<p>Anyone interviewed with college admission counselors? What kind of questions can you expect? D has one this week as we are touring schools. Any tips?</p>
<p>Just agreeing with all of the above regarding scholar/athlete issues. As the mother of a potential Div. 1 athlete who is currently experiencing being recruited, and also the mother of a non-athlete, there are obviously two sides to this potentially controversial topic, and since I am also a Libra…! At the end of the day though, it is true that the scholar/athlete who ends up being recruited to an elite university has had to manage the responsibilities of being an excellent student, school leadership, extracurriculars, volunteering, strong citizenship, etc. ALONG with being an extraordinary athlete. In NO way am I taking away from others when I write this, but it is an element that should be considered when one is irked by the supposed ease and unfairness of the recruiting situation. </p>
<p>fogfog - I don’t know how the Ivies will compute the ACT into the Academic Index - perhaps just repeatedly use the SAT score that is comparable to the ACT? I will try to remember to ask my daughter’s guidance counsellor when we next meet.</p>
<p>arisamp, No interviews yet, but you just reminded me that S’s guidance dept does have a person who will do practice inteviews with students. I will have to make sure S takes advantage of that opportunity before the end of the year as he may do some interviews over the summer. Please let us know how your D’s goes.</p>
<p>Son had an interview that was said to be absolutely mandatory for admission. He got in there and the lady didn’t ask a single question other than, “What can I tell you about University of ____?”</p>
<p>So make sure your student comes to every interview armed with a few questions of her own!</p>
<p>D had a non-required meeting with admissions officer; she had set it up ahead of time upon the advice of her college counselor…they just chatted about questions my daughter had; experiences that she wanted to discuss, etc…really just wanted to make sure that the officer knew who my daughter was…</p>
<p>make sure you have specific questions about ANYTHING that cannot be found on the website…</p>
<p>Arisamp- I think interviews vary greatly between schools. The one my d has had so far was a very relaxed and funconversation eith the adcom- a recent grad from the school. It was almost an hour long and then I met with him and d. She felt very relaxed during the interview and this is from a kid who hates that kind of thing. By the way , she just wore her usual jeans and funky tshirt!</p>
<p>Hi Everyone
Ok Its after 5 here–Happy Hr! and Pass the popcorn!
I read the thread about the FinAid and the HYPS–and posted…hoping someone would notice that schools waive app fees etc and gave an example of UPenn etc…as at that moment they were arguing about the ability to apply…no one even noticed…
well 16 pages later…
its all the more mud…and not even worth trying to add something–I almost wonder if some are ■■■■■■■■…</p>
<p>Did send a pm to the op because the original post was helpful to know.</p>
<p>So…Hope everyone had a nice day. It was GORGEOUS here mid 70s, sunny etc. </p>
<p>I was at the hs for an event and ran into several of our student’s teachers–so was asking about…“what do they do after AP exams”…since those are the first 2 weeks of May but school isn’t out for more than a week…
Still a little unclear as the Srs will be done and gone early, APs will be done and 3 of the AP classes do not give finals after AP exams…so what do Jrs do? </p>
<p>What do your students’ teachers plan for post AP school days…?</p>
<p>Also–re interviews–I second the pt that the kids should have done the research on the schools web site and be sure to NOT as common questions with answers easily found on the web site…</p>
<p>Yeah I could use some kind of beverage around here, I will probably stick with coffee though. It is vacation week and my 10yo D has two friends coming over for a sleepover. What was I thinking? I may have to spike the coffee with tylenol. </p>
<p>Good question about what happens after the AP exams. I am not even sure when S’s are scheduled.</p>
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<p>Our school doesn’t get out until a month after AP exams finish! My kids expect to cruise after the tests and are quite irate when it doesn’t happen. Last year the AP Bio teacher came up with a research project, that went over really well, not :rolleyes:.</p>
<p>About the HYPS FA thread, there are truths there, I can attest to that having gone through the FA process with multiple schools twice now. However, the problem with threads like that is that they tend to make gross generalities, and while some general statements can be made, EFCs are based on individual family & financial situations, so one needs to be very cognizant of all of the caveats that apply to their own personal scenario.</p>
<p>Yeah our student has AP cal the first week of May and then AP Latin Virgil, AP Chem and AP Eng 3 all the following week.
The there is one full week of classes followed by exam week.
There will be no finals for AP Chem, AP Latin nor AP Calc…however the AP Eng teacher said yes she gives a final…and our student will have Honors Physics and the US History finals…
I am wondering what happens during a class period then–its kind of a waste of time–I’d rather they let the kids study for finals, and SATs etc…though the SAT date for May will be past–at least for the June date there would be a glimmer of hope…
I do hate how Memorial Day is always a study day and how exams follow–
No BBQs and fun at our house—even if we are in the pool–its not for long as they have so much to do…
I grew up on the Sept (post Labor Day-)through June schedule</p>
<p>Could be worse–in our publics–once the kids have taken the state testing to be sure they are on grade level–little gets done for the rest of the year…</p>
<p>Our school doesn’t let out until mid-June so there’s a good month after AP’s. The kids either have final exam’s or research projects. The juniors will have two days where they will present their “senior” project. This is a grad requirement and it’s done Junior year to insure that everyone gets it done.</p>
<p>Years ago in our district there used to be a policy where if you got an A for the first three quarters that you wouldn’t have to take the final. They changed it after getting feedback from College kids that said they didn’t know how to study for a culminating test. Kind of funny in one way, because it was the top kids that didn’t know how to do that!</p>
<p>^^ that is funny
–as the kids here have to have an A and take the AP to not take the final…so there is lots of studying going on all yr…</p>
<p>and I hear that there are some regular classes that if the SR has an A avg --the sr can exempt the final…</p>
<p>Our kids have been taking finals (needing to study a semesters worth of material) since 7th grade…each yr they improve on their ability to prepare for a culminating exam.</p>
<p>There will be three weeks of school after AP exams, including the week with three days of finals.</p>
<p>LuckyBoy said today that their AP Calc teacher had them sign a contract, agreeing to do all problem sets without collaboration (usually allowed, except for the takehome test type), come to all classes prepared, blah blah blah-----------then after the AP Calc exam they will have a free period for the rest of the year! No final for anyone! This teacher is absolutely the hardest he has ever had, she expects SO much from her students, and in fact in her 10 years of teaching AP Calc all but one student has received a 5 on the exam :eek:</p>
<p>He only had AP Calc homework tonight. This is a first! And timely, since tonight was his '13 sister’s confirmation and he was her sponsor 
He’s downstairs on his laptop, visiting Lego blogs in search of inspiration for the next “build.” Dream job: a freestyle Lego builder! It’s so nice to see him relaxed again :)</p>
<p>klucky-wish my D could relax. poor kid is up all night doing homework. Her dad and I “made” her go to bed at midnight the last two nights. She is mad at us b/c she is now behind in her ap physics homework. But honestly…one of her teachers contacted me on MOnday to tell me how concerned she was by how tired D looks in class. When a teacher contacts you like that, you know it is time to set some limits. I’d rather she get a few bad grades then ruin her health. (mental or physical…the thread on mental illness in college really hit close to home…D told me today that she feels like she is losing it with all the pressure!)</p>
<p>^^^I totally agree. I was worried about S last week with his lack of sleep. He fell asleep in two classes :eek: He has some friends who seem to exist on caffeine. And stress.</p>
<p>He wants to attend a college that is NOT a cut-throat, stress-filled environment. I think that’s a very wise decision.</p>
<p>Klucky-that is the kind of school my D is also looking for! We should exchange notes!</p>
<p>I am letting D stay home today. She was so exhausted last night, couldn’t get her physics done and was crying. This has been a horrible year for her. I am hoping next year won’t be this bad!</p>
<p>There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Junior year is always the worst, academically speaking. This is why I got my son to take a study hall this semester. He’s staying up until 11 or midnight but doesn’t seem crazy stressed as his brother and sister were at this time of year.</p>
<p>Kathiep- I tried to convince d not to take so many courses, or to drop down to regents English ( our honors english classes are harder than what I took in college) but she wouldn’t listen. No study hall or lunch!! No wonder she is at the end of her rope. Last wee she had rehearsals every night. Thank goodness. The play is over. Next year she actually has a free period and I talked her into “only” 4 APs!</p>
<p>Even boys cry over physics. He was so frustrated last week.</p>
<p>AP USHistory review session is scheduled tomorrow evening. They’ve been working on DBQs etc every week since the start of school and taking full old tests as homework assignments as well. I don’t know what the review session will entail.</p>
<p>He had an AP Calc takehome test (timed on the honor system–he takes that seriously), a full old exam, right after break. He scored the equivalent of a 5! Holy cow, that did so much for his confidence! I pulled up the AP credit pdf from State Flagship to show him what that meant----he looked at his other courses and is now VERY motivated! Yippee!</p>
<p>No free for him next year. But at least he has a lunch! I cannot imagine not having a lunch period. The school has a rotating schedule, with A-G days. The class that was first period on A day would be second period on B day, etc. But each class also takes place only 5 times during the cycle. That’s how he can have so many courses yet have a lunch. </p>
<p>Today’s “job” is to find a tuxedo for LuckyBoy. We’re going to buy one for him, figuring it will be cheaper than multiple rentals. He has HER prom on one Friday and HIS prom the following Friday, plus at least next year’s prom. The lowest end rental is $49+. The lowest end purchase I have found so far is $139 at cheaptux.com I’ll look for some other sites then we’ll make a decision. He’s excited to own 
Must get to work to earn some of that money----I’m in the middle of prom dress altering season!</p>
<p>Hi, everyone! I know some of you from other threads, but it’s taken me this long to catch on that this one exists … Glad I can spend some time with you for the next year or so.</p>
<p>My D is finishing her jr year, too. It’s been fun reading your back posts and reliving the past 3 years. I find CC a great place to talk about all of these important things, and get them off my chest without boring everyone around me OR making my kid crazy.</p>
<p>I’m so impressed with the hard work your kids are putting in, and sad to hear how stressed they are. I wish them all well. My D is taking 2 APs and an honors math class, but the rest of her schedule is music and art classes and a very easy regular English class (they don’t have any leveled English classes here until Sr AP). </p>
<p>Our HS is not as rigorous as I’d like, but this kid does need her downtime and time for her own interests (music, theater, friends, etc.). She’s cut back on some of what she used to do (Irish Dance, competitive marching band) mostly because she’s had increasing asthma and joint problems over the years, and didn’t like all of the crazy juggling. She finally had time to be in the spring play this year, which changed her life forever.</p>
<p>She’s planning to major in theater and is prepping for BFA auditions, also has some nice non-auditioned programs that she’d be happy to go to. We did a lot of early visiting because of that issue - she’ll need most of her apps done by September. Our school does its plays first thing in the fall and then Jan-Feb, so she’s got a break now from being in rehearsals for anything, although she’s got a bunch of auditions coming up for summer shows, plus lots of concerts.</p>
<p>I have a D1 who’s a Jr in college; she was a top student, on the go all the time (still because of our HS didn’t have the kind of HW your kids seem to have), had that energy and drive. And she’s very happy at a very rigorous college. I think this D2 knows her limits - sometimes to my exasperation! She can immerse and give 110% when her heart is truly in it, but can’t if it doesn’t matter to her. Soon she’ll be in a place where this “diversified” and “all options open” and “strive for excellence in everything” attitude will be replaced by a focus on what is important to the student in a more individual way (and her college choices reflect this). </p>
<p>But it’s been amazing seeing her grow up - it’s taken most of HS for her to get over the “I’m #2” complex, to understand that what she does is for her future, not a question of comparing to others or pleasing adults. She’s willing to take a B if it means not killing herself or sacrificing what she feels are her own values (right or wrong). We’ve had no choice but to allow her to make these choices - we decided long ago that getting upset, let alone punishing her, over a B gives a message we don’t believe in. Right now her only Bs have been in APs, so it’s really hard to criticize at all.</p>
<p>Yet my H and I were “strivers,” and it has been an ajdustment having someone who operates more on her feelings than reason sometimes, and she’s taught us a lot. We know she’ll end up where she belongs in college, and we’re very confident she’ll love school more than she ever did in HS.</p>
<p>She didn’t go to prom this year - she had tickets to see “The Blanks” that night (the a capella group from the TV show Scrubs, the ones who sing TV theme songs and jingles). She went with a friend and had a great time! Last year she went with a couple of Jr. girlfriends and didn’t like it at all. She has a BF who had prior plans, too, (and never would have gone to a prom, anyway - he’s a quirky theatery homeschooler) so they’re going out on the town this weekend instead!</p>