<p>Our K1 who is at HYP comments on watching the students in the dining halls… We think we all would like that huge diversity experioence–however a close look at most Us finds that there is a lot of “group think” and a mostly liberal leaning agenda. Those with a conservative view or those with a strong faith are “shouted down” so as to not offer a differing view…“Tolerance” to true diversity does not exist as we claim to want it to be.</p>
<p>I know that even in schools that admit students from all 50 states and 50+ countries…etc… who can and do admit the best and the brightest world-wide…(HYP for example) The students still gravitate towards those “like minded” etc. </p>
<p>Grew up in one part of the US (NY tri-state area), I went to college in a completely different region (deep south). Very different foods, family traditions, clothing styles etc… The “diversity” was there yet in a different way—</p>
<p>Fogfog, preppy in my mind is not a pejorative. My DH and I are both prep school alums. DH grew up sailing in Nantucket reds, lol. </p>
<p>D was in private school for 3 years and has spent her other years at urban public schools. She has been far happier in environments where there is racial, socioeconomic, ethnic and linguistic diversity. I’m also an ESL teacher, so diversity of all types is something we value as a family. And we live in a small affluent CT town where attitudes toward differences can be pretty intolerant. She’s just up for a change.</p>
<p>Like Expat said, if the prevailing culture of a school is more preppy, my D won’t feel as comfortable. Again, it’s personal preference and not a condemnation of all things preppy. Any more than our friends saying that my D’s choice of more earthy-liberal schools wouldn’t appeal to their kids who will only consider New England LACs. Our kids are different and that’s fine. </p>
<p>My D has friends of varied backgrounds and really wants to continue that if possible. She doesn’t gravitate to the kids like her, never has.</p>
<p>My kids attended a public HS where more than 46 different home languages were represented, so ethnic and racial diversity was very much a part of their 9-12 experience. They both ended up at small LACs, but DS’s was noticeably less diverse than his HS, which he found disappointing. He was also surprised at the number of students who came from private HS. And although the school’s honor code reaffirmed respect for diversity in political opinion and social values, in fact, the vast majority of the students were similar in their views. DD is at a women’s college, so obviously not very diverse in gender (there are men in graduate programs), but the racial/ethnic diversity is much more similar to her HS. We found that many of the women’s colleges were more racially diverse than the coed LACs. Politically, however, her school is not very diverse–maybe because of its San Francisco Bay area location! I do understand why diversity is an important factor in evaluating a college, though.</p>
<p>@ LisaK216: Something else we have in common-I am also an ESL teacher!</p>
<p>…my k1 and k1 have grown up living in various parts of the world, the US, western Europe, “eastern Europe/former soviet block”, and north africa.</p>
<p>They didn’t grow up in a prep school bubble and neither did I, so I don’t equate “preppy” as being soley from a “prep school”/private school NE feeder style.</p>
<p>@ Wintriest…no way!!! Don’t want to hijack the thread, but what age are the students you teach? I work with K-5. Most of my students are Chinese and Tibetan.</p>
<p>Yay K2 has revised the essay and sent it to the GC.
If this hurdle is cleared, K2 can start pressing SEND.
…
Also on the calendar are some official visits. </p>
<p>K2 was swamped last week–up til 2am a couple of nights–papers, statistics etc after a long school day and sport…
Nothing was accomplished Saturday…except sleep</p>
<p>@fogfog: Congratulations! I love getting to the point where you can hit the send button.</p>
<p>My D has finished her Common App and essay and submitted the GC recommendation “brag” sheet and one for her teacher recommendation. Now DD is saying that she does not really want to submit any applications since she has already been accepted to her top 2 choices. Too bad, she is submitting them anyway. It is better to have more options than less. </p>
<p>I am so happy that she got everything done over the summer. senior year courses have been tough and time consuming. Good luck!</p>
<p>wants to do with the rest of his life write a 250-word blurb on what he wants to do with the rest of his life??? Any ideas on getting the boy started on this writing task? All help is much appreciated!</p>
<p>@heikedog: Great question. If it is of any help, my D2 did answered that question in one of her supplemental essays a couple years ago with a general theme on how she had no idea what she wanted to do because of her age and talked generally about using college as a means of “exploration”. I think being honest in those answers is the best bet. It is a tough question though.</p>
<p>For those of you who have completed the process (bravo for you!)…please clarify for me if I have the “order of things” correct…
Applicants can send through common app when complete…
then we arrange to have have scores sent from College Board,
then the GC will follow with the LOR’s and transcripts?<br>
Question on scores…do we arrange for them to be sent only after the common app has been submitted (even though College Board says it takes 3-5 weeks)?<br>
DS is taking SAT again on 10/5…what if those scores are better? Does that mean wait until I see new scores before sending apps?<br>
Feeling quite overwhelmed and don’t want the guidance counselor sick of me on week #2!
Thank you!</p>
<p>@tpcrd66: Some colleges have a date when you can start submitting the Common App so you may want to check their application process before submitting the application. You can send the test scores before or after the Common App, they can be sent independent of each other. Most colleges will accept the results of the October 5th SAT exam. Don’t worry about that.</p>
<p>In my experience, the things out of your control like making sure the GC and teacher submit their LOR’s and transcripts can be the most frustrating for some people. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Quick question… If she has already been accepted to her top choices (and you can afford it), why would she need more choices?</p>
<p>I can understand if she really liked other schools and would choose any of them, depending on who offers the better financial aid package, but if she could see herself at either of the two that she’s already accepted to and they are in your budget, wouldn’t applying to and possibly getting accepted at other schools just make for more decision stress that isn’t necessary?</p>
<p>My D has a top school and its within our budget. If she happens to get accepted early in the process, I don’t see a need for her to apply to any other schools. But while we are waiting to hear about her number one, she will put in other apps in case she isn’t accepted.</p>
<p>@sydsim: My D had had several “top choices”. They generally involve the most recent college she toured. I just want to make sure that she has given herself the most opportunities to choose from. We agreed that we were not going to visit any new colleges, just possibly revisit past favorite choices. There is only 2 other. She has until late April to decide.</p>
<p>Thank you BobbyCT…I was so uncertain if everything had to go in at the same time. That being said, as soon as his Common App is finished (oh that darn essay!) we will send it along and request scores be sent…the GC part will have to follow. </p>
<p>Another question for the group…if SAT and ACT scores are very close (1300/30)…would anyone send both or is that overkill/being too cautious?</p>
<p>tpcrd66–about sending both ACT & SAT scores. I agree with Bobby. The scores will confirm each other. Now, if your child had taken each exam three of four times, that would be different.</p>
<p>My concern/confusion with the logistics of submissions is how this will all work out if rejected/deferred from ED choice. HS requires 30 days’ notice for transcripts but Jan 1 RD deadline forces student to request transcripts for schools he may never apply to if ED round is favorable. </p>
<p>I am guessing there is a bit of scrambling and follow-up in Jan once the college portals are established and the student can see what is missing from his app. This is all conjecture on my part as this is my first time through the process. </p>
<p>@CT1417: My D2 applied ED to her first choice college and was accepted. She had her transcript, applicable LOR’s, etc., sent to each college she was considering in October so she did not need to request them later. Once she was accepted ED by her first choice, she simply emailed the other colleges and requested that her application be withdrawn. If rejected ED, at least the transcripts and other required material is already submitted to the other choices.</p>