<p>First term officially ended today after a two day delay because of two days off last week due to Sandy. However, DD said that most of her teachers closed the term grades last Friday anyway. I’m hoping she’s managed to squeak by with all A’s/A-'s. There were a couple of classes she was right on the border! If she can pull off all A-'s or better all four terms she won’t have a final exam in those classes. She’s hoping to manage that! Plus no finals in her two AP classes. With 7 classes, it would be a big relief for her!</p>
<p>The school gives out the PSAT results to the parents at Teacher Conferences the second week of December. Hopefully they will be MUCH better than last year’s results! Then we’ll have more of an idea of what she needs to work on (although I know vocabulary is a big one).</p>
<p>Now that all her many EC’s in October/early November are done, she’s agreed to begin some studying. I’ve asked her to learn a few Direct Hits words a day and she’s got the Quizlet app to use for that. We’ll see. Our new neighbor is a SAT tutor so I’m going to talk with her about setting up a program for DD and maybe some of her friends!</p>
<p>Big news is she got her license! Right before Sandy arrived so driving to school was delayed for a few days. But it’s amazing how much time I now have since I’m not doing the 45 min round trip drive twice a day! And thinking of the gas we’ll save since the car is only making one round trip!</p>
<p>DD (and I) can’t wait for the election to be over! Being where we are in Massachusetts, we not only get the national and state election ads, but also those for Rhode Island and New Hampshire for people we don’t even know! Half the time I don’t even know which state the people are running in.</p>
<p>Welcome to the new posters! </p>
<p>I hope those affected by Sandy have power and are nearing the end of the clean up!</p>
<p>Best wishes to those who have taken the SAT & ACT in the past couple of weeks - hoping for good results to all!</p>
<p>NewHaven - I admire you for all you do for your D! I’m under the impression that you are a single working mom and searching for colleges takes a lot of time and perseverance! Keep on doing what you’re doing and come here for support whenever you feel like giving up! :)</p>
<p>Fog - I’ve also been trying to plan a spring break trip to see some universities. My parents will be on the beach in Alabama over spring break, so I’ve been searching for good engineering schools that might be along the way or nearby. I’ve come up with Georgia Tech, U of Alabama & Vanderbilt. Any other suggestions?</p>
<p>Second quarter grades are looking much better than first quarter. The first quarter was the first time DS had C’s on his report card … and he had TWO! YUCK!! One of those is now up to an A and the other a B, so hopefully they will continue to increase or at least stay at that level for only one B at the end of the semester. </p>
<p>I’m trying to remember when we received the PSAT results last year. It seems like they were released in December. I do remember the PLAN results last year took forever! He had started receiving mailings from colleges congratulating him on his PLAN performance and we had no idea what the score was!</p>
<p>I’m still thinking that the Spring will be a good time for him to take the SAT. We’re happy with the ACT results from last year, so probably won’t retake that … unless he just wants to for fun as a challenge to raise the score one or two more points! </p>
<p>The weather here is gorgeous … hope everyone is enjoying this fall!</p>
<p>fogfog–as an old hand at navigating college web sites, I’m thinking you can find the spring break info if you look in the right place. Maybe it’s not on the admissions web page, but try Googling "(college name) academic calendar. They generally have the schedule figured out a couple years in advance, or more.</p>
<p>@ Beadymom,</p>
<p>So glad that you are enjoying the gorgeous weather(with a hint of envy :))… I am delighted to tell you that I am gazing out my dining room window & watching large flakes of pillowy snow fall from the sky! LOL Are those gale force winds that I hear? </p>
<p>And thanks for the words of encouragement, ex hubby works a half a block away and dd hasn’t seen him in almost a year, maybe longer(I don’t even keep count any more). I have been doing this whole child rearing thing all by my lonesome for the past 10 years now. So yes, its all on my shoulders… and I have become accustomed to it. Not sure how she feels about it though, she says she is fine… but she can’t be. I am just thankful that she hasn’t decided to rebel against the world b/c she is sipped off at him. I am honored to be in her life, to be that helicopter parent who is so desperately attempting to see her educated, happy, productive and successful. That’s why my outburst last week made me feel so guilty, because I know I am all that she has in this world. So how can I possibly abandon her when she is so damn close to the finish line? </p>
<p>You mention the PLAN test. The GC’s at the school had no clue to what this test was… so obviously its not offered at her school. I tried to call the ACT folks way back in 2010 and they wouldn’t tell me where she could take it. Not sure why. But they said they don’t divulge that information. Hopefully the SAT will be enough and she won’t have to take time with the ACT. Fingers, legs, toes and eyes crossed that she does well on the 12/1 test… time will only tell. :)</p>
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<p>I spoke to my husband who’s home and he said the same!</p>
<p>Since Hurricane Sandy was dubbed Frankenstorm, another CC poster suggested calling the nor’easter “Spawn of Frankenstorm”.</p>
<p>Classof2015: “Spawn of Frankenstorm” – I like it! XD</p>
<p>@NewHavenCTmom: I agree with Beadymom… Keep on doing what you have been doing. She is lucky to have a great mom and you are lucky to have a great daughter who is working hard. That is a great blessing to both of you.</p>
<p>Re: PLAN - this was like an ACT practice test for sophomores. I don’t know that it amounted to anything other than getting DS on mail lists! And it projected what the ACT score may be. I wouldn’t sweat it if it wasn’t available. </p>
<p>Stay safe in the Northeast!</p>
<p>Just got back from a 4-college tour with S’14. To my surprise, he did not like Clemson. I think the architecture and lack of “college” look to the place was a turn off. The boy likes columns and crown moldings – go figure.</p>
<p>Elon – very nice. Furman (only did a drive by – no time for a tour) – heartbreakingly beautiful campus – not all that aware of what it’s like as a college. I asked one dad on the Elon tour who was from SC – he said it’s more conservative and Southern-centric. Not sure if that bodes well for free thinking S.</p>
<p>High Point – he loved it. What 16 year old wouldn’t? Pools, free snacks, big movie theater with satin covered Lazy-boys, rooms that are nicer than my own bedroom; double beds; cleaning service. Honestly, I think it’s a cult. But I will reserve judgment. Not sure if it’s a grand educational experiment that will produce the next Steve Jobs, or if it’s pure fluff. The info session and tour was remarkable for the lack of attention to academics.</p>
<p>S '14 is coming back from school - we are picking him up on Friday. I’m so excited.He is interested in Engineering and we have to plan some visits, but he’s only home while the schools are closed! I am looking at my quickly getting out of date Princeton Review guide and other thick books and had this idea to start cutting the relevant school (13 ish) pages out of the big books and putting them in their own 3 Ring binder with page protectors and my own added info regarding weather conditions, calendar, graduation job rates and crime statistics. Blank page protectors for ‘after visit impressions.’ I figured it would be less overwhelming for S 14. Does someone want to talk me down off this ledge of sanity, or does this actually seem appealing? Thanks
((Stop me before I reach for the Exacto knife))
PS</p>
<p>PS - That sounds like a good idea, I won’t talk you out of it! 
I have a spreadsheet I’ve started with different info for the schools DS might be interested in. And a file drawer for the mailing that come in. I can’t throw anything away! </p>
<p>Classof2015 - sounds like a productive trip! We’ve been to two tours so far. Looking forward to more! Just wish DS was just as interested!</p>
<p>ParentSparkle: I am not stopping you - I am copying you. Like beadymom, I also have a spreadsheet and a file drawer of mailed-in materials. But I really like the idea of cutting out the pages of schools and add your own pages of specific information.</p>
<p>Have any of you put together a “brag” sheet for your junior? Thought I would start it today as I’m afraid DD and I will forget pieces if we don’t begin now.</p>
<p>The October ACT results come out soon. Once we have those in hand, then my husband and I plan to sit down during the Thanksgiving holiday and chat colleges with Son '14. We spoke briefly about this matter, and my husband and I agree that our son needs to start putting together his options. I also told our son that during the holiday, we need to start putting together his resume so that our college counselor has something in his files besides a test score. He has some nice things to include on a resume so it’s time he has one in case he sees a program that will require one.</p>
<p>Beadymom: Alabama has a very fine engineering school. My oldest son attends school there, although he does not major in that area. His roommates are chem engineering majors. One roommate interned this past summer in Denmark. One of his best friends is a Hollings and Goldwater scholar winner, and she is a mechanical engineering major. She has had wonderful internships. The school also has scholarship money for engineering majors.</p>
<p>ParentS-</p>
<p>Great idea. There is so much to keep up with. The lists are forever changing & it will make it easy to remove/add pertinent information I am sure.</p>
<p>Agent-</p>
<p>DD did a resume in freshman year. On Xmas break, because she was interviewing for a volunteer position. A friend(who was a HS principal at the time) told us that its a good idea to have one. And yes, it makes it easier to keep up with all the activities/awards etc.
She always adds a copy to summer program applications that she sends out and gives them to teachers so they know what she is up to outside of their classroom. It makes it easier for them to write an LOR when they have one handy. Who knew this was a good thing to have? I sure didn’t! And find that the kids at her school don’t have them/their parents look at me like I’m nuts when I tell them that their kids should have one as well… LOL</p>
<p>NewHaven: Many already parents look at me like I’m nuts – they’d really freak if I told them to put together a resume. And I suppose for kids whose first choices are the big state university or flagship, there isn’t as much to do. Oregon students have automatic entrance if their GPA & SAT/ACT scores meet the criteria. Kid writes an essay and they’re in. But as you all know, it’s a different story for those who want to attend private or OOS schools.</p>
<p>Many parents don’t realize that here in CT, even the state schools are very competitive and many are being waitlisted OR being sent to the commuter branches and have to stay home. So they are not getting the full college experience that they wanted. They don’t realize that the kids with the higher stats/SAT scores/EC’s are getting the spots that they thought their kids would automatically get. Even Southern CT State University had a waitlist. Who would have ever thunk? UCONN may have automatic entrance but they will be commuting from home. Students here need to understand that they have to stand out from the crowd. They wait until senior year to think about this stuff and as we all know. Its too late!!</p>
<p>What is competitive here are the honors colleges at both OSU and University of Oregon. There are more hoops to jump through and acceptance rates hover around 50%.</p>
<p>Sometimes I’m just amazed at the perspective of friends and acquaintances. Comments have run the gamut of:
“She’s an amazing kid, she’ll get in anywhere.”
“The money will always be there, she’ll definitely get a scholarship.”
To “If she wants to go into $200k debt it’s her education and you shouldn’t stand in her way.” Um… she doesn’t and we would.</p>
<p>We didn’t call it a resume but we definitely kept a list of activities, honors & awards from freshman year on! I had one kid who really forgot to put stuff on applications if he didn’t have the list in front of him. Important stuff like NMSF… :D</p>
<p>I think having a resume is just handy. If you start one in 9th grade and just keep adding to it when you win/do something, its really easy just to print it and give it to people when you’re interviewing for anything.</p>
<p>Everything is crazy competitive now, fortunately or unfortunately. Also, I think having a resume makes the CA easier cuz they often ask you there and also in supplementary apps, what your ECs are, how many hours etc.</p>