<p>Like Apollo, my experience is from the early '80s when I was applying to schools. I did not tell the schools that I had also applied for a year abroad as an exchange student (Rotary Exchange Program). I just wasn’t sure how they would react and I wasn’t even sure I really wanted to go. Guess I wanted the options, but didn’t want to tell in case it was a problem. It turned out well. I was accepted where I wanted to go to college and accepted as an exchange student and could make up my mind based on what I wanted to do. The school let me defer and I went abroad for a year (Belgium) knowing I was already accepted and didn’t have to worry about applying to school or maintaining grades in a Belgian school as my French was not great (and is very rusty now). Other exchange students I knew were very stressed out about grades so they could graduate from HS at home (they had to transfer grades in) and for college apps. I think a couple even sat for SATs in the fall, but I’m not sure. It was a long time ago.</p>
<p>That gap year was great for me. I gave me time to look back on what I liked and didn’t like and to make major changes in the path I wanted to take. Turns out I thought that I wanted to be an engineer because I liked my math and science teachers. But when I thought about it more from a distance I realized I liked social sciences and english, I just disliked those teachers in HS. So I became a government major when I entered college (this may not be so easy depending on the college - mine made it hard, but it could be done with time and effort). I would highly recomend that gap year if the kid is interested and if there is no financial or other reason to go straight on to college.</p>
<p>Fineartsmajormom - Thanks for the suggestions! Elon is actually on his long list. Centre wasn’t on the radar. Visits - I do feel like I am fitting a square peg into a round hole. I’m trying to find schools within driving distance, but the truth is much of what he wants is out of the region. A gap year is a serious consideration for son. He wants to apply with his class, then decide next year.</p>
<p>vandygrad - The typical graduating class is 22-26. With the exception of Band, his classes range from 6-12 kids.</p>
<p>I think there are a few folks considering the U Iowa, article from today’s paper on the new undergraduate writing certificate. Also might be of interest to those considering other state flagships as something to look for there.</p>
<p>teacher work day for the end of the second quarter. D is loving the long weekend…three nights to socialize! but she missed the latest installment of Dowton Abbey…yikes! THank goodness for the DVR. </p>
<p>There has been no talk of next year’s classes. That is a few weeks away, but full IB have little to no wiggle-room. Their schedule was effectively decided at the end of 10th grade. So she will have 6 IB classes and one elective. Luckily, the very best teachers are in the IB program and the ones for the second year classes are the best of the best. Many of her teachers are better than profs I had as an undergrad. I wish it were a little less intense but I envy her the quality of the classes compared to the terrible teachers I had in HS. The IB English teacher has ripped apart every one of her essays but it has improved her writing beyond belief in just two quarters and she knows it so she is actually enjoying the challenge. </p>
<p>I am noticing the sweatshirts around the school on some of the seniors which may indicate some early admission results–last week I saw WM, Ursinius (?), Elon, Goucher, and a few happy UVAs walking about. We have an EA Yalie from the field hockey team as well as W&M. We usually have a couple of admits to Ivy, big name schools but UVA and William and Mary are, perhaps, the most coveted for the instate tuition break. It is so hard on the kids who are deferred or rejected early because now they are so anxious about March/April. Not looking forward to next spring, I tell you.</p>
<p>We finally dug out from under all the ice and snow that dumped on the Seattle area and hope to be back to our regularly scheduled programming. Our schools were only open one day last week and the kids are supposed to have finals this week. Lots of FB chatter that finals are going to be postponed. S managed to come down with something and is really concerned about being sick if the school does not postpone finals.</p>
<p>DD participated in a video chat tonight hosted by a student at Earlham. She really enjoyed it, asked some questions, and learned alot about the school. She said that there are several this week. Glad it’s on her list, sounds like it would be a good fit for her in several areas.</p>
<p>We are tentatively planning a week long tour trip in mid-February. I think we will visit Denison, Oberlin, Earlham, Kalamazoo, maybe Wooster. Then the only outliers will be Lawrence and Beloit. The MN and IA schools will be much easier to visit. I would love for her to go to a summer precollege program at one of her top picks after we visit, hopefully we can find something that does not conflict with our vacation plans. I should have thought about this a year in advance, who knew the last week of July would be so popular! </p>
<p>My DD will be here this summer if she doesn’t attend a precollege program. She needs some job experience, and if she can’t find one she will be volunteering with a youth volunteer group. </p>
<p>DD has informed me that she wants to try lacrosse. I think she might just want to beat someone up ;)</p>
<p>MWM - Beating someone up is good stress relief
My niece (frosh at American) loved Earlham. She received generous merit & FA. Had she not narrowed her field of study (Mid East/Arabic), Earlham would have been her top choice. If you don’t already have it, I suggest picking up Colleges That Change Lives. It has wonderful insights on many of the schools on your list.</p>
<p>My son is not interested in any summer programs. He teaches a 10 day wilderness search & rescue school in July that conflicts with many other programs. I think he’ll have a difficult time finding a job that will let him have off for his SAR stuff. Bracing for a difficult summer.</p>
<p>@Longhaul- Got it. My D has around 70ish in her class so larger than your son’s. </p>
<p>@Midwestmom- can’t wait to hear what you think of Denison, Earlham, Wooster etc. I had really been eyeing those as possibilities for my D and now they’re not. Maybe for one of my other two. Make sure you tell us how you (and your D) like them when you go!</p>
<p>@Cat657- Hope your S doesn’t get sick for exam week. :-(</p>
<p>So we are on our way to Salisbury for a visit today. I don’t have a lot of preconceptions one way or the other so we are going with an open mind, which is a good thing, I guess. D will be driving to accumulate hours for her Learner’s. We are all trying to recover from the Raven’s heartbreaking loss last night. Once the initial shock and anger passed, I just feel so sorry for Billy Cundiff. What a burden to bear.</p>
<p>Ds did a practice SAT yesterday going into Saturday’s real thing. He did great, so hopefully his confidence will be high. Unfortunately, the SAT is going to get in the way of an EC competition. And last week, soccer got in the way of a competition for a different EC. Starting to feel like, awards-wise, he doesn’t have much to show for this year. Hope that’s not going to hurt him too much.</p>
<p>Oh, and tonight he turns in his TASP app. I’m not editing his essays at all as he hasn’t shared them, but I’ve taken a peek on the computer. Aack! I wish he’d let me get my hands on them, but this is low stakes and so if he doesn’t make the first cut then it can be a learning moment about having others read your work. My 2010/2014 brethren, can you believe how chill I am??? :D</p>
<p>Oh, yeah, schedules. Ds brought this up yesterday. He still has a couple of requirements that he’s got to get done (health, fine arts), and he’s bummed that he may not get all the electives he wants. And while earlier I stated that soccer as an eighth period would be so awesome, it appears ds is unhappy to realize that it further cuts into all the electives he wants so he might take health online. Something I recommended two years ago!!! He’ll end up with: AP Stats, APES, AP English, AP Govt/Eco, fine arts, Latin V ind. study, health/elective and yearlong soccer. That is not his ideal schedule as there are two electives that he REALLY wants.</p>
<p>Like many of the IB students here, D has little room in her schedule. There are 8 periods, she is filling all 7 available. No study hall- poor kids has never had one. She is taking:</p>
<p>HL English 2nd Year (took AP LIT grade 10)
HL Biology
Theory of Knowledge
SL History of the Americas
AP Statistics
AP Human Geography
SL Spanish </p>
<p>As an IB school, sports and EC’s (even band) are not built into the 8 periods. They are before and after school. Makes the CAS hours difficults and the days long.</p>
<p>Whew, D and I just got back from 9-day visit to California. It was exhausting, there were a few stressful moments, but in the end, she is very happy about seeing the schools in session, seeing the other students walking around, hearing all about admissions. I crashed every night while she worked on homework on her laptop. She returned to school today, so I hope she was able to keep up enough.</p>
<p>After hearing all the admissions presentations, she is happy she has this schedule next year, while most of her friends thinks she is crazy:
Honors Brit Lit/Honors Humanities,AP Chem,AP Bio,AP Calc BC,AP Micro/Macro Econ, Research & Design (like pre-engineering for her tech credits required), PE, Lunch.</p>
<p>I think we were a bit early, since most tours only had 8-12 prospective students, some had fewer. I doubt I will post visit reports, but I will see if I get energized.</p>
<p>Good morning! This is dead week for my son, and finals are next week. He is going into finals with high A’s in everything (APUSH, APBio, AP Eng Lang, Journalism, Trig/pre-calc) except he has a 89.8 in Spanish 3. The teacher is really crazy so we don’t know what will happen. Honestly we really won’t know what his schedule for next year will be until the first day of school. It is a small public school with maybe one period of each AP class, they are notoriously bad at scheduling and so if 2 are scheduled the same period you are out of luck. This year was the first year for quite some time that they offered AP Chem, if they offer it again next year he will definitely take it. If not, he will take Physics. What he thinks he wants for his schedule is: AP Eng Lit, AP Gov/AP Econ, AP Calc AB (only AB is offered), AP Spanish (if Spanish 4 were offered he would take it, but only AP Span is offered and it is primarily native speakers, so there is a chance he will decide not to take it), AP Chem, Journalism, Production Drama and Athletics (Cross Country and Tennis). He may or may not run for an office which would be “0” period (7 AM!!!).</p>
<p>Ok…need to vent and DH doesn’t get it, so I’m coming to you guys… Our version of Sadie Hawkin’s dance is next week and my D13 can’t seem to get a date. Mind you, she’s 5’11, 120 lbs and has long blonde hair; beautiful IMHO. She’s academically at the top of her class, varsity cheer captain and involved in our church. A gem in my eyes. But, she doesn’t go out and party, drink, smoke pot or sleep around - she’s a “good” girl, exactly what we want. She isn’t overly social and spends lots of nights at home because she doesn’t play “the game” as we call it. </p>
<p>She’s asked a couple of guys as friends, but they said no. Same exact thing as last year. She hasn’t had a “date” to any of our school dances yet. She’s given up, said she just isn’t going to go. Which I’m fine with, but she is seriously depressed about it. Not to the point that I’m worrying about her safety, but just down in the dumps.</p>
<p>I keep telling her that high school doesn’t mean anything, that these people aren’t going to matter once she goes away to college. She will find her niche, make friends with quality people with like mindsets and be happy. I honestly can’t wait. It will kill me to send her away (even if it’s only a couple hours drive), but she is just not happy in high school…</p>
<p>Anyone been there, done that? Advice? I keep telling her to just be herself and if no one is smart enough to appreciate her, that it’s their loss… But it’s getting to be a tough sell and a frustrating one too… UGH!</p>
<p>Bernese: What schools did you see in California?</p>
<p>Repeat: I feel so sorry for your daughter!!! High school is a rough place. A lot of girls here go to dances without dates (in groups). Both my college kids “fit in” at college much better than at high school. And are really enjoying it. Senior year was really tough for my older son (he graduated in '10). His three best guy friends all got girlfriends so he was the odd man out. And was frankly pretty lonely (despite being starting point guard/captain of the basketball team, captain/#1 singles on the tennis team, valedictorian etc…) He went to a lot of dances but always as “friends”, and often his dates would not hold his hand or slow dance with him which made him very sad. In college he still doesn’t “party”, but he found a great group of friends that do a lot of very fun things. He has kind of embrassed being a nerd rather than always fighting it. Since he is very athletic he is kind of their “king”. So it does get better.</p>
<p>One thing I know, from my BF being a social work prof and my mom being a PhD in Sociology but working in the field is that to have the most career options in the field, she will need an MSW. And that can follow undergrad sociology, cultural anthro or psych which are of course offered at almost every LAC or U.</p>
<p>Here’s a resource that might be worth a look</p>
<p>Yep. My D’15 has done this every dance so far. My S’12 has recently taken dates but they are always friend-dates, and still they are in a group with a single or two.</p>
<p>She saw UC Santa Cruz last year on a trip with friends out to CA, so this time we saw Stanford, Berkeley (classes not in session), UCLA, USC, Pomona, and UCSD with tours. We did a drive-by (and she ran) at Santa Clara U. </p>
<p>Every school earned an A-plus for the tour and admission session, if applicable. Crowds were small, it is early after winter break, and all the tour guides were energetic and well-rested. </p>
<p>We did do some touristy stuff to break it up a bit. </p>
<p>Good luck with visits, everyone. My only advice is add an extra hour or two on the parking meter if the school looks interesting. We got an “ouch” parking ticket.</p>
