<p>Someone posted that their D is surly and icky, and that’s just the way I would describe my “duckling”-ugly. The essay is done and one application has been submitted to his first choice school, Guilford. The app is not complete, however. One of my son’s teachers who is to write a rec is AWOL in Europe! Fortunately, I think the rec from his advisor will suffice. </p>
<p>We’re trying to get the other EA ones in soon, but he suddenly has cement feet and I’m hearing, “What’s the rush?” On the other hand, he says the college meetings at school are a waste of time because we’ve already visited and he has his list, etc. I think he does feel proud and relieved about that, but never, if I lived 100 years, would I hear, “Thanks, Mom.” Sniff.</p>
<p>I have not been on this board for quite some time. My son applied to Juniata for the class of 2014, so I will chime in. He absolutely loved this school! Also, the financial bottom line was within the top 3 for our family. DH and my concerns were how rural it is, food, and social aspects. Still, we thought it was a pretty good choice for our son. At the end of the day, for our son it came in as #2. He ended up at a different small school, which is ranked lower, FWIW. He was not at all concerned with rankings and went with what “felt right”.</p>
<p>Heavylidded - I’ll chime in with my comments on Juniata and Susquehanna. (Details are back around page 58 if you want to read them.) I think they are compeltely different. Juniata is a very nurturing, familial environment with programs tailored to each student and a lot of support. Students seemed like a quirky, electic mix. The campus and surrounding area do not offer much. I was there on a Friday afternoon and left thinking this must be a suitcase school because there was nothing going on at the start of a beautiful weekend. Susquehanna felt more traditional with regard to its academic approach. The campus is great and vibrant and the surrounding area offers things to do as well. I don’t know which would be worse for your “massive social butterfly”: nothing to do or too much to do?!</p>
<p>FWIW, we found both of these schools to be quite rural with little to do in the area. </p>
<p>I had heard from students attending Juniata that on weekends they go to Penn State for things to do. At Juniata there are some on campus “traditions” which keep students busy. You can read about them on their website. My son thought that these traditional activities sounded like a lot of fun.</p>
<p>I don’t think that either school would be a great choice for a student who would prefer some city life, or even to take public transit to a mall or movie. You won’t find much public transit at either school. I really think a car is necessary at these schools. There is Amtrak station (or at least when we last visited) within about a mile of Juniata.</p>
<p>We loved the business program at Susquehanna and learning about their study abroad opportunities. Also, a really nice school! My younger son did not apply because our older son did. Our older son’s package was not great, but doable (barely doable with a lot of stetching, and it would have been really tough for us to send him there).</p>
<p>There are already several other threads about “helicopter parents” and being involved too much and living through our children, etc.
But, since it has been brought up, I’ll add my thought … it is partly my “gig.” It is my fiduciary responsibility to nurture, advise, support and assist in many (if not all) aspects of my children’s lives.
True, they may not always like it or appreciate it. Comes with the territory.
And, as others have said elsewhere in the forum, I’m (partly) paying for this gig.</p>
<p>Golf father - I agree wholeheartedly! At the end of the day, their procrastination is going to cost us more money as they lose out on scholarship opportunities and possibly admission to schools that are less expensive. </p>
<p>My ds completed most of the common app but has completely stalled on the essay. I sat him down and explained the importance of getting through the first draft and will continue to stay on top of him until it is finished. Until all of his applications and essays are finished. I don’t think it’s our job as parents to choose their paths which is why I didn’t tell him which schools to apply to or what to write in his essays. I just want him to do it! </p>
<p>On another note, he has added another school to his list and I know very little about it. Has anyone visited Hofstra university or have any first hand experience? We are supposed to visit in December but applications are due prior to that so he is applying blind.</p>
<p>What scared my daughter about Juniata was the emptiness and lack of things to do, as well as that a lot of the campus needs renovation. This is a kid very accustomed to rural (each of her schools has bordered large farms), but is also used to newer building stock and easy access to things to do. She needed to see some sign that kids enjoyed being there and we didn’t get that. Solemn faces, lots of looking down while they walked, no passing smiles or greetings. We were also told that a lot of people go to State for entertainment, and she didn’t like that. She was completely turned off by that, actually. </p>
<p>Juniata ended up being a school that seemed to be what she needed on paper, but in the end the visit showed us she’d be too miserable day in and day out there to really benefit from the supportive programs they have.</p>
<p>The truly rural setting of Susquehanna (which we did not visit, unfortunately) was the similarity that knocked it off the list after the Juniata visit. From what I hear, Susquehanna has a nicer campus and a more traditional program, both of which dd is good with, but only “if they pick it up and put it somewhere else”.</p>
<p>Also, and this is something that only applies to my daughter, she has a chronic illness that made the drive around Juniata painful for her. She knew after visiting she’d want to leave campus often, but also knew it would be very hard on her to do that. Still, she says it could be in a great location like Pepperdine and she still wouldn’t go.</p>
<p>This quote from northeastmom, “I don’t think that either school would be a great choice for a student who would prefer … even to take public transit to a mall or movie” sums up my dd perfectly, although she didn’t really know that before this trip.</p>
<p>Cbreeze - thanks for sharing what you and your daughter thought. My son definitely wouldn’t be happy with the idea that students typically go to another campus to find stuff to do. One of the reasons he prefers more a more rural campus is the idea that there would be plenty of activities on campus and most students would participate because there are no other options…lol.</p>
<p>Cbreeze, I would like to know about Carnegie Mellon. It is my theatre daughter’s number one pick. In fact, since she is technical theatre, she has applied ED to CMU.</p>
<p>reeinaz, just to clarify, at Juniata they do offer activities/things to do. The problem that I see is that it is very rural. My son was actually okay with that. He is very happy hiking, camping outdoors and such. It is not a must have for him, but he could have thrived at this type of campus. The problem that I saw was that he would feel “trapped”. We knew that we were not going to provide a car. I pointed this out to him.</p>
<p>For other reasons really (mainly gut feeling), he chose another small school, but it is not in a rural location. Now that he has been there for 2 years, I am very happy that he is not on a rural campus for many reasons!</p>
<p>Just editing to say that one does not need to be interested in outdoor activities like hiking/camping to be happy at Juniata. They offer sports, activities involving theatre (there is a professional theatre group on this campus if memory serves me correctly). Also, they offer several on campus activities involving their traditions, and I believe that they bring in entertainment on some weekends. Some of this info may have changed, so you can inquire with a current student or admissions. At the time we visited, my concern was about food. I did not want my kid locked into on campus food because he could not access an occasional meal off campus. Another concern was accessing certain medical specialists as needed without a car (just basic needs like an eye doctor, or dermatologist). I recall inquiring, but I don’t recall the info about that.</p>
<p>Pre-Note: I didn’t notice until now, that this thread is listed (partly) as “2013 HS Graduation.” My D doesn’t graduate until 2014.</p>
<p>Well, anyway, my daughter and I today attended the University of Delaware’s open house. UDel seems to be a very popular place to consider here and at the “Jewish B Students” thread.</p>
<p>I have to say, I was not as impressed as maybe some others here. (My D’s reaction is slanted for very specific reasons which don’t directly relate to the merits of the school itself.)</p>
<p>First, many posters have marveled at how beautiful the UDel campus is. There are two nice typical open green yards that are surrounded by brick columned (sp?) buildings. But, other than that, not much to look at. The dorms are very ugly three-story buildings that look just like some of the apartment buildings in the projects where I grew up. And there is a main thoroughfare that splits right through the middle of the campus. I have always found that to be a big turnoff.</p>
<p>I know first impressions can be way off-base. And we were only there for a few hours. But we were not very impressed with the students who were chosen to be panel speakers. And even some of the professors seemed to be a little sub par.</p>
<p>I’m sorry for the negative tone and I don’t mean to sound mean.</p>
<p>It just struck me as something like a very large community college.</p>
<p>Of course, after this scathing review, just wait. My D will probably wind up going there. ;)</p>
<p>“But, since it has been brought up, Ill add my thought … it is partly my gig. It is my fiduciary responsibility to nurture, advise, support and assist in many (if not all) aspects of my childrens lives.”</p>
<p>I agree GolfFather. I am always a bit nonplussed when I read so many posts on this board of parents professing to be “totally hands off” when it comes to high school apps, SAT prep, college apps and just about everything else. If I took that approach I can just about guarantee that nothing would get accomplished, or if it did, it would be hopelessly late. </p>
<p>My teenagers are great kids and impressive students, but I do my fair share of prompting and reminding, especially about looming deadlines. When they enter College, well THEN they are on their own. But for now I do see “guidance” as a parental responsibility. They lead, but I am not far behind, offering suggestions when they are going off the rails.</p>
<p>I need opinions and advice, please. My D is a technical theatre kid, so I know the colleges are a little more slack on the grades/test scores for these kids. The interview/portfolio review is a huge component of the admission process. Additonally, she’s tech and not performance, so there is a greater need for the colleges with these kids. Her grades aren’t terrible. She hits the 3.3 unweighted and higher weighted. She has done no AP classes but lots of advanced/honors classes. </p>
<p>She has a 504 for a math disability, ADD, visual issues, and anxiety. All of those equate to HORRENDOUS standardized test scores. Now, I’m talking AWFUL! While I know that, with her major, the schools don’t look too much at the scores, I’m concerned they may hurt her. Her standardized scores are not a reflection, at all, of the kind of student she is. Rather, they are a reflection of her disabilities. Do we need to send a letter to her admisssions counselors in regards to this, or do we ignore it and say nothing?</p>
<p>I would say that you look up the common data set for the schools. If standardized test scores are one of the highly regarded factors for admissions then I think you have to disclose. Good luck.</p>
<p>I know we have to send the scores, but do we also need to send a letter explaining the situation? I want the schools to know that her horrid test scores are not a reflection of the student she is. She will take SAT and ACT again in December, but I have little hope of any score increase. Should we also acknowledge the retests? </p>
<p>IF I survive this year, it will be a freaking miracle! Alcohol, anyone?? ;)</p>