the heart...make it your voice.").</p>
<p>Still has to submit his Rutgers essay (tonight is his self-imposed deadline) and U of Wash & U of Texas. Hoping that's done by this week...</p>
<p>University of Washington called D the other night, asking if she'll be applying, the guy had her on the phone for 10 minutes trying to convince her. She finally told him she was NOT applying to any schools west of the Mississippi :P</p>
<p>D was concerned last night, she said out of all the schools she visited none of them gave her the WOW factor and that concerns her. I tried to tell her that is a good thing, not to fall in love with a school before acceptance. I told her that after she applies and is accepted, we'll revist schools to help give her a better idea. Right now I think her heart is set on U of Central Florida but the competitiveness in Florida is out of control, I want to scream and tell them to look at OOS students too and throw out the darn policy on in-state first and foremost.</p>
<p>Another thing, is anyone else waiting for the September ACT scores? They are due out today but D's scores aren't up yet. She keeps texting me from school asking. Just another stressful day in college search land... :P</p>
<p>Jolynne, I did see that Alabama was party central, I think she can handle it though. Her priorities in finding a college are: her major, football, and school spirit. I like how Alabama has 30% OOS students.</p>
<p>About Temple, coming from the NJ/NY/PA area we can handle urban cities, in fact, she adores big cities. My only concern with Temple is dorm life after freshman year and the area surrounding it if she must live off campus.</p>
<p>Hi - I am a member of this tribe. I have two daughters - one is a Senior at Barnard and the other will be graduating in 09. DD2 says Hamilton is her first choice. In the next month and a half we/she will need to make a decision about whether to apply early, and I've started to look at this site.</p>
<p>from Susan - my real name</p>