<p>I find the emphasis on ECs as part of a college acceptance a little sad. It is ok to make sure the kid has a life outside of school and can balance academics and something else (athletics, a job, art, volunteer, whatever) but the kid is applying to go to college, not runner up for Mother Theresa. </p>
<p>Have you ever seen what Oxford University advises foreign (read American) students: </p>
<p>“But the suggestion that non-academic pursuits could make any difference to pupils’ applications is a myth, according to Mike Nicholson, director of undergraduate admissions at Oxford. Mr Nicholson said students would be better off devoting more time to their studies than trying to bolster their personal statements through charity work or Duke of Edinburgh awards.” </p>
<p>and my favorite from the department of physics
" Note that applications to the University of Oxford are judged on academic merit only. Whilst extra-curricular activities are valuable in many respects, those not related to Physics are not taken into account when assessing students for admission"
Refreshing, hmm?</p>
<p>Re ECs: I just spoke to a friend whose D is a freshman at Hamilton College this year and we were commenting that lack of “leadership” and extensive ECs didn’t seem to keep her D from several great offers - Hamilton, Skidmore, Bowdoin, Oberlin, etc. Not all kids are leaders or joiners. Some just march to the beat of their own drums - and do fine in college admissions.</p>
<p>tx5athome: Yoga might be good. It is reassuring to hear your experience having gone through it with your other children. I only have one son so it’s new to me and also feel all my eggs, so to speak, are in one basket.
DrGoogle: Maybe your daughter can find something outside school that she likes?
fineartsmajormom: “runner up for Mother Theresa” - that gave me a good laugh…because it was funny but also absolutely correct. I feel a lot of pressure to turn my child into some kind of saint, or at least a national award winner…! I noted that your examples came from outside the U.S. - those are refreshing comments from Oxford.
Megpmom: That is reassuring- thank you!</p>
<p>Welcome David: I recommend pharmaceuticals JK! This is my 2nd go round and in some ways I’m much calmer because I have a better understanding of the process, but in other ways I’m more concerned because D2 has a specialized interest and it looking to cast a wider net. But all in all, I’m fairly calm.</p>
<p>Re: EC’s. I think they’re great if they’re legitimate and genuine. I remember when D1 was filling in the Common App that she didn’t have enough room to list all hers (and she wasn’t crazy involved.) D2’s EC’s really all revolve around her interest in writing & creativity so I think they give a good picture of a kid who really does love that particular interest. Side note: she came home this week and reluctantly told me she’d been asked to join the math honor society and “did she have to?” DH & I said no; she gets all A’s in math but doesn’t enjoy it at all. To me, that would be joining something just for joinings sake.</p>
<p>The Duke, Stanford, U Penn, Georgetown, Harvard college night was interesting. Confirmed D’s interest in Stanford & kept U Penn on the list as well. During the Q&A, EA/ED came up and they agreed as a panel that they didn’t believe that EA/ED gave a competitive advantage; that the EA/ED group was self selecting & strong which is why the % admitted from the group was a little higher, but that those same students would still stand out in the regular decision group. </p>
<p>We went with 2 of D’s friends & 1 of their moms. The other mom & I sat behind the girls & were amused all night; they are so different and their reactions to things said during the presentations totally validated their academic pursuits. So cute :)</p>
<p>We may go to a Tulane visit this week and our huge district college fair (150+ colleges) happens this week as well. </p>
<p>D2 is taking the SAT next weekend; as far as I can tell there’s been no studying yet, but since I looked at this as prep for the PSAT I’m not particularly worried. She’s got tons of homework this weekend so I’m not bringing it up. I will send her the login info for College Board though so she can review her old PSAT results.</p>
<p>Hi RobD thanks for the welcome as well. That’s interesting about the EA/ED issue- I see stats on college websites that shows some have a higher percent of admission then but that makes sense that there is the self selection factor. We haven’t gone to any college nights yet. My S is going to take the PSAT for the first time in October. We have the Barrons prep book and I keep suggesting he look at it but it hasn’t been too successful! He did read the intro at least. I am trying to relax about it since it is practice but of course want him to do his best so that the GCs will steer him to good schools. He said we he will do some practice tests next week. He did well on the PLAN last year so I think he will do well. At least there’s no essay yet!</p>
<p>D2 is half finished reviewing her grammar book. This is her weakness. However, I have doubt that she will make NMF because we’re in CA and the qualifying score has been increased 2-3 points since her sister took it. So I’m not sweating there.
We’re planning for D2 to take the SAT in Jan because of all her outside of high school EC activities. It tends to intensify in Fall.
I still need to learn the best strategy for SAT subject tests. This year AP tests are in the second week of May, while SAT subject tests are in the first week of May. Should she take them in May or June.</p>
<p>A belated welcome to David! Sometimes I get anxious, too, when I read these boards. So many kids very involved in whittling down college lists, SAT/PSAT prep, SAT/ACT, college visits/fairs, etc. Heck, we are just trying to get through one day at a time here. My D had three field hockey games and a regional orchestra audition last week. She has a rigorous course load and is spending almost every extra minute outside of school and ec’s to complete the work and study for these classses. It is exhausting, but she is having the time of her life living in the here and now. Of course we discuss college (and she visited one college over spring break last year), but she does not have the time to devote to serious thought or prep for it right now. I couln’t possibly ask her to do one more thing, except to find some time to relax!</p>
<p>Sounds like everyone is getting back into the groove of the school year! I know that junior year is usually very busy, but surprisingly S2 is having a very laid back semester! For the first time in years, he’s not performing or rehearsing any shows and he’s taking mostly regular (not AP classes) so not much homework. He’s finding that it’s fun to have free time - taking long runs every evening, watching TV with mom and dad and spending hours working on his music. I must say that I’m enjoying this too. He got a call from a director this week asking him to audition for a local production of Hairspray - but S2 declined. I know this lull may not last, but I’m enjoying it now.</p>
<p>Welcome David1126, I also get stressed out about my S’s college etc. My S and DH are very cool and that makes me stress more. Like some one suggested, I might try yoga!!!</p>
<p>Thank you YOUDON’TSAY. I started looking if I can get in touch with any of the parents who can talk to us/give ideas etc…</p>
<p>Last week was a busy one- We had teh back to school open house - I went through my S’s schedule, met all the teachers. It was nice to meet them all and hear what they have to say. I liked all the classes and I am glad my son is in the right place each time I walk into that school building.</p>
<p>S also got the National honor society application last week. He will have to turn it this friday.
And his homework load is really full- He was away for a party on saturday and sunday he had a game in the morning. So yesterday he was working on his APUSH assignment late into the night…</p>
<p>Running and Yoga have been my saving grace as of late…LOL</p>
<p>RobD-We also found the College Night with Stanford, Harvard, Duke, Penn and Georgetown most interesting. The biggest debate was what for our S to wear. I said that he should just “be him”, while the H suggested a nice button down and jeans. We showed up with just about everyone dressed in their Sunday best, while our S was wearing jeans and his Letterman Jacket. Let’s just say he stood out!
But I did appreciate one note of advice from both the Harvard and Stanford rep. They said that while going through the process, they want the kids to be themselves. Not a version of what they think they should be.
My favorite tidbit of the night came from the Harvard rep who said, “You do not need to feed a starving village in Africa or save a baby from a burning car to get into Harvard.” Which made me feel at ease in regards to Service Hours, etc.</p>
<p>S still has Stanford as #1, Harvard #2 with a surprise of Duke now #3.
Let’s just say he has his work cut out for him.</p>
<p>Donivrian: I hear ya on APUSH! S has been knee deep in APNR work for Hnrs English and going over writing prompts for the APUSH essay test. Thankfully, Hnrs Pre-Cal and AP Bio haven’t been too overwhelming yet.</p>
<p>I have a 6th grader, and the more I read parent comments of high schoolers, the more I get scared of the kind of high school pressure these kids have. so little time, so young, and so much on their plate. Now I am not sure if supporting my D in all these ECs is such a good idea. She is neck deep involved and enjoys every bit of it. This year we had to choose between a few and she had super hard time deciding because she loves them all. The more she gets involved deeper the more she will have hard time to give time to. Poor kids these days. I think I can not show this emotion to her but it feels good to share here with you all.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I always wonder what other kids are involved in? My D is in swim team, dancing, photography, writing, art (painting, sketching, etc.), she is also doing foreign language, she is also part of school advance band. We had to get rid of Tennis, art and writing class due to time constrain. She is totally interested in archery and fencing. I had to talk her in to taking them in next summer. I really feel that she has toooooo much on her plate. I am not able to convince her in to giving up some. She is also in advance math class at her school. This year her teacher told us that she will not get more than 1 and 1/2 hr HW but I think it is definitely 2 hrs +.</p>
<p>vermafam, I remember upthread that you said that you had your dd read about kelowna’s ds’s accomplishments. THAT is pressure. If your dd is only in sixth grade, my advice is to get off cc for a couple of years. :)</p>
<p>Vermafam, just relax!!! Let your child dabble in things that she is interested and then, if she seems to develop a passion, encourage her to go pursue one or two activities. But more than anything, let her develop at her own pace. Don’t compare her with anyone else’s kid. This forum has a wide range of kids and parents - some high achievers and some average achievers . And they will ALL get into at least one college of their choice and they will be happy. Trust me on this.</p>
<p>RobD - I really wanted my D1 to choose Tulane - I loved it…but we leqrned somethings during accepted student’s day in her major that she didn’t like…I am hoping D2 will consider Tulane…it is one of my favorites.</p>
<p>“You do not need to feed a starving village in Africa or save a baby from a burning car to get into Harvard.” —Thanks MDMom1314…reading that made me laugh and helped me relax a little, although I have to admit I secretly worry that they say that kind of thing to people but that the truth is that they do want that…or at least to be on the Olympic team or something…but it’s nice that they said it anyway.</p>
<p>I think, that no, you don’t need to feed a starving village, or save a baby from a burning car, but with so many qualified applicants, there is a bit of luck involved. I think they are referred to as “lottery schools” because getting in is like winning the lottery. </p>
<p>RobD: Thanks for the report from the info night. We have been getting lots of those invitations in the mail. I have to admit that for the other 2 we never went to those. I didn’t think they were important. But I am changing my mind. I had dinner with my dad on Sunday night and I was telling him about the invitations and he said it is very important to go to those. He is a Yale alumni and does some of the Yale admission interviews in our area and evidently that is one of the questions they ask. </p>
<p>Don’t want to freak David out again, but I think the truth is somewhere in between when it comes to feeding a starving village in Africa or save a baby from a burning car to get into Harvard. Of course, you don’t have to do those things, but you have to do SOMETHING to make yourself stand out. Top schools have the pick of the litter. What is it about your ds or dd that’s going to make them stand out from the pack? Remember, there’s a financial incentive for these schools to look attainable – money from apps, increased selectivity that means a higher ranking, which they parlay into more alumni giving, etc.</p>
<p>Ds is having a great junior year. No idea has his grades are – other than a B in BC Cal – but, socially, he is top of the class. ;)</p>
<p>If anything, the comment from the Harvard rep was more reassuring to our S than anything. As an athlete, his time put in the weight room and on the Track keeps him from doing obscene amounts of Service Hours or going on Summer trips to Kenya to dig water wells, etc…</p>
<p>Yes, all of the top tier schools get the pick of the best and the brightest.
Yes, you need to do something that sets yourself apart.</p>
<p>But what I took from this conference was that they are looking for applicants who are passionate about what they do. If you are doing service projects of Clubs just so they look good on the apps, but don’t really care about the cause or the club, then that is not what they are looking for.</p>
<p>But then again, I could be completely naive in my thoughts.</p>
JK! This is my 2nd go round and in some ways I’m much calmer because I have a better understanding of the process, but in other ways I’m more concerned because D2 has a specialized interest and it looking to cast a wider net. But all in all, I’m fairly calm.</p>
Like some one suggested, I might try yoga!!!</p>