<p>Jerseyshoremom--If Purdue is on her list make sure she applies before the merit deadline--Nov 1 I think. It's been years since I drove through the Purdue campus so I can't help you out with general impressions. It's generally pretty safe there though. (plus as an IU grad you learn not to like anything about Purdue ;) It is a fine school though. If the younger S wants to do engineering we'll have to adjust to the possiblity of a Purdue student in the famliy.</p>
<p>Welcome, Susan! S1 is at Colgate, and I love the Hamilton College area--good luck to you and your daughter!</p>
<p>Florida State's first deadline is even sooner, October 10th, so that's our first priority. She'll be applying to all of the OOS schools next month and in November apply in-state and Temple, after touring.</p>
<p>Hi Susan, welcome!
JSMom--son is applying to Purdue also (actually, already did). Have cousins out there who really talked it up. interesting re: the merit deadline...just made a chart w/columns for merit deadlines. Have to double check if son has to do anything additional for that (good tip, rrah).</p>
<p>D is applying to Purdue because they are ranked #1 for her major</p>
<p>It's a perverse relief to read a lot of the earlier posts on this thread. I'm one of those moms who wanted to do college visits last spring break, start picking schools, etc., and D had no interest; absolutely refused to talk college, to the point that she had ignored school's call to sign up for SATs, etc. </p>
<p>She finally did take the SAT2s and SAT last May and June. We did two college visits this summer. I tried to point out how busy the fall would be (4 APs, finishing her gold award, rehearsing for her dance company's Christmas production). Wouldn't it be smart to get some of those essays written in the summer? She put her hands on my shoulders and said, "Mom, applications will be done before school starts."</p>
<p>They weren't. </p>
<p>Finally, this fall, we've got something going. She has a list of schools; we have submitted all reference requests to teachers; she's done two "preliminary applications;" we've sent test scores. We're visiting two schools in November.</p>
<p>But the common app, with which she was "almost finished" in August, turns out to have everything done BUT the essays. Minor details. I guess she just has to do it on her own timetable, but it's just a <em>tad</em> nervewracking ... Thanks to all for sharing your stories.</p>
<p>Welcome, Susan. Since this is your second go round, does it get any easier?</p>
<p>D went from president of the "Done before school starts" club to jv member of the "Reality Check" team. In fairness, she had a very busy summer--traveled three weeks, worked 40 hours/week the rest of the time, participated in a club sport and did summer work for 4 APs. Only visited half the schools on her list--oy!</p>
<p>Now work progresses in fits and starts. She's captain of her fall sport, president of a very time consuming EC, has a grueling course load and would still like to enjoy some semblance of a social life her senior year. She has produced one good first draft of her essay and has taken the initiative on teacher rec's and seeing her GC. I try hard not to pressure her, since she's already stressed out. CC keeps me sane!</p>
<p>S1 just got his ACT scores and he did <em>very</em> well - enough that he just might get into his first choice school, which is Cal Poly SLO for EE. His SAT scores and grades were a little below the average there, so he decided to try his luck with the ACT rather than retaking the SAT. I'd be really pleased if this decision pays off, and he'll be thrilled. He'll apply ED on Oct 1 which is the first day the online application is available. The application is incredibly easy - no essay, no teacher recs, nothing for his GC to do. If he gets in, he's done (and I can stop biting my nails!). If he doesn't, then I'll be joining the rest of you in the essay/teacher rec dance.</p>
<p>Thanks Chintzy! I'm not sure if it's going to be easier the second time, because my DD2 hasn't filled out any applications yet. My DD2 wants a completely different type of school -- DD1 wanted to be in a big city, and DD2 wants a small, more rural LAC.</p>
<p>yeah vballmom! We got TwinE's ACT this a.m. too. She did OK but not as well as she and I had hoped for her reach schools. She and her sister are scheduled for a retake in Oct. I think they'll go in more confident and less cocky and will have good results.</p>
<p>Both of mine are applying to Cal Poly SLO too. Their ACTs are in range for acceptance in general but not so strong for their chosen majors. Fingers crossed for all of our kids!</p>
<p>Good luck to both your Ds, historymom, and to all the other '09 kids!</p>
<p>I just checked Cal Poly's admitted student profiles. The ACT isn't shown on the 09 profile, just SAT. I checked the '08 and the averages were lower than I'd remembered - 27 for selected and 26 for enrolled in the College of Engineering. S1 is well above this...but I'm not taking anything for granted at this point.</p>
<p>vballmom can you please give me the link to the 08 admission stats. I would sure like to know where my girls' scores fall for admission into science and math. Thanks</p>
<p>vballmom--do you mind if I ask what Cal Poly is? Is that Cal Tech? Son would love to go to school in CA (has started apps for USC, UCLA) and is interested in comp sci (usually good EE schools are good CS schools). Cal Tech is out of reach, because of grades, though.
Thanks, if you wouldn't mind...!</p>
<p>not vballmom but: Cal Poly is a public, part of the California State University system. It is a Polytechnic school which is reknowned for architecture, engineering, natural sciences, math and ag/animal science but also offers programs in the humaities and a top-notch business school. It holds true to the Cal State emphasis of voc/tech education. It's arguably the best and definitely the most selective of the CSUs and w/ a 45% accept rate is more difficult to get into than many of the UC campuses. It's a wonderful school located along CA's central coast. Cal</a> Poly - Welcome to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California</p>
<p>Hi historymom,
The link to the Cal Poly profile from last year is the same as this year's except I replaced '09' with '08'. Here's this year's:</p>
<p>Here's last year's: <a href="http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/Pdf/Profile08.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/Pdf/Profile08.pdf</a></p>
<p>Jolynne - I second what historymom says about Cal Poly. Their philosophy is "learning by doing", and the way I see it is that it's more hands-on and less theoretical in their approach than the UCs. For my son, it's a perfect fit. It's the jewel in the crown of the Cal State system, and as a result is less buffeted by the state budget craziness than the other Cal States. However, most students seem to take at least 5 years to get through.</p>
<p>An alternative is Cal Poly Pomona, which has a 4-year graduation program that looks quite good: Cal</a> Poly Pomona: Four-Year Graduation Pledge</p>
<p>ACT scores are up-except for the writing. S did better on his first ACT-which equals his SAT. Oh well- guess he will send both. Good luck to all of your students.</p>
<p>DS and I are heading east tomorrow to visit three of the LAC's on his list - the first visits for us because he refused to go previously saying he'll go after he knows where he's accepted. ARGH! We went to an info session from another school on his list last week, and it's definitely his favorite so far, but OF COURSE, not one of the ones we're visiting this week.</p>
<p>We met with the GC last week also, and when she saw that there were 10 schools on his list (and I think there might be more), she said that was way too many. Oh well...it's a little disconcerting when I think I know more about the process than she does.</p>
<p>Our goal (okay, mine since I'm driving this whole thing) is to have all the applications complete by 10/31, but now I think I better review the schools to make sure I'm not missing any merit aid deadlines. How do kids who aren't overly motivated or who don't have parents as obsessed as we are all succeed in this?</p>
<p>Congrats to those of you whose kids are well into the app process and especially those who have the process finished!</p>
<p>Yesterday I helped D fill out check lists requested by the counselor on each college she applied to. There were 6, and we will hit the submit button tomorrow when I get paid. :P I told D to tell the counselor that there will be more next month but this first 6 are her top schools and/or are very competitive in the admissions process (OOS). In fact, with 2 of those schools she will be applying for SUMMER term.</p>
<p>^^^Yes, make sure about merit deadlines!!! There are some that have to be in very early!</p>
<p>Re post #937 - my daughter has 10; I think that's about average for her school but we're in NY which doesn't have a flagship state so she's applied to a bunch of SUNYs.</p>