<p>S1 submitted his final application, writing the "Why X college" section of the Common App with little fuss, paying the fee and pressing the submit button. I wasn't even in the room - this is progress! Now we wait :) (but not too long - all are ED/EA applications).</p>
<p>I hate the "why X college" questions. There is a local respected LAC that I put on the list in case we decide Son isn't mature enough to go away to school. We looked at the Common App supplement and they have four different questions that are basically "why us" questions. Son certainly can't be truthful on the answer! ("My mother is worried that I'm not mature enough to live away from home so I'm applying here because it's only a 20 minute drive from my house.")</p>
<p>In all seriousness, I do think the "why us" questions place those who can't afford a lot of college visits at a disadvantage, as they don't have as many things to mention.</p>
<p>Missy, I laughed out loud at the proposed answer to the "Why us" question! </p>
<p>You're right, though, if a student hasn't visited, the "why" starts to sound like a quote from a college guidebook.</p>
<p>It would be pretty funny if kids were totally honest on the "why us" questions:</p>
<p>"It's all my parents can afford." "My girlfriend is going there." "I want to go to the football games." "You're on all the lists as the Number 1 party school." "I've heard it is easy." "I'm ultra-competive, so I just have to get into an Ivy."</p>
<p>I hate to admit this--my son filled out one of those "why us" questions for Rice University before I could proof it. He's going to major in comp sci. Said, "Rice has a strong comp sci program, for a liberal arts college." arg. I was: "You didn't actually submit that?? So they are "all right in spite of themselves"???"</p>
<p>Son said he could see how he could have framed it better...but the submit button had been pushed.</p>
<p>Not to keep posting...but I looked over on the Rutgers thread here on CC...students who applied in early Oct have received their acceptances. Son applied in mid-Sept (I think, roughly) & hasn't heard anything. Wondering if him missing the cutoff on top 20% of grad class (he's in the 22 percentile) will have a worse impact than we thought? Or, maybe sending the ACT (34) instead of the SAT (1440 m/r) was a mistake. This was supposed to be a 'match' (maybe safety? at least financial safety) school. Biting nails.</p>
<p>Thanks for allowing the anxiety vent....!</p>
<p>Jolynne Smyth--did your S get confirmation that all of his papers reached the admin office? I wrote a prior post--after historymom alerted us to the fact that some papers were missing for one of her D's-- my S called his #1 choice and discovered they did not have his transcript on file. They found it misfiled while he was on the phone. Fastforward 7 days and a postcard arrives. His file is still missing that transcript. This was yesterday, I called (it was afterhours when we got our mail) and the school called back today. It was their mistake--a computer program received it 2'xs and then kicked it out as not there. Not to highjack your post--but if you/he has not called I would and make sure it is all as it should be. This has cost S at least 4-5 weeks. I am feeling upset. This was his first application. He intended to drive down an official sealed/stamped copy in the morning. Now we will wait until Tuesday and call again and I think he should e-mail his contact at the school and explain and ask them to check on his file.
Good luck to your S!!</p>
<p>Thanks, oregon101! There is actually an online status page that we checked--it says they got his ACT scores, HS transcript, summer college course transcript (&, I'm assuming, but maybe shouldn't, his app). That's the painful thing--think it's all in.</p>
<p>Maybe we'll call Monday to see if the app was properly submitted, itself. Son's friend from same HS (w/higher rank, but lower test scores) was admitted 2 wks ago. So it's not a geographic thing (more to worry).</p>
<p>Appreciate the chance to share the worries (& not convey them to son...who doesn't seem concerned, however).</p>
<p>D received an e-mail yesterday from her ED dream school indicating her transcript and GC form were still missing (deadline 11/1) and that they would discard her app if not received by 11/18. D submitted school supplement and common app 10/17 and gave all forms, including stamped, addressed envelopes to GC on the same day, followed up several times with GC. Today she said she would get them right out. Well guess what, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!! I am beside myself. I'll have to make sure she faxes them on Monday because I have no confidence they will get there on time. GC form is also still missing from EA safety school. Our school rarely sends students to top schools and I'm fairly confident D was the only student to turn in forms so early.</p>
<p>It's probably a good thing it's Friday night and I have the whole weekend to cool off before talking to GC. Would it be reasonable to ask that she include a note indicating the delay is entirely HER FAULT?</p>
<p>I am going to use the "f" word in my advice.Fax. Fax the stuff if snail mail hasn't worked. By all means talk to the GC, ask her to write a note to the addmission counselor and then call the asmissions officer to check that the fax arrived. So sorry that it is causing you such stress. But don't worry about being thought a pest I imagine this sort of thing happens with enough frequency that your follow through will be taken with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>DDs both hit the submit button tonight. Now there are just the publics and two more privates each to go. Feels like they are in the backstretch.</p>
<p>Hello, all, from San Diego! I have an 09 and a 12. My 09 is applying to eleven schools, three are Common App (with supplements) and three are Univ. of CA (so one application does all three - but one has a supplement). Of those eleven, she has to audition at nine, though, so I am so jealous of all these acceptances! It must be nice to have something in the pocket. My daughter did one early action (non-binding) and has an audition in Boston next week for that school. She should know by mid-December if she got it. But the rest of them she won't know until March through Mid April.</p>
<p>She has managed to do seven of the nine so far. I have a sworn promise the eighth will be done this weekend. She was going to apply to 13, but she is losing steam, and after some discussions with her counselor, those two extra "safety" schools have been eliminated. I'll tell you, though, we have had our share of fights over this process. This kid is normally so together and on the ball. But getting her to plod through these applications has been like pulling teeth. I can't wait until March when everything is in, auditions are done and we just wait......</p>
<p>chintzy--how frustrating is that?? historymom has good advice--I'd ask her to fax AND regular mail it. Any chance you could physically go into the school & ask to speak to the GC? Sometimes that provides a greater impact (even if they don't let you see her 'she's in a meeting, etc.'--the fact that they can say, 'Mrs. Chintzy was in the office looking for you' might put some fire into the situation).</p>
<p>Good luck, chrissyblu. Those auditions must be stressful. Glad son's evals are done via paper (for better or worse..!).</p>
<p>The "why us" question is annoying on instate SUNY apps since I guess they want an answer beyond the obvious. One of the SUNY brochures prominently featured the fact that the dorm washing machines had 24 hour laundry-cams so you could watch your laundry from your laptop computer wherever you were on campus. I liked that for an answer, but I think the applicant put down something boring and predictable.</p>
<p>chrissyblu--welcome, welcome! It's a great place to share your experiences, isn't it? Historymom & Jolynne--I will be in the school on Monday morning and she will fax those forms! (and she better have mailed hard copy on Friday). D has slowed waaaaay down on her RD apps, so now I'm worried about how long it will take GC to get those out. All but one are comm. app, so it shouldn't be that challenging--she's got the comm. app form done!</p>
<p>Chintzy, that is so frustrating. I understand the GC's are busy, but it sounds like you were very reasonable and gave her plenty of time. This is my first time in the process, but my sense is that up until the last couple of years, most kids sent in 4-6 applications. Like many of you, S has 11 schools on his list, which doubles the GC's work and they're probably not prepared for it, but that's no excuse not to be able to manage THEIR process.</p>
<p>Fortunately, our GC is on top of it, and she and I have communicated deadlines via email. Yesterday was the deadline for 2 of the 8 schools for which she has forms/envelopes. She's had to wait until the district processed a new grade for a class he retook, and that process took an unbelievable 3 weeks. I emailed her to remind her that only 2 had an 11/15 deadline, and she said it was no problem, they were ALL ready and were mailed yesterday. </p>
<p>Hearing your story, I feel very fortunate. This is just not a process that most kids are capable of managing alone. I have to think that most kids in this country do not have parents like us who realize how competitive, time sensistive and involved this whole process has become.</p>
<p>How is it more work for the GC? Once his rec is done, bascically he/she must track the students application choices and the secretary end up sending out the transcripts and rec's. So, maybe I am missing something but seems to me that the burden goes onto the office staff. Who could be overwhelmed if each student applied to many schools. I cannot figure out why ever single can't be done along with Common App. Everything be scanned from the HS, then blocked as need be from the student seeing it but allowing the student to send it and view that it was send. Now that is something we would have willingly paid for!! So am I missing something here?</p>
<p>I have two happy little stories:</p>
<p>Sitting at a Rotary meeting DH is chatting with two friends whose kids are also 09 applicants so the conversation naturally turns in that direction.</p>
<p>Friend#1 has an Uber cool kid. She was one of two California delegates to a national leadership program, she has done international community service, is an elite athlete and is academically on top. Plus she is really a very nice young woman. She has worked so hard with her natural talent and truely she can write her own ticket to just about any school in the nation.</p>
<p>Friend #2 has an equally cool kid who has been heavily involved in student government, music, theatre production and youth ministry. This is a wonderful, genuine, sincere young man who is also a great student</p>
<p>My two are more like friend#2's son. They stand out somewhat in our small pond but friend #1's D has achievements that are in a class of their own.</p>
<p>So when they asked DH where our two are applying he is able to say that both have several apps in and that TwinE has already been accepted to two schools. He got a new appreciation for the amount of time I have spent helping the girls through this process when their jaws dropped and they said "Already?!??" It validated my CC addiction. </p>
<p>The other little story happened yesterday. I am on the sober grad committee for the kids' class and I received an email from a friend about a meeting I missed. This is the Type A friend that we all have who is totally organized, on the ball, happily assumes leadership roles and pulls off her various tasks w/o a hitch. I am the one who showed up with glue guns at girl scout day-camp for a craft project when there was no elecriticty. For me the devil is always in the details and I have trouble sometimes seeing the trees in that big ol' forest. Get the picture? She has never tried to make me feel like a ninny but somehow I manage that all on my own.</p>
<p>So anyway she also included some advice re getting the GC at our high school on board sooner rather than later if the girls were applying to University of Portland where her son is also applying. It was with a very light heart that I was able to graciously thank her and reassure her that they both already had completed files and that E had her acceptance in hand. :D</p>
<p>Oregonmom, our district is not set up to do any online recs, and only 5 of S's schools are common app, the other 3 have individualized forms. Also, our school's secretary already does everything (it's a small, 300 kid magnet - admins are the Director, the GC and the secretary). GC is doing all the work. Obviously, she could do one common app rec, copy it and sign, but my comment is that she is on top of it, waited until the grades were changed, etc. </p>
<p>HM, our GC also said she didn't have many students yet requesting recs, and S says he doesn't know any other kids yet who have applied. Reinforces my comment that most parents aren't aware of the ins and outs of this whole process!</p>
<p>historymom, good for you! That must have been a great feeling. How's your sober grad party planning coming? The minute I committed to chair the fundraising committe the economy went in the toilet! If only I had a drop of artistic ability I could have signed up for the decorating committee....</p>
<p>Bravo historymom! I think your stories validate all of our efforts. In fact, this is one post I will share with DH who sometimes thinks I am nuts when it comes to CC and the college app schedule I've insisted on for D.</p>
<p>And FWIW, I am more like you than your Type A friend -- my heart is ALWAYS in the right place, but sometimes I have trouble with the follow through.....love the glue gun story!</p>
<p>Welcome, chrissyblu! I have an 09 and a 12 as well. My D2 is the organized, on the ball one so I was hoping her college app process in 2012 would go more smoothly than this one. Maybe not so much, huh? Good luck with your D's auditions!</p>